plainly appeare By the tenne hornes of this beast is meant the great power and large dominion of the Roman Empire or as the Angell himselfe doth expound it chapter 17.12 thereby is meant tenne kings that is manie kingdomes which should be subiect to the Roman Monarchie and wherein in verie deede the power and strength of the Empire did consist For by these hornes the Roman Empire did not only push downe other nations but especially dosse against the Church and as it were cruelly gore the sides thereof Nowe then we see that the Roman Emperours both in homes and heads were like their Father the diuel or the dragon By the tenne crownes vpon his tenne hornes are meant his great and manifolde victories ouer other countries and kingdomes The hornes of this beast are said to be crowned not his heads because the Roman Empire hath alwayes more preuailed by power then by policie by strength then by subtilty But the Dragon hath his heads crowned and not his homes because he hath alwayes done more hurt by policie then power by subtiltie then strength One thing in all this is greatly to bee heeded that the holy Ghost in this chapter doth specially speake of the Roman monarchie as the Popes were heads thereof or as it was vnder the dominion of the Popes in their pride when as the Emperours were almost troden vnder foote and not simply and soly as the Emperours were heads thereof Moreouer it is said that vpon the seuen heads of this beast was written the name of blasphemie For besides the blasphemies of Caligula Nero Domitian Dioclesian Iulianus and the other old heathenish and persecuting Emperours which haue arrogated vnto themselues diuine honour wee shall anon heare of the surpassing blasphemies of the Popes against God ver 5.6 and all goodnesse vers 2 And the Beast which I saw was like a Leopard and his feete like a Beares and his mouth as the mouth of a Lyon and the Dragon gaue him his power his throne and great authoritie Here the Roman Empire is described of the likelihood of qualities which it had with the other three Empires going before it For first it is compared to a Leopard for swiftnesse to pray vpon others and also for fircenesse and subtiltie as did the Greeke monarchie Secondly it is compared to a Beare for rapine and rauening as the monarchie of the Medes and Persians Thirdly it is compared to a Lyon for pride and insolencie as the monarchie of the Chaldaeans So then by this description it is verie cleere that this beast signifieth the Roman monarchie because it containeth in it the whole power of the other three Empires and is here described as a compound of diuers beasts yea as a verie monster of monsters hauing the body of a Leopard the feete of a Beare and the mouth of a Lyon Moreouer it is said that the Dragon gaue him his power and his throne and great authoritie Which plainely sheweth that the power and authoritie of the Roman Empire is of the diuell in respect of the euill qualitie thereof that is fraud rapine chapter 17. v. 8. and oppression In which respect it is said to ascend out of the bottomlesse pit as was declared before But the substance of it and the gouernement it selfe was of God For the powers that be are ordained of God as saith the Apostle And I saw one of his heads vers 3 as it were wounded vnto death but his deadly wound was healed and all the world wondred and followed the beast Heere Iohn in a vision seeth one of the seuen heads of the beast almost wounded vnto death There bee diuers and differing opinions of the learned touching this wound of the Empire both when it should bee and howe and by whom Some vnderstand it of the death of Iulius Caesar some of Nero some of the oppression of the Gothes and Vandales some of the great preuailing of Iohn Husse and Ierome of Prage in the greatest part of Bohemia But to let all these passe if wee do wisely consider and weigh with our selues that by a beast in this place is not meant anie lawfull administration of gouernement but a tyrannicall power in persecuting the Church wee shall find that a head of the beast was then wounded when Constantine the Great slew Maxentius and Licinius the two last persecuting Emperours set vp true religion and brought peace to the Churches For hereby the Roman Empire was greatly wounded as touching the tyrannie of it The holy Ghost doth not set downe which of the seuen heads were thus wounded but in generall saith one of them Nowe it is verie probable that he meaneth the sixt head For we doe not reade of anie such wound in the former fiue which were past Neither can it be vnderstood of the seuenth head which was the Papacie because it receiued no such wounde as yet It followeth then that the wound was in the sixt head that is in the Empire But we reade of no Emperour that did so wound the beast as did Constantine the Great And therefore it is verie probable nay an hundred to one that the holy Ghost here pointeth at him But it followeth that his deadly wound was healed to wit by these wicked Emperours which succeeded Constantine as Constantius Iulianus Valentius and others which afresh did set vp Idolatrie and persecuted the Church Nowe vppon the healing of this wound it is said that all the world wondred and followed the beast that is manie nations or the greatest part of the world did submit themselues to the Roman tyrannie For sure it is some