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A20217	The ruine of Rome: or An exposition vpon the whole Reuelation Wherein is plainly shewed and proued, that the popish religion, together with all the power and authoritie of Rome, shall ebbe and decay still more and more throughout all the churches of Europe, and come to an vtter ouerthrow euen in this life before the end of the world. Written especially for the comfort of Protestants, and the daunting of papists, seminary priests, Iesuites, and all that cursed rabble. Published by Arthur Dent, preacher of the word of God at South-Shoobery in Essex.	Dent, Arthur, d. 1607.; Culverwell, Ezekiel, 1553 or 4-1631.	1603 (1603)	STC 6640; ESTC S117456	184,102	332

haue heard before chapter 1.18 By the chaine in his hand is meant the doctrine of the gospell The time when Sathan was thus taken bound was when Christ first preached the Gospell and his Apostles after him to all nations The cause why hee was now bound and chained vp was for that hee had a long time seduced all nations and raigned as King and Lord ouer the Gentiles and greatly seduced the Iewes also The time of his imprisonment is set downe to be a thousand yeeres that is all the time frō the preaching of Christ and his Apostles vntill Gregory the seauenth other monstrous Popes which did let Sathan loose againe Which space of time is guessed by the learned to be a thousand yeeres or thereabouts But heere it is to bee obserued that this binding of Sathan is not to bee taken simply and absolutely as though Sathan was so bound and chained vp for this thousand yeere that hee could not seduce at all or doe no mischiefe at all after the preaching of the Gospell by Christ and his Apostles I say this is not to bee taken simply but afrer a sort that is that hee could not so generally and vniuersally seduce all nations as hee had in former time before the comming of Christ For otherwise it is well knowne that euen after Christs time hee did greatly persecute the Church bring in many errors and heresies and harden and blind many mens hearts but yet all this was nothing in comparison of that which hee had wrought in former ages when hee was euen as it were the god of the world and the Gentiles worshipped him as God as the Apostle teacheth that all the worship of the heathen nations was the worship of diuels And againe that God in times past suffered all the Gentiles to walke in their owne waies And then was Sathan a great prince indeede But now commeth a chaine for him For Christ preacheth the Gospell and sendeth foorth his disciples vvith power and therevpon saith I saw Sathan fall downe like lightning For the preaching of the Gospell beateth downe the kingdome of Sathan and sinne Moreouer it is to be noted that notwithstanding all Sathans power and might craft and subteltie yet this Angell vvhich hath the key of the bottomlesse pit doth apprehend him and shut him vp and seale the dore vpon him so that he cannot get abroad to seduce so generally as in former time But S. Iohn saith that after a thousand yeeres he must be loosed for a little season that is the time vvherein the great Antichrist should beare the sway vvhich vvas some 4. or 5. hundred yeeres For the Gospell did preuaile in some measure in the world a thousād yeeres after Christ the principles groūds of true religion cōtinued in the church vntil the ful loosing of Sathan though vvith many blotts corruptions and abuses For after the first six hundred yeeres the cleere sinceritie of the truth vvas much dimmed vvith errors and heresies but yet the maine grounds dyd remaine till the full expiration of the thousand yeeres Now vve know that the Gospell hath bene preached in these last daies aboue three score yeeres Therefore it followeth that the strength of Popery continued not much aboue 500. yeeres Which heere the holy Ghost for our comfort calleth a little season chapter 11.2 of vvhich vve haue heard before and therefore I doe heere omit it And I saw seates and them that sate vpon them ver 4 and iudgement was giuen vnto them And I saw the soules of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of Iesus and for the word of God and which did not worship the beast neither his Image neither had taken his marke vpon their foreheads or on their hands and they liued and raigned with Christ a thousand yeere But the rest of the dead men shall not liue againe ver 5 vntill the thousand yeeres be finished this is the first resurrection Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection For on such the second death hath no power ver 6 But they shal be the Priests of God and of Christ and shall raigne with him a thousand yeere Heere now is set foorth the state of the Church millitant for the space of the thousand yeere wherein Sathan vvas chained vp For it is sayd heere that the Church dyd grow and flourish yea and greatly exercise her power and aucthoritie during that time And therefore Saint Iohn saith that he saw seates and they sate vpon them and iudgement was giuen vnto them Whereby he meaneth that the