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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86457	An exposition, or, A short, but full, plaine, and perfect epitome of the most choice commentaries upon the Revelation of Saint John. Especially of the most learned and judicious authors, as Bullinger of Helvetia, Francis Iunius, Thomas Brightman, Aug. Marlorate, Aug. de Civitate dei, but especially (among many) the excellent and learned David Pareus. With severall remarkable notes, observations, and doctrines very profitable. / As it was for the most part delivered by way of commentary in the parish-church of Sutton-Valence, Kanc [sic]. By Hezekiah Holland Anglo-hibernus, Minister of the Gospell at Sutton-Valence.	Holland, Hezekiah, fl. 1638-1661.	1650 (1650)	Wing H2426; Thomason E606_1; ESTC R5543	143,079	206

brethren for so much the Greek word signifies Satan because an adversary and hater of mankind Lastly he is called the Seducer of the whole earth c. for he hath deceived mankind generally now this shews the greatnesse of the benefit obtained by the victory since such an enemy and his Angels whereof Baalzebub is Prince should be spoyled signified by his being cast out of heaven in the Vision How Christ by his birth and death spoyled Satan see farther my quoted book p 48. Vers 10. And I heard a great voice in heaven c. Here follows the Song of the Church The great voice notes the multitude of rejoycers and the greatnes of their joy The cause because the accuser is cast out neither our sin ill conscience the law nor Satan can cast those out of favour who are in Christ Jesus I mean their former sinne and ill conscience of which 1 John 3.20 If our heart condemne us God is greater then our heart and knows all things if we can truly say we love the brethren to wit as the preceding verses speak Now concerning Satans accusing see Iob 1. from vers 7. forward These things being easie to ver 13 I passe them for brevity sake with these notes 1. The heavenly host call us brethren the accuser of our brethren a great dignity 2. They rejoyce because we shall not be accused see their love to us for Satans accusation could not hurt them but us who have not finished our warfare but now by Christs victory there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8. Of which very largely see my Glimpse of Christs love pag. 60 67. Where the particulars life death are examined 3. Christ manifested his love power salvation when he drew us as a lost prey out of the Dragons jaws Of which see the quoted book everywhere 4. Though Satan cannot prevail with God by his accusation yet he stirs up many adversaries in the world against us therefore we should walk very carefully for Satan is not dead though overcome 5. The blood of Christ is the cause or means of our victory by the blood of the Lamb they overcome the Lamb and Michael you see are the same by whose death passion resurrection the victory is obtained 6. Since Satan cannot prevail with God but is cast out of heaven and the Church hee 'l domineer the more over the nations the inhabitants of the earth by making them idolatrous and bringing woes and miseries on them Wo to the inhabiters of the earth 7. Satans greatest malice is against the manchild the Church and Saints whose happinesse he envies but hee 'l play at smal game rather then sit out disturb the earth rather then do no hurt This Prophecy concerns the times of Antichrists rising Anno Dom. 606. and after when Satan by Antichrist and his Locusts troubled sea and land Priests and people of Antichrists Church known by the name of Inhabitants of the earth Vers 13 And when the Dragon saw he was cast unto the earth he persecuted the woman c Here the persecuting of the woman is renewed by the Dragon notwithstanding the Church had got Constantine the Emperour that man-child in some sense to profect her for his excessive bounty to the Church did much hurt as I noted chap. 6. v. 7 8. about the pale horse by which meanes the venome of Pride Ambition Coveteousnesse Luxury was breathed into the Clergy which ministred occasion of new persecution Now also Arrrius whose name is enough to tell the misery of that age most beyond thought vexed the Church here the Dragon persecuted the woman for oft times the Emperours were Arrians Vers 14. And to the woman were given two wings of a great Eagle c. The Church after her many battles with hereticks and Tyrants obtained Constantine to defend her but by means of that peace brought to the Church by Constantine many sins reigned in the Clergy and the Church then began to take her flight into the Wildernesse by that time Antichrist arose she was gotten thither Anno 606. for her flight was long therefore she is said to have Eagles wings which Fowle flies longest and strongest So that Church which formerly was the woman cloathed with Christ having as it were a Crown of Apostolical faith to adorne her is now fled into the Wildernesse by it we are not to conceive any local flight as into Arabia deserta or the like But the wildernesse here is opposed to heaven now when the woman