body of this Prophecy now in order to this ponder and weigh advisedly two things First The Scope or Intent of the Book Secondly The Synchronisms or the contemporaneousness of the Prophesies therein how the Visions therein run parallel one with another and what an acurate harmony and sweet consent there is among them in respect of time First Eye and observe intentively the scope of the Book that is the common time and Period whereunto all the particular Prophecies and passages in the Revolation do joyntly run and wherein they do ultimately determine For this is the Pole-stâ—â— and compass we must steer by the chief mark or white which must be aymed and levelled at in interpreting this whole book and all the mysterious visions therein contained Like an accurate Archer therefore keep the eye of thy judgement fixed stedfastly on the Scope that so far as possible thou shoot not wide not short nor over Now the Scope or intent of the Revelation 1. Parts of the book is more generally to make known to the Apostle John and by John to the Churches the present things that then were when the Revelation was given and the future things that should be afterwards from Johns time to the end of the World as the title of the Book intimates Rev. 1.1.1.19 2. More particularly Jesus Christ intends in this Book to declare the future condition of the Christian Religion and Churches of the Gentiles especially the European Churches the remaines of the Roman Empire and the Tyrannical dominion of Antichrist those singular subject matters of this book extending themselves in Europe peculiarly or as another learned writer expresseth it to the same purpose Christ intends in this book to describe the state of the Church in the New â—â—â—ament The Arocal vp is a Prophefie of the destruction of the Roman Empire not only as Heathenish but as Christian when as it were it was paganised again and persecuting the Church Mr. Thomas Goodwin in his Sermon before the Parliament 1645. and also the things that shall come to pass in the Roman Empire or the fourth Monarchy under which the Church of God doth subsist and that in divers remarkable Periods of events Now this description comprehends three Periods or three sorts of times The first Period containes the time of the Dragon the time in which the seven Crowns stood upon the seven heads of the Dragon Rev. 12.3 when the Dragon himself under the heathenish Emperors was publiquely adored and worshiped but the Christians banished persecuted and put to cruel death till at last Constantine the great came to the Imperial Seat whereby the raign of the Dragon came to an end for he throws down all both Idol-worship and Princes that upheld it So the Dragon was cast out of the Church Heaven the whole Empire turning Christian though as one well said the Devil did not thâ—â— turn Christian for he stirred up thâ—â—â—â—rian Christian world to persecute the Orthodox Christians as much as Heathen Rome had done yet notwithstanding the Church prevailed was built up and triumphed until after the death of the good Emperor Theodesins at which time the Devil left his shape of a Dragon and resigned his Host his residence and seat with his great authority unto the beast with ten horns that rose out of the Sea Cap 13.1 2. The second period comprehends the time of Antichrists raign Period 2. or the time in which the Pope of Rome as the Antichrist and enstalled Leiutenant of the Dragon Blasphemeth God and his name and persecutes his Saints for the space of 1200 and 60 days Rev. 13. Which God hath permitted as a scourge to Arrian Rome when the Dragon was overcome and cast out of the Church Heaven he did cast out of his mouth Water as a flood after the Woman Rev. 12.15 i.e. he stirred up the Septentrional Nations to invade the Roman Empire So Brightman Deed. Piscator I unius intending thereby to root out and destroy the Church but the earth swallowed up the flood in regard these Nations embruned the Christian faith Some by the flood understand Heresies especially Arrianism overflowing the Christian world and so interprers the earth to be the multitude of Christians mer in general Councels who defending the true faith overthrew and drank up these heresies as dry ground drinketh up water remaining in the Roman Empire and erected several Kingdomes in it Seeing then the Dragon saw that he could not maintain the Heathenism wherein be was openly worshipped and served he resigneth to the Beast which riseth up out of the Sea Rev. 13.7 and is ridden and governed by the great whore of Babylon Rev. 133. c. that is to the Antichrist who in the time of these wars doth creep out in the Roman Empire his power and his seat and great authority Cap. 13. vers 2. And so makes him his Vicar and Lieutenant by giving over to him his Seat and Residence the City of Rome and the whole Roman Empire whence it came to pass that about the time the Bishops of Rome began to seek to have the primacy and preeminence both in Church and State as Innocentius the first did in the year say some 402. others 406. The Dragon doth resign to his Lieutenant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Dragons delegate or Inostirute Râ—â— his whole host for in this sence the seventy Interpreters do use this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Exod. 14.14 and 15.4 as Mat. 24.29.30 The Host of the Dragon are his Angels or Devils So Mede and the Idols in which the Dragon and the Devils are worshipped and served by the heathen These Idols the Anti-Christian Popedome hath received and worshipped under the name of Saints the Dragon and his Vicegerent as hereof the Text speak's Cap. 13.3 4. The whole earth did wonder at the beast and they worshipped the Dragon that gave power unto the Beast and they worshipped the beast The Dragon doth give also to him great authority and makes him a head over great countries whereof David did prophecy Psa 110.6 The time of his Lieutenantship shall continue forty two Months i.e. one thousand two hundred and sixty years Vpon this follows the third Period which bringeth Statum Ecclesiae tranquillum Period 3. as the pure so the peaceable and quiet estate of the Church upon earth Seeing at the found of the Trumpet of the seventh Angel the seventh plague or the third we do come upon the Roman Empire and at the same time the seventh Viol of Gods wrath is poured out â— wherewith the enemies of the Church are wholly cut off and destroyed yea even the Devil himself shut up in the bottomless pit Rev. 20.1 2 3. therefore there can nothing but a true and constant peace ensue whence it is that the Church of God rejoyceth with great joy with a great voyce saying as Rev. 11.25 The Kingdomes of this World are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of
is wisdom That is saith he here is the discovery of a mystery a point of high understanding and the spirit saith not he that will but he that can he that hath understanding let him count the number of the beast but I rather incline to this opinion then the Former The 4 opinion is of those that parallel and compare the number of the beast Opinion 4 666 with the number of the Lambs company and the new Jerusalem 144. which are set as opposites one against another and as opposites may serve to explain one another To this end by computation they find that the Lambs number 144. is onely builded by multiplication of 12. upon 12. and can no otherwise be multiplied shewing that the true Church of Christ is built onely upon the 12. Apostles doctrine and still holds the foundation in all that is built thereon But on the contrary the beasts number though it seems more compact accurate and uniforme cannot be raised nor builded upon 12. take what multiplyer ye will no can it be divided or quartered by 12 shewing that Antichrists Apostatical Church riseth not on the foundation much less keepeth the foundation of the twelve Apostles Doctrine nor can endure to be tried thereby Thus far Forbes in his Comment Rev. 13.18 After him Mr. Potter hath further improved this Opinion He saith t is called the number of the Beast without mentioning any name Iotter also the number of a man without intimating any thing to do with his name Now the meaning of Numerus Humanus is such a number as men usually deal with and may be numbred