Apostles and their successors had their chaires seates and consistories vvherein they did both preach the vvord and execute the Church censures as the Scribes and Phariseies beefore had sit in the chaire of Moises and I take it the latter part of the fourth verse is to be referred to the first clause to vvit that the Church dyd liue and raigne with Christ a thousād yeeres Which is not to be vnderstood of the Church triumphant as some doe take it all the rest of this fourth verse but of the flourishing estate of the Church militant during the time of Sathans captiuitie for all the faithfull do after a sort liue raigne with Christ euen heere in the earth when they ouercome the world by faith and subdue Sathan sinne by the power of grace Now where it is said that Iohn saw the soules of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of Iesus c. It is to bee vnderstood of those which in the time of the persecuting empire and growing of the papacie vvere slaine for the truth For the second beast which is the dominion of Popes raigned not in those thousand yeere in the which Sathan vvas bound but yet did grow by degrees towards their height and vsed great tyrannie against the seruants of God before Sathans full loosing The Chiliasts or Millenaries doe fondly gather from this scripture that after the ouerthrow of Antichrist the Lord Iesus would come raigne vvith the faithfull heere a thousand yeeres vpon the earth and that in this time that Christ should so raigne as a great and glorious king vpon the earth his subiects should enioy all manner of earthly pleasures and delights This foolish error is confuted by the words that follovv in the text as wee shall see afterward Whereas hee saith the rest of the dead shall not liue againe It is to bee vnderstood of such as were spiritually dead that is such as did despise the Gospell which vvas preached those thousand yeeres were not thereby reuiued and quickened vnto eternall life but did still remaine as men dead in sinnes and trespasses Therefore the meaning of S. Iohn is that as in the thousand yeeres many that heard Christ and his Apostles and their successors were raised vp from the death of sinne to the life of righteousnesse so many others were not quickened by their doctrine but stil dwelt in their sinnes whom hee calleth the rest of the dead and hee saith these shall not liue againe meaning the life of God or the life of grace and

The Minister of Smyrna was a very rare excellēt man although a poore man to the worldward For Christ saith thus vnto him I know thy pouertie but thou art rich that is rich in grace and the manifolde gifts of the spirit Thou hast done great seruice to the church Thou hast imploied thy gifts to the good of many Thou takest great pains in thy ministrie art greatly blessed in thy labors for thou hast an excellent flocke a notable good people and therefore I cannot but greatly commend both thee and them The Minister of Philadelphia was also a very worthy and notable man For although his gifts were not so great as some others yet was he very painefull and faithfull in a little of whom it is said Thou hast a litle strength and hast kept my word and hast not denied my name that is thou art very constant in the profession and practise of Christian religion And therevpon Christ promiseth to blesse his labours For saith hee I will make them of the sinagogue of Sathan which call themselues Iewes and are not but do lye Beholde I say I will make them that they shall come and worship before thy feete and shall knowe that I haue loued thee Here we do plainely see how Christ promiseth to blesse this mans ministerie for his painefulnesse and diligence although hee was not of the greatest gifts For men of greatest gifts are not alwaies most blessed in their labors For God doth commonly worke the greatest things by weake meanes that all glory might redound vnto him and no flesh might boast in his sight For otherwise if men of greatest gifts should alwaies bee most blessed in their labours and winne most soules vnto God then wee would be readie to ascribe that to men their gifts which is proper vnto God and so this praise and glorie should be somewhat eclipsed Thus wee see what excellent men the Ministers of Smyrna and Philadelphia were and what excellent people they had in their charges But on the contrarie the Pastor and the people of Sardis and Laodicea are discommended for all things and commended for nothing Indeede the Minister of Sardis had a great name for learning and other good gifts but he was growne very idle negligent did little good with his gifts Of whom it is said Thou hast a name that thou liuest but thou art dead That is there was no spirit in him no life of grace his gifts waxed rustie for want of vse hee was fallen asleepe he was fallen away from the grace of God hee was nothing the man which he had bene Therefore hee is admonished to awake and strengthen the things which remaine which were readie to die The Minister of Laodicea the people also were growne luke-warme neither hot nor colde they