the same Adonikam afterward in Nehemiah are numbred sixe hundred three score seaven in the 7. chap. ver 10. The rest of the names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Aretas in the later writers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the like partly are not the names of any man or at the least not of a people partly nothing was to be feared from them to whose knowledge soever they should come Romiâ—th or Romagnus Romane come nighest of all but the fourth property reiecteth this also which could not be of force inough to recover the favour of the Beast The Grecians willingly acknowledged themselves to be Romanes and of a long time boasted of this name Constantinople was commonly called New Rome yet in the meane time they were greatly hated of the Beast untill at length they did shew their consent with the Latines and yeelded the Primacie to the Latine Pope Therefore all accounts being cast I thinke that Lateinos is the name which the Spirit here biddeth us to number Which is a name whose letters after the account of the Grecians doe accomplish this number and unto which all the other properties doe agree and so much the more because from the Apostles times it hath ben extended to us and the event hath so confirmed it that it is now more cleare then the light at noonetyde which was darke before For so Ireneus in his 5. book chap 29. against heresies But saith he the name Lateinos conteineth the number sixe hundred threescore and sixe and it is very like to be true because the most substantiall Kingdome hath this name for they are Latines who now doe raigne But wee will not boast of this Such are his wordes As though this were not the opinion of him alone but he had received it froÌ„ another but from what other man is it likely then from Polycarp whose scholar he was and he Iohns scholar Such therefore are these Beasts whose lively image wee see in the Romane Pope who according to the plaine interpretation of the wordes the events of the times and agreablenes of all things so fitly without any violence casteth himselfe into every part of this first paterne and that even to the least appearances and likenesses that I thinke the very Papists themselves cannot doubt any more who is Antichrist And thus farre coÌ„cerning the Dragon and the Beast according to the consideration of knowledg encreased which should come under the blowing of the seventh trumpet for Hitherto doe the thirteene Centuries extend ending in the yeere 1300. to wit in the number of the name of the Beast that is a little after that the matter was brought to a point with the Grecians who submitted themselves to the Latine Pope with which number of his name the Spirit also coÌ„cludeth this Prophecy of the Beast shewing a very great consent of the issue in every part CHAP. 14. THEN I beheld and loe a Lambe stood on mount Sion and with him an hundreth fourty and foure thousande having his fathers name written on their fore heads 2 And I heard a voice from heaven as the sounde of many waters and as the sounde of a great thunder and J heard the voice of Harpers harping with their harpes 3 And who did sing as it were a new song before the throne and before those foure Beasts and those Elders and no man could learne that song but those hundreth fourty and foure thousande to wit those which were bought from the earth 4 These are they which are not defiled with women for they are virgines these follow the Lambe whither soever he goeth these are bought from men being the first fruites to God and to the Lambe 5 And in whose mouth was founde no guile for they are without spot before the Throne of God 6 Then I saw an other Angell flying in the middes of heaven having an everlasting Ghospell to preach to them that dwell on the earth and to every nation tribe and tongue and people 7 Saying with a loude voice feare God and give glory to him for the houre of his iudgement is come and worship him which made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountaines of waters 8 And there followed an other Angell saying it is fallen it is fallen Babylon that great Citie because shee gave the wine of the wrath of her fornication to drinke to all nations 9 And the third Angel followed them saying with a loude voice if anie man shallworship the Beast and his image and receave his marke in his forehead or in his hande 10 The same shall drinke also of the winne of the wrath of God of the pure wine I say which is powred into the cuppe of his wrath and he shal be tormented in fire brymstone before the holy Angels and before the Lambe 11 And the smoke of their torment shall ascende evermore neither shall they hav anie rest day and night which worship the Beast and his image and whosoever receiveth the printe of his name 12 Here is the patience of the Saincts here are they that keepe the commandemeÌ„ts of God and the faith of Iesus 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying unto mee write blessed are the dead which dye for the Lords sake from henceforth even so saith the Spirit for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them 14 And I looked and beholde a white cloud and upon the cloude one sitting like unto the Sonne of man having on his head a golden crowne and in his hande a sharpe sickle 15 And an other Angell came out of the Temple crying with a loude voice to him that sate on the cloude thrust in thy sickle and reape for thy time is come to reape for the harvest of the earth is ripe 16 Then he that sate on the cloud did thrust his sickle on the earth and the earth was reaped 17 Then an other Angell came out of the Temple which is in heaven having also a sharpe sickle 18 And an other Angel came out from the Altar having power over the fire and cryed with a loude voice to him that had the sharpe sickle saying thrust in thy sharpe sickle and gather the clusters of the vineyard of the earth for her grapes are ripe 19 Then the Angel did thrust in his sharpe sickle on the earth and cut downe the grapes of the vineyard of the earth and cast them into that greate wine presse of the wrath of God 20 And the wine presse was troden without the citie and blood came out of the wine presse unto the horses bridles by the space of a thousand sixe hundred furlongs Analysis VVEE have spoken of the thinges done by the enemies it followeth in this chapter concerning the vertue of the citezens declaring what was the condition of the true Church since the time that the battell was ended in heaven the Dragon cast foorth into the earth chap. 12.9 and the Beast began to come out of the Sea chap. 13.1 Which
wee will pray for you So that labouring to hide other mens sinnes they shall wholly forget their owne And o grievous thing they will receive anie thinge from vagabonds pilferers extortioners theeves and robbers by the high waies from church-robbers usurers adulterers Heretiques Shismatiques revolters harlots bawdes of Noble men periured merchants corrupt iudges souldiers tyrants and such as live in trades contrarie to the lawe of God They are perverse and wicked embracing the persuasion of the Devill the sweetnesse of sinne an easie and delicate life and a certaine abundance of thinges even unto eternall damnation All these things shall appeare manifestly in them all everie daie they shall growe more wicked and more hardened in their heartes And when their fraude shal be founde out and their naughtiâ—esse then gifts shall cease and they shall goe about to houses hungrie like ravening dogges their countenances cast downe upon the grounde and their neckes made short as doves that they maie be satisfied with bread Then the people shall prosecute them with an outcrie woe be to you wretches children of sorrow the world hath deceived you the Devill hath ruled you hitherto by his power you have a fraile flesh and hart utterly without wisdome and unstable wavering mindes and eyes delighted with much vanity and folly your idle paunches have coveted dainty dishes of meate and your feete have ben swift to wickednesse Remember the time when you were openlie blessed but secretlie envious abroad poore but rich at home curteous in shew but in verie trueth great flaterers false traitours perverse back biters holie Hypocrites supplaÌ„ters of the trueth iust beiond measure proude unchast unconstant teachers delicate Martyrs confessours desirous of much lucre gentle but false accusâ—rs religious but covetous humble but yet proude mercifull but shamelesse liars pleasant flatterers peaceable persequutours oppressours of the poore bringing newe sects invented of your selves counted mercifull but knowne by experience to be wicked lovers of the world conspiratours drunkards ambitious patrons of wickednesse robbers of the whole earth unsatiable preachers men pleasers beguiling simple women sowers of privie grudges Of whom Moses that excellent Prophet spake well in his Songe a people without councell and understanding Oh that they would knowe that they would understand and consider their latter ende Yee have built indeede on high and when it was not graunted you to rise higher yee have fallen downe togither even as Simon Magus whom God cast to the grounde and smote with an huge blowe so at length you have ben throwne downe from your false doctrine naughtinesse lyes slaunders villanies out of the cloudes unto the verie earth Then the people speaketh to them get yee hence you teachers of abominations destroiers of the trueth brethren Shunamites fathers of heresies false Apostles who counterfaited the life of the Apostles the followers of whom you have ben in noe sorte You are the children of iniquitie wee will not follow your maner of courses For pride and arrogancie have deceaved you and unsatiable covetousnes hath wrapped in her snares your erring mindes And after that yee would clime higher then was meete and reasonable by the iust iudgement of God yee have fallen downe headlong into eternall shame and reproch These thinges Hildegardis foretolde about the yeere 1146 three skore yeeres before the begging fryers were bred whom notwithstanding shee painteth out so cunningly and lively that shee may seeme not so much to have foretolde a thinge to come as to have reported a thing past Who can describe more clearly the beginning and disposition of these Locusts Who can speake more plaine of their destruction even of us who have seen the thing declared to be true by the event Neither onely treated shee of those which should spring up next after her age but also of the Iâ—suites of our time and the other company of vile persons of that sorte which doth annoy in these dayes For all these Locusts belonge to the same pit are of the same manners and shal be in the same destruction 12 One woe is past The first of the three more grievous For the second followeth in chap. 11.14 as it hath ben observed before that one with the Hebrewes is as well a nowne of order as of number in chap. 6.1 This woe is past not because noe remnants should remaine when the next trumpet should come after the other but because the heate of it should be much cooled againe so as it wanted but a little but that it might seeme to have bâ—n utterly quenched For this Angell of the bottomelesse pit shall not be abolished wholly togither with all his servants before the bright comming of the Lord 2 Thes 2.8 There is the same meaning of this word chap. 11.14 For the veâ—ation of the sixt trumpet should not vanish away altogither forthwith at the first sounding of the seventh but should tarie after that for some longe time But the space of this trumpet is of sixe hundred yeeres and more to wit from the yeere 406. unto the yeere one thousand three hundreth and fiftieth or there about 13 Then the sixt Angâ—ll blâ—we the trumpet Nowe the sixt trumpet followeth and thâ— sâ—coâ—â— woe of which first is declared the commandement secondly the Execution In that is to be considered the Authour the Administratour and the meaniâ—g of the commandement it selfe The Authour is one voice from the foure hornâ— of the golden Altar Wee have shewed at chap. 8.3 what manner of altar this is Properly it signifyeth Christ in whom by whom onely our prayers doe please God as once was shadowed out by the golden Altar of incense set before the vaile upon which alone it was lawfull to burne the holie incense This Altar had foure hornes upon which onelie once a yeere reconciliation was to be made of Aaron and with the blood of the sâ—câ—ifice for sinne in the day of reconciliations Exod. 30.10 For albeit the daylie prayers were sweete and had also a good savour the incense of which was dayly offerred on the altar yet these yeerly prayers which were made upoÌ„ the hornes of the altar were most fervent of chiefe moment But it is to be observed that the voice which is heard coming from the hornes of the altar is not a praying but a commanding voice saying loose those foure Angels From whence this voice is not of the faithfull praying but rather of Christ hearing their prayers For therefore it is made from the hornes of the altar both that hee may teach that this voice is an answere given to the supplications of the saincts and also that wee may knowe that by him alone is obtained that which wee aske by whom in whom onely wee offer up our prayers to God Therefore when the godly desire earnestly that God would provide for his Church being troubled this of loosing the 4 Angels cometh from the hornes of the altar that while they should handle the stiffe enemies of syncere religioÌ„ according to
