society and refuseth none but the godly therefore fitly was he thus prefigured Secondly by the quallity and disposition of the Leopard was signified that this Generation should be subtile and crafty in getting their prey They boast themselves to be the Church and Spouse of Christ but if it be so whence then had they that infinite store and abundance of worldly wealth and riches wherewith they exceed in deliciousnesse of living This was not the condition of Christ and his Disciples the Lord himselfe had not whereon to lay his head but in that respect was more destitute then Foxes which have holes and then Birds which have nests his Disciples wanted gold and silver and had no certaine dwelling place whence therefore had this Generation their Lands Livings and Lordships Their Castles Mannors Houses and Princely Palaces It will be said of the donation and gift of Emperours Kings and other great States and of the charitable devotion of all sorte of people But how were people brought to be so full handed to this generation To bring this about much slight craft and nimblenesse of with was used first people were made to believe that what they gave to the Church was to the maintenance of the Ministery of the Gospell and for the comfort and reliefe of the poore and therefore should be a sacrifice so well pleasing to God and meritorious as that it should receive great reward at his hands herewith the mindes of religious and devout people was so much moved that they thought nothing too much to give to the Church by means whereof Churches began to grow rich Secondly people were made to believe that the worshiping of Images and Relicks of Saints and building of Churches Chappels Oratories c. and endowing them with Lands Tenements Parsonage and Vicarage houses c. was an effectuall way to have favour with the Saints and to procure their praiers and intercession for them By these and such like means this wylie and crafty generation deluded the people and made themselves rich and robbed Christ of his honour who onely is our Advocate to God And furthermore they gathered in heaps of wealth by Masses Pilgrimages Pursse-penance Offerings and such like Merchandises wherein their subtilty and craft was prefigured by a Leopard a Beast subtile by nature whose property is to lie in waite for her prey and slilie to catch it as the Cat doth the Mousâ— and in that respect doth well resemble the Antichristian Clergie that subtill generation But further it is added that the feete of this Beast were as the feete of a Beare The Leopard is more nimble to catch then the Beare but the Beare is more strong and eager to hold fast that which he hath seased vpon then is the Leopard both these properties this generation hath nimble to catch and greedy to hold they catch by slight But hold by force and therefore in catching resemble the Leopard but in fast holding the feete of a Beare To this it is added that the mouth of this Beast was as the mouth of a Lion And by this another propertie of the Antichristian Clergie was foreshewed for as the Lion when he hath taken his prey roareth vpon it at whose roaring the Beasts tremble So this generation being thus exalted and made rich and have gotten their prey they terrifie the small Beasts of the Forrests roaring with curses and excommunications against be he Prince or Pesant that shall presume to part stakes with them or meddle with their prey or diminish their portion but an Egge or an Onion That these be the properties of this Generation needs no proof it is manifest by daily experience Here therefore we may learne what to esteem and judge of the Antichristian Cleargie together with those Multitudes People Nations and Tongues out of which they have sprung and over which they are set and supported namely that they are a monstrous and beastly Generation excelling in craft covetousnesse pride cruelty and all iniquity and therefore not to be esteemed as they boast themselves to be a holy Catholike Church and Spouse of Christ which cannot erre c. And by this we may see how lamentably the Nations have been deluded and led into errour and ungodlinesse by their guides and leaders Now it followeth that unto this Monster the Dragon gave his power and his Throne and great authority Here is declared of whom the Prelates and Clergie have received their spirituall Lordships power authority and jurisdiction to devise and make spirituall Laws and Canons to erect spirituall Courts and create Officers to beare rule and exercise dominion over the Nations even from the Divell they have not any lawfull authority from God but an usurped authority from the Divell whose instruments they are to advance his kingdom and to persecute the Saints which obey God rather then men And here we may observe that they are rightly called spirtuall Lords because originally they proceed from that prince that ruleth in the aire the spirit that worketh in the children of unbeliefe but withall in stead of spirituall Lords Laws Courts and Officers call them spirituall