the Church which Christ hath thundred out with terrour against them And when the time determined is come they shall be seene and vnderstood but in the meane time they bee sealed vp and kept close according to that of Iob Why should not the times bee hid of the Almightie so as they which know him should not perceiue the times appointed of him and that of Daniel These things are sealed vp vntill the time determined vers 5 And the Angell which I sawe stand vpon the sea and vpon the earth lift vp his hand to heauen vers 6 And sware by him that liueth for euermore which created heauen and the things that therein are and the earth and the things that therin are the sea the things that therein are that time should be no more vers 7 But in the daies of the voice of the seuenth Angel when he shall begin to blowe the trumpet euen the ministrie of God shall be finished as he hath declared to his seruants the Prophets The summe of these three verses is that Christ giueth warning of the last iudgement that men might awake and looke out in time And because men for the most part are carelesse and secure putting the euill day farre from them as the Prophet speaketh Therefore here Christ bindeth it with a solemne oath and solemne gestures therevnto annexed as was the lifting vp of the hand in auncient time Gen. 14.22 The thing that our Lord Iesus deposeth is that Time shall be no more that is Time as it is now or the state of things as they be now but he telleth vs flatly that as sixe Angels haue alreadie blowne their trumpets so when the 7. Angell should blowe the mysterie of God shall be finished that is the time of punishing the wicked and rewarding the godly should come which is therefore called a Mysterie because the world vnderstandeth it not They thinke there is no such matter They imagine there is no reward for the iust or punishment for the wicked as the Prophet saith But the holy Ghost saith Verily there is a reward for the righteous Doubtlesse there is a God which iudgeth the earth And here it is said that God hath declared it to his seruants the Prophets And the voice which I heard from heauen vers 8 spake vnto mee againe and said Goe and take the little booke which is open in the hand of the Angel which standeth vpon the sea and vpon the earth vers 9 So I went vnto the Angell and said vnto him giue me the little booke· And he said vnto me take it and eate it vp and it shall make thy belly bitter but it shall bee in thy mouth as sweete as honey vers 10 Then I tooke the little booke out of the Angels hand and ate it vp and it was in my mouth as sweete as honey but when I had eaten it my belly was bitter vers 11 And hee saide vnto mee Thou must prophesie againe among the people and nations and tongues and to many kings The briefe sense of these foure verses is that the Preachers of the Gospell being called allowed and authorised by Christ vnto their ministry should study the scriptures with great diligence eueÌ„ vntil they had eaten vp the booke of God then they should preach publish vnto all nations kingdomes that truth of God doctrine of the Gospell which now a long time had lien hid in the raigne of Antichrist It is to be obserued that Iohn in this place representeth the person of all the ministers of the Gospell which should be raised vp in these last dayes for the ouerthrowe of Antichrist and the restauration of true religion for Iohn himselfe did not liue to these times Further it is to be noted that all godly Students and zealous Ministers do eate vp the booke of God by reading study praier meditation they finde it sweete in their mouth that is they finde and feele great ioy and comfort in the studie and meditation thereof especially wheÌ„ God reuealeth therby great and hid secrets vnto them giueth them to vnderstand the mysteries of the Gospell counsels of his will which are locked vp from the wise and prudent of this world This I say is sweeter vnto their mouth then hony and the hony combe Concerning this phrase of eating vp the booke looke Ezech. 2.9 for here the holy Ghost alludeth therevnto This booke being so sweete in the mouth yet being eaten and digested is bitter in the belly There may bee three reasons yeelded of this bitternesse First because it being once taken downe into our soule by godly meditatioÌ„ doth mortifie our corrupt nature bring vnder our lusts therefore seemeth bitter to flesh and bloud Secondly because afflictions trials do alwaies necessarily followe the sounde digestion of the Gospell Thirdly because the doctrine of the Gospel being swallowed by the Ministers therof must not be kept to themselues as it were closed vp in their stomacks but they must out with it againe as if it were some loathsome bitter thing which must needes be cast vp again And for this cause it is said in the last verse that they must prophesie againe among the people and nations and tongues and many kings Now blessed be the name of the Lorde our God who hath giuen vs to liue in this age wherein we do with our eies behold and see the fulfilling of all these things let vs therefore praise God for this great worke which wee see wrought in our daies and let vs still more and more magnifie this lâ—ttle booke which will vtterly destroy Popery and bring downe the proude Antichrist do all that fight for him what they can CHAP. XI WE haue heard that the little Booke should be opened and the Gospell preached and published to many nations and kingdomes after the great darkenesse of Popery and that this was done by Luther Melancton Caluin Peter Viret Peter Martir Bullinger Bucer and all their faithfull successors vnto this day Now in this Chapter we are to vnderstand of the effect good successe of their preaching and publishing the Gospell which was that the Church should be restored reformed and built vp thereby which a long time had bene wasted and oppressed by the tyrannie of Antichrist and that many should imbrace the Gospell forsake their Idolatries and turne to God with all their hearts yea whole nations and kingdomes in Europe should be conuerted to the faith as we see this day God be praised So then the principall drift of this Chapter is to shewe those thinges which yet remaine to be fulfilled vnder the blowing of the sixt trumpet which is the preaching and preuailing of the Gospell euen vnto the worldes ende and also the thinges which follow vppon the blowing of the seuenth trumpet which is the resurrection last iudgement This Chapter containeth sixe principall things as it were the sixe parts thereof First ver 1.2 it
wherewith the Ministers of the Gospell are armed is very great and glorious though the world see it not nor know it not For the Apostle saith The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual mightie through God to cast downe holdes casting downe the imaginations and euery high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God c. And when they haue finished their testimony vers 7 the beast that commeth out of the bottomelesse pit shall make warre against them and kill them Here is set downe the great crueltie and bloudie tyrannie which Antichrist should vse against these faithfull witnesses of our Lord Iesus For although they ouercome him with the spiritual sword which is the fire that commeth out of their mouthes yet for a time power was giuen to this beast that commeth out of the bottomlesse pit that is the Pope and his adherents to murder Gods Saints with the materiall sword but yet note that Antichrist can doe nothing till the two witnesses haue finished their testimony such is Gods care and prouidence for all his faithfull seruants And their corps shall lye in the streetes of the great citie vers 8 which spiritually is called Sodome and Egypt where our Lord also was crucified By the great citie here is meant Rome yet not the citie only of Rome but all the Romane Empire power and iurisdiction as afterwarde shall be made manifest Now the corpses dead carkasses which were murdered and massacred in all nations by Antichrists tyrannie are here said to lie in the streetes of Rome that is to be cast forth into the open fieldes as not worthy the honour of buriall in all places countries kingdomes within the Romaine Empire or iurisdiction of Rome as we read to haue bene in England Scotland France Ireland Germany and Spaine And as the holy Ghost saith The dead bodies of thy seruants haue they giuen to be meate to the foules of the heauē and the flesh of thy Saints vnto the beastes of the earth Moreouer it is to be obserued that Rome is here compared spiritually or by a trope to Sodome and Egypt To Sodome for filthines for what citie euer was or is more filthy then Rome chapter 17.5 the mother of whoredomes and abhominations of the earth And to Egypt for Idolatrie keeping Gods people in spirituall bondage Last of all it is here saide that our Lord Iesus was crucified at Rome which may seeme straunge sith all men knowe that Christ was crucified at Ierusalem But to answere this doubt wee are to vnderstand that in respect of the place our Lord Iesus was crucified at Ierusalem but if we respect the power and authoritie that put