which time this reward perteineth frō whence it is cleare that these 7 Epistles respected not onely the present condition of the 7 cityes but by the way of types to contayne a lōge following age evē as we have interpreted But so farre as pertineth to newe Ierusalem wee will shew in this place that it is not that city which the saints shall enioy in heaven after this life but a Church to be expected on earth the most pure and most noble of all that ever have bin hitherto The rewards in a peculiar manner doe serve the times and if this felicity shal be after the resurrection it shal be comon to all the saints not proper to this Philadelphia This therefore signifyeth both that the Philadelphians shall cōtinue untill that restauratiō in which new Ierusalem shall come downe from heaven shal be conversant among men also shal be ioyned with the same in a league fellowship shal be indued with that heavenly city enioy the same Law privilege happines At which time all shall acknowledge thy reformation not to be a thing devised of man as contentious men affirme when they shall see the same ordinances to flourish in newe Ierusalem The third name is the newe name of sonne What can be new unto him namely that which is not yet acknowledged of the world Hitherto he hath suffered the tyrants to beare rule to treade under foote the name of Christ as though he were a King onely in title who should have right to reigne but should want pover But at length he shall rise up shall take a clubbe into his hande he shall destroy all his enemyes he shall give the triumphe to his spouse shal be celebrated King of Kings by all men through the whole cōpasse of the earth Vnto the society of which glory he shall take his servants he shall deliver them from the calamityes wherewith they are now oppressed he shall give them power over their enemyes shall bestow on them the whole glory of his Kingdome as much as mortall mē cā receive And there is some difference betweene a newe name put absolutely as in chap. 2.17 a newe name of sonne For that perteineth unto the certenty of adoption by Christ which faith was very weake in the Pergamen state this belongeth to the society of the Kingdome which shal be communicated with his in the last times 13 Let him that hath an eare heare Hear therefore Philadelphia and reioyce thou art lowe and nothing esteemed but God will exalte thee Onely goe foreward constantly augment your care diligence slake and asswage it nothing Neither regarde the skoffes of the wicked who shall bring upō thēselves sorow to thee a crowne Shortly there shal be an end of thy warfare In the meane time wee will pray for thy peace Doe thou againe ioyne thy prayers with ours that Christ would bestow the same things upon the rest of thy brethren which he hath so greatly approved in thee Fare well The grace of our Lord Iesus Chist be with thee Amen Analysis SO is the Epistle to the Philadelphians the last remayneth to the Laodiceans whose inscription is to the Angell like to the former The description of him by whom it is sent is fetched from a double property first of Trueth partly in the promises in that he is Amen partly in the Doctrine in that he is the falthfull true Witnesse secondly of power wherby he is the beginning of the creature of God ver 14. The Narration first reproveth sheweth the greatnes of the sinne both secretly omitting the making mention of any good thing as in the former Churches and as also openly both by comparison of coldnes as a lesser evill ver 15. and also by the punishement to be inflicted the vomitting out of his mouth ver 16. After he teacheth the way to heale them both by opening the cause of the disease which is a false perswasion of their owne worthynes and ignorance of their misery ver 17. and also in prescribing a remedy to be sought from Christ alone ver 18. And not this alone but also by persuading the use of it as well by the chastising of sonnes if they shall neglect it ver 19. as also by his readinesse to apply ver 20. and by the reward ver 21. The last ende is the Epilogue to heare what the Spirit saith tu tho Churches ver 22. Scholions 14 And to the Angell of the Laodiceans Laodicea situated at the river Lycum was once a great city and famous abounding both in cityzens riches and also in all other things as we shewed in the first chap. ver 11. It was built by Antiochus the sonne of Stratonice and for his wife Laodice her sake called this city Laodicea as it were the Princesse and ruler of the people to whom shee should administer iustice and make lawes From whence wee call her Glorious great both by name and also in their owe opinion which boasteth that shee is riche and wanteth nothing ver 17. It is from Philadelphia more toward the East then the South being distant from it according to Ptolomy not above tenth scruples Shee is the third city since there was mention made of Jezabell the reproche of whom Sardis tooke away from the Churches Shee hath this proper to her that shee hath none to whom shee can be opposed as in the former Churches Vnto Ephesus was opposed Thyatira to Smyrna Sardis to Pergamus Philadelphia Laodicea the seaven hath noe fellow The Antitype is the third reformed Church which before I note or shew the uniust suspicion and offence of some men is to be put away by intreaty No disease or corruption of minde hath moved me to seeke out an odious application No mans either riches or honours God is witnesse grieveth mee I am content with my little Neither have I counted any thing to be more foolish then to please on s selfe by displeasing others But howe dishonest and filthy a thing is it to sit as doth the fly upon the soares of the brethren My soule hath allwayes abhorred such dealings But when I considered that these seaven cityes were set forth for a type of all Churches among the Gentiles and then also perceived the course it selfe of the time and the mervaylous concurring of all things I durst not unfaithfully hide the truth with silenee least I should make my selfe guilty of others blood Farre be it that I should distaine willfuly that Church which through the mercy of God hath brought mee forth nourished and susteined mee which I desire in my daylie prayers and labour to be most blessed But seeing the soare cannot be cured unlesse it be touched neither truly touched without griefe I thought I must not refuse to cast my selfe against what troubles soever rather then to betray the salvation of her of which every one of us ought to have greater regard and care then of his owne Verily he that
that is given to him that sitteth on the throne is thankesgiving in which the Beasts goe before as the captaines standerd-beates of the publike congregation ver 9. Afterward the other body of the Elders followeth both in adoration ver 10. also in consent to the same glorifying ver 11. after that custome wherby God is worshipped in the christian congregations Such is the congregation of the Godly before God and some such might be alwayes although not evident and visible to the world in equall glory at all times Scholions Afterward J saw Those things being declared which are of some short time nowe the Spirit those boundes being enlarged pursueth with a continued order those thinges which should shewe the comon and entyre face of things from the time of this writing unto the last ende The handling of which things wil be admirable neither wil be accomplished and performed without his ayde alone which shewed these thinges first to his servant Trusting therefore to his grace I will proceed in the worke begun Vnto the finishing whereof howsoever other things shal be wanting certenly faithfulnes and diligence in searching out to my power shall not be wanting These first wordes are perteining to a newe preparation unto a newe prophesy For Iohn is noe more conversant on the earth but is taken up into heaven where through a doore opened he beholdeth wonderfull changes of things that were to be knowne by noe other way Therfore the manner of the Prophesy following is divers from the former That former is straighter even as also the place where it was seen a small Iland compassed with the sea this spred farre and neere passing all measure even as also the heaven it selfe containing all things within his compasse Furthermore a certen visible print and signe of thinges to come was there to be seene in those seaven cityes For the Churches that after were to be inlarged increased should be pourtrayed and drawne out by the will of God according to the present image and figure of them but there was noe token or shew among mortall men of the things to be spoken of in this second prophesy For the peculiar iudgements of which there is most speach here are to be fetched from that secret revelation alone Vnto the heaven then where liberty of this vision was given is added afterward the booke sealed with seaven seales then noe creature sufficient to open the same nor any sufficient power of any one except of the Lambe onely as wee shall see in his place All which things as they declare the excellency of this Prophecy so they require our greater attention and earnest bending of our mindes to them As touching the wordes the first voice is heard because there is the same author of both Prophecies and soundeth like a trumpet wherby the thinges heard may be made more certen and out of doubte might be perceived the better of Iohn as hath ben observed at chap. 1.10 It biddeth to come up hither where onely the things might be seene of which there was noe tracke or path made in the earth And he would not that he should see a farre of as through the doore by which meanes he might be deceaved or not see the thinge playnely enough but that he should be present and before him that he might have a certen undoubted knowledge of the things But that which followeth is not voyde of doubting howe he may say that he will shewe a vision of things which must be done after these For whether should the following Prophesy not take her beginning before that former of the seaven Churches should attayne his ende But in them wee see is intreated of thinges of our time or if wee respect the bare types many thinges to come were fore shewed moreover in those thinges that followe it shall noe lesse appeare that Iohn doth tell of things agreeing with their owne times so that the wordes cānot be so understood by any meanes Wherfore neither is that distribution firme wherein the whole Prophecy is distinguished into thinges present and future The Spirit followeth not such distribution but mixeth many future thinges with present as they are counted Wherfore these wordes after these thinges are not refferred in respect of their beginning to the end of the former prophecy but unto the present age of Iohn yea unto that very moment wherin the Spirit revealed these thinges from whence a newe beginning be in taken he describeth the continuall course and terme of time of the whole Church and annexeth those things which could not be understood sufficiently from the former types Therefore Theod. Beza well translated heta tauta by and adverbe hereafter But in respect of the end not without cause this second Prophecy is counted after the former as being of a farre longer time reaching unto the last cōming of Christ wheras that former is termined with farre narrower boundes Frō these things therfore there are as wee take it two things chiefly to be observed First that from this place those things onely are handled which doe follow the tyme of the revelation made For so he speaketh playnely And J will shew thee the thinges that must be done hereafter Which being marked of certen Interpreters I mervayle was not observed in their expositions But the times through the whole treatise to be confounded so by a whirlewinde that all thinges were wrapped in most thicke darcknes Wee being taught by their exemple wee will borowe light from hence for the exposition following The second that this Prophesy belongeth to the whole Church which is neither tyed to any particular Churches nor is ended with any other boundes then the whole frame of the world The Spirit set in the first place that particular Prophesy that he might relate comon thinges commonly without interrupting of the narration 2 Therfore I was suddenly ravished in the Spirit Here is the same authority altogither which was before as well from the person calling as from the persone called For it is the same holy inspiration of God which he mentioned in the first chapter verse 10. But what neede was there of a newe inspiration Had the former ceased that in a certen distance of time it might be kindled a fresh Without doubt the instinction was continuall without intermission but he saith that it was suddenly in the Spirit because the Spirit did frame him to receave newe visions unto which he perceived himselfe prepared forthwith The whole Revelation seemeth to have ben finished in that one Lords day chap 1.10 and therefore that there fell out noe intermission after that it began once to be exhibited ¶ And beholde a Throne was placed in heaven Such was the preparation by a newe calling now he cometh to the cōmon type of the holy Church The description of which was necessary before he should enter into the other Prophesy For when as her manifolde dangers and notable alteratiōs were to be rehearsed her flight returne
is commonly translated Hell but it would be more fitly translated Grave which also the greeke word signifyeth so it ought to be understood in this place especially seeing many holy men should die togither with the rest whom it were a wicked thinke to iudge to be swallowed up of the Hell of the damned For as touching that the Jesuite doth thinke that Hell doth follow to devoure Traiane whom he will have to be this Sitter wee shall see in the applying howe fond a thing it is that I may not say how carelesly he mixed and confouÌ„deth all thinges who bringeth againe to Traiane the Prophecy which was passed beyond Severus Secondly power is given to the Sitter and togither also is limitted with his boundes and there was given them where some bookes doe read the order being changed and power was given to him over the fourth parth of the earth and the common Latine translation for the fourth part of the earth readeth over foure parts of the earth by these meanes the whole world being made subiect to their dominion against the consent of all the Greeke copies But nowe it is a detestable thing to thinke after the Tridentine Decree that the commoÌ„ traÌ„slatioÌ„ was not corrected according to the best Greeke copies Although a good sense in deede may be drawne from the wordes that the foure partes of the earth may note the largenes of the countryes in which the destruction should go on with rage even as the fourth part of the earth the multitude of men which should perish by this death The Power is defined with a foure folde kinde of destroying with Death sitting on the horse which he useth as his Ministers Warres Batells leade the first army whose weapon is a Sword Want of foode guideth the second hoste the third the Pestilence for by death he meaneth it to whom is attributed the name of the gender because it taketh men away with a most quicke destruction and setteth before our eyes a most lively image of death and theÌ„ also it is wont to be alwayes the follower of Famine And in many mother tongues it is called Mortality The last scourge is of Beasts a scourge much used in former times as I will sende upon you the Beasts of the field Levit. 26.22 So Aâ—so when I shall send my foure sore iudgements upon Ierusalem even the sword and famine and noysome Beasts and Pestilence Ezech. 14.21 An exeÌ„ple whereof wee have when the Lord sent Lions among the newe dwellers who succeeded the ten tribes carried away 2 King 17.25 or it may be that Beasts be taken metaphorically for men mighty on earth and made like Beasts a frequent name in the scriptures of Tyrants and wicked Princes as of Pharaoh Thou art like a yong Lion among the nations Ezech. 