unskilfull multitude or of the base people and that he might either be present or absent at his pleasure but let him beholde here Kinges attending to the voice of the Beasts nor that once or twice and at certen tymes but whensoever the Beasts give glory that is as often as they doe execute their publike office The praysing of God of these and their adoration of God are ioyned allwayes togither so that neither may any thinke that he is free and discharged from his duty neither to have performed it enough at some fewe times 11 Thou art worthy o Lord The praysing which the Elders use in wordes is noe other thing then a subscribing to the crying out and shouting of the Beasts these celebrate the holines Dominion omnipotency and trueth of God The Elders nowe doe singe togither thou art worthy indeede o Lord to receave glory and honour which wee and all thy creatures worthily doe give to thee as though unto the sung of prayses of the Ministers the people should give their consent saying Amen But howe may God receive power They meane the prayse of all vertue and power Power can not be given to God otherwise but onely by acknowledging and praysing Which then shineth forth most cleerly when he sheweth his strength extraordinarily both in delivering his owne and also in destroying his enemyes ¶ For thou hast created all things The people ought not onely to consent to the thankes given by the Ministers in the meane time themselves being voyde of all knowledge of their owne as it commeth to passe in the Papacy where after the prayers not understood is sung Amen by the unskilfull common people or some as they will supplying their place but their consent ought to come from a true faith and that not confused and implicite but of which a true sense and feeling is setled in every on s harte peculiarly For the God of reason requireth a reasonable worshippe not unknowne rash and voyd of counsell Whereupon not without cause is added from what fountayne the declaration of the consent of the Elders to wit froÌ„ their owne acknowledging of the exceeding power of God both in creating all thinges and also in preserving the same and noe lesse from the sense of his most free good will by which alone being moved he made all thinges in the beginning and governeth and preserveth the same at this day according to that saying Who worketh all thinges after the counsell of his will Ephe. chap. 1. ver 11. For which cause there is repeated in the ende of the verse they have ben created that wee may understande that the will of God not onely hath rule in governing things at this time but also that it gave the first originall to the same And so is the patterne of the Christian Church so much the more famous then that of the Lawe by how much heaven in which Iohn sawe this figure is more excellent then the Mountaine where Moses sawe the Tabernacle There is the same ende and purpose of both of this that it might be a patterne of the worshippe to the Legall people which should holde even to the time of reformatioÌ„ of that that it might be a type unto Christians according to what square they should frame all their assemblyes both generally and specially Graunt O most high God that wee may be founde as faithfull in bringing backe all thinges unto the Heavenly patterne as Moses was unto that earthly Chap. 5. AFTER I sawe in the right hande of him that sate upon the Throne a booke written within and on the backe side sealed with seaven seales 2 And J saw a stronge Angell preaching with a lowde voice who is worthy to open the booke and loose the seales thereof 3 And noe man was able neither in heaven nor in earth nor under the earth to open the booke nor to looke theron 4 Therfore I wept much because none was founde worthy to open and reade the booke neither to looke thereon 5 Then one of the Elders sayd unto mee weepe not beholde that Lion of the tribe of Juda that roote of David hath obtained to open the booke and to loose the seaven seales thereof 6 Then J behelde and loe betweene the Throne and those Beasts and betweene those Elders a Lambe standing as though he had ben killed having seaven hornes seaven eyes which are those seaven spirits of God sent forth into all the world 7 He came and tooke the booke out of the right hande of him that sate upon the Throne 8 And when he had taken the booke those foure Beasts and those foure and twenty Elders fell downe before the Lambe having every one harpes and golden vials full of odours which are the prayers of the saints 9 And they sung a newe song saying thou art worthy to take the booke and to open the seales thereof because thou wast killed and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kinred and tongue and people and nation 10 And hast made us to our God Kings and Priests and wee shall reigne on the earth 11 Then J behelde and I heard rounde about the Throne and of the Beasts and Elders the voice of many Angels and the number of them was a thousande hundred thousands and ten hundred thousandes 12 Saying with a lowde voice worthy is that Lambe that was killed to receive power and riches and wisdome and strength and honour and glory and blessing 13 And every creature which is in heaven and which is on the earth in the sea and all thinges that are in them I heard saying unto him that sitteth on the Throne and to the Lambe be prayse and honour and glory and power for ever more 14 And those foure beasts sayed Amen And those foure and twenty Elders fell downe on their faces and worshipped him that liveth for ever more The Analysis I have spoken summarily of the common type the speciall Prophecy coÌ„prehendeth both the excellent dignity of this Revelation in this chapter and also the evâ—nts themselves in the rest of the booke That thinge is declared first in respect of the Creature secondly of the Lambe In respect of the Creature it is altogither unsearcheable as appeareth partly from the signing of seaven seales ver 1 partly from the testimony of all creatures which after the inquiry proclamed and the thing was caused to be cryed by the voyce of the Angell as it were of a common cryer ver 2. then also after tryall made at last ver 3. all doe acknowledge their owne unablenes Of which lastly there is a sorowfull consequente the weeping of John which this imbecility and despaire to enioye so excellent a good thing did wring out from him ver 4. In respect of the Lambe onely it is able to be searched out as first an Elder sheweth who conforteth Iohn ver 5. Secondly the LaÌ„be comming at the same instant and taking the booke ver 6.7 from whence at length aryseth the
were 12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixt seale and loe there was made a great earthquake the Sunne became blake as sack cloth of haire the moone was like blood 13 And the starres of heaven fell to the earth as a figge tree casteth her greene figges whē it is shaken of a mighty winde 14. And heaven departed away as a scroule when it is rolled every mountayne Yle were moved out of their place 15 And the Kings of the earth the Peeres the rich men the Tribunes the mighty men every bondman every free man hid themselves in dennes among the rockes of the mountaines 16 And sayd to the mountaines and rockes fall upon us and hide us from the presense of him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lambe 17. For the great day of his wrath is come and who cā stande The Analysis SVCH is the Excellency of this Revelation The Events doe follow which first are the Seales secondly the Trumpets lastly the Vials For all the rest of the Prophecy is distinguished into three notable periode◠which containe the chiefe alterations to come in the world even unto the coming of Christ every one of which againe is divided into seaven points so as from the last of the former aryseth alway the whole sequent period As touching the Scales there is in every one a certen preparation afterward the type of the future thinges And the preparation is partly common wherby the Lambe openeth each one in order partly proper to the foure first which besides have an inviting by one of the foure Beastes to come and see There be sixe types of this chapter for so many seales are opened a white horse ver 2. a read ver 4. a blacke ver 5. a pale ver 8. The cry of the soules ver 9.10.11 and great earthquake to the ende of the chapter Analysis After J beheld when the Lambe had opened the first of the seales Nowe the Spirit entreth into the events which will instruct us touching all the changings succeeding by course in the world as farre as is expedient for the Church and which are of any moment unto the last end of all thinges A great matter and chiefly necessary to be knowne but such as into which noe understanding of mortall man can penetrate Therefore whom in the beginning I have prayed unto him doe I call upon againe having gone forward in some part by his alone grace that he will graunte mee happily to make an ende of the thinges that remayne who hath graunted mee so to beginne as I am persuaded is agreeing with his trueth Thou therfore most holy and most wise Lambe who alone hast deserved to take unscale the booke and not to that ende that thou shouldest have these secretes for thy selfe alone but that thou shouldest communicate them with thy Church as farre as shal be for her profit graunt I pray thee unto mee thy most unworthy servant according to thy bounteousnesse that perceaving cleerely what hidden and secrete things these seales conteine I may reveale the same holily unto the world to the edification of thy Church the ruine of Antichrist and the glory of thine owne name to be published unto all ages Amen In that wee have distinguished the Events into three rankes wee have the Spirit himselfe for our authour ioyning the trumpets to the seales the vials to the trumpets in such sorte as that alwayes the first thing of that which followeth doe aryse out of the last of that which wente before Therefore they bring in darkenes upon themselves who doe thrust togither into one the seales the trumpets the vials and also the seaven Candlestickes so as each one of every order should be ioyned one to another in equall degree as if the Father the Sonnes should be equall should runne togither the same terme of yeeres Furthermore seeing the seales ar as it were promises of future thinges the trūpets adversities approaching with great noise the vials things that are powred upon men by little and little and come upon them unwarres as wee shall after see overwhelme them it seemeth not to be convenient to cōfounde these contrary things togither so that the thinge should be promised and accomplished all at once and that the same thing should be done openly and secretly at the same moment of time but let us come to the wordes ¶ When he had opened saith he one Seale that is to say the first as Theod. Beza translateth it for after followeth the second third c. And so the Hebrewes every where use to speake But before I proceede to the thinges that are behinde that cold comment of the Jesuite is to be removed who thinketh that the opening of the booke is something diverse from opening of the seales as though nothing in the booke could be read and shewed unto us before that all the seales should be opened Which opinion verily faineth unto us I knowe not what booke of which wee have received never a word written neither doe wee understand from thence ought touching thinges to come For the Revelation hath nothing more besides the opened seales For out of them the trumpets come forth and againe out of them the vials as wee have advertised in the resolution so as all the rest of the Prophecy is limited with those thinges that are conteined in the seales as wee shall proove by manifest argumēts in their places If therfore after all the seales opened he hath found out some booke to be read it is Apocryphe that is a hid booke the originall and authority whereof is not known which peradventure may lie hid in the coffer of the breast of their Pope but which to reade and knowe the Church hath nothing to doe Furthermore it is needfull for the clearer understanding of the periodes first the termes of time wherein thinges are finished and every severall article of them to set downe some entrāce from whēce wee must begin which surely wee iudge to be by and by after this writing of John For that saying of the fourth chapter ver 1. I will shew thee the things that must be done hereafter calleth backe Iohn both to that moment of the Revelation given also teacheth to count from thence all thinges which are delivered in the booke following Therefore there is noe neede to have recourse unto the first ages of the world nor unto the Monarchies nor unto the times of Christ or the Evangelists or in any such thinge of the age past but John writing this Revelation by the commaundement of God about the ende of the Empire of Domitian as Ireneus sheweth in his 5 booke against heresies Eusebius out of Ireneus in the 3 booke of his Ecclesiasticall History chap. 18. At the ende of the raigne of Domitian about the ninety seaventh yeere from the birth of Christ wee thinke the beginning of the Seales to wit 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
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
the men of Iericho seeking their bodies upon the earth what say I your labour yea a greater losse hangeth over your head namely be not you found in the number of them that folowing the Beast have not their names written in the book of life Ap. 17.8 Chapt. 7. Against the fourth Demonstration from the publik persecution AN other conioint signe you make to be the publik persecution which you say shal be most grievous notorious so that al ceremonies sacrifices of publik religion shal cease none of which things we yet see According therfore to the threefold marke of this persecution you make a threefold proof first that it shal be most grievous 2. most notorious 3. that it shal cause a ceasing of religion And you prove it shal be most greevous frō Ma. 24.21 ther shal be thē great tribulatiō such as was not frō the beginning of the world neither shal be frō Ap. 20.3 wher we read that thē Satā shal be loosed who until that time had been bound And you cōfirm it by testimonies of Aug. in the 20. b. de civit Dei ch 8. 9. of Hippolitus martyr of Cyril unto which you add at last that the persecutiō by the Pope is not the most greevous therfore he is not Antichrist I answer to al first as touching the greevousnes of the persecutiō frō the words of Mat. I say that you care not what you bring for confirmation Those words perteyn to the calamity of the Iewes which they felt in the desolation of their city by Titus within a few yeres after Christ Luke expresseth this people by name saying for ther shal be great distresse in this land wrath on this people Luke 21.23 So Mat. then let them that ar in Judea flee to the moūtayns ch 24.16 And what ells meaneth that prayer against flight on the Sabath but properly to note out this nation So farr verily is it that Antichrists persecution is from these words proved to be most greevous as the contrary may plainly be concluded for they evidently doo confirm that no tribulation shal be to be compared wit that of the Jewes therefore not that which Antichrist shal procure I know that Chrysostome referrs it typically unto Antichrist but not truly nor advisedlie for when Christ opēly saith none shal be like it he cutteth off al typical interpretation not obscurely forbidding the words to be further drawn for to signify any thing to come For the type must needs be inferiour to the truth of it a greater distresse must folow afterwards contrary to that Christ saith if so be the words should be expounded by a type Mathew therfore makes nothing for the vehemency of this persecutiō the Apocalyps dooth even as much Satan in deed shal rage when he is loosed but the outragiousnes which is mentioned in that place is nothing to that which he shewed before he was bound For Satan is the same that the Dragon Apoc. 12 9. and before his imprisonment he lived in heaven drawing with his tayl the third part of the starrs of heaven which he cast unto the earth until by Michael he was overcome and thrown down from thence That is to say the Hethē Emperours not only lived but also ruled in the midds of the Church which they vexed in most cruel māner til Christ put them out of the Empire as upon that place I have shewed From that time the Divil that is the open enemie was bound for a thousand yeres which being fulfilled his bounds should be loosed he should be styrrd up agayn but not with that abilitie to hurt as before for here he should have no place in heavē that is in the Church but should abide only in the utmost borders territories therof compassing the tents of the Saincts the beloved city as Ap 20.9 wherupō he should not so much raise persecution as warr neither should the saincts dye lik sheep but resist lik soljers How much therfore an inward noisom enemie is mor greevous than an outward so much greater is the afflictiō of the former times thā that when Satā is loosed in the last age Morover Antich reigneth a 1000 yeres whiles Satā lyeth in prisō Ap. 20.9 Wherupō if whē he is loosed this felow doo trobel al ther should be great trāquility whē he is boūd so the greatest part at least of his reign should be void of those turbulēt storms neirher should Antich hav an helper of his persecutiō in the other part of his reign seing he should abid within the Church Satā without as is manifest by the things forespokē also that now he was appointed for the scourge of Antic himself not for their hāgmā torturer whom he should use for the tormenting of others For the Divil being now loosed the four Angels at Euphrates are loosed whō God sendeth to punish the Angel of the bottomlesse pit with his infernall crew which came out of the pit Apoc. 9.20.21 all which things we hav made playn in their places Therfore wher Augustine saith that Antichr shal most rage when the Divil is loosed as though he were now first loosed and should be his helper unto crueltie he iudgeth not rightly of this loosing for he was loosed before in heaven Apoc. 12.3 c. which could not be a prison and pit unto him seing he took it heavilie to be cast from thence unlesse perhaps he went out of prison against his wil Apoc. 12.10 Neither is Hippolitus to be hearkened unto concerning this persecution when he teacheth that Antichrist is no man but the verie Divil that should take false flesh of a false virgin And no better account is to be made of Cyrill if he though that the Divil should personally range abroad making Antichrist to be a true man but one that should be a Divil also because as he thinks he should be made man by incarnation What sincere thing could they utter about this matter whose minds were possessed by such manner errours Wherfore this grievousnes of persecution which you speak of hath no confirmation at al from the Scriptures A very greevous persecution in deed ther should be but of an other sort then you mētion even such as should consist not so much in killing of bodies as in murthering of soules For Antichrist is Balaam who though it better to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel that they migh eate of things sacrificed to Idols and committ fornication then to folow thē with the sword Apoc. 2.14 He is that Beast wheron Iezebel the whore sitteth with the wine of whose fornication the inhabitants of the earth are drunken Apoc. 2.20 17.2 He is the Angel of the bottomlesse pit who opening the pit the Sun and aier is darkned with the smoke Apoc. 9.2 Finally he is that man of syn whose coming is with the efficacie of Satā with al power and signes and lying wonders and with al deceit
