else where fully declared in this book wee hope that wee doo no violence to the truth if that we shal ioyne this place unto the meaning of other the like But some man wil say that wee have made mention of this calling in the former chapter it is true but that of the sixt viall was but begun not perfit and absolute as that of the last viall shall be wheÌ„ all the enemies shal be destroyed VVhich distinction of calling the former words doo manifest when in that first Iohn was commanded to write blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lambe chap. 19.9 VVherby it is taught that the first was not perfit where need was of such confirmation the office wherof is to seale up a thing not yet sufficiently known and to come which all being called had bin superfluous But Daniel writeth most plainly who hath distinguished both the callings by their times He setteth the first at the ende of a thousand two hundred ninetie daies The second at the ende of a thousand three hundred and five The distance between both is of fourty five dayes that is of so many yeeres as in an other place with Gods helpe wee will shew Dan. 12.11.12 VVee shall see likeweise in Ezechiel in the place before spoken off that the dry bones being covered with flesh and skinne did move themselves alike and approach one to an other Moreover after some time during which they were destitute of Spirit at length being quickened by the same doo live a true life and doo performe all those offices of life peculiar unto bodies endued with soules That approaching of the dry bones is that first calling of the former chapter The comming to of the Spirit giving to those bones perfit life is the latter calling this resurrection to which nothing shal be wanting unto perfit salvation Both which though Ezechiel comprehendeth in the same chapter yet he handleth the more distinctly afterward For first before that warre with Gog and Magog he mentioneth the resurrection as also Iohn that which was begun in the former chapter afterward when Gog was destroyed he describeth a most glorious building of the temple in the 40. chapter c. which is this secoÌ„d and full resurrection Therfore the first resurrection of the Iewes of the Iewes I say for the first resurrection of this chapter ver 5. is of the Gentiles into which notwithstanding shal fall at length this first of the Iewes that every way it may be the first shal be by and by after the destruction of Rome The second shal be straite after the Romish Pope and the Turke be destroyed This resurrection is a power to enter into the temple which the smooke did hinder to all untill all the seven last plagues were accomplished ch 15. the which is spent in destroing the Pope of Rome and the Turke as was spoken sufficiently before If I seeme to any to weaken the gâ—neral resurrection by taking so notable a foundation from it let him understand that it taketh no dammage from hence This place hath yet left a most strong ground to confirme the same For the Spirit doth not deceiv with a fained similitude but of which ought to be a most certen persuasion among Christians Otherweise certenly he had lost his labour if he had brought any thing lacking credit Moreover he should have driven to defperation in propounding that which must not be done for they would have thought that even so they had bin past hope but using a tipe of a thing that should most certeÌ„ly come to passe in his time he both maketh the calling undoubted and also declareth the manner wherby at length the resurrection shal be accomplished And thus much of the true sense of this argument now we wil prosecute the rest ¶ Then I saw a great white throne The preparation of God the iudge setting his people at liberty taken from a similitude of the general resurrection For the power and mercy of God shal be no lesse cleare in the molifying of men hardened by so long a revolting and in bestowing salvatioÌ„ upon them so past recovery then at length shal appeare in raising out rotâ—en bodies out of the graves The throne therfore is white most pure most gratious most comfortable in the very forme having a demonstration of mercy Great to declare the most imperial maiesty of God which now shal be made evident in this assembly of his people he sitteth also upon a throne ready to iudge because ther shal be no more any delay of rewarding the stay wherof before brought men into that opinion as if God regarded not the earth there fled from the face of him that sitteth on the throne both earth and heaven a great alteration of al things being made both the false Church plucked up by the rootes and also the true augmented with so great fruitfulnes that her former sorrowful face may seem to have fled away 12 And J saw the dead both smal and great Such then was the iudgment now at described those that shal be iudged These smal and great ar Iewes who before hated the faith and were spent with such calamities that they might seeme to differ nothing from the dead Now al of them shal appeare before God every one to undergo the iudgement either of life or death For now it shal be made manifest who ar elect and who reprobate They which yet shal resist the truth obstinatly shal be numbred amoÌ„g the last sheepe No remedy shal be used afterward wherby their stubburne minds may be subdued But why saith he small and great Whit her in the last resurrection according to the maner wherof al things are here applyed shal every one appeare in that stature in which they departed this life For this cause some have affirmed too rashly that every one shal rise againe in that talnesse in which Adam was created Which opinion both resisteth evidently this place and also taketh away the truth of the restored body if ther shal not be that iust stature in which they dyed ¶ And the books were opened The forme of iudging by books opened which are the consciences endued with the true light of Gods wil with a lively feeling of all their actions These shal now openly manifest to all men them in whom there is a syncere minde given of God and in whom lay hid hitherto the seed of election ¶ Then an other book Of Gods decree and election these things ar spoken after the manner of men considering that it is our manner for the helpe of our memory to recorde in books things done and in iudgmeÌ„ts to give sentence according to the truth of them Therfore election is no new thing neither dooth it depend on our pleasure but is founded on the eternal decree of God ¶ And the dead wer iudged c. After or according to those things which wer writteÌ„ in the books as once in the return froÌ„ BabyloÌ„s captivity