by humane art but it seems there is some skill to be used herein for he saith here is wisdom and let him that hath understanding calculate the number of the beast And the Holy Ghost sets down the very number that is to be numbred 666. which number yet cannot be numbred after the manner of men which way notwithstanding is intimated but by extraction of the roots of these two numbers the root upon which the Lambs number and true Church is raised 144. being twelve the Apostolical basis the Root upon which the beasts number 666. the character of the Antichristian Apostatical Church is raised being that fatal number twenty five both which he describes and amplifies at large This Interpretation lights so pat upon the Romish Hierarchy that a man cannot but be amazed at so exact a providence for this learned Writer hath out of History made it even over clear that 25. is a Character as essentially interwoven into the Hierarchy of Rome as 12. is into the State of the new Jerusalem and these Six main things that this Holy City is set out by in Rev. 17. First Twelve Gates Secondly Twelve Angels at the Gates Thirdly Twelve Tribes writteni on the Gates Fourthly Twelve Foundations with names written on them Fifthly Twelve thousand furlongs the solid measure of the City Sixthly Twelve manner of fruits of the tree of life These six have their opposites exactly in the Roman Hierarchy or City First Twenty five Gâ—â—es whether taken literally or mystically for Churches to baptize in Secondly Twenty five Angels i. e. Pastors Thirdly Twenty five Titles or Parishes Fourthly Twenty five Cardinals Fifthly Twenty five thousand furlongs the perimeter of which Cube is the circuit of Rome as the perimiter of the Cube twelve thousand Furlongs the circuit of Jerusalem Sixthly Twenty five Articles of the Creed which should be the food of the tree of life to all beleivers In these essentiall matters and in many other things besides hath he evidently shown how exactly the Root 666. is applicable to the Roman Hierarchy the two horned beast to whose Treatise I refer the Reader for further satisfaction also to Dr. More who approves this opinion and answers the most material objection against it in his Book of The Mystery of Godliness Book fifth There is another opinion I have met with of the number 666. since the funishing this Treatise which though new and different from all the former yet is worthy of consideration I refer the Reader to the Treat se Entituled Christ and Antichrist or 666. multiplied by 2½ whereby the true number of Antichrists raign is discovered Page 196. I confess I like this opinion far better then the first as being in my judgment 1. More grave and ponderous 2. More certain and determinate 3. More conforme and sutable to other mysteries revealed in this book 4. More accurately discriminating between Antichrists false Apostatical Synagogue and Christs true Apostolical Church 5. And in the right computing whereof more true Theological spiritual and heavenly wisdome will be found Thus much of the fifth concurrent time under the second Period and therein a description of the Beast with two hornes Cap. 13. wherein I have been more large then I intended I come now to A sixt concurrent time under this second Period That is at the same time viz. of the holy City being trod under foot and the two witnesses prophecying in Sack-cloth The State of the Church and virgin company during these distresses and persecutions and the woman fled into the Wilderness and of the ten-horned and two horned beast Cap. 13. the hundred and forty four thousand sing a new song Meretrix a Ioanne consprâ—itur in desertâ— Cap. 17.3 4. Ergo tempus bestigest tempus deserti Mede and live without blame Cap. 14. v. 1 to the 6. In which Verse is set down the true hurches or Virgin companies constant and pure adhering unto Christ in the midst of Antiâ—bristian Idolatries and persecutions described in a vision of the Lamb and his company standing on Mount Zion when the world wondred after the beast and worshipped him then the true Church did adhere to and attend upon the Lamb. I looked and loe a Lamb stood on Mount Zion and with him 144000. having the name of him and of his father written in their foreheads vers 1. 1. Their standing with the Lamb on mount Sion intimates the notable stability of the Church against all Antichristian Machinations 1. The Lamb stood as in his Watch-tower vigilant over his Church for her protection and they stood as his Servants and souldiers attending upon him 2. Their number 144000. is the same number before mentioned in the preparatories to the seventh seal Rev. 7.4 the number of the true Church which is built upon the Doctrine of the 12. Apostles as this number is built onely on twelve as was before observed this number is here opposed to the number of the Beast 666. in the close of the former Chapter which can by no means be built upon twelve 3. They are said to have his fathers name on their foreheads or rather the name of him and the name of his father c. which more fully expresseth their Character as opposite to the name of the beast hereby they are distinguished from the beasts worshippers this notes their true profession of
and subjection to the Father and the Lamb. 4. vers 2. The voyce from Heaven as the voyce of many waters and as the voice of a great Thunder and the voyce of Harpers harping with their Harps ver 2. signifies their pure Gospel-worship described by the numerous multitude of the Heavenly singers whereunto these 144000. conforme themselves resembled to waters thunders harpers 5. vers 3. The new song they sing is either a new Gospel song since Christs coming opposite to the old before Christs comming or new in respect of new conferred benefits under the Gospel among which this preservation of his 144000. from Antichristian defilements was no small one the Scripture is wont to call for new songs for new mercies Here by song we may understand all Gospel-worship by a Synecdoche the part for the whole And during the Beast Dominion none could worship the Lamb purely without Idolatry upon earth but those that were redeemed from the earth that is bought by the blood of Christ and brought out of Popery from Antichrists earthly Church Cap. 12.12 6. And where it is said They are not defiled with women vers 4. vers 4. and to follow the lamb c. is signified their spiritual chastity not being guilty of spiritual whoredome and Idolatry and their constant attendance upon the Lamb in all states and places and their peculiar relation to God and the Lamb they being peculiar fruits to him redeemed out of the prophane mass of the Idolatrous world is expressed in the latter end of this fourth verse 7. And Lastly it is said of them vers 5. In their mouth was no guile and that they are without fault before the Throne of God which notes both their integrity and innocency their integrity In their mouth was found no guile Some Greek Copies read no lye Idols in Scripture are called lyes and Idolaters Lyers Isa 28.15 Ier. 16.19 it seems to note their freedom from Idolatry and they did not Hypocritically profess and pretend to be Christians and yet Idolatrously adore the beast Finally their innocency in Gods account is annexed as a reason of the former And they are without fault before the throne of God vers 5. The Seventh and last concurring time in the Angels prophesie of things that shall come to pass in the Ecclesiastical State Cap. 10. See before relating to the second Period Is The Whore of Babylon i the Popish Hierarchy ruling and riding the Beast with ten horns i.e. the Princes and Potentates which adhere to the Papacy at their own chusing and liking Cap. 17. Cap. 17. ver 3. I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-coloured beast full of the names of blasphemy having seven beads and ten borns And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour and decked with gold c. vers 4. where the Whore of Babylon is described 1. By the monstrous beast whereon she sits cruel and bloody noted in her colour full of Antichristian Idolatries most opprobrious and reproachful to God noted in her names of blasphemy and besides seven-headed and ten-horned so that it is the very same beast formerly described cap. 13. 