wickednesses and so we give them their right titles and being such if we will fight the good fight of faith we must by witnessing what they be wrastle against them and not submit unto them but stand fast in that liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and not be intangled with any yoke of bondage and that we may wrastle and prevaile we must take unto us the whole Armour of God Ephes 6. Further Iohn saith that he saw one of the heads of the Beast as it were wounded to death and his deadly wound was healed and all the world wondred after the Beast By this Head which was as it were wounded to death was signified the reviving of Priesthood the mysterie whereof in few words is this The workers of iniquity in this Antichristian kingdom having ordained this order of ministery called Priesthood whether it were in imitation of the Iews or Heathen it is doubtfull but certain it is that because it wanted externall sacrifices it came short both of the Iewish Priesthood and also of the Heathen so that it was a lame and wounded Priesthood and was not respected In time it came to passe that they found out a sacrifice as is to bee seene in their Masse-book which was the transubstantiating of Bread into Wine into the very Body and Blood of Christ really and substantially as they use to speak and teach and being so transubstantiated to offer it up unto God a sacrifice propitiatory both for quick and dead Thus the wounded head of Priesthood was cured and revived and so became the worlds wonder as now it followeth to be declared according as Iohn here witnesseth And all the world wondred after the Beast That is the people of the Nations having this Priesthood set over them and commended unto them to be of such power and dignity as that they could make them
instruction information of their Iudgements and so a good and holy vse may be thereof But that any counsells haue such power over the church of Christ as to impose vpon them their cômandements for doctrine and usurp the goverment of the Churches and to rule and reigne over them by their lawes and Canons and prescribe rules and formes how God will be worshipped as these generall counsells haue done that I doe deny as being contrarie to the perfecton of the holy Scriptures and the practise of the Apostles and Elders of the-Church of Ierusalem 2 Tim. 3.17 Deut. 4.2 Reve. 22 18 Act. 5 10 who being assembled together did professe it to be a tempting of God to lay such a yok on the disciples necks as the observing of the Iewish ceremonies which being vnlawfull to do it is uuch more vnlawfull to devise and impose any other And therefore the sayd assembly of the Apostles Elders concluded to lay no greater burden vpon the disciples then to abstaine from such necessary things as either were simply evil in them selues as fornication Act. 15 8 19 c. or else euill in respect of offence as meate offered to Idols blood and things strangled Now to proceed first it is said of this Beast That hee did rise up out of the sea By his rising vp was foreshewd that the Antichristian policie should arise from a poore and meane estate to great riches and honour in the world which we and former generations have seene to the uttermost fulfilled For dayes there were when the Churches of Christ both Ministers and people were hated despised and persecuted in the world spoiled of their goods made gazing stocks and wonders and afflicted with all kinde of cruelty as histories both sacred and humane do abundantly specifie and declare The Apostle Paul saith of himself and his fellow-bretheren the Ministers of the Gospell that they were as men appointed to death and in the account of the world as the filth refuse and of-scouring of all things But since this beastly generation hath succeeded the Church and under the titles of Ministers of the Gospell and the Bishops ouer Gods people have found meanes by little and little to rise up and to exalt themselves over the Nations and to bring the multitudes and peoples and Nations and Tongues under their Iurisdiction rule and Dominion Rev 18 3 2 Thes 2. 7. and they have so risen up that they are become the great men of the earth and are waxed rich through the abundance of their delicacies This mysterie of iniquity was working in the Apostles time for there were then crept into the Church those that desired worldly pompe and promotion and were not contented with the portion of the Lords Heritage but their ambitious desires could not then be satisfied there was a let in the way that hindered it which lets being removed their purposes soone after took effect fitly therefore is this generation said to rise up in respect of those whose successours they boast themselves to be The former hold no certaine dwelling places but were exposed to hunger thirst cold nakednesse buffetings c. But these latter have their Lordly Houses warlike Castles and Princelike Palaces they have their Rents Revenues and abundance of riches in great excesse they are pompously arrayed in stately Robes and rich apparell they