Selected quad for the lemma: head_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
head_n	beast_n	dragon_n	horn_n	3,264	5	10.5839	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A03335	Mystical babylon, or Papall Rome A treatise vpon those words, Apocal. 18.2. It is fallen, it is fallen Babylon, &c. In which the wicked, and miserable condition of Rome, as shee now is in her present Babylonian estate, and as she shall be in her future ineuitable ruine, is fully discouered: and sundry controuersiall points of religion, betwixt the Protestants, and the Papists, are briefly discussed. By Theophilus Higgons, rector of the parochiall Church of Hunton, neere Maidstone in Kent.	Higgons, Theophilus, 1578?-1659.	1624 (1624)	STC 13455; ESTC S118140	129,351	289

former both which Powers they vnderstand in the two Swords Luc. 22.38 and then the Beast that appeared with the hornes of a Lambe before spake like a Dragon saith Saint Iohn with the voice of blasphemie being now growne vp vnto high estimation reuerently and obsequiously intertayned in the World All this falleth cleerely and irrefutably vpon the Pope and vpon the Pope alone as beeing the next great and Souereigne Potentate arising vpon the decay of the Imperiall State Wherefore the most excellent Maiestie of our gracious King Iames doth prudently and truly obserue concerning this SECOND BEAST that it is the false and hypocriticall Church which doth exercise all the power of the former Beast it teacheth the Kings of this Monarchie and of this Seate by what meanes they shall allure and compell the people to obey their commands c. It shall perswade them that this hereticall Monarchie ought for conscience sake to be obeyed by all persons in whatsoeuer it commandeth as if it could not erre Heere the Church and the Pope doe import really but one thing for the dignitie of this Church ariseth from the Pope and therefore hee is called also the Church as wee shall see hereafter Meane while wee obserue that this second or Papall Beast in Rome hath the authoritie of the former viz. the Imperiall but vnder another title in another kind and carried with another course Wherefore this Babylon in my Text being the seate wherein this second Beast the spirituall Monarch doth reigne as the most puissant and souereigne Lord in all the earth I conclude now the third proofe of my assertion as well by Saint Iohn heere as by Saint Paul before that the name of Babylon doth not extend meerely vnto the Citie of Rome as the Iesuites doe pretend but vnto Ecclesiasticall Rome as it is gouerned and swayed by the POPE vsurping the place dignitie and superioritie of the former Beast therein Now I come in a word or two vnto the seuenteenth Chapter of Saint Iohn where wee reade of a Beast vnto whom the ten Kings arising neere vpon the time of his aduancement gaue their power but afterward God inclineth them to worke the finall destruction of Babylon wherein this Beast doth reigne This Beast is certainly the great Antichrist as the Text doth inforce and the Iesuites doe confesse the question therefore is whether this Beast be the same heere with the SECOND BEAST before for if he be not the same then that second Beast is not Antichrist and consequently the Pope whom we presume to be that second Beast is not Antichrist as we conceiue him to be I answere therefore that this Beast Cap. 17. 12 13. is the very same with the second Beast Cap. 13. 11. whose exaltation and qualitie is described heere in more precise and ample tearmes then before For heere wee see his gradation how hee came to so great power it was by the meanes of the ten Kings who submitted a part of their dignitie vnto him but finally Babylon wherein the Beast doth reigne shall come vnto her ruine by these ten Kings the same not in person but in succession Now it is apparant that the man of sinne in Saint Paul succeeding the Emperour beeing the second Beast in Saint Iohn as I declared before must therefore be the Beast in this seuenteeenth Chapter who is the Antichrist reigning in Babylon with the subiection of his Kings so that these three are all one indeed For the Beast Apoc. 17. beeing Antichrist is therefore also Saint Pauls man of sinne reuealed when the Emperour was taken out of the way and this I haue proued to be the Pope The Emperour then being the first Beast Apocal. 13.1 it followeth necessarily that the Pope is the second Beast Verse 11. And so lastly it ensueth by cleere and euident deduction that the second Beast Cap. 13. 11. is the same with this Beast Cap. 17. 12. the Pope or Papall Empire being signified and intended in both so that still this Babylon in my Text is Ecclesiasticall Rome the seate of that SECOND BEAST If any man say and it is the onely cauill which they can pretend that the first Beast Apoc. 13.1 is the same with this Beast Apoc. 17.3 because that first beast is described with seuen heads and ten hornes Apoc. 13.1 and so is this Beast also Apoc. 17.3 I answere that the first Beast which is certainly Imperiall Rome in her Ciuill state hath great conformitie in power and dominion with this Beast which also is the very same with the second Beast before and therefore this Beast heere Cap. 17. 