and 5.31.32 and 18.37 1 Tim. 6.13 And can there be any vaine thing in that which comes from so faithfull a witnes Or appertaines it to his credit to hide from us any thing which is no where else to be drawne forth than out of the chest of the brest of the Romane Prelate especially when no where or in one worde hath he allowed any such store house whence we must fetch it But these are the dotages of witnesses if possible it may be so vaine and unfaithfull as this heavenly and most true witnes is faithfull ¶ That first begotten from the dead These things concerne his Priesthood wherby thorough death he hath overcome death and hath made a full satisfaction for our sinnes for this is to be the first begotten from the dead that he first by conquering death arose againe whom death woulde nevâ—r have let go if it had but never so litle power to have kept him with him For which cause the Apostle saith he is risen againe for our justification Rom. 4 25. He seemes briefly and distributively to be called the first begotten from the dead for that which fully should be thus the first begotten of them which arise againe from the dead By which two things are signified first that he is the Prince and head of them that arise againe from the dead as the Apostle declares to the Coll. 1.18 And that he is also the beginning and the first begotten from the dead that amongest all he may have the preheminence therefore he is also called the first fruites of them which slept 1 Cor. 15.20 Secondly that at last by his power he will also raise up others from their graves Even as he himselfe saith and I will raise him up in the last day Ioh. 6.39.40 Which two things apperteine onely to the elect For neither is he the head of the wicked neither will he at the last daye raise them up in glorie to wit as the elect but onely by the force of that curse in what daie thou shalt eate thereof thou shalt surely die Gen. 2.17 will restore to them their bodies in which they shall endure everlasting torments Wherby it commeth to passe that this repairing seing that it is onely unto death scarsely in the scriptures in ioyeth the name of the resurrection And therefore the spirit seemeth not to speake collectively the first begotten of the dead but distributively the first begotten from the dead that is of those that arise from the dead as before hath bene spoken there being a plaine difference of the elect dead the reprobate ¶ And Prince of the Kings of the earth The Kingly office of Christ to which whatsoever is in heaven and earth is in subiection according to that all power in heaven and earth is given to me Mat. 28.18 But it was sufficient in this place onely to have mentioned his superioritie over Kinges above all which now by infinite degrees he is superiour who when he was in the earth seemed the basest of servants Neither do these things appertaine to his dignitie onely but also to his excellent power over all Kings which by bridling he now so restraineth that they can not move themselves but as farre as he please howsoever in former time he yeelded himself to their lustes ¶ Which hath loved us So hath bene his office the present benefite which the saints enioie is set forth with a thankesgiving The want of the relative maketh the sentence harsh which full should be thus to him which hath loved us c. which relative is expressed in the next verse to him be glory c But seing that in so long a circunstance of wordes a repetition thereof should be necessarie in the end he omitted it in the beginning least twise he should repeate the same that which once onely was to be spoken he leaveth often unspoken But Francis of Ribera exclaimes that this place is corrupted and that the latine copies without all doubt which now are are farre better corrected then the greeke copies But by the Iesuites leave neither is the place corrupted and if it were granted yet he should unwisely conclude this excellency of latine copies There is in this place a wonderfull coÌ„sent of all greeke copies Aretas thus readeth and expoundeth and he saw how all did fitly agree together The order saith he of this sentence after this maner returnes from the last to the first To him be glory and power which hath loved us wâ—shed us through his blood But this is harde saith the Iesuite Therefore let Iohn have no audieÌ„ce in his Athenian eares as incoÌ„grue which hath no thing more common than after the maner of his countrey both to want and to abonde with relatives In the 1. ver he had and he had signified for which also he had signified In the 5. And from Iesus Christ that faithfull witnes for And from Iesus Christ which is that faithfull witnes in the next verse and hath made us Kings for and which hath made us Kings and so afterward very often But be it that the place is corrupted shall for one blemish the price be taken away from a most beautifull maide and be bestowed on another whose bodie is