cast off the graces of Christ and his robes wherewith she was clad and put on the whorish attire she so altered her visage that she seemed not the same thus she became invisible more and more true there were many that feared God in every Age but they as the Church in Elias time were contemned and invisible or unknown rather keeping private in Families then publike in Congregations Now as we say in our proverbial speech of any thing that is confused or unweeded or overgrown as a neglected garden it is a meere wildernesse so the Church by reason of her spiritual confusion is said to be a wildernesse though formerly a chaste Virgin Note the Popish Church hath ever been visible and flowrishing but not this woman therefore that Church is not this woman for she became by little and little to live as those seven thousand in Israel in the time of Idolatry private and retired hating the whore and her poluted Garments Doctrine Worship and wayes though she were perchance in the literal or local Rome or that spiritual Wildernesse Eagles wings Note the power of her deliverance for they have strong wings not as a small bird By wings then I understand not so much the two Testaments by which she preserved her selfe but an allusion to that foule who by her strong wings flies far and strongly out of danger so the Church by faith flies toward heaven or out of danger into some private retiring place like Elijahs where she is to be spiritually fed as he was literally A time and times and halfe a time So Antichrist shall triumph not for ever yet not a very small time neither but a time yea and times known to God not to us I conceive as my Paraeus by this time the same space is noted as formerly to wit of 1260. yeares which time is given to the reigne of Antichrist So this Antichristian Church of Rome succeeded in the roome of this chaste woman who was fled into the wildernesse or gotten out of sight by that time he arose and abode and is to abide there till Antichrist leaves off treading down the holy City God be thanked she hath been in some measure visible a good while and Antichrists daies are partly expired when their date is quite out we doubtlesse shall see the woman much more glorious and visible for the time of Antichrist reigning is her hiding and as he decreases she increases Thus we have heard of Romes corruption

he that endures to the end the same shall be saved I will give thee a crowne of life 'T is a Simile taken from runners in a race where there is a crown proposed as a reward to the conquerours and it signifies eternall life So Jam. 1 v. 12. This proves Christs divine nature since he can give eternall life Vers 11. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death A good reward out of mercy not merit to be partakers of eternall life Note the first death is a separation of the soul through sin from God and was the cause of corporall death The second is a casting soul and body into the everlasting lake of fire He that is faithfull to the dissolution of the body sayes one on this verse need not fear this second death Vers 12. To the Angel of the Church of Pergamus Who he was is unknown only t is probable he was the successor of Antipas who was put to death by those of Pergamus Some say he was put into a brazen Bull and by fire tortured to death Now Christ sends this Epistle to his successour to exhort him to constancy who it seems was now in bonds least he should be drawn aside for fear of the same punishment Which hath a sharp two edged sword To wit his divine word Vers 13. I know thy works To teach they had to do with him who searcheth and tryeth the heart and reins Where Satans seat is Pergamus was the abode of King Attalus and the devill reigned in City Palace Court and Temples yet Christ had a Church there as he had in Israel 7000 that bowed not the knee to Baal though not known to Elijah So in the Papacy a Church preserved My faithfull Martyr Christ commends and honours him with this tittle to encourage his successour to constancy who in the dayes of Antipas and yet was faithful though Pergamus was the most Idolatrous city of Asia and most persecuting the Saints Vers 14. But I have a few things against thee c. Few in respect of the evils of ungodly men Here we see there is no Church without failings The Doctrine of Balaam and of the Nicholaitans they held whether 't was the same or not few know but perchance as the doctrine of Balaam was fornication to be allowed so that of the Nicholaitans was neer it as the community of wives or polygamy however it was a spreading heresie Here learn 't is lawfull to call Hereticks and Sectaries after the name of their Author as Christ doth these Nicholaitans from Nicholas Vers 16. Repent or else I will come unto thee quickly It seems the Doctrine was countenanced by the Pastor and openly practised to the scandal of the godly the danger of the Church and the reproach of the name of Christ by the Heathens note that repentance is the best means to divert a judgement And will fight against them with the sword of my mouth Christs word is to convince wound condemne and cast off the irrecoverable Them To wit Pastor and Church as vers 5. Christ will not countenance a generall scandalous errour in his Church Vers 17. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna He alludeth to the Omer of Manna layed up in a pot in the Ark. Christ is meant by this Manna who is hid from the wicked and reserved for the Saints And I will give him a white stone To wit absolution or remission of sins for the ancients used in judgment to cast white and black stones into a ba●on he that had the white was innocent and absolved he that had the black was guilty and condemned And in the stone a new name written T is an allusion to the foresaid custom for on the stones were written the names of the innocent and guilty which being given them the innocent were freed the guilty condemned A new name To wit an excellent name meaning of adoption of sons because in the world to come the adopted have their full inheritance Which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it Because the happinesse of Gods sons here but especally hereafter cannot be expressed Only they which are so know what t is to be so Here is an argument of Christs divinity since he gives the hidden Manna the white stone the new name to them that overcome Vers 18. And unto the Angel of the Church of Thyatira Christ Gods Son by nature said these things Of other things in this verse See chap. 1. vers 14.15 Vers 19. I know thy works Good and bad the good are four Love to God charity to the poor faith which was shewed by the sincere preaching of the Word lastly patience in suffering for Christ And the last to be more then the first It seems this Pastour had lately with much courage undergone some great tryall for which Christ commends him It should teach us to encrease in the works of faith love and the like Vers 20. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee Not simply few but in respect of the sinnes of the ungodly Christ also like a good Physician lessens the disease that the Patient may the sooner admit the cure and not despaire of amendment Because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel c. Called so because equall in craft power and happily malice to Jezebel Ahabs wife It seems she was some famous strumpet then in the Church which held the doctrine of the Nicholaitans for under the pretence of liberty and Christian charity they taught 't was lawful to communicate with heathens both at bed and board Now here was a great neglect of zeal and courage in the Pastour Where note that censures as they must be used so but upon urgent occasions as in vers 2. against Ebion and Cerinthus against the Nicholaitans and Balaamites ver 14.15 and now against Jezebel Vers 21. I gave her time it notes Christs patience Vers 22. I will cast her here note a threefold judgement on her selfe the bed on which she was wanton shall be a bed of sicknesse for by a bed sicknesse is understood where observe God punisheth the sin by an answerable punishment a bed of sicknesse for a bed of lasciviousnesse 2. Them that commit adultery with her meaning her lovers and that either outwardly by the Magistrate for 't was a breach of the Commandement or inwardly in conscience However see God hates the defilement of body as well as soule and that the courrupters of the truth shall be punished 3. In ver 23. her children meaning those born in fornication Here see Christs long-suffering for she had long lived in this sinne yet upon repentance may be forgiven See Gods mercy And all the Churches shall know Here is the end and use of Gods judgements to declare his omniscience that he knows all sinne and his power to punish sinners and wicked men This should teach us seeing other mens judgements to beware and look upon Gods hand upon others Vers 24. But unto you

our selves in the diligent observation of things both from histories and events One of the foure beasts saying come and see the beasts it seems performed the office of publike Cryers whose work it is to call Persons neerer the Throne of Judgement-seat they in order call Iohn who stood afarre off either for reverence or that he might more certainly write down what he saw As the voice of thunder The first beast was like a Lyon who now called to Iohn to come and see requiring hereby great Attention and hence this Lyon-like voice as of thunder Vers 2. And I saw and behold a white horse to wit went out of the book or seale for indeed as all the mysteries were in the book so upon opening it they came out that is were expounded to Iohn now if the book were so great to contain a horse and man how great was he that held the book how great he that opened it how great were the mysteries and events The white horse denotes the Purity of the Primitive Church compared to that warlike creature an horse because the Church militant should fight against the world flesh and divel The rider is Christ who was swiftly carried on in the Ministry of the Apostles and other faithful Teachers in the first times Thus Paul bare his name before the Gentiles the Bowe is the Word by which