were become carelesse and secure not caring greatly which end went forward in Gods matters so they might enioy the present profits and pleasures of this life Concerning the Pastors and people of Ephesus Pergamus and Thyatira they are partly commended and partly discōmended These three were reasonable good Ministers had many good parts in thē and tooke paines in their charges although there be some faults found with them For the Minister of Ephesus is commended for sixe things for labour for patience for zeale for wisedome for sinceritie for courage but discōmended for leauing his first loue that is for reuolting or somewhat going back or rather indeed for cooling in the loue zeale of God The Minister of Pergamus people also are greatly commended for their constant profession of the truth in the middest of manifolde troubles the very heate of persecution For the rage of the enemies grew so fierce against the profession and professors of the Gospell that Antipas the Pastor of Pergamus as some suppose was put to death For Christ saith thus of this church Thou dwellest where Sathās throne is and yet thou keepest my name and hast not denied my saith euen in those daies when Antipas my faithful Martyr was slaine among you where Sathan dwelleth But yet notwithstāding this church is found fault withal for some few things that is two grosse faults the one for suffering the doctrine of Balaam to be broached there by the instruments of Sathan the other that they maintained the doctrine of the Nicolaitans The doctrine of Balaam did vphold the lawfulnes of eating things sacrificed to Idols of committing fornication for he taught Balac the King of Moab thus to put a stumbling blocke before the children of Israel The doctrine of the Nicolaitanes did vphold the common vse of women that is that women might be made common These two most grosse and absurd doctrines were suffred and maintained in the church of Pergamus As concerning the church of Thyatira they are greatly commended for the loue and seruice to the church for their faith patience manifold workes and especially for their constant proceeding in religion and godlinesse and that with increase For of this church it is said I knowe thy loue and seruice and faith and thy patience and thy workes and that they are moe at the last then at the first But this church is discommended for suffering the wicked woman Iezabel that is a false Prophetesse which was craftily crept into this church to teach seduce the people of God in that congregatiō teaching the same false doctrine that Balaā did at Pergamus which was that it was lawfull to commit fornication and to eate meates sacrificed vnto Idolls Hitherto concerning the praises and dispraises of the churches Now followeth to speake of the admonitions First the Church of Ephesus hauing fallen from their first loue is admonished to remember from whence they were fallen to repent and to do their first workes Also the church of Smyrna is admonished and exhorted to stand fast in the midst of those persecutions troubles which should be raised vp against it by the Emperour Traianus and continue for the space of tenne yeares They are therefore exhorted and encouraged by our Lorde Iesus not to feare the things which they should suffer for although the diuel and his instruments should haue scope to persecute and imprison them for ten daies that is ten yeares according to prophetical account yet if they did continue faithfull to the death they should haue the crowne of life The church of Pergamus suffering and maintaining the doctrine of Balaam and the Nicolaitanes is admonished to repent and amend The Church of Thyatira which suffered the false doctrine of Iezabel is admonished to looke to her selfe and to hold fast the truth of Religion Sardis being dull and dead is admonished to awake and strengthen the things which remaine that were readie to die Philadelphia is admonished to holde that which they had that no man take their crowne Laodicea being neither hotte nor colde but luke-warme is admonished to be zealous and amend And although they

now God be praised for it many doo repent euery day and turne from dumbe Idols to serue the liuing God And therefore although the times wherein we liue bee sinfull and troublesome yet are they golden times and daies in comparison of former ages wherein Antichrist did raigne and rule ouer all Moreouer from this place may plainly and strongly be concluded that the Gospel shal preuaile more and more in all the kingdomes of Europe euen vntill the ende of the world For here we see it foretolde and prophesied that in this very last age of the world euen as it were a litle before the blowing of the seuenth trumpet which presently herevpon is sounded as in the next verses appeareth many should repent and giue glory to God vers 14 The second woe is past behold the third woe wil come anon vers 15 And the seuenth Angell blew the trumpet and there were great voices in heauen saying The kingdomes of this world are our Lords and his Christs and he shall raigne for euermore Now