him to death hee was crucified at Rome for Christ was put to death by a Romane Iudge by Romane lawes by Romane authoritie by a kinde of death proper onely to the Romanes and in a place which then was within the Romane Empire And for this cause it is here said that Christ was crucified at Rome And they of the people and kindreds and tongues Gentiles shall see their corpes three dayes and an halfe vers 9 shal not suffer their corpses to be put in the graue Hitherto we haue heard of the rage of Antichrist against the two witnesses Now further we are to vnderstand of the malice and furie of all his adherents that is all Papists Atheists and the rest of the blinde people and seduced multitude which all did allow the Popes crueltie in sheading the bloud of the Martyrs and they do testifie the allowance approbation of the Popes fact and also their owne malice and madnesse against them in this that they will not vouchsafe them the honour of buriall but cast out their dead bodies as carrion or as the dead bodies of dogges or swine thereby shewing that they esteemed them no better then so Nay we read that their hellish rage and madnesse was so great outragious that they wracked their malice vpon the dead bones and carkasses of Gods Saints and Martyrs For their bloudie most malicious minds could not be satisfied except they digged vp the bodies of Gods witnesses out of their graues then burnt thē to ashes Wheras it is said they shal see their corpes the meaning is that all the blind people within the Romane Empire should be eyewitnesses of these things and not only so but euen great Agents also in the slaughter of Gods people By 3. daies an halfe which is halfe a week he meaneth all the time of Antichrists raigne tyrannicall gouernment as before hath bene shewed For these 3. daies a halfe being in propheticall cōputation three yeares and a halfe signifie the same thing that the 42. monethes and a thousand two hundred and three score daies before vers 10 And they that dwell vpon the earth shal reioyce ouer them and be glad and shall send giftes one to an other for these two Prophets vexed them that dwelt on the earth Here we see how the inhabitants of the earth that is the seduced multitude and blinde people in the time of ignorance do greatly insult triumph ouer the death of the Lords witnesses they do expresse their ioy by sending gifts presents one to another as if they had receiued some great benefites or had heard the most ioyfull newes in the world And the reason is added because they vexed and tormented them meaning thereby that the preaching of the truth the reprouing of their errors Idolatries and manifolde impieties was a dagger a corsey vnto them they could at no hand endure it for the preaching of the Gospel is the torment of the world and the Preachers the tormēters These fewe Preachers thundring against their superstitions and abhominable seruice of Antichrist did vexe euery veine in their heart and inwardly so wound and launce their consciences that they could haue no rest til they had rid them out of the world But now hauing dispatched them and made riddance of them they are very cranke and iocund But after three daies and a halfe the spirit of life comming frō God vers 11 shall enter into them and they shall stand vpon their feete and great feare shall come vpon them which sawe them Notwithstanding the rage and sauage fury of the Pope his followers yet heere is shewed that they could not preuaile as they desired for within three daies a halfe that is when the date of Antichrists raigne was expired and the time come that Popery must be disclosed by the light of the Gospell breaking forth there followeth a great alteration For these two Prophets or witnesses are raised vp again For he saith the spirit of life which came from God shall enter into them and they shall stand vpon their feete This may seeme somewhat straunge but it is not to be vnderstood that they should be raised vp bodily in their persons till the last resurrection but that God woulde raise vp
againe and the Papists looke for a day It stands vs then all vpon which loue Christ and his Gospell that wee should be well appointed and throughly armed against them And for this purpose the Reuelation of S. Iohn is of great vse necessitie As I said before so I say againe that it is the Prophesie of our time written to this speciall ende that by it wee might bee both fore-warned and fore-armed If wee doo consider the whole matter of this booke wee shall easily finde out the vse and end of it For the excellent matter of it doth argue the excellent ende and vse of it Now then as concerning the generall matter of this booke here are to bee founde very large and liuely descriptions of the most glorious person of Christ chapter 1 and all his excellent offices both of King Priest and Prophet and also most notable descriptions of the Church and of the Ministers of it and of the persecutions and afflictions which it must of necessitie passe through in this world Also of Gods mercifull prouidence for his Church and most vigilant care ouer it in the middest of all extremities Here are set before our eyes very liuely descriptions of the Churches deadly enemies both of Sathan himselfe and his three great instruments the Romaine Emperour the Pope and the Turke Here are set downe all their cruell persecutions of the Church and their vtter ouerthrowe in the ende Here are described hell death the resurrection and the last iudgement Here also the very kingdome of heauen is at large described with all those great rewards infinite glory and endlesse felicitie which remaine for all the faithfull worshippers of God I conclude therefore that for as much as this Prophesie is of such excellent contents therefore the vse and necessitie of it must needes bee verie great And for this cause Iohn is willed and commaunded by Alpha and Omega chapter 1.19 to write the things which hee had seene the things that were and the things that shall come hereafter By the things which he had seene is meant that glorious vision mentioned in the first Chapter vers 13 14 15 16. wherein Iesus Christ did appeare vnto him in the middest of the seuen golden Candlestickes in most glorious manner as is there described And all this was in the I le of Pathmos where Iohn was first called and authorised to this worke and therfore he is willed first of all to record this vision which hee had alreadie seene By the things that are hee meaneth the present state of the seuen Churches of Asia which were then the most flourishing Churches in the world as they are described in the second and third Chapters and in them the estate of all other Churches By the things that shal be he meaneth all the prophesies of this booke which were to bee fulfilled in their time al those strange accidents which should come to passe in processe of time and the seuerall ages of the Church euen vnto the end of the world Thus we see how Iohn receiueth a precise commandement from the sonne of God to write things past present to come that they might stand in record vnto all posterities from generation to generation Thus much touching the fift circumstance which is the ende and vse of this booke Now followeth to speake of the last circumstantiall point which is the authoritie of this Prophesie which is strongly confirmed from the Author of it which is Iesus Christ and therefore it is called the Reuelation of Iesus Christ which God gaue vnto him chapter 1.1 And againe it is written I Iesus sent mine Angell to testifie these things in the Churches chapter 22 16. Here wee see plainely that Iesus Christ the very sonne of God the Alpha and Omega is the Author of this booke for hee subscribes his name vnto it and sets his hand and seale vnto it Needes therefore must the authoritie of it bee very great which commeth from so great a personage for looke what dignitie and authoritie he is of from whom the booke commeth of the same dignitie authoritie is the booke it selfe An other strong argument to confirme the authoritie of this booke may be taken from the protestation of Iesus Christ in these words I protest vnto euery man that heareth the words of the Prophesie of this booke chapter 22 18. if any man shall adde vnto these things God shall adde vnto him the plagues that are written in this booke And if any shall diminish of the words of the booke of this Prophesie God shall take away his part out of the booke of life Here wee see how Iesus Christ maketh the authoritie of this booke equall to all other the Oracles of God to the which it is not lawfull for any man to adde or detract vnder paine of condemnatiō It maketh much also for the authoritie of this booke that S. Iohn doth so often repeate reiterate and inculcate his owne name I Iohn I Iohn I Iohn I Iohn the Apostle I Iohn the Euangelist I Iohn the Diuine Shewing by all these repetitions how needfull a thing it was that the faithfull should bee throughly instructed who he was euen one of the Lambes twelue Apostles and therefore to be voide of all suspition and doubt concerning the authoritie of this booke and not once to