rule like Lords over the people and have power to aflict all that will not beare the yoke of their Dominion thus is this generation risen vp and exalted as all may see that list to minde it The Place from whence this Beast is said to rise up is the sea The naturall sea wee know is the gathering together of many waters Gen. 1.9 10. A Like thing must that be out of which this beast was to rise But in the 17. Chapter Multitudes and nations peoples and Tongues are resembled by waters therefore the gathering together of such into one body politike may rightly be resembled by the Sea Thus then the truth standeth By the rising up of this Beast out of the Sea was foreshewed that those many waters that is the people and multitudes and Nations and Tongues not onely under the Romane Empire but most nations and people of the World being gathered into one Sea or Ecclesiasticall State should breed and bring forth this Monster For they being of two contrary sorts the seed of the Serpent and the seed of the Woman Children of the Kingdom and children of the wicked unto the one sort the Word of God in the administration thereof is the savour of life unto life unto the other sort it is the savour of death unto death The one sort feare God and will obey him rather then man The other feare and reverence the arme of flesh more then they do the living God These as light and darknesse being contrary one to another the one being of Christ the other of Belial how therefore should they in things concerning God and Christ Faith and Religion agree together Those which be of God cannot but witnesse against those that be of the world because their deeds are evill Those which are of the world are heady high-minded proud boasters wise in their own conceit and therefore scorne to be rebuked and hate to be reformed These being together in the world as Wheat and Tares in one field and as Sheep and Goats in one Flock the true end of the administration of the Word of God had been to call and separate the one from the other the precious from the vile beleevers from infidels But notwithstanding this generation thought it to be wisdom to take a contrary course namely to bring all people of all sorts to be one Church and likewise unto uniformity in Religion And because it could not be effected by the Word of God that sword of the Spirit they procured the help of worldly governours to bring it to passe by their power and command By which device and policie these many waters that is the Nations and people have been gathered into one Church and Ecclesiasticall body politike here represented by the Sea and have been brought to use all one order or worship service and government But this conformitie not being procured through love but constrained by feare was but an humane devise and worldly policy and no divine Institution and therefore could not be upholden maintained and continued by the Word of God and the administration of a serviceable Ministery but by the over-ruling power of a Lordly Prelacie whereupon it was thought meet that Synods or Counsels of the chiefest of the Prelates and Cleargie of divers Dominions should be gathered together to make Laws and Canons which all men should be constrained by penall Laws to observe and yeeld obedience unto and so peace and unitie might be preserved and kept amongst them And in short time it came to passe that whatsoever these Synods or Counsels did agree upon and set down how false soever was to be
corrupted by the Pope and made to pronounce unrighteous and unjust judgements we are to esteem them as the judgements of the Dragon and yet neverthelesse their authority and power lawfull and ordained of God Thus the Beast deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by means of those Miracles falfly so called which he had power to do in the sight of the Beast as is shewed in the verse following Vers 14. And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the meanes of those Miracles which he had power to doe in the sight of the Beast Those which the Beast deceiveth are said to dwell on the earth that is have their affections set upon earthly things and not upon heavenly so that they will not for love of the truth forsake their earthly possessions and pleasures these are they which are deceived by these lying wonders of this Beast but those that are strangers and Pilgrims in this world whose affections are set upon heavenly things and not upon earthly these are not deceived nor deluded by him these making tryall of him by Gods Word have found him to be a lyer and a deceiver and believe him not but taking their lives in their hands witnesse against him to the death that his power and working is of Satan and that his wonders are lyes And Whereas it is said that he had power to do these Miracles in the sight of the Beast thereby is confirmed and made manifest that which before is shewed to wit that this son of Perdition the chiefe Darling of his holy Catholike Mother is present with her and in her bosome and for her sake and in