commeth the third the last and the greatest woe which is the woe of eternall death vpon all the vngodly both in their soules and bodies for euer in the last iudgement The first woe was the Papacie The second woe was Turcisme And this third woe is the last iudgement For it now followeth that the seuenth Angell bloweth the last trumpet as our Lord Iesus sware before that when the seuenth Angell should blowe the trumpet chapter 10.6 there should bee no more time Therefore when we see all things fulfilled which do belong vnto the sixt trumpet it remaineth that wee should euery houre expect and looke for the blowing of the seuenth trumpet and the end of the world For the holy Ghost telleth vs that whē the kingdome of the Pope and the Turke shall fall and the Gospell bee preached in many nations and kingdomes that then the third woe will come anon that is the last iudgement followeth presently vpon it Now at the blowing of this seuenth trumpet there were great voices in heauen saying the kingdomes of this world are our Lords and his Christs and he shall raigne for euermore These voices in heauen are the triumphing voices of Gods elect who do exceedingly reioyce and triumph that the kingdome of Sathan and Antchrist is ouerthrowne and that the kingdome of God and of Christ is set vp and shall stand for euermore For now all aduersary power being ouerthrowne Christ doth deliuer vp a peaceable kingdome to his father as it is writtē Then shal be the ende when he hath deliuered vp his peaceable kingdome to God the Father For he must raigne ouer the Church militant till hee haue troade downe all his enemies vnder his feete and when the Sonne of God hath subdued all things to himselfe then shall he be subiect to his Father as he is the mediator of the Church and yet raigne with his Church triumphant for euermore Then the 24. vers 16 Elders which satte before God on their seates fell vppon their faces and worshipped God Saying Wee giue thee thankes ô Lorde God almightie vers 17 which art which wast and which art to come for thou hast receiued thy great might and hast obtained thy kingdome These 24. Elders doo signifie all the elect chapter 4 both of Iewes and Gentiles as we haue heard before which all in most suppliant manner doo worshippe the onely euerlasting God euen in the Church triumphant and do greatly reioyce and giue all praise and glorie vnto him because now he had receiued the kingdome the power and the glory both Pope and Turke and Emperor and all his enemies being subdued vnder his feete ver 18 And the Gentiles were angry and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be iudged and that thou shouldest giue reward vnto thy seruants the Prophets and to the Saints to them that feare thy name and to small and great and shouldest destroy thē which destroy the earth Now he mentioneth the wrath and vengeance which is to bee powred forth vpon all the wicked at the last day and also the reward of the godly For whereas he saith The Gentiles were angry thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be iudged the sense and meaning is that all the prophane enemies of the Church which haue had their time in which they were angrie with Gods people and in their wrath did afflict and vexe them very sore should now bee iudged and condemned in Gods wrath for now the day of his wrath and vengeance is come wherein he wil destroy them that destroied the earth and seemed to carrie all before them and where also hee will giue a full recompence of rewarde to all his faithfull worshippers both small and great both Preachers and professors of his Gospell Then the temple of God was opened in heauen there was seene in the Temple the arke of his couenant and there were lightnings and voices and thundrings ver 19 and earthquakes and much haile This is a further amplification of that which is set downe in the former verse For now he saith that the temple of God should be opened in heauen That is an opē doore and passage should be made through Christ for al the elect to enter into Gods euerlasting kingdome and raigne with him and his Angels for euermore By the arke of the couenant is meant Christ who is saide heere to be seene in the Temple or kingdome of glory because through his mediation only in whom the couenant of peace is established with his church the 24 Elders are made partakers of their Crownes and enter in with him and his Angels into the euerlasting Temple made without handes and eternall in the heauens But on the contrary heere is said that there were lightnings thundrings c. That is most horrible vegeance and wrath poured downe vpon al reprobates in hel-fire for euermore For when it shal be said to al the faithful Come ye blessed c. then also shal it be said to al vnbeleeuers Goe ye cursed into hell fire c. Now for warrant of this expositiō of the last verse that the Temple in heauen is to be vnderstood of the kingdome of glory looke Chap. 15. ver 5.6.8 Chap. 16. ver 1. The reason hereof is that as the doores of the Temple of Ierusalem being set open Gods people entred in and worshipped so the euerlasting gates of the new Ierusalem and celestial Temple being set open by Christ al the elect do enter in and worship God without wearinesse euen as the Angels for euermore That the arke of the couenant is taken for Christ see 2. Sam. 6.2 Psal 78. ver 61.62 This arke of the couenant that is Christ is here seene in the Temple because Christ hath already taken possession of heauē as mediator and head of the Church and now doth set open the kingdome of heauen to al beleeuers