he wounds the hearts of the Elect that he may heale and restore them to life the Crown notes his Regal Crown of triumph because he goes forth conquering by his death he conquered sinne by his resurrection death hell Satan and the world and tyrants Iulian the Apostate confessed so much in his blasphemous speech thou hast overcome O Galilaean he conquers hereticks he conquers converting sinners many ways he conquers which for brevity sake I omit Christ in one respect opens the book in another comes forth conquering the first as the chief Prophet God-man the last as God and King Vers 3. And when he had opened the second Seale behold a red horse John is called to see the future condition of the Church under persecution behold t is blood-red under many tyrants t is the same Church though called another because of its differing colour the rider I take to be Christ not Satan who is with his People in all misery He came not to send peace on the earth but a sword and fire yet by accident not in himself because of the malice of Tyrants and Hereticks opposing truth Vers 4. And that they should kill one another Hereticks under a colour and pretence of Christ persecute and kill the servants of Christ learn hence the divel can do no more then Christ will suffer for our good to wit the exercise of faith Christ suffers tyrants to afflict his Saints Vers 5. Loe a black horse and he that sate on him had a paire of ballances in his hand To wit the Church in her afflicted condition by wicked hereticks who cloud the light of the truth with their black heresies and bring in a deformity upon the Church who was formerly white I omit the names of the Hereticks who in the age following the Apostles till the time of Greg. the first though they professed themselves Christians overthrew Christianity after also the faith of Christ was oppressed and way made for Antichrist who shortly after came into the Temple of God when Boniface the third obtained the primacy over all Churches from Phocas the usurper Thus the white horse became black yet Christ rides on it with the ballance of holy Scripture in his hands Rides For the worst and grossest Heretick professeth Christ 2. By his providence rules them for in greatest confusion of heresies he is not wanting to his Church as they came not unawares but for the tryall of his Church so they are continually examined and confuted by the ballance of his word he so ordering it for a ballance is the tryall of just or unjust weights so Scripture is a true touchstone to try gold and brasse Vers 6. And I heard a voyce in the midst of the 4. beasts c 'T was the Lambs voyce in the midst of the Throne and foure beasts Chap. 5.6 proclaiming a famine of the Gospel for through the ambition Luxury covetousnesse and negligence of Bishops the Gospel should be so corrupted and by Here ticks so adulterated that nothing should be pure and sound by wheat in this place sincere teachers are meant who should be rare by barley the comforts of the Gospel which should be scarce though some understand a plenty hereby since a measure of wheat and three measures of barley should be sold for a penny a measure containted a quart being a mans allowance for a day a penny was neer 7 pence with us if so then Christ in the midst of all heresies had truth * The penny was wages for the day as Mat 20.13 now a measure being as much as a man could cat in a day was to be had for the penny or dayes labour enough for his people See thou hurt not the Oyle and the Wine By Wine and Olye some understand the Orthodox faith which should not be totally obscured by heretical blacknesse Now as Wine Cherishes and Oyle clenses so sound doctrine doth glad and cleanse the conscience Alcasar applies Oyle to the light and true knowledge of happinesse and wine to spirituall joy which the Lambs voice promiseth the Elect shall not be deprived of notwithstanding the dearth of truth by the darknesse of heresie Which happened partly when the whole world groaned under Arrianisme Vers 7 8. And I looked and behold a pale horse c. This fourth beast having the for me of a flying Eagle with quick fighted eyes having spied something as it were on high cals to John for I beleeve hereby may be signifyed these plagues coming from above to revenge the injuries done to the Saints and to punish the impenitent This pale horse is the same Church of Christ in the succeeding age though of another colour Pale because it is infirme weak sickly neer unto death and hell it by accident was occasioned by Constantines excessive bounty to the Church for then Pastors began to be proud luxurious idle and fertile in vices Jerome complained in his time that after Princes became Christians the Church indeed was greater in power and riches but lesse in vertue the remote cause was the guile and malice of that old serpent the devil Also now Bishops by infinite ceremonies and human traditions increased the pale disease Nay Monks whose at first solitary hard life wrought much upon the people increased this palenesse for people that desired pardon for sin were sent to the Monks dennes not to Christ whereby this mortall wound came upon the Church drawing more to hell then either the blacknes of heresies or sword of tyrants though this might seeme rather to be expressed under the notion of the darkning the Sun and rolling up the heaven then by