wholly deformed But saith he our Jnterpretour as alwaies he is wont hath followed true and corrected copies also there without doubt where he tâ—rneth and he stood for and J stoode chap. 12.17 and no man could say the song for and no man coulde learne the song chap. 14.3 and the King of ages for the King of saints chap. 15.3 and in the same place clothed with a pure stone for with pure linnen ver 6. which art and which was holy for which art and which was and which will be chap. 16.5 in the same place J heard another saying for I heard an other saying from the altar ver 7. at one houre after the beast for at one houre with the beast chap. 17.12 vessels of precious stone for of precious woode chap. 18.12 Let these suffice for a tast of many other Saw the Iesuite these things was he not ashamed to confirme that the old Interpretour hath alwaies followed corrected copies But these are faultes of the Printers It may be some are But what have we to do with the Printers thereof as though the strife were not coÌ„cerning the greeke and latine copies which now are extant but of the first edition of the latine translation which no where at this daie is to be seen Next these are faultes both ancient and also now confirmed by the authorâ—ty of the Councell of Trent which hath set downe and decreed that of many latine editions this old and common translation which through so long experience of ages hath bin approved in the Church it selfe be accounted authenticke nor be refused under any pretence whatsoever it were an easie thing to shift of the authority of the Counsell if by putting over the fault to the Printers of the bookes
it were lawfull to departe froÌ„ the common edition Thou seest then that those faultes must be made good by thee and the fidelitie of the old Interpretour very ignorantly I will not say impudently boasted of though in deede so it was needfull for thee by reason of that dutifulnes wherby thou art bounde to Rome 6 And hath made that is and which hath made by a want of the relative as but now we have said All those things tende hereunto that they may teach that Christ hath not these good things for himselfe alone wherwith we have heard by the wordes last handled he is endued but doth poure them on the elect wherby they may be blessed thorough the participation of them ¶ Kings and Priests to God Some reade A Kingdome and Priests as also the common translation hath It makes not much for the meaning yet it is more likely that there is a conioining of persons betweene themselves than of things and persons The elect are Kings by participating of Christs Kingdome through which we have overcome the law death and sinne and doe daiely triumphe over the world treading under foote the same by faith 1 Ioh. 5.4.5 By him also we are Priests who being dead in him we have God mercifull to us and a waie opened to call boldly on him But he addeth wariely that we are made Kings and Priests to God that we maie not thinke that this honour is given to us eyther to trouble civill matters or to confound Churches politie ¶ To him be glory This is all that we can render for his exceeding benefits namely to wish that by his righteous praises he be celebrated amoÌ„gst all men And this thankesgiving seemes to be undertaken for Gods present gift thorough the knowledge of Christ poured forth on the GeÌ„tiles Beholde he commeth with the cloudes A benefite to come to be expected at his glorious coming To come with the cloudes is to manifest himselfe with a storme and tempest and wonderfull terrour of vehement and great lightening to be avenged on the wicked and to deliver his After which maner Daniell also speaketh of his coming J saw in the visions of the night that behold one like to the sonne of man came with the cloudes of heaven chap. 7.13 For so the notable iudgements of God ar wont to be described by which he poureth forth his fervent wrath on his enemies that we maie thinke that all creatures doe fight for God also he will use the heaveÌ„ the earth to helpe his people and furthermore that the reprobate shall have no meanes to escape After the like maner the Psalmist being delivered out of the handes of his enemies praiseth God for his power shewed from heaven in delivering of him Ps 18.13.14.15 In Mathew it is saide he will come on the cloudes chap. 24.30 but it may be in the same sence which is in Ps 18.11 and he sate on the Cherubins and did flie c. But the Angels affirme that he will come as they had seene him going into heaven Act. 1.11 And no feare was there onely the cloude tooke him awaie out of their sight but without any stricking of terrour But the similitude seemeth to be referred to the truth of the humane nature in which he shall returne to be seen of all men after which sorte he went into heaven not for the pompe and maiestie of his coming or the Angels speake in regard of the Godly to whom his coming shall be most ioyfull for which the reprobate shall in vaine desire that the mountaines should cover them All be it it shall be manifest by those things that follow that here these wordes are not spoken of his last coming but onely allude unto it because of the similitude ¶ And they shall waile over him Here the wailing is of repentance not of desperation as is plaine out of Zachary from whence these wordes are fetched and they shall looke saith he to him whom they have perc d and they shall lament over him as a lamentation for their onely begotten chap. 12.10 But seeing that when men shall stand before the throne of the universall iudgement their repentance shall be to late by no meanes these things seeme that they can be uÌ„derstood of the last iudgemeÌ„t neither of that his coming with the cloudes which but now he spake of but rather of that his excelleÌ„t