3. is described much according to the same fashion with the said first Beast because of the resemblance and similitude which this doth carrie of that hauing a like superioritie a like souereigntie doing all that the said first beast could do as it is said precisely of the second Beast Apoc. 13.12 being the same with this and persecuting the sincere professors of Christian Religion as the first also did persecute the Christian Martyrs and as the first Beast had ten hornes euen as Daniel also did foretell in the Romane Empire so this Beast which is Antichrist hath ten Kings by whose subiection he doth support his dominion and by their seruice vnto him doth reigne powerfull and shall continue in great honour till these Kings withdrawing their obedience from the Beast shall also consume his seate which is the true naturally vnforced and certaine interpretation of this Scripture So that the similitude of their seuen heads and tenne hornes doth no more prooue the said first Beast Apoc. 13.1 to be the same with this Beast Apoc. 17.3 then that the first Beast is the same with the Dragon who is also said to haue seuen heads and ten hornes as it is Apoc. 12.3 Finally obserue that if the said first Beast Apoc. 13.1 bee Antichrist and so be the same with the Beast Apoc. 17. then it followeth that after Antichrist whom yet the Papists hold to bee the last Potentate in the earth and to reigne but three yeeres and an halfe another Beast or another Potentate must arise hauing as great authoritie and power as the first for so it is said Apoc. 13.11 12. I saw another Beast and this second Beast did all that the first could doe which consequence standeth not as you see with their position It remayneth therefore still and so shall it euer be most cleere most conformable to all reason and iudgement as a point most fairely deduced without any difficultie or absurditie that since the Pope reigneth thus in Babylon vpon the exclusion of the Emperour and decay of the Empire therefore this Babylon is not the Citie alone but Ecclesiasticall Rome as it is the seate of the Pope aduanced and bearing rule therein according to the Prediction of Saint Paul and the Vision of Saint Iohn both concurring as you may euidently perceiue in one and the same issue which being of speciall importance I haue therefore

c. 30. Since therefore the Pope is truely that man of sin who appeared in his superlatiue power vpon the declination of the Romane Emperour for thence wee inforce by the verse words of Saint Paul that Antichrist is come euen as the Christians proue against the Iewes that Christ came long agoe because the Scepter departed from Iudah and then the Messiah was to be borne according to the prophecie of Iacob wee may conclude that the Babylon wherein hee sitteth is Rome not the Citie alone but the Church which seemeth to be entayled vnto that fatall place in the iudgement of her chiefest Doctors Thus farre out of Saint Paul and now we come vnto Saint Iohn Secondly then this prediction of Saint Paul is a fitting key to open the visions of Saint Iohn in this behalfe in cap. 13. 17. For in his thirteenth Chapter hee had a vision of two distinct beasts the very same which wee haue alreadie seene in the prophecie of Saint Paul Behold therefore the description of these Beasts and yet first vnderstand I pray you what the name of BEAST doth generally purport as well in this Reuelation of Saint Iohn as in the prophecies of Daniel whereof also I am now to take some speciall notice namely cap. 7. v. 4. Foure great Beasts saith hee came vp from the Sea Euery word hath weight as I will shew you in the retrograded order of the Text. They came from the great SEA signifying that the conuersions of publike States should bring great troubles and perturbations in the world They came vp or ascended for the great Monarchies had small beginnings and were aduanced vnto a very high estate They are Beasts for these Monarchies did with furie and violence enter increase and gouerne in the earth Lastly they are foure whereof the last is the Romane Monarchy thus characterized and marked by Daniel v. 7. The fourth Beast was fearefull and terrible and very strong c. and it had ten hornes which in the twentie fourth verse are interpreted ten Kings for the Romane Monarchie had a various and difforme gouernment of different nature from all precedent Monarchies till the Caesars who are here called the little horne rose vp who subduing a great part of their strength drew the principalitie vnto themselues and erected the Monarchie in their owne persons and this is the true genuine and proper interpretation of that text Now I returne vnto Saint Iohn The FIRST Beast which Saint Iohn did see Apocal 13.11 c. is the same Romane Monarchie and expressed in this manner A Beast arose out of the Sea hauing seuen heads and ten hornes c. and then followeth the persecution raised by this Beast against the Church of God This Beast was certainely the Romane Empire which in the publike gouernment by the Senate and by the people and in the priuate afterward by one person was still one and the same Beast hauing indeed ten hornes at the first till afterward one little horne carried the sway when it grew vnto great power that reuelled in Babylon and domineered in the world by whose Edicts and Authoritie the Christians so generally for many yeeres suffered cruell deaths and horrible tortures for the glorious name of Iesus Christ When this Tragedie was ended and that this first Beast though now growne more milde and tamed by the knowledge of the true Faith beganne afterwards daily to decline from his greatnesse and at the last to bee taken out of the way according to the words of Saint Paul then began a SECOND Beast to come vp out of the earth Apocal. 