32.2 And famous in Daniell is the nothing of foure Kinges by so many Beastes that is a Lion a Beare a Leopard and the fourth terrible Beast to wit a Centaure compact of many chap. 7.4.5 These are then the bandes of Death which nowe ioyned togither he would spread abroade into the world when the gates and wayes were opened which before were severall plagues And that it is also so come to passe the coherence of things doe teache it After Severus the state of the Church was quiet untill at length the Empire came to Decius Maximinus troubled somewhat but he being killed a while after his madnes and life was short But Decius neither feared with the calamity of warres nor any whit moved with the scarsity of victualls both which he might easily perceive the slaughters of the innocents to have brought into the world commanded that rigour should be shewed toward the Christians with all kinde of torments Then the fourth Beast spake for Cyprian being indeede an Eagle a contemner of the world and of the thinges that are very much esteemed of other men who at his first conversion bestowed all his goods upon the poore who earnestly reproved the covetousnes of other men in heaping up patrimonies sharply rebuked the pride of them that preferred themselves before others reprehended swelling insolency and immodest boasting of confession by all meanes openly avouched that these scourges were provoked by such sinnes This Eagle I say flying so much the more higher by howe much the more he did abase himselfe in writing against Demetrianus Ethnicus shewed playnly that this was the chiefe cause of all evills wherewith the world was tormented that the GeÌ„tiles did persecute so barbarously the harmelesse worshippers of Christ whom the world after their manner through envy charged for to be the cause of the commoÌ„ calamityes but that holy man did put away those calumnies and declared manifestly the true fountaine of all the evils Neither was his voice false God forthwith approving it by sending into the world divers and sundry sortes of horrible destruction Decius himselfe was swallowed up in a golfe-mire of a marsh not bequeathing himselfe to death for his country after the example of the olde Decius but going downe as it were quicke into Hell for a iust terrour of all mercilesse Tyrants Gallus Volusianus by and by after felt the wrath of God who are famous for noâ— remembrance of their notable acts but onely for the destruction of mankinde For first when these reigned the sword slewe an infinite sorte of men For the Scythians when Decius was gone when first the yoke of tribute was layed upon the Româ—nes which howe much blood it cost any man may easily coniecture altering forthwith their act did make invasions did drive away spoiles did violently enter in often times by a very great army by land and by sea did wast Dardania Thracia Thessalia Macedonia and the country Hellas part did molest Asia with the spoiling rasing and destroying of many cityes on every side By whose example also other enemyes did aryse the Parthians did take and hold by force Armenia and did passe through into the parte of Syria which mischiefes when Gallus Volusianus make ready to withstand they are both killed of the souldiours Aemilianus a three-moneth Emperour was chosen of the same into their place and of them killed Valerianus cometh alive into the enemyes power and is made a footstoole to Sapores for to get upon his horse The sword then played his part greatly leaving scarse any part of the world free from slaughters The famine gave occasion both to Demetrianus of calumniating the Christians and to Cyprian of defending them Doest thou sayth he speaking to Demetrianus marvayle and complaine in this your obstinacy and contempt if the earth be foule with the standing of dust if the barren clotte bringeth scarse fainte yellowish and wanne herbes and grasse if seldome raine descende from above if the beating haile maketh the wine feeble if a subverting whirlewinde doe breake in pieces the olive trees if drought doe stoppe up the fountaine c From which it is cleare howe grievous the coÌ„dition of those
wherin a Dragon was painted thrust thorough with a dart and layd under his and his peoples feete see Euseb upon the life of Constantine in the third oration leafe 137. a. 9 And that Dragon was cast into the earth That is beiond the boundes of the true and holy Church not onely among the prophane nations but also all other people altogither without true godlines howsoever peradveÌ„ture they pretended a shewe of it and are marked with the names of Christians That which is here called the heaven and the earth was in the former chapter called the Temple and the Court. In that the Church lay hid in this the Gentiles ruled a people who because of their vicinitie did take to themselves the name of the Church Therefore the Devill being cast unto the earth he is thrust out togither with his Angels into this court having receaved power to vexe the whore who lately exercised all his strength against the true spouse 10 And J heard a great voice The Song of triumphe of the Saincts celebrating God for his great benefit which first of all is declared by those things wherein the benefit it selfe consisted in this verse afterward it is set forth by his causes ver 11. by his effects ver 12. The benefit it selfe in respect of men is safety the tyrants being destroied who did labour to satisfy their hatred with the destruction of the Christians in respect of God it is the glory of his might of the Kingdome and power of Christ For then his power doth appeare when he utterly destroyeth abolisheth his enemies Also his visible Kingdome is seen after a sort when he placeth godly Princes in the governement of the common wealth from hence likewise the power of Christ was much declared which before seemed weake being so troden under soote by the enemyes neither punishing them according to their deserts But Christ now by taking unto him the Kingdome declared sufficiently that the former want of punishement and sufferance came not from imbecillity but onely from patience In respect of the Devill this benefit was a iust reward of his ungodlines who coÌ„tinually accuseth the godly before God But we must observe that the servants are noted with the same names wher with the Pâ—â—â—câ— himselfe is named because there is an equall good will to hurt in both although hiâ— power be greater But this accusation are those taunts reproches railings with which the spitefull enemies overwhelmed the Saincts continually obiecting unto them the suppers of Oedipus incests adultery mutuall lusts murders conspiracies against Princes pestilences famine burnings and whatsoever publike calamity there was of which and the like things the auncient History is full Surely the children learned of their father the Devill that auncient false accuser so as it is not to be wondered at if wicked men doe excell in the same arts 11 But they overcame Who The Angels of Michaell for now the streÌ„gth of the souldiers is commended the praise of the Emperour being celebrated in the former verse But as touching the causes of the victory the principall is the blood of the Lambe the instrumentall is the synceritie of the faith and a very great constancy even unto death The blood of the Lambe is the fountaine of all the benefits which the elect enioy either in this life or in the life to come For his sake alone God both delivereth his people from all the miseries of this life and at length will make them ioyfull with eternall felicity The integrity of faith is shewed in the next wordes by the word of his testimony that is by the truth of the Ghospell which they professed freely boldly Before it was alwaies called the testimony of God or of Iesus as in ch 1.2.9 ver c. here it is called the testimony of themselves which kinde of speaking neverthelesse commeth to the same ende For it doth not respect the subiect of which but in which In the last place is their constancy because they esteemed more of the truth and faith in Iesus then of their owne life It seemeth to be a comparative speach as if he should say they loved not their soules even unto death more then God But this last member of the comparison is wanting uÌ„lesse perhaps they loved not be put for they despised But even so the force of the comparison remaineth to with they despised in comparison of the truth This is a notable constaÌ„cy of the Saincts that by no tormeÌ„ts they could be remooved froÌ„ faith in Christ For which cause at leÌ„gth God gave uÌ„to them the reward of victory But observe how this soÌ„g of tâ—iumphe addeth those things which were wanting to declare the coÌ„dition of the first Church we have seen by the description of the woman that shee was famous for souÌ„dnes of faith purity of actions sincerity of the teachers also we have understood that she was destitute of a pâ—tron for because that in great sorow and griefe shee brought forth a sonne Adde to al these from this triumphant song that the enemies of the truth heaped all reproches upon the Saincts they used a great violence to their power yet the faithfull could not be remooved eveÌ„ with the losse of their life froÌ„ their holy profession wherby it came to passe that those times were made famous by almost an infinite number of most couragious Martyrs 12 Therefore reioice yee heaven c. The fruict of this benefit is the ioy of the Saincts the sorrow of the wicked For why should not they triuÌ„phe having attained safety seeing the glory of God so notably amplified But many calamities doe remaine true but these shall not touch the Saincts whome God hiddeth in his tabernacle And therefore he seemeth to say yee which dwell in them because this is heaven that the temple or tabernacle wherein the Church lyeth hid from whence at length it shall goe into the holy mountaine to an everlasting habitatioÌ„ before in chap. 11.7 c. 2 Cor. 5.1.2 c ¶ Woe to the inhabitans c. The effect in respect of the wicked is a very great sorrow for these are the inhabitans of the earth and the sea And from heÌ„ce may be confirmed this metaphoricall signification of these wordes For if the earth be properly taken the Devill should be in like sorte trobelsome to all the Saincts who dwell togither with the wicked and unseparated Moreover who are the inhabitans of the sea besides men The Devill doth not spit out his poison upon the whales Neither doe good and bad men dwell togither lesse in Ilands then in the continent land Thus therefore we doe distinguish that the inhabitans of the earth are every wicked multitude either of Heathen or Christians who have onely a counterfait shew of religion But the inhabitans of the sea are the Church men as they call them who profer to their false Christians grosse foule saltish and bitter doctrine which doeth rather bring to the
destruction But let no godly man be offended if hee see the reprobate to returne to their Beast the Spirit hath foreshewed that this loade stone shall draw unto it this refuse that hereafter they may not marvaile Why all of ungâ—dly and dissolute life are more prone to the Pope thâ—n to the trueth ¶ Of that Lambe which was slâ—ine from the beginning of the world VVithout cause Aretas will have a transposition of the wordes to be here so that this should be the sense Whose names are not written from the beginning of the world in the booke of life of the Lambe which was slaine He will have the names to be written from the beginning of the world but not the Lambe to have ben killed from thence But the things are not well devided which the Spirit ioyneth togither For if the Lambe be from the beginning of the world it must needes be also that he was slaine from the beginning of the world But CHRIST is not a Lambe but for sacrifice neither can he be a sacrifice otherwise then by death As therefore by the eternall Decree of God he was the Lambe appointed for to save the Elect so by the same Decree he was slaine from before the foundations of the world VVose force was noe lesse available to deliver the Elect before his death was accomplished in the flesh then after he had endured and sufferred the same in the crosse and in the grave 9 Let him that hath an eare heare An acclamation the sense whereof is That this Beast is to be knowne with all diligence howsoever there shall be many who will not hearken and will deny a thing so perverse are they more cleare then the Sunne at noonetide But all yee elect give eare and with as great diligence as you can flie from this plague Which by these markes is so proposed before your eyes as that you may see her not as by the nayles but by the whole frame of her body 10 Yf any leade into captivity These things pertaine to the consolation of the godly who were to fight with this monster the first confirmation is taken from a certeÌ„ punishment which shall come in his time that is to say although they shall see the Beast mighty for a longe time and carying many by companies into bondage yet they should be of good courage For at length they should see him also ledde into captivity He shall perish with the sword although now he kill with the sword whom he will The confort is like to that in Esay Woe to thee that spoilest who thy selfe is not spoiled and to thee traiterous man against whom they dealt not traiterously when thou shalt cease to be a spoiler thou shalt be spoiled c. chap. 33.1 ¶ Here is the patience and faith of the Saincts A second consolation All those thinges serve for the Saincts for the exercise of their faith and constancy And surely a great courage is required in so great daungers but by how much the dangers shal be greater so much the more shall the praise of the godly be brighter therefore let no man quake for feare of the danger but let him minde that this Beast is the occasion for him to get glory by 11 Afterward I saw an other Beast Thus farre of the first Beast the second followeth an other indeede in beginning and originall but in nature and disposition altogither the same Whereupon the seventeenth chapter maketh mention of one onely under one comprehending both as was observed at the fift verse of this chap. For which cause also the Spirit doth not make a particular description of every member but rehearseth those thinges onely which are proper to the new rising other things as farre as it seemeth being common to this with the former First he ascendeth out of the earth both augmented by the authority of earthly men and those of the laity as they call them whom chiefly the earth signifyeth and also exceeding in honours those very men by whom he was advanced For that which commeth up from the earth is lifted up