to men is translated unto the state and condition of men shewing as before was said that not onely men shal be punished with some greevous punishment but also that the thing it selfe shal be utterly taken away never for to raise againe even as they who are cast to hell must not expect any returning or setting free Certenly we may gather and that not rashly from this strange and unacustomed taking of vengeance that God will shew by some visible signe how damnable and detestable he hath alwayes esteemed the Papacy And this last is that destruction of which in chap. 17.18 shal goe into destruction a iust reward of the Antichristian tyranny 21 And the rest were slaine with the sword Such then is the destructiō of the Prince of wickednesse now of his armies and souldiers Of whō ther is a differing punishment not so horrible at least in shew they shal be slaine with the sword of him that siteth on the horse that is by the word comming out of his mouth as though he should say they shal undergoe the punishments threatned in the word against the disobedient and such as resist the truth as in Ieremy Behold I wil make my words as fire in thy mouth and this people as wood and it shal devoure them chap. 5.14 What singular thing thē shal the destructiō of the Pope have For he also hath bin slaine with this sword That is true indeed but the word threatneth divers punishments according to the manner of the wickednesses the most greevous to the greatest the lighter to the lesse Peradventure because the ruine of the Papacy shal be more horrible than wee think it is exempted from the common order not because it is not denounced in the word but perhaps because it is lesse regarded of us and that we suspect it to be lighter then the event will shew Or as we have declared in ver 15. it may be that these souldiers after the overthrow received shall yeeld their vanquished forces to the truth and subiect their neckes to her yoke ¶ And all the foules were filled with their flesh The Victory being obtained the foules gather to the pray doo fill themselves with the spoiles That whole late Popish natiō shal be subiect afterward to the reformed Churh Every country being a nourrisson of the purer truth shal have some part of the regions before time given up to superstition made subiect to them Which thing seemeth to be signifyed by the foules satiated with the flesh of the slaine army Such then is the end of the Romish Pope and Papacy that remained a few yeeres after the city yet at length so much the more miserable because shee had such as did adorne her funerall with their teares and performed the last duties by weeping But ther shal be none left for the Pope to bewaile his misery but he shal die infamous without mourners or other funeral pompe Wherby at last is accomplished that prophetical parable of the ghests called to the marriage Mat. 22. Doubtlesse those good and evill sent for out of the high wayes are the Gentiles that embraced the calling after that the Iewes had refused it Among them the man that had not a wedding garment is the Church of Rome which despiseth the righteousnesse of faith neither regardeth to be clothed with the merit of Christ by imputation The King comming in and beholding her clothed with her ragges but not with that garment which onely he approoveth now at length biddeth his servants to bind her hād and foote and to cast her into utter darkenesse where is weeping gnashing of teeth For Christ speaketh not there of any one man but collectively of a very great multitude as the sentence added in the end declareth that many are called but few are chosen ver 14. From which at length we understand that the bright comming of the Lord with which Paul foreshewed that the man of sinne should be abolished 2 Thes 2.8 is not his last coming to iudgement but that wherby Christ shal take the Iewes into the fellowship of his holy Church at which time his Kingdome shal flourish most gloriously and shal exceed by infinite degrees all the brightnesse of the ages past as shal be made more evident from the things following After the Pope is destroyed the Dragon shal be abolished many other things accomplished on earth CHAP. 20. AFTER I saw an Angel comming down from heaven having the keye of the bottomlesse pit and a great chaine in his hande 2 And he tooke the Dragon that old serpent which is the Divill and Satan he bound him a thousand yeeres 3 And cast him into the bottomlesse pit which he shut up and sealed upon him that he should deceive the nations no more til the thousand yeeres were fulfilled for after that he must be loosed for a little season 4 And J saw seats and they sate upon them and iudgement was given them I saw the soules of them which were beheaded for the witnes of Iesus and for the word of God and which did not worship the Beast neither his Image neither had taken his marke upon their foreheads or on their hands and they lived and raigned with Christ a thousand yeeres 5 But the rest of the dead men lived not againe until the thousand yeeres wereful filled this is the first resurrection 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection for on such the second death hath no power but they shal be the Priests of God and of Christ and shall raigne with him a thousand yeeres 7 And when the thousande yeeres are expired Satan shal be loosed out of his prison 8 And shall goe out to deceive the nations which are in the foure quarters of the earth Gog and Magog to gather them togither to battell whose number is as the sande of the sea 9 And they went up into the plaine of the earth and they compassed the tentes of the Saints about and the beloved city but fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them 10 And the Divill that deceived them was cast into a lake of fire and brimston where was both that Beast and also that False Prophet and they shal be tormented day and night for ever more 11 Then I saw a great white throne and one that sate on it from whose face fled away both the earth and heaven and their place was no more founde 12 And I saw the dead both great and smal stand before God and the bookes were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were iudged of those things which were written in the books according to their workes 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in her and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them and they were iudged every man according to their workes 14 And hell and death were cast into the lake of fire this is the second
A REVELATION OF THE APOCALYPS that is THE APOCALYPS OF S. IOHN illustrated vvith an Analysis Scolions Where the sense is opened by the scripture the events of things foretold shewed by Histories Hereunto is prefixed a generall View and at the end of the 17. Chapter is inserted a Refutation of R. Bellarmine touching Antichrist in his 3. Book of the B. of Rome BY THOMAS BRIGHTMAN Blessed he that doeth reade and blessed are those which doe heare the wordes of this Prophecy and which keepe the things that are written therein Iren. 4. Book chap. 43. All Prophecy before it have his efficacy be reiddles and ambiguitye unto men But when the tyme is come that that which is prophecyed is come to passe then have the Prophecyes a cleare and certen exposition AMSTERDAM Printed by Iudocus Hondius Hendrick Laurenss Anno 1611. To the holy reformed Churches of Britanny Germany France grace peace from God our father from Iesus-Christ our Lord. Thincke it not strange o most holy spouse of Christ that a new interpretatiō of the Apocalyps is presented unto thee considering that among so many both of olde late writers it is the judgement of all that the Revelation needeth stil another Revelation and that these wordes be continually sounding in thyne eares The Lord hath spoken who shall not prophecy For the Lord hath not onely spoken of old by dreames visions but also he speaketh daily so often as he vouchsafeth to illuminate the mindes of his servaunts for to manifest the hiddē truth of his word to expose the same openly And with whōsoever God doeth thus communicate he thincketh that necessitie is laid upon him for to manifest unto others that which himself hath receaved And in deed should the candel be lightned for to be putt under a bushell should the comon danger of all be privily declared for the benefitt of one onely Is it not rather for this that being put in the watch tower he must give warning to the rest for to avoide with all speed the present danger The Lepers knew this well they could say that if they had kept the joyfull tydings untill the daye light evel should have come upō them But what and if any should conceale the eminent danger of what punishment should he be guilty Verely of so much the more greater as the difference is between one altogether lost and one that is deprived of joy but for a few houres And therefore having learned from this Apocalyps that shortly a great tentation shall invade all Christendome in so much as the sword of the Lord shall be made droncken in heaven all the host of them shall be overthrowne that you the Christian Churches of Germany France Britanny are by name favorably admonished of this tempest by written Epistles I finding by the will of God these Epistles which doe shew this thing understanding by the inscriptions to whom they were written I durst not otherwise doe but to render them to whom they belong least by the intercepting keeping of them secret by me I should both betraye your welfare and be condemned as guilty of treason against God There is no godly man but he seeth that the Divine worship despised the most holy word of God derided the great securitye pride of the Pastors the altogether corrupt and dissolute maners of all of whas order and condition soever they be doe foretell of some horrible calamitye shortly to come Now these Epistles doe not foretell the thing by ambiguous cōjecture but by most plaine wordes doe teach a goulf full of miseries to be at hand readye to invade us Thou spouse see I pray thee the seale knowe the hand the wordes the style of the writter thou knowest well the voice of the Bridgroome yf the letters be sent unto thee by him as they doe shewe it is more then tyme to cast off those defylements which thou hast drawen to thy self by a to much to long securitye least otherwise yf thou continue to be negligent unto this thing thou maiest at the last be suddenly purged with great sorowe by the fyre of the refyner Notwithstāding least thou shouldst thinck that I bring onely such great sorowe morning beholde also a great joye a great triomphe For after this tempest shall presently followe joyfull dayes greatly to be desired for what can be more pleasant unto the chaste spouse driven out by the Romish whore vvho vauntes her self to be the true vvyffe by the same vexed so manye aages by all maner of contumelies in juries then to see finally that impudent harlott her nose slit spoiled of her clothing ornaments defiled vvith dung adle egges finally butnt consumed by fyre Lift up thyne eares a little receave of this Prophecy not some obscure signes but most certen arguments of the Bridgroomes short coming to avenge thy greif deliver into thine hands the vvhore that thou maiest poure out upon her all the heat of jelousie And for the increase of thy joy receave vvithall the last destruction of the Turcks soone follovving the destruction of Rome for this must first be abolished the fevvell onely matter of the barbarous tiranny of them the sinevves of vvhich shall altogither be disolved cutt off after that Christendome shall be purged by an exceeding great destruction of her of her hainous vvickednesses as the Apocalyps plainely shevveth And that thy joy maie be full knovve also the uniting together of the Ievves vvith the Christian nations and so unto the end a most happy tranquillitie Thinges indeede very great greatly to be admyred parte vvherof hath already bin manifested in some sorte to the Christian Church in so much as vvas fitting those tymes yet far from the end of the Prophecy unto vvhich approching is reserved a more full knovvledge the other parte is so strange so unexpected as I could not ever finde in any not so much as a probable suspiciō of it out of this Apocalyps All vvhich effects notvvithstanding vvill yeilde unto us this nevv centurie of tymes vvhich novv vve enter into as our exposition yf I be not deceaved doth make plaine For novv is begun the last acte of a most long most dolfull Tragedie vvhich shall overflovv vvith scourges deaths ruines But this Scene being removed shall come in the place of it the pleasant prospect of a perpetuall peace accompanied vvith abondance of all good things Thus then thou hast most deare Spouse of Christ the residue of the course of thy vvarrfarre stand novv in the hatches after long tossing at lenght beholde the Iand hitherto the cloude seen a farre of hath deceaved thee but novv beholde the sea shore knovv the mouth of the haven it self Let thy eies judge vvhether I be vvorthie to vvhō the revvard of good nevves be givē For so farr of is it that I thinke that vve must stād
being conversaÌ„t on earth did seeme the basest among men Asthough he should say feare not at the sight of my glory which is augmented above that you caÌ„ think yet not for your destruction but salvation And as once yee have known me the most humble of all men so in this unmeasurable glory I reteine my former minde doe not despise or neglect you dust and earth Words full of confort but in this sense they were to be changed I am the last and first because the humility did goe before glory neyther now should that be placed in the latter place which hah bin swallowed up of the maiestie coming upon it unlesse peradveÌ„ture they have this sense I am now the first who of late was the last or the order of the wordes being kept I which was the first in the beginning being with God equall to the father at length taking upoÌ„ me the forme of a servant became in the account of the world the last Both which sentences make for the secoÌ„d interpretation make it more probable ¶ And who am alive Specially he maketh mention of his victory over death that he might erect his minde against the greatest feare in life These thinges confirmed that he was Christ that appeared to Iohn Never of any creature is any thing uttered in the person of God without all signification of ministery least peradveÌ„ture men should thinke him to be God and should give that to the creature which is proper to God ¶ Amen This is most certain which I say that I live for ever for confirmation whereof take not onely a naked affirmation but also a solemne word of sealing up Amen The comon translation readeth not Amen which neverthelesse is found in all the Greeke bookes and is found beneath chap. 3.14 To which wee must hearken rather then the Tridentine fathers establishing onely this edition authenticall and of authority ¶ And I have the keyes of hell and of death There is a transposition of the words in Aretas the Complutense and the vulgar and I have the keyes of death and hell And in the conioining of these words hell is wont to be put after death as death and hell did follow him chap. 6. ver 8. so death and hell were cast into the lake chap. 20.14 And so the order of things requireth seing that hell is the last stinge of death But seeing those keyes are as well to open as to shut for because he liveth that was dead he hath power to make others alive from the dead here hell is not of the damned which is wont never to be opened that any should be fetched from thence as neither in ch 20.13 For how can the hell of the damned be cast into a lake of fyre Therefore these two doe seeme thus to be distinguished that death be the very separating and sundring of the soule and body Hell the state and condition in which the body is after the sundring 19 Write those things that thou hast seen and which are c. The commandement of writing is repeated but explaned more at large In the eleventh verse it was commaunded onely write that which thou seest in a booke Now he teacheth wherto that perteined which he saw to wit to things both present and to come For these both ioined together doe expound that what thou hast seene And in every of the Epistles unto which the partes of this visioÌ„ are fitted according to the diverse condition of every one wee shall finde predictions of future things so as those words which thou hast seen can not be restrained to thinges onely present Seeing therfore the seaven Churchches conteine as well future things as things present the whole Prophecy is not rightly distributed into things present and future For these two meÌ„bers come together as after wee shall see in the singular explication and unfolding of the things Let us holde therefore that which the wordes plainly teach that this vision proper to the seaven Churches is touching things both present and future The observation of which small thing hath opened a way to me to understand as I thinke the particular Epistles which I will that the godly iudge 20 The Mystery of the seaven starres In the last place is the interpretation which onely teacheth of two things of the starres and candlestickes Why doth he give no expositioÌ„ of other pointes Because these few were ynough to open his counsell of the whole For after the same maner the rest are to be applyed to the condition of the Church And so will the Spirit helpe our weaknes that he may leave some parts of diligence to us Although the things that remaine of the vision shall easily be made manifest froÌ„ the Epistles which teach by the condition of every one whâ—t meaning the rest have which now are kept in silence as shall be shewed in their places As touching the words Mystery is of the fourth case folowing the verbe Write which is to be repeated asthough he should say write the mystery of the seaven starres And likewise in the member following and write the mystery of the seaven candlestickes For he interpreteth the starres to be the Angels The seaven starres saith he are the seaven Angels of the Churches that is signify the seaven Angels Which let them observe who hold fast as it were with the teeth the letter of the worde in other places Neither are these Angels spirituall substances but men Pastours and Bishops to whoÌ„ the scripture attribute this name as although the Angell of the Lord had come up from Gilgal to Bochim Iudg. 2.1 So in the Prophet Hagg. Then spake Haggai the Lords messenger ch 1.13 And Malachy speaking of the Priests For he is the Angel of the Lord of hostes chap. 2.7 How great therefore is the dignity of true Pastours who both are starres fixed in no other firmament then in the right hand of Christ and also Angels What skilleth it though the wicked skoffe at them with reprochfull names seeing they be in this reckoning and estimation with God ¶ And the seaven candlestickes are seaven Churches Very well compared to a candlestick wherein the everlasting light of trueth shineth kindled of Christ the Priest morning and evening continually This similitude is fetched from the candlestick of the Tabernacle which was made of pure golde of worke beaten with hammar of one shaft and seaven branches The multitude of branches signifieth the multitude of particular Churches as well of Iewes as of Gentiles The comon originall from one shaft the most strait coniunction of particular Churches all which come forth from that one of the Jewes as from the shaft Which shaft was more adorned then the other branches in one bolle knop and floure because as it seemeth the Iewes Church at leÌ„gth shall become more aboundant in the gifts of the spirit then this ours of the Gentiles Exod. 25.31 They are then the candlestickes of the Church but which by their most pretious matter doe
