placed in equall dignity with the Holy Scriptures Here the Interpretation of the Scriptures was taken away from the Scriptures and made subiect to mens pleasure but chiefly to the Popes Ever since the world began the Holy and Sacred Scriptures were not so much abused both openly and by publique authority ANTIOCHVS in deede a good while since inflicted a grievous wounde in commaunding the Holy Bookes to be burnt in the fire Likewise DIOCLETIAN and other Tyrants But the iniurie of these TRIDENTINE FATHERS is farre more grievous For they were Ethniques enemies stricken with a certen fury and madnes wholly repugnant to all the trueth These alone wil be counted CATHOLIQVES very great and chiefe friends the thing a long time and much consulted of guided by mature and ripe iudgement the very PILLARS and upholders of the TRVETH and upon whom noe spotte of errour can be cast How must it needs be that their act was of no authority and these men of very great neither is there cause why any should obiect Marcion the Eucratites Cataphrygians and such monsters of which some reiected one part of the sacred Scriptures and some another at their pleasure There is very great difference as touching the greatnes of the hurt betweene the dotages of obscure Heretiques and the deliberat actes and Decrees of an gathered Councell especially which chalengeth to it selfe to be credited with out exception It is therefore a thing especially worthy remembrance and worthy that the Church should be put in minde of by so notable a Prophecy The event and time doe consent so wonderfully that every equall arbitratour will easily acknowledge that I have not willfully sought this interpretation but that I have ben lead as it were by the hande to the same by the very order and disposition of the matters As touching the assemblyes of the faithfull which in these last times did first appeare in Germany they were assailed with a most cruell warre the same yeere The same Beast made this warre likewise by the help of the Emperour Charles the fift otherwise a noble man greatly to be cōmāded but obeying the Pope too much through the common errour of the Princes From whence not without cause that is attributed to one which being proceeded from two or more yet notwithstanding is done by one ioint endevour The overthrowe in this warre was received about the two and twentieth day of Aprill in the yeere following to wit 1547 when the armies of the Protestans were put to flight Iohn Frederike Duke of Saxonie himselfe Ernestus of Brunswick the Lātgraves sonne and not very long after the Lantgrave himselfe were taken Which calamity stayed not in these fewe but also afflicted many others both Governours and Cityes which partly yeelded themselves of their owne accord partly were wonne by force In one moment sayth Beza bewayling the misery of that time seemed to be overthrowne whatsoever had ben builded up in so many yeeres and with so great labours and they onely were counted happy of the most part whom sudden death had taken away from these hurlie burlies such are his wordes The remembrance of that time is sorrowfull to all the godly when the holy and wise Princes inflamed with a desire onely to defende the trueth not themselves alone but the Churches togither with them which as newly borne did lament among the weapons came miserably into the power of the enemies But now was the time of darkenesse in which these two Prophets must be killed and made a mocking stock Although wee must reioice in the same adversities which ar a calling to remembrance of the divine Prophecies confirming certenly the confidence and faith of our hope as saith Tertullian in his Apologie 8 And their corpses shall lie There is this difference betweene Antiochus the Romish Beast He in burning up the bookes of the Lawe would not have so much as the karkeises to remaine This sufferred the dead corpses but onely for a mocking stocke and for a greater ignominie The cruell Beast is not satisfyed with blood but desireth some more grievous tormēt For their pierced corpses are cast forth into the streetes of the great city that they might be a spectacle to all men and an ornament to the triumphe of the Romish Beast And what other thing of these Scriptures now remained then a very karkeise wholly without all authoritie power and life when all interpretation was brought to the Apostolique Chaire neither might they mutter any thing at all which the Bishop of Rome should not breath into them The Spirit speaketh so exactly that he may leave them noe tergiversatiō He knew that the Pope of Rome whatsoever he should doe against the truth would boast neverthelesse that to him nothing is better of more account and more inviolable then the Scriptures themselves But that noe man may be deceived with a bare name the Spirit speaketh evidently that after the Tridentine Councill noe Scriptures should be in the possessiō of the Romanes but a dead carkeise of noe strenght and power ¶ In the streetes of the great citie which spiritually is called Sodome and Egypt This great City is that whole dominion of which Rome is the mother City in which sense the tenth part of the city falleth after in the 13 verse A street is some part of the Romane dition wherein this spectacle is exhibited to be seene the ioy whereof spreadeth it selfe through the whole Empire But the great citie it selfe togither with her chiefe citie is described in the rest of the verse and that by two expresse names a notable marke also being added least any perhaps should mistake the city And also for a greater assurance wee are admonished that these names are not to be takē properly but spiritually that is aenigmatically figuratively allegorically The first name is Sodom a city once very famous for her filthines nowe for her punishement a most fit exemple of the tower and chiefe habitation of this great citie For is not the city Rome become famous for her horrible lusts above all the whole world In the iudgement of all the Poete Mantuan hath truly songe of her in these wordes Shame get thee to the country townes if they al 's ' doo not use The same corrupted filthines Rome now is all a Stewes Which is no lesse declared by an other taking his leave of Rome thus Rome farre well nowe I have thee seen ynough it is to see I le come againe when bawd I meane knave brothel beast to be But that you may the better acknowledge Sodome heare what a certē man answered to one asking a question touching Rome Say what is Roma Amor Love if backward you it spell Rome loves the male kind Say no more J know thy meaning well Hath not Hieronymus Zeged Mutius declared this plainely in his Cynedicall bookes defending this horrible villany and approved by the Bulles and lettres patents of Iulius the third him selfe With whom Iohannes Casa associated himselfe being
him before that he recovered health from his wounde which he had He was of great authority before he received the wounde as wee have shewed but of farre greater after the hurt was amended VVhich order the Spirit observed before in the 3. and 4. ver adding after his head was cut and healed both admiratioÌ„ and also adoration And that adoration is this same which is now gotten by the labour of this But why seeing the second is no other then then first revived urgeth he not worship in his owne name but onely in the name of that This is a singular cunning of the most crafty hypocrites to wit a fained name of antiquity wherby he might get estimation to himselfe in the world For in this onely he should wholly labour that the first might be worshipped as though he chalenged no new thing to himselfe but that onely which his Ancetours had left unto him by succession From hence the Epistles of most auncient Popes were corrupted most impudently coÌ„terfait put in the place of true and true wholly chaunged with strange additions and detractions for their owne profit From the same shop came the feigned donation of Constantine Likewise the Decrees which in their title have a shew of greater antiquity then trueth and sixe hundred of that sorte Neither is any other thing at this day so greatly laboured for as that the auncient honour may be given to the Pope that is that the first Beast may be worshipped it would be an unpleasant ambition openly to endevour to get honour to himselfe though the Pope is not ashamed of this wherefore he obiecteth the first Beast under whose name he may serve himselfe more secretly 13 And he doeth great wonders Now is shewed by what way he deceiveth men and obtaineth that worship for which he fighteth as for heaven earth to wit by working Miracles in the which Antichrist should be wonderfull whose comming is by the effectuall working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders as Paul hath forwarned 2 Thes 2.9 Which thing if Ireneus had observed in his 5. booke chap. 28. he would not have called this Beast so much the Armour bearer of Antichrist as Antichrist himselfe No miracles of the former are rehearsed but onely power great authority of which there may be a distinct force from signes It is manifest to all men how this Beast is commended for a notable fine worker of miracles by and by after he waxed whole of his wound Beholde one or two for it were an infinite thing to recite every one The Christians have ben protected wonderfully from the Devill in the Temple Pantheon after that Boniface the 4. had consecrated it to all Saincts Theodorus the next healed with a kisse one diseased with the leprosy No man in the whole army of Eudo to whom but even a very small piâ—ce of the blessed Spongie had come from the POPE Gregory 2. was either killed or wounded in the battell against the Saracenes The body of Formosus brought from the river Tiber into the Church of S. Peter is saluted and worshipped with great reverence of the Images of the Saincts in the entrance of the teÌ„ple A white dove like snow whose necke was shining as Gold sate upon the right shoulder of Gregory the 6. whiles he celebrated Masse WheÌ„ the same was to be buried in the Palace of Peter the doores of the Temple taried not the comming of the doore keeper but of their owne accord leaped backe at the bringing of his dead body A certen lame woman by drinking the water wherewith Vrbain 2. had washed his handes after the Masse was healed Infinite are the things of this sorte in which the Romane Pope glorieth both olde and newe For both are of like force to coÌ„firme his authority Which Zacharias knewe well who translated into the Greeke tongue the foure bookes of Gregory the Great concerning the miracles of the Fathers that the miraculous power of the Popes might be come knowen as well to the Grecians as to the Latines But wilt thou say the miracles of other men are not fewe That is true in deede but who ar all the slaves of the same Pope of whom whatsoever wonders are done they are referred to the defending preserving and increasing of his dignity as to the centre From whence all these done of his servants are worthily said to be his for whose honour alone they make ¶ So that he maketh fire to come downe from heaven His power to doe miracles being shewed summarily now he descendeth to some certen kindes which the Papists will have to be three the first whereby Antichrist shall seeme to rise from the dead the second wherby he shall make fire to descende from heaven the third is the power of speaking given to the Image which things seeing they are not founde in the Pope of Rome as Bellarmine will have it in his third booke of the Romane Pope chap. 15. it followeth saith he that he is not Antichrist His rising from the dead is gathered from his head deadly wounded and healed againe ver 3 of this chapter and from that which is said after in the 17. chap. ver 18. he was and is not and ascendeth out of the bottomelesse pit Which rising againe wee have shewed to be found most plainely in the Pope of Rome when he was eased and delivered from those miseries wherwith by the invasion of the Barbarians he lay overwhelmed and buried in mens opinion For that it cannot agree to the death of one man fained for some fewe dayes it shal be manifest from the person of Antichrist which the seventeenth chapter after will proove evidently to be a long succession of many not any certen and singular man Especially also seeing that this wound was very sorrowfull not inflicted on himselfe willingly and in jest but made by his enemies where could be no place for counterfaiting Which faining of death was brought in by a false coniecture of men and besides the trueth of the matter and the very wordes of the scripture Therfore the Rom. Pope is famous for the first miracle which if they please they may call a resurrection to which it is not unlike Now what manner of one is he in regard of the second CerteÌ„ly those miracles seeme to be very great which are done from heaven or in the very heavens wheÌ„ as men have very little power over these bodies as when a fire of the Lord falling from Heaven consumed the burnt offring of Eliah 1 King 18.38 Likewise also when the Captaine over fifty men with his whole bande was destroyed by fire from Heaven at the prayers of the same Eliah 2 King 1. Therefore Antichrist that he might not seeme inferiour to the famous Prophets would set foorth himselfe by this sort of miracles Gladly doe the Iesuites heare this from whence they judge for a surety that the Pope is not Antichrist of whom say they not such miracle is read But
out as much as thou wilt that these speaches ar blasphemous and after thy manner accuse the holy trueth of God of ungodlines But it is not to be expected that wordes should teach thee whom stripes can not teach Yet neverthelesse though thou shalt receive noe profit here of all the godly shall detest thee who by these abominations bringest a most cruell fiend upon the Christian world Art thou not ashamed to exhorte the Christian Princes unto warres against the Turke whom thou makest invincible by thy Idols To pretende a minde to fight against a cruell enemy but to minister privily unto him that aide wherby all our forces ar made a pray unto him Yf thou desirest from thy heart that this spoiler of the world should be repressed or rather extinguished cast away thy dung hill Gods forsake thy sacrilegious Primacy amende the rest of thy corruption according to the rule of true godlinesse then shalt thou see this mortall and cruell mōster covered indeede with all villanies to fall of his owne accord which could not stand surely one moment unlesse he were holden up by these thy sinnes But neither wilt thou be admonished neither can he be overcome before thou beest overcome as after shal be manifest 21 Neither repented they An other kinde of sinnes which are foure murders sorceries formcation thefts of which he that knoweth not Rome to be the shoppe he seeth but a little in the cleere sunne shine at noonetide CHAP. 10. THEN I sawe an other Angell comming downe from heaven clothed with a cloude the rainebowe upon his head his face was as the Sunne his feete as pillars of fire 2 And he had in his hande a little booke opened and he put his right foote upon the Sea and his left on the earth 3 And cried with a loude voice as a Lion roareth and when he had cryed sevē thunders uttered their voices 4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices I was about to write but I heard a voice from heaven saying unto mee seale up those thinges which the sevē thunders have spoken and write them not 5 And the Angell which J saw stande upon the sea and upon the earth lift up his hand to heaven 6 And sware by him that liveth for evermore which created heaven things that are therein the earth and the things that are therein the sea and the things hat are therein that time shal be noe more 7 But in the dayes of the voice of the seventh Angell when he shall beginne to blowe the trumpet even the mysterie of God shal be finished as he hath declared to his servants the Prophets 8 And the voice which J heard from heaven spake unto mee againe and said goe and take the little booke which is open in the hande of the Angell standing upon the sea and upon the earth 9 So J went unto the Angell saying unto him give mee the little booke and he said unto mee take it and eate it up and it shall make thy belly bitter but it shal be in thy mouth as sweete as honie 10 Then J tooke the little booke out of the Angels hande and ate it up and it was in my mouth as sweete as honie but when I had eaten it my belly was bitter 11 Then he said unto mee thou must prophecy againe among the people and nations and tongues and to many Kinges Analysis SVCH then is the first part of the sixt trumpet to wit the evill the comfort followeth consisting partly in the authority of the revealer partly in the thinges revealed His authority appeareth from the power of a certen Angell coming downe from heaven notable by his clothing ornament of his head shining of his face bright burning of his feete ver 1. Likewise knowledge which the booke open in his hande sheweth and his presence everie where declared by so great a pulling asunder of his feete ver 2. The thinges revealed are either to be Sealed up or to be communicated Those have their principall cause the voice of the Angell their instrumentall cause Seaven thunders ver 3. Likewise their consequent which conteineth both the endevour of Iohn in writing also the prohibition that he should not write ver 4. The things to be commumicated are either touching the finishing of the mystery of God in the times of the seventh trumpet confirmed by an othe ver 5.6.7 or of the gift of prophecy restored againe to the Church the preparation whereunto is set downe in the rest of the chapter Prophecy it selfe followeth in the eleventh chapter The Preparation is occupied either about the Signe or about the Interpretation that before the booke received hath a commaundement to take it in the eight verse and the obedience of Iohn in the ningth verse After the same delivered both a commaundement to eate it up and also an instruction touching the diverse tast of it in the ningth verse and the triall made by Iohn in the tenth verse Last of all is added the Interpretation in the eleventh verse Scholions Then I sawe an other Angell Wee referre these thinges in the Analysis 〈◊〉 the confort of the sixt trumpet which is fitly added For who would not almost faint through wearinesse of so long continuing trouble hearing noe other thing in the Church for a long rowe of yeeres then violent stormes of haile burning mountaines falling starres the Sunne darkened troupes of Locusts serpents with a head at both endes casting out flames of fire wherby an infinite number of men should burne miserably Nowe therefore to them that have ben as it were a long time and much tossed on the maine sea is the land pointed at and the haven shewed in which at length there might be rest from these troubles neither this onely but also in the meane time a prosperous winde is breathed forth which may cause a readier sayling For which purpose a most mighty Angell came downe from heaven divers frō those who blewe the trumpets or of whom mention was made long agoe elsewhere For they were servants this is the very Lord Christ as whose clothing countenance voice whole decking is more imperiall then can befall to any creature Neither doth so strange a forme and unlike to the true nature of man hinder considering that it hath ben manifest from the first chapter that he taketh upō him that outward shew especially which may serve most to the declaring and confirming of the things propounded Therefore as touching the description of him he is called strong because he hath strength sufficiēt to deliver the Church from those adversities wherwith it shal be oppressed He cometh downe from Heaven because nowe at length after a long distance of time he would visit his Church from which he seemed to have ben absent now a long time And about the blowing of the sixt Trumpet when the foure Angels were loosed in the yeere 1300 as was sayd before Christ began to give a more
cannot be purged with any other nitre which day commeth with speed as may be understood from the things before spoken but wee shal heare of a nigher term from the things following 17 For God hath put in their harts Now he sheweth the fountaine wherupon the Emperours should be for so long a time so obedient and why at length they should alter their mindes both commeth from him in whose hands are the hearts of Kings He in his iust iudgement blindeth whom he will and bestoweth the light of trueth on others whom he will embrace with his trueth But which thing is almost incredible that the elect might be more assured of this future iudgement he setteth before their eyes the remeÌ„berance of the time past saying God hath put into their hearts to give their Kingdome to the Beast until the words of God be fulfilled as though he should say as ye know for a surety that overpassed consent of the Emperours unto humble service so certen is this future alienation of their mindes and at length that final destroying which I spake of There is one and the same authour of both Neither let us take it grievously if the iudgement seeme to stay long the divine wisdome hath set a time which to accuse of too much slackenes would be a token of overhastie desire and importunate wish for until saith he the words of God be fulfilled that is until the decree shal be ended and accomplished which by his word he hath foreshewed to be hereafter VVherby is signifyed the time of the fift vial at the powring out wherof shal be fulfilled all those things touching the whore which wil be shortly seing our times have reached unto the fourth as wee have shewed in the former chapter 18 And the woman which thou sawest So was the interpretation of the Dominion now of the Palace which all circumstances omitted declareth most playnely that this woman is the great City which raigneth over the Kings of the earth Therfore this Citie is not the whole state of the wicked whose dominion is no more famous over the Kings then over the multitude of people but a City in deed wel knowen for her rule over the highest among mortal men and so much the more because these words are in stead of an interpretation neither is the Spirit wont to give an exposition darker theÌ„ the things that are to be expounded Therfore it is a city properly so called great indeede and the Lady of other Princes there can be no other such Head City in the Christian world then Rome an abridgement of the whole world the Queene of the nations Lady of Kings and once in warres now in superstition the chiefe to whom even in this decrepite age her former large possessions being greatly minished the Emperours Spanish FreÌ„ch and Polonian Kings yet submit themselves besides other Princes of inferiour degree Therfore this whore can no longer be hid shee is found out at length shee hath ben warned to come to her tryal shee hath appeared her cause is heard shee is found guilty shee is condemned to be burnt I have exhibited unto you the sealed writings of the publike actes neither doo any thing now remaine but the last punishement which is to be left to them for whom God hath reserved this glory So at length wee have now seen the true face of the whore and Antichrist it remaineth that wee examine in few words what the Papists teach concerning these things and especially because if this one cause be throughly knowe tryed the discerning of all other things shal be easie For if the Pope of Rome be Antichrist what need is there to contende about the Church of Rome about the seven Sacraments about free will about good workes or about any other point in controversie It is evident inough to all men that the doctrine of Antichrist is to be suspected avoided detested Therfore my brethreÌ„ strike at this roote throw your axes against it with al your might This one controversie is inough for us All the branches shal be cut down togither with the tree with much labour spared in which respect I will not be loth to digresse to this point a little while A refutation of the Antichrist which Bellarmine desscribeth and confirmeth by such arguments as he can in his 3. book of the Bp. of Rome Chap. 1. Of the common name of Antichrist ALTHOVGH I suppose it cannot be obscure unto any that dâ—sirous of the trueth hath diligently marked the things before written but that the Pope of Rome is the great Antichrist and how long he hath so been yet least the mist wherby the Papists endevour to hide the trueth should dazel the sight of any I have thought it expedient before I goe on with the rest of the interpretation to scatter it all into thinn aier that so the Sun may henceforward shine with clear beams on whomsoever Bellarmine deduceth this whole question into nine chiefe points of which the first is Of the nâ—me of Antichrist the second whither Antichrist be one man or a kind of men The third of the time of his comming and death The fourth of his proper name The fift of what stock he is to be born and by whoÌ„ he is cheifly to be received The sixt where he shall fixe his seate The seventh of his doctrine and manners The eight of his miracl s The ninth of his reign and warrs What is to be minded of these all and how the desperate Papists ar deceived in every of them may be manifest to any by the things which the Angel hath taught us in the former chapter touching the condemnation of the whore For if Antichrist be come and hath fixt his seate at Rome ever since the Empire was taken away from the hethen Emperours then can it not be doubted but Antichrist in a common name is a secret adversary an impious Kingdome and not one singular man that the time of his coming is past and not now to come that his proper name is Lateinos that he is not to be born of the Iewes stock nor to reign otherwhere then at Rome that his doctrine is in name Catholik and Christian that his mitacles reign and warrs ar no other then we have had experience of these many ages But Antichrist came at the sayd time for the Angel hath taugh us that Antichrist is the Beast which was and is not should ascend out of the bottomlesse pit and goe into destruction chap. 17.8 And wee have shewed that the Bp. of Rome from the time of the Hethen Emperours hath long since undergone the three first of these fowr notable chaÌ„ges giving most sure documents of the fourth also Secondly Antichrist is the seveÌ„th head of the Beast which next succeeded the hethen Emperours who made the sixt which then was when Ihon wrote Rev. 17.10.11 Therfore so soon as they ceased came forth he that had the dignity of the next head Thirdly the then hornes
promised to free them that overcome He doth not promise to deliver them from the first being too light a thing either to be given by such a great price Rewarder or to be expected by those that ar his And what need is there to be defended from the first death which the necessity of nature will bring at length but to prevent it for the truths sake procureth a farre greater crowne He promiseth therfore that which is best and doth not allure us with a vaine shew of some light thing Analysis SO is the Epistle to the Smyrneans That to the Church of Pergamus is inscribed likewise to the Angell he that sendeth hath a two edged sworde The narration commendeth his constancy illustrated by the throne of SathaÌ„ and the comon times in which Antipas suffered ver 13. then he reproveth the sinne which he sheweth both of what quality it is consisting in suffering Baalamites ver 14. and Nicolaitans ver 15. and also the remedy for it namely repentance which he setteth forth by the danger of refusing the same ver 16. Lastly he concludeth with a solemne Epiphoneme and proposeth a reward the hidden Manna the white stone an unknowne name written upon it ver 17. Scholions 12 And to the Angell of the Church of Pergamus Towred Pergamus Pergamus so farre as the Spirit seemeth to respect the notation thereof in this place is as it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the tower of Troye as Hesychius expoundeth it to with a towred city high and superbe agreable to that which followeth in the next verse where the throne of Sathan is It is distant from Smyrna Northward about five hundred and fourty furlongs with a greater distance then Smyrna is from Ephesus in the last border of the North latitude as touching those seaven cityes A great diminishing of light fell out in the Smyrnean corner under Constantine Constance Valence even at the first turning from Ephesus first purity But nowe he goeth from Smyrna to Pergamus into the utmost darkenes the Church being about to suffer a greater defect of light then ever before this time since Christ was borne The Antitype of this Church is of longer time then the former as also the distance of place is greater conteining a great part of the kingdome of darkenes from the three hundred and foure score yeare to wit from Gratian where the former period ceased unto about the yeare one thousand three hundreth as in the explication we shall see ¶ These things saith he which hath c. The furniture of him that enditeth the Epistle is taken out of chap. 1.16 Which now he taketh before the other because he would shew himselfe such in practize in this Church For he would punish the rebells as he speaketh after ver 16. on whom no light punishement should be layd by a two edged sworde and that sharpe and the sword is the worde of God it selfe whose force should now be manifested in the subduing of the man of sinne Although this sword in this period is shaken rather then inflicted For he threatneth a fight against those that repent not ver 16. he cometh not forthwith to handy strokes 13 I know thy workes A narration of his more approved condition which is set forth two wayes that he neither denyed the faith allthough he dwelt in that place where Sathans throne is sâ—condly that neither in those dayes wherin Antipas was slaine It is not hard to know why it is called the throne of Sathan For the city where the Ethnike Emperours had their seat made warre professedly against the Lambe is called the Throne of the Dragon chap. 13.2 So of the foster inferiour cities which come nighest to the disposition of this chiefe city because they make a pallace more garnished for the Devill they are noted with the same name Nowe was the mother city of the Romane Empire in Asia For it is likely that this region being brought into a Province after that Atalus Philometor King of Pergamus had named the people of Rome his heire the Proconsull being sent to governe the same placed there the seat of his iurisdiction Plinie in his 5 booke of his naturall History chap. 30. saith that this City was by farre the most famous of Asia which glory should lesse agree unto it if the Proconsuls had had their dwelling in any other place seeing honour is wont eyther to come to cities or to departe from them together with the chief rulers Although before it perteined to the Romane power it was the head city of the Kingdome of Asia For so Livius speaketh entreating of Scleuchus the sonne of Antiochus He leadeth saith he to the assailing of Pergamum the head and tower of the Kingdome Decal 4. book 7. It was therefore a great thing to professe Christ in the hearing sight of so mighty a city spiteful against the truth There may not be prophecying in Bethel for it is the sanctuary of the king and the Kings house Amos 7.13 Aretas reporteth of Antipas that he gave testimony to the truth at Pergamus and that his martyrdome was kept even to his times But I finde noe more in any author worthy credit From this place it is evident that he was a very famous Martyr by whose sufferings was signified the rage of a most grievous persecution This is another praise that Pergamus had continued constantly in the faith when a fierce tempest raged very greatly It is an easy thing to professe Christ when a man may doe it either with honour or without danger But to reteine the profession of him without feare even with the danger of life is an excellent commendation and a point of true courage Wee have said that the Antitype was the Church from the foure hundreth yeare to the three hundreth above the thousandth When after Constantius Iulianus and Valence Smyrna being left it went further toward the North unto Pergamus that is was hidden in thicke darknes being brought under the power of that City where The Throne of Satan is namely ROME This is that Towred City The Tower of Troye whose Daughter shee boasted her selfe to be once the Mother City almost of the whole world the proude Lady and Queene of the Nations noe lesse famous for the stately Temples Theaters Highe Places then for the ample and large dominioÌ„ and Empire It is plainly called the Throne of Satan in the 13. chapter of this booke both because it was once the Seate of the Ethnike Emperours as at the place wee will shewe And also because they being taken away it was made the Seate of the Popes who during this time have most plainly shewed that they reigned by the helpe of the Devill and not of God Foure and twenty Popes were all given to Divelish arts some of which gave up themselves wholy to Sathan by covenant to obtaine the Popedome Yea by the space of whole foure scoâ—e yeares from Sylvester II.