new song then being the serving and celebrating the name of God is to be learned by Gods children imperfectly here perfectly hereafter Note the harpers beasts and 24 Elders are all before the throne therefore partakers of the same glory and all follow the Lamb because redeemed from the earth to wit by the efficacious blood of the Lamb. Vers 4. These are they who are not defiled with women for they are Virgins c Marriage does not defile though Jerome was against it extolling Virginity being the means to keep men undefiled and Gods own ordinance these harpers were a very great multitude who are called waters therefore now 't is improbable they should be all reall Virgins but Virgins are those not polluted whether in wedlock or single life who especially have not been defiled with spiritual fornication with the whorish woman chap. 17.2 These are opposed to the inhabitants of the earth who are defiled but the harpers are holy and follow the Lamb Christ Whether so ever he goes c The servants of Antichrist wondred and followed the beast chap. 13. these the Lamb and serve him night and day Hence observe after the resurrection there will be motion in heaven and now is in its kinde Secondly all the Saints are to be where Christ is according to his prayer therefore all the Saints follow the Lamb a like and pertake of equall glory of which largly already These be the first fruits to God that is holy for so were the first fruits in the Law and bought and redeemed from among men so are all the Saints as well as these therefore this is but a priviledge common to all the Saints of heaven Vers 5. And in their mouth was found no guile for they are without spot before the throne of God To wit now in heaven for now they are without fault having washed their robes by faith in the blood of the Lamb before the throne to wit Gods Majesty in heaven the being before the throne is the cause of their blisse Vers 6. And I saw another Angel flee in the midst of heaven An Angel for many Angels who represent Preachers of the Gospel And now another state of the Church is to be looked for This Angel is conceived to be Wickliffe Professour at Oxford who Anno 1371. preached the everlasting Gospel against Antichrist He writ many volums which came to other nations and people to read to him many witnesses were raised suddainly Midst of heaven shews the imperfection of the doctrine at first not quite heavenly nor quite earthly men see not so clearly at first when Reformation begins Having an everlasting Gospel Because it cannot perish but in Wickliffes successours continued So the word sowed cannot returne in vaine in a state it continues here and in heaven for ever 'T is a folly for Antichrist to strive to suppresse it To preach to the inhabitants of the earth c. Sworne vassals to Antichrist Therefore at first the successe could not be imagined to be great for the task was very hard The substance of his preaching was that God might have the glory not the beast nor his image Because the houre of his judgement is come to wit of his giving understanding grace and judgment of the truth or rather because the day of the great judgment is at hand of which anon Vers 8. And another Angel followed saying with a loud voice c. The rest of Vers 7. being plain I omit This is conceived to be Luther to whom many witnesses were joyned Babylon the great City is fallen it is fallen c. That is shall suddenly fall and assuredly fall Now the Caldean Babylon is not here meant but that which then ruled over nations 2. That which was to be the seat of Antichrist 3. That defiled all nations with fornications but this was Rome plainly Neither did heathenish Rome ever make merchandise of souls but Popish Rome chap. 18.13 A most plain argument that not heathenish but Popish Rome is here meant also this Rome I mean the whole Antichristian Church has more kept the people of God in bondage then heathenish Rome But I speak to Beleevers therefore will use no more arguments here is fallen twice said to note the certainty of it That great City To wit Rome or the Church of Rome which in this Angels time began to fall in many places as Germany Saxony Because she made all nations drink You see Rome is the mother of spiritual whoredomes Of the wine of her fornication So called first because Idolatry is more pleasing to mans corrupt nature then the true worship of God 2 Because one may soon be drunken and overcome by it 't is a bewitching sin Of the wrath of her fornication So called because it brings Gods judgments and wrath Vers 9. And the third Angel followed them saying with a loud voyce c. To wit the successours of Luther as Bullinger Calvin Zanchius who with a loud voyce that is couragiously forbad the worshipping of the beast upon pain of Gods wrath As Vers 10. The same shall drink also They that love