quite away before his times speaking of the Elders at length inferreth most clearly Whereupon saith he both the Synagogue and also afterward the Church had Elders without whose counsell nothing was done in the Church Which by what negligence it is growen out of use I know not unlesse peradventure by the slouthfulnes or rather pride of the teachers while they alone will be thought to be somwhat upon the 1. at Tim. chap. 5. He was not long after that time which we call the Primitive Church Yet he so speaketh as though some ages before his time this wholesome custome had bin abolished Which thinges doe clearly shew how in the later times the first love waxed cold altogether and at length went to nothing 5 Remember from whence thou art fallen Such was their sinne the remedie coÌ„sisteth of three members a iust consideration of their fall repentance and redressing of the discipline Which all together are required unto amendement and in the same order in which they are rehearsed Because we fall by little little we perceave not almost into how deep a pit we are fallen but let us looke back to the high toppe from whence we are fallen and we shall mervayle at the low gulfe in which we ly Wherupon he warneth that he minde from whence he was fallen Neither is it enough to perceive that we are fallen but very quickly we must get out of the gulfe by repentance He adioineth therfore repent But many doe deceave themselves and thinke that they have repented well when in very deed they have done nothing lesse Therefore last of all he requireth that the first workes be done For then thou shalt prove thy repentance iust if it shall bring forth true holines of workes and either shall returne to the first love if it were sincere or shal increase the same by adding a greater vnto it But why doth he require instantly the first workes especially in the Antitype which conteineth the space of about three hundred yeares Would he that the Church that was spred farre abroad and encreased with an innumerable multitude of citizens should returne againe to their cradell Or whether will he that there should be the same reason and respect of the whole eâ—rth which is of one city Now also it was nigh when the Church should have a Christian Magistrate Constantine being about to come straite way to the Empire and governement of the world What need should they then have of that former ancient discipline It was meet peradventure that Christ had waited for a little time and had not urged so earnestly the first beginnings of which there should be no use in shart time But these are the dreames of such as are sicke of a fever He that knoweth what is most fit for his Spouse requireth earnestly the first workes after so many yeares after the dispersing of his Church in so many places he willeth that shee labour againe in the word and that shee punish wicked men with the Ecclesiasticall Discipline He knew that the order appointed by him should fit aswell Provinces as Cities neither should hinder any whit the civill administration but further and adorne the same above all From hence then let us learne that that first governemeÌ„t is coÌ„mon to all times and places Neither to be permitted to mens pleasure to folow the way that they will but that alway in reforming the Church we must have recourse to the first beginnings unto which rule must be recalled whatsoever erres from the right way and not to frame it according to the corruption of the following Churches ¶ Or else I will come against thee quickly The threatning putteth to spurres and stirreth up the feeble strength of the remedy Often times the feare of perill prevaileth more with men then the hatred of wickednes He threatneth that he will come quickly and remove the candlesticke out of his place But what need is there that he should come who walketh in the middes of the candlestickes He dwelleth not among his as a revenger but as a brother defender from whence as often as he must take punishement he putteth on a new person and forme in which he appeared not before and is said to come from another place and to seeme now another from him whom before time they did know In the Greeke it is J will come to thee for against thee Now to remove the candlesticke out of his place is to take away the truth and dignity of the Church Which though it be not noted expressely by the Historiographers yet we may not doubt but that according to this coÌ„minatioÌ„ Ephesê° lost a while after the forme honour of a Church I coÌ„teÌ„d not about the name of a Church which I know shee have retained for many ages but for the first puritie by which alone God measureth a holy Church and not by coloured and naked names Much lesse is the candlestick to be understood of the Episcopall dignitie as the Iesuite would have it which wee reade to have continued from those times eight hundred yeares at least Therefore this candlestick was not quickly removed Did the Angel peradventure repent It is not likely seeing in the Antitype it is certen that that folowed in a shorte time which is threatned here to come to passe For the Angels proceeding in negligence as we have learned from those thinges which have bin before spoken Christ tooke out of mens sight the first golden candlestick by taking away his most holy ordinances of which the world was most unworthy on which the primitive Church was founded by himselfe and by his Apostles For there was a new face of things when Constantine came there remained yet the desire of preaching in the Bishops but the doctrine was fowlly contaminated in many points Reliques begaÌ„ to be in reckoning Temples to be adorned more magnificently all kinde of superstition to increase besides the pride of the teachers as a little before Ambrose have taught spoiled the Church of a necessarie helpe to rule their maÌ„ners In stead whereof Ecclesiasticall dignities were encreased all things being curiously sought out more for pompe then for truth And while men gave themselves to thinges of this nature the golden Candlestick which among the candlesticks did obteine worthyly the chiefe praise was removed out of his place This shall be more cleare then the light at noone day in the rest of the booke In the meane time let men see how evill they provide for themselves and the truth which thinke every thing right which they reade to have bin used in those times Rather let them goe to the entire age in which the candlesticke stoode in his place which after it was set in an other place the same was overwhelmed with darkenes neither could he give light to others 6 But this thou hast c This also availeth to quicken their carefulnes they might have bin proude of their present happines as though their owne godlines had procured it
that repented forsooke their errours with which they were possessed before time Of which sorte were many in Germany before the booke of Concord was published when in most universityes the chiefe teachers understood the true doctrine of the supper of the Lord and the opinions of Vbiquitie corporall presence in the supper every where were contemned as witnesseth Georg. Sohnius in his exposition of the August Cōfes which appeareth more clearly from the Synode of Desdrense in the yeare above 1571 where it was ordained by the comon consent both of all the Superintendants of the Dukedome of Saxonie and also of the Doctours of the Vniversityes of Lypsia and Wittemberg That the Vbiquitie of the body of Christ was an horrible prophanation of all the articles of the Creed and a renewing of all Heresyes Gallobel in the yeare 1592. And since that time a perfitter light breaking forth every day many were raysed up from their drowsines and opened their eyes to the truth Whom also even as well as the other he adorneth with white garments who gave a penny to them that were hyred at the eleventh houre Mat. 20.9 Such then is the first reward two yet doe remayne ¶ And I will never put his name out of the booke of life The second reward applyed to the times For because very many in these tymes should fall from the trueth and many cityes peoples provinces regions should cōsent to errour as at this time it is evident how farre and wide the contagiō spread abroad flying also over the sea and infecting those Northern regiōs Gotia and Suetia by which their approving of errour they should blot their names out of the register of the saints and should cut of from themselves the hope of life unlesse they should repent least I say the falling away of so many should trouble the saints he biddeth his conquerours to be of good courage Christ himselfe would set them free from falling howsoever they should see infinite nūbers to rush downe violently on their right and left hand For it is he alone who first calleth us backe from errour then sanctifyeth confirmeth us in the trueth least at any time we should revolte from it Therefore howsoever this reward be full of confort yet it teacheth that the time should be lamētable through the fall of many For to betray and forsake the trueth is not a light matter as many suppose who easily are caried away with every winde of doctrine but it is an argument of a man of no reckonning with God But how wilt thou say can they be blotted out which once were written in the booke of life especially seeing that this booke is the booke of the Lambe as in the chap. 13. 8. that is wherein those that are written the Lambe acknowledgeth them for his counteth them heires of eternall life neither is there any of those that are given to Christ that can ever perish Ioh. 6.37.39 17.12 I answer that these things are spoken in respect of us For there is a twofolde booke of life one as I may say of vocation an other of election Into the first are put all who by the preaching of the Gospell are taken into the fellowship of the Church who rightly doe seeme unto us to be partakers of life and endued with the hope of eternall salvation For the scriptures are wont to speak so generally giving thankes to the Father who hath made us meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light Who hath delivered us from the power of darknes and translated us into the kingdome of his deare sonne in whom we have redemption by his blood the forgivenes of sinnes c. So the Apostle speaketh of the multitude of the Colossians without difference chap. 1.12 And after the same manner every where in other places Yet men may be put out of this booke For many are called but few chosen Mat. 22.14 And it is declared after in the 7. chap. by an exemple Dan and Ephraim being passed over in the rehearsing of the tribes as souldiers put out of wages and cassed out of the register For God of old as in a certen visible shadow of this booke cōmaunded the genealogies of each tribe among the people of Israell to be kept diligently Wherto also perteined that of raysing up seed to the dead that his name should not be put out from his people Deut. 25.6 In which respect also the Psalmist wisheth to certen reprobates who held a place in the Church like true citizens that God at length would separate them frō the congregation of the Saints and manifest them to be meere hypocrites Psal 69.29 Wherefore all are put out of this kooke of life who forsake the fellowship of the holy Church either through errour and heresy or wickednes or other cause whatsoever not that for this cause they are blotted out of the booke of Election but because by this way they make manifest that they were never written in this booke as Iohn saith they went out from us but they were not of us 1 Ioh. 2.19 But the other booke to wit of Election is never spotted with any blottes but the names once written in doe cōstantly remayne in the same without rasing out Although these bookes are not so open and evident that they can be read of all men without difference but it is declared to every one severalty by the Spirit that is found in this register in what estimation and account he is ¶ But J will confesse his name The third reward is of confessing their name Which sheweth not onely the falling away of many but also that others shal be compelled by force So as there is great neede of the power of the Spirit least any weakened by the iniuries and threats of adversaries doe forsake the trueth For the confession of their name before his father is for the confort of confessing Christ and his trueth boldly and without feare So sending his Apostles to preach furnisheth and instructeth them against the feare of affliction Mat. 10.32 And who knoweth not to what inhumanity cruelty proceeded the hatred of them who call themselves Lutherans against the professors of the truth In the yeare 1580. was obtruded upon the Ministers of the Churches and Schooles the booke of Concorde avouching the execrable errour of Vbiquity A subscriptiō was commaunded in the name of the Princes the refusers were proclaimed Sacramētaryes or put out of their places In the yeare 1591. Christiā Duke of Saxony being dead Paul Kreilius Chaunceler suspected of Calvinisme as they speake was cast into prison Vrbanus Pierius Professor of Wittēberg was lead captive into prisō Gundermānus of Lipsich cōmitted prisōner In the yeare following was appointed a newe visitation they went through all Saxony they that would not subscribe to the articles were removed from their offices What should I rehearse the broyle of Lipsich the yeare following when all the university men on every side assembled
false friends open enemys coūterfait Sosiae who should vaunt themselves under the shewe of her and many other things of that sorte were to be declared with which shee should contende and have to doe it was needfull that first a certen forme and image of her should be pourtrayed which is the principall point of the treatise following lest peradventure in so great sturres and troubles wee should suppose her to have ben wholy extinguished and abolished or at least wise her face being not knowne wee should be the more hindred from acknowledging of her Werfore wee shall finde this Type to be common to all ages as of which there is mention made in the fourteene chapter of this booke and thirde verse Where the companions and followers of the Lambe sing a newe songe before the foure Beasts and the Elders And againe nearer to the ending of the Prophesy the foure and twenty Elders and the foure Beasts fall downe and worship God as may be seene in the nineteene chapter of this booke and in the fourth verse So in other places as speach is made of the true Church so farre as any thing is to be done in the publike assembly shee is noted alwayes after the manner of this type For wee may not thinke that any congregation on earth is to be found of so absolute purity and sounde perfection as is here described but that all the holy assemblyes of the elect are counted such in Christ before God the Father although much terrene dregges be sprinckeld upon them according to that The Church to be sanctifyed by Christ to be purged by the washing of water through the word made also glorious without spot or wrinkle or any such thing but to be holy and without blame Ephes 5.26.27 An exemple of which description wee have here set before our eyes And for that purpose besides that wee should conforme all our assemblyes unto this rule even as Moses was commaunded to make the frame of the Tabernacle and all his implements altogither as was shewed to him in the mount Exod. 25.9 But the type of our Church is shewed in the very heavens according to the more plentifull glory wherewith the Gospell shyneth above the Lawe But howe much the more diligently all things are to be considered Seeing therfore wee knowe the drift of the vision let us search out the exposition of the severall things First the head it selfe of the Church is described such as the true members doe alwayes confesse and worshippe both by his sitting in a Throne in this verse and also by the similitude following The sitting declareth the maiesty and glory of the most high God and noe lesse his steddy and stable dwelling among the Saints in whose assembly he hath placed his throne of dignity to goe to noe other place And because there is but one throne and one that sitteth on it wee knowe that God is one in nature power maiesty glory and that there is not any other beside who ruleth in the middes of the saints Therfore the holy Church worshippeth and prayseth with all honour and reverence the one onely supreme Iehovah 3 And he that sate was to looke on like Aretas the Complutent edition and the Kings Bible doe not reade these first wordes and he that sate was but they adde by and by to the ende of the former verse these following wordes like in sight Our bookes and the comon latine translation doe distinguish more playnly the sitting and the similitude which thing in describing the true God seemeth that it ought not to be omitted This verse sheweth a little more fully of what sorte this one God is of whom yet it setteth forth noe image but onely a certen kinde of colour after those auncient representations made once to the olde people You saw sayth Moses noe similitude in the day that Iehovah spake to you in Horeb out of the middes of the fyre Deut. 4.15 For the same is that one true God reigning in the Christian assemblyes whom from the beginning the primitive Church worshipped And seeing that in the infancy of the Church he shewed noe image of himselfe much lesse is any similitude to be expected in this up growen and ripe age This is a more familiar fuller manifestation seeing beside one and the same essence which the common glory noteth the incomprehensible distinction of the three persons is in some sorte revealed by the three pretious stones the Iasper Sardin and Emerald For it pleaseth the Spirit to use the delightfull Iewels to disclose these mysteryes because the grace and beauty of these doth most of all excell in this world belowe whereupon they may be most fitte images of that pleasantnes which exceedeth all created understanding especially seeing the representation is rather of the vertue then of any forme The first sight of the Iasper resembleth the person of the Father this Iewell is greene and not without cause called the mother of Jewels the kindes of it are so many and the honour so auncient And what more fitly among pearles could shadowe out the Father who is the first in order alwayes of a flourishing eternity of whom the other persons have their beginning and originall The second sight is of the Sardin wherby the Sonne is represented This Iewel is redde of a fleshly colour frō whēce also it is called a Carneole fitly in deede being in his stead who tooke upon him flesh for our sake and was made a man like unto us The third sight is of a rainebowe of the colour of an Emerald wherby the H. Ghost is noted He compasseth the Throne round aboute as in the booke of wisdome chap. 9.4 compassing the whole circuit of the divine maiesty with an unutterable sweetnes For the Emerald doth shewe so acceptable pleasant and shining greenes that the eyes beholde nothing more gladly Yet this Raynebowe is not like that which is comonly so called For this is not over against the Throne but about the Throne neither is it an halfe circle but whole and full on every side For it is rounde about the throne finally it is not of three colours as the true Rainebowe but of one onely and simple colour of the Emerald Such therfore is that God one in nature three in persons the head and centre of the Church whome alone the faithfull are in love with and doe worship taking pleasure most sweetly with all their hartes in his incomprehensible sweetnes ¶ And rounde aboute the Throne So is the Head nowe he adioyneth the body like the circumference of this centre as wee have sayd Which is described by the place the number of members age apparell and crownes The place is double common about the hyghest throne and proper the peculiar throne of every one The comon rounde about the throne is before behinde at the right hand and at the left that it may parte the Raine bowe which compassed also the Throne but with a contrary situation above beneath and