her behalfe exerciseth his power she retaineth still her former authority without any diminishing thereof as is euident unto all that are acquainted with the acts of that Church Thus much for the second part of this Chapter THE THIRD PART OF the XIII Chapter of the REVELATION Wherein is foreshewed a third Beast which was set up by the commandement of this second Beast the Pope who said to them that dwelt on the earth that they should make an Image to the Beast which had the wound with a sword and did live HEre we may see that the Pope by his commaunding power was the cause of setting up this Image and for the better and more cleare vnderstanding what this Image is Let us a litle consider the patterne whose Image and liknes it beareth namely the first Beast The first Beast as hath beene shewed was the representative body of the Catholick Church Militant consisting of the select Prelacy and Preisthood of sundry Nations gathered together into one counsell or Synode with authoritie to make Lawes and canons for the vniversall Church to be observed uniformely of all Nations under pretence of the insufficiency of the Scripture for the goverment of the Church and the worship of God in like manner the Pope in his wisdome seeing it necessary for the good goverment maintenance and upholding of his kingdome and the rooting out of Heretickes and seditious persons as they call them which daily increased in every countrie did ordeyne and command Vide concilium Lateran secundum Can 6. that in every province there should yerely be held and kept a provinciall counsell or Synode consisting of the Prelats and many other selected persons which should look to those matters to which Synode he also gave power to make Lawes atd ordinances to which the people should be conformable and obedient This is the Image which he caused the dwellers on the earth to make of the Beast which had the wound with a sword and did live Further it is said Vers 15. Verse 15. And power was given him to give life unto the Image of this Beast that the Image of the Beast should both speake and cause that as many as would not worship the Image of the Beast should be killed In this Verse we may observe first that a gift was given to the Pope to bestow upon this Image Secondly what this gift was viz. to give life or breath to the Image thirdly the end and effects of the gift which was that the Beast should speak and cause that as many as would not worship the Beast should be killed As there was given by the Dragon to the first Beast great power and authority and also a mouth to speak blasphemies and to make war with the Saints in like manner by the same Dragon was this gift given to the Pope to give life or breath to this Image By life is here meant authority which is the life of a Synod without which it is of no force and so this Image should have been no more then a very Image or picture and set up to no purpose but the Pope having received it gave authority to the Image that he should speak that is make and set forth Canons and Laws for to speak is so understood as for example A King is said to speak to his subjects when he setteth forth his Laws and Proclamations so this Beast having made Canons and Decrees speaketh to her vassals and subjects by them Moreover the Image caused that as many as would not worship him should be killed Here the pride and cruelty of this Image is set forth to be answerable to the first Beast and therefore rightly is he called her Image for as the first Beast made war with the Saints and overcame them all that dwelled on the earth worshiped him c. so whosoever would not worship this Image that is heare his voice and keep his commandements there was no way for him but death All the worship that the Lord requireth of his servants Deut. 10.12 13. is That they feare him walk in all his waies love him and serve him with all their hearts with all their soules to keep the Commandements of the Lord and his Ordinances And this is indeed the true worship of God In like maner this Image will be worshiped his Laws must be observed and his Canons obeyed without examining and trying of them be they never so unholy and unjust They that do not observe and obey them be they never so upright and holy men they shall be thereby indited arraigned judged and condemned to death as being in their estimation Heretikes Schismatikes disobedient and rebellious persons contemners of God and of the Church yea as the filth and of-scowring of the world and unworthy of the society of men And he causeth all both small and great rich and poore free and bond to receive a Marke in their right hand and in their foreheads This Image challenging worship to be performed unto him of all people of all sorts and degrees according to the authority given him by the Pope was by some contradicted and despised wherefore the Image in policy for the better triall of those that were his trusty subjects and slaves ordained that all his Ministers should receive a Marke at the receiving whereof they should vow