notable errours that there hath bin scarce at my time any other more foule and deadly Lamentable in deede is the fall of the famous men whose labour was once courageous and no lesse profitable against the comon enemyes And what a crowne had they received if they had continued in the same warrefarre and had not as cruell Elephants turned back of the enemyes wasted their owne friendes But my office is of an Interpreter and not of a quereller and therefore I leave of these things This death invaded not onely some perticalar men but also many whole cityes and provinces as may appeare by the booke of Concorde published in the yeare 1580. which is not of so great force to stablish the errour with the consent of so many as to testify this miserable calamity of the brethren And to this errour touching the Supper of the Lord and person of Christ were many other also added to wit of Originall sinne of Free will of Iustification of Good workes of the Lawe and Gospell of Indifferent things and of Predestination Therefore death assaileth with a manifoulde dart how great must the slaughter be seing shee casteth to ground even with one great troupes of men ¶ For J have not founde thy workes perfit The reason why so many fell into death The Church of Sardis as farr as it seemeth admitted not the syncere truth of God but reteined some Ethnike superstition The Church of Germany did indeede cast away many Popish errours yet in the Sacrament of the supper shee sticke still as it were in the clay of bodily presence not as Rome dreaming of a changed substance of bread and wine into a true and reall flesh and blood but no lesse contrary to and disagreeing from the trueth conioining the true flesh and blood togither with the outward signes affirming that he is present here on earth This leaven Luther never cast out but contended fiercely with Zuinglius Oecolampadius for to defend retaine the same Neither would God which afflicted so grievously the Corinthians for the prophanation of this sacred mystery so as many were weake and sicke and many slept 1 Cor. 11.30 have goe away unpunished the neglect of amending in this point Of which punishement to come some proofe was made whâ—n Luther was constrained for the defense of an uniust cause to fly for succour to Vbiquity and to confirme many other things touching the manhood of Christ which are contrary to the truth But for the heat of contention he could not so well consider and minde that froÌ„ those beginnings and flourishes he should understand God to be angry How did he not beware of that errour which did draw with it so great a multitude of wicked opinions Why feared he not what might have happened to others having tryed in himselfe into what case he himselfe was brought in disputing But his eyes were holden that he could not forsee for the time to come and turne away this so grievous punishment froÌ„ his people Wherfore their workes were not perfit because a full reformatioÌ„ was not used but onely one errour chaunged into an other noe lesse grievous And God is wont often times to punish sinne with sinne 3 Remember therefore c. The second remedy is to remember and repent Theod. Beza translated thus remember what thou hast received And so indeede some time the worde pos seemeth to be taken For that of Mark take heed what thou heare chap. 4.24 Luke hath it thus take heed how you heare chap. 8.18 But when he saied even now that theire workes were not full before God he seemeth not so much to exhorte that they would reteine those thinges which they had received for so they should have continued in their former errours as that they should remember the manner of receaving So as pos in this place ought to remaine in his owne proper signification denoting rather the quality then the substance of the thing He warneth therfore the Sardenses that they goe backe to the first institution and amende things fallen into decay after the rule of that alone Even as also the Germane Church that they minde what Luther propounded to himself at the beginning and make their reformation according to that rule But he regarded noe other thing at the first then that all humane inventions driveÌ„ away onely the divine truth revealed in the scriptures inspired of God might prevayle For so in the preface of his assertion of the artickles coÌ„demned by the Bulle of the Pope Leon x. First saith he J will that they beare mee witnesse that I will not be compelled with the authority of any at all how holy a father soever unlesse as farre as he shal be approved by the iudgement of divine scripture Againe Let the first principles then of Christians be none other but the word of God but all men conclusions be fetched from hence and againe to be reduced thither and tryed therby Those first of all ought to be knowen of every one not sought out by men but men to be iudged by them Whereupon also he rehearseth that of Augustine in his 3. booke of the Trin. be not bound unto my Epistles as unto the Canonicall Scriptures c. Therefore wee may not cleave in the bookes of Luther as the Vbiquitaries doe and they which corrupt the Sacrament by the late devised consubstantiation but as he thought he must be wise onely out of the scriptures so all his writings are to be brought backe to these holy balances Why doe wee give greter authority to his bookes then either he to the bookes of others or himselfe would have to be given to his owne A matter indeede of great moment and in which alone consisteth the turning away of the eminent evill Vnlesse men turne their eyes to these things and have their eares bent to heare their voice and also those things performed which they shall commande an other scourge remayneth for Germany more bitter then that which even hitherto hath afflicted her not lightly What godly man taketh not great griefe minding the destructioÌ„ of so many brethren by a pernitions errour so long conteÌ„tions of minds so sharpe battels both of wordes and weapons But he must needes be more vexed when he considereth with himselfe that there is not yet an end of these evills but some greater thing to hang over their heads unlese they repent betimes I could not but warne the brethren of the danger least I should heare with my great griefe them to be afflicted and full of calamity whoÌ„ I desire in Christ Iesus to flourish And I hope that howsoever my iudgment shal be troublesome yet my good will shall not be ungrate ¶ Yf thou shalt not watch I will come c. The perill that he threatneth is his coming as a thiefe and that in an unexpected time He doth not expressely mention what kinde of evill shall come although in some parte it may be gathered from the similitude which often times is
Angell is sicke For it cannot be that our Clergy should not be contemned of men who manifestly cleerly doe see howe beggerly Ecclesiasticall stipends are sought and desyred howe filthily and negligently the holy offices are administred howe all care of the flocke is naught set by the study of Gods glory is cast away When I say men see these thinges can it be that they should not despise the Angell seeking onely his owne things not those which are Christs And the Angell himselfe at certen times seeth the same thing in some sorte as can testify the often complaintes of their publike sermons although he knoweth not the cause or he would not knowe it fearing more as it were the remedy then the disease But it appeareth plainly howe greatly he is despised from that which happened a fewe yeares since A certen man set forth bookes who called himselfe a Marrer of Prelates in which he dealt boldly with the Angell Howe acceptable to the people were those merry conceites in wordes Howe plausible almost to all men Howe gladly and greedily and with howe great pleasure were they received every where Noe man is so ignorant and unskilfull in thinges but that minding the time he may say thus with himselfe For Iehovah hath poured contempt upon the Princes those that honour him he honoureth and the despisers of him shal be made light he hath made our Priests to be abiect to all the people because they have broken his Covenant These things I say a man considering with himselfe had not swerved from the trueth For if there had ben any estimation of the Angell men would rather have mourned then laughed and delivered those writings to the fire before they would had worneth them with fo often handling and looking on them I would not tell thee these thinges unlesse the Spirit did affirm plainly that thou doest not know thyne own nakednes That false glory wherein thou flourishest suffereth thee not earnestly either to minde or regarde what men speake and thinke of thee But learne from hence if thou be wise howe servants going before in great number and having chaines and a great troupe of serving men folloing after are of no force to drive away contempt and to deliver from the despising of the comon people or if thou canst not perceive these things so well in thy selfe beholde the Papists and the Pope their Prince howe doth he nowe stincke for his desert with the greatest part of men contemned naught set by vile and hated of all the godly whose feete notwithstanding some Princes being bewitched yet doe kisse and then whom noe mortall man hath ben in time past of more imperiall maiesty Remember our former Prelates whose riches were greater then thyne their authority greater their power more to be feared yet because the common sorte of people did see them to be meere gluttons howe did they deryde them The pride of our Wolsey was mocked openly For the honours of this world are figge leaves or as it were torne and ragged clothes which cover not the nakednes but make more deformed through the loupes Minde these things and be not proude of thy golden feathers but rather where thou art naked cover thy shame least through vaine boasting of the part adorned thou lye despised with the common people for thy other deformity And thus at the length I have opened this rotten sore if my paines travaile shal be acceptable and if being cleansed it doth farre well howe great thankes shall I give to our God but if the evill onely shal be stirred up and provoked and the handling shall disquiet them that are sicke I will conforte my selfe with the conscience of duty and the usuall wages of the Physitian 18 I counsell thee to buy of mee Golde Hitherto the cause nowe the remedy is taught both from whence it is to be fetched and by what meanes and also what is the matter of the medicine it selfe It is to be fetched from Christ alone he alone hath borne all our infirmities and alone yet can heale our griefes The way to fetch is by buying not because he requireth a pryce for he selleth wine and mylke without mony or chaunging of my thing Isayah 55.1.2 But because he will have a desire to be brought even as in getting of things with greate cost in which togither also he sheweth the dignity of the remedy which otherwise is not deare at any price The medicine is threefolde after the manner of the disease which wee have shewed to be threefold Golde white garments and eye salve Golde is set against poverty white garments doe cover nakednesse and eye salve doth helpe against blindnes Wee have sayd that wretchednes and misery were accidents which forthwith vanish when their fountaynes are taken away Of what sorte every one of them is may easily be understood by their contraryes Golde is opposed to the riches and poverty of the Angell that is to the hegging of Benefices and Ecclesiasticall Offices For the former riches are not true and doe not let but that the Angell may be the most base and vile begger But the Golde of Christ driveth farre off this beggery It is therefore that most holy manner appointed by Christ himselfe of calling chusing ordayning appointing Ecclesiasticall men every one to his office Wherby Pastors doe not seeke for the office but are sought for are not promoted for a peace of money but for goodnes and vertue not for favour but learning not at the will and pleasure of any man but by the election and consent of his flocke Christ will have this Golde to be bought of him because he himselfe hath described playnly this whole way end hath not left it free to men to deale in this matter at their pleasure As long as the thing shal be in the power of one Patrone and Bishop there will never be wanting bribe givers and such as will suffer themselves to be corrupted with rewardes But if Christ rule be kept this begging poverty would flee away never to returne againe For this golde is tryed in the fyre proved often times wholy fined Wee see the excellency of it in the primtive Church also amonge our neighbours at this day It dreadeth not any touch stone it feareth not any fyre it bursteth nor asunder by any knocking of the hammer but it abode invincible in time past yet doth abide with the great glory of them that are made rich therby Whyte apparell is opposed to the former honours nakednes that is contempt These garments also Christs will have to be bought of him having them most pretious most prayse worthy For what contēpt can come to thē whō their worthynes hath chosen their learning ordained their holines put in authority Whom many have earnestly desired for their tryed godlines doe admire for their diligēce in teaching doe feare because of the most free truth reverence as exemples of all vertue honesty Be an exēple
that is given to him that sitteth on the throne is thankesgiving in which the Beasts goe before as the captaines standerd-beates of the publike congregation ver 9. Afterward the other body of the Elders followeth both in adoration ver 10. also in consent to the same glorifying ver 11. after that custome wherby God is worshipped in the christian congregations Such is the congregation of the Godly before God and some such might be alwayes although not evident and visible to the world in equall glory at all times Scholions Afterward J saw Those things being declared which are of some short time nowe the Spirit those boundes being enlarged pursueth with a continued order those thinges which should shewe the comon and entyre face of things from the time of this writing unto the last ende The handling of which things wil be admirable neither wil be accomplished and performed without his ayde alone which shewed these thinges first to his servant Trusting therefore to his grace I will proceed in the worke begun Vnto the finishing whereof howsoever other things shal be wanting certenly faithfulnes and diligence in searching out to my power shall not be wanting These first wordes are perteining to a newe preparation unto a newe prophesy For Iohn is noe more conversant on the earth but is taken up into heaven where through a doore opened he beholdeth wonderfull changes of things that were to be knowne by noe other way Therfore the manner of the Prophesy following is divers from the former That former is straighter even as also the place where it was seen a small Iland compassed with the sea this spred farre and neere passing all measure even as also the heaven it selfe containing all things within his compasse Furthermore a certen visible print and signe of thinges to come was there to be seene in those seaven cityes For the Churches that after were to be inlarged increased should be pourtrayed and drawne out by the will of God according to the present image and figure of them but there was noe token or shew among mortall men of the things to be spoken of in this second prophesy For the peculiar iudgements of which there is most speach here are to be fetched from that secret revelation alone Vnto the heaven then where liberty of this vision was given is added afterward the booke sealed with seaven seales then noe creature sufficient to open the same nor any sufficient power of any one except of the Lambe onely as wee shall see in his place All which things as they declare the excellency of this Prophecy so they require our greater attention and earnest bending of our mindes to them As touching the wordes the first voice is heard because there is the same author of both Prophecies and soundeth like a trumpet wherby the thinges heard may be made more certen and out of doubte might be perceived the better of Iohn as hath ben observed at chap. 1.10 It biddeth to come up hither where onely the things might be seene of which there was noe tracke or path made in the earth And he would not that he should see a farre of as through the doore by which meanes he might be deceaved or not see the thinge playnely enough but that he should be present and before him that he might have a certen undoubted knowledge of the things But that which followeth is not voyde of doubting howe he may say that he will shewe a vision of things which must be done after these For whether should the following Prophesy not take her beginning before that former of the seaven Churches should attayne his ende But in them wee see is intreated of thinges of our time or if wee respect the bare types many thinges to come were fore shewed moreover in those thinges that followe it shall noe lesse appeare that Iohn doth tell of things agreeing with their owne times so that the wordes cānot be so understood by any meanes Wherfore neither is that distribution firme wherein the whole Prophecy is distinguished into thinges present and future The Spirit followeth not such distribution but mixeth many future thinges with present as they are counted Wherfore these wordes after these thinges are not refferred in respect of their beginning to the end of the former prophecy but unto the present age of Iohn yea unto that very moment wherin the Spirit revealed these thinges from whence a newe beginning be in taken he describeth the continuall course and terme of time of the whole Church and annexeth those things which could not be understood sufficiently from the former types Therefore Theod. Beza well translated heta tauta by and adverbe hereafter But in respect of the end not without cause this second Prophecy is counted after the former as being of a farre longer time reaching unto the last cōming of Christ wheras that former is termined with farre narrower boundes Frō these things therfore there are as wee take it two things chiefly to be observed First that from this place those things onely are handled which doe follow the tyme of the revelation made For so he speaketh playnely And J will shew thee the thinges that must be done hereafter Which being marked of certen Interpreters I mervayle was not observed in their expositions But the times through the whole treatise to be confounded so by a whirlewinde that all thinges were wrapped in most thicke darcknes Wee being taught by their exemple wee will borowe light from hence for the exposition following The second that this Prophesy belongeth to the whole Church which is neither tyed to any particular Churches nor is ended with any other boundes then the whole frame of the world The Spirit set in the first place that particular Prophesy that he might relate comon thinges commonly without interrupting of the narration 2 Therfore I was suddenly ravished in the Spirit Here is the same authority altogither which was before as well from the person calling as from the persone called For it is the same holy inspiration of God which he mentioned in the first chapter verse 10. But what neede was there of a newe inspiration Had the former ceased that in a certen distance of time it might be kindled a fresh Without doubt the instinction was continuall without intermission but he saith that it was suddenly in the Spirit because the Spirit did frame him to receave newe visions unto which he perceived himselfe prepared forthwith The whole Revelation seemeth to have ben finished in that one Lords day chap 1.10 and therefore that there fell out noe intermission after that it began once to be exhibited ¶ And beholde a Throne was placed in heaven Such was the preparation by a newe calling now he cometh to the cōmon type of the holy Church The description of which was necessary before he should enter into the other Prophesy For when as her manifolde dangers and notable alteratiōs were to be rehearsed her flight returne
singular ioy and thankesgiving of the whole Creature but apart first of the Church ver 8.9.10 and of the Angels ver 11.12 After of the rest of the Creature ver 13. Last of all the Church togither subscribing to the common ioy reioycing of all thinges ver 14. Scholions Afterward I saw at the right hand the cōmon translation hath In the right hande as also the Interpreter of Aretas but all the Greeke copies with one consent have at the right hande They peradventure have put it in the ablative case because it followeth after in the seavēth verse that the Lambe tooke the booke from the right hand But this is noe sufficient cause to departe from the naturall property of the wordes when it may be that the weaknes of the creatures might be made to appeare the more the booke at the first was not in the right hande but at the right hande from whence if there were noe power to open it being offered and layd before without asking much lesse would there have ben any if he had held it in his handes Afterward when the debility of the Creatures was found out the booke was taken into his handes that the dignity of the Lambe might be the better knowne not taking it up hastily lying at his side but receaving it from hande to hande As touching the intent of this vision it seemeth good to the Spirit after the lively representation of the true Church in the former chapter which was to be layd as the fundamēt of all the building following before that he should come to the particular Prophesyes to put men in minde of the incomprehensible excellency of this Prophecy For wee are wont such is our slouthfulnes to passe by very greate and excellent thinges carelesly and sleepingly unlesse peradventure some body pull us by the eare and require instantly diligence mentioning the greatnes of the thing Least perchance the same thing should fall out in this place he setteth before our eyes that this is a Prophecy of that kinde which conteineth in it all the dāgers that at to be undergone of the Church through her whole race on earth yet wrapped in so great obscurity that no created minde can beholde it a farre off much lesse unfolde the same to others An argument in deede most worthy to be knowen and farre most pleasant of all thinges opening to us the hidden Mysteries with exceeding great desyre whereof men are inflamed or otherwise in searching out of them they torment themselves rashly and in vayne And yet neverthelesse it is not to be desyred onely for this cause to knowe it but because also it conteyneth events of that moment that it would be very hurtfull and for rowfull to the Church if they should wholy be concealed Therefore Iohn wept being privy to the dangers and togither therewith also minding the lacke of a guide And in deede the Church hardly holdeth on her course though this lampe be given her Howe miserable had shee ben left utterly in darknes and not perceiving sufficiently eyther which waye shee should goe forward or where to set her foote safely Iohn therefore had had iust cause to weepe if there had ben hope noe where of opening the sealed booke But the sudden assault of griefe bereft the holy man of understanding and suffered him not to thinke in whom there was ability while at length he knewe by the putting in minde of an other Therefore this Prophecy is famous for the worthynes of the argument excellency of the Mystery plēty of fruict but farre way most excellent because he alone was founde worthy to open the same who by his death founde out a redemption for the elect This is that thing for which the Church on earth the Angels in Heaven lastly the universall Creature reioyceth greatly and that not for a glorious shewe without the trueth of the thinge as the manner is in humane writinges in which the thinges are amplifyed for to adorne and set them forth but from a true feeling and iust cause of reioycing as hereafter wee shall see through Gods his helpe In the meane time shall not this exceeding great ioye of Heaven and Earth kindle in men a diligence to reade a desyre to understand and an endevoure to observe It is in deede a thing worthy of our serious meditation into which I have digressed and discoursed in many wordes because I see that the Interpreters eyther not to have marked the intendement of this chapter or at the least otherwise then was meete to have spoken nothing at all of a matter very needfull and necessary ¶ A Booke written within and on the backeside The first commendation of the Prophecy is from a Booke a copious writting and Seaven Seales in this verse That which is recorded in a Booke must without all controversy be certē being a faithfull helper of the memory whereas that which is noe otherwise grounded then onely upon the memory may easily in continuance of time eyther be utterly extinguished or at the least wise corrupted Whereupon GOD biddeth Ieremy for the greater credit of that Prophecy to write all the wordes that he spake unto him in a Booke in the thirty chapter of Ieremy and in the 2. verse So carefull is he to provide against our doubting that wee should not thinke otherwise of the things then of such as are written in publike bookes graven as it were in brasse so as they can neyther be altered nor forgotten The plenteous writing is shewed in that the booke was written within and on the backe side on both sides of the leafe And he speaketh after the olde māner of writing in somewhat lōge parchments which afterward were wounde about some rounde smooth peece of wood frō whence they were called volumes Christ is sayd to have unrolled the booke and rolled it up againe as in Luke chapter 4 verse 17. And the outside that I may use the wordes of the most learned Theod. Beza alway remayned cleane unlesse the inside was not able to containe the whole writing for then they wrote on the outward part which sorte of writinges were called exteriour writings as being written on the backe side This so great prolixitie therefore did containe not onely the chiefe points which peradventure might be included in some narrow place but also every most small thinges so that neither is there any neede to seeke and fetch ought from any other place which perteineth to the knowledge of future thinges and that wee knowe also that nothing can be done without the will of God The Complutent edition and some others read without but on the backe side is more often used from whence is written on the backe side as wee have shewed a little before Finally howe pretious are these Mysteryes which God hath with himselfe sealed up with so many seales The creatures could not so much as to looke on the BOOKE as is in the fourth verse much lesse was there neede of seales for to hidde
usâ—d should be free and absolved from the accusation although fouÌ„d to be such a one but the accusâ—r should be made subiect to punishement as it appeareth by the Decree of the same Antonin in Iustin and Euseb booke 4.13 Nowe surely the trueth triumphed wearing a crowne and the Emperours did lye downe bâ—ing stroken by the bowe who seemed to be farre beyond the lot of private men Yea in the most remote countryer one Apologie being throwne the enemyes were so restrayned that they could attemp nothing against the trueth The same Iustine also by his most learned writinges stopped the mouthes of the Iewes and Grecians so as the victory of the trueth was famous Euseb booke 4.18 Therefore this time next after Iohn excellent for Apologies ioyfull fruict of the persecution staied is the voice of the Lyon the first Beast and that onely pleasant solemnity which the trueth did keepe being sit on the white horse with the bowe and crowne 3 And when he had opened the second Seale So is the first Seale The second as touching the LaÌ„be that openeth it there is nothing newe But the Beast is an other namely an Oxe whose place was the seconde in chap. 4 7. And wee knowe that this beast is borne to labour not to be compared with the LioÌ„ in the glory of overcoming yet farre more noble in the praise of enduring sorrowe Neither is the voice here so terrible and roaring as was that of the thundering Lion but vulgar and common wheÌ„ce he saith that he heard the second beast saying which yet should have his force to stirre up men to hearken to the event 4 And another horse came forth that was reade The second type is a read horse the sitter upon him to whom was given a great sword Of the horse wee spake at the second verse That fiery colour signifyeth warre contentions slaughters blood as in Isaiah Who is this that cometh from Edome with stieped garments from Bozrah Wherfore art thou red in thy garments and thyne apparell as of him that treadeth in the wine presse chap. 63.1 The sitter on him is furnished with power because he should order the matter not at his owne pleasure but by an others commandement Power is given partly by word partly by signe By word leave being graunted to take peace from the earth For so the verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to take is taken for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to take away as wee have observed before in chap. 3.11 But the Earth in opposed to Heaven And seeing Heaven in this booke doth note out the true and holy Church as after it shal be manifest the earth contrarywise signifyeth the ungodly world from which peace is taken and not from the Church Which is yet more playne from the declaration of the power which proceedeth so farre that it should set meÌ„ togither by the eares to kill one an other as these wordes shewe that one should kill another but the Church avengeth not her selfe by slaughter of the enemyes much lesse by a certen furie in murdering her owne friendes But this butchery one of an other groweth from the strifes and battells amonge the Gentiles wherby one should runne headlong to an others destruction Wherefore it is not here spoken of the persecution of the Church but of the tempest of warres wherewith the whole world should be shaken Which is declared to be very great by the signe and Instrument of the power that is a great sword given to the sitter on the horse Which thinge came to passe after that Antoninus Pius was dead For his sonne Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Verus by name a Philosopher by deede a greate enemy of the trueth being blinded with the Heathens superstition moved a mercilesse persecution against Christians Which that the second Beast might restraine he uttered a voice For Iustin sent a second Apologie to the Emperour Euseb booke 4.16 of the Eccl. Hist Melito Bishop of Sardi Apolinarius Bishop of Hierapolis doe the same pleading earnestly the cause of the Christians in bookes written to the same Emperour Euseb Hist booke 4.26 But the Emperour more learned then his Father lesse godly receaved the defense with deafe eares From hence the voice of this Beast became the voice of an Oxe as which prevailed not as before the voice of the Lion did prevayle But the Beast neverthelesse after his lowing did beare a grievous yoke of the former calamity Iustin himselfe before in strength a Lion nowe in patience an Oxe killed for Christ his sake obtayned the name of Martyr Euseb Hist booke 4. 16. The residue did mourne under the crosse without any rest given them Notwithstanding howsoever the voice prevailed not to appease the cruelty yet it was instead of an alarme to warne the faithfull howe great evill was like to come shortly upon the world for their cruell hardeâ—ing against the trueth Peace shal be taken away straiteway from men seeing it should be most iust that they which would refuse eternall peace should not also enioy this earthly and they which so greedily thirsted after innocent blood should be satiated at length with their owne blood Therefore by and by all thinges are on fire wâ—â— warres The Parthians nowe first of alâ— afâ—â— Trâ—ianâ— fall away fâ—â—â— he Romanes Thither the brother of the Emperour goeth be in adâ—â—â— as a â—â—â—forte to the Empire and at length a very great disconfiture 〈…〉 he returneth home with triumphe to whom this felicity was bu◠〈…〉 being suddenly dead of an Apoplexiâ— whâ—le he sate with his brotâ—er in the chariot Eutrop. Brev. booke 8. Shortly after arose the warre of the people of Bohemia so great as ther hath not bin the like in any time as the sâ—â—e Eurropius saith worthily to be compared with the warres of Caâ—thâ—gâ— which togither with the Bohemians the Qâ—â—dâ—â— Vandâ—â—s the Sarâ—â—â—es and Suâ—ves and all Barbary from the Câ—â—â—â—e of Paâ—â—onia even to the middes of the Gaulles Hoâ—â—e misâ—table was then the face of things the same author dâ—scribeth excellently after thiâ— manner For saith he there was not rest any where from warre and through all the East Illyrâ—â—um Italy France battayles were hotely applyed these were earthquakes not without the destruction of cityes inundations of rivers often pestilence kindes of locusts hurtfull to the fieldes so as nothing at all almost wherby moâ—â—â—ll men are wont to be wasted with very great sorowes can be spoken or thought which raged not when Antoninus was Emperour Those are his wordes It was a great and cruell sword which was moyst drunken with so much blood If any doe thinke that warre was noe strange thing to the Romanes neither to be like to be true that a thing so comon and â—â—uall should here be signifyed let him compare the Empire of this Antoninus with theirs which went before he shall see that the warre had â—â—â—â—ed by the Providence of God for a loÌ„ge space to the end that this iudgâ—â—ent of God when it