kingdomes were neuer subiect to the Empire of Rome as some part of Asia and some part of Africa vers 4 And they worshipped the Dragon which gaue power vnto the beast and they worshipped the beast saying Who is like vnto the beast who is able to warre with him Now is shewed how all the subiects of the Roman Empire did worship the Dragon that is they maintained that worship which he liked and loued that is the worship of idols which the Apostle calleth the worship of diuels And it is said also they worshipped the beast that is they did all with one accord submit themselues both to the religion and authoritie of the beast that is to the Popes as they were the seuenth head of the Empire For as I said before so I say againe the holy Ghost heere speaketh of the Empire when it was in the greatest glorie and exaltation yea when all the worlde wondred and followed the beast yea when all admired the great and large dominion of the Roman empire and said within themselues who is like vnto the beast who is able to warre with him Now the Empire of Rome was neuer so great and powerful as when the Popes were heads thereof I meane when they executed the whole ciuill iurisdiction of the empire besides their Ecclesiasticall power which now did both meete in one For now the
to passe nor fulfilled and therfore more hard for them to interprete and vnderstand for those things in this Prophesie which are not yet fulfilled are hardest for vs of this age to vnderstand and resolue of But when a Prophesie is fulfilled it is an easie matter to say this was the meaning of the Prophet Some things in this booke were fulfilled before the daies of the Fathers and some thinges in the daies wherein they liued and both those they did clearely vnderstand Some things were fulfilled after their daies as the rising and raigning of the great Antichrist which they did not so clearly see into Hereupon it commeth to passe that many things which vnto them were very obscure are vnto vs most cleare manifest as being already fulfilled insomuch that all which are not wilfully blinded may see and vnderstand them yea the most vnlearned Be not therefore discouraged gentle Reader at the darknesse difficultie of this booke Doe not preiudicially resolue and set downe with thy selfe that the naturall sense of this booke cannot be giuē nor the true meaning found out but that we must be faine when we haue done all that we can to rest in vncertaine coniectures some following one sense and some an other as seemeth most like and probable But no man can say confidently and precisely this is the meaning of the holy Ghost Oh be not of that minde good Christian brother for if we haue not an vndoubted certainty for the sense meaning of this Prophesie we are neuer the nearer and that is it which the Papists would driue vs vnto But know for a certainty that the naturall sense of this booke is to be found out as well as of other bookes of the Scripture And that we might not be left to our selues in the darke and to our vncertaine coniectures and doubtfull interpretations Behold the mercifull goodnesse of God to his Church who himselfe doth expound the darkest and most misticall things in this Prophesie or at least so many of them and so far as the rest are thereby laid open and made manifest The Lord himselfe expoundeth some things in the first Chapter which giue cleare light to the first vision The Angell expoundeth diuers other things In the 17. Chapter which is the key of this prophesie the Angel doth of purpose open and interpret all the greatest doubts of this booke as who is the Whore of Babylon who is the beast what be his seuen heads what be his 10. hornes what be the waters which the woman that is the Whore of Rome sitteth vpon Moreouer for the better vnderstanding of this Prophesie we must note that the writings of Moyses and the Prophets vnto which there bee sundry allusions and from the which sundry things are drawne do cleare diuers things in this Reuelation The knowledge of antiquities ministreth much aide to the vnderstanding of this Prophesie The knowledge of the histories of the Church and the particular state thereof in diuers ages bringeth great light The obseruation of the phrases and maner of speech vsed by the old Prophets doth helpe also not a little The serious and deepe weighing of all the circumstances of the text conferring one thing with another the cōsequents with the antecedents the antecedents with the consequēts furthereth greatly for the bolting out of the true natural sense And furthermore as the spirit of God is the author of this prophesie so the same spirit is the best interpreter of it doth opē and reueale it to all such as vsing al other good meanes are earnest and humble suters vnto God for the illumination thereof whereby they may vnderstand both this and all other the mysteries of his will which the Apostle saith God hath reuealed vnto vs by his spirit For the spirit searcheth all things yea the deepe things of God To all this may be added the knowledge of artes tongues and the learned writings and interpretations of sundry excellent men which all do bring great furtherance to the vnderstanding of this Prophesie Sith then there be so many helpes for the opening and expounding of this Reuelation why should any be discouraged from the reading and study thereof But if any