glory which shall be manifest in the world in the calling of the Iewes Those are they which once perced him but at length they shall beholde him all the Tribes of the earth that is the whole nation of the Iewes shall with aboundaÌ„ce of teares bewaile the wickednes of their ancestours for delivering Christ to death And in deede the Revelation staies her narration upoÌ„ their conversion as hereafter God willing it shall be manifest And because then the glory of Christ shall be very great in the earth a most lively patterne of that which shall shine in the last daye a preparation unto this is brought for the beautifying of it Neither alone in this place but as it seemeth also in many other ¶ All Tribes These things are proper to the Iewes to whom once tribe by tribe the promised land was divided The thing could not in more exquisite wordes be declared Sometime the tribes are taken metaphorically but in no wise here seeing that Zachary mentioneth by name the Iewish tribes The land saith he shall lament every family apart the family of the house of David â—part the family of the house of Levy apart all the rest of the families every familie apart The lamenters here are those which were percers and the tribes are of those that lamented therefore of them which perced him to wit of the Iewes to whom properly this sinne belongs Therefore these wordes of the Apostle are thus as if he should saie Beholde he comes with the cloudes all men of all sortes shall see him also those which perced him to wit the Iewes whose predecessours crucified Christ and perced his side with aspeare these being scatered every where thorough all nations shall at length be convertâ—d to the true faith for earnest grief shall morne both for the detestable iniquity of their forefathers and also for their so long hardening yea Amen And so finally this is the summe of all that the benefite of Christ partly present is here celebrated in the calling of the Gentiles for that which he before spake of Kings and Priestes is referred to the seaven Churches of Asia that is to all the Gentiles embracing Christ at that present for which cause there is attributed to him the praise of glory power partly to come in the calling of the Iewes which we have declared to us both by their repentance and also by the desire and wishe of all the Godly ¶ Yea Amen The fervent desire of the Godly desiring this coming is expressed in greeke and hebrew for this shall be the wishe of all nations The
booke Because it is proper in deede to a Kingly power to prevayle with God and to beare away those thinges from him wherof lately they had noe power nor ability Wherfore they sing that they are made Kings to God as though they should say that they not onely are Kinges because they have subdued Death Sinne and the Devill but chiefly because they have God regarding their commodityes keeping nothing from them which any way may make for their good This is that Kingly power most noble in deede and alway to be praised But where they say they shall raigne on earth from hence that is evident which even nowe wee said at the eight verse that this is the company of the militant Church reigning on earth For why should the Saints in Heaven having attayned heavenly glory reioyce in an earthly dominion 11 And I heard round about the Throne and the Beasts The glorifying of the Angels who apart from the Church prayse God of whom there is another cōsideration thē of men redeemed by the blood of Christ for these being fallen are restored and they are upheld that they fall not And therefore are placed without the circuit of the Throne the Elders to whom yet they are next on every side garding the Church both that they may watch for her safety and also may reioyce in her behalfe for her prosperity From whence in the seconde place is rehearsed their gratulation as though they would learne every day more and more from the Church the incomprehensible mystery of redemption in which they behold with such earnest desire 1 Pet. 1.12 ¶ A thousande hundred thousand The common translation hath not these wordes a thousande hundred thousand but Aretas the Complutent edition and other copies read them And so in Daniel 7.10 from whence this place seemeth to have ben taken albeit the Iesuite will have nothing to be added in the common translation of such purity is it But where ought to be a greater number then where every kinde of Creature which is in Heaven and beneath with one consent agree to prayse the Lambe ver 13 Therefore he had better covered his shame if he would rather confesse freely the defect then to defende a manifest fault 12 To receave power Worthy is the Lambe that was killed that nothing should be so heard which his power may not overcome for he hath deserved by his death in such sorte that he should have power over all things Therefore by right all prayse is given unto him as to the most mighty most rich most wise c. the common translation for riches readeth Godhead without the authority of any Greeke copyes Notwithstanding it must be soo because so it seemeth to the Iesuites that the olde Jnterpreter hath followed alwayes the more corrected copies I would passe by such things if the impudency of the adversaryes did not compell mee to make them manifest at least in a word 13 And the whole creature All the Creature reioyce at this Prophecy evē they also which are void of reason because from thence they may perceive plainly that there shal be an ende at length to their labours Which time they expect with earnest affection much desyring to be freed from this yoke of vanity Rom. 8.21 ¶ And which are on earth in the Greeke it is and which are in the earth that is to say which live in the overmost part of the earth and under the earth which ly hid