above the earth having it put under his feete by whose weight he was lately oppressed So the former Beast rose out of the Sea having sea men put under him out of whose company he came and plunged up This ascending fell out upon the times of Gregory second about the yeere 726 when the Pope trusting in the aide of the Longobardes smote with the lighâ—ning of excommunication Leo Isaurus the Emperour and withdrewe Rome it selfe and Italy and all Hesperia from hiâ— obedience For now indeede the Beast began upon the earth who not onely exercised a powre over the Ecclesiasticall route but also bridled the lay men by his authority their chiefe head the Emperour who although before time he had given a great power to the Pope over the Clergie yet he pressed downe the same even till now by his maiesty as it were by a certen weight more heavie theÌ„ the Hill Aetna that he should not lift up his crests above the Emperour But now the earthly dignity yeeldeth to the Beast to be troden under foote of him at length who grew up so farre onely by the favour of the Emperours Therefore Zacharias the next that it might be manifest to all men that the Popes were now loosed from the prison of eartly dignity deposed Childericke the King of France and commaunded Pipine the Father of Charles the Great to be created King in his stead But yet it was more cleare in Leo the third who translated the Empire froÌ„ the Grecians to the Germanes and annointed Charles the Great for Emperour VVhat a more great proofe can there be of the supreme power on earth then to take away the Empire from whom he will and to bestowe the same againe upon whom he shall thinke good The Popes following persisted in the same steppes esteeming the Emperours as it were balles in reiecting the same from their office and appointing other in their roome at their pleasure VVhereby Bellarmine being moved wrote indeede truly and agreable to this Prophecy All the Emperours who have ben since Charles the Great are bound to the Pope for their Empire in his 5. booke of the Pope of Rome chap. 8. For ever since that time the Beast rose up from the earth being higher then all earthly power to which are added earthly dominioÌ„s and possessions of landes ioyned with this originall which the Pope before time either wanted altogither or at least enioyed but small fewe as great as were sufficient to maintaine a Bishop not which should make any shew of a Kingdome For in former ages Italy was tributary to the Emperours which at length the Gothes possessing made it to pay tribute to them when they were slaine under Iustinian it returned againe to the Empire administred by Captaines The Romane Pope had yet noe Provinces untill this earthly rising up had given him landes sufficiently For is it likely that the Pope by
sort speedily to enter then was instituted the Feast of the InveÌ„tion of the Crosse and Confirmation made a new Sacrament and that greater as Bishop Melchiades would have it than Baptism Then al the neighbours in their order strove who might most heap up new adulterate rites until at length it came to the opening of the Bottmlesse pitt at what time the whole infernal darknes broke out Neither yet was this an end of the calamitie but at last by the Trident Council the two Prophets were slayn the Scriptures being killed and their bare carkesses cast out as we have shewed cha 11.9 wherupon soon also it came to passe that by the Iesuits the Masters of controversies the whole Sea of Popish doctrine was turned into abominable deadly putrifyed bloud chap. 16.3 This is the uprising and proceeding of your spiritual persecution The corporal also cannot now be hidd from anie which beginning after the second uprising of the Beast excommunicated Leo Isauricus deposed King Childericus warre with the Emperours put some of them from their Empire fell with noysome signes upon the Albingenses and almost quite destroyed them would not helpe the Greeks against the Turks unlesse they would first subject themselves to the Latin Pope did break Europe with continual warrs by setting the Princes togither by the ears burned Iohn Husse and Jerom of Prage armed Charles the 5. against the Protestants consumed manie Christians in France with flames shewed the same crueltie upon manie in England made that memorable massacre in Paris set up the tormenting boucherie of the Inquisition in manie of his dominions finally which sent the Spanish Navie into England invaded Jreland by force of armes exposed the Realm of our gracious Queen to the spoile of any whomsoever and destinated her sacred persoÌ„ unto death her people to the prey and the whole nation to most cruel slaughter These things are now known and wil ere long be more manifest but while the matters were a doing they were dect and covered with so fayr a shew of piety zele for the house of God that the injurie which was doon unto anie seemed not so much to be hatred and persecution as eyther the just defense of the Church or punishment of the wicked This publik knowledge therfore which may be somewhat when the things are doon but is very smal or none at al rather before the yssue cometh is no note of the persecution of Antichrist The third signe you make to be the ceasing of the publik and dayly Church offfice and sacrifice because of the crueltie of the persecution I answer it is here in special worthy to be observed that this cessation shal be not in one countrie alone but universally in al which both you urge in manie places and reason dooth enforce For if the Gospel must be preached before Antichrists coming in the whole world and that not figuratively but simply properly so sayd as in your first DemoÌ„stration you pleaded needs must the ceasing of al publik religioÌ„ extend as farr as the preaching did before Therfore the cessatioÌ„ shal be not onely in these known parts of the world but in al lands also yet unknown among the Tartars and Scythians the Asians the Indians and al the Eastern Ilands in the deserts of Africa in the Southern continent in al America the new Zembla al those coasts under the North. Let the studious observe that in the whole superficies of the earth Archimedes hâ—s tetragonisme or quartering hath the unity of a circle superfluous wherby perhaps the true tetragonisme may be fouÌ„d out Al which superficies as by Geometrical reckning is manifest consisteth of a hundred fourtie eight thousand thousand four hundred fifty thousand nine hundred and nine English or ItaliaÌ„ miles which space if we will divide into the severall dayes of your Antichrist that shall reign three yeres and a halfe he must travel everie day provinces that are a hundred seventeen thousand eight hundred and eighteen miles over Surely al Spaine and France taking the whole length breadth of them togither are very smal countries unto the mesured portion of his everie dayes way And shal he have leysure also to build a Temple and sit therin But I pray you shal he make this journey togither with his armie or himselfe alone It may be that as the Monk of Oxford being caried by his familiar Divil through the aier described in an Astrolobe the whole Northern Climate so Antichrist may mount on some such like winged Pegasus and may provide his armie such horses also and then in every nation whiles he flyeth over the countries he may with the clapping of his wings onely compel true religion to keepe silence It may also be that he wil spare his own payns and wil goe over the countries by his Legates yet I beleev he shall have ynough to doo everie day to give commandements unto so large a dominion as he is to administer But in this general and so deep silence of true religion wher shal your Henoch Elias be shal not they oppose themselves or shal they doo it in vain out of whose mouth fyre cometh forth consuming their adversaries Apoc. 11.6 But what doo I mean Are you not ashamed of such monstrous opinions as these Such strange fantasies are rather to be hissed away than to be refuted by anie serious disputation But say you Daniel dooth plainly teach this point chapt 12. in these words From the time that the dayly sacrifice shal be taken away shal be 1200 dayes as the ancient Fathers doo expound it and the meaning it that Antichrist shal forbid all divine worship that now is exercised in the Christian Churches and specially the holy sacrifice of the Eucharist And experience testifieth that this signe is not yet fulfilled I answer that Daniel treateth of nothing lesse in that place than of Antichrist The Fathers that so expound it wil have this number of dayes that is mentioned to be of his reign but incoÌ„sideratlie as the words doe sufficientlie shew For if these be the dayes of his reign he shal make all publik religion to cease before his reign beginn For these dayes take their beginning from the daily sacrifice being taken away which therfore must needs goe before Wherfore eyther these things perteyn nothing at al to Antichrist or al those things are vayn which the Fathers mention of him whiles they thrust al his tyrannie into the straights of so few dayes Ther is no soundnes therfore in this their exposition the true sacrifice which Daniel meaneth is the dayly sacrifice which was taken away befor Antichrist was born for it was taken away togither with the Temple of Ierusalem unto which it was tyed by the institution of God For al this Prophesie is of the children of Daniels people that is of the Iewes as the Angel speaketh in the first verse of that chapter Not so say you but this dayly sacrifice is our sacrifice of
and of iron and of marble 13 And of cinnamon and odours and oyntment and frankincense and wine oyle and fine floure and wheate and beasts and sheep and horses and charets and servants and soules of men 14 And the fruits that thy sowl lusted after are departed from thee and al things that were fatte and excellent are departed from thee neither shalt thou finde them anie more 15 The Marchants of these things I say which were made rich by her shall stand a farr off from her for fear of her torment weeping and wailing 16 And saying alas alas that great citie that was clothed in fine linnen purple and skarlet and gilded with gold and precious stones and pearles for in one houre so great richesse are come to desolation 17 And everie shipmaster and all the troupe that converseth in shippes and mariners and whosoever traffike on the sea shal stand a farr off 18 And they shal crie seing the smoke of her burning and shal say what citie was like unto this great citie 19 And casting dust on their heads they shal crie weeping and wailing and saying alas alas for that great citie wherin were made rich al that had shipps on the sea by her costlinesse in one haure is made desolate 20 O Heaven reioice of her aend ye Holy Apostles and Prophets for God hath punished her to be revenged of her for your sakes 21 Then a certain mightie Angel tooke up a stone like a great milstone cast it into the Sea saying with such violence shall Babylon that great Citie be cast and shal be found no more 22 And the voice of harpers and musicians and of pippers and trumpeters shal be heard no more in thee and no craftesman of whatsoever craft he bee shal be found anie more in thee and the sound of a milstone shal be heard no more in thee 23 And the light of a candle shal shine no more in thee and the voice of the bridgrome and the bride shal be heard no more in thee for thy marchants were the great men of the earth and with thine enchantments were deceived al nations 24 And in her was found the blood of the Prophets and of the Saincts and of all that were slaine upon the earth The Analysis HITHERTO what and of what sort is the throne of the Beast as it were the first sprinkling of the fift vial now foloweth a more copious powring out ioyned with the verie ruine of the throne Which we distinguish into those things which goe before the destruction and the things which follow it those that goe before are performed by the ministerie of three Angels two of which declare the ruine by bare word The first a glorious Angel ver 1 more succinctly ver 2 3. The second namelesse more fully both in exhorting the godly to fly out of Babylon ver 4.5 and also in stirring up the ministers of this destruction to use deserved severitie ver 6.7 afterwards in describing partlie the mourning of wicked Kings ver 9.10 of marchants ver 11.12.13.14.15.16 of Watermen and mariners ver 17.18.19 partly the ioy of the godly ver 20. Such is the ministerie of the two Angels The third beside his word useth also a signe which both is propounded ver 21. and also expounded summarily in the same verse severally in ver 22.23.24 Hitherto the things that goe before the ruine that which followeth is a thankesgiving which the Saincts performe chap. 19.1 2. 3 4. Scholions 1 And after these things J saw an Angel come down In destroying the Citie of Rome God wil manifest to the world his admirable long suffring who beside al his former warnings so many and so divers cometh not to the last destruction before three Angels be used by whose voice men should be warned to avoid the plague coming violently upon it The first of these is an Angel descending from heaven that is some excellent and singular mā who shal come suddenly and not looked for even as things which fall down from heaven The things which are borne with us give some shew of themselves before they wex ripe but things that come from heaven may be present in a moment without anie perceiving taken before they come So in the tenth chapter and Angel came down from heaven of a sudden when many couragious deffendours of the truth were risen up of whom before there was no suspicion VVhich thing other places cōfirm which may be taken from the former interpretation This Angel seemeth that by a sudden converting to the truth he shall manifest to al men that he cometh from heaven Such was that coming down in the tenth chapter where men brought up in superstition became suddenly nourrissons of true godlines This Angel hath great power But to what end For no excellent great acte of his is mentioned it may be he is that man to whom is committed wholly the throwing down of this throne who shal not so much bring a new Propphecy concerning the ruine of Babylon as shew himselfe prepared to performe the verie thing which the divine oracles prophecied often should come Thirdly the earth is lightened with his glory because evē they which are strangers from the true Church shal honour and admire the glory of his godlinesse and excellent maiestie He shal be wel reported off even of them that are without as speaketh the Apostle The like use of words in the things past doth give us this knowledge of this Angel though yet to come VVhich is the onely way to pearse into these things otherwaies hidden from us But it is to be observed that this Angel as farr as it seemeth shal not come forth by and by after that manifestation of the throne which we have spoken of in the former chapter but at length after some certain and meet time set between And therfore this vision is divided from the former by that usual stile in writing of a distāce of time somwhat farther of and after these things I saw 2 And he cryed out mightily 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in strength that is strongly valiantly and vehemently The Complutent edition and the Kings Bible have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with a strong voice so also Aretas but the sense is al one This mighty crying out signifyeth the efficacy and immutability of the things to be done as Aretas noteth Although peradventure no such denuntiation to be made in words is not to be expected but even the very attemting of the thing shall stirre up in the mindes of men that opinion as if they did heare this voice sounding in the eares of men But seing this crying out is of one Angel to whom the businesse is committed as is like of destroying and burning Rome it may confirme somewhat that which we have sayd in the former chapter that some one of the tenne hornes to whom the rest of the multitude is figuratively adioyned not that whole number shal bring upon it this last desolation He cryeth out