man demaund a reason why Saint Iohn writeth this Reuelation in such misticall and allegoricall maner I answere that there may be diuers reasons yeelded hereof First that the world being blinded might fulfill the things herein specified Secondly because Iohn was to publish this Reuelation in such maner and forme as he had receiued it from Iesus Christ which was figuratiue and allegoricall Thirdly because it was much more wisedome to foretel the destructiō of the Romaine Empire which al that time bare the sway almost ouer all the world vnder couert and figuratiue speeches then in plaine tearmes least the Romaine Princes should rage more against the Christians euen in that respect The like also may be said for Daniels darke maner of deliuering his Prophesie For if he had vttered those things in plaine tearmes which he spake darkely and allegorically it might haue cost him his life For the heathen enemies would neuer haue endured to heare that all their Empires glory and renowne should fall one after another and one by another and that the Iewes were the onely holy people whome God did defend and to whome in the ende God would not onely giue a quiet possession of their owne land and kingdome but also a kingdome euerlasting that through their Messias and great deliuerer But to grow to a conclusion gentle Reader thou shalt find in this poore trauell First an exposition of the first 13. Chapters after thou shalt find the next 6. Chapters vnto the twentith reduced all to one head which is to proue the 5. points propounded and last of all the 3. Chapters following briefely and plainely expounded If any through lazinesse will not or through want of leisure cannot read ouer this short trauel yet for his cōfort let him read those things only which are written vpō the 14. Chapter And thus Christian Reader hoping that thou wilt not neglect that which may be for thine owne good I commēd thee to God to the word of his grace which is able to build further and to giue thee an inheritance among all them that are sanctified Thine in the Lord Arthur Dent. Vpon the 14. Chapter of this Booke these fiue points are handled First that Babylon in this Booke of the Reuelation is Rome Secondly that Rome shall fall and how Thirdly that Rome shall fall finally and come to vtter desolation in this life before the last iudgement Fourthly by whom and when it shall be ouerthrowne Fiftly the causes of the vtter ruine and ouerthrow thereof Apoc. 18. vers 4. I heard a voice from heauen say Goe out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sinnes and that ye receiue not of her plagues THE RVINE OF Rome or an Exposition vpon the Reuelation Wherein is plainly
ministery of the word For the church bringeth forth no children at ease but with hard trauaile and much adoe hauing so few friends to helpe her and so many enemies against her as anon we shal heare And there appeared another wonder in heauen For behold a great red dragon ver 3 hauing seuen heads and ten hornes and seuen crownes vpon his heades ver 4 And his taile drew the third part of the starres of heauen and cast them to the earth And the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be deliuered Now we are come to the description of the Churches great capitall enemie which is the diuel who because he studieth and laboureth continually to impeach the good estate of the Church in heauenly things to deiect her from her dignitie and dispossesse her of her inheritance therefore here in vision hee is said to appeare in heauen For he medleth with the Church in and about heauenlie things practising to pull her out of heauen from whence she came and whither she must returne euen to cast her into hell and condemnation with himselfe if it were possible The diuell is compared to a dragon for his furie felnesse to a great dragon for his power might and a red dragon for his bloudy crueltie malice and madnesse against Christ and all his mmbers His seuen heads signifie his manifold sleights and subtilties wherein he is a crafts-maister His ten hornes signifie his dreadful power For who knoweth not that he is stronger then anie other creature hauing not lost his strength by his fall but remaineth as strong as an Angell of light His seuen crownes vpon his heads do signifie his manifold victories ouer the world For hee hath from time to time and from age to age got so many conquests of the world through his sleights and power that now he is the god of the world as the Apostle saith and raigneth as king ouer them This dragon hath a mōstrous taile both for length and strength For it is so long that it reacheth vp to heauen so strong that it brusheth downe the starres from thence That is the diuel through ambition and couetousnesse and other fleshly lusts doth pul down manie Ministers which shined in doctrine and life as the starres of heauen euen vnto the earth where they haue lost their brightnesse and glorie and shine as much as the Moone in a mist vers 4 Moreouer it is said that the dragon stood before the woman in trauaile to deuoure her child as soone as it was borne Wherein we are to obserue the malice and furie of Sathan in that he watcheth so narrowly to deuoure the blessed seed euen the Sauiour of the world so soone as he was borne And for this cause he stirred vp Herod the king subtilly to seeke him out by the wise men that