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
is commonly translated Hell but it would be more fitly translated Grave which also the greeke word signifyeth so it ought to be understood in this place especially seeing many holy men should die togither with the rest whom it were a wicked thinke to iudge to be swallowed up of the Hell of the damned For as touching that the Jesuite doth thinke that Hell doth follow to devoure Traiane whom he will have to be this Sitter wee shall see in the applying howe fond a thing it is that I may not say how carelesly he mixed and confouÌ„deth all thinges who bringeth againe to Traiane the Prophecy which was passed beyond Severus Secondly power is given to the Sitter and togither also is limitted with his boundes and there was given them where some bookes doe read the order being changed and power was given to him over the fourth parth of the earth and the common Latine translation for the fourth part of the earth readeth over foure parts of the earth by these meanes the whole world being made subiect to their dominion against the consent of all the Greeke copies But nowe it is a detestable thing to thinke after the Tridentine Decree that the commoÌ„ traÌ„slatioÌ„ was not corrected according to the best Greeke copies Although a good sense in deede may be drawne from the wordes that the foure partes of the earth may note the largenes of the countryes in which the destruction should go on with rage even as the fourth part of the earth the multitude of men which should perish by this death The Power is defined with a foure folde kinde of destroying with Death sitting on the horse which he useth as his Ministers Warres Batells leade the first army whose weapon is a Sword Want of foode guideth the second hoste the third the Pestilence for by death he meaneth it to whom is attributed the name of the gender because it taketh men away with a most quicke destruction and setteth before our eyes a most lively image of death and theÌ„ also it is wont to be alwayes the follower of Famine And in many mother tongues it is called Mortality The last scourge is of Beasts a scourge much used in former times as I will sende upon you the Beasts of the field Levit. 26.22 So Aâ—so when I shall send my foure sore iudgements upon Ierusalem even the sword and famine and noysome Beasts and Pestilence Ezech. 14.21 An exeÌ„ple whereof wee have when the Lord sent Lions among the newe dwellers who succeeded the ten tribes carried away 2 King 17.25 or it may be that Beasts be taken metaphorically for men mighty on earth and made like Beasts a frequent name in the scriptures of Tyrants and wicked Princes as of Pharaoh Thou art like a yong Lion among the nations Ezech. 32.2 And famous in Daniell is the nothing of foure Kinges by so many Beastes that is a Lion a Beare a Leopard and the fourth terrible Beast to wit a Centaure compact of many chap. 7.4.5 These are then the bandes of Death which nowe ioyned togither he would spread abroade into the world when the gates and wayes were opened which before were severall plagues And that it is also so come to passe the coherence of things doe teache it After Severus the state of the Church was quiet untill at length the Empire came to Decius Maximinus troubled somewhat but he being killed a while after his madnes and life was short But Decius neither feared with the calamity of warres nor any whit moved with the scarsity of victualls both which he might easily perceive the slaughters of the innocents to have brought into the world commanded that rigour should be shewed toward the Christians with all kinde of torments Then the fourth Beast spake for Cyprian being indeede an Eagle a contemner of the world and of the thinges that are very much esteemed of other men who at his first conversion bestowed all his goods upon the poore who earnestly reproved the covetousnes of other men in heaping up patrimonies sharply rebuked the pride of them that preferred themselves before others reprehended swelling insolency and immodest boasting of confession by all meanes openly avouched that these scourges were provoked by such sinnes This Eagle I say flying so much the more higher by howe much the more he did abase himselfe in writing against Demetrianus Ethnicus shewed playnly that this was the chiefe cause of all evills wherewith the world was tormented that the GeÌ„tiles did persecute so barbarously the harmelesse worshippers of Christ whom the world after their manner through envy charged for to be the cause of the commoÌ„ calamityes but that holy man did put away those calumnies and declared manifestly the true fountaine of all the evils Neither was his voice false God forthwith approving it by sending into the world divers and sundry sortes of horrible destruction Decius himselfe was swallowed up in a golfe-mire of a marsh not bequeathing himselfe to death for his country after the example of the olde Decius but going downe as it were quicke into Hell for a iust terrour of all mercilesse Tyrants Gallus Volusianus by and by after felt the wrath of God who are famous for noâ— remembrance of their notable acts but onely for the destruction of mankinde For first when these reigned the sword slewe an infinite sorte of men For the Scythians when Decius was gone when first the yoke of tribute was layed upon the Româ—nes which howe much blood it cost any man may easily coniecture altering forthwith their act did make invasions did drive away spoiles did violently enter in often times by a very great army by land and by sea did wast Dardania Thracia Thessalia Macedonia and the country Hellas part did molest Asia with the spoiling rasing and destroying of many cityes on every side By whose example also other enemyes did aryse the Parthians did take and hold by force Armenia and did passe through into the parte of Syria which mischiefes when Gallus Volusianus make ready to withstand they are both killed of the souldiours Aemilianus a three-moneth Emperour was chosen of the same into their place and of them killed Valerianus cometh alive into the enemyes power and is made a footstoole to Sapores for to get upon his horse The sword then played his part greatly leaving scarse any part of the world free from slaughters The famine gave occasion both to Demetrianus of calumniating the Christians and to Cyprian of defending them Doest thou sayth he speaking to Demetrianus marvayle and complaine in this your obstinacy and contempt if the earth be foule with the standing of dust if the barren clotte bringeth scarse fainte yellowish and wanne herbes and grasse if seldome raine descende from above if the beating haile maketh the wine feeble if a subverting whirlewinde doe breake in pieces the olive trees if drought doe stoppe up the fountaine c From which it is cleare howe grievous the coÌ„dition of those
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
marriage after in chap. 19.7 Nowe therefore when the prisons where broken those mischiefes should fly out which evē hitherto made a stirre in the inner partes the foure first of which are described in this chapter farre lighter indeede then the three last and therefore wee shall see that albeit in a certen order of blowing the Trumpets they doe assayle yet they all doe togither come upon men with force distinguished onely by shorte spaces of time to beginne ¶ Prepared themselves to blowe the trumpets This sounde of trumpets seemeth not to be a voice manifesting to Iohn alone that is to the elect in the Church the trouble that should come such as was that of the Beasts in the first seales but the divine administration giving by the holy Angels so notable beginnings to the facts that by the same as it were by a noyse of trumpets all sortes of men should be awaked for to consider the beginning of things Many things doe creepe upon us by little and little and secretly so as their beginning is unknowne and are growne olde before they be perceived but here the beginning should be marked and perceived playnely of any one so that the procedeing of them could not come suddenly upon any man but such a one as would be willfully negligent Although the sound of a trumpet doth cause rather astonishment and feare then teach the hearer knowledge And so in deede it cometh to passe that the further wee proceede the more obscure are the iudgements of the events In the Seales the Beast doth call Iohn for to come and see In the Trumpets there is never a worde onely a sounde is given In the Viols there is scarse any noise but so farre as the liquor powred out of a cuppe doth yeelde Certenly as longe as faith and godlines was sounde as in those first times small iudgements did awaken the Church but in these last when iniquity is growne in use wee passe over even the greatest workes of God with eyes shutte up and deafe eares Which carelesnes of ours God both discloseth and reprooveth by this increasing darkenes of the signes For lesse light is not given from any lacke of perspecuity in God but onely for a reprehending of our future secutity 7 Therefore the first Angell blew the trumpet All things nowe being finished which hitherto caused a delay at length the Angels sounde the trumpets at the first sound a double effect followeth The first is a shower of haile and fire The second the burning of trees and grasse the haile comming frō heaven and with a great noise signifyeth the very great trouble which from the housholde servāts of the Church at least by outward professiō should fall suddenly upon their owne heades But the fire mingled with blood the fervency of the same trouble and increase even to the shedding of blood But wee must remember that these mischiefes are set on fire with the burning coales of the altar Which thing is here manifest For the matter was not deferred for any lōg while but in the middes of the Nicene Fathers the first Angell blewe the trumpet for the holy men had scarse approved the trueth by a common consent after they had considered the matter diligētly but the haile began to fall downe violently and to make a wonderfull great noise Certaine Bishops verily citizens of the Earth making a pretended shew that they were offended with some wordes of the Confession but in very deede inflamed with the coales of the altar laboured to hinder the consent and to be against it so farre as in their power did lye These were five Eusebius Nicomedieosis Theognis Nicenus Maris Chalcedonensis Theonas Marmariensis Secundus Ptolemaitensis who malitiously alleadging against the word Consubstantiall would neither agree with the rest touching the faith nor subscribe to the condemnation of Arius This was a manifest beginning of the haile which a while after fell in greater abōdance For after that Eusebius and Theognis faigning an alteration of their opinion had recovered their former dignity they went about this one thing to try by all meanes howe that through the sides of Athanasius they might pearce the trueth And these cunning devisers looked so well to the matter that noe times have bin more troubleous through most impudent false accusations malitious surmises lies and uniust vexations That Athanasius had killed Arsenius had ravished his hostesse had takē away craftily the provision of corne at Constantinople had ministred mony to one that attempted an alteration what time affordeth exemples of like impudency The good Arian Bishops removed from his seate Eustathius Bishop of Antioch because he was one of them that helde the trueth a whore being brought forth who obiected unto him dishonest conversation with her Neither were these thinges done secretly and privately but that wee may acknowledge the huge noise of the haile in assemblyes full of men by continuall runnings up and downe frō Thracia Alexandria into Syria by wicked accusations by appealings to the Emperours in abrogations of ungodly sentences and approving of the same againe so as the whole East had businesse enough by these meanes did ringe on every syde with the noise of this shower But the broile stayed not here CONSTANTINE the sonne of Constanntie mingled haile with blood banished many put many to death Howe cruell a thing was it that he compelled by torments to consent to the wicked opinion that reverend old man Holsius of Corduba to whom his Father gave so great honour But the outrageousnes of VALENS is almost uncredible wherby the Church was spoiled on every side the faithfull were cast headlong into the river Orontes cruelty was exercised by every kinde of death Surely that shippe in which under a colour of sending foure skore excellent men into banishement he cōmanded them to be burnt in the maine sea was more unnaturall then that weake shippe of Nero in which he devised a death for his mother And the Bishops who of late passed all mortall men in impudency strove afterward with tyrants who should be most cruell What slaughters did MACEDONIVS make through all the East Georgius and Lucius at Alexandria It would aske a longe time to set downe all doubtlesse the former miserable times came againe the name onely of the enemy being chāged for those of the time passed wer Heathē but these wer false Christians Verily the wonderfull and mervailous falling of haile in about those times shewed manifestly what was the state of thinges And haile filling the hand rushed downe violently every severall hailestone being as great as the hand could conteme as Socrates in the foure chapter of his booke doth say And it seemeth that Gregorius Nazianzenus at that time made that oration whose inscription is this when the Father held his peace because of the calamity of the haile ¶ And they were cast into the Earth and the third part of the Earth c. So readeth Aretas the Common Latine
the doore and doe knocke chap. 3.20 Of which sorte are many in other places It fell from heaven unto the earth by revolting from the holy Church to a degenerating company of ungodly men But this fall nowe first began to be marked after the sounding out of the fift trūpet For that which is done leisurely and privily is not perceaved to be a doing before that it be manifestly come to passe The key of the bottomelesse pit given is a power granted over infernall darkenes which was shutte up in the bottome of the pit of hell for that is the bottomelesse pit Now first this power was granted to sende forth the smoke howsoever the fall from heaven was before that the trumpet sounded Nowe that wee may finde out who this starre is the thing is not to be measured by one or two circūstances for so wee shall finde very many to have fallen from heaven but all things are to be taken togither which surely whomsoever they shall fitte he doubtlesse is that very man whom this Prophecy painteth out unto us it cannot be that the holy descriptions should be generall and common so as they may be applyed to divers things contrary to the meaning of the Spirit But it is to be observed that this trumpet is not limited within any certaine boundes of the third part as the former but to have free liberty to spread farre abroad in what place soever it will as in the common proheme the Angell cryed out in the ende of the former chapter woe to the inhabitans of the earth as though the calamity should be contained within noe other limits then of the whole earth from whence it cometh to passe that the latter trumpets exccede the former not onely in the very kinde and continuāce of the evils but also in the space and largenes of the countries thēselves to which they should bring dammage These thinges being thus layd wee shall finde that this trumpet sounded immediately within three yeeres after that Gregory died whom evē nowe wee shewed to be the Angell flying from the middes of heaven about the yeere from the birth of Christ sixe hundreth and seaven At which time Boniface the third obtained of Phocas the parricide that the Bishop of Rome should be universall then also Mahumet in the East whom Robertus Cetenensis and Bibliander refer unto the same time in the eleven table albeit I thinke that others more truly doe reffer him to a fewe yeeres after as touching the summe of the thing there is noe difference was beleeved of his owne people to be a greate Prophet Both starres fell from heaven before this time The Romane defection is manifest in the Idolatrous worshipping of reliques in attributing that to the Saincts which is proper to God alone that I may not recite many other wicked superstitions when as it would aske a longe time even for to number them Gregory that middle Angell whom by right thou mayest call holy in comparison of many other that were to come in howe plaine words doth he bewray the impiety of this seate herein The holy Martyrs sayth he our defenders are present they will be asked and they require to be sought Therefore in your prayers seeke yee these helpes finde yee out these defenders of your guiltines in his Homilies on the Gosp Againe Which Holy Peter of late could be your helper in all things and more over he is able to forgive your sinnes booke 4. Epist 34. Againe let him put his trust in the grace of the omnipotent God and in the helpe of the blessed Apostle Peter in the booke 4. chap. 39. Moreover from the crosse in which is the wood of the Lords crosse and the haires of John Baptist wee have alwayes confort of our Saviour through the intercession of his fore runner booke 7. Epist 126. Neither was he the first authour of this Idolatry neither did they which followed indevour to overthrowe it but rather increased it with all their power And not without cause indeede the fall of this starre became thē first knowen when the Bishop began to be called universall then yet the eares of all men might ring with the late crying out of Gregory He is Antichrist who chalengeth to himselfe the name of universall Bishop Frō which also it is manifest howe both they deceive and are deceived who require instantly the testimonies of Ambrose Hierome Chrysostome Augustine or of any other Father by which expresly it may be proved that the Pope of Rome is Antichrist seeing his fall could not be so plainly discerned before the blowing of the fift trumpet which doubtlesse sounded not before these holy men ceased to be among the living The fall also of Mahomet from heaven is evident The Saracenes had received the true faith of Christ by the instruction of Moses a certaine Bishop of that people when Mavia the Queene reigned as in Socrates booke 4.36 or Mania as Sozemene calleth her booke 6. 