easily it dooth blot out the impietie of that three yeeres space of Antichrist which they dreame is yet to come although it were granted that he should raign at Rome How can the sinnes in the last times come up even to heaven from whose full heape so much is taken away by so loÌ„g continuing holines of the Popes But this RevelatioÌ„ hath made the thing manifest declaring that the Pope received a lampe from the Heathen Emperours and to have heaped up new sinnes upon the former heape in a coÌ„tinual row even as the perpetual order and succession of Popes sheweth for which onely thing the catalogue of the Popes serveth greatly We hav seen this heape wonderfully increased in these our times neither shal they which folow lesse maÌ„fully add to the heape until they have both brought their sinns unto heaven and also their wicked citie to dust The Interpreter Aretas translateth have cleaved to Montanus are glued togither one layed on an other and as it were soldered with glue Therfore the filthines of Rome shal be made yet more manifest to the elect to the end that they may thinke the more in earnest of flying from her 6 Reward her even as shee hath rewarded you The other part of the exhortatioÌ„ hath respect to the armies of soldjers gathered togither against Rome This whetteth their anger and stirreth it up to a iust revenging Thou sayest it is a cruel sentence he should rather convert his speach to the repressing of fury much lesse excite to the rendring of double But cursed is every one that doth the worke of the Lord negligently Neither is it to be feared that the punishment is more greevous then her deserts to which no sharpnes of punishment can be equal But these things declare the event to weet that men shal use verie great severitie in executing this last desolatioÌ„ And it is to be observed that the citizens now of the Romane jurisdiction shal be the Ministers of this universal slaughter For whom the Angel eveÌ„ now commanded to come out of Babylon them he now exhorteth to reveÌ„gement It is like that these being mindful of so long continuing tyranny wherwith they have lyen oppressed so many ages and having also the late iniuries fixed in their minds the sting wherof dooth yet greeve them vehemently wil more freely give licence to their anger and wil satisfy themselves scarce with anie punishment And this is that to give her the double to fill her the double in the cup that she hath filled signifying that a huge calamitie shal be brought upon her with verie great cruelty We have seen befor that there is a double cupp in this book one of errour wherby the whore made men drunken with the sweetnesse of her abomination the other of punishment wherby it is taught that the wicked shal be punished after the like manner that they have sinned 7 In as much as shee hath glorified her selfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 weigh out to her in equal balances so much torment as there was excesse in carnal pleasure before O Rome therfore by so much the more miserable by how much thou hast bene the most happie of all Who shal recite thy calamitie to whose riot the deliciousnes of the Sybarites is not to be compared ¶ J sit a Queen The greatnesse of the punishment is declared two wayes both by the like cruelty which shee hath shewed against others in the former verse and also from her loftinesse in this verse wherunto her abasement must be answerable in the verse folowing But wheras shee vaunteth that shee is a Queen shee sheweth her selfe to be the natural daughter of her mother Babylon Neither are these proude words darke when shee chalengeth to her selfe a Primacy over all Churches braggeth that shee is the head of Christianity the beginning of eternal life and many other things of like blasphemous arrogancy Which Primacy shee assureth her selfe shal be for ever perswading her owne heart that she shal never be deprived of this dignity neither shal have experience of anie calamity For what other thing is it that her most beloved sonnes doo avouch that Peters chaire cannot be separated from Rome nor the seate of the Apostles translated from thence as Bellarmine affirmeth in his 4. book of the Bishop of Rome chap. 4. Which although he wil not have to be counted among the articles of the faith yet it seemeth to him by some arguments of so great strength that at the last he can hadly pe persuaded but that it is an article of the Papists faith Francis de Ribera now gesseth that som evil shal happen to Rome but after that manner that he sheweth rather his care then giveth over even the least that may be of his bragging 8 Therfore in one day For this thy proud boasting this threefold kind of calamity shal make an assault upon thee at once At leÌ„gth thou shalt finde how thou hast ben deceived and how in vain thy Knaves have sung to thee upon this rock I wil build my Church c. The calamities which are rehearsed belong partly to men whom death sorow and famine shal devoure partly to the citie which shal be burnt with fire Which declare that the city shal not be takeÌ„ at the first assault but by a siege while the which continueth the past for so death was called before in chah 6.8 sorow and famine shal assaile within and that at length the city shal come into the power of the enemies who shal make it even to the ground bring her to ashes then shal be fulfilled that which Sibyl Prophecied Rome shal be a street or empty place and Delos shal be obscure or not founde ¶ For strong is the Lord He maketh mention of the power of the Lord because it wil be almost incredible that Rome borne up with so great riches both her owne and Kings and others her allies can be broâ—ght into this miserable condition But he is mighty who shal exercise iudgmeÌ„t whose will cannot be resisted by any might That which here is read shall iudge some copies have in the present tense iudgeth 9 Then shal bewaile Such was the exhortation the first mourning of the wicked shal be of Kings but of the earth onely neither properly so called but onely Romanes VVhich Kings are the slaves of the Church playing the harlot These shal beginne their lamentable songes mourning after a wonderful manner when they thinke of how sweete coÌ„pany of the whore they are deprived by this unlooked for destruction VVherfore other Kings shal remaine besides those tenne chap. 17.16 which shal destroy the whore with fyre Neither is it to be thought that these ten Kings after their hatred satisfyed shal give up themselves to lamenting being moved by repentance as Ribera trifleth For it shal be matter of very great ioy to al the elect of which sorte are these Ministers of vengeance exhorting al the people of
they wer removed froÌ„ their place office whose genealogie was not found Nehem. 7 61.64.65 The Gospel is in truth savoury to no man neither doth any man give his name to it from his heart but he who is written in the book of life and in the booke of his heart hath a writing answering the same word for word 13 And the Sea gave up her dead The way wherby they that are to be iudged are presented before the iudgement seate to weet the Iewes wer gathered from all the corners of the earth as in the generall resurrection nothing shal hinder by what kinde of death soever any hath perished but that a body shal be restored to him Yet notwithstanding when as the Sea signifyeth corrupt and false doctrine by this also is noted that those Iewes which live in Christian countreyes of which sort are very many in Spaine France Germany Italy as it were in the bosome and compasse of the Popish sea of which we have spoken so many things before shal open their eyes to acknowledg the truth and shal fly togither at the light thereof ¶ Death ulso and hell gave up A Synecdoche of the general as though he should say and al that have dyed of any other death It must needs be that the karkeise be drowned in the sea or be covered with earth or rot in the aire or be consumed of the fire or devoured of beasts or some like thing As touching the drowning he said before the sea as touching the grave now he saith hell Death conteineth all the rest But seeing death restoreth those Iewes which live in the Christian landes and are infected with the Romish superstition death and hell shal restore them that shall live among Turkes and Heathen who are banished further off from salvation and are conversant in the inner parts of hell it selfe For so are al those nations of whom the name of Christ is either hated or not heard Neverthelesse it maketh no matter whither a man perish by sea or land either among Christians or among the enemies of this name 14 But hell and death A special execution on death Therfore as after the general resurrection no death shal raigne any more in the world besides that eternal which shal alwayes feed up and not consume the wicked so after the Church shal be restored by that full calling of the Iewes death and the grave shal raigne no more in her as of old while as scourges they alwayes lay upon the shoulders of the offenders but onely they shal serve to translate the elect into the Kingdome of heaven whereupoÌ„ they shall loose their former name They are cast into a lake of fâ—re not because either death or hell susteyne any person but because that which is proper to men is attributed to them as though he should say there shal be no torment any more eyther of death or hel but in the lake of fire where the reprobate dye for ever But from hence observe that seing hel is cast into the lake of fyre that is into hell properly so caled that it obtaineth an other proper signification then that which commonly is given to it in our mothers tongue It is takeÌ„ of many for the place of the damned but commonly it noteth not any thing but the grave and the common state of the dead as may be learned from this and other places of this booke 15 And whosoever was not found None shal be gathered into this Church but he that shal be of the elect How excellent is this preheminence of the Church which shal not be defiled with any hypocrites and counterfait Christians as before time How faire is this field which shall abounde with most fruitful corne without any tares and darnel Whatsoever is found in this nette may be laied up in a safe vessel Therfore it cannot be declared in words how amiable this most glorious spouse shal be It may come to passe that some may fall some time through humane infirmitie but holy admonitions and wholsome correction shal bring them againe to good thrift and repentance But shal every one of the Iewes be such Some shal not embrace the truth as is manifest from Daniel many arising to shame and perpetual contempt chap. 12.2 And we shal learne from the chapter folowing that some doggs shal be excluded without this city But they which now shal refuse the truth shal shew forth a manifest token of their reprobatioÌ„ that the Church shal not be subiect to be deceived any more Wherfore in this renewing the goodnesse and power of God shal be most famous through the whole world VVhich shal restore wretched men so wonderfully and make so singular choise of them whom he wil redeem But see how the godly shal receive comfort from hence For wheras every most holy man might iustly tremble through conscience of their sinns against this feare we have here a notable confirmation that election by Christ setteth us free from guilt CHAP. 21. AFTER I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and the sea was no more extant 2 And J Iohn saw the holy city the new Ierusalem come down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride trimmed for her husband 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying behold the tabernacle of God is among men and he wil dwel with them and they shall be his people and God himselfe shal be with them their God 4 And God shal wipe all teares from their eyes and death shal be no more neither neither sorow neither crying neither shal ther be any more paine because the former things are past 5 And he that sate upon the throne said behold J make all things new And he said unto me write for these words are true and faithfull 6 And he said unto mee it is done J am Alpha and Omega the beginning the ende I wil give to him that is a thirst of the well of the waters of life freely 7 He that overcometh shall inherite all things and I will be his God and he shal be my sonne 8 But the fearfull and unbeleeving and abominable and murtherers whore mongers and sorcerers and Idolaters and all lyars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death 9 And ther came to mee one of the seven Angels which had the seven vials ful of the seven last plagues and he spake unto mee saying come I will shewe thee the Lambes wife 10 And he caried mee away in the Spirit in a great and high mountaine and shewed mee that great city that holy Hierusalem descending out of heaven froÌ„ God having the glory of God 11 And her brightnes was like unto a stone most pretious as a Iasper stone shining as Crystal 12 It had beside a great wall and hie having twelve gates at the gates twelve Angels and names written which