he might kill him and afterward most cruelly practised the same by murthering so manie innocents But this is alwayes a generall truth that Sathan seeketh to smother not onely Christ but euerie member of his in the cradle yea to blast them in the bud before euer they come to fruit or flower vers 5 So she brought forth a man child which should rule all nations with a rod of iron and that her child was taken vp vnto God and his throne Notwithstanding the malice and watchfulnesse of Sathan yet the Church bringeth forth Christ which should rule and ouer-rule all nations with a rod of iron that is the scepter of his word as it is in the second Psalme and with the rodde of his mouth as the Prophet speaketh Moreouer it is said that this child was taken vp vnto God and his throne That is Christ by his resurrection did take possession of his chaire of estate in despite of Herod Pontius Pilate the Priests the Pharisees and all other his enemies which sought to keepe him down and now he being ascended into heauen doth drawe all his members vnto him in despite of the diuel and all his imps And the woman fled into the wildernesse vers 6 where shee hath a place prepared of God that they should feede her there a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes Now after the womans child was set in safetie here is shewed what became of the woman her selfe To wit that she was so sore pursued by the Scribes and Pharisees and by the Priests and Elders that she was faine to flie into the wildernesse The naturall sense plaine meaning of this place is that when the church began to grow after Christs ascensiō the number of the Disciples to increase exceedingly as we reade in the 2. of the Acts Sathan did so greatly maligne it and began to bee in such a rage that he would haue eaten them vp all at a bit and rooted them out at once that so the woman might haue no more being in the earth And therefore we reade Act. 8. that after the stoning of Steuen there was such a persecution raised vp against the Church by the high Priests the Princes of the Iewes the Pharisees and all that cursed crue that all the Apostles and Disciples of Christ were scattered and dispersed here and there in the Heathen countries and among the heathen people which here are called the wildernesse that is to say a ground vntilled desolate and barren of all fruits of godlinesse But now may some man say how shal the Church doe in the wildernesse how shal she liue how shall she be sustained There is no tilling no sowing no planting there groweth no corne there is nothing to be had either for food or raiment Here it is answered that God prepared a place for her where she should be fed God tooke vp an Inne for her She wanted neither food nor raiment in her persecutions troubles Which teacheth that God doth alwayes prouide for his owne euen in greatest miseries scarsities famines banishments and persecutions As sometimes he did for Elias in the time of dearth and for the children of Israel in the wildernesse The time wherein the Church was fed in the wildernesse was a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes that is during the time of her persecutions as before hath been shewed chapter 11.2 chap. 11. vers 2. vers 7 And there was a battell in heauen Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and the dragon and his angels fought vers 8 But they preuailed not neither was their place found any more in heauen Now we are come to the third part of this chapter which is the battell betwixt Christ and the diuel For whereas the dragon could not smother Christ in the cradle as he indeuoured so depriue the Church of all her happinesse for euer now he proclaimeth open warre both against Christ and all his members plotting and purposing to oppugne the very saluation of the church though it bee founded in Christ Wherein he sheweth both his impudencie and furious madnesse Michael here
of heauen by impeaching her election and saluation in Christ nor yet root her out the earth by persecutions being hid in the wildernes and locked vp in the priuy chambers of Gods prouidence as sometimes yong Ioash was locked vp in the priests chamber from the fury of Athaliah now he goeth another way to worke and setteth vpon her in her seed and posterity which remaine in the earth vnto this day So that now sith he cannot do what mischiefe he would against the church yet wil he doo what he can seeing he cannot wound her in her head yet wil he bite and pinch at her heele as it is written that he should bruise her heele And as is the malice of Sathan against the church so is the rage and fury of al his members euen al the wicked and vngodly against the true worshippers of God They are restles in malice and in mischiefe if they cannot vex them one way they wil try another if they cannot touch them in their liues yet will they molest them in their goods and good name if they cannot do what they would yet wil they do what they can they wil neuer giue ouer if they can spite them in the least thing that is they shal be sure of it For they are as ful of venime as a toad and as full of malice to Christ as an eg is ful of meate And I stood on the sea sand ver 18 Now Iohn affirmeth that he stood vpon the sea sand to behold the beast which riseth out of the sea in the next Chapter or else because the greeke word may be of