should come to passe might be more famous Aâ—â—â—â—us his father governed the whole world by his sole authority noe warre being made for the space of three and twenty yeeres Sextus Aurelius Vulâ—r Hadâ—ianus also had peace the whole time of his empire except that once onely he fought by his Vice-Roy Eutrop. Brev. booke 8. Was not the thing worthy observatioÌ„ that after the peace of 44. yeeres all places should be suddenly troubled with the burning flame of warres Every man seeth that there is so great agreement of all things namely of the Prophecy Time and Event that it cannot be doubtfull but that the Spirit pointed as it were with the finger to this onely thinge Tertul. in his Apol. that a notable peace was granted at length to the Cristians by this Emperours decree but this came to passe after the warre of the Marcomanes in which having tryed the singular helpe of God against the enemyes by the prayers of the Christians who were souldiours in his army he could not but provide at leÌ„gth for their safety who had brought health both to him selfe and also to his Empire And yet he lived not longe after this warre the next yeere after the triumphe departing this life 5 And when he had opened the third seale c. The Beast of the third seale is a man chap. 4.7 mighty in reason experience of things Not but that the former Beasts were of this same force also and power but because this should be the chiefe thing wherein the third Beast should excell The voice also of this is more obscure then was that of the first which yet should be sufficient to teach the faithfull what punishement God would take of the world for their sake ¶ Tâ—â—â— I behâ—ld â—â—d loâ— a blaâ—ke horse The third type is a blacke horse the sitter on wâ—â—â— he â—â—â—th in â—iâ— haâ—â—â—â—â—es being commanded to bring in a dearth alâ—◠〈◊〉 the Bâ—â—â—s yet so as he should not hurt wine and oyle Therefore as â—oaâ—â—ng this â—orse the blâ—â—â—olour sitly agreeth to the hunger starveÌ„ who 〈◊〉 a body â—ithout blood â—ithout iuyce without colour as Ier. Lam. 〈…〉 pure thâ—â—â—oâ—â—ow is their bewâ—y become more darke then 〈…〉 8. Also through hunger the eyes are dimme covered with daâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 eyes receâ—ed light wheÌ„ he had put his haÌ„de to his mouth 1 Sâ—â— â—â— 28 〈…〉 which the sâ—â—ter hath in his haÌ„des is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wâ—◠〈…〉 to wit the beame of the balaÌ„ce on which the sâ—oles doe haÌ„ge 〈…〉 the whole A sâ—â— instrument for famine seeing 〈…〉 as weighed 6 Aâ—d I 〈…〉 Thâ—s vâ—â—â—â— is the 〈◊〉 being in the middes of the Beasts ch 5 6 〈…〉 uniâ—â—sâ—ll administratioÌ„ of thinges beiâ—g 〈…〉 Bâ—t seâ—â—ng this voice is â—â—â—â—d amoÌ„g the Beaâ—â— neither as 〈◊〉 goâ—â— out froÌ„ 〈…〉 â—lace by the same is signifâ—ed thâ—â— the very 〈…〉 but yet which alone should knowe the coâ—â—ll 〈…〉 ¶ A measure of wheâ—â— c. The Interâ—â—◠〈…〉 he â—â—â—en quaÌ„tity of this measure some give to it 3 〈…〉 8. â—â—esichius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are as it were â—ood divided which in one word 〈◊〉 called coÌ„monly Demâ—nsâ—on a sâ—â— mâ—â—â—â—re of corne Atheneus speaâ—eth â—ore dâ—â—inctly of it in his 3 booke Dâ—â—opsi shewing for how long a tâ—me this allowancâ— was calling it the sâ—stenance for one day Aristophanes in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bringâ—th somewhat a more full light where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 twitting the servants sayth whom I have taught to fashion foure loaves of bread to a Choenix to wit a measure of corne Therefore Chocnix conteineth so much corne as would suffice to make foure loaves The Scholiast addeth that foure great loaves were made of a Choenix and 8 small ones 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signify corne in generall in this place wheate or meale of wheate a dearer provision then barley three measures of which are not solde for more then one of wheate for a peny understand shal be folde or some like word Denarius is a latine word being worth ten pieces of silver The auncient writers make it equall in weight value to the Attike drachma that is seven pence It is of three kindes as some will have it one of which is worth after our accounte seven pence an other eight an other ten And thus much of the corne as touching the other sustenance he sayth and oyle and wine hurt not The latine translations reade the wordes being displaced thus and wine oyle hurt not the meaning is yet wine and oyle hurt not after the manner of the Hebrewes the copulative being put discretively The wordes wine oyle caÌ„not be referred unto those that went before as though he should say a measure of wheate shal be sold for a peny and three measures of barly for a peny likewise wine and oyle for a peny Iunius on this place thou shalt not doe uniustly for the wordes oyle wine are the accusative case of the following wordes thou shalt not hurt and not the nominative going before the verbe as the wordes measure and measures are Wherefore all succour for life should not be taken away but onely necessary things should be diminished Oyle and wine which serve for delicious dainties should be left unhurt because it had seemed good to God to punish the poorer sort first the Princes and states being reserved as dainties from famine to the pestilence For whom the famine could not consume because of their riches and aboundance those the pestilence should eate up and should kill with a speedy death as in the seale following So are the wordes The event is not so playnly mentioned of the History-writers as were to be wished who doe gather onely the more notable thinges and doe easily passe over for the most part thinges vulgar and common especially when as this famine consisted onely in the scarcity of corne not in a dearth of all victualls Yet God would have some tokens of it to be apparent as farre as might suffice to set out of danger the trueth of the Prophecy Commodus the sonne of Antoninus did succeede his father who being Emperour there was given by the mercy of God some breathing I thinke because froÌ„ the Emperour himselfe alone man kinde should have plague and pestilence enough Pertinax Iulian followe both of a short raigne and therefore lesse hurtfull At length Severus enioyeth the Dominion a cruell authour of a most grievous butchery whether of his owne accord or by the instigation of other men Then the third Beast cryed out admonishing the faithfull that God would punish the wicked loathing spirituall foode with a great penury of the sustenance of this life For Tertullian whoÌ„ by right thou mayest call a Man excelling in witte in good iudgment and in learning who hath almost as many argumeÌ„ts as wordes who through anger falling away unto the Heresy of Montanus by his infirmity also shewed that nothing perteining to a man was alienate from him this
times was as concerning vittailes And although the untēperatnes of the Heaven had not ben there was calamity enough from the continuall warres to spende up all the store seeing it must needes be that the fieldes and country were forsaken the tillage of the earth was neglected that the cattel were not regarded the corne layed up was burnt with fire and that all succour of life was destroyed From whence the sword hath Famine ioined with it as an unseparable companion The third weapon of death was the Pestilence then which noe mā will say easily I thinke whether at any time there hath ben any more sharpe and grievous either for continuance of time or for multitude of those that perished It arose first under Gallus Volusianus beginning at Aethiopia it was spread almost through all the East and Weast it made many cityes wholy empty of cityzens and continued whole 15. yeeres as Zonaras in Gallo and Dionysius of Alexandria in an Epistle to the brethren doe describe lamentably the cruell fiercenesse of it and togither also maketh mention of the former calamityes giving a most cleare testimony of the fulfilling of this Prophecy in those times After the persecution which he spake of a little before there followed both warres and famine which wee endured togither with the Gentiles bearing alone the thinges wherewith they oppressed us yet even alike partakers of those thinges which both they brought upon them selves and suffered and againe wee reioyced in the peace of Christ which he gave to us alone But when both wee and they had ben cased a very short time that pestilence entered a thing more terrible to them then any terrour and more lamentable then any calamity and as one of their owne History-writers sayd which alone exceeded the hope of all men yet not such to us but an exercise and tryall inferiour to none of the rest for it absteined not in deede frō us but it came on with farre more violence against them These thinges hath he in Euseb Hist booke 7.22 Cyprian from this sorrowfull and unwonted evill tooke the argumēt of his booke touching mortality As for the Beasts if they be taken properly I remember not that I have read any notable dāmage and hurt done of them at this time although it is noe light coniecture that they did much harme in the Easterne and Southerne countryes In some ages coming after when also the famine and pestilence became worse and worse men were afraid of the dogges least being accustomed to eate their carkases cast forth abroade afterward they should desyre thē alive for meate whereupon they set themselves to kill the dogges Euseb booke 9.8 neither could it be but when foode fayled in the fieldes and men were lesse able to defend themselves that many were devoured of the Beasts But if wee referre them to cruell men and tyrants in noe mans remembrāce at any time were there so great troupes of Beasts in every place spoiling and renting men in pieces For when Gallienus was Emperour who after Valerian was taken reigned alone so many tyrants arose who tooke to themselves the name of Emperour as there were not so many since Cesar was Dictator to that time in so long a row and continued ranke of EMPEROVRS Thirty are recorded by Trebellius who at one time in divers coūtryes invaded the Empire in which also certeine women scoffed at the name of Romane How great a dismembring of men must there needes be whē so many Beasts strove at once about the Empire Such then are the three Seales every one notable for their scourges the two former for their speciall the last for all these kindes of punishements wherewith the world was to be punished for despising and vexing the trueth For when the milder correction prevailed nothing with their stubburne hartes almost all the hostes of death are sent in upon them even as also the event hath most fully approved Neither yet are these evills so proper to this one age that they can agree to noe other but they are the common punishements of the contemners of godlines Lev. 26. Ezech. 6.11 c. And afterward after these times of Gallienus one may see the Famine and Pestilence did consume all whē Maximinus raigned in the East Euseb booke 9. 8. But there is so solemne a Prophecy of them in this place both because the next times after Iohn should be famous for these punishements which men should procure to themselves for despising the Ghospell and also because they should be faithfull hostages pledges and seales of the future events that were to be expected many ages after 9 And when he had opened the fift Seale I sawe under the Altar the soules c. Of the fifte seale there is noe Beast by whose voice Iohn is invited to see And that not without cause but because this secret should passe over men being not stirred up by any publike solemne crie to observe the event as was done in the former neither certenly doth the History reporte that any man performed any such labour in which respect such an office might be attributed unto him worthily Furthermore this Seale consisted partly in rehearsing thinges past partly in reporting an evēt of that kinde which is wont to glaunce by without perceaving especially seeing our natures ar so disposed that adversities doe abyde more surely in our mindes then prosperityes Wherefore seeing the Seales are made like unto the events it is no mervayle that noe type is set forth here to which noe event should be answerable ¶ J sawe under the altar the soules The fifte type is the soules of the Martyrs lying under the altar in this verse requiring vengeance against their enemies ver 10 receaving answere ver 11. Which three members doe respect three times to wit the time past present and to come The soules lying under the altar declare most finely from the consequent what wente before that is to say in what cōditiō the Church was during those former seales and with howe great cruelty of men she contended Wee have heard in deede the trueth overcoming wee have learned also that warre famine and pestilence with their cōpanions possessed and spoiled all thinges but there was noe mention yet in what state the true worshippers of Christ were in the meane time allthough from the victory of the trueth their conflict may be gessed frō those calamities anoying the world that great wronge was done to the godly for which cause the enemies were so sharpely punished But the thinge is made manifest nowe by this complainte of the Martyrs killed that is to say that an infinite quantity of blood was shed of men that worshipped the Sonne of God frō that time in which John wrote unto the ende of the raigne of Galienus whither the former seales have brought us And what place is there that have not heard of these horrible massacres all this space of time Tratan Hadrian Antonin Ver Maximin Severe Decie the rest
more theÌ„ enough This cry sheweth the manner of Gods iustice which cannot suffer uniust murders unpunished in which sorte the blood of Abell is sayd to have cryed Gen. 4.10 But how great is the patieÌ„ce of our God which is provoked by a cry to punishement before that he prepares to it But whither did the saints beare the former iniuries without speaking neither cryed out before this 5 seale Without doubt they did alwayes sigh under the crosse but nowe first of all mention is made of the crying because the time was not farre of when they should be delivered from those sorrowes For God is wont when he will bestowe any thing upon his children to stirre up their harts to fervent prayers both that they may more esteeme the good thing obtained and also that they may learne howe great a regard he hath of us that call upon him with sincere mindes ¶ How long O Lord which art holy true They set forth God with those titles wherby they may stablish increase their faith as it ought to be done in all right invocation For because he is holy he cannot let goe unpunished the ill deedes of the world especially seeing he is also true hath made large promises touching the blessednes of his people ¶ Doest thou not iudge avenge Iudgement perteineth to the knowledge of a matter vengeance to the performing executing of the thing iudged which signify punishement toward him that doth wronge yet chiefly I thinke the delivering of the innocent party from whence it is construed often with a preposition as in Luke avenge mee of my adversary ch 18.3 Where the widowe doth not so much desire fervently the punishement of the adversary as her owne deliverance So David 1 Sam. 13. and the Lord avenge mee of thee so hath Tremelius I would rather translate the wordes thus the Lord shall deliver mee from thee as also the Greeke Interpreters have it the Lord deliver mee from thee for he doth not wish evill to Saul to his face And such a thing is it which the Soules require to wit that God at length would after so long a tryall deliver the Church from the power tyranny of the enemyes that he would not suffer it to be oppressed alway with the yoke of the wicked That this is the summe of the request it is knowne from the graunt That is not denyed them which they desire earnestly but it is differred to some time which being accomplished they should receive the thing so much desired 11 Then longe white robbes were given to every one Montanus omitteth the white robes readeth it was given to them that they should rest Other copies reade in the singular number thus a white robe was given them so Aretas the coÌ„mon translation there were given to them every one severall white robes The answere made to the soules is evideÌ„t by a signe by a speech by both which is declared what should be the next coÌ„ming coÌ„ditioÌ„ of the saints The robes are giveÌ„ for a signe which are garmeÌ„ts haÌ„ging downe eveÌ„ to the heeles fitte for to hide all deformity in the body as Cyrus of the robe in Xenophon it seemed to hide if any should have any defect in his body Fitte vestemeÌ„ts for the saincts meete for Christ to give them But whereas the robes are white that perteineth to an ornameÌ„t used in time of ioy as wee hav shewed at ch 3.4 But now they ar giveÌ„ to every one not so much for the soules cause theÌ„selves in so much as they enioy gladnes in the heaveÌ„s but for to signify the things to be done on earth For waÌ„ted they robes all that time froÌ„ Traiane to Gallienus Christ promised that he that overcometh shal be clothed in white aray ch 3.5 How long is this promise differred It is not to be doubted but that the race being runne out there is some reward of the labour Therefore these robes are not they of which it was spoken before which ar given by and by after the labour is ended but of an other kinde signifying that the saincts should have merry dayes on earth for a time which they should celebrate as it were with white gownes as is the custome in the time of solemne mirth The answere made by worde cometh to the same ende which both commandeth them to rest and also sâ—tteth downe limits how long it should continue namely a very little time untill their fellow servants were fulfilled which should be killed even as they were In summe a ioyfull rest for a short time is fore shewed which at length a newe slaughter of the faithfull should follow which at length being finished that should come to passe which the holy soules desired The History witnesseth that the thing fell out after the same manner For after Galienus succeeded Claudius Quintilius Aurelianus Tacitus Florianus Probus Carus and his sonnes at length Diocletian through all which space of about fourty yeeres unto the ninetinth yeere of Diocletian there was a time of a white gowne and of ioyfull mirth free from the murders and spoiling of the saints the Emperours theÌ„selves being restrained of God that they might not interrupte and hinder the peace graunted Which calmnes Euseb describeth eloquently in the 8. booke and 1. and 2. chap. of his Hist For being about to write of the sorrowfull time of Diocletians cruelty he prepareth him selfe a way by the remembrance of the former happines He professeth himselfe unable to declare according to the worthines of the thing howe great every where amonge all men was the credit and liberty of the Christian trueth Howe great was the mildnes saith he of the Emperours towards ours to whom they committed authority and rule over the Gentiles whom they suffered without punishemeÌ„t and bouldly to professe their religion held in great estimation loved entirely and counted most trusty to them as that Dorotheus and Gregorius Also the Governours of the Churches founde noe lesse courtesie assemblyes were celebrated with very great coÌ„pany of people the accustomed houses were not able to receive the multitude but it was needfull to build newe and larger Certenly the whole narration casteth a savour of mirth most convenient to these white robes neither is there neede of any other comment and exposition of these garmeÌ„ts and of that rest which the holy soules are commanded to take But this felicity remained uncorrupted untill Diocletian disturbed it For this one onely conflict was remayning to their fellowe servants which at length being past they should enioy the thinge much desired neither should any rage of Tyrants afterward trouble them as before times 12 Afterward I beheld when he had opened the sixt seale and loe there was a great earthquake Neither hath the sixt Seale any Beast to make attention because men were attentive enough by the answere given to the Soules under the former seale For it was sayd that one onely strife remained
other not long after of apprehending the Pastors of the Churches and compelling them to sacrifice to Jdoles Here many courageously persevering were not overcome with torments but an infinite sorte of others being astonied a good while before through feare were weakened at the first assault Euseb booke 8.2 by the which he sheweth the sudden fall of many 14 And the heaven departed away The heaven every where in this booke signifyeth the universall purer Church and it properly to be at length her dwelling place in the meane tyme in such sorte by her represented that it hath not any more lively image on earth These thinges therefore prove that the calamity rested not in the Governours alone but that the whole face of the Church was covered with so blacke darkenes that it could be seene almost no where Let the same Euseb be read in the 3 booke ch 3. where he bewayleth the miserable wasting of it with lamentings borrowed from the lamentatioÌ„s of Ieremy chap. 2.1.2 Likewise from Psal 89.39 c. Yet notwithstanding this desolation should be but as the foulding of a booke A booke is not destroyed when it is rolled up but remaineth as great as it was before it becometh indeede lesse evident and apparant in the sight being reduced and brought into a farre straighter roome So likewise the Church should loose nothing of her syncerity howsoever her glory might seeme to be quite abolished But the similitude of a folded booke is taken from the auncient custome wherin bookes were not bound into leaves but were rolled up as little wheeles whence they were called volumes as Aretas hath nored The Hebr saith he did vse rowles that which is books with us in the same sense it is sayd in the Epistle to the Hebrewes chap. 1.12 and as vesture shall thou folde them up that is thou shalt deface all their glory as of a vesture folded up whose gorgeousnesse and beautie cannot be seene The Hebrewes have for it Tachâ—liphem thou shalt change them Psal 102.27 the which is translated by the Greekes significantly thou shalt folde up seeing the Psalmist speaketh of such a changing as is altogither contrary to the nature of the heavens For the heaven is Râ—qâ—â—hh stretched out spread abroad as a curtaine or as a mortall plate divided but rolled up it ceaseth to be Raqiahh so the Church is made to be spred through all nations aâ—d to impâ—rt to them as the heaven to the earth light warmnes and life it selfe but nowe for a time it should be rolled up neither should any glory of it be seen abroad Where theÌ„ was the visible maiesty of Rome in the meane time when the heaveÌ„ departed away as a booke folded up But they have goodly provided for them selves touching such dangers who have cost of all these thinges unto the last day but howe amisse and wrongfully shal be shewed by and by at ver 16. ¶ And all mountaines and Ilands There is nothing so firme which this tempest should not remoove nothing so farre of whither it should not goe and be spred The word mountaine noteth that and the word Iland this It is a great storme which doth either scatter the little hilles of the earth or which doth rage but in the bordering and lowe places but that which doth either cast and drive away the Mountaines themselves neither stayeth in the continent but also flyeth over the sea into the Ilandes must needes bring extreame destruction Eusebius beginning this boysterous storme at Nicomedia pursued it by the very footesteppes through all Syria Aegypt Cappadocia Cilara and Phrygia booke 8. but being as it were wearie with travayling and loathing so sorrowfull a narration he came not to our Europe although Thracia Italy Spayne France being nigh to them and our Iland Britanny somewhat further of ministred noe lesse plenty of Martyrs although the moderation of Constans caused all things to be more milde in these countries The eight booke of the Ecclesiasticall history of Euseb expoundeth these three verses largely 15 And the Kinges of the earth and the Peeres c. Thus farre is the Epitasis now followeth the Catastrophe ioyned togither with the former troubles For in the middes of the rage and heate of this calamity Christ would shewe forth his divine power from heaven and as it were raysed from his sleâ—pe would appease suddenly the tempest by his word alone as he did in time past being awaked by his disciples First at the sight of him Kinges and the Peeres of the earth should flee away and should hide themselves in most secret dennes For what other thinge drove Diocletian Maximin Hercule that having the soveraigne power of thinges and a most fervent desire to roote out Christians when also they had continued theyr fury unto the second yeere resigned the Empire suddenly and returned to a private life A thing saith Eusebius never heard of to have come to passe at any time booke 8.13 Neither without cause doth Ignatius cry out o wonderfull thing and unknowne till this age that of their owne accord neither old age pressing them neither the weightines of things both brought themselves into order Euseb layeth the cause upon their phrenesy Nicephorus also upon their rage arysing doubt lesse from thence because they sawe that they laboured sore in vayne to destroy the Christians But they touched not the true cause from hence they should have learned this which is it and noe other The Lambe at length shewing himselfe to be the avenger of his Church inwardly and secretly did stinge their mindes with the conscience of their wickednes and feare of vengeance wherby he drove these meÌ„ even against their wills unto this unheard modesty The thing is manifest from Maximianus who after that stinge of conscience waxed somewhat weake it repented him of his fact and left no meanes unattented for to recover the scepter which he had laid downe An other of the Emperours who succeeded those that gave over their place called Gallerius Maximianus exercising tyranny against Christians the same Lambe vanquished by an horrible disease and drove him to recantation an exemple whereof see in Euseb booke 18.17 Maximinus also being made Emperour in the East by Galerius at length against his will acknowledged Christ to be the King and gave free leave to his worshippers to live after his precepts and ordinances Euseb booke 9.9.10 Maxentius that Romane Tyrant striken with feare by the same Lambe fayned himsâ—lfe to be a Christian for a time Sabinus and the other rulers of the Provinces following the authority of the Cesars Augusts desired to winne the Christians favour also by a fayned gentlenes and to hide themselves from the wrath of the Lambe So great a feare of the Lambe came upon all degrees of meÌ„ that every one thought himselfe well provided who could get any corner wherein he might lye hidde in safety 16 And they sayd to the Mountaines It is an argument of exceeding desperation when they esteemed all