imagine it to bee any inuention of man or faigned deuice sith it was penned by so great an Apostle Moreouer the authoritie of this Prophesie is confirmed by foure reasons in the last chapter The first is the affirmatiō of the Angell who saith chapter 22.6 7 8. These words are faithfull true The second is the authoritie of the most high God himselfe in these wordes vers 6 The Lorde God of the holy Prophets sent his Angell to shewe vnto his seruants the things which must shortly bee fulfilled The third is the testimonie of Iesus who pronounceth them blessed which keepe the words of this Prophesie For saith he Behold I come shortly vers 7 Blessed is hee that keepeth the words of his Prophesie The fourth and last is the witnesse of Iohn in these words I am Iohn which heard and sawe these things vers 8 Now it may bee demaunded what is the cause that here are so many things heaped vp for the confirmation of the authoritie of this booke Surely wee must thinke there is some speciall cause and reason of it For the holy Ghost dooth not vse to deale so much and so earnestly in a matter but vpon great cause We may easily gather what the cause is This booke painteth out the whore of Babylon and the whole kingdome of the great Antichrist together with all Sathans cunning and sleight therein and for this cause Sathan hath laboured especially to weaken the credit and authoritie of this booke Hee by some meanes in olde time preuailed thus farre that euen among some Churches of true Christians the authoritie and truth of it was doubted
of The holy Ghost did well foresee this practise of Sathan and therefore bringeth the moe reasons for the confirmation therof If the credit and authoritie of this booke should neuer haue bene impugned there needed not any such special confirmatiō But now God be thanked there is no question or controuersie concerning the authoritie of this Prophesie It is receiued as authenticall by the common consent of all the Churches Almost all the auncient Fathers do acknowledge it to bee Canonicall The new writers doo with one voice giue their consent approbation vnto it The Papists themselues do acknowledge it to bee the sacred vndoubted word of God though of al scriptures they cannot endure it should be medled withall because it cutteth them so neare the bone Moreouer it may not be omitted that God is called the Lord God of the holy Prophets chapter 22. verse 6. which proueth that this Prophesie is of equall authoritie with the Prophesies which were of olde in as much as the same God is the Author of it And this booke is to be held in the same account with the bookes of Moses and of the Prophets for all things contained in it shall as certainly be fulfilled in their time as theirs were In Esay in Ieremie in Ezechiel in Daniel and in the rest we find many things which the Lord shewed by thē lōg before they came to passe Euē so there be many things foreshewed fore-prophesied in this booke which in their time shal be assuredly fulfilled Nay we see and know that many things here fore-tolde are already fulfilled some things are come to passe euen in these our daies Hee that shall looke into the times that are past since this Prophesie was giuē shal finde that all things haue fallen out agreeable to the Prophesie of this booke And surely if there were none other thing to perswade vs touching the authoritie thereof this might suffice that euery thing hath fallen out iust and iumpe as this Prophesie did foreshewe It is our great negligence that we do not clearely see so much And I do humbly entreate all the people of God to looke more diligently and narrowly into it in all time to come And thus much concerning the circumstances Now as concerning the booke it selfe it may very fitly be deuided into three visions as it were into three generall parts The first vision is contained in the three first Chapters The second vision is contained in the next eight Chapters following from the 4. to the 12. Chapter And the last vision is contained in all the Chapters following from the 12. to the ende As concerning the first vision my purpose is not to stand much vpon it because it is plaine and easie to vnderstand and because it containeth no Prophesies of things to come but onely openeth the present state of the Church at that time also because I haue alreadie touched the summe of it in handling the circumstantiall points I will therefore content my selfe with a very briefe opening and resolution of it beginning at the first Chapter CHAP. I. The summe of the first Chapter THe first Chapter containeth foure principall things The Title of the booke The salutation of the Churches The maner of Iohns calling to receiue this Prophesie The description of Christ the person that calleth him The Title of the booke is set downe in these words The Reuelation of Iesus Christ which God gaue him vers 1 It containeth three things First the Author of the booke which is Iesus Christ receiuing it from God the Father vers 1.2 Secondly the end and vse of this booke which is to shewe vnto all the seruants of God the things which must shortly be done vers 3 Thirdly the singular fruite and benefite which the Church shall receiue by it in these words Blessed is he that readeth and they that heare the words of this Prophesie c. vers 4 The salutation is in these words Iohn to the seuen Churches which are in Asia Grace bee with you peace c. It containeth a description of the Trinitie or three persons in the God-head The Father is described of his eternitie namely to be he which is which was and which is to come vers 4 The holy Ghost is described of his diuerse gifts and operations and therefore is called the seuen spirits which are before the Throne or which proceed from the Throne but S. Iohn speaketh here of the holy Ghost according to the vision shewed him in the fift chapter where Christ is said to haue seuen eyes which are the seuen spirits of God sent into all the the world Of the which afterward vers 5 6. Iesus Christ is described of his three great offices of King Priest and Prophet and also of his glorious power and eternitie vers 7.8 First touching his kingly office hee is called the Prince of the Kings of the earth that is vers 5 King of Kings for he is King of Sion He is a King to rule and gouerne his Church Hee must raigne ouer the house of Iudah for euer Hee must raigne ouer all his enemies and in the middest of all his enemies euen till he haue trode them all vnder his feete And this benefite we haue by it that we are made Kings in him in this life to raigne ouer our corrupt affections and after this life to raigne as crowned kings foreuer with him in infinite glorie and endlesse felicitie Secondly touching his Priest-hood vers 5 hee is said to loue vs and wash vs from our sinnes in his bloud For hee is our onely high Priest which by his owne bloud hath once entred into the holy place and obtained eternall redemption for vs. Hee onely it is which through the eternall Spirit offered himselfe without fault to God to purge our consciences from dead workes to serue the liuing God So then by vertue of his Priest-hood and sacrifice wee are reconciled vnto God haue free accesse vnto the throne of grace and are made Priests in him to offer vp spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through him vers 6 For hee hath made vs Kings and Priests vnto God euen his Father Thirdly concerning his Propheticall office hee is called that faithfull witnesse For hee said to Pilate vers 5 For this cause was I borne and for this cause came I into the world that I might beare witnesse vnto the truth And the Apostle saith Hee witnessed vnder Pontius Pilate a good confession So then Iesus Christ is one of those three great witnesses which beare record in heauen Iesus Christ is the Prince of Prophets euen that great Prophet that should come into the world through whom all the counsels of God are reuealed vnto vs he is that only begotten son which is come downe from the bosome of his Father and hath made knowne vnto vs whatsoeuer he hath receiued of his Father Hee both by his doctrine life and miracles hath borne witnesse vnto the truth