in the most inward bowels The whole creature expecteth a renovation not onely that which sheweth it selfe abroade is to be seen but also which lyeth hid within in secret But seeing here he speaketh of creatures voide of reason for it was spoken before of the whole kinde of reasonable creatures who would had from hence built and erected Purgatory but men voyd of reason But for wante of other guests they are compelled to stuffe their Popish banqueting chamber with bruit beasts ¶ And which are in the Sea and all things which are in them The common translation corruptly hath it thus And which are in the Sea and which are in it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by a chāge of gender wherby figuratively persons are attributed to the thinges created See Theod. Beza 14 And the foure Beasts The beginning the end of the thankesgiving is attributed to the Church because this benefite doth most of all belonge to her Therefore her glorifying is double one wherby shee goeth before all the rest in praysing the other wherby shee accordeth with the reioycing creature But the foure twenty Elders follow the leading of the Beasts as it is wont to be done in the Church where the people speaketh to God not so much in their owne as in the Ministers wordes and yeeld themselves wholy to his government to be ruled as touching religions and manner of worshippe as wee have observed in chap. 4.9.10 CHAP. VI. After I beheld whē the Lambe had opened one of the seales I heard one of the foure Beasts saying as it were the noise of thunder come see 2 Therfore I beheld loe there was a white horse he that sate on him had a bow a crowne was givē unto him he wēt forth cōquering that he might overcōe 3 And whē he had opened the secōd seale I heard the secōd Beast saying come see 4 And there wēt out an other horse red power was givē to him that sate therō to take peace frō the earth that they should kill one an other there was given unto him a great sword 5 And when he had opened the third seale I heard the third Beast saying come see Then I beheld loe a blacke horse was there and he that sate sate on him had balances in his hande 6 And I heard a voice in the middes of the foure beasts saying a measure of wheate for a penny and three measures of Barly for a peny and wine and oyle hurt thou not 7 And when he had opened the fourth seale I heard the voice of the fourth Beast saying come and see 8 And I looked and beholde a pale horse and his name that sate on him was death and hell followed after it and power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth to kill with sword and with hunger and with death and with beast of the earth 9 And when he had opened the fift seale I sawe under the Altar the soules of them that were killed for the word of God and for the testimony which they maintayned 10 And they cryed with a loude voice saying howe long Lord which art holy true doest thou not iudge and avenge our blood requyring it of them that dwell on the earth 11 And longe white robes were given to every one and it was saide unto them that they should rest for a little while untill their fellow servaunts and their brethren be accomplished who are to be killed even as they
rivers but for to give them a kind of force and edge wherby they may prick the sharper and peirce the deeper How notable the goodnes of God is in this respect towards these last times ther is no man unlesse he be shamefully unthankfull and envious but doth acknowledge For by the paynes of some very excellent for why may I not so cal those learned men which have so greatly holpen Christian religion with their studies many things are made unto us most easy and playn in which the ages past have been much deceived Neither is this a vayn boasting of our times but a true preaching of the bounty of God Notwithstanding ther shal be a time at lēgth whē the light of the Moone shal be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun shal be seven fold like the light of seven dayes in the day that the Lord shall bind up the breach of their wound Isa 30.26 as partly by the things that folow wil appeare more manifest Many things ther are in the Scriptures not yet sufficiently explayned but the neerer we come unto that day the more copiously wil the light increase dayly by the neer beams of the rising Sun That I may tel the very thing Antichrist is in deed layd open now long agoe through the grace of God in marvelous manner but seing in these yeeres wherin now we live and wherunto the order of time hath brought us the wayting men of the seat of Rome have felt nothing heavier then that their Iesuits should be put to death which was the sentēce of the vial next before this burning heat of the Sun is to be expected ere long even some greater perspicuity of the Scriptures wherby the man of sin may be more vehemently scorched His filthines shal be discovered yet more wherupon men will the more hate him which wil drive him and his unto such intemperance that he wil gnash and rage against the Sun which hath manifested to the world his so horrible hiew that himselfe shal not indure to behold the same Wherfore I am to exhort you yee learned men whom God hath adorned above others with a singular facultie of perceiving and illustrating the truth that ye would diligently employ your selves in this noble work for the Church You hear what a garlond God hath reserved for these last times Great is the prayse of our Ancestors which first plucked off Antichrists vizar no lesse will theirs be which shal utterly hysse him and drive off the stage Yea they are wont in special to make the triumphe which doo make an end of the battel This onely conflict seemeth to be left for learned men the more are they to be styrred up to apply their studies