the third person which is he stood that is the dragon stood it may beare this sense that the diuel stood vpon the sea sand as it were working and framing out of the sea his chief◠instrument which is the beast now following to be spoken of CHAP. XIII WEe haue heard in the former chapter the description of the church and of her arch-enemie the diuel and of the battell betwixt them with the successe thereof Now in this chapter wee are to heare of the dragons two great instruments whereby he fighteth against the woman that is the Romane empire and the Papacie For by these two as it were his two hands he hath in all ages from the Apostles time to this day most cruelly assailed and afflicted the church Therefore the maine drift of this chapter is to describe at large these two beasts together with all their beastly proceedings So that this chapter may fitly be deuided into two principal parts The first is a description of the Roman monarchy when it was at the highest pitch vntil the 11. verse The second is a description of the Papacie when it was in his pride and exaltation in all the verses following vnto the end of this chapter In the first of these two maine branches the Romane Empire is diuersly described First of the petigree thereof Secondly of her seuen seuerall gouernments vers 1 Thirdly of her great and outstretched power Fourthly of her victories Fiftly of her blasphemies vers 2 vers 3 Sixtly of her furie rapine and pride After this is set down the wound which was made in the Empire with the curing of the same vers 4.5.6.7.8 9.10 Lastly is set down the great and admirable power and authority of the Roman empire which ruled ouer a great part of the world and had many nations subiect vnto it especially when the Popes were the heads thereof In the second maine part is the Papacie very liuely described First frō the petigree thereof which is of the earth vers 11 Secondly from the ciuil and Ecclesiasticall power thereof which is pretended to come from Christ although in truth it is of the diuell After this is set downe that the Papacie should be as mightie vers 12.13.14 and performe as much in the seruice of the Dragon against God as euer the Empire of the heathen could do both by authoritie and force and especially by lying wonders Then is shewed that as the Papacie did in substance of matter set vp and restore againe the old Roman tyrannie to be worshipped and wondred at vers 14 so hath it framed an Hierarchie or Ecclesiasticall gouernment after the verie forme and president of the ancient Romane tyrannie which is indeed so like it that it is called the liuely image thereof vers 15 and he hath by his Clergie and their iurisdiction put such life and spirit into this image that it spake with authoritie and power in all countries and kingdomes vers 16.17 in so much that whosoeuer would not submit himselfe thereunto and both professe and practise poperie and yeeld himselfe wholy to the papacie he should die for it Last of all ver 18 is descried and discouered from the numeratiue letters of the name of the second beast both who hee was and from whence hee should spring Text. vers 1 And I saw a beast rise out of the sea hauing seuen heades and tenne hornes and vpon his hornes were tenne crownes and vpon his heads the name of blasphemie First we are to vnderstand that a beast in the Scripture doth signifie a kingdome or monarchie and that not in respect of the ciuil power therof which is of God as it is written There is no power but of God but in respect of the tyrannie crueltie ambition pride and other such like beastly qualities thereof which are of the diuell and therefore this beast is said to ascend out of the bottomlesse pit chap. 17.8 This word beast is thus taken in the seuenth of Daniel where the three great Monarchies of the Babylonians Medes and Persians and of the Grecians are compared for their pride rapine and cruelty to a Lyon a Beare and a Leopard The Angell in that chapter saith expresly that these beasts were kings that is kingly gouernments or Dominions By the beast in this place is meant the Romane Monarchie not in regard of the ciuill power thereof but especially in respect of the tyranny of it in oppressing the Church By the sea here is meant the troublesome state of the nations as it is taken chap. 4. vers 6. and chap. 21. vers 1. For from the boyling and broyling estate of the former kingdomes and heathen nations which were as a raging sea did the Roman Empire spring vp as all stories do witnesse And the Prophet Daniel doth flatly teach that through the diuision of the Greeke Empire which fell out in the posteritie of Alexander the Great especially betwixt his two sonnes Ptolemeus and Seleucus this Romane monarchie by degrees made a head till at last it came to this pitch which now we shall heare of By the seuen heads of this beast are meant the seuen seuerall gouernments of the Roman Empire First by Kings Secondly by Consuls Thirdly by Decemuiri Fourthly by Dictators Fiftly by Triumuiri chapter 17.9 Sixtly by Emperours And lastly by Popes as heereafter shal more