because they gaue their consent to the making of it for indeede the Popes themselues were the chiefe agents and doers in it ver 15 And it was permitted vnto him to giue a spirit vnto the Image of the beast so that the Image of the beast should speake and should cause that as many as would not worship the Image of the beast should bee killed Heere is shewed that this image of the beast was not a dead image but a liuing image for Antichrist put a spirit into it that is life and power and great authoritie insomuch that this Image could speake and not onely speake but speake with great authoritie and terrour so as whosoeuer would not worship this Image that is submit himselfe to the Popish Hierarchie should bee put to death But may some man say How did this image speake I answer by the Popes Clergie For the Romish rabble of Cardinals Abbots Monks Priests Friers and all that cursed corporation were the verie breath life and spirit of this image I meane that the life-bloud of their externall regiment did lie in the execution thereof by the Clergie as it were in certaine arteries and veines For what was their outwarde forme of gouernement without this cruell execution of their stinging Clergie men but as a dead Image without life But when Antichrist had once consecrated and erected his Romish priesthood then did hee put life into his Image which before he had caused to bee made and erected Then wee doe plainely see that the popish Hierarchie is not a bare resemblance of the old Roman policie to stand as a picture on a wall but hath a spirit put into it by the false Prophet and speaketh with such power and terrour in all kingdomes that it causeth all to bee put to death that will not submit themselues vnto it and fall downe and worship the beast Who knoweth not this that as manie in all countries as would not embrace poperie and the old Roman tyrannie the Popish Clergie their inquisitors and other Officers did condemne them in their Courts as heretikes schismatikes and deliuered them ouer being condemned to the secular power to bee put to death And he made all both small and great vers 16 rich and poore bond and free to receiue a marke in their right hand or in their foreheads And that no man might buy or sell vers 17 saue he that had the marke or the name of the beast or the number of his name Antichrist is not content to murder and massacre all in all countries which will not worship the Image of the beast that is stoupe to his gouernement and authoritie but hee will goe yet a steppe further and will haue all sorts of people brought in bondage vnto him as his marked seruants For as men vse to set a brand vpon their sheepe and other cattell and to eare-marke them that it may openly and manifestly appeare to whom they appertaine so doth Antichrist this Romish beast cause all men in all kingdoms to carie in open viewe his marke or brand whereby all may see that they do appertaine vnto him It is heere said that all the vassals of Antichrist of what degree estate or condition soeuer must receiue his marke in their right hand or in their forehead that is they must openly professe and practise the worship and religion of the beast For the forehead is put for the profession and the right hand for the action so that in one of them at the least euery man must openly declare that hee acknowledgeth the Pope of Rome to be Lord of his faith Moreouer it is added That no man might buy or sell saue hee that had the marke or the name of the beast or the number of his name the meaning is that no man might traffique in the world or haue anie doings amongst men nay hee might not be suffered to liue except hee had the marke of the beast in his forehead or in his right hand that is vnlesse he did professe and practise the worship the religion the lawes and decrees of the Pope For the marke of the beast is put for his worship religion lawes decrees regiments and policie Moreouer the Popes vassals haue not onely his marke vpon them whereby they may be knowne but also the name of the beast for they must bee named after him euen as children beare the name of their Fathers and must bee called of the Pope or Papa Papists And not onely so but also they haue another priuie marke vpon them and that is the number of his name which is Latinos or professours of the Latine religion Latine kingdome and Italian Church as shall by and by appeare Now then to grow to a conclusion and to make a briefe recapitulation of all thinges heere spoken concerning the second beast which is Antichrist Let vs consider what increasings and proceedings hee hath made as it were by degrees First although he haue two hornes like the Lamb that is ciuill and ecclesiasticall power yet he speaketh like the Dragon that is he bendeth all his power and authoritie words and works for the diuell Secondly he doth as much as the first beast could do in the seruice of the Dragon Thirdly he causeth the first beast to be worshipped that is establisheth the substance of his religion Fourthly he maketh the image of the beast that is addeth a forme to the substance Fiftly hee putteth life into his Image by his Clergie Sixtly he will haue this Image worshipped and yeelded vnto on paine of death Lastly he will haue all men of all conditions to weare his liuerie and to receiue his marke as it were his hired and couenant seruants Heere is wisdome Let him that hath wit count the the number of the beast for it is the number of a man and his number is sixe hundred theescore and sixe Now last of all the holy Ghost telleth vs that it is a verie high point of wisedome and vnderstanding to count the number of the beast and requireth a sharpe and pregnant wit and withall telleth vs that it is the number of a man that is such as a man endued with Gods Spirite may finde out Then wee are encouraged to search into it sith it is within the compasse of mans reach It is no impossible thing If therefore wee could find out his name wee would desire no more then the field were wonne for his name would discouer him and descrie him to all the world and quite stoppe the mouthes of the Papists so as they should neuer haue anie thing more to say For if Saint Iohn had said expresly and in plaine tearmes that the Popes of Rome are this second beast and the verie Antichrist himselfe then the Papists had beene put to perpetuall silence all matters quasht and all controuersies ended betwixt them and vs for euer But heere the holy Ghost doth not tell vs his name plainely but mystically as manie other things in this booke that the worldlings which
all the cursed helhounds that barke and bite and take their part shall euer bee able to stand in his hands For rage they neuer so much hee will hamper them all well enough For though he haue giuen them the reine a long time and let them alone and suffred them to play the tyrants with the woman his spouse yet now he will no longer put it vp at their hands but will vp and maintaine the womans cause and beare her out against them all nay hee will make readie his bow that he may shoote off and make his arrowes drunke in the bloud of her and his enemies and will whette his glittering sword that hee may sheath it in the heart of Antichrist and all his adherents Therefore now let both the great beasts and their Sire looke to themselues for heere comes in one that will knocke them all downe and lay them in the dust that they shall neuer rise vp againe For this cause now at length Saint Iohn in a vision seeth a Lambe stand vpon mount Sion that is Christ present with his Church For mount Sion was an ancient figure of the Church as it is written Mount Sion lying Northward is faire in situation it is the ioy of the whole earth and the citie of the great king And againe The law shall goe forth of Sion and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem Moreouer Saint Iohn seeth heere with the Lambe an hundred fortie and foure thousand that is the particular members of the Church putting a certaine number for an vncertaine and specially alluding to the sealing of the twelue tribes of Israel as before hath beene shewed For it might bee demaunded where the Church was chapter 7.4 when all the world wondred and followed the first Beast and also when all both small and great rich and poore receiued the marke of the second Beast Saint Iohn answereth that euen then in the middest of the heate of persecutions God had his hid inuisible church whom Iesus Christ did protect and preserue euen in the verie flames of persecutions being alwayes present with them and amongst them as he said to his Disciples a little before his bodily departure from them Lo I am with you euen vnto the end of the world And heere hee is said to stand vpon mount Sion with his hundred fortie and foure thousand And it is added that this number of Gods faithfull elect children had the Fathers name written in their foreheads That is they did professe and practise the doctrine and religion of God their Father onely vtterly renouncing and abhorring the worship and religion of the Beast For the Fathers name in this place is set opposite to the marke of the Beast to signifie that as the worshippers of Antichrist receiued his marke so the true worshippers of God receiued his brand which is his Spirit and the fruits therof whereby they were perfectly discerned from those which had the beasts marke So then it cleerely appeareth from this place that God preserued many thousands of his true worshippers euen in the daies of the great Antichrist when there seemed to bee verie fewe or none remaining vppon the earth as it was in the dayes of Elias In vaine therefore doe the Papists aske vs where our Church was before Luthers time sith the holy Apostle heere stoppeth their mouth and telleth vs plainely that Christ had his little flocke in the wildernesse euen then when it was in greatest streightes and as wee say driuen to the wals And therfore visibilitie is no sound note of the Church as the Papists doe most ignorantly dispute For it is a fond and absurd kind of reasoning to say there is no Church at all because it doth not