2. By her luxurious and meretricious array and ornaments And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour like the beast she sate on and deeked with gold and precious stones and pearls By her whoredoms she had obtained all these costly deckings and for winning the greater credit and custom to her whoredoms she was thus gaudily and thus glitteringly attired Popery is a sumptuous gaudy and glittering Religion 3. By her intoxicating cup whereby she amorously allures and enchants her lovers to spiritual lewdness with her having a golden cup in her hand full of abomination and filthiness of her fornication vers 4. An allution to the custom of Whores Joseph Mede who in golden cups are wont to give amorous draughts to their Lovers to provoke and to enflame their love and lust Now what Religion in the world hath outwardly more specious curious golden pretences but inwardly more abominable cursed Heresies Blasphemies Superstitions Idolatries shewing gold without deadly poison within 4. Her whores name Touching which note 1. Where it was wrtten viz. on her forehead intimating she was an eminent notorious whore indeed And upon her forehead was a name written Tertullian De pudicit Sen. Cont. 2. Lib. 1. vers 8. An allusion to the ancient custom of Stews and Brothel-houses that on or over the doors of their Cells and Chambers were wont to write the names of the Whores as Tertullian Seneca and others intimate But if the Whore was famous indeed her name and praise was written not only on her cell but on her forehead 2. Her name it self describing in great part her nature Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots or Fornications and Abominations of the earth v. 5. This name shows 1. that this Whore is Babylon not proper but mystical Babylon 2. That this mystical Babylon is the Mother and most notorious authour of all the abominable Idolatries those spiritual whoredoms in the whole world This can intend no other but Rome 5. Her extreme cruelty bloody tyranny against the Saints emphatically expressed being drunk therewith she had swallowed so much vers 6. This Metaphor from drunkenness denotes the height and extremity of her bloodiness witness Anchrists butcheries of the Saints under the names of Waldenses Albigenses Leonists Wicklivists Hussites Lutherans Hugonites c. condemned and destroyed by Antichrist because they would not drink of Romes whorish cup. All Ecclesiastical Histories and Martyrologies since Antichrists rise and reign fully declare this Whores bloodiness especially in her Spanish Inquisition See Foxes Acts and Monuments Especially consider the late Irish massacres designed and acted by bloodthirsty Papists to the utmost of cruelty in Ireland 1641. as may be seen in Doctor Jones his Remonstrance of the state of the Rebellion in Ireland And in the Declaration of the Commons of England assembled in Parliament touching the rise and progress of that Rebellion ordered to be published July 25. 1643. This causeth in John great admination at the strangeness of the Vision of the Whore in the latter end of vers 6. And when I saw her I wondred with great admiration Which gave occasion to the Interpretation of this Vision more clearly And the Angel said Wherefore didst thou marvail Rev. 17.7 The City or Whore of Rome is said to sit upon a Beast viz. the fourth Beast mentioned in Daniel which is the Roman Monarchy And what City or people hath so ridden the Roman Empire as Rome hath done They that suffer themselves to be thus ridden by her are Abettors and Supporters they are Peoples Multitudes Nations and Tongues over whom this proud City reigns The Catholick Roman Church they are commonly called by themselves but by the holy Ghost The Beast on which the woman sit Vsher Rev. 17.18 in his Sermon before King Charls on Ephes
4.13 I will tell thee the mystery of the woman and of the Beast that carries her whichha th seven heads and ten horns ver 7. Hereupon the Angel doth more clearly interpret and explain the Vision 1. The mystery of the Beast carrying the Whore 2. The mystery of the Whore her self First The Angel explains the mystery of the Beast in the Whole and in the Parts First in the whole the Beast is interpreted 1. Partly According to his Many-form State or fourfold form and condition of this one and the same Beast The Beast that thou sawest was and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition The beast thou sawest 1. was And 2. Is not And 2. shall ascend out of the bottomless pit And 4. Go into perdition This very Interpretation it self seems to be a riddle and a paradox that needs a further interpretation To omit variety of mens opinions sundry whereof rather obscure then clear this present Description This seems plain to be the sence As the whore is after interpreted to be the great City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth viz. Roms for what other City in Johns time did so reign So the Beast that carrieth this Whore what can it be but the * To this agrees Irenaus Lactantius Jerom which restimony of the Antients Cornelius a Lapide considering professeth that he will not tergiversari but granteth that by Babylon is meant Rome Roman Empire which though for substance it was one One Beast yet for States conditions and manner of Government was multifarous or many form as here described viz. This Beast the Roman Empire Was that is before Johns time when this Revelation was given it was but in another form and state then in Johns time i governed by Kings Consuls Dictators Decemviri and Tribunes all which were past in Johns time And is not i.e. this beast the Roman Empire is not in Johns time under those or any of those five manners of Governments but under a sixth viz. of Cesars and those both Heathenish and Christian This sixth head of this beast that ruled in Johns days viz the Heathenish Cesars they became no Christians till Constantine Yet the whore sits not upon this beast as under any of those forms or states of Government but on the Beast under another form which should rise up after them six as then not in being And is not viz. the beast under the Pontificial or Papal Government And shall ascâ—nd out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition that is saith Mede that form of the beast in which he shall carry the Whore shall be the last form of the beast beyond which he should not pâ—â—long his life Now what form of this Beast shall ascend out of the bottom â—ss pit or the abyss as t is in Greek this word abyss may be taken either for the Abyss of the sea or the Abyss of hell Now take it either way The sixt head the Ceasars heathen and Christian was deadly wounded The Heathen Cesars received a deadly wound by Constantine and his Successors who overcome the heathen Emperors and rooted our their hear◠〈◊〉 Idolatry c. The Christian Cesars received by the bath 〈◊〉 Nations a deadly wound who dilaterated the Empire into ten Kingdoms And the deadly wound of the heath 〈◊〉 Cesars was beaâ—ed by the substituted 〈…〉 Beâ—â—◠〈◊〉 course of his seventh head and by his how Idolatry or Idol-worship not of Pagarworship but of Saints and Angels The deadly wound of the Christian Cesars was healed when the Roman Empire divided into ten Kingdomes was again made up into one for the 〈◊〉 of the Whore by the subtilty of the Dragon and false Prophet it agrees to that form of beast that carries the Whore For that Beast that ariseth out of the Abyss of the Sea having seven heads and ten horns as also out of the Abyss of Hell for the Dragon Satan gives him his power and seat and great authority Rev. 13.2 The Cesars heathen and Christian were the beasts sixt head or form The beast at last under the Christian Cesars received by the barbarous Nations a deadly wound the Empire beginning to be divided about Anno. 456. into ten parts or Kingdomes viz. of Britons Saxons Franks Burgundiâ—â—â— Wisigoths Sweves and Alans 〈◊〉 Almanes Ostrogoths Grecians as Mr. Mede hath observed out of Sigonius This distracted state or form of the beast under these ten Kingdoms at least though really and in substance the same with that under the Cesars yet seems to be another distinct power and as it were the seventh King Rev. 17.10 which was to continue but a short space but is indeed the same with the 6. viz. the Cesars The Roman Empire thus torn into