translation and some other Copies and so it seemeth that it should be read both that the greatnes of the evill may be the more perceived and also that those thinges which follow may be understood the more easily this first being set downe which is the chiefe He commeth nowe to the second effect which was hurtfull onely to the wicked the sealed being well defended from the evill of it For saith he they were cast into the Earth which wee have taught to signify Earthly men wholy addicted to the thinges of this life But this showre rained not upon the whole earth but onely upon the third part But he calleth it the third after the common manner the whole being distributed in to three parts Which third part was the East to wit Asia and the bordering places EVROPE and AFRIKE understood it rather by hearing then in very deeded VALENS and VRSATIVS Bishops the one of the city Mursia in the country of Pannonia the other of Singidon a city in the Superior Mysia did endevor and laboured much to fill those parts with this poison But God who is mercifull did in his kindnesse restrayne and represse this mischiefe within the boundes of the third part of the world least that in overwhelming the whole Church it would at length destroy and overthrowe the same utterly ¶ And the third part of the trees was burnt The trees are the foster children of that Earth of which I spake even nowe and those more stronge tall then any of the rest as after in the 7. chap. but the Greene grasse signifyeth the newe borne Infants of the Church and the common multitude But the tēpest seemeth to rage more grievously against the Grasse then against the trees for of these the third part onely is on fire but all the grasse is burnt up But this whole grasse belongeth to that third part onely even as that third part of the trees are all trees of the East from whence the condition of the trees is nothing better then of the grasse These things teach that all of the Christian name as well the highest as the lowest who lived in those countryes of the third part of the world and were not in trueth grounded and built upon Christ should be so miserably smitten with this storme that they should make shipwracke of their salvation But you will say that they were destroyed before that is true doubtlesse in Gods councill yet it often cometh to passe that reprobate men doe flatter themselves for a time with a certaine false hope and doe with very great care delight to followe some outward religion which afterward the time doth prove manifestly to have ben meere hypocrisy and a vaine appearance of holines so those burnt trees grasse should make shipwracke of their counterfait god lines dashing themselves against the rockes of so great ungodlines of the Bishops And howe could it be but all in whose hartes the trueth hath not taken deepe roote either should be carryed into errour or which is worse should contemne all religion should revolte from Christ himselfe should hate the worshippers of him whom they should see to be bent to this onely thing that they may rayse up strifes contentions and troubles Well wrote Constantine in an Epistle to the Councill gathered togither at Tyrus he upbraided the Bishops in that they did nothing else but sowe dissentions and hatreds and those things which did tende to the utter ruine of man kinde Socrat. booke 1. 34. But there needeth noe witnesses in a matter not doubtfull The exceeding great mercy of God is rather to be praysed which kept a fewe safe from this storme 8 Afterward the second Angell blewe the trumpet as it were a burning moūtaine The first effect of the sounding of the trumpet of the second Angel is a great mountaine burning with fire cast into the Sea The second effect is the death of the third part of the creatures that lived in the Sea As touching the first Mountaines in the scriptures are Princes States of a Realme Loftie minded all of that sorte as Isaiah saith that the day of the Lord shal be upon all the high mountaines and upon all the hilles that are lifted up and upon every high tower and upon every stronge wall chap. 2.14.15 From whence it seemeth here to note Kingdomes Principalities Honours Dignities the Pompe of the world and Traine folloing great men and the Ambition of such thinges This Mountaine burneth with fire as Vesuvius or Aetna because the desyre of honour and riches is fervent neither are men wont to be occupyed coldly in getting such thinges It is throwne into the Sea because the ambition of these things is cast into the doctrine a newe decree of the Councill being made touching order and honour of which their Ancesters never had a thought For wee have shewed before the Sea to be the most pure doctrine of the true and heavenly Church chap. 4.6 but of the earthly and false the foule and grosse chap. 7.1 Seeing then that this is the meaning of the words wee shall finde that the second Angell by and by after the first sounded the trumpet among the same Nicene Fathers For after that sentence was given touching the coessentiall nature of the Sonne of celebrating the Easter upon one and the same day of Miletium they turned themselves unto the making of Canons by which the Ecclesiasticall Discipline should be ruled Amonge other Canons they make a Decree touching the Primacy of the Metropolitanes that the Bishop of Alexandria should have authority over all the Churches in Egypt or Lybia and Pentapolis because the Bishop of Rome had the like custome Likewise as in Antioch and the other Provinces let the honour of every Church be reserved And that no man ordained without the will and knowledge of the Metropolitane should be counted a Bishop that honour also be given to the Bishop of Ierusalem and consequently that he may receive honour the dignity neverthelesse proper to the Metropolitane City remaining Surely this burning Mountaine was cast into the Sea when from this beginning there was strife among the Church men about dignity and honour as for the maintenance of religion and their private sustenance Indeede the obscurer Churches were wont in former times to goe to the learned and skilfull Bishops of more famous cityes and to aske their advise if any doubtfull thing had fallen out and to crave their aide to whom the excellency of the place procured more authority but that which they did before of their owne accord nowe must be done necessarily and those whom lately they saluted as their brethren and felowes in office they were now to be acknowledged by higher titles From hence came into the Church exercising of authority and having dominion by which in a short time after all thing were turned up sidowne Constantinople thought that shee was regarded nothing according to her worthines by this Nicene Decree wher fore a fewe yeeres
asssembled Indeede Martin Agatho Bishops of Rome condemned also the same Heresy who yet cannot be counted among this haie being tied to the earth by other veines to wit a most fowle Idolatry of which the Church of Constantinople was more pure which received not true and expresse Images before the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Coūcill a fewe yeeres after under Iustinianus second as sheweth Antonius Contius in the third part of the Decrees in the third chap. of distinctions the sixt holy Councill and Polydor. Virgil. in his 6. booke and 13. chap. concerning the Inventours In the times of Leo Isaurus the same Locusts came flying againe about the yeere 719. with a farre greater number of shippes and more hurtfull armies But God sufferred them not to hurt his haie which he himselfe doubtlesse had moved in stirring up Leo to prohibite that wicked Idolatry which haie time became yet more evident when Gregorie the second excommunicated the Emperour and deprived him of the Empire and of his felowshippe that is cut him of frō the wicked earth because he had ordayned that holie images and pillars should be throwne downe and destroyed Therefore the Locusts are driven away by battaile by famine by a sea-fire by tempest and haile mingled with fire that they might acknowledge God to be the defender of his haie and the whole navie of shippes tenne onely excepted did perish of which tenne five also were intercepted of the Emperours souldiers the rest at length arriving at Syria that they might be tidings bringers of that horrible slaughter It was Doubtlesse a manifest example of the haie saved from the iniurie of the Locusts Besides these Locusts the whole East was also full of Monkes but as the scorpions in some landes doe not hurt as in the Jlande Pharo in the Norike Alpes and elswhere so in very many places they bring death without any remedy and as the Locusts destroy very often whole nations with famine some time also they are for meate so the poison of the Monkes was more sharpe in the West part in that it did not enter into the East neither were they much hurtfull in the West to the cut grasse Discreete men to whom the trueth did shew it selfe more clearly despised the hypocrites without feare and sufferred not themselves to be devoured of them as the other unskilfull multitude which through a shewe of Godlines became a pray ¶ Neither all greene thing neither all trees but onely those men which have not c. The meaning is that some greene thing and some trees should be delivered from this vexation of the Locusts all the rest being yeelded up to their cruelty who had not the seale of God in their foreheades In the former chapter and seventh verse the third part of trees was burnt and all greene grasse to wit of that third part because all that part of grasse and of trees should be of the cōpanie of the cast awayes But unlesse some trees should be counted in the number of the elect the foure Angels should not have bin forbidden before to stay their rage even for one moment of time ch 7.1 Here therefore a fewe are taken out of a great number as the naturall force of the wordes doth shewe sufficiently The wordes doe beare doubtlesse that interpretation which the most learned Theod. Beza bringeth thus neither any greene thing nor any tree but onely the men c. For the universall signe all is taken some time for any as chap. 7. ver 1. neither upon all tree that is upon any where the Complutent edition readeth upon any tree and chap. 21.27 any thing that defiled or any defiled thinge as hath the Common translation Also the particles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be understood by way of opposition but onely the men c. as but they onely which are written in the booke of life of the Lambe chap. 21.27 But here I thinke that it is rather to be translated according to the proper signification of the wordes by way of exception thus except onely the men which have not the seale c. The difference is that exception is alwayes of a thing of the same kinde opposition may be of any divers thing whatsoever And this placeth every greene thing and every tree in the number of the sealed that attributeth the same thing to some certen trees and onely to some greene thing counting the rest of the grone in noe place of those that are to be saved more agreably to that which wee mentioned before chap. 8.7 Neither is it needfull in the other places alleadged to departe from the naturall property of these particles if wee shall consider the matter diligently From these thinges then it is prooved that there are some within the compasse of the false Church whom God chalengeth to him selfe by a privie sealing and that this greene thinge and trees are men as wee have interpreted chap. 7.1 the exception requiring it which noteth expressly men sealed that also the greene thinge and trees should be men out of the number of which men are excepted And surely there were many men yea some Kingdomes England Denmarke Germanie c. whether the rage of the Sarracenes came not and in those places where they raged did they exercise tyranny over any other then those men who had not the marke of salvation What other strife doe the History-writers of those times and places report then about the sepulchre and the crosse of the Lord and such vaine things wherewith Christians were bewitched Neither did superstitious Locusts vexe any other men but those which were addicted to their superstition as even nowe wee said 5 And to them was commanded that they should not kill them Howe great is their power wee may perceive from the degree of torment from the continuance of it estimation of death as a lighter thing As touching the first it was not permitted them to kill but to tormente Howe may this agree to the Saracenes who shed so much Christian blood These thinges seeme to be spoken not simply but in comparison Yf consideration be had of that slaughter which in the next trumpet was to come the Saracenes may well be thought not to kill At their first beginning the Christian name was not so much hated neither was there neede of any great murder when the nations which they set upon gave out their vanquished handes yeelding almost of their owne accord to have fellowshipe in that ungodlines In the latter times there was a more fierce and bloody victory by howe much the battell was more eger But the Spirit did purposely chose out that kinde of speaking which might agree very well to both the troupes of Locusts For those in the West should not be so fierce and cruell in killing the bodies But this comparative speach noteth both the cessing of these in this respect neither taketh from the other all killing though farre lesse then that which was to come ¶ But that
their desertes the trueth in the meane time might spring againe enioy a more quiet seasoÌ„ Wee have learned from those thinges which have ben said before that the pure religion had ben oppressed wholly and overwhelmed partly by a deluge of Locusts partly by other infinite corruptions chiefly by the tyranny of Antichrist But when it seemed good to God about this time to beginne sâ—me restoring of the trueth it pleased him to trouble Antichrist and to disquiet him with the feare of the foure loosed Aâ—gels least he should dâ—â—â—â—oy his growing trueth in the first blade and not sâ—ffer it to come to that ripâ—â—â—â—sse which wee see nowe Wherfore this commandement came in good season to the Church for whose sake alone all the alterations come to passe which wee see in the world 14 Saying to the sixt Angell To him to whom the commandement is given This first is appointed the effectour of the worke the former only denounced the evill peradventure the contagion of the sinne letted them from putting their hand to the worke but here should be a cleare separation of the punishement and the fault that the minister thereof should not neede to feare the infection of this ¶ Loose those foure Angels Car. Gal. pâ—g 56. duravit usque ad ann 1191 c. The meaning of the commandement of loosing the foure Angels who stood prepared in readines expecting onely wheÌ„ a signe should be given them But what manner of Angels were these were they properly so called and bounde to a certeÌ„ place that they could not stirre from thence untill some speciall leave was given them Certenly it is read that Asmodeus was exiled into the desert of the uppermost Egypt Tob. 8.3 But this worthily may be counted to be of small credit because of the Iewish lyes unto which that people was so given that also Iosephus a man doubtlesse learned and eloquent durst affirme Salomon either first to have invented or at least by his bookes to have encreased the Divelish art of coniuring a spirit booke 8. chap. 2. of Antiquities Thiâ— I say had ben vaine by right unlesse an authoritie of greater waight out of this very booke of the Revelation agreed unto it chap. 18.2 Where it is signifyed that the uncleane Spirits are shut up into certen places as into a prison Which yet neverthelesse seemeth not to be common to all but onely to some certen For howe can all be tyed to limited places when it is free for some to compasse the whole earth Iob 1.7 Of which also some walke about as roaring Lyons seeking whom they may devoure 1 Pet. 5.6 They rule also in the aire the spirit that nowe worketh in the children of disobedience Eph. 2.2 And they are the governours of the world yea the Gods of this world blinding the mindes of the infidels Eph. 6.12.2 Co 4.4 Can they performe these things being absent Therefore some doe seeme to be cast into certeÌ„ places as into a prison some to have more free liberty to walke abroade Yet neverthelesse the impiety of the Magitians is nothing holpen from hence who thinke that they are able to constraine the Devils with a certen necessity of abiding within a circle in a smooth stone in iron steele in a looking glasse in the nayle of a man or any like thing For God hath reserved this power to him selfe alone and to his holie Angels whom often he useth for his ministers in this thing he hath given noe authority any where to such men Neither are these Angels onely Devils but also men who are ruled by their power whom nowe it is a common thinge to be called Angels For the army is made of men as is manifest froÌ„ ch 20.7 Where againe he intreateth of the same thing Sathan goeth out to deceave the nations and to gather them togither unto battell But the Captaines are of the same kinde with their soâ—ldiers Wherfore seeing the order of things hath brought us unto the yeere one thousand three hundreth it is not to be doâ—bted but that they are the Turkes of which iudgement are a great part of Interpreters they are said foure because there were foure chiefe families of them For after the slaughter received of the Scythians Iconium the Princes Palaces being lost and after some yeeres spent in robberies at length they retiring backe they recovered themselves againe and divided among their Princes that of Asia which in short time after they tooke froÌ„ the Romanes The first of which was Carmâ—nus Atisurius the second Sarchanes the third Câ—lâ—mâ—s Cerasus his sonne the fourth Atman as he is written in Gregoras or after others Ottoman to which the same Gregoras addeth the fift Aâ—urius booke 7.1 And so many they seeme to have ben at the first but afterward to have ben brought to foure Laonicus Chalcocondy las saith that in the beginning there were seven booke 1 of the Turkes affaires But he ioyneth a certaine man called Teciem with Ottoman and reckeneth the children asunder from the fathers But it is not a thing to be mervayled at that this confusion of barbarous people could not be represented certenly by the History-writers albeit Gregoras lived in the same time and had the charge of keeping the rolles of the Emperour Andronicus the elder This nation came some ages before from Armenia the countries bordering on Euphrates From which places they did repell easily the Romanes which were wearied longe agoe and wasted with many calamityes But about the beginning of the reigne of Andronicus Paleologus the elder before the yeere 1300. it spred her selfe abroad through Asia even unto the Sea Aegeum But that they should not breake forth froÌ„ some other place then from their fore appointed lists to wit from Euphrates at that time when the raines were let loose unto them God by the helpe of the Catelani drove them againe unto Euphrates These men their Captayne being Ronzerius were souldiours in pay under Andronicus the prowesse of whom was such that for feare of them the Turkes fledde not onely from Philadelphia which then they besieged but also almost beyonde the auncient boundes of the Romane Kingdome as Gregoras testifyeth booke 7.3 This feare therefore did drive them into the countries about the river Euphrates did as it were lay fetters upon theÌ„ for a time Neither was it a small bounde tying them that they could not rage as they would in that their forces being devided unto many Princes every one a part were too weake that they should dare to attempt any great thing Both these impediments were taken away at the time of the power granted them For first of all the Catâ—lani followed not on the victory begun but shortly after went away returning home Secondly about the same time to wit about the yeere 1291 whatsoever by lawfull warre the Christian Princes tooke in Palestina and in the countries adioyning in twelve expeditions and after the possession of 196 yeeres they had lost nowe all
of the Iewes the which other scriptures shewe that it shall surely come to passe before that there be an ende of the whole frame of the world Neither in examining every minute of the seventh trumpet shall wee finde that the Revelation goeth any further then to the restauration of this people as with Gods helpe wee shall make it apparant in his fit place Which restoring doublesse may well be called a mystery because it is so farre removed from all humane uÌ„derstanding of which there is almost noe hope in them to whom the very benefit perteineth as in many places the Prophets shew Why speaketh the Lord by Isaiah should thou say o Jacob and speake O Israell my way is hid froÌ„ the Lord and my cause is passed over of my God chap. 40.27 And againe Yf so be that Sion saith the Lord hath forsaken mee and my Lord hath forgotten mee chap. 49.14 Therefore I suppose that this calling of the Iewes is this mystery Doubtlesse it is sure that in the time of this trumpet the last ende shall be put to all thinges and therefore wee shall finde noe such conclusion of the seventh trumpet the third woe is past as of the fift one woe is past chap. 9.12 likewise of the sixt chap 11.14 for the Revelation leadeth not thither because neither perteineth it to us to knowe neither is it to be imperted to any creature which the sonne himselfe knewe not as farre as he was a maÌ„ Marc. 13.32 ¶ As he hath declared to his servants the Prophets To whom this mystery was revealed plenteously but which is not understood of our expositours wherby it cometh to passe that the things which the Prophets foreshewe to come the common sort so interpret as if they were past Moses in his most famous songe about the ende singeth this Mysterie Deut. 32. David every wherein the Psalmes So Isaiah Ieremiah Ezechiell and the rest it would be too long even to recken the places Learned men wil be content with this bare disclosing whom it is sufficient to admonish even in one worde that they would seeke another meaning of many places in the Prophets then hitherto they have followed in their expositions If these things are to be understood of the last comming of Christ to iudgement there are not very many words or at the least cleare enough in the Prophets touching this thing But froÌ„ hence wee learne that the old prophecies are not to be finished either in the first comming of Christ or in the calling of the Gentiles but that they reach even unto the perfit accomplishing of the Mistery Wherefore they that doe restraine them into the narrowe straightes of the calling of the Gentiles stoppe up to themselves the way to understand them and take away much comfort from the Church 8 Goe thy waye and take the little booke An other thing to be communicated is Prophecy restored againe to the Church For this commandement sheweth what should come to passe to the Ministers of the word in the times of this sixt trumpet Iohn himselfe for his part seemeth before nowe to have ben furnished sufficiently for the receaving of the Revelâ—tion both by those thinges which he sawe and heard and also endued with the inspiration of the Spirit extraordinarily And if the passing from one matter to an other had ben set forth onely for to teach he would have used the same in their fit places in the rest of the treatise Wherefore I doubt not but that here a type is set forth of the Ministers of that time as in many places elsewhere Iohn representeth the faithfull Therefore as here the booke being received from the Angell and eaten up he should play the Prophet againe so about these times should be raised up faithfull Ministers which should declare the trueth to the world Wee made mention that some godly men about the time that the Turkish tyrannie beganne and the feet of the Angell set upon the Sea the Earth arose forthwith who undertooke boldly the charge of prophecying Which was a notable benefit of God this office had ben banished a long time from the earth put to flight by the hellish smoke which the bottomelesse pit opened by the Romish Starre sent forth nowe it came againe by the grace of God and men were bidden to take the little booke open which the former times had shutte the force of which commandement raised up those which I spake of and many others which followed whom unlesse an heaveÌ„ly desire had inflamed they would not have offerred their lives to so many daÌ„gers which necessarily were to be undergone in so great envie hatred almost of all men But from this coÌ„mandement wee draw this coÌ„mon sentence that men are slow loath to take the paines to Prophecy not otherwise to settle themselves to this office except they be stirred forward of God 9 Therefore I went unto the Angell saying to him give mee the little booke This gifte is to be obtained by intreatie even also of them who have abilitie giveÌ„ them thereunto Wee must desire earnestly of God with Iohn that he will give us the little booke albeit wee be nowe entred into this office And the little booke is given when greater abondance of knowledge is ministred which was most excelleÌ„t in this age now first of all the art of printing bookes being found out by a great gift of God But further these things declare that the men of that time being awaked once of God from their drowsines shall greatlie endevour to profit more in the kindled trueth And surely their industry was notable and their increase in all kinde of knowledg chiefly of divinity so swift that thou mayest say not without cause that they had not so much read as devoured the bookes After Wickliefe the barbarousnes of the Scholastiques being reiected the liberall artes were revived through so happie aboundance of most famous witters that there is none but he must coÌ„fesse that to be the time of devouring bookes ¶ And it shall make thy belly bitter The word tasted in the mouth is sweet but bitter in the bellie that is the knowledge of Gods will is verie sweete pleasant of it selfe but the publishing of it wherby fruite may come to the rest of the meÌ„bers even like the digestion of meate when it is concocted in the stomake is full of troubles and anguish Which thing sometime Ieremy tryed and complained of chap. 15.16 Likewise Ezechiell chap. 3.3 And all none excepted who have runne togither in this race but those newe champions especially I meane of this time To whom doubtlesse the word was so much the sweeter by howe much they came with a more sounde hunger to wit having ben stollen away from the world for some ages and nowe first againe restored by the favour of God whore Ambassage contrariwise was so much the more bitter by how much men were plunged in more thicke darkenesse whom because of the long custome of
sinne they must needes finde more stubborne and spitefull The condition of that time could not be shewed more briefly and manifestly I therefore tooke the little booke Althoug Iohn heareth howe great trouble this meate will bring him yet obeyeth he willingly the Angell and eateth up the booke as he was commanded There was a better love in him to Gods word then any regard of lothsomnesse or wringing in the belly frō bitternesse Such excellent fortitude was in those learned men of that age before spoken of it could not be but that they knewe certenly howe great trouble they should procure to themselves by avouching the trueth yet neverthelesse they laboured valiantly setting more by the sweetnesse which they received from the ioy of the Spirit thē by all the bitternes of perill By whose example all Ministers of the word must goe on boldly neither is the office to be forsaken because of the troubles It is noe newe thing for that to be found bitter by experience which being tasted a little at the tongues ende seemeth sweete Therefore let every true Prophet have this lesson well meditated least peradventure lighting upon unexpected evils he be overcome at length through infirmity 11 Thou must Prophecy againe Nowe in fewe wordes he sheweth to what ende the former signe was used that it may be understood that Prophecie was to be restored againe to the Church in those times The preparation whereunto was the receaving and eating up of the booke to wit a burning desire of learning which gave hope of a more perfit light to appeare daylie But their opinion is foolish who will from these wordes have John to be expected about the ende of the world with Enoch Elias These things belōg not to the last time but to the sixt trumpet which wee will declare manifestly hereafter to be past And Iohn is set forth onely as a type not described by any office which in his owne person he should beare in the last times CHAP. 11. AND a reed was given mee like unto a rode and the Angell stood by saying rise and mete the Temple of God and the altar and them that worship therein 2 But the court which is without the Temple shut out mete it not for it is given to the Gentiles they shall treade under foote the holy city two and fourtie moneths 3 But I will give to those my two witnesses and they shall prophecy a thousande two hundreth and threescore dayes clothed in sackecloth 4 These are two olive trees and two candlestickes standing before the God of the earth 5 And if any man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouthes which shall devoure their enemyes For if any man will doe them wronge so must they be killed 6 These have power to shut heaven that it raine not in the dayes of their prophecying and have power over waters to turne them into blood and to smite the earth with all maner plagues as often as they will 7 Moreover when they finished their testimony the Beast that commeth out of the bottomelesse pit shall make warre against them and shall overcome them and kill them 8 And their corpses shall lie in the streetes of the great citie which is called spiritually Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified 9 And men of Tribes of peoples and of tongues and nations shall see their corpses three daies and an halfe and shall not suffer their carkases to be put in graves 10 And the inhabitans of the earth shall reioice over them and be glad and shall send giftes one to an other because these two Prophets vexed the inhabitans of the earth 11 But after three dayes and an halfe the Spirit of life comming from God shall enter into them and they shall stande up upon their feete and great feare shall fall upon them that shall see them 12 After they shall heare a great voice from heaven saying unto them come up hither and they shall ascende up to heaven in a cloude and their enemies sawe them 13 And the same houre was made a great earth quake and the tenth parth of the city fell and in the earthquake were slaine seven thousande men the remnant were feared and gave glory to the God of heaven 14 The second woe is past and behold the third woe commeth quickly 15 And the seventh Angell blewe the trumpet and there were great voices in heaven saying the Kingdomes of this worlde are the Lords and his Christs and he shall reigne for evermore 16 Then those foure and twenty Elders which sate before God on their thrones fell upon their faces and worshipped God 17 Saying wee give thee thankes Lord God almighty which art and which wa st and which art to come for thou hast received thy great might and hast obtained thy Kingdome 18 And the Gentiles were angry and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be iudged and that thou shouldest give a reward unto thy servants the Prophets and to the Saincts and to them that feare thy name small and great shouldest destroy them that destroy the earth 19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven and the Arke of his covenant was seene in his temple and there were lightnings and voices and thundrings and eaarthquake and much haile Analysis SVCH is the preparation unto the newe Prophecy as was observed in the eight verse of the former chapter the Prophecy it selfe followeth in the first fifteene verses of this chapter which belongeth either to the whole bodie of the Church or some chiefe mēbers of it As touching that The Church is either true or false the true should lie hid this whole periode of fourtie moneths small very secret narrowe which is shewed by the temple measured ver 1. the false in the meane time very ample and spatious ver 2. The chiefe members are two Prophets whose divers condition is shewed according to a threefold difference of time the first by a thousand two hundreth threescore dayes all which space being black they should goe in monrning apparell ver 3. Who yet in the meane while should be like Olive trees Candlestickes ver 4. neither should be hurt of any without punishement ver 5. and endued with great power ver 6. The second time is of three dayes and an halfe in which being slaine ver 7. they should lie unburied in the streetes of Sodome and Egypt ver 8.9 and should make their enemies merrie with their death ver 10. The third time is not determined after the three dayes and an halfe in which they should rise againe lifted up by the Spirit first upon their feete which should strike a feare into their enemies ver 11. Afterward into heaven at which the tenth part of the citie should fall many should be slaine the rest should be made afraid ver 13. Last of all a transition is used declaring the ende of the sixt trumpet and the beginning of the