visibly appeare as if a man should reason that there is no Moone in the heauens because sometimes there is none seene as in the change And I heard a voice from heauen vers 2 as the sound of manie waters and as the sound of a great thunder and I heard the voyce of Harpers harping with their harpes Heere is set forth how this companie of true worshippers doe magnifie and praise God for his great mercies towards them First Iohn heareth a voyce from heauen that is an heauenly voice or the voice of the Church praising and glorifying God For wee haue heard before chapter 8.1 that heauen in this Booke is sometimes put for the Church vppon the earth and the reasons thereof Whersoeuer therfore the Church is assembled to heare the word and to pray and giue thanks there is a voice from heauen or an heauenly voice Now this voice is compared to three things first to the sound of manie waters Secondly to the sound of a great thunder Thirdly to y e voice of harpers harping with their harps It is likened to manie waters because it proceedeth from sundrie sorts of people of sundrie nations countries and kingdomes as the word Waters is taken afterwards in this Prophesie It is compared to Thunder because the prayers and inuocations of the true Church are as loud in the eares of God as any thundercracke It is compared to Harpers harping with their harpes both because their spirituall worship and seruice is as sweete vnto God as any musicke vnto men as also because all Gods faithfull people doe tune together among themselues and in their worship as the strings of a well tuned instrument of musicke or as manie musitians playing together which make a sweete harmonie and most melodious dittie vers 3 And they sung as it were a newe song before the throne and before the foure beasts and the Elders and no man could learne that song but the hundred fourtie and foure thousand which were bought from the earth Now is shewed how this holy societie of the faithful do continue their praising and glorifying of God They are not weary of well doing but hold on constantly in the course of Gods worship hauing new songs of thanksgiuing in their mouthes and seruing God dayly with renewed affections as men inflamed with the zeale of Gods glory and all this they doe performe before the throne before the foure beasts and the Elders that is in the presence of God and his Angels and his holy congregation And no man could learne that song but the hundred fortie and foure thousand that is none of the reprobates and vngodly worldlings could inwardly feele and vnderstand this spirituall worship but onely the elect to whom it is giuen to vnderstand the secrets of God and the mysteries of his sonnes kingdome These are they vers 4 which are not defiled with women for they are virgins these follow the Lambe wheresoeuer he goeth these are bought from men being the first fruits vnto God and to the Lambe And in their mouthes was found no guile vers 5 for they are without spot before the throne of God This holy cōpany are not defiled with women that is with grosse diuers sins or rather with idolatrous pollutions
coloured beast whereupon the woman sate chapter 17 9. The seuen heads sayth he are seuen Kings that is seauen orders or states of kingly gouerment for seuen Kings in this place are not put for seuen seueral men which were Kings as some do take it but for seuen seueral gouerments as it is taken in Daniel The foure great beastes sayth the Angel there are foure Kinges that is foure kingdomes gouerments or monarchies as al men know So here by seuen Kinges is meant the seuen seuerall regiments of Rome That is to say by Kings Consuls Decemuiri Dictators Triumuiri Emperours and Popes wherof the first fiue were then fallen when Iohn wrote one was chapter 17.10 that is the Empire and one was to come that is the Papacy My last argument is this Babylon is that City which is situate vpon seuen hilles but onely Rome of all Cities in the world is situated vppon seuen hilles therefore Rome is Babylon The proposition is auouched by the Angel which saith in the seuenteenth chapter that the seuen heads of the scarlet coloured beast are seuen mountaines whereon the woman sitteth that is seuen hilles whereon the City of Rome is scituated whose names are these Capitolinus Palatinus Auentinus Exquilinus Celius Viminalis and Quirinalis as al Poets and Historiographers doo testifie One sayth thus of Rome Septem quae vna sibi muro circundedit arces another thus Septem vrbs alta iugis toto quae praesidet orbe Another calleth Rome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the City with seuen heades that is seuen hilles It is cleere then by these reasons that Babylon in this place signifieth Rome As for the exposition of the Papists which affirme that Babylon here signifieth the vniuersall society of the wicked it is fond ridiculous for the Holy ghost sayth Babylon is that City which raigneth ouer the Kings of the earth But to say that the vniuersall society of the wicked raigneth ouer the Kinges of the earth is absurd and ridiculous Therefore to say that Babylon is the vniuersall society of the wicked is absurde and ridiculous The distinction of the Iesuits here is also as friuolous as their exposition for they say if Babylon be Rome then it must be vnderstood of Rome vnder the heathen Emperours but not vnder the Popes But the Angel sayth the woman that is the whoore of Babylon or Antichrist sitteth vpon seuen mountaines ergo shee sitteth at Rome and Rome is the seat of Antichrist and consequently Rome vnder the Popes is Babylon Moreouer we may reason thus against the Popish distinction That which was Babylon vnder the heathen Emperours is the same which is here prophecied to bee the chiefe City and seat of Antichrist But Rome was then Babylon ergo Rome is now Babylon for Rome is that City which the Angel sayth shoulde bee the seat of Antichrist And this book doth shew that the great Antichrist shoulde raigne in the same City where the heathen Emperours had raigned therfore it standeth firme that Rome vnder the Popes is Babylon This then beeing graunted that Babylon here is Rome it followeth that Rome shall fall for the Holy-Ghost sayth Babylon is fallen speaking in the present tense as the maner of y e scripture is in prophecying of things to come For whatsoeuer God hath determined to cōe to passe is as it were already don because of the certainty of it and for this cause also the word is doubled It is fallen It is fallen Wee see then most cleerly that almost 1500. yeers before Rome began to fal the certaine fall thereof was foretold This place of it selfe is cleere inough to prooue my second point which is that Rome shal fal But my purpose is to reduce and gather all the fiue Chapters following to certaine heades to prooue the maine points which I haue propounded first then I reason thus to proue the second point that Rome shall fall That City and kingdome which hath the seuen vialles of Gods wrath emptied and powred downe vppon it cannot stand but must needes fall But Rome is that City which hath the seuen vialles of Gods wrath powred downe vppon it Therefore Rome cannot stande long but must needes fall The proposition is manifest and not to bee denied The assumption is prooued throughout al the sixteene Chapter and especially in the tenth and the twelfth verses chapter 16. Ver. 10 Vers 12 where the vials of Gods wrath are expresslie saide to be powred downe vpon the throne of the beast and in the second verse of that Chapter it is auouched ver 2 that the second viall was powred down vpon the men which had the marke of the beast and vppon them which worshipped his image Howe then can the throne of the beast hould out or how can they which haue receiued the beastes marke stand vp long For there is a great Emphasis or vehemency in the manner of speeche For he dooth not simply say the wrath of God chapter 15. verse 7. but the fulnesse of Gods wrath he dooth not say should bee a little sprinkled but powred downe as it were by pailefulles vppon the kingdome of the beast How then can the kingdome of the beast stande which hath so many great ordinances and so many double cannons discharged and shot off against it Surely it must needes fal My second reason is this The beast that was and is not and yet is shall go into perdition chapter 17 But Rome is the beast that was and is not and yet is Therfore Rome shal goe into perdition The assumption is set downe Chapter 17. verse 8. For the Romane monarchie was great in the daies of Iulius Caesar Augustus Claudius Tiberius and therefore it is said that it was But in the raigne of Nero Otho Galba and Vitellius it was greatlie decayed and therfore it is said it is not meaning so great as it had beene and yet in some sort it was and therefore it is said and yet is Now this beast shall go into perdition Therefore the Romane monarchie shall bee destroyed and consequently the Papacie For the Romane Empire holdeth vp the Papacie as it is written that the woman or whoore of Babylon sitteth vppon the Scarlet coloured beast which had seuen heades and tenne hornes that is the Roman monarchie which beareth vp the whoore and beareth vp the Papacy but the Holy-ghost sayth this beast that is the Romane Empire shall go into perdition chapter 17. verse 8. Then it followeth that the papacy shal follow after for if the beast that she sitteth vpon which beareth her fal vnder her then shee must needes fall together with him But we see God be thanked that the Roman monarchie is in a manner quite fallen therefore the Papacy cannot stand long My third argument is this The beast that was and is not being euen the eight one of the seuenth shall go into destruction But Rome is the beast that was and is not being the eight and one