are the names of the twelve tribes of the childrē of Israell 13 On the East part there were three gates on the North side three gates on the Southside three gates on the Westside three gates 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations in which were the names of the Lambes twelve Apostles 15 And he that spake with mee had a golden reed for to measure the citie withall and the gates therof and the wall therof 16 And the city lay foure square whose length is as large as the breadth of it the length and the bredth and the hight of it are equall 17 And he measured the wall therof a hundreth fourty foure cubits by the measure of man that is of the Angel And the building of it was of Iasper 18 And the city was pure golde like unto cleare glasse And the foundations of the wal of the city were garnished with all manner of pretious stones 19 The first foundation was of Iasper the second of a Saphyr the third a Chalcedonie the fourth an Emerande the fift a Sardonix 20 The sixt a Sardius the seventh a Chrysolite the eight a Beryll the ninth a Topaze the tenth a Chrysoprasus the eleventh a Jacynth the twelft an Amethyst 21 And the twelve gates were twelve Pearles every gate is of one Pearle the street of the city is pure gold as shining glasse 22 Neither saw I any temple therin for the Lord God almighty and the Lambe are the temple of it 23 And this city hath no need of the Sunne neither of the Moone to shine in it for the glory of God doth light it and the Lambe is the light of it 24 And the Nations which are saved shall walke in the light of it and the Kings of the earth shal bring their glory and honour unto it 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut by day for there shal be no night there 26 And the glory and honour of the Gentils shal be brought unto it 27 And ther shal enter into it no uncleane thing neither whatsoever worketh abomination or lyes but they which are written in the lambes book of life Analysis HITHERTO hath bin the maner of gathering the Church afterward is declared what shal be the condition of it being gathered Which is shewed to be most happy first generally from the things seen a new heavē earth ver 1. the holy city ver 2. also from things heard partly in common touching the presence of God with men ver 3. Of the removing of calamities ver 4. a new restoring of al things ver 5. partly in private concerning the certainty of the Prophecy ver 5. of the mystery now fulfilled v. 6. and the rewarding both of the godly ver 6.7 and also of the ungodly ver 8. And such is the generall declaration The particular relateth the revealing cause an Angel ver 9. 10. And the thing revealed universally ver 10.11 By parts in respect of the wall and city and essentiall parts as the forme of the wall ver 12.13.14 The forme of the city ver 15.16.17 Afterward of the common matter ver 18. Speciall of the wall ver 19.20.21 Speciall of the city ver 21. The externe arguments by which the glory of this city is set forth is first God himself who is both the temple ver 22. and the light of the city ver 23. Secondly the Gentiles which shal bring their glory to it ver 24 both free from all feare and suspicion ver 25. also from any defiling by contagion ver 27. Thirdly a mervailous aboundance of things necessary the continuance of this glory in the chap. following Scholions 1 After J saw a new heauen The opinion of the resurrection from the ende of the former chapter hath mooved very many to interpret al these things of the Church as it shal be at length in heaven But wee have shewed that neither the last resurrection is intreated of there neithe doth the Spirit describe here to us the Angelical blessednesse of the Saincts after this life but of them yet conversing upon the earth as the thinges which are mentioned doo manifest in their places Neither perhaps is it needfull that the heavenly inheritance should be adorned with words which all know wel ynough to surmount any praises whatsoever even they also in whose eyes the Church on earth is otherweise despised but concerning this her estimation is lesse with mortall men then ought to be because shee is a stranger wherupon ther may hav bin a necessary reason to set forth more largely the glory and dignity of it The descriptron wherof notwithstanding maketh a way to comprehende in minde that celestial happinesse For if the magnificence of the spouse be so great on earth of what sort are those things which God hath prepared for his with himselfe But the mind is weakened at the thinking of this let us therfore turne our eyes aside to this earthly pleasantnes greater indeed then all words can set forth yet more capable to our senses and which within a few yeeres shal be made clare to the world The interpretation of the new heaven and earth may be taken out of that to the Hebrewes chap. 12.26 whose voice then shooke the earth but now hath declared saying yet once more will I shake not onely the earth but the heaven where to shake heaven and earth by the interpretation of the Apostle himselfe is to abolish the old manner of worship and people For heaven by trāslation is the temple and whole legal worship wherof that temple was the seate and place where it abode long as Heb. 8.5 From whence to shake heaven is to abolish that worship The earth are men and more properly the Israelites a people to whom that legal worship did belong Therfore to shake the earth is to shake the Israelites to remove them out of their place Neither hath the common use of speaking through this book digressed any whit from this signification of the words where heaven is the more pure Church the earth the degenerate citizens as we have seen in their places Even as God therfore in the first comming of his sonne shooke the heaven and the earth in reiecting that old both worship and people and ordaining and choosing a new so againe when it shal please him to have mercy on the forsaken nation and to bestow upō it salvation by Christ he shal darken the former glory of heaven earth making the dignity and honour of his new people so famous as if he had created all things a new Vherunto belongeth that of Isaiah For behold I will create a new heaven and a new earth as thoug he should say I will appoint a most pure manner of worshiping mee and wil take unto mee a new people in whose assembly I wil be honoured chap. 65.17 Of which sort is that of the Apostle If any be in Christ he is a new creature old
things ar passed away all things are become new 2 Cor. 5.17 ¶ For the first heaven and earth were passed away Shal the Church then faile utterly among the Gentiles For heaven noteth out more pure godlinesseâ— as we said even now How this should be abolished it may be doubtfull because of those things which wee have mentioned before As concerning the earth it is not so doubtfull considering that the Spirit hath already taught sufficieÌ„tly that the Pope of Rome with his whole falsely so called Catholique flock shal be rooted out utterly before this day As then touching the reformed Church shal the receiving of the Iewes cause the alienation of the Gentils as before time the casting away of them was the reconciling of the world Rom. 11.15 It may seem so in deed especially considering that the Apostle affirmeth in the same place that a certain fulnesse of the Gentils shal be accomplished as is like at the calling of the Iewes ver 25. but yet notwithstanding in this very chapter the Revelation teacheth otherweise to weet that the Gentils which shal be saved shall walke in the light of it and the Kings of the earth shal bring their glory and honour to the new Ierusalem ver 24. Yea Paul in the place before said plainly avoucheth that the Church shal be very flourishing amoÌ„g the Gentils when the Iewes are called For saith he if the casting away of the Iewes be the reconciling of the world what shall the reconciling be but life from the dead This is as if he should say what shall the receiving be but as it were a general resurrection wherby they that are dead in sinns among all nations comming at length to the truth shal be made partakers of eternall life by faith in Christ From which wee gather that the fulnesse of the GeÌ„tils is not a certaine ende of beleeving at the calling of the Iewes so that faith among the Gentiles afterward should utterly perish eveÌ„ as no more can be powred into a full vessell but a more aboundant accesse of all nations of the earth toward what part soever their countreyes doo extend obeying the Kingdome of Christ according to that saying the Lord shal be King over the whole earth in that day shall ther be one Lord and his name shal be one Zach. 14.9 And the Lord will destroy in this mountaine the figure of this vaile that is spred upon all nations and the cover wherwith all nations are covered he will swallow up death it selfe into victory and the Lord Iehovah shal wipe away the tears from all faces and will take away the reproach of his people out of all the earth Isaiah chap. 25.7.8 For then they that dwell in the wildernesse shall kneele before him and his enemies shall licke the dust The Kings of the Ocean sea and of the Ilands shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall bring gifts Finally all Kings shall worship him and all nations shall serve him Psal 72.9.10.11 How then in this celebrating shall the new heaven passe away that is the more pure Church among the Gentils Must we distinguish concerning the GeÌ„tils wherof some are yet strangers from Christ othersome are named Christians now by the space of many ages as we of Europe first of all Shal they come to the Chuâ—ch as the Prophecies even now alâ—â—adged declare and many others agreeing with them Shal these depart and fall away as the vision seemeth to shew which these words doo set forth The fiâ—st heaven saith he passed away What other heaven is then among 〈◊〉 according to the sense of this Prophecy then among us of Europe for the most part Certainly the promise made to the Chuâ—ch of Philadelphia increaseth the suspition to weet that it should be a pillar in the temple of God never to be cast forth chap. 3 12. Why is this attributed as proper and peculiar to it if all the rest enioy the same benefit alike It seemeth therfore that as once the unfruitfull fig tree was cut up and the ill husbanded vineyard being taken from the old farmers was let out to other Luke 13.6 Mat. 21.41 So the Church now a long time evill entreated among them of Europe doo purpose to trusse up bag and baggage and to forsake them at length who have long since forsaken the purity and love of it What though now it be called heaven the heaven themselves are impure in the eyes of our God Iob. 15 15. And the more in deed at this time our heaven which rather enioyeth such nam in respect of the Popish infernal gulfe thaÌ„ for any heaveÌ„ly clearenesse of his own But that seemeth to be repugnant to this calamity of Europe that after the first resurrection there are a thousand yeeres of reigne with Christ chap. 20.6 that is ther shal be among those nations to whoÌ„ this resurrection hath befallen a continuance of the truth by the space of so many yeeres from the beginning of the restauration therof But wee know that this was proper to our countreyes But it may be answered that perhaps this reigne shal be such as was that of the thousand yeeres before that resurrection when the Divell was bound chap. 20.4 when the Kingdome was of a few elect in whose hart was the love of the onely salvation-bringing truth howsoever the Antichristian impiety savoured better to all the rest of the multitude Certenly other scriptures seeme to leane more this way threatning that al religion shal be so defiled with so many corruptions that fearce any wholesome footstep of it shall remaine entire And who is so ignorant of things that hath not iust causes inough to feare much especially when he seeth the word of God to be despised every where new errours to spring up daily old to be brought back again from hell al godlinesse to be converted into gaine and ambition Many indeed are the arguments that the glory of God wil depart from us shortly as once from the temple at Ierusalem Ezech. 9.3 Vnlesse peradventure some comfort ariseth from hence that this departure of the first heaveÌ„ and earth may be understood not of the utter decay of the truth among the Europeans but of such a renewing among the Iewes in comparison of the excellency wherof whatsoever was excellent before may be said to have passed and vanished away when the light of the moone shal be as the light of the sunne and the light of the Sunne sevenfold as the light of seven dayes the Sunne shall blush when the Lord shall reigne in Sion as wee have heard out of Isaiah or finally unlesse it hath some weight that the Spirit here speaketh so exquisitely not saying the former heaven and former earth were passed away but the first heaven and the first earth as though these words respected not the Gentiles at all but onely the legall worship which rightly one may call the first heaven ordained at the first of God himselfe But the Christian people