38 At which time Valens governed the Empire of Rome in the East From this beginning or peradventure from Zacomus the Prince who flourished a fewe yeeres before the trueth seemesh to have ben spred among them unto the times of HERACLIVS corrupt without all doubt with much filth and corruption as is wont to come to passe in processe of time yet not quite abolished as it is cleare frō Mahumet himselfe who acknowledged the Scriptures and tooke to himselfe companions or rather had for maisters Sergius of Constantinople a Nestorian Monke and Iohn of Antiochean Arian Wherefore it is plaine that both of them had fallen The key was given to the Bishop of Rome in that manner which I have said For an ordinance of the Emperour being established that the Bishops of Rome should have full power to assemble generall Councills and to disolve them to confirme and disanull the thinges which should be decreed in the Councills and that the City of Rome should be the heade of all holesome life when before Constantinople was so esteemed because of the seate of the Emperour as writeth Pomponius on Phocas what could not this key open Doth not the Pope worthyly boast of the Keyes and carrieth them an ensigne for his armes least perhaps any should be ignorant that he is the same whom Iohn sawe should come And this is that difference betweene the other superstitious men and the Pope of Rome Many others did give more to the Saincts departed then was meete and defiled themselves with the most grievous sinne of Idolatry yet to noe other was given the key to open the pit but to this universall Bishop Let noe man therefore to hide the Antichrist call forth the defense and fellowshippe of others that erred but let him ioyne togither all the properties nor iudge of him for one alone But as touching Mahomet what could not he obtaine of the simple multitude being counted of all a great Prophet Whose sowning from a disease the rude multitude beleeved to have bin
appointe to so great an Office Then shee presented to CHRIST Sainct DOMINICVS To Whom CHRIST said in deede he is a good and stout Champion and will doe carefully all the thinges of which thou hast spoken unto mee Shee presented also SAINCT FRANCES And CHRIST commaunded him likewise as the former c. In the same place after And blessed DOMINICVS continuing in prayer and intreating the Blessed Virgine MARIE to whom as a speciall Patronesse he had commited the whole care for his order c. From which wee see what haire these fryars had And not these onely but also the whole nation of the Papists who hold not Iesus Christ to be favorable to them any otherwise but so farre as Marie by her intercession procureth them favour But it shal be superfluous to wring out that thing by witnesses which they confesse at this day of their owne accord But thou wilt say howe now doe I attribute longe haire to the fryars whom of late I had sayd to be shorne and shaven To be shaven and to glory in the name of a woman are not contraries which to be signifyed by these allegories and not any proper covering of haire I suppose to be manifest enough So before chap. 4. Foure and twenty Elders are said to sit upon thrones crowned who yet afterward fall on their faces and throw downe their crownes at the voice of the Beasts giving glory to God continually which seeme so repugnant that they cannot stande if they be taken not figuratively but properly Christ also in the parable from one that had not on a wedding garment and cast into utter darkenesse inferreth that many are called and fewe are chosen when as the proper application would make the contrary that many are called fewe are reiected Mat. 22.13.14 But the favourable readers will unloose these thinges easilie of themselves ¶ And their teeth were as the teeth of Lions The well knowne rage of both hath sufficiently proved to the world their teeth to be as of Lions seeing the Saracenes assailed with sword and fire they devoured widowes houses under a colour of prayers and godlines 9 They had also habergeons Both the one and other should be fenced nobly and should be noe lesse safe then if they should have ben covered with iron corselets labour should be undertaken in vaine either for to subdue them by warre or restraine them by any force as long as their time of reigning should continue How unprosperously did the Romanes warre often times with the Arabians untill their fore appointed time of tyrannizing was passed over is relatetd by Zonaras in Constans the nephewe of Heraclius in Justimanus Rhinoâ—meta and others The same also is evident in the friars one exemple shal be instead of many The Vniversity of Paris accused to the Pope a certen blasphemeous booke patched by the Dominicanes which they called the Eternall Ghospell The Pope disallowed the booke yet he would not have it to be condemned publikely that nothing might be diminished of the estimation of the Monkes neither would he correct any further their wicked impudency Maidenburg Cent. 13. chap. 8. col 776. Therefore he that did strike them with any weapon it was as if he had cast it against an iron corselet or rather against a brazen wall ¶ And the sounde of their winges The huge noise of the Locusts wheÌ„ they should even move themselves to make an assault against any I will speake nothing of the Saracenes whose hostile in roades howe great terrour they brought to men who is ignorant Was it not a thing worthy of feare unto all Kingdomes and Dominions whatsoever that almost an infinite host of most strong men did remaine in the middes of them who were wholy addicted to the faith of a forren Pope and did altogither depend upon his pleasure alone By what cunning could the Pope more terrify the Kinges then by the clapping togither of these winges It is noe mervaile that the Popes cherished so greatly this bande of men whose labour was so profitable unto him 10 And their stinges were in their tailes The Complutent edition some other bookes read otherwise then the translation of Theod. Beza And they have tailes like unto scorpions and stinges and in their tailes they have power to hurt men five monethes Aretas agreeth with the same And so indeede the declaration of the thinges in order set forth requireth For that which was set downe before undeterminatly verse 3. and 5. as though the power to hurt had ben common to all the Locusts in this maner is drawne more distinctly and expressely to one certeÌ„ kinde Nowe it is shewed that the chiefe fiercenesse shal be in the tailes to which also the five monethes should properly belong but the tayle is every worst and filthyest thing in his kinde Doth not the thing it selfe declare that it came so to passe Who of the Saracenes did chiefly bring misery upoÌ„ our men CerteÌ„ly the tayle of the Saracenes the basest route the rascall sorte and company of vile persons which having noe resting places of their owne raÌ„ne hither and thâ—ther into Cyprê° Creta Sicilia Sardinia the two Ilandes Baleares Spaine Fraunce and Jtaly to seeke a place to dwell in The other multitude whose tyranny was more stable and which continued longer kept the countries more quietly and with more estimation which they had once possessed Also of all the Religious the Begging fryars are the tailes to whom especially the sting belongeth the five monethes of tyrannizing For taking their beginning from Innocentius the third they grew into almost an infinite number untiil the yeere one thousand three hundred and fiftieth that is untill Gerardus Ridder wrote a booke against them which he intituled the teares of the Church in which he proved that that kinde of life was farre from a Christian perfection that it is against charity that they doe feede of other mens labours when a man should be able to get his living with his owne handes that they are hypocrites that they live most filthily that for mens sake and for lucre they mixed fables Apocrypha most vaine dreames with the syncere trueth that they devoured widowes houses under a colour of long prayers that they did troble the whole Church many wayes by their confessioÌ„s sermons and solemnitiâ—s at mens burials and therefore that it belongeth to the Bishops to restraine and represse this immoderate libertie and abuses of the Monkes Those are his wordes the summe of which I have mentioned because it agreeth wonderfully with this description of the Locusts Neither doe I attribute it to him alone that this plague was quailed and repressed but many couragious men desirous of true godlines wer about that time who with ioint forces did put to flight the same From hence therefore it is more apparant which wee said at the fifte verse That the whole Kingdomes either of the Saracenes or of the Pastists is not to be gathered into that space of five monethes
plentifull leave to enioy his presence then in the times going next before Yet howsoever he came downe from heaven he was clothed with a cloude not knowne indeede plainly to the world but covered yet with so great darkenesse that he was to be seene as it were through a lattice He carrieth the rainebowe on his head a notable messenger of the olde covenant and of faire weather both that wee may understand him to be faithfull and constant in his promises and also that the former stormes shal be driven away dayly more and more by little and little untill at length a cleare sky shall returne on every side His face shineth like the Sunne Christ indeede being most glorious at least in that parte in which he is knowne and perceived of men but his feete doe yet burne with fire because his lowest members on the earth must burne yet with a great heate of affliction Although there should be noe danger of perishing in this fire for the feete are pillars yea and that also of Brasse chap. 1 15. For these thinges belong to the same time see chap. 2.18 So therefore Christ carrieth in his owne person an image of the present Church under the sixt Trumpet Which began to encrease againe about the yeere 1300 yet covered with much darkenesse which notwithstanding gave hope of a more perfit restoring in due time in the meane while revealed the most sweete face of Christ which the world had not seene a long time although the faithfull in the meane season were troden downe with manie calamityes 2 And he had in his hande a little booke open To whom fitteth better an open booke then to him who hath opened the seales of it chap 5.5 Because therefore Christ commeth forth with an open booke it is taught that nowe againe after longe ignorance leave shal be given to men to knowe the trueth as wee knowe it came to passe about that time For at once the Turkes began to wax strong in the East and most learned men to arise in the West who maintained the trueth boldly But it is onely a little booke which he hath in his hande to wit a small booke either because the ende nowe approching there should not remaine so many alterations but that they might be contained in a little booke as after in the sixt verse delay shal be no more or rather because the knowledg of men in this time should be slender and small whereunto perteineth the clothing with a clowde as wee have shewed at the former verse ¶ And he put his right foote upon the Sea This grosse Sea of the inferiour world is the doctrine of the corrupt Church as chap. 8.8 No lesse also perteining to them whose is the administration of this doctrine The Earth conteineth the rest of the common people who in name are Christians But the feete are the members of Christ to wit his faithfull servants by whom as it were by feete he walketh on earth Of these the right foote is the stroÌ„ger by which being set upon the Sea it is declared that Christ nowe at length will chuse out some from that vile sorte of Ecclesiasticall men for to be his feete and faithfull members Also the left foote placed on the earth sheweth that he will take out likewise some from the lay people who although they could not compare with the Ecclesiasticall those right feete in excellency of giftes yet they should be made his true members enioy the same honour with them Such right feete were Iohannes de Poliaco Martinus Patavinus Iohannes de Ganduno Michael Cicerius Michael de Coriaria Guilielmus Ockam Gerardus Ridder Iohannes Rochetalada Armachanus an Jrish Bishop Ioannes Wtcklefus and others Christ drew them out of the salt sea of the Popish doctrine whom hee tooke out from the company of Ecclesiasticall men and brought them to sweeter and wholsomer waters of the trueth Out of the lay people he had for his left feet Ludovicus Bavarus the Emperaur Marsilius Patavinus Dantem Aligherium and many others who defended to their power the trueth seene and acknowledged 3 And he cryed with a loude voice as as Lion roareth Hitherto hath ben the description of the Angel nowe the chiefe cause of the things that were to be sealed up is set forth to wit the crying out of an Angell like a bellowing Lion for so the Greeke word signifyeth properly that which belongeth to Oxen and the like beasts Lions are properly said to roare albeit some times it is attributed to Asses and Camels as Hesichius sheweth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to make a roâ—ring like unto Asses Camels and oxen But the Angell belloweth bccause he must speake softly and dared not to lift up his voice for there is ioined togither with it he cryed with a loude voice but that he might shewe that the meekenes and patience of the oxen is nowe to be mixed with the courage of the Lion And so indeede Christ as it were revived againe then in his members cryed out strongly which crying out neverthelesse carried a shewe of the bellowing oxen onely neither yet made any man greatly afraid Those first springing up Christian Worthies strove by lamentings and complaining speaches yet neverthelesse they bare a grievous yoke of bondage which they could not shake of whatsoever strugling they made against it ¶ The seven thunders uttered their voice Which as an Echo answered this lowing And these seven thunders are I suppose those Angels of which afterward in chap. 14.6 c. Surely the time agreeth fitly as wee will shew at the place then also their office may worthily be likened to thunder which sounded againe when this roaring was uttered For taking their beginning from thence they made a noise with so great roaring that such as despised the lowing of the Angell should at length begin to tremble for feare of this thunder But it is an excellent thing that the thunders speake not but at the crying out of the Angell even as also the Echo hath noe voice of it selfe but onely yeeldeth againe the voice which it hath received so those restorers of the truâ—th howsoever the world condemned them of novelties brought notwithstanding nothing but that which themselves had learned of God 4 And when the seven thunders c. Such were the causes now is shewed the care of Iohn whom when the seven thunders were heard being about to write a voice from heaven prohibiteth biddeth to seale them up These misteries were to be kept secret as before the booke could not be read as long as it was sealed chap. 5. For these times knewe not what those thunders did speake neither did they marke whereunto at length they would come ¶ And write them not So Aretas the Common translation and other Greeke Copies as though these wordes should declare what that Seale should be to wit not to put in writing but to have it secret for himselfe alone But is any thing revealed privately to Iohn which