seven to wit so many as are the branches of one after the similitude of the candlesticke in the temple which representing the Church had one shafte onely but seven branches coming out of the sides Exod. 25.31 c. For there is one Catholique Church as one shafte but the particular congregations are many which comming forth out of that one and abiding in the same as the divers branches of one shafte do stay as it were upon the same base Where those first seven Candlestickes shewed that there was then a most flourishing Church as long as the Apostles and their next true successours did burne as it were candles in the same But at this time wherein the PROPHETS should goe clad in mourning apparell the Candlestickes are but two which lacke five to make up their full number because the dignity of it was much diminished and almost brought to an extreme condition Neverthelesse the elect should have some fatnesse as it were of the olive trees wherby they should cherish the celestiall flame in their hearts neither should a candlesticke be wanting from whence the Ministers should give light aboundantly howsoever the companies of the faithfull should be most rare and very small These thinges yet hitherto doe not peradventure content our mindes especially seeing in this space of a thousande two hundreth and three score dayes which wee have shewed to be so many yeeres and to have their beginning in the yeere 304 wee have taught that sixe Antitype candiestickes did shine chap. 2.3 So then I thinke that the three last the Sarden Philadelphien Laodicen were not kindled but after a thousande two hundred and almost twenty yeeres and therefore worthily not to come into any accounte to which so small a number of those dayes agreeth But as touching the other three the Smyrnen belonged to the Church decaying the Thyatiren to the same rising againe but the Pergamen lying in a most deepe pit of all corruption from it is neither of any reckening but of set purpose passed over Not that there should be none at all in that state of things but because none should be greatly in sight at that time 5 And yf any will hurte them Nowe followeth the power to destroy the enemies But why are they clothed in sackcloth but for iniurie received Doe they then destroy the worlde with fire doing wronge daily unto theÌ„ Iniurie is double one more grievous done advisedly eyther by open force or fraude an other lesse of ignorance and lacke of heed taking They seeme to have worne sackecloth because of this second kinde in the meane while continually punishing their more deadly enemies with this devouring fire It is said to come out of their mouth by whose threatning prayers such a iudgement is exercised Even as in olde time at the signifying before of Moses a fire comming from the Lord consumed the two hundred fifty men which rose up against him with Corah Numb 16. Or as at the prayers of Eliah fire came from heaveÌ„ consumed the Captaine his 50 men which Achasia sent to kill him 2 Kings 1. God defendeth these Prophets after the same maner that he did those auncient ones yea rather he will have these provided for in a more notable manner by how much he regardeth more his owne trueth and whole assemblyes of the Saincts then singular persons The Holy SCRIPTVRES therefore pronouncing most certen punishments against all ungodlines and transgression doe sende as it were fire out of their mouth whereby they doe utterly consume and devoure the unrepentant For it cannot be that one tittle of Gods word should perish Mat. 24.35 But chiefly they doe vomit fire upon them who will hurt them that is who dare corrupt their most syncere trueth by humane inventions patched unto it threatning that Jf any man shall adde unto this Prophecy that God will lay upon him the plagues that are written in that booke chap. 22.18.19 Not because they doe estime the sacred authority of the Revelation onely ratifyed by so great a punishement but because there is the same regard of the whole trueth inspired of God as Yee shall put nothing to this word which I speake unto you neither shall yee take away therefrom Deut. 4.2 Put nothing to his wordes least thou be reproved founde a lyar Pr. 30.6 FroÌ„ heÌ„ce in time past came the horrible slaughter of the Baalites 1 Kings 18.40 2 King 10.25 and so many most grievous calamities which did come with force upon the world all these two and fourty moneths because almost nothing was done according to the true meaning of the scriptures but now the whole world was taught by traditions despising Gods trueth either altogither or wresting it onely for the confirming of their fables and trifles Therefore these Prophets being so evill intreated burnt up the third part of trees and all green grâ—sse with fire mingled with haile killed the third part of the creatures which were in the Sea by a burning mountaine cast into it turned the rivers and fountaines into worme wood by a starre that fell and did burne like a torch yea they gave power to sende the Locusts and the Euphratean Angells as hath ben declared already in the truÌ„pets from every one of which either fire or hellish smoke did issue forth All which evils wer no other thing then the flame going out of the mouth of the Prophets sorely punishing the wicked contemners of the trueth There is the same reason of the Candlestickes that is of the assemblies of the Saincts For God sufferreth not the Churches to be oppressed without rewarding the wicked but moved with the prayers of it requireth meete punishements of the oppressours Diocletian giving over the Empire determined to spende the rest of his life quietly But he escaped not so For his house being wholly consumed with lightning and bright burning fire that fell from heaven he for feare of the lightening hiding himselfe dyed shortly after So Constantine the Great himselfe hath writen in his booke commonly called the fift booke of Eusebius of the life of Constantine leafe 168. Although Eusebius Nicephorus and others doe tell of a farre more horrible death Maximinian Hercule his conpartner died his wezand being broken with an halter Maxentius his sonne was drowned in the river Tiber Galerius is destroyed by horrible torment of diseases Maximinus also is taken away in the same manner Lucinius often overcome and often put to flight at length is killed What should I recite others Valens fighting against the Gothes in fortunately flying into a base cottage was burnt togither with the house it selfe by a fire throwne upon it by the enemies But these were but alone persons but also the whole multitude were ofteÌ„ and very sorely punished by famine pestilence and warre as might be declared plenteously but that it would be longe and not greatly needfull These thinges may shewe sufficiently that howsoever these Prophets might then seeme to be wretched raged and
pure Churches as tormenters and executioners vexed them while they lived Nothing is so grievous to the world as that their uncleane lusts should be bridled their filthines reprooved all their actions tryed by the rule of the same trueth But the Churches being now tyed to the interpretation of the Scriptures that is to the Pope of Rome why should not the Papists hope the Pope being of such gentlenesse to his servants that they shall henceforth be no more made sicke by the scriptures Without doubt the most holy Father would smite out their teeth least perhaps they should restraine his little pretie darlings A iust cause of exceeding ioy and great triumphe 11 But after three dayes and an halfe In the yeere 1550 the first day of Octobre after three yeeres and an halfe from that destruction inferred upō the Churches of Germany For at this time the Prophets revived and the estimation of the Scriptures congregations of the faithfull increased maugre Antichrist head and all enemies For the people of Maidenburge who all this time were proscribed of the Emperour and utterly destroyed in mēs iudgement a fewe daies before by George Megelburge at length raising up themselves or rather stirred up of God by a writing spread abroad testify openly to the world their unquailed courage and invincible constancy They detest the Councell of Trent and noe lesse reiect the decree of Basil made by the Princes and the Emperour himselfe They exhorte all to fortitude and shewe themselves to be ready if neede shal be for this cause not to refuse death This surely was the Spirit of life who comming frō God restored againe heart to the Church set up on their feete the slaine Prophets and endued them with such courage that they were straiteway a terrour to the enemies For beside that bolde profession the authour whereof was the heavenly Spirit given to them they stood on their feete in resisting valiantly Mauritius who being sent of the Emperour and ordained Captaine in that warre by publique authority first assaulted them very fiercely They tooke also that George Megelberge kept him in their power in the Citie who had lately given them a great overthrowe And at length when they could not vanquish them by any force peace being made with Mauritius they obtained a very famous name among forraine nations because almost they alone of all the Germanes had taught by their example what constancy can effect So therefore the Church nowe againe stood up on her feete Which thing doubtlesse put the enemies in very great feare For as Sleidane writeth That which was an ende of miseries to the people of Maidenburg was an entrance and beginning of warre against those themselves by whose aide and councell they had ben afflicted For Mauritius partly to deliver the Lantgrave his father in lawe partly to defende the trueth and to have free leave to walke in it which he sawe to have ben holden under some space of time by the iniustice of the enemies prepared warre against the Emperour him selfe But how great trembling arose from hence First the Tridentine Fathers whē even a false rumour was brought them that the citie Auspurge was taken scarce taking their leave of the rest of their fellowes in office slipped out ranne away But when Mauritius proceeded and approched Oenipous where the Emperour himselfe abode he strooke so great terrour into him that he fled away suddenly with great speed togither with his brother Ferdinand More over feare drove him against his will to give leave to depart to Iohn Friderike Duke of Saxonie whom before wee said to have ben taken prisonner least the enemie should referre it to his owne glory Was this a small feare which made the Emperour and the King of the Romanes to flee and dispersed the Tridentine assembly of Bishops Nowe therefore feare came upon the enemies that they should fly away as farre as they cā from her sight whom of late they scoffed at without danger 12 Afterward they heard a great voice from heaven Aretas and Montanus read and I heard a great voice from heaven saying to them come up hither To ascende into heaven is after labours dispatched to be adorned with exceeding honour and glory after the example of Christ who after death overcome was taken up into heaven But whereas a voice was heard bidding them to come up thereby is signifyed that the Prophets should not attaine to this honour by their owne power but should be placed in that dignity by the authority of other men that is to say by some decree of the Princes As wee knowe it came to passe at Auspurge the seaventh of the Kalendes of October in the yeere 1555 when by a publique decree the Emperour Ferdinand the King and other Princes bounde themselves that the religion comprehended in the Articles of the Augustane confession should be permitted free for all men Sleid. booke 26. This decree was the voice saying to the Prophets that they should goe up into heaven And not in vaine but they harkened to the same most willingly chaunging with most desirous mindes their former miseries for a newe granted dignitie as is here said and they went up into heaven in a cloude The enemies sawe this were grieved especially the Pope as was meete tooke it grievously who was thought to solicite the Emperour that he would make voide againe that Edict Sleid. booke 26. 13 And the same houre there was a great earthquake Aretas the Complut Edition and other read and there was in that day It is a common thing for an earthquake to signify an alteration of things as wee have observed at chap. 6.12 And doubtlesse a great change followed after this decree all Europe through The people of Austria require earnestly of Ferdinand their King that the same should be graunted to them which was to the confederates of the confession the same the people of Bavaria crave importunately of their Prince Albertus Which Princes when they sawe that it was scarse safe to be utterly against so fervent desire of men both of them yeeld some what to their people though with an ill will Like things come to passe in many other places whence one might see daylie newe defections from the Papisticall Kingdome ¶ And the tenth part of the city fell The City in this place is the whole popish Kingdome which was diminished in a great part of it when the Germanes forsooke the same I doubt not but the Pope himselfe will confesse willingly that by this fall he was deprived of a large part of his city but togither with this ruine and earthquake were slaine seven thousand men But that which is translated heads of men is in the Greeke names of men for the men themselves as in chap. 3 4. But the kinde of speaking is very significant teaching that God doth not strike men after the manner of Blinde Fighters but to appointe certenly and by name whom he will have to be slaine by
every thing with indifferent eyes he will confâ—â—se that the Spirit hath set these ten first Emperours as images by which both the beginning and proceeding of Antichrist might be the more apparaÌ„t ¶ And had set on his heads a name of blasphemy That an ornament might not be wanting to the heads for the crownes were belonging to the hornes to wit the Emperours in their stead is put a name of blasphemy Which name is the arrogant bragging of the Romish particular Church That Peters Chaire cannot be sundred from Rome That the Romish Church is the foundation and forme of the Churches from which all Churches tooke their beginning none of them that beleeve truly is ignorant as speaketh the Pope Vigilius in an Epistle to Entherus Likewise that they cannot but erre and be counted Heretiques who thinke otherwise of the Sacraments and articles of the faith then the Church of Rome thinketh as Martine the v. published in a Bulle given at Constance Sixtus the fift against the Articles of Peter of Oxford Many such names which were too long to rehearse Rome beareth on her heads hath them for her owne and glorieth in the same as her chiefe ornameÌ„ts See Caus 24. q. 1. and Bellarm. in his 4. booke of the Romane Pope chap. 4 2 And this Beast which I saw was like a Libard The whole forme is of the Libard which is the female of the Panthers an untamed beast most adverse to man leaping up to his eyes and in great rage and tearing his Image in paper see Basill in his Serm. of the accept of pers Like unto the Devill hating with an unfained hatred the image of God in man as the same Basill writeth This and the Tygre onely of all Beasts almost are discerned by the variety of spottes the reste have ech one their proper colour according to their kinde These spottes seeme to touch those vices and foulenesse of all villanies which cleave fast to those Bishops Can the Blackamore chang his coulour or the Libard his blewe spottes then might yee also doe well oh yee that are taught to doe evill Ieremy chap. 12.23 Are not the Romish Bishops the greatest enemies to true ChristiaÌ„s whose image they cannot beare themselves being most foule worshippers of other images Are they not deformed above all other men with all kinde of vices Who by and by after their first beginning were found forgers belying falfly the Nicene Councill for to stablish their tyranny Furthermore afterward Simoniacks Homicides Atheists most wicked Magitians most foule Adulterers and teachers of all uncleane lusts finally covered with all those abhominatioÌ„s which a modest man would be more ashamed to relate then they to commit Neither are these the reproches of adversaries but true crimes touching every of which and farre more there are extant most cleare testimonies of their owne men Therefore this is a spotted Beast shewing no greater hope of forsaking his turpitude then the Leopard to chang her spottes But besides the diversity of spottes the Libards otherwise called PaÌ„thers are very skilfull to get their pray For as Plinie writeth They report that by their sweet smell all beasts are enticed but are terrifyed by the crabbed looking of his face Wherfore that being hidden he taketh them suddenly being allured by his other sweetnesse Doth not Rome likewise by a certen reverend maiesty as it were by a sweete favour allure them that beholde a farre off hidding the diformity of her countenance that is the monstrous filthinesses which shee fostereth untill shee hath brought the Proselites in her snares The Beares feete are smoothe long broad tearing the earth with his nayles or going they attribute to him a certen stabilitie ioyned with cruelty Neither hath any Monarchy no not that of the Assyrians thou of long continuance equalled the yeeres of this Yet shee standeth by her Beares feete continuing so long a time by cruelty His Lions mouth noteth his terrible fiercenes devouring up all things which the lamenting of the whole earth can declare more plainly then my wordes Therefore the cruelty of many Beasts is found in this one neither was the Panther sufficient to expresse his outragiousnes Therefore is he compact of all ioyned togither which once did compete to all the Monarchies severally Dan. 7.4.5.6 ¶ And the Dragon gave him his power and throne Thus farre the naturall forme of the Beast the power followeth and that in the first place which he received first The Dragon gave him his power his throne and great authority Power is an inset strength Authority is that which is exercised towards others the Dragon gave him both and his throne besides And this is Rome the city with seven hilles as wee have seen before in the 12. chapter ver 3. VVhich the Dragon Diocletian and Maximian being to be thrust out of heaven gave to the Beast the Pope that he might performe his businesse at least by his Procurour when he could doe it no longer by himselfe betimes indeede the Dragon as soone as he perceived that he must depart tooke order for a Successour putting the Beast in possession before his expulsion For Diocletian lived at Nicomedia Maximian at Mediolanum in the which places both of them gave over the Empire leaving in the meane time Rome empty for the Beast Maxentius held it after for a fewe yeeres but onely as one that hath the custodie of a thing upon coÌ„ditioÌ„ to restore it as the event hath declareth who should not have the Throne for himselfe but should keepe it for the Pope Constantine comming to visite Rome afterward and finding the Throne possessed of an other went to Byzantium called since Constantinople and there appointed a place for himselfe to dwell in The other that followed Emperours of the VVest part when as the inrodes of the Barbarous people did molest continually that they might be neerer to bring aide and more ready for every oportunitie abode at Mediolanum or at Ravenna as the most commodious places So they by little and little left the Throne to the Beast Wherby at length that which letted was wholly taken away and the man of sinne was revealed to all men as in the second Epistle to the Thessalonians chapter 2. vers 6. From which nowe it is perceived that this Beast is not the Romane Heathenish Empire which received Rome by the gift of none neither doeth account his power and dignity as received of any unlesse peradventure the Dragon did pursue the woman of whom wee spake like an enemy before the Heathen Emperours were begotten Furthermore the Pope of Rome is the Beneficiarie of the Dragon and not of Constantine neither holdeth Rome by his Donation as he boasteth falsly and impudently but only by the assignement of the Dragon Thus therefore the Throne being gotten Rome began from that day to be famous rather for the Popes Palace then for the Emperours Court. And indeede it grewe very quickly and her power waxed great in a short time as
Prosper witnesseth in his booke de Ingratis in these wordes Rome is the Seate of Peter which is become the Head of Pastorall power to the world whatsoever shee holdeth not by force of armes shee holdeth it by religion And againe in his second booke of the calling of the Gentils chap. 6. Rome by the soveraigntie of Priesthood is more increased by the tower of religion then by the Throne of power Vnto which is added Ammian Marcellin in his 27. booke as he is cited by Bellarmine that he marvaileth not though men contend with so great desire for the Romane Popedome seing the riches and maiestie of it are so great But that the Dragon gave him this power appeareth from hence that the name of Rome was honourable to all men because of the auncient Empire of which once it was the Seate and therefore that they easily yeelded to any promotion of hers but of this more largely at the 6. verse 3 And I sawe one of his heads as it were deadly wounded Montanus Plantines Edition doeth omit I saw as though the Dragon togither with the throne power had given also one of the heads wounded which is contrary both to the faithfulnesse of the other Copies for Aretas the Common translation read I saw all other also to the truth of the history For the Beast had not a wounded head at his first beginning For first he was afterward he is not in chap. 17.8 as at that place wee shall shewe more fully In these wordes he commeth to the second condition of the BEAST The dammage consisteth in the wounding of one of his heads which now once or twice wee have advertised to be seveÌ„ hills and Kings from chap. 17.9.10 VVhether then of these kindes should suffer this calamity Surely if the wounde inflicted be to come into the power of the enemy scarce can one of the hilles receive a wound but all wil be wounded togither VVherfore more properly it beloÌ„geth to the Kings any one of which being afflicted with this wounde the rest abide whole from the same Although this hurt cannot be so proper to a King that it should not also be common to the Hills And these Kings are seven Governements or Principalities by which the City of Rome hath ben governed to wit those celebrated by all Kings Consuls Decemviri Dictatours Tribunes Emperours Popes as wee will make plaine at the 17. chap. If now it be demaunded to which of all these this calamity should happen the place which even now wee spake of declareth it evidently to the seaven head namely the Popes For so speaketh the Angell and another that is the seventh is not yet come and when he shall come he must continue a short space being hurt with a wound as it were quite killed with the same for Iohn saith as it were wounded to death as Aretas well puts us in minde for he should not be altogither destroyed by this blow But now after that it is manifest touching the Heads this wound was inflicted when Rome forsaken now a good while of the Emperours abiding partly in the East at Byzantium partly in the West at Ravenna beginning againe to flourish under a newe GovernemeÌ„t of Popes was smitten with an exceeding great storme by the Gothes Vandals Hunnes and the rest of the Northern people Which vexed most miserably the whole VVest part In this common calamity that late Empresse of the nations Queene of the whole world escaped not scotfree but sufferred a greater destruction then almost any City besides oftener taken by assault sacked wasted for an hundred two and thirtie yeeres at the lust of the Barbarians First Alaricus about the yeere 415 besieged and tooke it Of which thing Hierome speaking but after he saith the most famous light of all countries is cleane put out yea the head of the Romane Empire cut off and to speake more truly the whole world is destroyed in one Citie c. In his Proheme of Ezech. But in more wordes eloquently in an Epistle to Principia a Virgin The Citie is taken which tooke the whole world c. In what lamentable manner would he have bewailed if it had befell him to heare of the ofteÌ„ conquerings and spoiling thereof which followed For Rome now was consumed not once but was taken a second time by Adaulphus who gave her such a deadly wound that she was minded to change her name and to be called afterward Gothia The third time Gensericus the Vandal tooke it The fourth time Odoacer Rugianus reigning there fourteene yeeres Theodoricus the King of the Gothes slewe him whom at length Totilas followeth by a cerâ—en order of succession He the fift time overthrew and rased it bringing it to that wildernesse that neither any man nor woman could be found in it by the space of fourty dayes according to that of the Sibyll Rome shal be a perpetuall ruine and shee that hath ben seen shall not be discerned Albeit I thinke not that shee hath yet endured that calamity which Sibyll speaketh of although that now past may be a notable proofe of that which is to come Who in those times would not have thought that the seven hilled Citie had utterly perished VVho would not have supposed that the dignitie of the Popes to wit the seventh head had bin past remedy Therefore the Constantinopolitane Bishop and he of Ravennas the authority of Rome being as it were utterly gone laboured greatly as the next heires to drawe the same to their Churches But they were both much deceaved The head was not wounded unto death but as it were unto death Therefore the wound waxing more fierce Zozimus Bonifacius Celestinus about the yeere 420. having supposed a Nicene Councill chalenged the Primacy and they did moove so much as was sufficient to shewe that some life was left but they had a shameful repulse because this was the time of the wound on every side Pelagius also not long after before the skarre had closed altogither wrested the scriptures to the same ende but his endevour comming to no proofe declared that both the head remained alive and also that it was of no power For the raigne of the Gothes darkened the light of the Popes dignity neither could now any acknowledg her the chiefe who at home being the basest and servant of the Barbarous people scarce had a place where to abide For at once the Emperours dwelling at Rome at what time the Apostles were in authority restreined Antichrist that he could not come forth to be seen abroad so the new erected Kingdome of the Gothes in Italie was an other thing with holding which did repell his put out hornes for a time compelled him againe to hide him selfe in his shell Rightly therefore now the head did seeme to be wounded which was not able to shake off the yoke neither by any strength of his owne neither by any hope that he had from the East seing the Emperour