that they gnawed their tongues for sorrow that is they were ful of furie and rage ver 10 barking and grinning like mad dogs or rather like helhounds against all such as set the Gospel abroach wherby their Babylon began to shake For at the first when the Gospel began to peep forth they did despise it as a thing which they could easily suppresse but within a short time they found that neither by excommunications wherewith in former times they had euen as it were with lightening and thunder caused kings and nations to tremble neither by force of warres and bloudy slaughters neither by anie skill in learning nor by treacheries they could any thing preuaile but that the Gospell did still more and more lay open their filthinesse and shame then did they become and so do they continue til this day euen as mad men in sorrow and rage which the holie Ghost expresseth in saying chapter 16. v. 11. that they gnawed their tongues for sorrowe and blasphemed the God of heauen c. Wherby it is euident that the beast and all that haue receiued his marke are full of firie hatred and malice and cannot tell which way to be reuenged For the more they striue the more they lose dayly Faine would they haue Poperie restored to his ancient credit and dignitie and they deuise what they can to bring it about but it will not be For their kingdome waxeth darker and darker weaker and weaker and that is a dagger vnto them a griefe of all griefes which maketh them gnaw their tongues and gnash their teeth for sorrow But yet for all this chapter 16. v. 11. they repented not of their works saith Saint Iohn and therefore God is more incensed against them and causeth the sixt Angel to poure out another vial vpon the great riuer Euphrates and the water therof dried vp as wee haue heard Now then obserue carefully and note it diligently that the frogges come forth vpon the darkening of the kingdome of the beast the drying vp of their Euphrates For who knoweth not that the pope his coÌ„plices perceiuing y e weakning diminishing of their kingdome haue sent out these Iesuits and Seminarie Priests into all parts of Europe to repaire the ruines of Rome if it were possible And this is one circumstantiall reason to proue these three frogges be vnderstood of the Iesuits But let vs proceede to open the whole description of the holy Ghost that it may yet more plainely appeare First these frogges are called vncleane spirits chapter 16. v. 13. because they are the verie limmes of the diuell full of all filthinesse and vncleannesse Secondly they are called spirits because they come out of the mouth of the Dragon â—he beast and the false Prophet Thirdly they are called three in number being in the truth neerer vnto three thousand because they proceed out of three seuerall mouthes the Dragon the beast and the false Prophet that is the diuell the Roman Empire and the Papacie Three horrible monsters three terrible bug-beares which with one consent conspire together against the Gospell to vphold their Babylon and to stop the leake of their Euphrates Nowe these three Frogges are said to come out of the mouth of the Dragon the beast and the false Prophet because they come with the verie mind and message of the Pope and the Roman Empire and so consequently with the verie mind and spirit of the Dragon For they are the verie breath of the Pope and the spirits of the diuell as like him as if they had beene spitte out of his mouth They are sent on the diuels errand and the Popes embassage into all countries and kingdomes and are taught their lesson what they shall say and instructed what they shall doe and what courses they shal take with all sorts of men both Kings Nobles and the meaner sort and for this cause the holy Ghost saith they came out of the verie mouth the verie heart and the very bowels of the Pope and of the diuell And although these Iesuits and seminarie priests are called of their fauorits Catholike doctors holy fathers c. yet the holy Ghost saith flatly they are the spirits of diuels working false and fained miracles and with great efficacie of errour deluding and deceiuing the simple and blind multitude Wee see then that the holy Ghost in al this description doth plainly note out the Iesuits and seminary priests For to whom can these things here spoken of agree but only to theÌ„ And do not we which liue in these daies sensibly see and discerne the fulfilling of al these things Surely we can not but see feele theÌ„ vnles we be wilfully blind and do of purpose blindfold and hoodwink our selues But the holy ghost goeth yet futher and doth more fully as it were demonstratiuely point them out vnto vs describing theÌ„ by their office which is to go vnto the kings of the earth of the whole world vers 14 to gather theÌ„ to the battel of that great day of God Almighty Who is ignoraÌ„t that the Iesuits seminary priests are sent out to al kings Nobles of the whole world that fauour theÌ„ their proceedings Are they not croking in corners thicke and threefold in all parts of this land Are they not practising of treacheries tresons against our most gratious Queene and the whole state are they not plotting the destruction subuersion of this Church common wealth Nay as the holy Ghost saith the chiefe end of their comming abroad is to sollicite gather y e kings of the earth vnto battel against God against Christ and against all true professours of religion The bettell betwixt them is heere called The battell of the great day of God Almighty that is that Battell wherein the Almightie God will haue the day and goe away with the victorie For it followeth that the Iesuits and seminarie Priests did preuaile with the seduced kings of the earth so farre as to gather them together to place which in Herbrue is called Armageddon that is to say a place where they shall be destroyed and that with such horrible slaughter that the place shall take a name thereof For it was an vsuall thing among the Hebrues to call the place where anie famous thing fell out by a name which did report y e same vnto all posteritie as Kibroth Hataanah the graues of Concupiscence Hamon Gog the multitude of Gog and diuers such like And so here Armageddon the destruction of an armie because the kings of the earth and their armies which shall fight against the Church at the instigation of the Iesuits shall come to a place where they shall haue a notable ouerthrow This word Armageddon may fitly bee deriued of two Hebrue words that is to say Cherem which signifieth destruction and Gedudh which signifieth an armie that is the destruction of an army or as some say that verie iudicially it may come of Gnarmah
newe Babylon that is Rome shal come to vtter destruction and as the Holy-ghost here sayth shall be found no more or shal fal without all hope of recouery Stories doe report that Rome hath beene sundry times destroied by the Gothes and Vandales and others yea once fired and quite burnt vp but afterward built and raised vp againe by the Emperours But here the Holy-ghost sayth expreslie that it shal haue a final fal and an vnrecouerable destruction For can a milstone cast into the bottome of the sea euer be gotte vp againe no no it is impossible Therefore let the Iesuits and Seminarie Priests doe what they can they shal neuer set vp Rome againe they shal neuer restore her to her former state and dignity they shal neuer repaire her credit againe Let he Pope and Cardinals and the King of Spaine and al the world and al the diuels in hel ioyne together they shal neuer get vp this milstone out of the bottome of the sea For the Angel hath cast it in with such a violence that no power of man shal euer fetch it out againe True it is indeede that the Iesuits bestir them and the Seminary Priests and Papists doe worke apace in al landes and aduenture themselues in most desperate manner to recouer againe the credit of Popery and to set vp againe the dignity and the power of the Pope and the glory of their Church and City and their bold enterprises doe make many euen to doubt that they wil againe one day preuaile But assuredly wee are to make ful reckoning that although heere and there they may support for a time some ruinous partes of their rotten frame yet doo what they can it shal in the end downe vpon their heades and come to vtter desolation Indeede Rome standeth yet and Popery is not quite fallen downe But they are disclosed their credit is cracked their power decaieth and so this thinge is begunne and the time draweth on when it