13.11 that is to say some other great and principall Potentate for so the word Beast importeth here as it doth in Daniel before began to reare vp himselfe and therefore is here said to come vp as hauing an inchoation and then an augmentation of his power and it is not without cause said here that he came out of the earth whereas the former Beast verse 1. came out of the Sea as the other three Beasts also did Daniel 7.4 because as hee is contrary to Christ who came from heauen so hee hath a different entrance into the world from the former Beast with Saint Iohn saw and from the other three which Daniel saw because those foure Beasts had a tumultuous violent and troublesome beginning of their Empires which came as it were out of a raging Sea but this Second Beast here in Saint Iohn hath a quiet secret peaceable ascension as it were out of the earth comming vp with the milde aspect of a Lamb not suddenly aduancing himselfe like the other Beasts with terror but cunningly insinuating himselfe into the hearts and affections of men as Ribera doth well expound this place and is therefore well said to come vp out of the earth because being little meane at the first in comparison of his future glorie hee doth afterward attaine vnto a speciall and extraordinary power in the world euen to doe all which the first Beast could doe before him v. 12. Marke now this passage well It doth appeare that the First Beast viz. the Romane Empire in the ciuill state was now taken out of the way How doth that appeare Because this second Beast did all which the former could doe before him therefore the former was gone that is to say the great Imperiall power of Rome was now decayed and another arose vp after it in as great dignitie and power as the other did obtaine These two Potentates the first and second Beast stood not together in their greatnesse two Sunnes shine not in one firmament and the Pope did well espy this when he compared the Romane Empire to the Moone and the Romane Papacy to the Sunne as being of greater excellencie so that the Empire had her light from it and lost her light before it as being not able to shine in the glorious presence thereof And this is true indeed for O thou poore Empire of Germany what art thou before the conspect and shining light of the mightie Papacie of Rome which leaueth thee an emptie Title and possesseth the full power thereof But I proceed It doth now also appeare farther that this second Beast who could not aspire vnto the proportion of his greatnesse during the consistencie of the former is mounted vp into the Imperiall Dignitie and Seate but after the expiration of the Romane Empire for that Beast is gone that supreame power is abolished as he hath inuaded his Dominion to doe all that the other could doe before him If you aske how this came to passe I answere not by Sword not by Conquest not by forcible meanes for this Beast came out of the earth in a more meeke and meane fashion and like a Lambe but by a faire pretense of his Euangelicall Keyes which afterwards became no lesse powerfull then Swords and two Swords spirituall power which was the first horne that grew and then temporall power which was the second horne annexed vnto the

which wee haue not already found FOVRTHLY and lastly wee may obserue that as the mysticall condition of this Babylonian Rome is by cleere remonstrance made by learned and iudicious men notoriously discouered vnto all the World so the hornes of the Papall Beast haue begun to fall from his head his power being thereby much abated and neuer likely to bee recouered againe but one horne after another shall be plucked off Wherefore as I may certainly conclude that the Turke shall not destroy the states and dignities of these ten Kings whatsoeuer Zanchius a learned and profound Diuine did conceiue to the contrary for which he suffered some opposition as in the second part of his Miscellanea it may appeare and whatsoeuer Melancthon himselfe deliuered in his publike Lectures that all Germanie should bee possessed by the Turke and my reason is grounded vpon the Scripture shewing that the ten Kings which arose with the second Beast in Rome shall destroy Rome at the last and therefore if the Turke obtaine their Kingdomes it must be after the fal of the Rome which they must first ruinate so I may very reasonably and probably affirme that the Kings which are alreadie fallen from the Beast the Pope shall neuer returne vnto him againe to giue their power a second time vnto him and to submit their Royall States vnto the Papall Crowne But if Babylon should aduance her selfe in England againe which wee haue no cause to feare nor Papists reason to hope yet that shall not hinder the accomplishment of this worke for