had graunted of his owne accord Italy to the Gothes which he had no hope to be able to retaine VVhat could he expect from the VVest every country wanting helpe so farre off were they from being able to succour others Therefore O Pope thy wouÌ„d was deadly whereof no remedie appeared from any place ¶ But this deadly wound was healed The third condition of the Beast coÌ„sisting in his dignity recovered by the healing of the head VVhich began at the yeere 555 when Iustinian being Emperour the Gothes were destroyed in Italy bâ— the valiantnesse of 〈◊〉 Nâ—râ—â—â—â—â— The Emperour played the Physitian maniâ—estly for first he tooke away the noxious humours by â—â—pressing yea rather utterly abolishing the Barbarians afterward he powred in wine oyle That Decree of Iustinians new constitution 131 wâ—s a most pleasant ointemeÌ„t Wee ordaine that according to the Decrees of the holy Counâ—â—lls the most holy Bâ—shop of auncient Rome shall be the chiefe of all Priests Hâ—â— much was the wound amended hereby But Phocas the Parricide afte◠〈◊〉 yeeres more or lesse that is in the yeere sixe hundreth and sixe finiâ—hâ—â— the cure bound up the wound healed it up into a skarre Hee did gâ—aunt unto Bonifâ—ce the third that the Romane Bishop should be counted Vniversâ—ll not onely that he should goe before the rest in order honour as Iustâ—nian decreed limitting the Primacy with the bounds of holy Concills bâ—t who should have the whole world for his Diocesse the Bishop of CoÌ„stantinople strove afterward in vaine from whom the Primacy was given by the sentence of the Emperour Now he perceived that the wound was healed and that therefore it was superfluous to pleade any more for this matter And certenly not very long after the Pope Leo second shewed that he had recovered health when about the yeere 680. by the warres of the Emperour he compelled Felix the Bishop of Ravenna to acknowledge the Bishop of Rome for his Lord and that the Bishop of Ravenna should not rise up any more it is ordained by the authority of the Pope That afterward the election of the Clergie of Raâ—enna should not be of force unlesse the consent of the Romane Pope were added to it Sabellic Ennead 8. book 7. Thus was the wounded head cured which being healed did more hurt the Christian world then before he received the wounde ¶ And all the world wondred followed the Beast Now he declareth how great the recovered dignity should be first by the honour which the worshippers of the Beast should give to him this honour is in admiring in this verse also in worshipping both the Dragon the Beast in the following And he speaketh significaÌ„tly after the Hebrewes manner to wonder after the Beast which is as much as in wondring to follow the Beast that is to give up theÌ„selves wholly to be ruled by his Empire as the Israelites going a whoring after their Idols forsooke the true God coÌ„secrated theÌ„selves to the worship of them They who so admired the Beast are the earth that is men savouring the earth altogither straÌ„gers froÌ„ the heaveÌ„ly city But how many is the nuÌ„ber of them All without exception For he saith the whole earth Therefore it should come to passe that the Beast after the head was healed should rule with farre larger boundes then before Prosper said that Rome was more ample at the first receiving of this dignity by the tower of religion then by the throne of power Which seemeth to be understood rather of the consent of the trueth then of the dominion of the Citie of Rome although then it was doubtlesse large The trueth was propagated further then the Romane Empire But Britanny had not yet acknowledged the authoritie of Rome in the matter of religion till under the Pontificate of Gregory the fift that is after some hope that the wound should be cured Augustine the Romish Munke forced our countriemen to take upon them the yoke neither did France Friseland Denmarke Germanie Sclavonia depend much of Rome before Bonifacius or Venefride an Inglishman about the yeere 720. brought these countries or the chiefe parts thereof unto the obedience of the Pope of Rome Now therefore was the time when the whole earth should admire the Beast when besides these and other Princes of Europe countries also most remote Ireland Scotland Norway Gothia Sueveland Luten and other nations of Sarmatia honoured the same as some God Let therefore the Pope glory in his universality by how much he hath the greater multitude by so much a surer argument is he that Beast But as touching the admiration it was indeede great some ages before and that of the most famous lights of the Church who carryed away with the too much honour of the Beast and not regarding sufficiently to what mischiefe at length the matter would growe did exalte too proudly the preheminence of the Apostolike Chaire Yet did they not wonder after the Beast so as they thought they must embrace all whatsoever he should ordaine but they had one rule of godlinesse and duty to it the sacred trueth Neither were the commendations of those times any thing to that admiration which followed the healing of the wounde Heare Bernard Thou saith he speaking to the Pope art the great Priest the chiefe Pope thou art the Prince of Bishops thou art the heire or the Apostles thou art in Primacy Abel in governing Noe in Patriarchat Abraham in order Melchisedec in dignity Aaron in authority Moses in iudgement Samuel Peter in power Christ in an-annointing c. in the 2. booke of Considerat Verily o Bernard thou hast played the foole through admiratioÌ„ Yet neverthelesse I dare not put thee among those who wonder after the Beast considering that I heare thee else where reprooving boldly and sharply the wickednesse of the Popes Cardinals Bishops and other Clergie men The times deceaved thee but there was in thee I thinke somewhat borne of God which at leÌ„gth did overcome the world But of what sorte was the wouÌ„dring of other men who were more blinded lesse fearing God Heare what the Ambass of the Emp. of Sicilia being prostrated on the grouÌ„d cry which takest away the sinnes of the world hav mercy on us which takest away the sinnes of the world give us peace P. Ae. b. 7. VVhat also Simo Begnius Bishop of Modrusium speaking to the Pope Leon in the Councill of Lateran sess 6. Beholde here cometh the Lion of the tribe of Iuda the roote of David thee o most blessed Leo wee have expected for Saviour Adde unto these Cornelius the Bishop of Biponte who shewed his astonishmeÌ„t in the CouÌ„cill of TreÌ„t in these words The Pope being the light is come into the world and men have loved darknes more then the light for every one that doth evill hateth the light and commeth not to the light O Blasphemous Fooles is it not enough for you to adorne the Man of Sinne with the praises of the Saincts
whose persuasion other men fell from the Emperour and were made richer became not more enriched by the spoiles of the same VVould not he provide himselfe and Sainct Peter of some little gobbet But it is a sufficient argument what he got thereby that a while after that the Longobardes converting their forces against the Romanes sought to take away from them those cities of which they had spoiled the Emperour Which being taken away Zachary the Pope recovered them againe by faire flattering wordes with great increase if wee must beleeve the Papists For he obtained of Luitprandus by gift for blessed Peter and the Popes besides a fewe cities taken away the inheritance of the Sâ—bins and the Citie Narnia and Ancona and Humana and the great valley of the towne Sutrium Moreover all those thinges which Luitprandus had taken to himsâ—â—fâ— from Amilia and the people of Râ—venna within the space of two yeeres Blond Decad. 1. booke 10. But without controversie the munificence of Pipine and Châ—rles the Great and Ludovike farre surpassed For Romanie was now called a Princedome that even by the very name it might acknowledg her Lord. Therefore the Beast began now to glory in the Kingdomes of the world which boasted before of the title of dignity and honour rather thâ—n in any possessions of cities and townes ¶ Having two hornes like the Lambe These two hornes are Pipine and his SoÌ„ne Charlâ—s the Great by whose weapons as it were by hornes the newe Beast chased farre away all enemies Pipine aided the Pope Stephan 2. flying into Fraunce against Aristulphus the King of the Longobardes whom he passing twice over the Alpes with an army compelled first to yeeld the things taken from the Pope Secondly to deliver to the chaire of Peter Ravenna the Princedoome and whatsoever almost he had taken in Italy see Volat booke 3. Charles the Great for Pope Adrians sake repressed Desiderius King of the Longobardes yea tooke away wholly the Kingdome froÌ„ that nation that they might not afterward cause any trouble to Rome Moreover againe when Aragisus a Captaine of Beneventum put Adrian in some feare he fled into Italy brought him by constraint to his duties and set Adrian free from all feare Leo the third also being expelled by the Romanes hasting into Italy the third time those seditious being punished severely hee restored him unto his Chaire The Popes of Rome never had so great deffence since their ten first hornes in any as in these two Therefore these two notable hornes made famous the originall of this second Beast Which are said to be like the Lambes because the Popes whoÌ„ they aided did seeme helplesse afflicted innocent like Lambes How lamentable Epistles doe Stephanus the second Constantinus Stephanus the third and Adrian Popes sende to Pipine and Charles the Great How full are all things of complaints of lamentations of teares and of most vehement callings upon them for succour See before your eyes what cruelty those letters doe attribute to the enemies but what innocency to the Bishops Surely thou wilt call those wolves these Lambes and that he hath an hart of iron who would not deliver them being in daunger from their most cruell â—awes if he be able Yet neverthelesse in this miserable estate the Beast reteined his former minde and loftily and terribly as the Dragon I let passe Gregory the second striking with lightening and terrifying Leo Isaurus VVhose voice I pray was it when Zacharias tooke away the Kingdome from the lawfull King and bestowed it upon Pipine his servaunt VVhat manner of voice was that of Leo the third which proclaimed openly and consecrated Charles Emperour of the VVest VVas it not that of the olde Dragon who according to that very great power whereby he prevailed made and deposed Kinges whom he would Desiderius the Longobard felt the force of this voice who being allured by the Lambelike shewe of the Popes he entered quickly into their possessions for to recover whatsoever things they had wrested away by fraude from his Ancetours But this voice brought to passe that while he strove for some one citie or towne he lost his whole Kingdome and that not from himselfe but also the whole name of the Longobardes These are wonderfull great actes of the Earthly Beast taking away and bestowing Kingdomes at his pleasure And that which is more not so much by armed force as by his voice by which he exercised the power of the Dragon although he bare yet the shewe of a tender Lambe who was not able of himselfe to drive away the wolfe from his owne necke ¶ And he exerciseth all the power of the former Beast Such is the rising and forme of the Beast His power is equall with the former a great proofe whereof is given in this verse As touching the equall power whatsoever that first could doe this second doth exercise all the same in his sight But whence had he this so great power but from the Dragon who gave it to the first above in the second verse Wherefore both are the same both for amplenesse of power and also for the same authour himselfe from whom they received it But as touching that some will have this second to be as it were the Chalbard man and esquire for the body of the former is it to be thought that any is to be compared with Antichrist either for power or will to doe wickednesse Surely he shall have noe felowe but he shall surmounte all men in naughtines and wickednes by many degrees Therefore this Beast is not any servant of Antichrist but he himsâ—lfe endued with no lesse power to doe mischievous deeds But thou wilt say they seeme to be distinguished one of them working in the sight of the other But this kinde of speaking sheweth not a diversity of person but onely that the first remained alive after that the wounde was healed Albeit they are worthily set as two devided because of the notable variety which the same person should obtaine in his growing In which respect he is called both the seventh also the eight King chap. 17. Not because there are eight Kings for there be onely seven heads but because the seventh hath so great diversity that for good cause he may seeme a newe one and the eight And if the second Beast be diverse why would he procure honour rather to the former then to himselfe who hath equall power and like notable lewdenes It is necessary therfore that the honour of the second coÌ„sisteth in the honour of the first which he thrusteth upon the inhabitans of the earth with so great endeavour not so much through a desire to increase an others as his owne glory ¶ And he causeth the earth and the inhabitâ—ns c. The effect of his power tendeth to that ende that he may compell all false Christians to worship the first Beast which the Spirit describeth diligently by his deadly wounde healed declaring that this adoration agreed not to
the same Adonikam afterward in Nehemiah are numbred sixe hundred three score seaven in the 7. chap. ver 10. The rest of the names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Aretas in the later writers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the like partly are not the names of any man or at the least not of a people partly nothing was to be feared from them to whose knowledge soever they should come Romiâ—th or Romagnus Romane come nighest of all but the fourth property reiecteth this also which could not be of force inough to recover the favour of the Beast The Grecians willingly acknowledged themselves to be Romanes and of a long time boasted of this name Constantinople was commonly called New Rome yet in the meane time they were greatly hated of the Beast untill at length they did shew their consent with the Latines and yeelded the Primacie to the Latine Pope Therefore all accounts being cast I thinke that Lateinos is the name which the Spirit here biddeth us to number Which is a name whose letters after the account of the Grecians doe accomplish this number and unto which all the other properties doe agree and so much the more because from the Apostles times it hath ben extended to us and the event hath so confirmed it that it is now more cleare then the light at noonetyde which was darke before For so Ireneus in his 5. book chap 29. against heresies But saith he the name Lateinos conteineth the number sixe hundred threescore and sixe and it is very like to be true because the most substantiall Kingdome hath this name for they are Latines who now doe raigne But wee will not boast of this Such are his wordes As though this were not the opinion of him alone but he had received it froÌ„ another but from what other man is it likely then from Polycarp whose scholar he was and he Iohns scholar Such therefore are these Beasts whose lively image wee see in the Romane Pope who according to the plaine interpretation of the wordes the events of the times and agreablenes of all things so fitly without any violence casteth himselfe into every part of this first paterne and that even to the least appearances and likenesses that I thinke the very Papists themselves cannot doubt any more who is Antichrist And thus farre coÌ„cerning the Dragon and the Beast according to the consideration of knowledg encreased which should come under the blowing of the seventh trumpet for Hitherto doe the thirteene Centuries extend ending in the yeere 1300. to wit in the number of the name of the Beast that is a little after that the matter was brought to a point with the Grecians who submitted themselves to the Latine Pope with which number of his name the Spirit also coÌ„cludeth this Prophecy of the Beast shewing a very great consent of the issue in every part CHAP. 14. THEN I beheld and loe a Lambe stood on mount Sion and with him an hundreth fourty and foure thousande having his fathers name written on their fore heads 2 And I heard a voice from heaven as the sounde of many waters and as the sounde of a great thunder and J heard the voice of Harpers harping with their harpes 3 And who did sing as it were a new song before the throne and before those foure Beasts and those Elders and no man could learne that song but those hundreth fourty and foure thousande to wit those which were bought from the earth 4 These are they which are not defiled with women for they are virgines these follow the Lambe whither soever he goeth these are bought from men being the first fruites to God and to the Lambe 5 And in whose mouth was founde no guile for they are without spot before the Throne of God 6 Then I saw an other Angell flying in the middes of heaven having an everlasting Ghospell to preach to them that dwell on the earth and to every nation tribe and tongue and people 7 Saying with a loude voice feare God and give glory to him for the houre of his iudgement is come and worship him which made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountaines of waters 8 And there followed an other Angell saying it is fallen it is fallen Babylon that great Citie because shee gave the wine of the wrath of her fornication to drinke to all nations 9 And the third Angel followed them saying with a loude voice if anie man shallworship the Beast and his image and receave his marke in his forehead or in his hande 10 The same shall drinke also of the winne of the wrath of God of the pure wine I say which is powred into the cuppe of his wrath and he shal be tormented in fire brymstone before the holy Angels and before the Lambe 11 And the smoke of their torment shall ascende evermore neither shall they hav anie rest day and night which worship the Beast and his image and whosoever receiveth the printe of his name 12 Here is the patience of the Saincts here are they that keepe the commandemeÌ„ts of God and the faith of Iesus 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying unto mee write blessed are the dead which dye for the Lords sake from henceforth even so saith the Spirit for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them 14 And I looked and beholde a white cloud and upon the cloude one sitting like unto the Sonne of man having on his head a golden crowne and in his hande a sharpe sickle 15 And an other Angell came out of the Temple crying with a loude voice to him that sate on the cloude thrust in thy sickle and reape for thy time is come to reape for the harvest of the earth is ripe 16 Then he that sate on the cloud did thrust his sickle on the earth and the earth was reaped 17 Then an other Angell came out of the Temple which is in heaven having also a sharpe sickle 18 And an other Angel came out from the Altar having power over the fire and cryed with a loude voice to him that had the sharpe sickle saying thrust in thy sharpe sickle and gather the clusters of the vineyard of the earth for her grapes are ripe 19 Then the Angel did thrust in his sharpe sickle on the earth and cut downe the grapes of the vineyard of the earth and cast them into that greate wine presse of the wrath of God 20 And the wine presse was troden without the citie and blood came out of the wine presse unto the horses bridles by the space of a thousand sixe hundred furlongs Analysis VVEE have spoken of the thinges done by the enemies it followeth in this chapter concerning the vertue of the citezens declaring what was the condition of the true Church since the time that the battell was ended in heaven the Dragon cast foorth into the earth chap. 12.9 and the Beast began to come out of the Sea chap. 13.1 Which
may say if they come forth out of the Temple it may seem the Church is yet in secret by which argument we have serched out the time of the former Prophesie chap. 14.15 They in the former chapter came out of the Temple being shutt these out of it being opened The Church alwayes dwelleth in the TeÌ„ple for what other fitt hospitage can she have But this Temple is not alwayes after one manner Some while it is shutt in the time of mourning solitarines which was the condition thereof when those reapers grape-gatherers came out of it Some while it is open manifest when the day shineth more cheerful and pleasant and in this estate it was when after the victory over the Beast the seven Angels came out of the same 6 Clothetd with pure and bright linnen These Angels have a more ioyful attyre then had the two witnesses which were clad with sackcloth chap. 11.3 for this time carieth an other hiew Yet these garments are common to all the elect though they be fitter for some times then for othersome For they are the garments of Aarons sonnes Exod. 28.42 And all the elect are made Preists Al the faithfull now doo dwel in the Temple wherinto of olde none might come but the Levites By this attyre therfore is signifyed the cleannes of the Angels through the imputation of Christs righteousnes alone And least any should despise this imputation as a base thing and not fit for any to stand in Gods sight arayed with it as the blasphemous Papists at this day persuade their people therfore he sayth these garments are both pure bright wherein the maiesty of God neyther sees any spott nor any thing that may hinder the highest perfection of glory ¶ And girded about the brests with golden girdles These garments are to be tyed about every one in particular by faith as with a golden girdle the girding is about the brests because this apprehension and application is nothing at all unlesse it have place in the hart So Christ himselfe was girded before chap. 1.13 not for that he needed so to be but onely for to teach us and to represent the Church of that time which was in that part very comely 7 And one of the 4. Beasts It doth not appear which of them by name it was especially seing one of the Beasts may be eyther of order or of distribution of order as when it signifieth the first at chap. 6.1 J heard one of the four Beasts that is the first to weet the Lion Of distribution when in usual manner of speech it may perteyn alike to any of the fowr But it skilleth not which of theÌ„ it be That agreeth unto all which beloÌ„gs to every one al whose vertues being ioyned togither doo give us a pattern what manner of man every faithful minister ought to be as is observed on chap. 4.7 Here the intendement is that we may know how these seven Angels doo draw out of the precepts and institutions of some holy Minister of the Ghospel that which they after doo turn and apply unto the bane of the enemies of the Church Not that this some Minister is to be understood of any singular man but of many that agree in one faith and doctrine as Philip Melanchton Martin Bucer Peter Martyr Henry Bullinger Iohn Calvin and the other servants of God which flourished about that time Out of whose godly and learned writings so many have drawen very excelleÌ„t and golden understanding of holy things that they have been made fitt therby to combat with Antichrist and to finish the remaynders of that warr which the others had so happily begun ¶ Gave to the seven Angels seven golden vials 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a vial sayth Atheneus is so caled by changing of a letter as it were Piálee that is conteyning in it to piem hâ—lis ynough to drink for it is bigger then a cup. book Dipnosophist 11 Yea he makes it a wide and ample vessel like a cauldron which importeth very great wrath to be appointed for the last times These vessels perhaps are used here in such respect as God of old opening the fâ—oud-gates of heaven destroyed al the earth with the floud or as when he consumed Sodom and Gomorrhe with a shore of brimston from heaven For then he seemes to powr out on the heads of men destruction as out of vials Most fitt weapons for the power of God which needeth no forces for to overthrow the enemies but can take them al away even with a small aspersioÌ„ And now behold how fit instruments are attributed to every sort of events In the first place were Seals because the first events were confirmations and pledges of those that were to come Then came Trumpets signifying evils â—ssayling men with great noyse and denouncing also some heavier thing to be expected yf they did not repent Now last are made ready the vials large vessels to conteyn Gods judgment and mâ—st fit to accomplish the perdition of reprobates Neither is ther any noyse in the powring out as was in the sounding of the trompets For Gods judgements to come doo make afrayd for they ar threatned that they may be avoided but when they are present they fal on men privily are not perceived What are these vials then and of what sort First they are the holy minds of the seven Angels intelligent capable of the will of God out of which this baleful liquour is powred upoÌ„ the reprobates Secondly the Beast giveth them by instructing and informing the same minds with holy institutioÌ„s Thirdly they are ful of the wrath of God not wherwith God is angry against them but by which he executeth iudgment upon the wicked Finally they are golden that thou the judgments be most severe yet are they most just pure and precious But mark how dreadfull is this wrath which is of God that liveth for evermore which words are added that we may know the wrath shal be eternal For the wrath is such as is his power whose wrath is kindled 8 And the Temple was filled with smoke Hitherto hath been the preparation of the Angels that which foloweth upon it in respect of this renewed Church is a manifest signe of Gods presence such as was of olde in the Tabernacle Exod. 40.34.35 But thou wilt say the time of the Gospel requireth some more evident token In deed so God deal more opeÌ„ly with us by many degrees then he did under the law but whatsoever caÌ„ be bestowed on us whiles we are on earth though illustrated with the light of the Gospel is but smoke and obscurity in respect of that revelatioÌ„ which at last we shal have in heaven But here he teacheth that Gods preseÌ„ce is clear in the Church though the enemies count it but as smoke and can see no more into it then mâ—n when duskish smoke dooth take away their sight And who but the blind perceiveth not God present in our Churches
rivers but for to give them a kind of force and edge wherby they may prick the sharper and peirce the deeper How notable the goodnes of God is in this respect towards these last times ther is no man unlesse he be shamefully unthankfull and envious but doth acknowledge For by the paynes of some very excellent for why may I not so cal those learned men which have so greatly holpen Christian religion with their studies many things are made unto us most easy and playn in which the ages past have been much deceived Neither is this a vayn boasting of our times but a true preaching of the bounty of God Notwithstanding ther shal be a time at lēgth whē the light of the Moone shal be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun shal be seven fold like the light of seven dayes in the day that the Lord shall bind up the breach of their wound Isa 30.26 as partly by the things that folow wil appeare more manifest Many things ther are in the Scriptures not yet sufficiently explayned but the neerer we come unto that day the more copiously wil the light increase dayly by the neer beams of the rising Sun That I may tel the very thing Antichrist is in deed layd open now long agoe through the grace of God in marvelous manner but seing in these yeeres wherin now we live and wherunto the order of time hath brought us the wayting men of the seat of Rome have felt nothing heavier then that their Iesuits should be put to death which was the sentēce of the vial next before this burning heat of the Sun is to be expected ere long even some greater perspicuity of the Scriptures wherby the man of sin may be more vehemently scorched His filthines shal be discovered yet more wherupon men will the more hate him which wil drive him and his unto such intemperance that he wil gnash and rage against the Sun which hath manifested to the world his so horrible hiew that himselfe shal not indure to behold the same Wherfore I am to exhort you yee learned men whom God hath adorned above others with a singular facultie of perceiving and illustrating the truth that ye would diligently employ your selves in this noble work for the Church You hear what a garlond God hath reserved for these last times Great is the prayse of our Ancestors which first plucked off Antichrists vizar no lesse will theirs be which shal utterly hysse him and drive off the stage Yea they are wont in special to make the triumphe which doo make an end of the battel This onely conflict seemeth to be left for learned men the more are they to be styrred up to apply their studies That which further dooth remayn fyre and soword shal performe and shall not be accomplished by ynk and pen. ¶ And it was given unto him to torment men by fyre The first event it shall torment men with heat But what men why is nothing here added as the mark of the Beast or some such like wherby we may know unto what flock it perteyneth Shall others also be burned with this Sun besides the houshold of Antichrist verily so it seemeth Hypocrites and all others that ar not indued with true godlines whatsoever religion they professe cannot endure that their wickednes should be manifested and reproved by the light of the heavenly truth Wherupon it is no marvel if many other earthly men also which are not of the Popes profession be molested by this heat of the Sun But the words of the next verse which hath power over these plagues seem to be of those men as I sayd which have felt the former scourges also But to what ende is this added by fire seing the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 burn doth sufficiedtly expresse the burning of the Sun It is that wee may know that the heat wherwith they shall boyle shall not be heavenly but earthly such as is fire to weet envy contention strife and al bitternes of minde For fire is here metaphorical which playnly sheweth that this is not the proper Sun seing it worketh not by it own but by an others vertue Such then shal be the first event that men shall boyl in heat not onely by a secret exacerbation of their mindes but even by open brawles and reproches But shal the Angel of the Sun receave such a reward It had bin better for him to have stopt his vial that it might not distill such trouble unto him But let him not be discouraged God will prepare him a secret place with himselfe to keepe him from the virulence of tongues The same hath been the condition of al the Prophets alway so it is with the holy book that being tasted it is sweet in the mouth as honey but being eaten it maketh the belly bitter chap. 10.9 Wherfore let ungratious men reproch freely so as the manifestation of their wickednes doo move their choler 9 And men boyled with great heat The second effect shal be marvelous unusual vexations when ther shal be no shelter no not in the thickest forrest that men can use to alay their heat Therfore they blaspheme the name of God that hath power over these plagues like the men of Atlas which curse the Sun with al execrations because it parcheth them with too much heat as Herodotus relateth These last words seem to make this plague peculiar unto them that were vexed also with soates and whose fountains were turned into blood Notwithstanding we are not to think that it shal be open blasphemy against God so as his holy name shal be manifestly violated after the manner of the Hethens and them that know not God but that then men doo also commit this wickednes when they difame his truth and use cursed speaking against it such manner of indirect blasphemy it seemeth it shal be ¶ And they repēted not to give him glory A defective speech which is more full in chap. 9.20 as if he should say And they repented not of their workes to give him glory and so after in ver 11. Now therfore see what this greater light and heat shal effect it shal drive men to blasphemy but they shal persist in their wickednes no lesse then before Least perhaps thou shouldst look that they being convicted in conscience should submitt themselves to so manifest truth This therfore take thou knowledge of before that thou be not offended at the obstinacy of men 10 And the fift Angel powred out his vial upon the throne This vial upon the Beasts throne hath for the first event the darkning of his kingdome for the second rage blasphemy darkning of the Beasts brood ver 11. VVho this Angel is we shal see in the next chapter upon ver 17. wher the declaration of this thing is purposed What the Throne is the things that wee have heard before doo sufficiently teach us for it is the City which the Dragon gave to the Beast