That which further dooth remayn fyre and soword shal performe and shall not be accomplished by ynk and pen. ¶ And it was given unto him to torment men by fyre The first event it shall torment men with heat But what men why is nothing here added as the mark of the Beast or some such like wherby we may know unto what flock it perteyneth Shall others also be burned with this Sun besides the houshold of Antichrist verily so it seemeth Hypocrites and all others that ar not indued with true godlines whatsoever religion they professe cannot endure that their wickednes should be manifested and reproved by the light of the heavenly truth Wherupon it is no marvel if many other earthly men also which are not of the Popes profession be molested by this heat of the Sun But the words of the next verse which hath power over these plagues seem to be of those men as I sayd which have felt the former scourges also But to what ende is this added by fire seing the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 burn doth sufficiedtly expresse the burning of the Sun It is that wee may know that the heat wherwith they shall boyle shall not be heavenly but earthly such as is fire to weet envy contention strife and al bitternes of minde For fire is here metaphorical which playnly sheweth that this is not the proper Sun seing it worketh not by it own but by an others vertue Such then shal be the first event that men shall boyl in heat not onely by a secret exacerbation of their mindes but even by open brawles and reproches But shal the Angel of the Sun receave such a reward It had bin better for him to have stopt his vial that it might not distill such trouble unto him But let him not be discouraged God will prepare him a secret place with himselfe to keepe him from the virulence of tongues The same hath been the condition of al the Prophets alway so it is with the holy book that being tasted it is sweet in the mouth as honey but being eaten it maketh the belly bitter chap. 10.9 Wherfore let ungratious men reproch freely so as the manifestation of their wickednes doo move their choler 9 And men boyled with great heat The second effect shal be marvelous unusual vexations when ther shal be no shelter no not in the thickest forrest that men can use to alay their heat Therfore they blaspheme the name of God that hath power over these plagues like the men of Atlas which curse the Sun with al execrations because it parcheth them with too much heat as Herodotus relateth These last words seem to make this plague peculiar unto them that were vexed also with soates and whose fountains were turned into blood Notwithstanding we are not to think that it shal be open blasphemy against God so as his holy name shal be manifestly violated after the manner of the Hethens and them that know not God but that then men doo also commit this wickednes when they difame his truth and use cursed speaking against it such manner of indirect blasphemy it seemeth it shal be ¶ And they repēted not to give him glory A defective speech which is more full in chap. 9.20 as if he should say And they repented not of their workes to give him glory and so after in ver 11. Now therfore see what this greater light and heat shal effect it shal drive men to blasphemy but they shal persist in their wickednes no lesse then before Least perhaps thou shouldst look that they being convicted in conscience should submitt themselves to so manifest truth This therfore take thou knowledge of before that thou be not offended at the obstinacy of men 10 And the fift Angel powred out his vial upon the throne This vial upon the Beasts throne hath for the first event the darkning of his kingdome for the second rage blasphemy darkning of the Beasts brood ver 11. VVho this Angel is we shal see in the next chapter upon ver 17. wher the declaration of this thing is purposed What the Throne is the things that wee have heard before doo sufficiently teach us for it is the City which the Dragon gave to the Beast
speake nothing of the other most unworthy wayes wherby the Beast trode under foot the Emperial Maiestie Finally the toes of the foot now divided are holden togither by no common bond of the Emperours name but onely of the whore of Rome For what have Spayn France Venice Florence Naples to doo with the Empire Al these toes cleave togither in the common foundation of the Popes authority which is the onely foot now wherin these al agree and grow togither and not the Empire with which they have in a manner nothing to doo Therfore the Emperours are in deed the Beasts horns but neither the leg of the Romane Empire nor the foot but a toe of the foot or the great toe perhaps whē it please the Pope You Papists with certayn painted titles doo dazel their eyes but they wil at length awake and handle your Rome according to their authoritie The things which you dispute for the Empire and Emperour are vayn Ther remaineth yet you say the succession and name of the Emperour of the Romanes and by Gods marvelous providence when the Empire fayled in the west it remayned safe in the East and when this fayled it was erected agayn in the west I answer the succession of the Empire remayneth not in the Emperour but in the Pope VVhen the sixt head fel the seventh succeded to weet the Pope and not the Christian Emperours who then received a horned dignitie the succession of which dignitie and no other they transferred to their posteritie They have the name of Romane Emperours but it is a title without substance even as the Romane Church is caled Catholik many such like But in refining the truth we must look to the authority of the holy Ghost not to the vayn words and voices of men In deede Gods marvelous providence shined in considering this dignity such as it