sword Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints Here is shewed that the things spoken of this great beast are very secret and mystical and can be vnderstood of none but those onely whose eares and eies God openeth to heare see and vnderstand that is the very elect of God as for al papists and worldlings their eares eies are sealed and shut vp they cannot vnderstand them but doe stil worship the beast ascribing vnto him diuine power and honor In the 10. verse the iudgement and vengeance of God is denounced against the Romane monarchie both former and latter which as it hath long oppressed the church with cruel bondage and drawne thousands into perpetual captiuity so it selfe also should be cast downe with al the adherents thereof both in this life and that which is to come For as the Romane Empire did tyrannise ouer the world and led millions into spirituall captiuity and bondage so here it is auouched that according to the iust lawe of quittance it selfe should be brought to the same lore And as this beast had murdered many by the sword so he him selfe must be murdered by the sword also As the Apostle saith God is iust and therefore will recompense tribulation to them that trouble his Church Now al this seemeth vnto me to be a cleere prophecy of the fal and final destruction of the Romane Empire which indeede considering the pitch that it was at may seeme a thing strange and incredible and therefore the Holy-ghost stirreth vs vp to attention in the ninth verse as to a thing of great woonderment and admiration for if the Romane monarchie fall the Papacy must of necessity fal with it For the Romane Empire is that beast chapter 17. verse 3. which beareth vp the whoore of Babylon as appeareth in the 17. Chapter of this prophecy where we shal God willing plainely and at large heare of the ioint destruction of them both together It is added Heere is the patience and faith of the Saints That is here is required great patience of al Gods children to waite and carry til the performance and accomplishment of those things and also faith and ful assurance to beleeue that they shal in Gods appointed time come to passe For few doo beleeue these things and therfore wait not with patience for the accomplishment thereof And I beheld another beast comming out of the earth ver 11 which had two hornes like the Lamb but he spake like the dragon Hauing described the first beast which is the Roman Empire now the Holy-ghost commeth to describe the second beast which is the Papacy or the kingdome of the great Antichrist for although hee bee described before in regard of his monarchy that is the ciuill iurisdiction which hee exercised as he was the seuenth head of the beast and head of the Empire yet here he is described after another sort that is according to his ecclesiastical authority and therfore he is called another beast or a beast differing from the former in that he exerciseth an other power besides the power of the heathen Emperours of Rome which is his spirituall iurisdiction in which respect he is called the false prophet This second beast riseth out of the earth as the former rose out of the sea then it appeareth that Antichrist is by his breed a sonne of the earth obscurely borne by little and little creeping vp out of his abiect estate as did the Turke It is here most truly said that the kingdome of Antichrist ariseth out of the earth is the very breed of the earth for assuredly it neuer came from heauen It was first hatched out of couetuousnesse ambition pride murders treasons poisonings sorceries enchantments and such like For al stories do shew that from these roots the Papacy grew to his exceeding height and altitude This second beast hath two hornes like the Lambe Whereby is meant his ciuil and ecclesiastical power or his kingdome and Priesthood which he falsly pretendeth to come from the Lamb and therefore he giueth in his armes two keies and hath two swords carried before him So Boniface the eight shewed himselfe one day in apparrel as a Pope and the next day in armour as the Emperour and the two hornes in the Popes miter are signes hereof But the Holy-ghost here telleth vs that these two hornes are not the hornes of the Lambe but only like the hornes of the Lamb for he receiued not his power from the Lamb Christ but from the diuel that is the dragon with ten hornes Then thus it is the Papacy is the seauenth head of the first beast that is the Empire yet a beast by it selfe with two hornes like the Lamb in respect of his ioint power and authority both ecclesiastical and ciuil in which respect he is called euen the eight and one of the seuen Chap. 17. ver 11. Although this second beast haue two hornes like the Lamb yet he spake like the dragon that is al his words and workes practises and proceedings lawes and decrees are for the dragon of whom he hath his power and throne and great authority So that whatsoeuer he pretendeth in religion and matters of Gods worship as though he would be like the Lamb yet assuredly hee is altogether for the dragon and the diuel he is assured vnto them as al experience doth manifestly witnesse And he did all that the first beast could doe before him he caused the earth them that dwel therin vers 12 to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed Here is shewed that this second beast was as mighty and stronge as the first beast and could doo as much as he euen in his presence Whereby is noted the great power and authority of the Papacy in performing as much in the seruice of the dragon against God and his church as euer the Empire of the heathen and those wicked