because they gaue their consent to the making of it for indeede the Popes themselues were the chiefe agents and doers in it ver 15 And it was permitted vnto him to giue a spirit vnto the Image of the beast so that the Image of the beast should speake and should cause that as many as would not worship the Image of the beast should bee killed Heere is shewed that this image of the beast was not a dead image but a liuing image for Antichrist put a spirit into it that is life and power and great authoritie insomuch that this Image could speake and not onely speake but speake with great authoritie and terrour so as whosoeuer would not worship this Image that is submit himselfe to the Popish Hierarchie should bee put to death But may some man say How did this image speake I answer by the Popes Clergie For the Romish rabble of Cardinals Abbots Monks Priests Friers and all that cursed corporation were the verie breath life and spirit of this image I meane that the life-bloud of their externall regiment did lie in the execution thereof by the Clergie as it were in certaine arteries and veines For what was their outwarde forme of gouernement without this cruell execution of their stinging Clergie men but as a dead Image without life But when Antichrist had once consecrated and erected his Romish priesthood then did hee put life into his Image which before he had caused to bee made and erected Then wee doe plainely see that the popish Hierarchie is not a bare resemblance of the old Roman policie to stand as a picture on a wall but hath a spirit put into it by the false Prophet and speaketh with such power and terrour in all kingdomes that it causeth all to bee put to death that will not submit themselues vnto it and fall downe and worship the beast Who knoweth not this that as manie in all countries as would not embrace poperie and the old Roman tyrannie the Popish Clergie their inquisitors and other Officers did condemne them in their Courts as heretikes schismatikes and deliuered them ouer being condemned to the secular power to bee put to death And he made all both small and great vers 16 rich and poore bond and free to receiue a marke in their right hand or in their foreheads And that no man might buy or sell vers 17 saue he that had the marke or the name of the beast or the number of his name Antichrist is not content to murder and massacre all in all countries which will not worship the Image of the beast that is stoupe to his gouernement and authoritie but hee will goe yet a steppe further and will haue all sorts of people brought in bondage vnto him as his marked seruants For as men vse to set a brand vpon their sheepe and other cattell and to eare-marke them that it may openly and manifestly appeare to whom they appertaine so doth Antichrist this Romish beast cause all men in all kingdoms to carie in open viewe his marke or brand whereby all may see that they do appertaine vnto him It is heere said that all the vassals of Antichrist of what degree estate or condition soeuer must receiue his marke in their right hand or in their forehead that is they must openly professe and practise the worship and religion of the beast For the forehead is put for the profession and the right hand for the action so that in one of them at the least euery man must openly declare that hee acknowledgeth the Pope of Rome to be Lord of his faith Moreouer it is added That no man might buy or sell saue hee that had the marke or the name of the beast or the number of his name the meaning is that no man might traffique in the world or haue anie doings amongst men nay hee might not be suffered to liue except hee had the marke of the beast in his forehead or in his right hand that is vnlesse he did professe and practise the worship the religion the lawes and decrees of the Pope For the marke of the beast is put for his worship religion lawes decrees regiments and policie Moreouer the Popes vassals haue not onely his marke vpon them whereby they may be knowne but also the name of the beast for they must bee named after him euen as children beare the name of their Fathers and must bee called of the Pope or Papa Papists And not onely so but also they haue another priuie marke vpon them and that is the number of his name which is Latinos or professours of the Latine religion Latine kingdome and Italian Church as shall by and by appeare Now then to grow to a conclusion and to make a briefe recapitulation of all thinges heere spoken concerning the second beast which is Antichrist Let vs consider what increasings