the Inhabitans of the earth shall wonder In giving all honour and service to him being astonied with the renowne of his false dignity which before was sayd to wonder after the Beast chap. 13.3 Yet notwithstanding least wee should thinke that all men should be caryed away into this destruction he numbreth among this cōpany the inhabitans onely of the earth to weet the citizens of the false Church whose names are not written in the book of life O good God how much concerneth it you ô yee Papists to deliver your Pope from all likenesse to this Beast If he be found covered with his hide which this chapter will make more cleare then the light at noone tide you are utterly lost unlesse you shall flee very quickly all fellowshippe with him I pray you as you regarde your owne salvation that lying aside all hatred preiudice and bitternesse of mindes you weigh the matter with mee in equal ballances A great matter is in hande either the vantage or losse of eternall life See you not that the Pope and the Beast did tread in the same steppes alwayes even hitherto Attend to those things which follow wee finde both of them to walke in the same path which the Spirit hath marked out with equall pases and hand in hand But you will cry out that this is a new interpretation yet appointe not the Spirit at your pleasure he stistributeth most wisely according to his pleasure a measure of knowledge to every time Rather regard the consent of the whole Prophecy which will yeeld a most cleare proofe of the truth and esteeme that most auncient which you shall finde true VVhy doo yee suffer your selves to be deceived with the names of them whom the most certen event declareth to have bene verie greatly deceived in very many things of this Revelation This is the notable craft of the Iesuites to call foorth cheifly those witnesses and Interpreters by whose reverend ignorance they may cover and hid the impiety of the Pope there was not so much danger from him to those auncient Fathers living eyther before Antichrist or by and by after his beginning They understood sufficiently that which perteined unto them other things God would have to be wrapped in darkenesse while the fore appointed time should come that the reprobat seing might not see a way so be made opē for his decree awake yee therfor at lēgth opē your eyes to the shining truth which if yee shall behold glistering more clearly then that it can be obscured by false remote calumnies remember that those are not written in the booke of life which have the Beast in great admiration then take advise according to the greatnesse of the thing You also my brethrē for so I esteeme you as long as any hope remayneth I would admonish in a few wordes who through lightnesse of minde desire of novelty within two or three dayes space become Papists It seemeth a pastime to you casting away the truth to fall to the Pope but take heed that in your sport yee perish not in earnest And willingly wipe your names out of the book of life You pretēd that you will be Catholikes but cōsider that whom you hold for Catholiks are reprobates unlesse they shall escape at length frō these tents into which yee fly for salvation But these pretenses of salvation are toies I know what grieveth you eyther want or dishonour at home or a greater reputation of other men But what gaine shal be even the most ample stipend if yee shall loose your soules What dishonour can be greater then to be added in the company of cast awayes Or who hath not honour inough which is counted the childe of God Minde I pray you these things such like and think it not a light matter forsaking the true God to associate your selves with the Divill Behold also what mischievous persons yee doo nourish in your bosome who gladly doo intertaine the Iesuits He which ioyneth you to the friendship of the Pope procureth unto you certen and undoubted destruction How miserable a thing is it with the hazzard of this life to seeke an undoubted losse of eternall life Doo not iudge any longer a thing of so great moment rather by the painted lies of those men then by the very manifest truth Neither doo yee despise my admonition I am ad adversary onely to your errours I desire from my hart that your selves shoul be saved by Jesus Christ Try the things that I say I require not otherwise to be beleeved and when the things are throughly knowen by searching acknowledge the fraud of the Iesuits thrust them out of doores detest these pestiferous men perceive your owne danger and if you have any regard of salvation now at length be yee wise ¶ From the foundation of the world So before was shewed the eternall Decree touching the death of Christ and the force and efficacy thereof in chap. 13.8 Now the same kind of speaking noteth out the eternall election of them that shal be saved Which two things are most neerely coupled togither ¶ Beholding the Beast which was and which is not and yet is Those last words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and yet is seeme that they are thus to be read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and is present The difference is that those signify that the Beast remaineth alive in the very destruction as though he should say although in mens opinion he is not yet he is and so both members are referred to the same time as before Iohn saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death which yet was not wholly killed in chap. 13. The other reading noteth out more plainely the third time in which after the hurt endured the Beast should recover which thing Aretas the Complutent edition and other copies distinguish plainely which reade 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and shall be present and as Primasius translated shall come Yet that former reading of Theod. Beza may cary the same sence albeit in mens opiniō the Beast of late was not yet now he is In which sense they are to be taken that they may have respect to the Beast comming forth from calamity not continuing in the same For they are answerable to the third distinct time in the beginning of the verse and shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit as is cleare from the men admiring the Beast who admire not the same contemned and afflicted which should be necessary if the words respected the same time with the member going next before but recovering his dignity contrary to mens expectation and the same greater then he had before as it came to passe in his third change after he was recovered of his wound chap. 13.3 Wherfore the vulgar Latine reading corruptly passeth over this third member making men to wonder at the Beast when he is not which is contrary to the truth of the thing Furthermore it is certaine that it is not to be read in
feete divided As long as these reigned the Beast risen up of late flourished much indeede and grievously afflicted when they were gone when as ther was no horne for a long space that was able to keepe away remove the enemies from their neckes Although all the hornes were not certēly of an equall strength but the two last were weaker Rome being twice taken under Honorius Alaricus and Arnulphus being Captaines and neverthelesse the Head of the Beast not yet deadly wounded when as the overthrow was more ignominious then dammageable Pompon Laet. on Honorius being repaired by and by againe when the horne began to exercise his and Honorius to be stirred up the Gothes being expelled out of Italy and Attalus their King triumphed over Rome and then after his right hand cut off by the commaundement of Honorius caryed in to Lipara Sabel En. 8. book 1. Doubtlesse Constantius Aetius employed their endevour valiantly afterward nobly delivered the maiestie of the Empire from all barbarousnes howsoever the chiefe rulers Honorius and Valentinianus were slouthfull cowardous But after these tow last hornes were fallen how many how great calamities were accumulated daily when ther was no aide either from the West or East part that could represse thrust away the malepertnes of the enemies running furiously upon him Therefore by the want of his hornes he came into that state that men thought he had perished and was not as the second part of his time doth manifest ver 8. Therefore are they tenne for iust cause in which nūber is contained the defending of the Beast which afterward failed for a time assoone as that number was ended This is that one houre for which the Beast received power and not he alone but those tenne Hornes together with him which togither also fell downe when as there was afterward no strong or manlie thing in the West for a long time which was able to resist the fiercenes of the enemies For the rest that followed Avitus Maioranus Severianus Anthemius Rethimer Olymbrius Glicerius Nepos Orestes Augustulus to wit the last of the Emperours were of no lesse continuance force power then they ar at this day of no fame scarce known either from the speach of men or by Histories Fourthly the time of the Kingdome not yet received was the time when Iohn lived and when this Revelation was made The Heathen Emperours yet kept the stage to wit the very Dragon while in the meane time the woman not yet strong enough or in time not yet readie to bring foorth her childe endured grievous paine in travelling as in chapter twelve ver 2. c. For howsoever in some ages next after Iohn there were some men a little more enclined toward Christians yet the Dragō forthwith devoured al the new hope lying in wait most vigilantly for the woman travailing with childe until the ful time to bring foorth a valiant issue should come Fiftly the time of receiving power is the same houre with the Beast For wee have shewed that the terme also of beginning is included in the space of cōtinuing But seeing this is a large houre in what moment of it was this power givē Truely in that wherin the Lambe cast downe from the Empire Diocletiā and Maximinian chap. 6.15 for we shal finde that the Beast did appeare at this time as it is made apparant from the elect then sealed chap. 7. From the burning mountaine cast into the Sea a very little after chap. 8. From the Church going into the inner Temple while the wicked have sway in the court chap. 11. From the space of fourty two moneths all which she lay hid in the Temple and wildernes chap. 11.3 12.6 From the same time of the power given to the Beast from the Throne which he received as a gift from the Dragon chap. 13.25 But chiefly from the next succession made to the sixt head to weet the Heathen Emperours ver 10. of this chapter The common terme of all those dependeth from the Dragon his driving out of heaven when after so wonderful a manner the Emperours resigned their authority For what other cause is there why the Church then should be in so afflicted state but for that the Beast was risen up Therfore the woman trembling more for feare of him then of the Dragon brought forth and together fled that is after she had procreated the Christian Emperours among whom Constantine obtaineth the first and chiefe place hating the ambitious and fraudulent Popes introducing shadowes and images of godlines instead of a solid and expresse paterne more then professed enemies shee hidde her selfe in the darke straight way chap. 12.6 Therfore these alone are those hornes to whō onely all these properties agree most fitly The Kings that arose after the dissipation of the Empire began not together with the Beast as we have given him a rising like as other men every where in the yeere 606. but almost two hundred yeere before For the Suevians Alanes Goths Vandals possessed Spaine when Honorius reigned The Vandals also held Afrike the Goths Burgonians Francons obtained France the English men Britannie the Hunnes Pannonia and others chalenged for their owne other countries These Kings flourished the Beast in the meane season being almost consumed with a most grievous woūd Neither received they power for an houre as the true hornes but by succession of their heires the which dignity being once gotten they hold it cōstantly even unto this very day the glory I say of the Kingdomes never decayed howsoever the families peradventure were often changed Finally neither succeeded they next the sixt head but they have the Popes and Christian Emperours placed between and in the midds By the same arguments all things fall down which are brought by Ribera the Iesuite cōcerning the tenne hornes Revel 12. num 11. as may be evident to him that weigheth the thing on both sides that I may not spend time in refuting his toies If any obiect that some of those Emperours were godly holy let him againe take this answer to himselfe that the good Princes knew not what monster they nourished even as very many learned men who had no lesse care to set foorth the Beast by their writings then they to defend him by weapons From whence it is no marvaile though both strove to their power to adorne him whose counterfait shew had a certen maiestie but his filthines yet was more hidde then that it could be seen openly Neither is it needful that al the hornes should be togither more then the heads which succeeded one after an other And the Beast himselfe is a rew of Popes as wee have shewed which a long order of succession cōcludeth not any one person limiteth Yet these first Emperours are so the hornes that togither they containe the whole order following but therefore before the rest elected as it were by name both because the traveile of these should be famous and the first in
the East and unto al the countrie round about by whose wholsomnes a verie great multitude of fish shal be ingendred Ezech. 47. And then after the litle horn is taken away the Kingdom shal be given to one like the son of man that al peoples nations tongues may serv him Dan. 7.14 which Kingdome is not that which shal be in heaven where no distinction is of peoples nations and tongues but shal come in earth and be administred by the scepter of his word Wherupon after the cutting off of this Horn which men commōly doo interpret partly of Antiochus partly of Antichrist but is in verie deed the Turk who shal be rooted out within a while after the true Antichrist ther shal be a most ample promulgation of the Gospel with much larger limits than ever heretofore For then all the nations indeede shal serve him Psal 72.11 and Jehovah shal be King over all the earth and in that day shall Iehovah be one and his name one Zach. 14.19 These things and many such like doo make it playn that howsoever the doctrine of salvation surveyed many lands before Antichrist yet after he is extinguished the tents of the sacred truth shal be much more amply displayed so that into them shal assemble a very great congregation in respect wherof the assemblies of former times have been smal or rather none These things doo the scriptures teach of the universal preaching they are constant firm sure ful of maiesty power mercy if you look unto God and if you turn your eies unto our selves they are no lesse full of al joy and confort Wheras on the contrarie the things which you have brought are either uncertayn guesses or vaine fictions which wil both deceive at least your expectation and in the mean while lead into error and destruction Chapt. 5. Against the second Demonstration from the desolation of the Romane Empire The second Demonstration you say is taken from the other signe that goeth before the times of Antichrist which shal be the utter desolation of the Romane Empire which seing it yet endureth Antichrist is not yet come Hereupon you take in hand to prove two things first that Antichrist shal not come til after the utter desolation of the Romane Empire secondly that the Romane Empire dooth yet indure The first you confirm by fowr scriptures of which the three first namely Dan. 2. and 7. Apoc. 17. doo rely upon the interpretation of Irenaeus book 5. But let us leav I pray you mens names and let us weigh the thing it selfe in the ballance of truth If the matter should be discussed by the contrary opinions of men which might be found many in these dark places ther would be no end Let us deal rather from such principles as may lead and bring us to some certainty As touching therfore the 2. of Daniel and that succession of the chief Kingdomes until the worlds end which the Images sheweth nothing out by the golden head the sylver brest the brazen belly the leggs and the feet partly yron and partly clay the 4. cheif Kingdoms on earth of the Assyrians Persians Greeks Romanes the last wherof the Romane you say was a long time parted in two as the leggs are two and long Moreover that of the two leggs should spring ten toes and in them the whole Jmage have an end to weet because the Romane Empire should at last be divided into ten Kings of whom none should be King of the Romanes as no toe is a leg As touching these I say what one word is ther in al this vision which intimateth that Antichrist should come after the Romane Empire is utterly defaced I hear there are tow leggs and the feet divided into ten toes but not a whit concerning Antichrist whither he should come after this division or before it or in the time of the divisiō Doo you goe on thus to build your Demōstrations without any so much as shew of a foundation wheron they should rely Yea what if the contrary may from hence most firmly be concluded that Antichrist shal come before Christ cometh But the Romane Empire shal not altogither be destroyed until Christ be come For thē feet of iron and clay shal dure until the stone out of the mountayn cutt without hands shal smite them beat them to peeces as is plainly shewed ver 34. thou sawest until a stone was cut out which is not in any hands and smote the image on his feet of yron and clay and brake them to peeces and agayn in the 44. verse And in the dayes of these Kings shall the God of Heaven ryse up a Kingdome which shall never be destroyed c. But these feet are the Romane Empire weaker in deed than it was before of the leggs yet is it the Romane Empire notwithstanding For the Image deciphreth fowr Kingdomes onely but if the feet should have an other Kingdome than the leggs ther should be five Wherupon also that is false which you say that the Romane Empire shal at last be divided into ten Kings of which none shal be King of the Romanes as no toe is a leg For thus you bring in a fift Kingdome which the Spirit by the Image sayth not Neither is that of weight that a toe is not a leg seing no one member is an other though both be parts of one whole thing even as the toe and legg be of the fourth Kingdome Now therfore you may see how fayrly you have made demōstration of your nakednes which the more you seek to cover and hide the more conspicuous and filthy you doo make it The second place is out of Dan. 7.7 where you say the ten hornes which come out of the last Beast are the ten last Kings which shal arise out of the Romane Empire but shal not be Romane Emperours as the hornes arise out of the Beast but ar not the Beast it selfe I answer as even now I did to the former argument which was the selfe same that this If these ten hornes have a Kingdome divers from that of the Beast then ar ther not fowr Kings onely but five contrary to that the Angel affirmeth ver 17. these great Beasts which are fowr are fowr Kings which shal rise out of the earth Moreover doo you think that the 4. hornes of the Goat which rose up in place of that broken horn was another distinct Kingdome from the Kingdome of the Goat to weet an other than of the Greeks Dan. 8.8 If so you think the Prophet sheweth you are playnly deceived who teacheth that this Goat of the 8. chapter is the Leopard of the seventh and that the Leopard is one Kingdome onely and the third chap. 7.6.17 As therfore the Goats horns make not a different Kingdome from the Kingdome of the Goat so neither doe the ten horns of the fourth Beast make a different Kingdome of the 4 Beast Ther be also the ten horns of the Dragon in this Apocalypse which are not
easily it dooth blot out the impietie of that three yeeres space of Antichrist which they dreame is yet to come although it were granted that he should raign at Rome How can the sinnes in the last times come up even to heaven from whose full heape so much is taken away by so loÌ„g continuing holines of the Popes But this RevelatioÌ„ hath made the thing manifest declaring that the Pope received a lampe from the Heathen Emperours and to have heaped up new sinnes upon the former heape in a coÌ„tinual row even as the perpetual order and succession of Popes sheweth for which onely thing the catalogue of the Popes serveth greatly We hav seen this heape wonderfully increased in these our times neither shal they which folow lesse maÌ„fully add to the heape until they have both brought their sinns unto heaven and also their wicked citie to dust The Interpreter Aretas translateth have cleaved to Montanus are glued togither one layed on an other and as it were soldered with glue Therfore the filthines of Rome shal be made yet more manifest to the elect to the end that they may thinke the more in earnest of flying from her 6 Reward her even as shee hath rewarded you The other part of the exhortatioÌ„ hath respect to the armies of soldjers gathered togither against Rome This whetteth their anger and stirreth it up to a iust revenging Thou sayest it is a cruel sentence he should rather convert his speach to the repressing of fury much lesse excite to the rendring of double But cursed is every one that doth the worke of the Lord negligently Neither is it to be feared that the punishment is more greevous then her deserts to which no sharpnes of punishment can be equal But these things declare the event to weet that men shal use verie great severitie in executing this last desolatioÌ„ And it is to be observed that the citizens now of the Romane jurisdiction shal be the Ministers of this universal slaughter For whom the Angel eveÌ„ now commanded to come out of Babylon them he now exhorteth to reveÌ„gement It is like that these being mindful of so long continuing tyranny wherwith they have lyen oppressed so many ages and having also the late iniuries fixed in their minds the sting wherof dooth yet greeve them vehemently wil more freely give licence to their anger and wil satisfy themselves scarce with anie punishment And this is that to give her the double to fill her the double in the cup that she hath filled signifying that a huge calamitie shal be brought upon her with verie great cruelty We have seen befor that there is a double cupp in this book one of errour wherby the whore made men drunken with the sweetnesse of her abomination the other of punishment wherby it is taught that the wicked shal be punished after the like manner that they have sinned 7 In as much as shee hath glorified her selfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 weigh out to her in equal balances so much torment as there was excesse in carnal pleasure before O Rome therfore by so much the more miserable by how much thou hast bene the most happie of all Who shal recite thy calamitie to whose riot the deliciousnes of the Sybarites is not to be compared ¶ J sit a Queen The greatnesse of the punishment is declared two wayes both by the like cruelty which shee hath shewed against others in the former verse and also from her loftinesse in this verse wherunto her abasement must be answerable in the verse folowing But wheras shee vaunteth that shee is a Queen shee sheweth her selfe to be the natural daughter of her mother Babylon Neither are these proude words darke when shee chalengeth to her selfe a Primacy over all Churches braggeth that shee is the head of Christianity the beginning of eternal life and many other things of like blasphemous arrogancy Which Primacy shee assureth her selfe shal be for ever perswading her owne heart that she shal never be deprived of this dignity neither shal have experience of anie calamity For what other thing is it that her most beloved sonnes doo avouch that Peters chaire cannot be separated from Rome nor the seate of the Apostles translated from thence as Bellarmine affirmeth in his 4. book of the Bishop of Rome chap. 4. Which although he wil not have to be counted among the articles of the faith yet it seemeth to him by some arguments of so great strength that at the last he can hadly pe persuaded but that it is an article of the Papists faith Francis de Ribera now gesseth that som evil shal happen to Rome but after that manner that he sheweth rather his care then giveth over even the least that may be of his bragging 8 Therfore in one day For this thy proud boasting this threefold kind of calamity shal make an assault upon thee at once At leÌ„gth thou shalt finde how thou hast ben deceived and how in vain thy Knaves have sung to thee upon this rock I wil build my Church c. The calamities which are rehearsed belong partly to men whom death sorow and famine shal devoure partly to the citie which shal be burnt with fire Which declare that the city shal not be takeÌ„ at the first assault but by a siege while the which continueth the past for so death was called before in chah 6.8 sorow and famine shal assaile within and that at length the city shal come into the power of the enemies who shal make it even to the ground bring her to ashes then shal be fulfilled that which Sibyl Prophecied Rome shal be a street or empty place and Delos shal be obscure or not founde ¶ For strong is the Lord He maketh mention of the power of the Lord because it wil be almost incredible that Rome borne up with so great riches both her owne and Kings and others her allies can be broâ—ght into this miserable condition But he is mighty who shal exercise iudgmeÌ„t whose will cannot be resisted by any might That which here is read shall iudge some copies have in the present tense iudgeth 9 Then shal bewaile Such was the exhortation the first mourning of the wicked shal be of Kings but of the earth onely neither properly so called but onely Romanes VVhich Kings are the slaves of the Church playing the harlot These shal beginne their lamentable songes mourning after a wonderful manner when they thinke of how sweete coÌ„pany of the whore they are deprived by this unlooked for destruction VVherfore other Kings shal remaine besides those tenne chap. 17.16 which shal destroy the whore with fyre Neither is it to be thought that these ten Kings after their hatred satisfyed shal give up themselves to lamenting being moved by repentance as Ribera trifleth For it shal be matter of very great ioy to al the elect of which sorte are these Ministers of vengeance exhorting al the people of