the wine of Idolatry must pledge in the wine of Gods wrath without mixture without allaying with water that is without mercy Of his indignation and anger To wit in the seven Vials of which in order And hee shall bee tormented This should dehort from Idolatry The Verse being plain for brevity-sake I passe Vers 11. And the smoake of their torment To wit the smoak of the fire of their torment ascended it seemes hell is below For ever and ever See Drexelius of eternity Concerning the beast Image mark and name is already spoken Now to vers 13. is easy and comfortable Vers 13. Blessed from henceforth are the dead which dye in the Lord. Not only from the houre of death but from the preaching of the three Angels for now Reformation teaches purgatory is a lye Now men beleeve the truth henceforth men die in the truth in the Lord for the Lord That is for his cause there is no salvation then to them that are not in Christ Hence learn is there such torments for Antichrist Here then is good ground for the Saints patience a while under tryal Are they blessed that depart in Christ then death 's not the end of all The death of the body under tyrants hurts not the soul of the Saints Lastly it is infinitely more comfortable dying since the Reformation by the three Angels then in the days and Church of Popery blessed be God but enough till vers 14. Vers 14. And I looked and behold a white cloud Behold the great day and Christ on the cloud Now the Saints shall henceforth be perfectly happie and the good works of all their former life which are said to follow them not goe before them as the cause of glory shall through mercy and grace crown them for ever Yet perchance that verse may be taken thus write to wit for the Saints comfort and as a

notes the utter desolation of Rome and her stately Palaces and Temples before the end of all things for Satyrs and Devils appear in Deserts and wild places and these birds inhabit ruinous Towns and Castles such as Rome must be and a just punishment upon her Idols and Temples hell is the Devils hold properly so that this shall be a fearful place where the Pope Cardinals Bishops and Clergy sinned and feasted luxuriously now Devils shall dance commonly Vers 3. For they have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication c. All Nations have that is many Nations all Christendom and more Now here spiritual fornication is meant because she is a City chap. 17. vers last with whom the Kings here mentioned could not commit literal fornication 't is called wine because pleasing to corrupt nature as all sin all heresie is and enticing overtaking one as wine unawares called wrath because it causeth Gods wrath So here is the true reason of Romes desolation her damnable Idolatry so that the place is justly punished for the sin committed therein And the Merchants of the earth To wit Cardinals Bishops and the like who only have leave to trade in holy wares of Masses Indulgences Pardons Peter-pence spiritual riches and soules of men vers 13. which old Rome never traded with Are waxen rich By most unlawful means which brings a judgment as spiritual whordom damnable Idolatry deceit thus heaping up riches living by this means delicately luxuriously dishonestly for by this means these spiritual Merchants called Princes of the earth vers 23. could buy any temporal merchandise of common Merchants Now certainly all things are vendible at Rome any sin to be forgiven for money by the spiritual Merchants Vers 4. And I heard another voice saying come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins c. So Jerem. 51.6 45. 1. Here is commission to separate from Rome in heart and bodily and any thing that is Antichristian 2. God hath and ever had a people in Babylon though at least spirituall captives yet elected and to be saved 3. The means of salvation is to be laid hold on and to flie to the Word and Christ to wit out of Babylon 4. If we partake not of the sins of Babylon nor of her punishments shall we lest we partake of her sins and of her plagues 5. Because our corrupt natures are easily enticed to sin fly out of her Indeed travellers who really are not for Rome must uncover the head and bow the knee by force at Masses which is too much connivence even adoration therefore be not there fly out of Babylon lest God be angry and ye partake of her plagues Vers 5. And her sins have reached unto heaven Abels blood and the Sodomites sins called to heaven in a metaphor for vengeance Sin is of a crying nature especially spiritual whoredom noted by her sins being of a more wicked and heinous nature then ordinary And God hath remembred her iniquities Fully to punish them otherwise God remembred Rome before though he for many reasons forbore her The Jesuites confesse that Rome shall be wasted by ten Kings before the coming of Antichrist pray examine why she is to be wasted because of her Idolatry therefore Antichrist that causes men to commit by counsel from the Dragon this great abomination is come O Jesuites see the cause of your Cities ruine is your beloved Idolatry and Fornication Ver. 6. Reward