Emperours could doo yea he did much more against Christ and his religion then euer the persecuting Emperours could do euen then when they were at their highest pitch And al this he did in his presence that is in the sight and open view of the whole Empire or whole world And he caused the earth and them that dwell therin that is al Papists and worldlings to worship the first beast that is to receiue the worship and religion of the old Roman tyranny which set vp and maintained Idolatry So then although the power in the Papacy came vnder the name of Christ yet in truth it was the same that the power of the persecuting Empire for the heathen emperours condemned the true worship of God and set vp false worship euen the worship of diuels which is Idolatry and so do the Popes also So then we see that this second beast is al for the first beast that is he leuieth al his power and authority to set vp the worship and religion of the old Romane tyrants and to force al men
coloured beast whereupon the woman sate chapter 17 9. The seuen heads sayth he are seuen Kings that is seauen orders or states of kingly gouerment for seuen Kings in this place are not put for seuen seueral men which were Kings as some do take it but for seuen seueral gouerments as it is taken in Daniel The foure great beastes sayth the Angel there are foure Kinges that is foure kingdomes gouerments or monarchies as al men know So here by seuen Kinges is meant the seuen seuerall regiments of Rome That is to say by Kings Consuls Decemuiri Dictators Triumuiri Emperours and Popes wherof the first fiue were then fallen when Iohn wrote one was chapter 17.10 that is the Empire and one was to come that is the Papacy My last argument is this Babylon is that City which is situate vpon seuen hilles but onely Rome of all Cities in the world is situated vppon seuen hilles therefore Rome is Babylon The proposition is auouched by the Angel which saith in the seuenteenth chapter that the seuen heads of the scarlet coloured beast are seuen mountaines whereon the woman sitteth that is seuen hilles whereon the City of Rome is scituated whose names are these Capitolinus Palatinus Auentinus Exquilinus Celius Viminalis and Quirinalis as al Poets and Historiographers doo testifie One sayth thus of Rome Septem quae vna sibi muro circundedit arces another thus Septem vrbs alta iugis toto quae praesidet orbe Another calleth Rome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the City with seuen heades that is seuen hilles It is cleere then by these reasons that Babylon in this place signifieth Rome As for the exposition of the Papists which affirme that Babylon here signifieth the vniuersall society of the wicked it is fond ridiculous for the Holy ghost sayth Babylon is that City which raigneth ouer the Kings of the earth But to say that the vniuersall society of the wicked raigneth ouer the Kinges of the earth is absurd and ridiculous Therefore to say that Babylon is the vniuersall society of the wicked is absurde and ridiculous The distinction of the Iesuits here is also as friuolous as their exposition for they say if Babylon be Rome then it must be vnderstood of Rome vnder the heathen Emperours but not vnder the Popes But the Angel sayth the woman that is the whoore of Babylon or Antichrist sitteth vpon seuen mountaines ergo shee sitteth at Rome and Rome is the seat of Antichrist and consequently Rome vnder the Popes is Babylon Moreouer we may reason thus against the Popish distinction That which was Babylon vnder the heathen Emperours is the same which is here prophecied to bee the chiefe City and seat of Antichrist But Rome was then Babylon ergo Rome is now Babylon for Rome is that City which the Angel sayth shoulde bee the seat of Antichrist And this book doth shew that the great Antichrist shoulde raigne in the same City where the heathen Emperours had raigned therfore it standeth firme that Rome vnder the Popes is Babylon This then beeing graunted that Babylon here is Rome it followeth that Rome shall fall for the Holy-Ghost sayth Babylon is fallen speaking in the present tense as the maner of y e scripture is in prophecying of things to come For whatsoeuer God hath determined to cōe to passe is as it were already don because of the certainty of it and for this cause also the word is doubled It is fallen It is fallen Wee see then most cleerly that almost 1500. yeers before Rome began to fal the certaine fall thereof was foretold This place of it selfe is cleere inough to prooue my second point which is that Rome shal fal But my purpose is to reduce and gather all the fiue Chapters following to certaine heades to prooue the maine points which I haue propounded first then I reason thus to proue the second point that Rome shall fall That City and kingdome which hath the seuen vialles of Gods wrath emptied and powred downe vppon it cannot stand but must needes fall But Rome is that City which hath the seuen vialles of Gods wrath powred downe vppon it Therefore Rome cannot stande long but must needes fall The proposition is manifest and not to bee denied The assumption is prooued throughout al the sixteene Chapter and especially in the tenth and the twelfth verses chapter 16. Ver. 10 Vers 12 where the vials of Gods wrath are expresslie saide to be powred downe vpon the throne of the beast and in the