and proceedings hee hath made as it were by degrees First although he haue two hornes like the Lamb that is ciuill and ecclesiasticall power yet he speaketh like the Dragon that is he bendeth all his power and authoritie words and works for the diuell Secondly he doth as much as the first beast could do in the seruice of the Dragon Thirdly he causeth the first beast to be worshipped that is establisheth the substance of his religion Fourthly he maketh the image of the beast that is addeth a forme to the substance Fiftly hee putteth life into his Image by his Clergie Sixtly he will haue this Image worshipped and yeelded vnto on paine of death Lastly he will haue all men of all conditions to weare his liuerie and to receiue his marke as it were his hired and couenant seruants Heere is wisdome Let him that hath wit count the the number of the beast for it is the number of a man and his number is sixe hundred theescore and sixe Now last of all the holy Ghost telleth vs that it is a verie high point of wisedome and vnderstanding to count the number of the beast and requireth a sharpe and pregnant wit and withall telleth vs that it is the number of a man that is such as a man endued with Gods Spirite may finde out Then wee are encouraged to search into it sith it is within the compasse of mans reach It is no impossible thing If therefore wee could find out his name wee would desire no more then the field were wonne for his name would discouer him and descrie him to all the world and quite stoppe the mouthes of the Papists so as they should neuer haue anie thing more to say For if Saint Iohn had said expresly and in plaine tearmes that the Popes of Rome are this second beast and the verie Antichrist himselfe then the Papists had beene put to perpetuall silence all matters quasht and all controuersies ended betwixt them and vs for euer But heere the holy Ghost doth not tell vs his name plainely but mystically as manie other things in this booke that the worldlings which

yea did couer the whole face of the earth with their multitudes and compasse the tents of the Saints about and the beloued citie that is did make warre against the Church and people of God which in comparison of them were but as a few tents or some little citie But marke vvhat followeth and consider the issue of the battaile The holy ghost saith expressely that fire came downe from God out of Heauen and deuoured them Which doth plainely shew that the armies of Gog Magog though neuer so huge shal be destroyed by the fire of Gods vvrath Now from this I gather that as the armies of the Pope shall goe downe still more and more as formerly hath bene shewed and as experience in the last yeeres good successe both in Ireland Netherland and against Spaine also hath partly prooued Gods most holy name be praised so also the armies of the Turk shal be ouerthrowen so farre foorth as they fight against the true Church or at least be so kept back that they shall not be able to compasse the tents of the Saints as vve see and feele this day God be thanked ver 10 And the Diuell that deceiued them was cast into a lake of fire and brimstone where that beast and that false prophet are and shal be tormented euen day and night for euermore Heere is set downe the Diuells doome to vvit that he shal be cast downe into the infernall pit as vvell vvorthy both for his seducing all nations and stirring vp the armies of Gog and Magog against the Church euen to roote it vp if it vvere possible Therefore Saint Iohn telleth vs that forasmuch as he is the author of all mischiefe and he that hath set all the rest a vvork therefore both he and his instrumens the beast and the false prophet Gog and Magog shall all drinck of the same cup of Gods eternall vvrath and be all throwne downe together into one close prison vvhich is that gasping gulfe and infernall lake that burneth vvith fire and brimstone for euer Loe then vvhat shal be the end of the diuell the Pope the Turk the Emperour the King of Spaine the Cardinall and all other the diuels instruments vvhich heere in earth haue persecuted the Church and compassed the tents of the Saints and the beloued Cittie Now after all this in the fiue last verses Saint Iohn entreth into a liuely and cleere discription of the last iudgement First noting the terror and maiestie of the Iudge himselfe in this ver 11 that from his face both Heauen and earth fled away that is no creature shal be able to endure his angry countenance in that daye and yet vvithall setting downe the puritie and vprightnesse of his iudgement and iudgement seate calling it a white Throne ver 12 And after this the generall citing and personall appearing of all men before him of vvhat degree estate or condition soeuer For both death and hell sea and graue did deliuer vp their dead And all vvithout exception came to iudgement And the bookes of their consciences vvere opened for euerie mans vvorke is engrauen vpon his cōscience as it vvere in letters of brasse or vvith the point of a Diamond as the Prophet speaketh And they were iudged of