of the Gentils was neither the first people of God neither were the rites observed by them the first ordinances delivered froÌ„ heaven As though the words should give this sense at last albeit this people of the Iewes al the time of their reiection thirsted after their old ceremonies and worship and boasted openly that they should have at length free leave to use their auncient custome which we know they vaunt of even in these dayes yet in this restoring they shall conforme themselves wholly to the will of God in such sorte that willingly renouncing their old ordinances which then they shall acknowledge to have received an ende in Christ they shal make manifest to all men that the first heaven and earth which they looked for in vaine were passed away for ever This last seemeth to be of no small force to shewe that the reason of the order of the first heaven and earth should not be between the GeÌ„tils and Iewes but onely among the Legal and Christian Iewes The care that I have hath made mee to search out all corners to my power now let the iudgement be in the power of the Christian reader which of these is the beast ¶ And there shal be no more sea The sea is degenerat and corrupt doctrine which shall have no place among this new people whose glassie sea shal be like Chrystal most pure most cleare void of al saltnesse and muddy grossenesse as is that in chapter 4.6 Which also is said in respect of the Iewes themselves and those errours which in these daies they deffend so obstinately there is not a comparison of the Gentils with the Iewes handled in this place The Gentile sea that I may so say and thath grosser was consumed already when the Popish nation was destroyed the purer sea of the reformed Church is of glasse chap. 15.2 and shall not be abolished The Iewes even hitherto have their own sea most grosse most foul with many forged tales touching the Messias the legal worship the righteousnes of the law and many other points of salvatioÌ„ al which shal now be so dryed up that not a drop of the former sea shal remaine 2 And I John sawe the holy City In such weise then was seen the new heaven and earth now the holy city is exhibited which is so called for excelleÌ„cy sake The Church also of the Gentils is that new and heavenly Hierusalem as in the Apostle but ye are come to mount Sion and to the City of the living God the heavenly Hierusalem and to the company of innumerable Angels Heb. 12. and Gal. 4 But our Hierusalem being deformed with many errours and contentions shal cause that this most pure shal appeare altogither new Aretas the Compl. the Kings Bible doo omitt the name Iohn reed thus and I saw the holy City the new Hierusalem ¶ Coming down from God Theâ—fore this Hierusalem shall have her seate on earth the heavenly shal never come down but shal remaine fixed in heaven where Christ sitteth in glory at the right hand of the Father I goe saith he to prepare a place for you and when J shall have gone and prepared a place for you I will come againe and take you unto my selfe that where I shal be there you may be also Iohn 14.3 And againe Father J will that those which thou hast given mee be with mee where I am Iohn 17.24 Wee shal be caught up in the cloudes to meete the Lord in the atre and so shal be with the Lord 1 Thess 4.17 And to what ende should HierusaleÌ„ come downe from heaven which by and by after the general resurrection al the elect shal be in the heavens Peradventure wilt thou say it might come down that Iohn might see it If it had come downe for this cause Iohn should rather have been caught up into heaven to behold it then that shee should be let downe to the earth He was commanded before to come up into heaveÌ„ where through the dore opened he saw the forme of the militant Church chap. 4. how much more now should he have gone up that he might behold the same triumphing Therfore these words doe manifestly distinguish the new Hierusalem pilgrim from the inlandish Albeit that be called also heavenly because in very truth it is such both by birth and also by the right of the inheritance as Paul saith For that Hierusalem which is from above Gal. 4.26 It cometh downe therfore from God because his singular power and mercy shall appear in building up this new city The increase of the whole building shal be so swift and the glory and dignity so great that all with one consent shall acknowledge the hand of God and shall declare him to be the onely artificer ¶ Trimmed as a bride To be presented to her husband not yet hitherto given by a marriage accomplished After the last resurrection the marriage shal be accomplished it shal not be a preparing for time to come This bride was adorned with pure fine linnen and the Iustifications of the Saincts chap. 19.7.8 But observe that the city seen ere while is now called the bride and more plainly after ver 9. Come saith the Angel I will shew thee the bride the Lambes wife Therfore this city is the whole multitude of the faithfull the most sweet and straight communion of all which among themselves the Spirit declareth very well by such a forme of city The members of the body are used sometime to the same end but the similitude of a city setreth before our eyes a certaine more lively image There is a greater variety of things in a city and a further difference of duties which yet are ioyned togither and conteined with the same law and respect one chiefe good of all This therfore notably representeth how the faithfull most differing in function office and course of life doo grow unto one Holy body 3 And I heard a great voice from heaven saying c. He commeth to that part of the glory which is declared by the things heard The Tabernacle properly belonged to the Iewes and old worship from whence here it signifyeth the whole divine worship of that people to which before the tabernacle was peculiar Togither also it sheweth that the manifestatioÌ„ of Gods glory shal not yet be perfit such as the Saincts shal enioy after the last iudgment But howsoever it shal be farre more aboundant then never before yet men shall see God as through a glasse and riddle not face to face they shall know in part onely not as they are known 1 Cor. 13.12 A tabernacle is fit for the Church being in pilgrimage not for that which hath gotten a firme seate in her owne countrey ¶ And he shall dwell with them and they shal be his people Then God himselfe shal take upon him the protection of the Saincts according to the forme of the covenant Gen. 17.1 then the Saincts shall submit themselves willingly to be governed of
the glory to come which shal be revealed in us by which words saith he our good deserts ar not compared with the future blessednesse but the sufferings that is the labours which we suffer for Gods sake as though he should say our sorowes cannot be compared with the joyes of the blessed although the endurings of griefes in as much as they come from grace are worthy doubtlesse of eternal life Consider the fraude of the Iesuite who having nothing to answer to this place flyeth to an other from whence some shew of an answer might be taken But that I may not now examine that of the Romanes why telleth he us of sorowes and af lictions not to be compared with the ioyes of the blessed of which nothing at al is spoken in this place Here teares death sorow crying all labour is banished away before in ver 4. so as nothing is more unmeet as to dreame of such a comparison For in these words it is shewed that not onely the sorowes of this life are inferiour to the ioyes of the blessed but also that the thirst hunger and most fervent desire of godlinesse than which nothing can be of greater esteeme in a man doo not obtaine life by their merit but by the meere grace mercy of God Neither is that of the fained Ambrose lesse frivolous and also of Thomas and Rupert who wil have the word freely therfore to be said because although eternall life be due to the merits of the righteous condignly yet the merits themselves could not have bin merits without grace which was given freely For if they would rather have spoken with the Holy Ghost then from their owne perverse braines they would never have said that any grace is given to men by whose helpe they might doo workes worthy of eternal life when here it is said expressely that the reward of the most excellent workes is alto gither freely bestowed and not condignly 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things For none shal attaine to this happinesse but he which shall behave himselfe valiantly in that battell with the Dragon of which in the former chapter Yee therfore ô Iewes shew your selves men It shal be a terrible warre if ever at any other time Dan. 12.1 Yet notwithstanding feare not neither fainte in your mindes The victory is sure and after the victory eternall ioy 8 But to the fearfull and unbeleeving The reward of the wicked which first are called fearfull fearing them which kill the body and denying Christ before mē Mat. 10.28.33 desiring to save their life but in very truth loosing it Mat. 16.25 Of which sort peradventure there shal be some in respect of the greatnesse of the danger when the Turk the Dragon shal threaten most cruell destruction to them that professe Christ Vnbeleevers are they which shall refuse the truth openly For every one shal not be converted but it seemeth that some by the iust iudgement of God shal remaine in their former stubburnesse as we have observed before out of Daniel Abominable are men of desperate naughtinesse and impudently wicked whom al mē every where detest Aretas and Montanus doo reade before abominable the word sinners as also the Cōplutent edition and the Kings Bible But these sinners are alone with abominable men notably wicked and desperate But why is ther mention of Idolaters when al the Iewes generally doo hate Idols It may be that some have turned away to the Romish impiety although this be a rare thing ioint also that Rome before this time shall be destroyed Therfore these things may be understood of the Gentiles as also al other kinds of sinnes which have bin reckoned hitherto who cleaving to their Idols shal have no part in this holy city of wich in the meane time al the godly shal be freedenizens whersoever they shal live Lyars also are excluded that is such as reioyce in lying as hypocrites dissemblers and they who make some shew of religion having no tast therof n their hart Observe how with those horrible sinnes he mixeth some lesser in the common opinion that no man should deceive himselfe by supposing that if he refraine himselfe from those greater he may followe the smaller without danger of punishment But the thing is nothing so he that continueth in the least without repentance must know that a place is prepared for him in the lake of fire hither shal be thrust al this company and they who are of the same condition Not because al the wicked shal descend presently at that time into hel but because they shal be convinced and condemned by the sentence of the holy Church which is as if God should pronounce it from heaven and should strait way drawe the condemned unto torment 9 Then came to mee one of the seaven Angels Hitherto the generall declaration the particular followeth And first by whose helpe this thing is to be manifested this is one of the seven Angels of which wee heard in the chap. 15. and as it seemeth the last who was to poure out his vial into the aire Frō which it is evident that this new Hierusalem is within that time wherin the vials are powred out for which cause there is so exact a repeating of his office that he is one of those seven Angels which have those seven vials full of the seven last plagues least any in wandring rashly should passe over the boundes that are set ¶ Come I will shew thee the bride Did not Iohn see it before ver 2. But there through a windowe and somewhat confusedly but now more distinctly and clearly The first shew of the newe descending Hierusalē shall seeme faire but after that it shal have abode on earth somewhile then it shal be seene farre more noble For we gather from the former thinges that these words doo shew the event as also that which the Angel inviteth for to behold whence we learne from the analogie of those things which hav bin said before that some holy man by published writing shal manifest to al the faithful rhe most divine maiesty celestial glory of this Church But we see these things yet a farr off and darkly the day at lēgth shal make this thing most cleare 10 And he tooke mee up by the Spirit into a great and hie mountaine He entreh into the description of the city more fully then before yet notwithstansting shorter in these two verses Therfore that Iohn might throughly knowe the bride he is taken up into a hie and lofty mountaine The first condemnation of the whore was seen in the wildernesse chap. 17.3 but the glory of the bride shal be revealed in a hie mountaine in the eyes and light of the whole world This mountaine seemeth to be that which Isaiah speaketh of In the last times the mountaine of the house of the Lord shal be set in the top of other mountaines and exalted above the hilles that all nations may flow unto it chap. 2.2 VVorthily is
accomplished wherof hope is given in this book For as the soules under the altar cryed with a loude voice desiring deliverance ch 6.10 so the faithful through hope of the future marriage leap for joy greatly desire that day to be shortned ch 19.7 For the word Spirit signifyeth here every faithfull in whom the Spirit dwelleth the word bride the whole Church cōpany of the faithful The godly al of thē both severally ioyntly desire the same by prayers ¶ And he that heareth saith come As though he should say this is not only the desire of the Church present but also of it proceeding from day to day even unto the last ende Every of the elect at the first knowledge of these things shal be inflamed with the same desire with their ancetours ¶ And let him that thirsteth come Neither doo these things serve onely to inflame but also to satisfy the mindes which is the peculiar property of Gods word And that nothing may be wanting to certenty thou must understand that this Prophecy doth give hope of salvation to men not by expectation of a due reward but by the grace and mercy of God alone It publisheth a free salvation onely as all the rest of the sacred scriptures not due to our desertes A notable rule of the heavenly truth 18 19 For I testify togither Hitherto the rehearsing of the former testimonies and arguments which were used here and there in this precedent book Now Iohn addeth a certaine newe one but of the same divine authority with the former to wit that this Prophecy is most true and unviolable which it is not lawfull to violate eyther by adding or taking away even the least thing without extreame punishment Which being proper onely to the word which cometh down from heaven this Revelatiō must needs be put into the same degree Deut. 4.10 and 12 32. 20 He that c. Christ himselfe who is called that witnesse both in respect of the Gospel which he hath brought into the world also of this Prophecy which is grounded on his authority onely In conclusion the whole matter is sealed up both by his testimony repeated Iohns pryer 21 The grace c. The usual forme of concluding Epistles such as is this whole Prophecy sent to the 7 Churches by the commandement of Christ himselfe chap. 1.11 Come L. Iesus Glory praise be to God for ever Amē I give thee thankes Almighty and everlasting God because thou hast lead mee blind and unskilful man of no reputation of no iudgement of no wit by thy onely mercy for Christs sake through this unbeaten wildernes hast made mee to view many secret corners and hast given mee a safe iourney by the dennes of the Dragon and wilde beasts Even so ô Father for such is thy good pleasure Thou chusest the unnoble base men of the world hast foūded strēgth from the mouth of babes sucklings that no flesh should reioyce How incōprehensible is thy wisedome how admirable thy truth How iust holy at al thy wayes Who shal not fear thee I would gladly tell thy prayses but my tongue doth lacke wordes the words a minde Whither soever my mind shal turne it selfe it is swallowed up of thy infinitnesse If it shal ascend into heaven thou art hyer if it shal cōsider thy workes thou art greater if it doth meditate on thy holinesse thou art purer then the very Sunne O wonderful deepnes unmeasurable bottomlesse pit how dost thou compasse us about on everie side art comprehended no where What mortal sight cannot be overwhelmed with this so infinite brightnesse Therfore my sight turneth frō the light that no man can come unto that it may consider thee through the cloud of the creatures Chiefly it delighteth much to behold thy most pleasant face in thy Sonne But as in this glasse thou art most visible so art thou most admirable so farre surpassing our understanding as thou dost abasse thy self neer to our sense Thou art great ô Lord abov al that can be either said or thought grāt that we may reverēce thy exceeding greatnes which the world cōteineth not that we may feare thy presence which the eyes see not that we may adore thy maiesty in cōparison of which the universal creature beneath is nothing that we may embrace thy goodnes wherwith thou followest us most unworthy men Accomplish at length thy great mystery let the world acknowledge thy long delay to hav bin for thy onely mercy not of forgetfulnesse or neglect of thy promise Destroy the Romish Beast and the Constantinopolitan Dragon build up thy new Hierusalem wherin Christ shal raigne and the saints shal beare rule togither with him to enioy for a time a blessed raigne on earth and most happy and eternal with thee in heavens Heare ô Father to whom no thought of the mind is unknown Be thou present who art no where absent but heare the prayers before whom thou hast gone before by thy decree Then will wee bring forth our harpes sing praises to thee celebrating thee the one three God the Father the Sonne Holy Ghost to whom be all honour praise and glory for ever and ever Amen FINIS