shal bee fully accomplished He that had beheld the Power the Pompe the riches and estimation of the Church of Rome aboute some fourescoure yeeres paste and looketh vpon it now shal see a woonderfull alteration It seemed then to bee without al daunger of shaking for the Emperour and the Kinges of the earth stoode foorth with al their force and might power and pollicy to vphold it but God be thanked we see how it is already come down and shal come down euery day more more whosoeuer sayth nay to it But beholde yet more and more plaine proofe for the vtter desolation of Rome For Saint Iohn describeth the eternal desolation thereof by denial of those things which are in Cities inhabited First hee sayth there shall be no more any voice of harpers Musitians chapter 18.22.23.24 Pipers and Trumpeters heard in Rome that is al musick shal surcease which argueth an vtter desolation For what inhabited cities are without musicke Secondly hee sayth there shall be no craftes man of what trade soeuer found in Rome which argueth an vtter desolation For what flourishing City is without artificers Thirdly he sayth no light of a candle shall any more shine in Rome which argueth an vtter desolation For what inhabited Citie is without candles Fourthly hee sayth no sounde of a milstone shal bee heard in Rome which argueth an vtter desolation For what Citie is without milles to grinde their corne Lastly hee sayth the voice of the Bridegroome and of the bride shall be heard no more in Rome which argueth an vtter desolation for what Citie is without bride and bridegroome and without mariage for procreation sake Then I conclude from al this that Rome shal fal finallie and come to vtter destruction But behold yet more plaine and pregnant proofe drawen from the pitiful mournings and most woful lamentations of the Kinges of the earth the Merchantes and the Mariners who al doe iointlie lament and mourne for the destruction and desolation of Rome crying alas alas chapter 18. ver 10. Vers 17. Vers 19. that great City Babylon that mighty City for in one houre is thy iudgement come In one houre so great riches are come to desolation In one houre she is made desolate What can bee more plainely and fully spoken to prooue an vtter desolation of Rome What can bee more required then to haue it set downe in expresse tearmes as here we see For nowe the Holy-Ghost vseth no figure no hardnesse no circumlocution no obscurity but telleth vs plainely and thrise for failing that Babylon that is Rome is made desolate is come to desolation ver 10 ver 15 ver 18 Moreouer it is said that the Kinges Merchants and Mariners shall stand a far off for feare of her torment and they shall weepe and waile when they shall see the smoake of that her burning signifying that the torment and plague of Rome shal be so great that Kinges for al their might shal not dare to come nigh to rescueher no not the Kinge of Spaine with al his great might and power hee shal bee faine to stand a far off or rather vtterly to forsake her weeping and wailing as wel as others for her most feareful and vnrecouerable destruction But wee are to obserue in al this that the holy Ghost vseth a figure or kinde of speech which they cal a Prosopopoeta or fayning of a person whereby the Popishe Kinges beeing dead and rotten are brought in lamenting and bewailing the fal of Babylon as if they were aliue againe or else it may bee vnderstood of the Cardinalles and Legates which are euen as Kings vppon the earth But it cannot be vnderstood of christian Kinges for they shal be the instruments of God to pul down great Babylon as wee shal heare anone Furthermore let vs consider the causes of this great lamentation for the deadlie downefal of Babylon by the Popish Kings Merchants and Marriners First the Kings they mourne and lament sayth Saint Iohn because they had committed fornication with the great whoore of Babylon ver 9 and liued in pleasure with her That is they had liued long with her in abominable idolatry and pleased her that waie and therefore shee gaue them dispensations to liue in wantonnesse and al carnal pleasures and euen to doe what they list spending their dayes in sensuality and al kinde of fleshlie delightes Secondly the Merchants do weepe and waile ver 12.13.14 because no man buyeth their ware any more These Merchants are not named but they may easily be knowne by their wares which the holy-Ghost describeth to witte that they be the Popish Merchants the shauen Merchants who are heere brought in mourning and lamenting for the losse of their gaine The Monks Friers Priests cannot haue that vtterance of their wares that in times past they haue had their wares are nowe out of request their markets wax deade and they haue colde takings When these fellowes passe by the great Monasteries and Abbeyes and see them made ruinous heapes and
withal remember the fatte reuenewes the good cheere the pleasure and delight which sometimes they haue had in those places it cuts their heartes and maketh them shake their heads at it saying alas alas that great City that was clothed in fine linnen and purple and scarlet and gilded with gold vers 16 and pretious stones and pearles for in one houre so great riches are come to desolation Marke then that the ruine of their great City with al the pompe pleasure and riches thereof is that which yet sticketh in their stomackes Thirdly the Mariners doe greately mourne and lament chapter 18. verse 17.18.19 for the losse of their profit and commodity For while Rome had dominion ouer the kingdomes and the Pope ruled ouer al euen as a God vppon the earth there was nothing but trudging ouer the seas to Rome out of al landes and againe from thence there was carrying and recarrying in somuch that multitudes of Mariners and Shipmasters were continually set on worke gained greately therby No maruaile then though these Mariners are brought in among other friends of Rome bewailing her destruction euen with dust vpon their heads weeping and crying and saying vers 19 Alas alas that great City wherein were made rich all that had ships on the sea by her costlines For in one houre she is made desolate Thus we see how the Kings and Merchants and Mariners shal bewaile the vtter ruine and great desolation of Rome for the losse of their pleasure their gaine and their profit Moreouer wee are to obserue that that which is spoken by the old Prophets Isay and Ieremiah touching the vtter desolation of olde Babel is applyed by Saint Iohn to newe Babel which is Rome Touching the olde Easterne Babylon the Prophet sayth thus Babel the glory of kingdomes the beauty and pride of the Chaldeans shall be as the destruction of God in Sodome and Gomorrah It shal not be inhabited for euer neither shall the Arabian pitch his tent there neither shall the sheppeheardes make their foldes there But Ziim shall lodge there and their houses shal be ful of Ohim Ostriches shall dwell there and the Satyres shall dance there that is Fairies Hobgoblins Night-spirits and such like whereby is signified the vtter desolation of olde Babylon chapter 18. v. 2. Now Saint Iohn applyeth al this to Rome saying Babylon that great City is become the habitation of diuels and the hold of al foule spirits and a cage of euerie vncleane and hatefull bird Noting heereby both the filthinesse of Rome and also her vtter desolation But nowe let vs proceede to our last and greatest argument to prooue the finall fall and vtter destruction of Rome and all Romish power and authoritie In the nineteenth chapter of this Prophesie our Lord Iesus is described sitting vpon his vvhite horse chapter 6.2 which is the ministerie of the Gospell as hath before beene proued and is most gloriously brought in by Saint Iohn as graund Captaine and Generall of the field fighting with all his armie against Antichrist and his souldiers Saint Iohn giueth him goodly names and titles calling him the word of God the King of kings and Lord of lords chapter 19. v. 12.13.14.15.16 and saith that hee hath a name written that no man knew but himselfe which is his infinite glorie and maiestie And moreouer that his eyes were as a flame of fire and on his head manie crownes and a sharpe sword in his mouth and clothed with his warlike garment dipt in bloud and all his heauenly souldiers followed him vpon white horses meaning thereby all Christian Kings Dukes Lords Nobles Captaines Preachers and Professours of true religion This graund Captaine with all these worthie souldiers saith Saint Iohn shall muster together and prepare themselues to fight against the beast and the false Prophet and all their forces and at last hee seeth them ioine battaile vers 19 I saw saith Saint Iohn the Beast and the kings if the earth vers 19 and their armies gathered together to make battell against him that sate vpon the vvhite horse and against his armie Now all this is to be vnderstood of the battels betwixt the Papists and the Protestants in these last dayes But may some man say who shall haue the victorie what is the successe what was the issue Let vs heare of that The holy Ghost answereth that the Beast and the false Prophet vvere