those things which were written in the bookes according to their workes and according to the testimonie of their owne consciences And death and hell ver 14 that is all the heires of death and hell euen all the societie of reprobates both papists Atheists and all vnbeleeuers yea whosoeuer were not found written in the booke of life were cast into the lake of fire ver 15 which is the second death Now heere I would haue it dilligently obserued that the holy ghost hath three seuerall times in this booke described the last iudgement to wit in the latter end of the 11. Chapter in the latter end of the 14. Chapter and now in the latter end of this Chapter And moreouer I would haue the order and causes of these descriptions well waighed For in the 11. Chapter hauing before described the kingdome of the Pope and the Turk with their ouerthrow and also the preaching and preuailing of the Gospell in these last daies hee commeth to describe the last iudgement In the 14. Chapter hauing set downe that the euerlasting gospell should be plētifully preached in this last age the ouerthrow of Babylon immediately following forthwith hee proceedeth to the discription of the last day In this Chapter hauing before concluded of the vtter ouerthrow of Rome of the beast and the false prophet of Gog and Magog and all aduersary power at length hee proceedeth to this description of Christs second comming which wee haue heard of And out of all this I do gather that the vtter ouerthrow of the Pope all his adherents shall be in this life a little before the comming of Christ vnto iudgement Chap. 21. AS wee haue heard before of the vtter ouerthrow of the beast and the false prophet and all their adherents and also of the euerlasting condemnation of the dragon that old serpent which set them all a worke So now in this Chapter wee are to heare of that most happy and blessed estate which the faithfull shall dwell in for euermore so that the maine drift of this Chapter is most fully to describe that infinit glory and endlesse felicitie to the which all the 144000 that is all the elect of God shal be aduanced when both the beast and all that haue receiued his marke shall be cast downe into the infernall lake This Chapter may very fitly bee deuided into foure parts The first is a description of the renouation of the world and the restauration of the creature ver 1 The second is ver 2.3.4 a laying foorth of the most glorious estate of the Church when it shall bee freed from all misery The third is a protestation of God himselfe ver 5.6.7.8 concerning the renouation of all things the felicitie of his elect and the endlesse torment of all reprobates The fourth is ver 9.10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17.18.19.20.21.22.23.24.25.26.27 a liuely description of the very kingdome of God and the vnspeakeable ioyes of heauen vnder the figure of a great citie called the holy Ierusalem Which citie is heere most gloriously described of his walles gates foundations streets height length breadth brightnesse matter forme persons and inhabitants The text ver 1 AND I saw a new heauen and a new earth for the first heauen and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea ver 2 And I Iohn saw the holy city new Ierusalem come downe from God out of heauen prepared as a bride trimmed for hir husband ver 3 And I heard a great voice of heauen saying behold the tabernacle of God is with men and hee will dwell with them and they shall bee his people and God himselfe shall bee their God ver 4 And God shall wipe all teares from their eies and there shall bee no

more death neither sorrow neither crying neither shall there bee any more paine For the first things are passed By a new heauen and a new earth is meant the renued estate of heauen earth after this life in their qualitie not in their substance For wee doe beleeue according to the scripture that this visible heauen and this visible earth shall continue for euer as touching their matter and substance But shall bee greatly altered and changed in condition and qualitie For S. Peter saith wee looke for new heauens and a new earth according to his promise wherein dwelleth righteousnesse that is such heauens and such a earth as is free from all corruption sinne Which thing also the Apostle S. Paul doth plainely teach saying that the creature doth feruently expect when the sonnes of God shall be reuealed that is when Gods children shall be made knowen to be as they are the very heires of infinit glory which in this life doth not appeare And hee yeeldeth two reasons of this desire of the creature one is because in the meane time it is subiect to vanitie and corruption the other is that then it shall bee free from both And for this cause the Apostle saith that the creature groneth with vs and earnestly desireth and longeth after that day wherein it shall bee set free from the bondage of corruption and redintigrated and restored to that pristinate estate wherein it was before the fall But whether this is to be vnderstood of heauen earth onely or of heauen and