Babylon must fall it is decreed by GOD it shall bee performed by these Kings Notwithstanding since Babylon is full of malice and indignation playing first the Foxe to enter into the Lords Vineyard that shee might be a Lyon afterwards to kill the Keepers thereof let vs not be secure in obseruing her courses nor fearefull to sustaine her conflict Let vs be prepared for that which may not perhaps be prepared for vs Wee must not bee wanting to Martyrdome though it may bee wanting vnto vs ne desit animus Martyrio saith Saint Cyprian Let vs not want a mind to die for the truth of Christ hee may be an habituall Martyr euer that is an actuall neuer in preparation of mind not in passion of bodie in will and not in worke as Saint Bernard speaketh of Saint Iohn the Euangelist that hee was a Martyr in will though not in worke whereas the Innocents were Martyrs in worke but not in will and Saint Stephen in both But here let no man deceiue himselfe with a sudden apprehension of Martyrdome as a matter of little difficultie to vndergo but let him consider rather that multi ante persecutionem Leones in persecutione cerui many are Lyons in the time of peace but Harts in the time of persecution as one of the Ancients spake by experience of those times that many who speake gloriously of their resolution appeare cowards in their performance as the historie of Doctor Pendleton and Master Sanders may testifie and finally that they whom God calleth vnto so great a worke shall bee prepared by him with gifts conuenient for that purpose Therfore Saint Ambrose writing vnto his sister Marcella Epist 44. saith modestly of himselfe because God knew me to be weake hee hath not yet giuen the Deuill power ouer my bodie And though I should desire martyrdome and offer my selfe vnto it perhaps he doth iudge mee yet to be vnable for so great a strife and therefore doth exercise mee with other labours and diuers afflictions but hath not tried mee in this kind O the rare humilitie of such an excellent spirit Let vs then by his example bee willing not boasting readie not desirous to dye for the cause of God if Babylon should yet againe try vs in the fire of her persecution before shee come to the fire of her owne ruine And so much of the third point namely the time when Babylon shall be destroyed by these Kings The FOVRTH Question THe FOVRTH and last question concerneth the state of the Pope of Papists and of Poperie vpon this fall of Babylon whether hee and they and it shall come vnto a finall extirpation with Babylon or what may bee conceiued probably of each in the discourse of iudgement and reason by deduction out of the sacred Scripture it selfe This question then hath three seuerall branches as you heare and therefore I will treate of them all in order as it shall please God to assist mee with the celestiall illumination of his blessed Spirit The FIRST Branch of the fourth Question concerning the POPE WE doe not now enquire concerning the Person of the Pope whether a Iohn as many were or a Iohne as one was supposed to be but concerning the State place office and dignitie of the Pope and as hee is the Second Beast in Babylon inuading there the Imperiall Seat and by another forme or colour of gouernment vsurping the Imperiall power as the ancient Fathers doe vsually speake of Antichrist according to the tenour of the Scripture it selfe in this behalfe and as the experience of latter ages doth really verifie and exhibite the truth of their iudgement herein vnto our eyes I answere then that as Bellarmine doth vainely flatter himselfe lib. 4. de Pont. Rom. cap. 4. concerning the time of this ruine of Babylon namely that it shall not be vntill the end of the world and in the time of their chimericall and imagined Antichrist whose reigne enduring three yeeres and an halfe is ended by the second comming of our Lord Iesus Christ as they simply pretend so hee doth delude himselfe and others when he saith that in the time and after the time of her ruine the Pope shall bee called and indeed shall be Romanus Pontifex the Bishop of Rome For the truth is apparant by the tenour of the sacred Booke of the Reuelation that the Papall Beast is the cause of the expedition made by the tenne Kings against Babylon that this warre made vpon Babylon is in regard of the pride oppression and other sinnes in Babylon as shee is borne vp and supported by the second Beast whose Dominion was aduanced by their submission vnto him and shall bee suppressed by their concurrencie against him It is not then a quarrell against the Citizens or the edifices of Rome but against her vsurpations exercised by the Triple-crowned Beast therein Neither had these Kings performed their designe if when they burnt the Citie of Rome the Beast should still remaine Therefore as Babylon it selfe shall fall so the power of her Beast shall be destroyed by these Kings as being coupled and commixed with the same For as the ruine of Literall Babylon was accompanied with the ruine of the Chaldaean Empire so the fall of Mysticall Babylon shall bee accompanied with the fall of her Beast whom these Kings will now permit no more to tyrannize with Papall dominion in the Ciuill or Ecclesiasticall State for as the power of the Beast standeth