ten at last by the subtilty of the Dragon and the false Prophet the two horned beast Antichrist is recollected and all the ten united as in one Empire under the Pope Rev. 13.3 12 13 14. as head and Monarch thereof and so his deadly wound was healed And this is the Pontifician or Papal head the onely forme of the Beasts State and Government which seventh bears the Whore this Pontifician head or forme of the Emperors Government in respect of that changed and miserably dilacerated Cesarship Re. 17.12 which was as the seventh seems to be as it were the eighth head or King but really and indeed is but the seventh and last head of the Roman beast and this Papal head goeth into perdition and in him the Roman Empire shall be utterly abolished 2. As the Beast in the whole is interpreted partly by his many forme state or a fourfold forme so partly according to the Worlds wonderment after this beast whereby it is evident that this is the self-same seven headed beast and ten horned which was formerly described Cap. 13. Rev. 13.1 3 4. And they that dwell on the Earth shall wonder whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the World when they behold that beast which was and is not and yet is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or rather as some read it and yet is at hand for so it notably agrees with the former description in the beginning of the verse The beast was and is not and shall asound out of the bottomless pit or it â—ay thus be explained retaining the ordinary reading The Beast that was i. e. the Roman Empire that was under five former sorts of Government And is not i. e. is not as yet under the seventh or last form or sort of Government viz. Pontificial or Papal And yet is that is under the sixt form of Casars at present in Johns time vers 8. Thus the beast in whole is interpreted Secondly The Beast is interpreted in his Parts viz. his seven heads and ten hornes what they are An Emphatical intimation of the singular wisdom required to the true discerning of these misteries being first premised And
here is the mind that hath wisdom First The seven heads of the beast are interpreted to be seven Mountains and seven Kings that by this double accommodation this interpretation might be more sure Partly to seven mountains the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth vers 9. That is these seven heads are seven hills upon which Rome is built viz. the Capitâ—line Palatine Calian Aventine Aesquiâ—â—â— Viminal and Quirinal Mount For the honour of which seven mountains saith Parens an Annual 〈◊〉 was observed on the third of the Iâ—â—s of December either in memory of Romulus the builder of the seven mountained City or of Servins Tullus who to Romnlus four Mountains added three more seven in all Partly to be seven Kings i. e. seven orders formes or kinds of Governors or Governments of this Roman Kingdome or Empire whereof Rome is the Imperial seat And there are seven Kings vers 10. viz. seven orders or sorts of Rulers Kings Consuls Tribunes Decemvirs Dictators Cesars Ponâ—â—ficrans or Popes Five are fall i. e. in Johns time the first five viz. Kings Consuls Tribunes Decemvies Dictators And one is i. e. Cesars then in being in Johns time and the other is not yee come i. e. the dilacerated state of the Cesarship or Cesartan Empire into ten Kingdomes at the least by the Barbarians as was before intimated this was as it were a seventh head but was indeed but of the sixth being the same in substance with the Cesars but was not come in Johns time and was but to continue a short space till the Dragon and falle Prophet had reunited and so healed this wounded and dilacerated state of the Empire Therefore in the Text it is added And when he commeth Rev. 13.2 he must continue a short space vers 10. And the beast that was and is not even he is the eighth and is of the seventh and goes to perdition v. 11. That is the Roman Empire that was under five heads or formes of Government before Johns time and under the sixth head of Cesars in Johns time which Cesars were changed as it were into another and seventh form in its dilacerated state of the ten Kingdoms yet is not i.e. In Johns time is not yet brought under the last head or forme viz. the Papal which is the eighth i.e. in respect of the change of the Cesarship into ten Kingdomes which seemed to be as a seventh but was indeed onely part of the sixth head and the Papal head is of the seventh i.e. he is indeed the last and seventh head or form of this beast in the course of which seventh head he carries the whore and in this state or form the beast shall be utterly destroyed Thus of the seven heads and their Interpretations 2. The ten hornes of the Beast are Interpreted to be ten Kings Bestia decemcornupeta seu secularis est unia versitas illa decem pluâ—m nus Regnorum in quae Caesarum post exturbatum â—raconem Imperium Barbarica plaga dissilierat in unam denuo Rempull cam Romanam redintegratà Draconu impierate coalescentium Mede Cap. 13. page 181. or ten Kingdomes viz. those ten before mentioned Kingdomes into which the Empire of the Cesars was divided by that deadly wound of the Barbaman Nations which ten Kings or Kingdoms were not yet sprung up in Johns time but into which afterwards the body of the Roman beast in the course of his last head should be dilacerated by the deadly wound of the Cesarean head And which ten Kings should unanimously give all their power to the beast for his restitution and reparation under the Government of his seventh and last head For unto this seventh head onely and not to any of the six aforegoing these ten horns belong Now these ten hornes are interpreted and described First Partly by their constitution as hath been now explained v. 12.13 Secondly Partly by their hostile persecution against the Lamb in his Members These shall make war with the Lamb viz. by making War with the Saints and overcoming them 42. months as was before declared Thirdly Partly by their overthrow by the Lamb Christ Jesus and his Saints at last which overthrow is confirmed both by the Lambs Regal power and by the Saints three victorial properties And the Lamb shall overcome them for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful v. 14. Hitherto of the interpretation of the Mystery of the beast carrying the Whore 2. Now of the Mystery of the Whore her self carried by this beast which is here also interpreted Herein note 1. Her Ample Dominion 2. Her utter destruction and 3. Topical Denomination 1. Her ample Dominion over peoples of many Nations and Languages signified by the waters where the Whore sitteth And he said unto me The waters which thou sawest where the Whore sitteth are Peoples and Multitudes and Nations and Tongues 1.15 2. Her utter destruction and judgement which the Angel promiseth to tell Johns is described First By the Instrumental means of her destruction the ten hornes upon the beast Secondly by the degrees of her destruction from these ten horns And the ten hornes which thou fawest upon the beast shall hate the whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire vers 16. These degrees of their destroying her shall be 1. Their hatred of the Whore with whom they have committed fornication 2. Deserting of her betaking themselves to Christs pure worship 3. Denuding of her or making her naked both by words laying open her filthy and abominable whoredomes and Idolatries c. and also by deeds withdrawing her respective revenues from her which were wont to be given her 4. Eating her flesh not onely by retaining to their own use her rich incomes Carnes nostras illi manducant qui nos persequuntur Aug. in Locum Tom. 8. but also by opposing and persecuting her which in Scripture language is as eating of ones flesh Job 19.22 Psa 27.2 5. Burning of her with fire When the punctual time cannot particularly be determined but it hastens apace and cannot be far off if the fift viol be now running which shall be poured out upon the forme of the beast which is now the judgement of many learned Divines Let the Saints strive mightily with God and pray the Whore into flames for her ruine approacheth And some of those Kingdomes that helped to raise up the Whore shall be as ready to pull her down Thirdly Her utter destruction is also described by the principal cause thereof Gods providential dispensation according to his Word who can as easily make these ten hornes unanimous to her ruine as they were to her rise and raign For God hath put into their hearts to fulfil his Will and to agree and to give their Kingdome to the beast until the words of God shall be fulfilled v. 17. 3. We have