here all true Christians are counted as before chap. 1.6 Therefore when Constantine came to the Kingdome the Church began to hide it selfe in a secret place by going froÌ„ the sight of the world into a certen more inward roome Whereunto perteineth that sealing chap. 7. Wherby a fewe of many were severed by some privie marke Neither ought it to seeme mervailous that this separating of themselves from others was made in so great glory of peace and desire to advance the Christian name For when some raised up contentions others coveted much to get honours many travailed with heresies and brought them forth all did bend themselves with all their power to heape up superstitions was it easy in that state of things for any pure syncere and sound thing to abide in his place But the obscurity of the Saincts indeede grew more every day by how much more those foure mischiefes increased The which thing Rome also her selfe granted unwares For doest thou demaÌ„de where our Church was before Luther Therefore thou knowest not But understand thus where thou Rome wert not to wit in the hidden holy place of our God whither shee had runne for succour with all the rest of the Saincts from thyne infection But when thou boastest that thou art a Citie set on a hill which never was hidden but hath flourished with a continuall and manifest succession confesse also that thou art not the true Church and that thou hast founde noe place in that covert of protection ¶ And them that worshippe in it Mete is a common verbe and of a continuall quantity but here figuratively it signifyeth also number thou as if he should say put into the number of nine those fewe who in trueth worship me secretly for there was a certen number in sealing the elect chap. 7. which same thing is declared here in other wordes when he biddeth him to meete the worshippers All the Saincts are sayd to worship on the Altar because they put all their hope and trust in the death of Christ which kinde of sacrifices perteineth not to the Tribe of Levi alone to offer but to everie true godly man likewise And this onely is that thing which discerneth the true Christian from the false and counterfait But that the most in those times worshipped not so on the altar wee must thinke not without cause when it is to be seene clearly from their writings that many who ought to have shined before others in all knowledg attributed to much to their voluntary workes and to their owne holinesse 2 But the court that is without the Temple So Aretas and the Complutent edition doe reade but some bookes have which is within the Temple to wit the court of the Priests in which was the altar of burnt offrings which he mentioned even nowe which court some time is called by the name of the temple Neither is this reading to be reiected rashly For Iohn is not biddeÌ„ to mete this court but onely the Altar of this court And it may be that it agreeth more fitly with that which followeth if the inward court be cast out then if that be cast out which was already without before But both have respect to the same ende that it is nothing to be esteemed whatsoever is more then those foresayd Temple Altar Worshippers For the court is given to the Gentils that is to the Christians as for a name neither this onely but also the holy City which they should tread under foote not by spoiling it like an enemie but in frequenting it daily under a colour of worshipping as in Isaiah 1.12 and that for the space of fourtie two moneths These things shewe clearly what should be the condition of the false Church in those times wherein the trueth should be hidden First it should noe lesse exceed in number and multitude then the people which once dwelt at Ierusalem and was wont when the holy things were done to be in the utmost court exceeded the number of them who executed their office in the Temple Good God howe great difference was there Exceeding great was the coÌ„pany of the inhabitans and of them that continually flocked to the temple howe in the meane time few Priests were there within in comparison of that great multitude which was exercised without There should be the same quantitie of fained Christians in respect of the true and naturall Citizens Secondly it should have her counterfait worshippers dwelling very neere the Temple For they should possesse Ierusalem and the whole court should be theirs How neerly was the court ioyned to the Temple How did it compasse the same round about Ezech 40.5 Good God how nigh was this society Who durst have condemned the court of prophanenesse unlesse the Angell himselfe had commanded it And the event surely was altogither answerable For in those first times when the foure first trumpets sounded what was Athanatius alone unto so greate assemblyes of Bishops What afterward was Basil the Greate or Gregorie Nazianzene unto almost the whole East Yf thou shouldest respect the multitude who would not have contemned one or two in coÌ„parison of so great a rable But if you would respect holines were they not all Bishops Did not all desire to be esteemed valiant defenders of the trueth How easy was it therefore here either by the number or likenes to be deceaved In the last times also there is the same boasting of the holy citie and of the outmost court against the Temple Is not the Church of Rome spread through the whole earth Have the Lutherans heresies as they clatter ever passed over the Sea Have they seene at any time eyther Asia or Afrique or Egypt or Grecia Who can doubt of the Holy Catholike Church which counteth her Bishops even from Peter himselfe by a most certen succession But Rome nowe boasteth of her multitude by how much in time past shee hath flourished in greater number by so much the more is shee nigher to the great assembly treading under foote Hierusalem and further of from this small number lying hid in the Temple wee see in this place the whorish Church most furnished both with multitude and neighbourhood Yf these things shal be sufficient to get the victory thou hast overcome o Rome so well in populous City as in proximity But let them looke to it that are carâ—ied away with the name of the Catholike Church how easily here they may be deceaved of the whore which possesseth the holy City and the very outward court next to the Temple Let them in the name of God weigh the matter in earnest and diligently and not suffer themselves to be beguiled with vaine boasting Let them minde that unto them that looke but of a farre off they seeme all to be in the Temple it selfe who are but within yea the outmost part of the walles but let them come nigher and they shall see most cleerly that those whom even now they thought to be in the most inward roomes
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
against all faithful evidence of other books An unhonest prank and an impious but not new with the Romists who shewed themselves such artizens long since in the Council of Nice But what doo they mean by adulterating the writings of the ancients Would they stop the mouth of this age They cannot ther are left thanks be to God true copies by which their sacrilegious impudency is coÌ„vinced Or as is more likely doo they provide for time to come Foolish Popelings which now get ancieÌ„t writers to succour you when shortly ther shal not a Papist be left for them to yeild succour unto Your cause within these few yeres shal be tried not by the Fathers but by fyre and sword as this Revelation wil manifest In the mean while we may observe both how daÌ„gerous it is to depend now on the Fathers imprinted by others and how ful of botches the Popish crew is which is so afrayd of nayles as it pareth them to the quick not herewith content wrappeth woll also about the Fathers fingers that they may the softlyer handle their scabby bodyes 3 And the second Angel powred out his vial upon the Sea The second vial puts forth his force against the sea to weet figurative as was the earth for ther is the same respect doubtlesse of every one And seing the overthrow of Antichrist is here in hand what great dammage should he suffer more then al other men by the sea properly so caled turned into rotten blood For this is the first effect of this vial neither would the second hurt him any whit more wherby al living things dye in this sea The earth affordeth him infinite daynties so that he may easily bear the want of fishes though they should dye every one Wherfore we must not stick in the native signification but take that which we have seen often used before It meaneth therfore Doctrine the notable change wherof should fall out under this vial of corrupt being made most corrupt In former ages verily it was turned into bloud but now it changeth into much more grosse and royled filthinesse then ever before until at length it becometh like the bloud of a dead man that is rotten clammy grosse black bloud not liquid and fresh such as floweth from a living body The first Council of Trent therfore is this sea being no lesse conpounded of a hotchpotch of al Popish errours then the natural sea is of the gathering togither of many waters VVhich Council was begun some yeres before as we have shewed chap. 11.7 but at length was made an end of and confirmed by the definite sentence of P. Paul the 4. at the request of the Cardinals Moronus and Simoneca in the name of the rest of the Council in the yeare 1564. Into this sea of errors the yere after and the eight next folowing the second Angel Martin Chemnitius powred out his vial who began and composed a Trial of this Tridentine Council and found it to be nothing but an horrible confused Chaos of many monstrous opinions But this occasion forthwith upstarted many doughty Papists to mainteyn the same who behaved theÌ„selves so fortunatly in this service that by defending the bloud they turned it into rotten bloud that is heaped up many more pestilent errors to theÌ„ that were before Among the rest there rose up handlers of controversies at Rhenes Doway Loven as frontier Captaynes by whose industrie it came to passe that al the durt which lay stinking about here and there in many ditches was scraped togither into one channel that therof at length mought exist this rotten sea But above al the heaping togither of waters most fowl with carrayn bloud was playn to be seen when P. Gregory the 13. in the yere 1571. procured two ample Colleges to be built at Rome for to corrupt youth beyond the Alpes and made Robert Bellarmine master of this worke that he should uÌ„fold the controversies of faith unto the students of those Colleges For he that he might the more provide for his auditors that is the sooner destroy them thought it not best to labour about any one point two or three as many others had doon before but to bring al controversies into one body as it were which he saw was yet waÌ„ting as himselfe confesseth in his Epistle to the Pope Wherby through Gods good providence it came to passe that an intyre and perfect body of Popish doctrine absolute in al points which never was before being largely disputed in these books of controversies did now come forth in publik that they which willingly shut not their eyes might see the Sea playnly turned into filthy bloud ¶ And every living soul dyed in the Sea But how can this be may some say seing every sowl liveth not in the sea This it may be caused Theod. Beza to transplace the words thus and whatsoever thing lived in the sea dyed But the natural order of the words hath a meaning agreable with al other of this book and of this kinde For we are to know that the whole crew of the malignant Church is divided eyther into the Clergie or into the rest of the Laitie Those clergie men are the proper living things of this sea these laie folk are cheifly earthly and denoted by the earth Now if he had sayd every sowl living in the sea dyed some would perhaps have gathered that this death was proper to the Clergie Doctours but when he sayth every living sowl dyed in the sea he teacheth that the popish lâ—itie people perish in this blood togither with the Clergie But thou wilt say the words perteyn alike unto al which any way live therfore this death seemeth to be common unto al. I answer al verily which before seemed to live so soon as they came down into this sea straight way were choked dyed But al the elect have their dwelling in the Temple and the Temple is placed in heaven chap. 15.6 so that they need not to be afrayd at al of this earthly sea whose rotten bloud shall kill onely the men of the same kind And here all unlesse they leave their earth that is unlesse they forsake the Popes religion shal finde destruction in this sea for no other waters shal they have to drink but these thus filthy nor be informed with any other doctrine then that is drawen out of the Council of Trent and controversal books of the Iesuites How can they then but dye presently if they drink of those waters wherin al the foundations of salvation are turned into deadly poyson Most miserable therfore is your estate ô yee Papists which drink in filthy bloud as most sweet heavenly liquour and settle your salvation in most certayn destruction But it is Gods just judgement that they which despise the pure waters of life should miserably perish in this bloud draw out ô highest God those whom thou hast destinate to the prayse of thy mercy But besides let us know that it is not safe
that AlexaÌ„der himselfe never boasted of any such wonder in his Epistles Arianus writeth that usually ther is no way to passe through the sea neer Phaselis but when the North winds blow which blew vehemently when Alexander went that way that they seemed not without Gods power to have yeilded them an easy passage But Strabo book 14 writeth most playnly that the soldiers traveiled al the day even up to the navel in the waters So then Alexander passed through the waters that were shollow and not quite dryed up Neyther doo I think can it be found in any record that such a thing did ever happen to any other people then the Iewes The vanity of writers may feign many things but the Scriptures doo challenge this as peculiar to this nation onely I will say sayth God to the deep be dry and I wil dry up thy flouds Isa 44.27 And againe Art not thou the same which dryed up the sea even the waters of the great deep making the deeps of the Sea to be a way for the redeemed to passe over Isa 51.10 And least some should thinke this miracle was onely for the time passt and not such to be looked for ever after he addeth in the next verse So the redeemed of the Lord shal returne and come with joy into Sion c. And in Isa 63.11 where should he be that brought these up out of the sea with the shepheard of his flock which cleft the waters for thâ—se to make himselfe an everlasting name which led these through the deepe as an horse in the wildernes so that they stumbled not It is no marvel therfore if the peculiar note ensigne of this nation onely be putt for the men themselves But what need there a way to be prepared for them Shal they returne agayn to IerusaleÌ„ Ther is nothing more sure the Prophets playnly confirme it and beat often upon it Yet not to the end that the ceremonial worship should be restored but that the mercy of God may shine unto al the world in giving to a nation now scatered over al the face of the earth dwelling no where but by leave their fathers habitations wherin they shal serve Christ purely and sincerely according to his owne ordinance onely A thing of old commonly spoken of by the ancient Iewes which they understood by the Prophets although but narrowly and through the lattisse Wherupon it was berayed with old wives fables both in ages past and so is now at this day The feighned Esdras saw some sparkles of this truth which he overwhelmed with so many and great fictions that he had need be a wary and attentive reader and one of no mean judgement that would gather gold out of that confused heap They entred in saith he speaking of the ten tribes that were led captives at the narrow passages of the river Euphrates for the most high then shewed them signes and stayed the springs of the river til they were passed over 4. Esdras 13.43.44 A Iewish fable but neerer to the truth is that which there foloweth ver 47. The most high shal hold stil the springs of the river agayn that they may goe through c. which agreeth with this place may both of them be understood metaphorically though nothing letteth why it may not please God agayn to shew his ancient power of drying waters up extraordinarily Seing therfore it is certayn that this nation shal earnestly flock unto the Gospel and that in the last times as Paul teacheth Rom. 11.25 and the last period of things is of the vials it is not likely that such a wonderful matter should have no mention at al in this clear Prophesie unto which also here is added the proper ensigne of this nation for whose onely sake both sea river as we read were dried up I am not altogither unadvised in supposing that this is the onely matter here in hand which must eyther be fouÌ„d in this place or be wholly omitted in this book VVherfore after Rome is overthrown and cut off there shal be a common bruit of this new Christian people at the hearing wherof the Gentiles shal be astonished But what are the Iewes Kings why not seing al Christians are Kings Rev. 1.6 and the fowr and twenty Elders which represente the whole company of the faithful doe all wear crownes chap. 4.4 And this magnificent name doth the Spirit give them because it shal be very honourable after so many ages and so stiff stubbornes of that nation for them to come againe as it were by recovery of law unto the truth and religiously and holily with al observance to honour the same having their incredulous and obstinate harts subdued But besides this the whole East shal obey them that not without cause ar this people caled Kings in respect of their long and large dominion Empire But they seem to be called playnly Kings in Isay 24.21 if we diligently mark the words and meaning of the place And it shal be saith he in that day the Lord wil visit the host of the high in the high place and the Kings of the earth upon the earth And they shal be gathered with a gathering as a prisoner into a pit and shal be closed up in the close-place and after many dayes shal they be visited And the Moon shal be abashed and the Sun ashamed when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Sion and in Ierusalem and shal be glorious before his Ancients the Kings of the earth are al one who after are gathered into the pit after many dayes are visited and at whose deliverance the Moon is abashed c. VVhich last words are certenly meant of the ful restoring of the Iewes wherfore the first words intend also the same VVhom God in heavy indignation because they refused his Son did thrust into the pit or dungeon for many ages togither and kept them closed up in a very hard prison But at length after many dayes he will visit these prisoners and bring them out of the gayl for whose ferveÌ„t zele and singular study of true godlines the Churchches of the Gentiles as the Moon Sun shal be abashed at this greater brightnes They ar caled the host of the high in the high because the Iewes were the peculiar people of the high God and of his Church which is heavenly wherupon they ar often caled in Daniel qaddische hheljonin the Saincts of the high Dan. 7.22 c. But this is inough to find out the meaning of this place I may not now stand longer upon it I have handled it the more at large for to give occasion unto our men to mind these things more diligently These Kings come from the East because the greatest multitude of Iewes is in those countries and these first of all shal see the truth and embrace the study of it But thou wilt say The Temple is shut until the seven plagues be fufilled which we shewed to be