was both in the East and VVest But this providence is careful no lesse for the horns then for the head that is aswel for these that are caled Emperours as for the Pope Both of them are by his decree which appointed that some of the toes of the foot should be of yron Neither dooth he hinder him you say from being Emperour though he wanted Rome which you prove by the example of Valens Arcadius Theodosius the yonger Charles the Great and his successours then by the dignitie of going before al other Christian Princes moreover by the election of the Romanes and finally by the Lutherans confession I answer to everie of these and to the first that if Valens Arcadius and Theodosius the yonger wanting Rome remained neverthelesse Romane Emperours then the VVesterne Empire fayled not neither doth the Easterne Empire fayl at this day though the VVestern Emperours want Constantinople if right be ynough without possession But the Kingdomes of this world are his that holdeth them and although they be gotten for the most part by wickednes yet God by his just judgement taketh from one and giveth to another Yet dooth not this his administration quitt the robbers of crime but he punished in marvelous manner both by abasing one and contrariweise advancing an other It is therfore somwhat of more weight to want Rome for this that any should be the Roman Emperour than you speake of Vnto the second namely that dignitie of going before al Christian Princes I confesse the Emperour goes before al the rest notwithstanding he that goes before al these comes after the Pope as none is so unskilful but seeth in whom the Maiestie of the Empire truly resideth Vnto the third be it that Charles the Great was created Romane Emperour with consent of the Romanes yet the Apocalyps teacheth that the Romane Empire is tied to the citie of Rome not to the clamour of the Romane people Vnto the fourth the Lutherans boasting that they have three Prince Electours of the Romane Emperour doo rather folow custome of speaking then the truth of the thing or if in deede they so perswade themselves it is through the common errour the meaning of the Apocalypse not being by them as yet ynough perceived Wherfore you gull the Emperours with a deceitful title who whiles the Romane Pope possesseth Rome neither truly are nor shal be Romane Emperours and thus you contending that the Romane Empire dooth yet indure have not found in what place it is whose both head and habitation you are ignorant of From this restored Empire by the Pope doo Luther Illyricus and Chytreus rightly gather that he is that great Antichrist Yet not so much because Charles the Great was declared Empetour by him as for that the Empire did revive in the Pope who being a Bishop in name was made Emperour in deede This is evident by this that the Beast hath a head both wounded healed for both these perteyn to the same Beast Also the Beast which was not whiles the Barbarians prevayled is that verie same which is when they are extinguished Moreover Antichrist is both the seventh King from Constantine unto the Kingdome of the Gothes the eight by a new rising up after the healed head by Iustinian and Phocas the rest folowing as is explayned Apoc. 13.3.11 and 17.10.11 You answer that the healed head is not the Romane Emperour but Antichrist who feighneth himselfe dead and by divelish art shal rise himselfe up againe and that so almost al the ancient Fathers doo expound it Vnto this I say that you doo not rightly disjoyne the Romane Emperour and Antichrist which two if we would speake properly according to the Apocalyps doo make one and the same person Not that he which at this day is caled Emperour is Antichrist but because whatsoever is in this name Emperour it naturally belongeth to the Pope For both Pope and Romane Emperour or Romane Empire were wounded to death by the invasion of the Goths For the seventh head which then seemed to perish was both a hill and a King that is Rome or the Romane Empire and the Pope Apoc. 17.9 It is true therfore which you say that the text it selfe playnly compelleth us by that head of the Beast which was dead and revived to understand not Charles the Great but Antichrist For Charles the Great was not Emperour indeede but howsoever he did not dye and live agayne yet the Romane Emperour or Empire in the Pope did die and live agayn as is sufficiently said before By which also may appear that that which is commonly spoken of Antichrists feighned death and resurrection is a playn fiction a feighned death is in sport and voluntary but Antichrist dyed this death against his wil and with sore payn from which death when he began to come forth very great was the torment of his fresh wound as witnesseth Gregorie the Great by his many mournful lamentations Chapt. 6. Against the third Demonstration from the coming of Henoch and Elias HITHERTO of the signes going before now of them that accompany him and first of the coming of Henoch