of the way This I conceive to be the main reason the method and harmony of the Revelation is not observed In the Revelation all things are set down in good order what from time to time should come to pass the Synchronisms or concurrencies of times are set down one after another and the Revilation and changes in the Ecclesiastical and Civil States are exactly and punctually distinguished even as an excellent and well versed Historian is wont to do in the description of humane astions Dot contrary to all this many interpreters do pervert overturn and disturb the method seek and find out by-way boof error the things which as Relaâ—n belong to one and the same time they see down as following one another what shall come to pass after the call of Babyâ—â— they place before it ofttimes not knowing themselves where they stack or how they shall winde themselves out Besides they mistake and confound the States one with another not observing where mention is made of the Exclesiastical or Civil State So that many times they apply Monastical matters and the actions of Antichrist to that which is in the Revelation spoken of the Civil State Hence it is that the more one doth read some Expositors the more one is confounded But by the benefit of this key or guide of Synthronisms easily appears how natural a sense is made of every Vision and how perfectly answerable to History and events And thus much of the main body or substance of the Book Now before I come to the Eleventh Chapter I will here set down something concerning the time of Antichrists begining If we search the instant of his begining we shall hardly finde it seeing in the Apostles time it began to work under a mystery 2 Thess 2.7 but if we ask the time when he should be revealed we find it in Scripture to be at the ruine of the Roman Empire which being the onely obstacle to Antichrist was first of all to be taken out of the way that afterwards Antichrist might be displayed in his colours by these three degrees 1. Of a voluntary succession and removal of the Imperial Throne from that very place where Antichrist should place his Chair Hence learned Vsher saith Rome became the seat of the Beast by the means of the transâ—â—ting of the Seat of the Empire from Rome to Constantinople 2. The second of a violent oppression of Christendom by a forraign people viz. Goths and Vandals which Antichrist by glosing and flattery must win by little and little to the embracing of his abominations for the more speedy and surer planting of his ten several hornes 3. The third of a fraudulent Usurpation of a double sword the one spiritual in the Church the other temporal in the Common-weal by Antichrist himself then peeping abroad For the first it was to sall out at or about the three hundredth year after Christ about that time was the voluntary changing his seat dividing his Empire which Chrysostom expounds to be the removing of the let 2 Thes 2.7 For the second the overrunning of Christendom by the barbarous Nations when Antichrist did crouch at the feet of those Tyrants fawning and flattering them till out of them such Kingdomes might be settled as might give their power to the beast This was to fall out about the four hundredth year after Christ For the third when by these hornes he was hoysed up to that huge height of unjust Usurpation as to exalt himself above Kings and Emperors ruling not onely in the external and temporal estates but even in the faith and consciences of men this was about that year after Christ which some interpreters make the number of his name to intimate unto us Rev. 13.18 PART II. Concerning that great Question when did the 1200 and 60. days begin I will here set down further THe great Earthquake Rev. 11.13 whereby the Kingdomes of the grand Antithrist the whore of Babylon and all their supporters shall be utterly subverted in all Nations drawn near It may possibly be with us as it was with the people of the lews when our Saviour Christ name in the flesh or with the Churches of the Gentiles when Antichrist came Our Saviour was both come and gone before the Jews generally would know him for the Messiah and Antichrist was grown to his full age and stature before the world took any notice of him So Antichrist is neer his end and going a pace to perdition before the most of Gods people do so much as begin a little to discerne it That this grand earthquake is at hand appears because the Beast Antichrist who is to fall by it is so well stricken in years and so near his end The whole terme of his life and raign without the womb for the mystery of iniquity was framing this Embrio even from the Apostles times 2 Thes 2.7 is 42. months Rev. 13.5 or 1200. and 60. days that is so many years putting a day for a year as Numb 14.34 Ezek. 4.6 Now these years grow towards their full period for it is well nigh so much time since they begun this will be made to appear by these two Indices First it is almost so long time since the Papel state became the seventh head of the Roman Monarchy Secondly because is almost 1200 and 60. years since the ten Kings began and the Beast began with them as may appear Rev. 17.12 First It is almost so long since the Papal state became the seventh head of the Roman Monarchy Indice or Evidence first and when it began to be that head then it began to be the beast Rev. 17.11 that we may understand this we are to look upon the Text. Rev. 17.9 10.11 Here is the mind that hath wisdom the seven heads are seven Mountains on which the woman sits and there are seven Kings five are fallen and one is the other is not yet come See the same Exposition of these words before on the 17 th And when he cometh he must continue a short space and the beast that was and is not even he is the eighth and is of the seventh and goeth to perdition The seven heads of the Roman Monarchy signifie two things First Seven hills upon which the woman siâ—s i. e. upon which the City was built for the City is called the woman vers 18. the seven Hills what they were see before page 78 79. Secondly The heads also signifie seven Kings i. e. seven several formes of Supreme government that have been in Rome what these also are see before Page 78. Of these five are fallen when the Apostle received the Revelation that is Kings Tribunes Decemvirs Dictators Consuls One is That is the Emperor a Souldier chosen for the most part by the Armies And the other is not yet come He doth not say the seventh but the other This sense of the words though not the same with that I give on Chap. 17. Page 81 82. yet meeting
War again them So much of finishing their testimony It follows The beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit c. That is Antichrist or any of the Beastian party He is compared to a beast not onely because of his inhumanity but because of his irrationality in seeking by killing the Witnesses to hinder the course of the Gospel 2 Thess 3.1 2. And he is said to come out of the bottomless pit or Abyss The word in the Greek signifies all these By this Beast here is meant the Popish Ecclesiastical Government who use the temporal sword Clavis Apoâ— which may be understood out of hell as chap. 9. 2. or out of the sea as the ten-horned beast did Rev. 13.1 or out of the body of the earth or a deep pit in the earth and so may signifie the two-horned beast chap. 13. 11. Now t is this beast and his party that makes War against overcomes and kills the Witnesses his party is described chap. 13. 15 16. Such as either receive his mark or his name or the number of his name The explication of which see before upon chap. 13. Shall make war against them i. e. against the Witnesses We read chap. 13. 7. of the Beasts war against the Saints And it was given to him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them i. e. saith Mr. Mede the remnant of the womans seed in the Wilderness chap. 12. 