from Iohn to Constantine Aurelianus the rest even to the 19. of Diocletian 12. The sixt seale is opened then rage Diocletian Maximinian Hercule who finally being driven out of the Empire by the power of the Lambe for fear of him the tyrants fled hidde themselves Chap. 7. The seaventh seale first doth yeild a general patterne of the whole folowing age 1. Ther being coÌ„tention ambition heresy they trouble all things with warre they ar repressed by CoÌ„stantine the great untill he sealed up the elect provided for the faithfull being few base in that great calamity of the Church which forthwith followed â— In which dolefull time at length ther should be more prosperity then in time past a great felicity of the faithfull Chap. 8. Secondly of the same seaventh seale there is silence in heaven peace being obteined by Constantine 2. the trumpets ar prepared constantine gathereth the Nic. counsell to cutt off troubles whiâ—h therby are mor increased 6. The Angels blew at whose first blowing ther ariseth the coÌ„troversy of Consubstantiation 8. At the secoÌ„d a burning mountaine of ambition is cast into the Sea by the Decree touching the Primacie and dignitie of the Bishop 10. At the thirde a starr falleth from heaven the Arrian heresy being defended by Constance and Valence 12 At the fourth the third part of the Sunne is stricken that is the Church of Africke by the Vandales 13 The world is admonished of the neere grievous trumpets following by Gregory the great Cap. 9 1 At the fift blowing the bottomelesse pit is opened there come forth swarmes of locusts of religious persons in the West of Sarasens in the East 13. At the sixt the Turkes doe invade the world punished for the Romane Idolatrie Chap. 10.1 At which time the Turkes arise the desire of the truth is kindled in very many of the Vest 9. By whose labour Prophecy is againe restored to the earth Chap. 11.1 Preaching being restored thereis soÌ„evvhat a more full knowledge of the time past namely that the Church froÌ„ the daies of Constantine for a thousand two hundred sixtie yeares was â—idden in the secret place of the TeÌ„ple the Romanes in the meane while boasting of the holy Citie utmost Court 7. and in that in the end of those yeares the Romane Prelat would prepare warre against the Church cut the throat of the Scriptures by hâ—s Tridentine Counsell and make the same mere carkases triumphe over them for the space of three yeares an halfe tred also under foote the Saints in Germany by the power of Charles the fift which yet after three yeares and an halfe revived by them of Magdeburg and Maurice they stroke a very great feare into the enemies they overthrew the third part of the Romane dominion The Trumpets from Constantine to the yeare 1558. 15 The seaventh Angell bloweth about the yeare 1558 new kingdomes are made for Christ EnglaÌ„d Ireland Scotland coming to the Gospell Chap. 12. The first parte of the seaventh Trumpet as yet bringeth a fuller light of the time past the Centuries of Magdeburg being raised up The thing is repeated taught from the beginning 1. That the first Church of the Apostles was most pure but very much afflicted by the DragoÌ„ the Romane Heatnish Emperours who endevoured with all their power least there should be waie opened to any Christian to the chiefe Empire 5 That Constantine the Great the manchilde of the Church at length was borne at vvhose birth the first purity flieth into the VVildernes from the eyes of the vvorld that this Constantine did cast the Drâ—gon from Heaven the Heathnish Emperours being depulsed least againe they shoulde once beare rule in the Church 13. the hostile povver being takeÌ„ avvay froÌ„ the DragoÌ„ he persecuted the Church uÌ„der Christs name by Constance and Valence 15. And endevoured to swalovv her up flying avvaye by the overflovving of the Barbarians sent into the West 17. Which floud at length being dried up raised up the vvarre of the Saracens The first part of the seaventh trumpet of things past Ch. 13.1 The Dragon being cast out of heaven by Constantine establisheth his Vicar in the same place vvhich beast is the Romish Pope such as he did rise togither vvith CoÌ„stantine made great by the Counsell of Nice he vas vvounded by the Gothes possessing Italie vvas cured by Iustinian and Phocas also therby made greater then ever before 11. The seconde Beast is the same Romane Pope enlarged by Pipine and Charles the great vvho gave to him as a nevv birth vvherby he became most vvicked Ch. 14.1 For a thousand yeare from Constantine the Church vvas together vvith Christ hidden in most secret places but she did nothing of great fame in the vvorld 6. These thousand yeares being ended Wickliff preached the Gospell to the vvorld 8. Iohn Husse Hierome of Prage succeede vvho threatened the ruine of Rome 9. After those follovveth Martin Luther vvho very egerly setteth upoÌ„ the Romane Prelate 14. Aftervvard there is a harvest in Germany by Frederike the Saxon the other protestant Princes and free Cities 17. Also a vintage in EnglaÌ„d by Thomas Cromvvell Th. CraÌ„mer The second part of the seaventh trumpet concerning thinges to come Chap. 15. Hitherto of the first part of the seaveÌ„th trumpet of things past 1 The preparatioÌ„ of thinges to come is the seaveÌ„ Angels vvith their Viales 2 The reformed Churches disagree betvvene themselves but all triumphe for the overthrovv of the Pope of Rome 5 The Temple is opened and knovvledge increaseth the citizens of the Church are made ministers of the last plagues the end of which the nevv people of the Ievves expecteth before they come to the faith Chap. 16.1 The vials are povvred the first by our most gracious Queene Elizabeth and other Protestant Princes vvherby the vvhole flocke of Papists is full of ulcero us eÌ„vie 3. The second viale by Martine Chemnin against the Tridentine Councill vvherby the sea of the Popish Doctrine by the Iesuites the masters of the controversyes was made as it were the corrupt filthy blood of a woÌ„de 4 The third by William Cecill against the Iesuites vvhich are the welspringes of the popish doctrine so farre are our times gone The rest of the viales are to come but shortly to be povvred out 8. The fourth on the Sunne that is on the Scriptures by vvhose light meÌ„ shal be tormented shall boile in great anger and contentions 10. The fift on the citie of Rome the throne of the Beast 12. The sixt on Euphrates vvherby a vvaie shall be prepared to the Easterne Ievves that after they shall have embraced the faith of the Gospell they maie return into their ovvne countrie vvhen there shall be also a great preparation of vvarre both by the Turke against these nevv ChristiaÌ„s in the East and also in the West by the Pope 17. The seaventh on the aire wherby
the mysterie shall be finished the Turkes the Popes names being rased out then also the Church shall be settled in exceeding great felicitie as in the earth maie be expected The viales from 1558 even to the end Chap. 17. The execution of the fift viale on the throne of the beast by vvhich it shall be manifested by some one of no great name by most undenyable argumeÌ„ts that Rome is the seat of Antichrist that she hath bin made his seate from the time that the Heathenish Emperours vvere driven from thence Chap. 18. The second execution of the fift viale is the last overthrow of the citie of Rome by three Angels 1 descending from heaven 4 the second exhorting the Romanes to flight describing both the mourning of the ungodly also the joy of the godly 21 The thirde confirming her eternall destruction by casting a great milstone into the sea Chap. 19.1 There is dâ—scribed the joy of the saints for the perdition of Rome 5 The sixt viale is opened the calling of the Iewes is taught 12 Likewise a warlicke preparation partly in respect of Christ the câ—ptaine souldiers partly in respect of the enemies 20 The seaventh viale is declared by the destruction of the false Prophete of the Roman Pope of the Westerne enemie his baÌ„des Chap. 20.1 The vvhole history of the DragoÌ„ is repeated as it was in the GeÌ„tile Emperours before the imprisonemeÌ„t 2 Hovv it was in prison into which he was cast by Constantine bound for a thousaÌ„d yeares An interpretation of the three last viales in al which space the elect had a battel with the Romish Pope which being ended there is made at last the first resurrection many every where in the west aspiring unto the more syncere truth 7 Together with this resurrection the Devill is loosed theÌ„ ariseth the Turke vvith the Scithians Gog with Magog which now destroying the greatest part of the earth at length they turne their weapons against the holy citie that is the beleeving Iewes in which warfare the name of the Turke shall utterly be abolished 11 There is made the second resurrection by the second full calling of the Iewes Chap. 21.1 The last part of the seaventh viale describeth the felicity of the Church after the vanquishing of all enemies by the new Hierusalem descending from heaven of a most glorious building Chap. 22.1 It is shewed how this felicitie both by meat and drinke shall redounde to others and shall continue for ever 6 The conclusion confirmeth the whole Prophecy by manie most strong arguments CHAP. 1. A REVELATION OF THE APOCALYPSE THE Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto him to shewe unto his servaÌ„ts things which must shortly be done which he sent shewed by his Angel unto his servant Iohn 2 Who bare record of the word of God and of the testimony of Jesus Christ and of all things that he saw 3 Blessed is he that readeth they that heare the wordes of this Prophesie keep those things which are written therein for the time is at hand 4 Iohn to the seaven Churches which are in Asia Grace be with you and peace from him which is and which was and which is to come and from the seaven Spirits which are before his throne 5 And from Iesus Christ which is that faithfull witnesse and the first begotten of the dead and Prince of the Kings of the earth unto him that loved us and washed us from our sinnes in his blood 6 And made us Kings and Priests unto God even his Father to him be glory and dominion for evermore Amen 7 Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him yea even they which perced him through and all kinreds of the earth shall waile before him even so Amen 8 I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending saith the Lord which is and which was and which is to come even the Almightie 9 I John even your brother and companion in tribulation and in the Kingdome and patience of Jesus Christ was in the Yle called Patmos for the word of God and for the witnessing of Jesus Christ 10 And I was ravished in spirit on the Lords day and heard behind me a great voice as it had bene of a trumpet 11 Saying I am Alpha and Omega the first and the last and that which thou seest write in a book and send it unto the seven Churches which are in Asia unto Ephesus and unto Smyrna and unto Pergamus and unto Thyatira and unto Sardi and unto Philadelphia and unto Laodicea 12 Then I turned backe to see the voyce that spake with me and when I was turned I saw seven golden Candlesticks 13 And in the mids of the seven Candlesticks one like unto the Sonne of man clothed with a garment downe to the feet and girded about the paps with a goldeÌ„ girdle 14 His head and haires were white as whitewooll as snow and his eyes wer as a flame of fire 15 And his feete like unto fine Brasse burning as in a fornace and his voice as the sound of many waters 16 And he had in his right hand seven starres and out of his mouth went a sharpe two edged sword and his face shone as the Sunne shineth in his strength 17 And when I saw him I fell at his feete as dead then he laid his right haÌ„d upon me saying unto me feare not I am the first and the last 18 And am alive but I was dead and behold I am alive for evermore AmeÌ„ and I have the keyes of hell and of death 19 Write the things which thou hast seene and the things which are and the things which shall come hereafter 20 The mysterie of the seven starres which thou sawest in my right hand and the seven golden candlesticks is this The seven starres are the Angels of the seven Churches and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven Churches The prayer I entring into a matter beyond the strength of man pray thee O Father of lights together with thy Sonne the Chiefe Prophete and the Holy Spirit the leader into truth make plaine to mortall men the way not as yet sufficiently knowen Our minde seeth not the thinges thar are before our feete How little or nothing perceiveth it high and hidden things And how great danger is there from hence eyther of preasing rashly into thy secrets or of passing by true things and faining things absurd contrary Neverthelesse thou who hast made thy word a light to our feet who callest the most simple to the searching out of thy hidden mysteries and who dost chuse for the most parte fisher men before the wise of the world Be thou I say present and helpe this my slendernes graunt me a prosperous voyage between these dangerous Ylands Cause that I no where runne upon the high rockes of pride nor sticke in the shalowe of blind ignorance but the next way by thy