Heaven but also the throne it selfe the description wherof was in chap. 4.2 The Temple is the dwelling place of the Saincts as we have seen before this Throne is the seat of the highest Maiestie which being placed in midds of the company of the faithfull shineth with the incomprehensible brightes of the most holy Trinity Wherfore this voice commeth immediatly from God in respect of the Ministery of the Church Wherby is signifyed that God under this vial wil in extraordinary manner and almost beyond exspectation provide for his shewing forth his power from heaven for the destruction of al the enemies which were gathered as even now we heard unto the place Armagedon which interpretation we shal see more fully cōfirmed by that which foloweth where a larger explication of this vial is hādled The voice uttered is It is doon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most fitt for the finishing of things as we know it was used in the creating of them Gen. 1. it hath this meaning as if he should say Al things now have bin which I decreed to be doon neyther remayneth any more of my promises the complemēt wherof should be exspected on earth For this same Is doon hath referēce unto that in chap. 10.7 In the dayes of the voice of the seventh Angel when he shal sound the trompet the Mysterie of God shal be finished Now shal ther be an end of al prophesies when both al the enemies are utterly extinguished there is one sheepfold made throughout the earth of al the elect Iewes and Gentiles under the one Pastor Iesus Christ It is certain that this kingdome of Christ thus begunn shal be eternal never to be interrupted agayn and shall at last be translated from earth into heaven But of the time wherin this translation shall fall out which is to be performed at his second coming I find no mention in this book This prophesie proceeds no further then to the last destruction of al the enemies and ful restitution of the Iewish nation the estate of which people so restored and of the whole Church of al nations he telleth shal be most happy but setteth down no moment of time when they shal leav the earth and goe to their heavenly heritage These things shal be made manifest by the interpretation folowing some tast wherof was here to be given least any perhaps too much attending unto the whole order of things should slip into that errour of setting down the certain time of the last day which thing I see some godly and learned men to busy themselves about as if by this vial some very neer moment therof mought be assigned Which thing upon more diligent examination we find to be wholly layd up in exspectation of hope and not at al put in any comhrehension of sense Now the agreement of the seventh vial with the seventh trompet is that in this Christs Kingdome is begunn the enemies being in part abolished as chap. 11.15 wherupon a voice there sayd the Kingdome of the world is become Christs but in the other Christs Kingdome is consumate al enemies being quite taken away wherfore the voice of this is It is doon 18 And there were noyses and lightnings c. Of the second event ther are three branches first by what things the execution of the judgement was doon in this vers secondly upon what in verse 19.20 Thirdly what effects in respect of the reprobates verse 21. Lightnings thonders voices shall come from heaven the earth shal be moved shaken wherby is taught that both heaven earth shal cōspire for vengeance on the impious both which shal powr out whatsoever direful-punishment it hath upō the wicked crew And this not after the usual manner of former times but with such horrible terrour as never was since the world was made For nowe ther shal be a visible semblance of the infernal punishment which it shall feel at length in the last judgement Moreover these kinds of punishmēts doo declare that the enemies shal be destroyed rather by the extraordinary power of God than by any work and endevour of men which after appeareth more clearly in chap. 19.20 and 20.9 19 And the great City was rent into three parts The second branch of the second event upon what this iudgement shal be exercised which partly are places partly men The places be cities nations The cities are three in this verse the great city the cities of the Gentiles Babylon But what is this great City We have heard before that a city signifieth not onely some towne cōpassed with walls which many cityzens dwell in conioyned togither by the bonds of the same lawes and right but also the whole dition empire of any city as the tenth part of Rome fell when Germany withdrew it self from the yoke of the servitude therof chap. 11.13 Is it then the Romane Empire onely In deed so this was caled before the great city chap. 11.8 but forasmuch as in this place the ful destruction of al the wicked is handled for the vial is powred into the aier as we sayd it compriseth whatsoever Dominion and Empire the foes and enemies of the Church have in any place It comprehendeth therfore the Turkish tyranny also which togither with the Romish constituteth this great city as is more evident by the destruction of this city For it is rent into 3. parts proportionable to the three Princes by whom it is ruled namely the Dragon the Beast the False Prophet before in ver 13. Wherfore by this three fold declaration ther falleth togither al the Turkish and Mahumetish tyranny that is the Dragons al the power of the Beast that is of the Caesarean Bishop all the authority of the False Prophet that is of Pope Balaam for this man of syn after the ruine of his throne remayneth even unto this last overthrow The first vial was but a preparative for the warr this seventh is of the last destruction ¶ And the cities of the Gentils fell VVe heard of the universal Empire of the impious But not this onely shall fal in common but also in particular al the confederate cities and provinces both Turkish Mahumetish Popish For Gentils be al they that are aliants from the truth whither they be farther of from the same as the Barbarous nations or neerer as the Papists who by a false title are counted Christians For we have seen before how to the Gentiles was given the Court which was ioyned to the Temple as also to them was given the holy city which were the places of that rowt which boasted to be Christians by a vayne tytle without substance ¶ And that great Babylon The third place which shal utterly perish is that great Babylon But did not that perish before under the fift vial when Rome the Beasts throne did fall verse 10 For so we saw it caled before Fallen Fallen is Babylon the great city chap. 14.8 In deed Rome did perish before but it
grew every day until at length they came to the Councill of Trent and Masters of controversies by whose paines now the whole Beast is so covered with most wicked errours the whol sea of doctrine being turned into deadly blood as hath ben sayd in chap. 16.3 that thou canst see noe place free from some newe blasphemy Let an indifferent iudge consider so many horrible errours as in three great volumes Bellarmine deffendeth by the Popes approbation and let him speak sincerely whether every haire almost of this Beast is not spotted with som notable blasphemy Thirdly he hath seven heads and tenne hornes of which what is the meaning the interpretation wil declare which the Angel will make by and by In the meane time let it be agreed of that this Beast is the same which wee saw in the thirteenth chapter and to be the former of the two For of the second are rehearsed onely two hornes there in the 11. verse he maketh mention but of one in this place because both make but one Antichrist as in the chapter even now spoken of we have shewed and of the former onely because it is his intent to set before our eyes whole Antichrist from his first original of whom the second Beast representeth onely the half figure but now because in the last times in which the Beast should be fully discovered Rome the whore should depend more upon the civill authority of the Pope of which that first is the type then upon the spiritual we see at this day that the patrimony of Peter avayleth more then the doctrine which they faine to be Paules that neither Spaine nor France nor others very many have any regard to Rome but in so much as her authority serveth for their profit There is no man but knoweth that Italy despiseth her now a long time at home howsoever shee hath ben content to suffer her to be worshipped of strangers like a God For these causes therfore the former Beast onely is set forth Frances de Ribera the Iesuite avoucheth that this Beast is not that of the 13. chapter but a new new first seen Why so I pray because no article saith he is prefixed before Woman or Beast as it is wont to be done in things known Certenly if he should conclude from the new forme wherein they now first appeare it might have some weight which he sayth but seeing he gathereth that therfore neither of them was simply and absolutely before because they were not seen before in this forme to which onely thing the defect of the article hath respect he dealeth either foolishly or fraudulently after the māner of the Iesuits So J saw saith Iohn ond behold a Lambe stood upon mount Sion chap. 14.1 where also the article is wanting Is this therfore a new Lambe If any should say that there was new forme of him standing upon mount Sion and accompanied with and hundred fourty and foure thousand he should say nothing contrary to the truth but it is the same Lambe in very truth of which mētion was made before chap. 5. After the same manner a new shew is here brought in not a new person as is manifest in the woman which being called in the first verse a whore had the emphasis of the articles which did manifest the olde whore So now the same comming forth in a new decking wanteth the same articles The woman then and the whore are al one and this Beast is the same with that in the thirteenth chapter having the same seate blasphemy heads hornes worship among men the cause of the like eternal destruction and partaker of all his properties unlesse that some of them should now be more increased in processe of time and all things under this fift vial more evident then they were when they began For now he appeareth full of that blasphemy which before possessed the heads onely And was that former Beast Antichrist and shal not this be hee which is more blasphemous The wonderers also at whom are no lesse reprobates then they that wondered at that VVhat shal the Iesuite then gaine if that former being sent away to Hierusalem he hath left this more pernitious Beast at Rome 5 And the woman was arayed with purple and skarlet Such is the Beast now of what quality the woman is whom we shal see adorned most sumptuously of which thing Tertullian spake wittily Who hath deserved the name of an harlot at the Lords hande shee is made equal to her name in her attire Shee sitteth verily in purple with skarlet and gold and pretious stone which are cursed without which a cursed woman and harlot could not be described These things spake he but peradventure somewhat too severely in his booke concerning womās apparell The attire is altogither Princely and belonging to triumphes such as Belshazzar promiseth to them that should read the writting saying He shal be clothed with Purple with a Chaine of Golde about his necke and shal be the third Ruler in the Kingdome Daniell chapter fift verse seventh Attire surely fit for her which raigneth over the Kings of the earth as after in the 18. ver But purple was sufficient for dignity To what ende is there also skarlet That it might note out great cruelty ioined togither with it Shee is of the same disposition with the Beast redde with the murthers of the faithfull in the twelve Chapter and third verse There are many Cities made famous for their notable cruelty but togither therewith the dwelling place of Antichrist ought to flourish in exceeding great Maiestie which might be discerned from all the rest Both which victories even the Iesuites themselves cannot deny to be due to Rome But there is added also Gold Pretious stones and Perles which beside the Maiestie note also most excessive riot which is an other token of this woman And who can recken the infinite costes of this City bestowed on Tēples Theatres Galleries hote Bathes Palaces Obeliskes Pillars Arches belonging to triumphes Private houses and other ornaments Into this one City hath bin laid up in store the glory of the whole world taken from very many other to let passe auncient things what an huge summe of mony bestowed of late Pope Sixtus the fift in the yeer one thousand five hundreth foure score and eight upon a conduit which he built on the mount Quirinal It is recorded that two hundred and threescore thousand crounes were spent upon this thing Neither did any necessity wring from him this charges but that the Pope might sommer the more pleasantly in that mountaine The Vaticane Library renewed of the same Pope scarse peradventure stood him of lesse Yet notwithstanding the same man brought fifty hundred thousand peeces of Gold into a new treasury which he erected in the Castle of Sainct Angel that thou mayest understand that the Popes are not yet brought to beggerie But this Gold pretious stones doo not onely seeme riots for Rome hath bene farre more riotous and
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
reconciling of the world what shall the receiving be but life from the dead that is as Oecumenius saith among other interpretations what shal the receiving of them be but tha◠wee say that he quickeneth them being dead in sinnes which receiveth to weet God VVell and agreably to the Apostles mind iudging that the very receiving of the Iewes should be life from the dead Most learned Theod. Beza so interpreteth as if the Apostle should say after a proverbial manner of speaking that it shal come to passe that when the Iewes shall come to the Gospel the world shal be as it were revived by an argument of things cōpared But I forbeare to heape togither interpretations The very words of the Apostle are plaine ynough of themselves The second place is out of Isay chap. 26.19 Thy dead men shal live againe my dead bodies shal rise againe awake ye that dwell in the dust for thy dew is as the dew of hearbes and the earth shall cast out the dead In the former chapters the Prophet hath foreshewed the desolation of the whole earth severally of certaine nations from the twelft chapter and of al togither in the chap. 24. But seeing this renewing of the Iewes which he speaketh of shal be after that Babylon is overthrowne and the same such as wherby the Lord will swallow up death into victory and wipe away teares from all faces as chap. 25.8 it must needes be that this ful restoring is yet looked for to be fulfilled and not to be esteemed past in those smaller deliverances which came to this people lōg agoe Especially considering that ther is a more expresse noting of the time in those things which follow next where the Lord saith that in that day he shall visit Leviathan that long and crooked SERIENT and the DRAGON which is in the Sea in Isaiah chapter 27. ver 1. by which words he signifyeth not the Babylonian for he was farre remooved from the sea◠but without all doubt the Turke whom likeweise our holy Apostle Iohn agreably unto it calleth a SERPENT and DRAGON This is worthyly called a long SERPENT the boundes and limites of his Empire being spread and extended so farre abroad and no lesse instly said to be crooked if an◠doo consider well the Provinces of his Iurisdiction For we may consider the knob head to be in Greece Macedonie Thracia and the other nations of Europe his some what stretched out body to be in Asia the lesse called at this day Anatolie afterward his belly bowed going in circuit by Syria Phoenicia as Dionysius writeth most elegantly of the Gulfe Issicus As a Dragon cruell in lookes is wrapped about round creeping slowe Last of all his tayle following with a long train through Aegypt and the coast of Lybia and gathering it selfe as it were into a circle This Serpent goeth not with straite passes but bowing himselfe into many crooked circuits thrusteth forward his very body Who is he that beholding this Empire not so much stretching it selfe in length as going forward with a crooked winding may not perceive the lively image of the crooked serpent It is not my purpose to hunt after vaine subtilties but to bring onely the truth as farr as I see that figure of the Serpent which the Spirit hath represented to us There is added the habitation of this serpent to be in the Sea for which cause he is called Leviathan or Whale How wonderfully doth this agree to the Turk who hath fixed the seate of his Empire in the very mouth of the Sea Pontus and Propontide to weet Cōstantinople Therfore when God shal call to an account this Serpent Leviathan that is when he shal utterly abolish the Turkish name then shall this resurrection be For the Prophet ioyned togither these two things saying thy dead shall live againe and at that time the Lord shal visit Leviathan with his most sharpe sword the next chapter beginning by an opposition of the time in which he will bestow that benefit which he mentioned in the end of the former So Iohn in this place next after the destruction of the Turks addeth this resurrection The third place is in the 37. chap. of Ezechiel where what other thing are the dry bones the slaine and the graves thē the Iewes afflicted and overwhelmed with all kind of miseries and calamities Who should have no greater ability to deliver themselves from that ruine than have the dead and buried to rise out of their graves And what other thing are the sinewes flesh skinne Spirit than a future restoring at length Which shal be no lesse acceptable an wel come as almost is a new life of a sleep in the graves Behold saith the Lord Iehovah I will open your graves and draw you out of your sepulchres my people and bring you backe into the lād of Israell that you may know that J am the Lord when I doo open your graves bring you out of your sepulchres ô my people ver 12.13 To what end should they be brought againe into the land of Israel after the last resurrection our dwelling place shal then be in heaven not in earth Moreover that resurrection which Ezechiel speaketh of shal be by degrees and by little and little ver 8.9.10 But the general resurrection shal be in a moment in the twinckling of an eye 1 Cor. 15.52 Furthermore these bones are the whole house of Israell ver 11. and now shal be the uniting togither of Iudah Ephraim which those two peeces of wood ioyned togither into one doo declare Which things belong properly to the Israelites neither also past but to come as that happines sheweth which is mentioned in the ende of the chapter greater then any that the dayes past can chaleng But how doth that agree that togither with this resurrection is conioyned the cōquering of Gog and Magog chap. 38. and 39 unles that here the resurrection goeth before in Iohn in this place it followeth the cause wherof wee will shew by and by Neither doo I doubt but Daniel hath meant the same thing by those many of them that sleepe in the dust of the earth awoking some to everlasting life some to shame and perpetual contempt chap. 12.23 For many are not all but this word seemeth to have bin used of set purpose that a difference might be set between the generall and this resurrection He attributeth also the chiefe honour to them that teach and iustify others not so much for labours past in their life time as for their present travell and industry For they that teach saith he shall shine not they which taught long a goe None of which things wee know shal be after the resurrection For brevity sake I will not examine how that of Hosea 13 14. belōgeth also to this Seeing therfore the scriptures doo so freely use so expres a similitude of the resurrection to signify the restoring of the Iewes neyther doo wee find a thing of so great moment