17. which the same Author conceives to be executed when such a numerous company of the Waldenses and Albigenses and other true Christians were destroyed seventy years together First intended against the Saracens after turned against the Christians that would not worship and submit to the beast Here in this 11. chap. vers 7. is set down by the holy Ghost the beasts war against the Witnesses Note here into 〈◊〉 precedes the killing of the Witnesses a War properly to caned and a War against the Witnesses â—â— the Magistrates and Ministers of some of the Reformed Churches for so it did the killing of the Witnesses to the German Churches the War betwixt the Emperor and the German Princes especally the Sweeds lasted many years at last ended in a Pacification out 〈…〉 were left and deprived of the liberty of the Consiliences whereby the Preachers and Professors of 〈◊〉 Gospel in the He 〈◊〉 Provinces were â—ivilly slain Apug 1650. which differs from the others regard of the time of its it being at the latter end of Antichrists reign when the Witnesses finish their testimony not then they begin to finish but when they shall finish It commonwealth from the time They were persecuted and fought against by Antichrist often before but this is the last hattel before their death and rising again to the ruine of Antichrists Kingdom Which War as Parâ—â—s notes is not onely Ecclesiastical but Civil for the beast doth stir up Princes of Kingdoms and Provinces to make War against the Witnesses that he may overcome and kill them And shall overcome them i. e. not by power and armed force as in the war against the Saints chap 13. 7. which made way for and effected a cruel bodily killing of the Saints before mentioned The enemies have now given over this bodily killing of the Prophets and Saints almost this 100 years few in this space have been called before Tribunals and sentenced to death Happily some few examples may be found like a few drops of rain after a great showr but not many They have forborn this course not out of any love or compassion to the people of God but meerly because they durst not or because they found by proof that this course prejudiced their cause Sanguis Martyr Semen Eccles but he overcomes them by his Jesuitical or rather bottomless pit policy bringing it so about that the secular and ecclesiastical power like Herod and Pilat are united against the Witnesses the latter making use of the former as a rider makes use of the power and strength of his horse to ride over tread down and kill the Witnesses Rev. 13.3 And kill them Now because these words are somewhat killing and discouraging because the same with those chap. 13. 7. and import as if this slaughter because the last were worse then the first I will first therefore give you the judgement and opinion of learned Mede of this last killing by the Beast His words are these Neither can it certainly be concluded that because this killing that the Beast makes of the Witnesses is the last therefore t is the greatest and the worst of all that went before it But it hath and deserves a singular mention and description amongst all the slaughters of the Beast perhaps not so much for the greatness of it sure not because of the continuance of it as because it was to be a sign that the mourning of the witnesses should end soon after it and that the ruine of the City of Rome should instantly follow it Fo as the compassing about of Jerusalem with Armies Luk. 21.20 did foretel and was a sign her destruction and desolation was at hand and near at her drors the like here may be intimated as we may conceive concerning the destruction of Babylon when you shall see that triennial slaughter of the Witnesses then know the desolation of that great City of Rome it at hand Now this killing of the Witnesses by the Beast or his party is to be understood according to the forecited Author and all late Interpreters metaphorically or analogically of a civil death For he is said to dye in that notion or sense who in that station wherein he stood either Political or Ecclesiastical or any other ceaseth to be what he was hence he is said to kill The slaying of the Witnesses is to be understood not of a corporal but civil death Caryl on Job cap. 21. 7. that doth punish any man with such a death For in Scripture language to live is often to be to die is not to be in which sense we are said to dye to sin when we are no longer the servants to sin and to live to Christ when we begin to be Christs Furthermore This killing is plainly meant a killing them as Witnesses not as men a throwing them out of their places and stations as if naturally dead Whether this sad time be past present or to come I leave others to judge it appears by the following Verses it must be meant of a civil death ver 8. Their dead bonies lying in the street of the great City three days and a half this shews it cannot be meant of a natural death for how should their bodies lye dead in that sense for three years and a half or say it were for shorter time Again it is clear from vers 11. For look what the resurrection of the Witnesses to life shall be after their killing and lying dead such a time such must needs be the killing for no resurrection properly so called can come
to pass before Christs coming under the seventh Trumpet But this Resurrection here in the Text is to be while yet under the sixth Trumpet Corrente adhoc tuba sexta Vers 8. And their dead bodies shall lye in the street of the great City which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was crucissed Here we have the Witnesses unburied estate and here is the place described where they are killed for where they lye dead there they must be killed Now the Text saith their dead bodies lye in the street of the great City By the great City is meant the City of Rome of which the Angel speaks Rev. 17.18 and Chap. 14.8 Babylon the great City Bellarm. l. 2. pontif Rom. c. 2. l. 3 c. 5. and that by Babylon is meant the City of Rome is granted by Bellarmin himself It is added which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt i. e. mystically in a mysterious sense and resemblance another Sodom for its spiritual uncleaness and another Egypt for its Tyranny over Gods people Here note by the way when ever we read of the plagues of Sodom or Egypt in this book and the Visions of it we are to understand the same spiritually that is mystically For when the Roman state is subject to all these plagues it is Sodom or Egypt mystically we shall meet with something concerning the plagues of Egypt in the pouring out of the Vials as we did in the History of the witnesses and of the destruction of Sodoâ—â— in the judgement of the beast Chap. 19 and 20 and 10. vers the meaning of all which is to be opened with this key hence also it may be demonstrated that the Roman Dition is the subject of the Trumpets because some of those plagues are Egyptian plagues but to whom should Egyptian plagues be brought but to Egypt which the Holy Ghost here makes to be Rome So we see plainly what is meant by the great City but what is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Street of this great City is not so easie to unfold For certainly it cannot be meant of any Court Street or broad place within the City for these reasons 1. Because our Saviour Christ who is said to be crucified in this street was not crucified in any Street or market place either of the City of Rom or of Jerusalem but without the gate Heb. 13.12 therefore the stree of the great City is not any street or broad place within the walls of either City but a place without the City 2. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being put in the singular number doth note such a kind of state or Republique the City whereof hath onely one street not many but the streets in any great and famous City are more then one a City hath many streets 3. We must suppose the bodies of the witnesses to lye there where they are overcome but there use to be no meetings for War within the Walls of one City but if they do not meet in the Enemies Country yet they meet in the Countries and Provinces subject to the City 4. The dead bodies of the slain Witnesses lye three days and an half where they may be seen of people nations and tongues who will not suffer their bodies to be buried therefore they do not lye in the street or broad place of any great City but seem to be dispersed abroad through some of the Provinces to which for that reason the exposition of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ought to conform and agree If any shall say the Army of the beast whereby the Witnesses are slain may be made up of the people of several nations and tongues therefore they may easily see the bodies of them whom they have killed to this I answer by having recourse to the foregoing reason viz. that so great Armies do not use to meet within the Wals of a City For the words are altogether so to be interpreted especially when no reason of the Allegory or resemblance can be pretended so as there might be no absurdity in the literal sence What shall I need to say more by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then is to be understod the Regions or Territories subject to the Dominon of the great City Annotations upon the Bâ—ble called a great City because it hath large Territories or within the Dominion of the Roman Empire or in the outplaces thereof The word in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 signifies Qâ—icquid omnino extra sit sive extra urbem Job 5.10 Brightman makes the street here to be some part of the Roman Dition or Jurisdiction wherein this sad spectacle is exhibited to be seen other-some of the ten Kingdoms that have been in subjection to this great City though they are not at this present members of the Political state in the Roman Empire and yet it may be have some tye or dependance upon the Popish Roman Empire for the great whore sits upon many waters and raigneth over the Kings of the Earth Rev. 17.1.18 all which ad eundâ—m scopum proveniunt Now according to this Interpretation of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there will be no more obscurity in the following words where our Lord was crucified Christ is said to be crucified in the street of the City of Rome Non in urbe Roma sed intra ditionem Romanam Mede or where the bodies of the slain Witnesses are cast out viz. not in the City of Rome but within the Roman Dition or Dominion within which â—hrist was literally crucified thus much of this Verse now to proceed Vers 9. And they of the People kindreds and tongues c. shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves Concerning which word whether it may be taken for cruelty or kindness seems doubtful and cannot certainly be determined but by fulfilling the Prophecy Most Writers do interpret the words of the Enemies of the Witnesses who shall in this last persecution be so cruel to them as not to suffer their dead bodies to be buried fulfilling that Text Psa 79.2 Or rather the intention of the enemies in this civil killing is the more to expose them to contempt the bodies lye dead in the street like despised broken Idols in whom is no pleasure But I incline with Mede and others to think the words are to be understood of the friends of the Witnesses For their enemies are described vers 10. by the name of them that dwell upon the Earth that rejoyce at this slaughter c. But of those that will not suffer their dead bodies to be put into their Graves t is said they of the people kindreds and tongues by which they seem to be plainly distinguished one from another So then by them that will not suffer the bodies of the Witnesses to be buried understand the friends of the Witnesses which may be so many and so great a number Towards the end of Antichrists raign the everlasting
raised to life As the natural earthquake shakes the earth so mystical earthquakes make Kingdomes quake with wars and troubles Annot. on Bible and ascend into heaven there is a great earthquake i.e. great commotion of the Nations a great resurrection and combustion in the Roman Empire a great mutation and change of Political affairs a great turn of the times Which great commotion of the Nations and strange turn of things makes way for the resurrection of the Witnesses and their restoring to life again with so great an increase of honour and esteem The effect of which great earthquake is the fall of the tenth part of the City and the slaughter of 7000 names of men Now that we may come as near to the true sense and meaning of these words as possibly we can I will lay down and prove two things which will be good grounds to go upon in the explication of the Text. 1. Because no judgement can befal the Beast but what is contained in some of the Vials This same ruine of Rome here described belongs to the fifth Vial the proof of which is there is the same subject of the plague in both places viz. in this 11. chap. and in chap. 16. here t is the great City there it is the throne and seat of the Beast for Rome the great City to be the seat of the beast is so well known that it needs no proof It is further proved because the ruine that is here described doth so nearly precede the total destruction of the Beast at the sounding of the seventh Trumpet as nothing is said to intervene or come between but the passing away of the second wo. But now to the total abolition of the Beast is necessary the pouring out of the seventh Vial to the passing away of the second wo or that plague from Euphrates is necessary the pouring out of the fixt Vial therefore the destruction of the great City which goes next before the passing away of the second wo doth belong to the fifth Vial. 2. The second thing premised and proved in order to the interpretation of this verse is this viz. The â—â—ipe of the great City in vers 13. is the very same destruction of Babylon which is prophefied of c. 18. which I prove thus because it is certain from that Chapter that that very same destruction of Babylon or of the City of Rome doth go before the full destruction of the Beast and the beginning of Christs glorious Kingdom at the founding of the seventh Trumpet But now the destruction of the City which is here declared doth so nigh antecede that very Kingdom of Christ that the Spirit of God making mention of no other destruction between passeth immediately to that kingdom and the description of the seventh Trumpet Therefore one and the same destruction of that City must of necessity be described in both for who can imagine or beleive that the holy Ghost should altogether pass by the greatest destruction of all and make mention of some lesser slaughters between no way to be compared to it These things being so it follows then that the Interpretation of these words be levelled to this rule and as it were tried by this touchstone and so to seek such a sense and meaning of these words as doth best agree with the description of that destruction of Babylon which with what reason may be we may now see Besides the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fell must needs note some effect of an Earthquake cannot agree to this Interpretation And the touth part of the City fell By which I conceive is not meant the tenth out of many Kingdoms given to the Pope now taken from him for then the word should be rather 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nor yet the ten Kingdoms or any of them subject to the Dominion of the City of Rome who in this commotion of the Nations fall off from the Papal State and will be subject to it no longer But by this ΔΕΚΑΤΟΠthis tenth part of the City I agree with Mede is meant the fall and destruction of whole Rome the City that now is which is but the tenth part of that which it was when it was in its glory The City of Rome that now is in regard of the old City of Rome when she was in her flourishing condition is but the tenth part as the same is proved by Lipsius The holy Ghost in the words intimates as much Admirand lib. 3. So much of the great City as was remaining when the great earthquake came at that time was ruined viz. the tenth part of the City for nine parts many ages before were fallen partly by the desolations of war brought upon it so many times by the barbarous nations and partly decayed and worn away with time and partly destroyed with lightning and tempest the tenth was reserved for the fate of the Papal state the mother of Harlots which by this earthquake at the resurrection of the Witnesses shall be utterly destroyed It is added And in the earthquake wire slain of men Greek names of men seven thousand Note