yeres before the first resurrection then they that first rise doo reign 1000 yeres as is expressely said ver 6. Therfore these seats and this iudgement which you suppose to be of the last end doo goe before it 2000 yeres at least such a stranger are you in these mysteries Then to that which is alleged out of Dan. 12. Blessed is he that wayteth and cometh unto the 1335 dayes that is say you unto 45 dayes after Antichrists death for then the Lord shal com to iudgment and wil give the crowns of righteousnes to them that overcome I answer as touching this place we are to explain it after chap. 20.11 and it may be one day we wil take in hand the ful handling of it In the meane while let us know that the destruction of Antichrist properly so caled is not here handled nor our Lords coming to the last judgmēt which shall not make al blessed upon whom it cometh whē manie shal desire that they may be covered by the mountains from his sight but the ful caling of the Iewes where Daniel stayeth his Prophesie neither doo anie Prophesies go further Fourthly you come unto Mat. 24. this Gospel of the Kingdome shal be preached in the whole world for a testimonie to al nations and then shal the end be I answer here is no mention of your Antichrist and again the end in this place is the end of the Iewish politie not of the world as I have shewed ch 4. against your first Demonstratiō But you add the words folowing Straightway after the tribulation of those dayes the Sun shal be darkned and the Moon shal not give her light and then shal appeare the sign of the Son of man I answer neyther dooth these make anie thing for Antichrists destruction to be ioyned with the end of al things seing they speak not of him at al. Yet that wee may see the interpretation of the words let us discusse them a litle VVith one consent as I suppose it is applyed unto our Lords last judgment But this Apocalypss teacheth both to think and to speak more distinctly of this thing For from hence we doo understand that the Lords coming which is yet to be hereafter is twofold the one spiritual so named for excellencie in the caling of the Iewes the other corporal at the general iudgment And that coming in Mathew seemeth to be spiritual which is in deed described to be most glorious and powrful by the corporal furniture as that which shal be both a clear resemblance and as it were a certayn pawn therof also no change shal afterward come between which may make the corporal to appear as new And that thus the thing is may easily be perceived if we mind how the Disciples in the beginning of the chapter inquired of the end of the Temple of the Lords coming and the end of the world VVithout doubt under Christs coming they comprehēded the restoring of their nation and therfore after the Lords resurrectiō supposing that this was the coming which he had givē them hope of they aske him agayn Lord wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdome to Israel Act. 1.6 But Christ answering and by a continued order prosecuting the things to come teacheth first the destruction of Ierusalem and dissipatiō of the Iewes then he annexeth the rest of the course of things neither anie where mentioneth he anie restoring before this his glorious coming Therfore it must eyther be conteyned in this his appearing or ther wil be none which opinion if the Disciples had in mind conceived by this answer surely they would not have nourished any exspectation of a Kingdome afterwards Besides a tribulation next goeth before this coming for so he saith immediatly after the tribulation of those dayes the Sun shal be darkned and then shal appeare the sign of the Sun of man c. But before his corporal coming no such tributation shal goe immediatly before For after the caling of the Iewes and the new constituted Church God wil wipe awaie everie tear from their eies and death shal be no more neither shal mourning nor crying nor sorow be anie more for the former things are passed away Apoc. 21.4 VVherfore that coming is not corporal It may be also that hath some force which he saith that the signe of the Son of man shall appear as if purposely he would distinguish between this spiritual coming and the corporal folowing Hereunto perteyneth that those words All the Tribes shal wail c. Apoc. 1 7. we have there shewed to belong unto the Iewes and that this wailing is of repentance which wil be too late at the corporal coming Thus much breifly touching the meaning of these words which though they help your cause nothing how ever they be taken yet was it not impertinent by the way to seek out the truth that is hidd in them Therfore I answer unto that Thess 2.8 Then shal the wicked man be reveled whom the Lord shal slay with the Spirit of his mouth destroy with the brightnes of his coming ther is the same meaning of this coming that is of that in Mathew At the caling of the Iewes when he shal give a most bright resēblāce of himselfe present in the Church shal Antichrist utterly be destroyed as we made playn in the former chapter For after the throne of the Beast is darkned the way shal be prepared for the Kings of the East that is the Iewes shal be caled straight after Rome is destroyed For shee onely hindreth this ioy Then after the Beast and False Prophet and Dragō are cut off that is after the Bishop of Rome and the Turk be extinct as after shal be shewed more at large the mysterie shal be finished and the ful caling performed Your Pope whom you Bellarmine boast to be the head of the Church shal neither be head nor foot in the holy congregation of the children of God And now see how farr these mountayns are under heaven whose tops you standing a farr off did think were hidden among the starrs The last place is 1 Iohn 2.18 Children it is the last hour and as you have heard that Antichrist cometh even now ther are manie Antichrists wherby wee know that it is the last hour I answer what Iohn here concludeth we easily see and acknowledge he proveth that it is the last hour because then manie Antichrists were come For Antichrist should come in the last hour VVhere is to be observed that Iohn alluding to the parable of the labourers Mat. 20.6 of whom some were hyred about the eleventh hour cōpareth al this age from Christ until his last coming unto this last elevēth hour Then that he saith this noysome age shal be of Antichrist whom he putteth not off unto the last minute of this howr but deferrs him to some indefinite space therof These things dooth Iohn truly holily agreably to his other writings But what must you needs conclude from hence who wil not