they wer removed froÌ„ their place office whose genealogie was not found Nehem. 7 61.64.65 The Gospel is in truth savoury to no man neither doth any man give his name to it from his heart but he who is written in the book of life and in the booke of his heart hath a writing answering the same word for word 13 And the Sea gave up her dead The way wherby they that are to be iudged are presented before the iudgement seate to weet the Iewes wer gathered from all the corners of the earth as in the generall resurrection nothing shal hinder by what kinde of death soever any hath perished but that a body shal be restored to him Yet notwithstanding when as the Sea signifyeth corrupt and false doctrine by this also is noted that those Iewes which live in Christian countreyes of which sort are very many in Spaine France Germany Italy as it were in the bosome and compasse of the Popish sea of which we have spoken so many things before shal open their eyes to acknowledg the truth and shal fly togither at the light thereof ¶ Death ulso and hell gave up A Synecdoche of the general as though he should say and al that have dyed of any other death It must needs be that the karkeise be drowned in the sea or be covered with earth or rot in the aire or be consumed of the fire or devoured of beasts or some like thing As touching the drowning he said before the sea as touching the grave now he saith hell Death conteineth all the rest But seeing death restoreth those Iewes which live in the Christian landes and are infected with the Romish superstition death and hell shal restore them that shall live among Turkes and Heathen who are banished further off from salvation and are conversant in the inner parts of hell it selfe For so are al those nations of whom the name of Christ is either hated or not heard Neverthelesse it maketh no matter whither a man perish by sea or land either among Christians or among the enemies of this name 14 But hell and death A special execution on death Therfore as after the general resurrection no death shal raigne any more in the world besides that eternal which shal alwayes feed up and not consume the wicked so after the Church shal be restored by that full calling of the Iewes death and the grave shal raigne no more in her as of old while as scourges they alwayes lay upon the shoulders of the offenders but onely they shal serve to translate the elect into the Kingdome of heaven whereupoÌ„ they shall loose their former name They are cast into a lake of fâ—re not because either death or hell susteyne any person but because that which is proper to men is attributed to them as though he should say there shal be no torment any more eyther of death or hel but in the lake of fire where the reprobate dye for ever But from hence observe that seing hel is cast into the lake of fyre that is into hell properly so caled that it obtaineth an other proper signification then that which commonly is given to it in our mothers tongue It is takeÌ„ of many for the place of the damned but commonly it noteth not any thing but the grave and the common state of the dead as may be learned from this and other places of this booke 15 And whosoever was not found None shal be gathered into this Church but he that shal be of the elect How excellent is this preheminence of the Church which shal not be defiled with any hypocrites and counterfait Christians as before time How faire is this field which shall abounde with most fruitful corne without any tares and darnel Whatsoever is found in this nette may be laied up in a safe vessel Therfore it cannot be declared in words how amiable this most glorious spouse shal be It may come to passe that some may fall some time through humane infirmitie but holy admonitions and wholsome correction shal bring them againe to good thrift and repentance But shal every one of the Iewes be such Some shal not embrace the truth as is manifest from Daniel many arising to shame and perpetual contempt chap. 12.2 And we shal learne from the chapter folowing that some doggs shal be excluded without this city But they which now shal refuse the truth shal shew forth a manifest token of their reprobatioÌ„ that the Church shal not be subiect to be deceived any more Wherfore in this renewing the goodnesse and power of God shal be most famous through the whole world VVhich shal restore wretched men so wonderfully and make so singular choise of them whom he wil redeem But see how the godly shal receive comfort from hence For wheras every most holy man might iustly tremble through conscience of their sinns against this feare we have here a notable confirmation that election by Christ setteth us free from guilt CHAP. 21. AFTER I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and the sea was no more extant 2 And J Iohn saw the holy city the new Ierusalem come down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride trimmed for her husband 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying behold the tabernacle of God is among men and he wil dwel with them and they shall be his people and God himselfe shal be with them their God 4 And God shal wipe all teares from their eyes and death shal be no more neither neither sorow neither crying neither shal ther be any more paine because the former things are past 5 And he that sate upon the throne said behold J make all things new And he said unto me write for these words are true and faithfull 6 And he said unto mee it is done J am Alpha and Omega the beginning the ende I wil give to him that is a thirst of the well of the waters of life freely 7 He that overcometh shall inherite all things and I will be his God and he shal be my sonne 8 But the fearfull and unbeleeving and abominable and murtherers whore mongers and sorcerers and Idolaters and all lyars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death 9 And ther came to mee one of the seven Angels which had the seven vials ful of the seven last plagues and he spake unto mee saying come I will shewe thee the Lambes wife 10 And he caried mee away in the Spirit in a great and high mountaine and shewed mee that great city that holy Hierusalem descending out of heaven froÌ„ God having the glory of God 11 And her brightnes was like unto a stone most pretious as a Iasper stone shining as Crystal 12 It had beside a great wall and hie having twelve gates at the gates twelve Angels and names written which
with very great dignity and maiesty Which marchandise the more rare it is the more glorious it shal at length be 19 20 And the foundation of the wall of the city He commeth to declare the foundations of the wall one after an other in describing wherof he resteth not in the very lowest ground sellings but teacheth that the matter of the whole frame is farre most pretious as altogether consisting of most noble pearles neither is it any thing inferiour to that most divine forme of which wee heard before I am not ignorant how greatly the Interpreters labour in applying every one of these to the auncient Apostles which difficulty this so exquisite order increaseth considering that there is not any certain order of the Apostles kept eyther in the Ghospels or in the Actes but sometime one Apostle sometime another is reckened first frō whence it becometh altogither uncertaine what stone may be answerable to which But it seemeth that the Holy Ghost intendeth another thing in this place not purposing to describe unto us the first twelve Apostles but the future teachers of the Iewes Church who carry the names of the Apostles whom they shall succeed both in office and fellowship of rewards as before in the 14. verse and in chap 18.20 All faithful teachers are the Apostles ofspring as also the former verse taught which made the greatnes of the wall of the number of twelve multiplyed in it selfe It is certain that the excellency of gifts by which the teachers doo excell abov the rest are signified here by most pretious earthly things by which more over it is taught both in what reckening they are with God and also in what estimation they ought to be with men And it is no lesse certen that every one of these excellent vertues shined forth in the old Apostles long time past but I thinke that the order belongeth properly to the future Teachers which if we shal apply to those auncient ones perhaps we shall erre greatly by attributing to every each one that which is unfit Wherefore resting as much as in us lay in the proper drift of this place beside that excellency which is common to all the pearles we think that so exact a reckening doth perteine to the order in which at length these new preachers of the Ghospell shall arise that even as the situation of the gates shewed the order of the countreyes in which the Iewes shal be converted to the truth so this manner of stones so set in order may signify the rising of the teachers in what order they shal rise up from every place Although there is this difference between the people and the teachers that the people assemble by troupes in every side of the city and therfore shall have three gates opened to them on every side the Teachers being fewer shall not gather togither by multitudes but shal be numbred man by mā according to the state of the places where God shal rise them up Yet we may not think that these shal be but twelve but that there shal be perhaps so many chiefe to whom the other multitude shal be wholly like Let us see therfore where these Gemmes growe and of what sort they are that in some measure wee may coniecture of the originall and disposition of those excellent men whom the divine bounteousnes wil give within these few yeeres The first foundation is a Iasper a divine stone often representing as we have seen the Image of God himselfe worthily occupying the first place because he that shal beginne the first restoring of the Iewes as an other Moses shal come most neere to God himselfe by a singular excellency of gifts The beginnings are most hard and require men very greatly furnished It is a Scythian and Persian Gemme of a celestial brightnes in which respect a certen kind of it is called Borea Aerizusa the beautie whereof can more easily be admired than declared it hath a pleasantnesseful of variety which the most sharpe eyed can not distinguish It may therfore represent a mixt riches of gifts wherein a manifold excellency is seen yet it cannot be diserned which most of all excelleth in which respect it figureth the Godhead as in chap. 9.3 in that so mixt fairenesse should signify in some measure that incomprehensible depth The Saphyre glistereth with golden points in great account among the Medes which sheweth a certen distinct kind of delectablenesse such as shal be in the next teachers after the first whom the excellency of some singular gift shall make famous A Chalcedonie is of a simple colour like to a Carbuncle shining with a fiery brightnesse it is a Northern Iewell found about the narrow sea of Chalcedon beaond Chrysopolis night to the rockes called Symplegades from whence it hath the name this betokeneth zeale fervency The most noble Emeraude groweth in Scythia it is of a most pleasant green neither doth any thing more delight the eyes But seeing here inward graces are more regarded then outward this greennesse is a most divine knowledge of things upon which the minde desireth to fasten the eyes before all things It is set after the Chalcedone that knowledge may accompany zeale The fift foundation is a Sardonix which is an Indian Iewel shining like the naile of a man set upon flesh it sheweth a certen kinde of humanitie having whitenesse mixed with rednesse The Sardius is found in Sardes it is wholly redde with bloody colour it may betoken a certen severity profitably ioyned with the Sardonix least perhaps gentlenesse should be despised without this companiō And these sixt first stones are belonging to the East and North which doo shew a happy encrease of Teachers from these regions which wee see how it agreeth with the former thinges when the first people shall be revived out of these same countreyes The seaventh foundation is a Chrysolite which shineth through with a golden colour It is a Iewell ful of dignity and maiesty AETHIOPIA bringeth forth the same PLINIVS affirmeth that the Beryll is found in INDIA DIONYSIVS in his book intituled Perieg saith that it groweth also in the land of BABYLON of a skie and water colour as the same describeth the skie coloured stone of the wet Beryll which groweth in the field of Babylon The watery colour belongeth to lenity and humility as is the water it selfe which easily giveth place to every thing a most fit companion of the maiesty of the Chrysolite that it may containe it within measure The ninth foundation is a Topaze which with Plinie is a green Iewel it is found among the Troglodites which dwel by the redde sea Dionysius saith that it is found in india or the stone of the bright Topaze shining with a skie colour writing of India But it is not of a simple and pure greennes but yellowish and glistering like gold From whence Eustachius attributeth unto it a golden colour chrusoeides yellow saith he sendeth forth a golden colour which
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
else where fully declared in this book wee hope that wee doo no violence to the truth if that we shal ioyne this place unto the meaning of other the like But some man wil say that wee have made mention of this calling in the former chapter it is true but that of the sixt viall was but begun not perfit and absolute as that of the last viall shall be wheÌ„ all the enemies shal be destroyed VVhich distinction of calling the former words doo manifest when in that first Iohn was commanded to write blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lambe chap. 19.9 VVherby it is taught that the first was not perfit where need was of such confirmation the office wherof is to seale up a thing not yet sufficiently known and to come which all being called had bin superfluous But Daniel writeth most plainly who hath distinguished both the callings by their times He setteth the first at the ende of a thousand two hundred ninetie daies The second at the ende of a thousand three hundred and five The distance between both is of fourty five dayes that is of so many yeeres as in an other place with Gods helpe wee will shew Dan. 12.11.12 VVee shall see likeweise in Ezechiel in the place before spoken off that the dry bones being covered with flesh and skinne did move themselves alike and approach one to an other Moreover after some time during which they were destitute of Spirit at length being quickened by the same doo live a true life and doo performe all those offices of life peculiar unto bodies endued with soules That approaching of the dry bones is that first calling of the former chapter The comming to of the Spirit giving to those bones perfit life is the latter calling this resurrection to which nothing shal be wanting unto perfit salvation Both which though Ezechiel comprehendeth in the same chapter yet he handleth the more distinctly afterward For first before that warre with Gog and Magog he mentioneth the resurrection as also Iohn that which was begun in the former chapter afterward when Gog was destroyed he describeth a most glorious building of the temple in the 40. chapter c. which is this secoÌ„d and full resurrection Therfore the first resurrection of the Iewes of the Iewes I say for the first resurrection of this chapter ver 5. is of the Gentiles into which notwithstanding shal fall at length this first of the Iewes that every way it may be the first shal be by and by after the destruction of Rome The second shal be straite after the Romish Pope and the Turke be destroyed This resurrection is a power to enter into the temple which the smooke did hinder to all untill all the seven last plagues were accomplished ch 15. the which is spent in destroing the Pope of Rome and the Turke as was spoken sufficiently before If I seeme to any to weaken the gâ—neral resurrection by taking so notable a foundation from it let him understand that it taketh no dammage from hence This place hath yet left a most strong ground to confirme the same For the Spirit doth not deceiv with a fained similitude but of which ought to be a most certen persuasion among Christians Otherweise certenly he had lost his labour if he had brought any thing lacking credit Moreover he should have driven to defperation in propounding that which must not be done for they would have thought that even so they had bin past hope but using a tipe of a thing that should most certeÌ„ly come to passe in his time he both maketh the calling undoubted and also declareth the manner wherby at length the resurrection shal be accomplished And thus much of the true sense of this argument now we wil prosecute the rest ¶ Then I saw a great white throne The preparation of God the iudge setting his people at liberty taken from a similitude of the general resurrection For the power and mercy of God shal be no lesse cleare in the molifying of men hardened by so long a revolting and in bestowing salvatioÌ„ upon them so past recovery then at length shal appeare in raising out rotâ—en bodies out of the graves The throne therfore is white most pure most gratious most comfortable in the very forme having a demonstration of mercy Great to declare the most imperial maiesty of God which now shal be made evident in this assembly of his people he sitteth also upon a throne ready to iudge because ther shal be no more any delay of rewarding the stay wherof before brought men into that opinion as if God regarded not the earth there fled from the face of him that sitteth on the throne both earth and heaven a great alteration of al things being made both the false Church plucked up by the rootes and also the true augmented with so great fruitfulnes that her former sorrowful face may seem to have fled away 12 And J saw the dead both smal and great Such then was the iudgment now at described those that shal be iudged These smal and great ar Iewes who before hated the faith and were spent with such calamities that they might seeme to differ nothing from the dead Now al of them shal appeare before God every one to undergo the iudgement either of life or death For now it shal be made manifest who ar elect and who reprobate They which yet shal resist the truth obstinatly shal be numbred amoÌ„g the last sheepe No remedy shal be used afterward wherby their stubburne minds may be subdued But why saith he small and great Whit her in the last resurrection according to the maner wherof al things are here applyed shal every one appeare in that stature in which they departed this life For this cause some have affirmed too rashly that every one shal rise againe in that talnesse in which Adam was created Which opinion both resisteth evidently this place and also taketh away the truth of the restored body if ther shal not be that iust stature in which they dyed ¶ And the books were opened The forme of iudging by books opened which are the consciences endued with the true light of Gods wil with a lively feeling of all their actions These shal now openly manifest to all men them in whom there is a syncere minde given of God and in whom lay hid hitherto the seed of election ¶ Then an other book Of Gods decree and election these things ar spoken after the manner of men considering that it is our manner for the helpe of our memory to recorde in books things done and in iudgmeÌ„ts to give sentence according to the truth of them Therfore election is no new thing neither dooth it depend on our pleasure but is founded on the eternal decree of God ¶ And the dead wer iudged c. After or according to those things which wer writteÌ„ in the books as once in the return froÌ„ BabyloÌ„s captivity