here the Text doth not say 7000 are slain by the fall of the City but 7000 are slain in the earthquake which earthquake is to shake down the whole kingdom of the Beast throughout the world therefore by the 7000 men must not be understood I conceive so many individual persons For t is not likely the pouring out of the Vial upon the throne of the Beast will pass away with so small a slaughter of men Sure we are shaking down of the whole kingdom of the Beast the total destruction of Babylon Chap. 16. which the holy Ghost intimates by this earthquake elsewhere in the Revelation will not be without the slaughter of a far greater number then 7000 men To satisfit this doubt therefore we must consider what may be meant by the City here and what by the names of men First The City or great City hath a double acceptation in these Prophesies Being taken either for First The Royal City of the Beast viz. the City of Rome called the throne or seat of the Beast upon which the fifth Vial is poured out or Secondly for the Citizens or for the Romish City constituted of the Pope and his Cardinals and the whole troop of the Romish clergy who Rome being destroyed burnt to ashes and levelled to the ground not to be inhabited any more shall betake themselves to another habitation and so shall be reserved to the last Vial at the pouring out of which it is said besides the destruction of others of all lands Nations and Cities in this earthquake so great as never was such since man was upon the face of the earth great Babylon came into remembrance before God to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath For that burning and destruction of Babylon taken for the Royal City of
the beast that is described Chap. 18 and 19. doth altogether precede the destruction of the beast and the False Prophet as is manifest in the Text. To sum up all in a word happily it may so come to pass that that first destruction of Babylon viz. of the City of Rome may be without any very great slaughter at least without the total destruction of the Citizens for though the City be utterly destroyed yet a great part of the Citizens may fly from the destruction of the City timely consulting their own safety or for some other cause which the event will make manifest and thus the doubt or scruple concerning the small number of the slain may be satisfied 2. And will yet more fully if we consider what number may be designed in the words names of Men. Names of men may be taken for eminent and renowned Men high and great persons cheif heads of Noble Families Names of men is as much as to say men of name An Hypallage frequent in Scripture as silver Shekels for Shekels of silver Levit. 5. the Law of righteousness for the righteousness of the Law Rom. 9. Riches of grace for rich grace Ephes 1. So names of men may here be put for men of name persons of great honor and dignity in opposition to men without name base and ignoble Persons Job 30. According to this interpretation which nothing can be said against Names of Men signifing high and great persons suppose they be of the Popish Ecclesiastical Order whom we call Church men by great names and titles distinguished from the inferiour Clergy if 7000 of these be slayn how many of a lower rank and order which the Holy Ghost would not so much as count or reckon Besides this there may another interpretation be given of Names of Men viz. Companies and Societies of men which are wont to be called by proper names as well as particular men as Cities Towns Parishes Villages Monasteries and Nunneries and what are these if we consider the Matter but names of men as the Roman name is put for the Romans themselves the Thebane Polity is called the Thebane name what is therefore the Names of those humane Societies whether they be either of Rome or in that they call the Church State be the 7000 in this great Earthquake to be slain i. e. subdued by the adverse power which the Scripture useth to call death but we must not rashly determine any thing in a thing to come the best commentary of a Prophecy is the fulfilling of it but I bring these things to shew that of these words a larger sense may be given then is commonly conceived When the word Name in Scripture doth not use to be restrained to one single signification neither are Names of men joyned together in any place of Scripture but in this neither is the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Names taken simply for particular single persons but onely in two places Acts 1.15 Rev. 3.4 in other places it hath several significations It follows And the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of Heaven i. e. the rest of the Bestian party are amazed and terrified and thereby compelled to acknowledge the just judgements of God which he hath poured out upon them and to confess their sins which to do is to give glory to God Vers 14. The second we is past and be bold the third we cometh quickly The Second we is past the meaning is this great Earthquake continues to the end of the second we or of the sixth Trumpet together with which is to be finished the Prophecying of the mourning Witnesses For after so great a Victory over the beast and their ascending up into the Church-Heaven with so great honour they put on their mourning weeds no more But now if this second wo or plague of the sixth Trumpet be the Turks from Euphrates flowing in upon and over-running the Roman Empire in times past as was interpreted Chap. 9. it cannot be but the passing away of this second wo must be the overthrow of the Turkish Empire the drying up of the waters of Euphrates at the end of the pouring out of the fifth Vial whereby way is made for the coming of the Kings of the east cap. 16.12 At which coming of the Kings of the East least there should be left too wide a space betwixt both Trumpets the seventh Trumpet seems to begin Hiatus And so the wonderful preparation of the beast and false Prophet to the Armageddon Battel Cap. 16.13 together with the event thereof at the pouring out of the last Vial vers 17. must be made to begin at the sounding of the seventh trumpet And truely it seems very congruous that the preparation to the Battel as well as the battel it self should appertain to the same Trumpet but here an objection must be removed out of the way viz. Object Whether the Beasts 42 months and the Witnesses 1200 and 60 days are one and the same terme but now these days of the mourning Witnesses ending at the passing away of the sixth trumpet plague or second we It may very well be asked why the months of the beasts may not be supposed to be longer when after this time so great a part of the beast still remaines not to be quite abolished till the beginning of the seventh Trumpet It may be answered Answ This may be either because at the calling of the Jews there called the Kings from the East a new kingdom begins Or because in the duration of the beasts reign there is an ey or respect chiefly to the Empire of the City of Rome but now this great Royal City of the Beast in this Earthquake is taken demolished So that the Beast from thenceforth shall have changed his form when he is driven from his Metropolis it can no longer be counted which is the signification of his other seven heads a seven-mountained Kingdom Behold the third wo comes quickly This begins at the sound of the seventh Trumpet Wherefore these words immediately follow Verse 15. And the seventh Angel sounded And the seventh Angel sounds a Jubilee and then there be great proclamations and acclamations in heaven Called by some Divines the wo-joy Trumpet that the kingdoms of the world are the kingdoms of Christ and whereas before the Devil Dragon and Beast and his horns reigned now Christ takes to himself his great power and reigneth for which the whole Church under the type of 24. Elders praise him though the Nations be angry as they ever are when Christ puts forth his just power Verse 15 16 17 18. He now gives reward unto his servants the Prophets c. and destroys them that destroyed the earth that is he ruines the wicked and Idolatrous generation of Antichrist who wasted his Church before ver 18. His tabernacle is now open in heaven and the ark of his testimony seen ver 19. i.e. Christ represented by the ark is clearly manifested before