taken foyled and ouercome vsing a warlike phrase because in the warres they vse to take the greatest Captaines and Commaunders aliue and to put them to their raunsoms The like vnto this wee haue in the seuenteenth Chapter where Saint Iohn telleth vs that when the Popish kings and Potentates shall make warre against Christ and his Gospell they shall haue the like successe vnto this For saith hee These haue one mind chapter 17. v. 13.14 and shall giue their power and authoritie vnto the beast they shall fight with the Lambe and the Lambe shall ouercome them for hee is Lord of Lords and king of kings But may some man say when the Leaders and commanders of the Popish armies shal be taken captiue and set at their ransomes what shall become of the inferiour Captaines and souldiers The holy Ghost answereth that the remnant were slaine with the sword of him that sitteth vpon the horse That is they were put to the sword chapter 19. v. 21. and al the foules were filled full with their flesh And for this cause S. Iohn saith that he saw an Angell stand in the Sunne chapter 19. v. 17. who cried with a loud voice saying to al the foules that did flie by the middest of heauen Come and gather your selues together vnto the supper of the great God Now to make this plaine Wee know that they which proclaime anie matter seeke some market crosse or high place to stand in where they may best be heard So this Angell which proclaimeth the victorie against Antichrist before anie stroke bee stricken because of the certaintie of it standeth in the Sunne as it were in the Theater and middest of the world as in a place most fit for his purpose that hee may bee heard throughout all the earth Now this proclamation is directed to all the foules of the aire to bid them to a supper which is here called the supper of the great God But it may be demanded what cheare shall they haue The holie Ghost answereth that they shal eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of great Captaines and the flesh of mightie men vers 18 and the flesh of horses and of horsmen and the flesh of all freemen and bondmen and of small and great This we knowe that when men are slaine in great numbers in the warres their bodies lie scattered as meat for the foules of the aire And therefore heere all foules are inuited and bidden to a great supper made them by the great God whose hand is in all this their cheare and their dainties are reckoned vp to
pleasure so much giue yee to her torment and sorrow And therfore I affirme that no man ought to be moued with any compassion or pittie for the ouerthrow of Rome But heerein that saying of the Prophet is true Blessed is hee that taketh and dasheth her children against the stones and againe bend thy bow shoot at her spare no arrowes For she hath sinned against the Lord. Moreouer wee are to obserue that forasmuch as the Lord willeth commandeth all men to reward Rome as shee hath rewarded vs to giue her double according to her works therefore wee ought euery one of vs as much as in him lieth and as his calling will beare to doe his vttermost to pull downe Rome the Magistrate by the sword the Minister by the word and the people by their prayers For euen Christian kings and princes and all the nobles of the earth must not bee negligent to fight against Rome For heerein that saying is true Cursed is hee that doth the worke of the Lord negligently and cursed is hee that keepeth backe his sword from bloud For this cause I doe vpon my knees night and day most humbly and instantly intreate the God of heauen that as hee hath put into the heart of our most gratious and excellent Queene to hate the whore of Babylon and to be his greatest instrument in the whole world for the weakening and ouerturning of Rome and defence of his most glorious gospell which is her crowne and glory in all the Chuches and her great renowne in all Christian kingdomes so shee may constantly continue and neuer cease drawing out the sword of Iustice till she haue vtterly rooted out of her dominions all the cursed crew of popish Iebusits and all such as haue receiued the beasts marke and especially the Iesuits and seminary priests which are the diuels brokers the popes agents and the king of Spaines factors in all kingdomes Here also I doe most humbly euen vpon my knees with dropping eies yea if it were possible with teares of bloud beseech and intreate the learned and reuerend fathers of our Church that they would bend all their power and authoritie with might and maine against the Romish strumpet and the rather because in these dayes shee seemeth to make a head againe hauing so many and great fauourers that shee and her complices dare perke with their nebbs and very boldly and confidently prate of a tolleration Heere also I doe most humbly and earnestly intreate all my learned and godly brethren the ministers and preachers of this Church of England that in all their publike teachings and priuate proceedings they would make strong opposition against Rome and Romish religion And I beseech the God of Gods that wee may all ioyne together with vnited forces to march on valiantly against the armies of Antichrist and to spread the euerlasting Gospell far and neere to the vtter ouerturning and beating downe of this westerne Babylon and that howsoeuer wee may amongst our selues differ in iudgement in some things yet that there may bee no breach of loue or alienation of affections amongst vs but that wee may all goe together hand in hand and arme in arme to preach Gods euerlasting truth and to set our selues against the common aduersaries For if wee will not set our selues against them yet they will be sure to set themselues against vs. And thus much concerning the third maine point which is the finall fall of Rome euen in this world Now it followeth to speake of the fourth maine point which is by whom and when Rome shall bee ouerthrowen But for the better vnderstanding of this point concerning the persons that shall ouerthrow Rome wee are to obserue that S. Iohn describeth the whore of Babylon sitting vpon a scarlet coloured beast hauing seauen heads and tenne hornes whereby is meant the Romane monarchie as hath beene shewed before After this the Angell expoundeth vnto Iohn what the heads and hornes of the beast meane and saith that the ten hornes are ten kings or ten kingdomes ver 12 which yet haue not receiued a kingdome but shall receiue power as kings at one houre with the beast The sense is that these tenne kingdomes had not receiued such power and authoritie vnder the Emperours as they should vnder the Popes for there was great difference in these kingdomes vnder the Popes from that which they had beene vnder the Emperours For they receiued far greater power and they carried an other minde toward the papacy then the nations did before toward the empire for they did submit themselues to the papacy for conscience and loue euen as to the holy Church which they neuer did to the Empire And this is the reason why the holy ghost saith they had not receiued a kingdome but should receiue power as kings at one houre with the beast Which is not to be vnderstood simply but after a sort for they had receiued kingdomes vnder the Emperors but not in such sort as afterward they did vnder the Popes For the Romane monarchie vnder the dominion of the Popes was in his greatest height and altitude and the kings of Europe grew vp together with the papacie in power might and dominion And S. Iohn addeth that these ten kings or kingdomes were all of one minde and did giue their power and authoritie vnto the beast that is they did with might and maine labour to vphold the Babylonicall strumpet But the Angell telleth Iohn flatly that the ten hornes that is the ten kingdomes of the empire which before had giuen their names their power and authoritie to the beast to vphold her and defend her should now in these last daies all change their mindes and turne against her For saith the Angell to Iohn chapter 17.36 The ten hornes which thou sawest vpon the beast are they that shall hate the whore and make her desolate and naked and shall eate her flesh and burne her with fire Heere then it doth plainely appeare who they bee that shall ouerthrow Rome and by whom it shall bee destroyed To wit by the tenne kings of Europe or kingdomes of Europe which some very learned doe reckon vp to bee these England Scotland Germany France Spaine Denmarke Sweueland Poland Russia and Hungary S. Iohn words are plaine that these kingdomes which tooke part with the beast shall take against her pull her downe But we know that all the kingdomes of Europe did take part vvith her therefore it followeth that all the kingdomes of Europe shall take against her And therefore it is very probable that in time France Spaine and Italy shall turne against the beast Wee know that the rest of the kingdomes are already turned against the beast and the beast hath lost seuen of his hornes the eight which is France beginneth to be somewhat loose and to shake a little which if it fall off the rest will follow after a pace The reson why the kingdomes which were subiect