her even as she hath rewarded you reward to sin is due which the godly shall in time see done to Rome when she is wasted at what time they are bid to reward her that is to rejoyce at her punishment being Christs great enemy for they are not to reward her otherwise neither need they for God is said to have done it in her overthrow by the Angel before the godly are bid to reward her or rejoyce The Saints approving Christs judgement at the last day is called their judging the world So the godly's rejoycing here is called their rewarding Babylon Reward yee Ye of the ten Kings who are converted and against Rome ye Preachers also teach that she is to be rewarded so private revenge is not here thought on And give her double according to her works c. That is a very sore and sufficient reward of punishment for so the word double is used Esay 40. vers 2. comfort Jerusalem to wit after her captivity because I have rewarded her double for her sin that is abundantly enough thus Rome is to be rewarded yet according to her works as she hath afflicted the Saints so she shall be sorely afflicted the Lord remembers his peoples miseries and tormentors to return both double the one of joy the other of punishment O Ireland how canst thou escape Vers 7. How much she hath glorified her self and lived in pleasure c. Saying she was Christs only Spouse the Catholique Church the Apostolique Sea the Pope Christs Vicar condemning all the Saints for Hereticks calling her self the head of all Churches a Queen by so much sorer punishment she shall be afflicted as by a law of equality Now never was such a boasting Church as Rome Saying I sit a Queen Not only in her heart but in her Sermons writings and actions I sit Noting her pride and security as if she were unmoveable A Queen Noting her self-confidence and usurping authority above all Churches Thus Antichrist exalteth himself 2 Thes 2.4 above all that is called God whether Angels or Magistrates for both are so called Thus in a parenthesis the sons of God or Judges great men Magistrates took the daughters of men being faire or ravished them taking them by force being mens sons of power and without controul and gyants were gotten Apostates for so the word in Hebrew may be rendred Gen. 6.2.4 from God and Religion then arose God not blessing those unlawfull courses of marriages which occasioned the flood Thus Magistrates are called Gods above whom Antichrist exalteth himself as above Emperours Kings Churches and Councils as is noted I am no widow As by a Queen is noted the pride pompe riches state power of Rome So by her being no widow is meant her being Christs supposed Spouse for so she calls her self and her extraordinary boasted of honour and pomp which abounds at Rome and that perswades them there that God loves them as Ephraim boasted foolishly Hos 12.8 I have found me out much riches when indeed Christs Church is denominated from her affliction Esa 54.11 O thou afflicted and riches and pompe are more companions of the wicked Job 21. to vers 15. I shall see no sorrow This is Romes language Yet many Kingdomes and people have revolted from this proud harlot so her sorrow increases and some of the ten Kings have long since begun to hate her Vers 8. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day death and sorrow c. That is suddainly swiftly She delighted in pleasure

behold sorrow She gave her self to gluttony and luxury behold famine She burnt Martyrs behold fire burning her seat and Palaces She said I shall see no sorrow behold her destruction in one day For strong is the Lord who judgeth her Therefore though her territories be large though the City be very great and strong yet stronger is the Lord who can and will bring this judgment upon her by the victorious armie of the converted Kings who shall throw fire into her and consume her Vers 9. And the Kings of the earth shall bewaile her and lament for her c. To wit who are contradistinct to Saints and had lived deliciously with her in committing fornication as perchance Spaine the Emperour such of the ten as remaine with the Pope and are enemies to the truth of the Gospel They shall lament her 1 Because they cannot commit any longer Idolatry at Rome that beloved but whorish City 2 Because they cannot riot any longer within the City Vers 10. Standing afarre off for feare of the torment saying Alasse c. God shall strike a fear into them that they shall not dare to approach near to help her though they are sorry they cannot sin any more with her Afarre off as farre perchance as their own countryes though t is wonder they are so daunted that they send not to help her by some army to rescue her from burning though they be destroyed as at Armageddon of old Josiah was Vers 11. And the Merchants of the earth shall weep 1. Kings 2 Merchants shall mourn for her meaning spiritual traders in the Romish sea who only can buy and sell as chap. 13.17 For no man buyeth her merchandise any more To wir her Pardons Absolutions which shall be discovered to be abominable rotten and false in the city to be sold however no more being