which so solemne commandement he teacheth that there is in it a great and strange matter We commit to writing things the credit wher of we will have to be confirmed unto all posterity for which cause lawes were graven once in Brasse and set up in a publike place Also God speaking to Ieremy concerning this same thing Write saith he for thy selfe all the words which I speake unto thee in a book chap. 30.2 As if God providing for our infirmity should give us sealed writings from which wee might cal upon him for helpe more freely and boldly if peradventure he should seem to forget his promise But not onely Iohn is confirmed hereby but also the event is respected as we have seen from the like places before as if it should come to passe that by the authority of some holy man some publike writing should be set forth which most plainly should cōfirme this thing not to be new but foreshewed of God from the furthest times and that therfore the goodnesse and truth of God is to be acknowledged and praised in the same But the time wil manifest what at length is to be thought concerning this matter But what is it which he is commanded to write That they are blessed which ar called to the marriage supper of the Lābe a thing indeed wonderful never heard off before that al should be blessed which are called Before time this rule was in force many are called few chosen which thing example also hath prooved true when the calling fell not out prosperously to the auncient ghests who being called refused to come But now it shal be otherweise Al the called shal come gladly neither shal alledge for their excuse things of smal importance as did those former Mat. 22. So great now shal be the efficacy and grace of the Spirit that they shal obey at the first hearing Before saith Isaiah shee travailed she brought forth and before her paine came shee was delivered of a man childe Who hath heard such a thing Who hath seen such things Shal the earth be brought forth in one day Or shall a nation be borne at once For assoone as Zion travailed shee brought forth her children c. So Psal 110.3 Thy people most voluntary of all men in the time of thine armies in the beautiful places of thy holinesse frō the wombe of the mourning shal be to thee dewe of thy youth Many such things might be brought and peradventure it would be profitable at least weise that occasion might be given to our men to consider diligently of those places from the true meaning wherof I feare that wee erre by interpreting the things that are to come as if they were past This sentence therfore which is commaunded to be written taketh away al scruple frō Iohn He might have minded the former obstinacy of the nation and for that cause have doubted of their conversion But the Angel commandeth this care to depart There shal be so great diligence of the people that it shal be sufficient for them to be called away It is to be observed that the Iewes both here and elsewhere in many places are called keclemenous in the preterperfect tence by a certain prerogative of calling as it seemeth as who were called ever since the first times of the world Mat. 22.3.4.8 But the Gētiles kletous Mat. 22.14 because they were first called at Christ coming or rather after his death Which difference seemeth to be observed in this revelation from whence chap. 17.14 they who the Lambe being their Captaine doo subdue the tenn Kings are named called and chosen whom it is manifest to be the faithfull among the Gentiles ¶ These words are true The second confirmation taken from the principal authour as though he should say respect not mee as reporting any thing of mine owne but be so perswaded that this is the decree of the most High God as thou thy selfe heardest even now with thyne own ears ver 5. but the natural placing of the words hath an emphasis as it is in the Greek which by the displacing is lost these are the true words of God himselfe that is of most divine most excellent and most certen truth True are also some words of men but there is some infirmity in our most true things Wee alwayes speake from the earth Iohn 3.31 Therfore some preferment is attributed to this truth which appeareth not if we change the order of the words It is no strange thing that the words of God should be true 10 And I fell down before his feet VVhy now more then before VVas he abashed with the maiesty of the Angel But he had bin accustomed now a long time to wonderful sights Or was it for ioy of the conversion of his nation so in deed it seemeth For Iohn being ravished as it is clear frō the answer of the Angel with the sweetnesse of this Prophecy for sudden ioy wherwith he was carried away would give more worship then was meet to so welcome a messenger ¶ See that not to weet that thou worship mee not a defective speach noting out the grievousnesse of the naughty act for he maketh speed and finisheth not the sentence for hast Even as wee are wont to prohibit a thing eyther by sudden crying out or by the hand when the thing permitteth not any time for words He confirmeth the prohibition by two reasons first from the equal dignity of the Ministers of Christ J am saith he thy felow servant and not onely of the Apostles but also of thy brethrē which have the testimony of Iesu Al our office is equal they who preach Christ salvation by him are in equal dignity with them which reveale things to come The office of preaching is equal to the office of revealing this is the meaning of that which is said in the ende of the verse For the testimony of Iesu is the Spirit of Prophecy The second reason is because adoration belongeth to God onely Worship him saith he to whom alone such worship is due Doo not ye ô Popish Idolaters tremble at these words Ye take great paines about devising reasons why the Angel prohibited adoration as though he himselfe hath not rendred most cleare ones in his own words But what reasons bring yee To weet that after our flesh taken of Christ the Angels are greatly afraid to see the same prostrate before them as Gregory the Great wil have it Moreover because beside this dignity men are also Ministers of Christ Prophets and messengers of the Evangelical doctrine and Martyrs for the same Be it so doo ye not perceive that you are killed with your owne swords If they feare much to see our nature prostrate to them after the same taken of Christ why do ye cast down your nature to stones and painted Images and put the holy Angels in feare If they wil not be worshipped of the Ministers of Christ either at length cease to doo wickedly or at least confesse
death 15 And who soever was not sound written in the booke of life was cast into the lake of fire The Analysis VVEE have spoken of the destruction of the Beast the destructiō of the Dragon followeth whose history seing it is the conclusion of the whole warrfare of the Church under the crosse first he repeateth briefly the things before spoken secondly by a new Prophecy he declareth the last ruine of him The repetition is framed according to three times the first in which the Divell was taken in the first verse The secōd how long he was bound in the second verse the third when and how lōg he should be loosed in the end of the third verse And all these thinges briefly which after are repeated more largely by mentioning therewithall the state of the Church of what sorte it was in the meane time through every of those periods In the first wherin the Dragon was taken the saints were beheaded at the beginning of the fourth verse In the second wherin the Divill or Dragon was bound there was an unlike conditiō of men for the saincts raigned a thousand yeeres which was the time of the prisōment of the Divill both in respect of the soules slaine in the former period and also in respect of them that were on earth who strove with the Beast neither did submit under his yoke by any meanes in the same verse The other lived not againe all that time but being deceived by the frauds and impostures of the Beast lay as it were dead and buried in their errors in the fift verse The third period which is of the Divill being loosed relateth both the condition of the elect and also the furie of the Dragon raging againe Those thousande yeeres being expired the elect lived not a few as in the second period but they rose againe in a farre greater multitude the errours of the Beast being left and themselves converted unto true godlines Which resurrection is called the first and blessed because of the Priestly and Kingly dignity long continuing of the raigne with Christ in the sixt verse The furie of the Dragon after a thousand yeeres prisonment shal be revived in the seventh verse He shall muster souldiers known by name Gog and Magog infinite in multitude in the eight ver He shall spoile all farr and neare and shal besiege the tents of the saincts in the beginning of the ninth verse and so farr proceedeth the repetition of the former ages That which dooth follow from thence is to come his attempt against the beloved City and utter overthrow both of the army in the ende of the ninth verse and also of himselfe in the tenth verse And thus farre is the destruction of the enemies afterward the happines of the Saints is handled wherby the Church shall shine having escaped all these calamities Which felicity is declared two wayes both by the gathering togither of the saincts in the rest of this chapter and condition of them being gathered in those that followe The gathering hath a preparation and execution The preparation is of the Iudge fitting upō a great throne in the eleventh verse The execution is partly summarily toward them that are to be iudged where the forme of iudgement is out of certē bookes according to the workes verse twelve and the māner of standind before the iudgement seate the resurrection in the thirteenth verse partly by name upon death and hell and those that were not founde in the booke of life in the fourteenth and fifteenth verse Scholions 1 After J saw an Angel come down How great paines the interpreters have taken in this chapter we may see it by their commentaries Especially the Papists torment themselves very much to whom this is a labyrinth out of which they cannot rid themselves no more then of all the other things in this booke in which they wander hither and thither and erre neither can finde any comming out any where as it must needs be where the truth is not for a guide The former exposition the rehearsall of a great part of which is here made will make I hope all things easy ready to us First then in repeating things past to the end that the thinges spoken of before here and there touching the Dragon being now proposed to be seen all at once may the better be understood he speaketh of his apprehension which briefly sheweth by consequent that he was loosed before in that time made those sturres which he is wonte when he hath the raines loose From which it may be gathered easily what was the cōdition of the primitive Church as long as this disturber might confoūde all things at his pleasure But at length his furie was bridled his power weakened by the Angel a description of whom is here made Who this Angel is we have learned from the former things to weet that it is Constantine the Great who being borne the manchilde of the Church making warre for his mothers sake against the Tyrants the Heathen Emperours the Dragon it selfe He is said to come downe from heaven bringing unexpected aide in chap. 12.6.7 c. So the Angel being to fight against the whore and to assaile her unwares was said to come down frō heaven in the eighteenth chapter and first verse He hath the keye of the bottomlesse pit power to open the same and shut up the Dragon but not to cast forth the hellish smoke in which respect onely the key was givē to the Angel of the bottomlesse pit chap. 9.1 There is therfore a great difference between these two keyes The great chaine are the foundations of the Christian liberty layd by him by which he held the Dragon bound as with chaines by a long succession of time that he could not move himselfe to make any trouble For now the way was stopped up against those Heathen to the chiefe soveraignty or if they attained to it by fraud as Iulian yet they were so bound tyed with this chaine that they could not exercise their former cruelty 2 Who took the Dragon Overcame him by open warr chap. 6.15 12.7 For whē those tyrāts were overcome the strēgth of the Dragō was takē away neither could he entreprise any such thing as he exercised before The Heathen Emperours are noted by the names of the very Divell as also in chap. 12.9 the articles being also added for the preheminence of the wickednesse because they may by right be esteemed by his name of whose poyson malitiousnes and wickednes they have bin the ministers Worthily doth a man beare his name whose manners and disposition he taketh upon him This apprehension signifyeth that whole first period frō the time of Iohn and before even unto Constantine the last part of it being put for the whole For saying that now the Dragō was takē he would have it to be understood that before he ran to and fro devising as much evill as he could as we learned in the
alone but also it shal be writteÌ„ on the horses belles Holines to Jehova as are the pottes of the house of Iehovah as the bolles before the altar Zachar. 14.20 he wil undertake their patronage and defense of all their things even of the least 5 And ther shal be no night They shall not be afflicted as in the former ages neither shal they need light coÌ„forts of the light and the lik things which before they were wont to use but they shall receive of God himselfe exceeding joye neither shall they care for or seeke other meanes to ease their griefes Isay 60.19.20 But how saieth he they shall not neede the light when above he said the Lambe shal be their light chap. 21.2 here he denieth not altogither that they shall not neede the light but onely no other but the Lambe ¶ Because the Lord God giveth them light they shall reigne for ever ever Ther shall appeare greater kindnes of God than can be attributed to any meanes For so great shal be the increase of knowledge that men shall seeme to be made wise not so much by hearing of the word as by divine inspiration The like shal be of all other giftes whose excellency shal farre exceed all meanes which they might use in getting them In the ende of the verse there is set downe in plaine words what is the summe of these 3. verses to weet that this kingdome of Saints shal be eternal which shall be begunne in the earth neither shal it ever be interruptep but shall be finally translated into heaven 6 Then he said to mee Hitherto hath bin the propheticall narration now ther foloweth a conclusion of the Epistle the shutting up of the whole Revelation which in few wordes mentioneth certaine chiefe heades whereby every one maye confirme and strengthen himselfe of the credit and authority of this Prophecy It is a most profitable conclusion and full of heavenly maiesty The Spirit knew how this Revelation should not be regarded of men and certaine should call into question the credit thereof beyond his wonted manner he labourâ—th in a few more words to take away all this doubt But who is this Angel which now talkes with Iohn An other as it seemeth than he who in the beginning of the chapter shewed the river of the water of life or that manifested the city For thiâ— is the seaventh Angell that is of those to whom the busines was committed of administring the seven last plagues chap. 21.9 whose charge was certaine and conteined in the limites of a certaine parte not endued with power of the whole Revelation But this confirmation is common to the whole booke and therfore seemeth to be of that Angell which was sent in the beginning that manifested these things to Iohn Next also it is likely that here are not againe words uttered by the voice of the samâ— ngell but they are related of Iohn under the person of the Angel of whom first he had received them Certainly the coniunction of things without any copulatives or any necessary coherence between themselves seemeth to approve of such an account Which meaning if we follow the words ar not to be translated then he said to mee which declare the time of a new speach begunne after the sight of the city but and he said to mee as though he should say seeing that now I have fully delivered to you al things which are revealed to mee that shal be now ther remaineth nothing but that with sure faith ye embrace the same which that you may the more easilie doo bethinke ye how holily and religiouslly the Angel hath confirmed the same to mee those words are faithfull and true Wherfore this confirmation of the Angel apperteineth not onely to those things which went next before of the new Ierusalem although the demonstrative proouune be so used often but likewise to the whole booke as also that threatening which followeth ver 18.19 universally challengeth credit to the whole Prophecy and not for the authority of some certaine part of it These things are repeated out of the 19 chap. ver 9. by the words of Iohn speaking which the Angel had before spoken they are applyed to approve the whole Revelation ¶ And the Lord God of the holy Prophets sent his Angell Neither did the Angel of his owne accord utter these words are faithful true but by the coÌ„maundement and authority of God the sander The same God which inspired the auncient Prophets that they might most certenly forespeake of things to come he sent this Angell which might reveale those thinges to Iohn for the use of the Church These things are repeated out of the 1. chap. 1 ver which Revelation he signified when he sent by his Angell to his servant Iohn But thou maiest observe that this latter member of the verse is so inferred that it may clearly shew that these now are not the words of the Angell speaking but of Iohn repeating the arguments of this Prophecy delivered from heaven 7 Behold I come quickly The testimony of Iesus concerning the speedy execution of these things fetched out of the 11. chapter which must shortly be done and againe the time is neare ver 3. The event of things next past should give credit to things that follow and therfore he maketh mentioÌ„ of a speedy execution as if he should say take every one of you for every of your ages a pledge and as it were a fuerty of things to come by the present things which thou shalt see to come to passe These things assure you that the things to come are no lesse certain But we who now for a thousand and five hundred yeares to weet from Iohn have seen the consent of the event and Prophecy may not any more doubt of these few other things which as yet remaine See how these things are heaped up togither as but now we saied without any bandes of speach as for the most part it is done in numbring of things ¶ Blessed is he that keepeth A confirmatioÌ„ of the happines of them which keepe this Prophecy which nothing can bestow on man but the truth in spired from heaven as before in chap. 1.3 from whence these are fetched 8 And J Iohn A confirmation from the Ministers It is a most sure prophecy whose Minister the Angel was and of so great maiesty that Iohn the Apostle thought to worshippe him and of that holines that he forbad the worshippe offered Iohn telleth what first befell chap. 19.10 he falleth not downe againe into the worshippe forbidden him ¶ But he said to mee in the greek it is and he saieth to mee for he said to mee or hath saide as well the interpreters do translate it he relateth not a new but a thing past But we must marke that which he spake before and of thy brethren which have the testimony of Jesus chap. 19.10 here it is uttered in other words and of thy brethren the Prophets of them
which keepe the words of this book Therfore to keepe the words of this book is to have the testimony of Iesus ¶ Seale not The publishing of a commaundement wherby ther should be free power to every one to examine and by the successe to iudge of the Prophecy Iohn might not have it for himselfe alone but should offer it to the trial of a publique examination as forthwith from the beginning he was bidden That which thou seest write in a booke and send it to the seven Churches chap. 1.11 And againe write these things which thou hast seen which are and which shal be that is hide it not from others but publish it But if the publicke publishing of it be onely respected how was Daniell commaunded to shut up his words and to seale the booke who also brought into open view his Prophecy Therfore this prohibition of not sealing includeth some other thing namely that things to come are in such sorte set downe that men by the events present and neere at hande might be ledde as by the hand fully to understaÌ„d the same Prophecie which chauÌ„ced otherweise to Daniell who was not manifest to every age for he lightly touching things interlaced is chiefly imployed in things that should lastly come to paste and therfore should expect the appointed time before which it was not to be unfolded which partly is to be understood of those more difficult visions partly of the people of the Iewes whom that Prophecy doth chiefly respect That which followeth confirmeth this interpretation for the time is at hand as if he should say shutte not up this Prophecy because the time neare at hand shall reveale it but Daniels was sealed up for the event farre to comme caused that for a great time it should lie hidden Therfore these words have the same force as the former Behold I come quickly 11 He that hurteth let him hurt still A preventing of a secret doubt wherby the mindes of the weake might be weakened for they see that the ungodly goe forward in their ungodlines and their punishment for many ages is differred Therfore they might demaunde how he would come quickly who so long forbeareth the wicked He then meetes with it and warneth that no man take this in ill part but minde that the ungodly will continue in their wickednes and the righteous will follow after righteousnes but that there are certen boundes set them beiond which they cannot goe neither must they wonder that a certaine increase of wickednes is permitted for a determined time for the greater condemnation of the ungodly but they are to leave those men and to turne their eies to the elect whose constant study of godlines ought to strenghten our wavering mindes against all stiffenes of the reprobate Therfore these are not the words of one exhorting but of one conforting and admonishing that by those scaÌ„dales our expectatioÌ„ be not diminished seeing that ther shall be such a state of things even to the last end ¶ And he that is iust shal be iustified still Let him be imployed in those workes wherby he may prove both to himselfe and others that he is iust but he doth not so much exhort as shew the perseverance of the saincts which being planted in Gods house bring forth more planteous fruites in their old age 12 And behold I come quickly But it was repeated before in the seventh verse but againe it is now pressed as an excellent remedy against the offense of the extreeme hardnes of the reprobate as if he should say as often as the wickednes of men doth stirre up the minde be thinke yee that shortly shal be the coming of the Lord. He hath promised it that cannot deceive nor measure you not the delay by your owne sense but beleeve stedfastly that that which he hath promised shall not be so long differed Yee consider that the Lord is present in those same things which are dayly done see that he now forthwith hasteneth his promises that ye may not complaine of his overmuch delay or may thinke that those things whiâ—h have bin foretold shall not come to passe Therfore these things doo very well accord with the former nor by any meanes are they to be referred to an other place albe it if this coupling togithe were not wee ought not to be much troubled about the consequence The rehearsall made which we have spoken off may containe in one full sentence divers things sundry persons without any light of bandes and transitions ¶ And my reward is with mee These words belong to the same comfort and set before our eyes Christ the rewarder against the offense both of the felicity of the wicked also those troubles which in the meane time the saincts doe finde God is iust neither can it be but that it shal goe well at length with the good ill with the wicked as hath bin declared in this same book in expresse words chap. 13.10 and 14.13 13 I am Alpha Omega They ar the words of Christ but not speaking in this place in his owne person but rehearsed by Iohn They confirm the Prophecy froÌ„ the eternity of Christ or rather froÌ„ his power as before wee have interpreted How should we not credit him so wel in pronouncing of things to come as past who is eternal or who hath given beginning to al things and at his pleasure caÌ„ reduce them to nothing chap 1.8 14 Blessed are they c. These things belong to the authority of Christ testifying to whoÌ„ whosoever obey is blessed He hath power over the tree of life the liberty wherof he giveth to them that obey him ch 2.7 of this ver 2. Moreover he giveth a right to enter into the city by the gates by which alone the way is open seing the wall is so hie that there is not any hope ever to climbe over chap. 21.17 15 But without shal be doggs Men of doggish impudeÌ„cy virulency who alwayes barke at every good things it shal be a grea felicity to be delivered from their society Concerning the troupe of the excluded see ch 21.8 16 I Iesus c. A confirmatioÌ„ froÌ„ a manifest testimony of Iesus himselfe not spoken here by his owne voice but by Iohns repeated froÌ„ ch 1.1 Christ speaketh never in this book in his own person without some significatioÌ„ of his most great maiesty wherby he may testify his presence ¶ That bright c. The morning starre is most clear sheweth the day following at her backe so Christ in this life shineth most brightly to the faithful being also a pledg to theÌ„ of a greater light shortly to coeÌ„ But morover he shineth to them by the first fruits of the truth of which he wil giv them shortly a ful abuÌ„ndaÌ„ce This praise is takeÌ„ froÌ„ ch 2.28 see mor there 17 But the Spirit c. A confirmation from the desire of the sanctified to whom nothing is so deare as to see these things
from them But by these meanes he will declare and manifest howe greatly wee ought to reverence his secrets 2 And J saw a strong Angell publishing There is a great dignity of the Prophesy from the certenty largenes scaling up but nowe a greater appeareth seeing the highnes thereof surmounteth every created Spirit For it is not of that kinde which the more prudent sorte of men can comprehende by any skilfull foreknowledg but wherein all must needes confesse their ignorance The which for to shewe he alludeth to the manner of Princes who in difficult thinges are wont by great rewards to provoke their subiects by the voyce of a Cryer to try their strength and there is almost none whoÌ„ in such businesse some small hope will not thrust forward to make tryall If so be that noe man cometh forth what is this else than an open confession of their imbecillity So the Angell is sent to enquire who is worthy to opeÌ„ the booke If noe man offereth himselfe let us acknowledge our owne impotency and the power of our Mediatour and togither also let us honour with due reverence these holy mysteryes for which cause God causeth in us this feeling of our owne want of power as of old in Adam before whoÌ„ ere he gave him a wife he set all creatures that noe fit helper being found he might make the more accounte of the wife given him ¶ Who is worthy He maketh not inquiry of the power and strength but of the deserte and worthynes For even all the creatures if they should coÌ„spire togither are able to doe nothing to wringe out perforce the things from God Whatsoever wee obtayne wee enioye it at his will and pleasure and by entreaty and the Lord being iust in giving his thinges regardeth their worthynes upon whom he bestoweth his benefits whom unlesse either their owne or an others iust dignity shall commende they can hope for noe good thinge from him But if a bare foreknowledge of future thinges shal be of so greate importance in what estimation is the knowledge of salvation to be had 3 And noe man was able A free confession of the creature that it is able to doe nothing herein Let them therefore looke to it who doe make her a patronesse for theÌ„selves in matters of greater moment Why then should wee mervayle if noe man understandeth any of these thinges not onely among the Gentiles although the most quickwitted of them but also not in the whole Kingdome of the Papists noe not that blasphemously unerring Pope himselfe with all his Seraphicall Doctours arrogating to them selves the victory of all knowledge learning prudence and wisdome These thinges surmount all humane sharpenes of witte least peradventure thou reiect rashly that which shall not please those our maisters And the distribution of thinges in heaven in earth and which are under the earth may be understood froÌ„ the proclaiming of the Angell he made enquiry who was worthy Therfore the inquisition perteined not to the Devils and soules punished for sinnes For what hope or shewe of worthynes could be here Therfore the thinges in Heaven are the Angels they in the earth Men living they which are under the earth are the Saints sleeping in their graves Whom he signifyeth in this manner by that one part which cometh neerer to our sense In which respect Iacob sayeth and I shall goe downe to my sonne mourning into the grave Gen. 37.35 In these alone their might be some question Therfore that place is to colde for to kindle a Purgatory ¶ Nor looke thereon for so hath Theod. Beza the common translation hath looke upon I should rather turne looke in For so the sentence encreaseth seeing this is greater then not to open The booke could not be looked in so long as it did remaine sealed whereupon the addition would be superfluous in this sense 4 J wept therefore It is a lamentable thing in deede that the Church should wante the gift of Prophecy But Iohn bewrayed his infirmity having forgot or at least wise not minding that nothing is so hidden that could be unknowne to our chiefe Prophet of which he would not teach his Church so farre as should be expedient for his Wherefore one of the Elders warning him that he should not weepe doth togither with gentlely reprove his ignorance or rather forgetfulnes as though it were a shamefull thinge for a teacher not to knowe that which the common sorte of the faithfull should not be ignorant of 5 Beholde he hath obtayned Many as it were contending but one obtayning the victory before the rest He seemeth to speake after the manner of the former proclamation wherby the thing was put as it were to a publike strife and tryall and in which Christ bare away the chiefe prayse yea the whole ¶ That Lyon of tâ—e A circumlocution of Christ the King fetched from Gen. 49.9 But what hath the Lyon to doe with seales Our sinnes did remove farre froÌ„ us all the mysteries of God Which when Christ hath by his mighty power abolished and conquered for ever the enemyes the Devill and death worthyly with this name as a badge of the victory he cometh forth to obtayne that for us which our enemyes kept away ¶ The roote of David So hath Th. Beza translated rightly the Hebrewe word to which the Greke worde answereth and is some time taken for a roote as is in Isaiah He groweth up as a tender plante before him and as a roote out of a dry ground chap. 53.2 But a roote properly groweth not out of the ground but that which springeth from the roote neverthelesse this in deede is such a roote that also togither it is the roote of David that is the fountayne and welspring from whence salvation and life flowe unto David so that nothing can be more significant then this word neither hath there bene at any time any roote besides of this kinde See Psalm 101.1 Mat. 22.43 c. 6 Then J looked and beholde betweene the Throne Word for word in the Greeke is in the middes of the Throne as before in chap. 4.4 c. The Lambe is in the middes of the Beasts and Elders to wit in the assembly of the faithfull in the middes of the Church ¶ A Lambe standing as though he had ben killed The Lambe is described by his triple offâ—â—e These wordes as thâ—â—gh he hath ben slame perteine to his Priesthood being eternall through the eternall power of his death Seaven hornes declare him to be a Kinge Seaven eyes which are so many Spirits and the taking of the booke shewe him to be the chiefe Prophete The skarre of a deadly wound is a token that he once dyed and teacheth that the Father doth give all things to his Church for the merite and through the beholding of it For this is it wherby our Priest once entring into the holy place hath obtained eternall redemption Heb. 9.12 And in that he hath once gat redemption for the