earth with their adiuncts particular creatures I wil not heere goe about to discusse howbeit I do greatly incline to their opinion which hold that heauen and earth with all their furniture being redintigrated restored to their first estate shall remaine for euer to set foorth the glorie of the creator for that vse of glorified men which now the Angels haue of them Now whereas Saint Iohn addeth that there shall bee no more Sea Hee meaneth that there shall bee no more any troublesome and confused estate of this world no moe broiles waues tempests and stormes as it falleth out in this life For the word Sea is so taken twise or thrise before By the holy citie new Ierusalem hee meaneth the Church triumphant which therefore is said to come downe from God out of heauen because it hath all his newnesse and holinesse from God and from heauen whereby it is now prepared and made ready to bee maried vnto Christ ver 3 euen as a bride tricked and trimmed vp for her husband And for this cause S. Iohn heareth a voice from heauen saying the tabernacle of God is with men and hee will dwell with them and they shall bee his people and hee will bee their God Meaning therby that Iesus Christ will keepe house with his glorified spouse and be at bed and bourd with hir for euer in the heauens at what time shee shall bee freed from all teares woe and miserie ver 4 as the next verse declareth yeelding also a reason heereof which is that the first things are passed that is the state wherein the world is now being subiect to many afflictions temptations vanities and corruptions ver 5 And hee that sat vpon the throne said Behold I make all things new and he said vnto mee Write for these words are faithfull and true ver 6 And hee said vnto mee it is done I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end I will giue to him that is a thirst of the well of the water of life freely ver 7 Hee that ouercommeth shall inherit all things and I will bee his God and hee shall bee my sonne ver 8 But the fearefull and vnbeleeuing and the abhominable and murtherers and whoremongers and sorcerers and Idolaters and all liers shall haue their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Heere the omnipotent God which sitteth vpon his most glorious throne doth protest that hee will make all things new that is restore the world to that execellent estate wherein it was before Adams fall and his elect to a state and condition farre more excellent in heauen and for the greater certainely and assurance of it willeth and commandeth Iohn to write it ver 5 and record it as a thing most certaine and infallible and to set it downe as a thing already done For things to come which are decreed in the counsell of God are as certaine as if they were past for God cannot erre alter nor change and therefore he saith I am Alpha and Omega the first and the last the vnchangeable and immutable God And addeth ver 6 that hee will giue freely to euery one that is a thirst of the well of the water of life that is without all regard of our desarts hee will giue to euery one that earnestly seeketh after heauen and heauenly things his full fill thereof And moreouer that whosoeuer ouercommeth in the spirituall battaile shall haue the full fruition of all good things both in this life and the life to come as hauing speciall right and interest therein through Christ God being his father and hee his sonne and heire ver 7 But on the contrary hee willeth it to bee written and recorded as a thing most certaine and sure that all reprobates all Atheists worldlings ver 8 and all vnbeleeuers shall haue their part an portion in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone for euer And there came vnto mee one of the seauen Angels ver 9 which had the seauen vials full of the seauen plagues and talked with mee saying I will shew thee the bride the Lambs wife ver 10 And he carried mee away in the spirit to a great and an high mountaine and shewed mee that great Citie that holy Hierusalem discending out of Heauen from God ver 11 Hauing the glory of God and her shining was like vnto a stone most pretious as a Iasper stone clere as Christ all Heere one of the Angels mentioned in the 16. Chapter which had a Viall full of Gods vvrath Talketh vvith Iohn and telleth him that he will shew him the bride the Lambs wife that is the triumphant Church or the Church in her glorified estate beeing vnited and married vnto Christ in the kingdome of glory And therefore Saint Iohn saith that this Angell carried him away in the spirit to a great and high mountaine and shewed him that great Citie holy Ierusalem c. chapter 17.1.2.3 Wee reade in the 17. Chapter that when this Angell shewed Iohn the great whore of Babylon he carried him away into the wildernesse in the spirit because the vvhore of Babylon should make the Church barren and desolate as a vvildernesse But now that he is to shew him the spouse of Christ in her glory and to describe the euerlasting Ierusalem he carrieth him in the spirit vnto a very high mountaine that he might take a sight of it as