burnt Vers 12. The Merchandise of gold and silver and of precious stones c. See Ezek. 27. where Tyres destruction then a famous mart-town is foretold and this Catalogue of wares there mentioned also the neighbouring nations who brought their Merchandise to Tyre there mentioned to which here is a plain allusion Now by Romes ruine the spirituall Merchants could not vent their ungodly wares of pardons c. Nor could gaine riches enough to buy Merchandise as formerly from other nations as horses from France Gold and Silver from Spaine Sheep from England Beasts from Germany all nations furnished Rome with souls being subject to the Arch-flamen of Rome So here is noted the nations from their Merchandise who furnished Rome with wares as Brightman hath observed the spirituall Merchants could not reach to buy these commodities Rome being destroyed nor common Merchants or nations so well vent them Rome being burnt for brevity sake I omit the Catalogue Wherein observe the heathenish Rome never did traffique for souls of men though she did for slaves but here Rome deals for both expresly slaves and souls of men Sure here Popish Rome is meant most ungodly domineering over souls by threatning Purgatory by pardons masses the summe is Romes destruction shall hinder the spiritual merchandise of the soules and estates of all nations which a long while hath flowed to Rome for which the Romane spiritual merchants shall grieve Vers 14. And the fruits which thy soule lusted after To wit the cates and delicates the spiritual fathers or Clergy of Rome riotously filled their tables with Are departed from them c. Or perished by Romes perishing Vers 15. The Merchants of these things which were waxed rich c. To wit souls and other merchandise shall lament namely Merchants Ship-masters Masters-mates Pilots Partners and common seamen shall lament that is Cardinals and those who are even equall with them Arch-bishops Bishops Abbots Monks and all spirituall sea-men that have an oare in Peters boat shall lament and as the kings mentioned stand afarre off in regard of help but near enough in heart if they durst help saying alas alas pittying the great revenues of their Arch-bishopricks Cardinalships now lost Hence as mourners they cast dust on their heads as in old time they did because of Romes desolation the rest is plain to ver 20. Only observe the cause of the lamentation is not their sins and Idolatry which brought the judgments but their temporall losses and their revenues and honours Vers 20. Rejoyce over her thou heaven c. Formerly she shed the blood of Saints Prophets Apostles Now those Inhabitants of heaven may rejoyce because their cruell enemy and Christs is destroyed This should teach us to rely upon Christ who will one day destroy our enemies and give us occasion of rejoycing chap 6.10 The Saints cry O Lord holy and just how long Here they are bid rejoyce because God has avenged them and suppressed Antichrist and blasphemy Vers 21. And a mighty Angel took up a stone like a mill-stone c. Whether this Angel represented Christ since he took up the milstone as it had been a feather and speaks by a similitude of Romes overthrow for from Christ come Antichrists judgments I dispute not 't was another Angel that enters the stage as it were representing Babylons overthrow wherein consider 1. A mil-stone is not easily removed nor Babylon easily destroyed 2. A mil-stone is cast downe by force so Babylon 3. The Mil-stone is cast into the sea so Babylon shall be burnt by fire 4. The Mil-stone cast into the sea is covered never recovered so Babylon shall be utterly desolated and never built Vers 22. The voyce of harpers shall be heard no more At feasts in thee nor flute for dancers not trumpet for civil meetings nor war nor crafts-men whether Physician Lawyer nor husband-man nor miller but it shall be a meer desolation Vers 23. Nor lights shall shine any more in thee Convenient for night season Nor bridegroom nor bride shall be in thee Therefore no procreation of children therefore Romes desolation shall be consummated Because thy Merchants were great men of the earth To wit Cardinals Arch-bishops here is the grand cause of Romes desolation including other her Merchants sold damnable wares if this were understood literally it were a weak reason because thy Merchants were great men therefore comes thy destruction No but because thy great Cardinals Bishops sold cursed and abominable spirituall wares of Purgatory Pardons Therefore Rome is to be destroyed for her Idolatry false doctrine riot the consequent of riches For her sorceries Or false doctrines compared oft to bewitching or enticing wine have deceived the Christian world Vers 24. And in her was found the blood of Prophets c. The old Rome caused Apostles to be slain the new Popish Rome Prophets or Teachers as chap. 11. In her Either because the doctrine which caused their blood to be shed was from Rome or because she gave commission to slay the Saints who were slain in other places and kingdomes as England God plagues Rome as the Originall cause of all this CHAP. XIX Vision