second verse of that Chapter it is auouched ver 2 that the second viall was powred down vpon the men which had the marke of the beast and vppon them which worshipped his image Howe then can the throne of the beast hould out or how can they which haue receiued the beastes marke stand vp long For there is a great Emphasis or vehemency in the manner of speeche For he dooth not simply say the wrath of God chapter 15. verse 7. but the fulnesse of Gods wrath he dooth not say should bee a little sprinkled but powred downe as it were by pailefulles vppon the kingdome of the beast How then can the kingdome of the beast stande which hath so many great ordinances and so many double cannons discharged and shot off against it Surely it must needes fal My second reason is this The beast that was and is not and yet is shall go into perdition chapter 17 But Rome is the beast that was and is not and yet is Therfore Rome shal goe into perdition The assumption is set downe Chapter 17. verse 8. For the Romane monarchie was great in the daies of Iulius Caesar Augustus Claudius Tiberius and therefore it is said that it was But in the raigne of Nero Otho Galba and Vitellius it was greatlie decayed and therfore it is said it is not meaning so great as it had beene and yet in some sort it was and therefore it is said and yet is Now this beast shall go into perdition Therefore the Romane monarchie shall bee destroyed and consequently the Papacie For the Romane Empire holdeth vp the Papacie as it is written that the woman or whoore of Babylon sitteth vppon the Scarlet coloured beast which had seuen heades and tenne hornes that is the Roman monarchie which beareth vp the whoore and beareth vp the Papacy but the Holy-ghost sayth this beast that is the Romane Empire shall go into perdition chapter 17. verse 8. Then it followeth that the papacy shal follow after for if the beast that she sitteth vpon which beareth her fal vnder her then shee must needes fall together with him But we see God be thanked that the Roman monarchie is in a manner quite fallen therefore the Papacy cannot stand long My third argument is this The beast that was and is not being euen the eight one of the seuenth shall go into destruction But Rome is the beast that was and is not being the eight and one
pleasure so much giue yee to her torment and sorrow And therfore I affirme that no man ought to be moued with any compassion or pittie for the ouerthrow of Rome But heerein that saying of the Prophet is true Blessed is hee that taketh and dasheth her children against the stones and againe bend thy bow shoot at her spare no arrowes For she hath sinned against the Lord. Moreouer wee are to obserue that forasmuch as the Lord willeth commandeth all men to reward Rome as shee hath rewarded vs to giue her double according to her works therefore wee ought euery one of vs as much as in him lieth and as his calling will beare to doe his vttermost to pull downe Rome the Magistrate by the sword the Minister by the word and the people by their prayers For euen Christian kings and princes and all the nobles of the earth must not bee negligent to fight against Rome For heerein that saying is true Cursed is hee that doth the worke of the Lord negligently and cursed is hee that keepeth backe his sword from bloud For this cause I doe vpon my knees night and day most humbly and instantly intreate the God of heauen that as hee hath put into the heart of our most gratious and excellent Queene to hate the whore of Babylon and to be his greatest instrument in the whole world for the weakening and ouerturning of Rome and defence of his most glorious gospell which is her crowne and glory in all the Chuches and her great renowne in all Christian kingdomes so shee may constantly continue and neuer cease drawing out the sword of Iustice till she haue vtterly rooted out of her dominions all the cursed crew of popish Iebusits and all such as haue receiued the beasts marke and especially the Iesuits and seminary priests which are the diuels brokers the popes agents and the king of Spaines factors in all kingdomes Here also I doe most humbly euen vpon my knees with dropping eies yea if it were possible with teares of bloud beseech and intreate the learned and reuerend fathers of our Church that they would bend all their power and authoritie with might and maine against the Romish strumpet and the rather because in these dayes shee seemeth to make a head againe hauing so many and great fauourers that shee and her complices dare perke with their nebbs and very boldly and confidently prate of a tolleration Heere also I doe most humbly and earnestly intreate all my learned and godly brethren the ministers and preachers of this Church of England that in all their publike teachings and priuate proceedings they would make strong opposition against Rome and Romish religion And I beseech the God of Gods that wee may all ioyne together with vnited forces to march on valiantly against the armies of Antichrist and to spread the euerlasting Gospell far and neere to the vtter ouerturning and beating downe of this westerne Babylon and that howsoeuer wee may amongst our selues differ in iudgement in some things yet that there may bee no breach of loue or alienation of affections amongst vs but that wee may all goe together hand in hand and arme in arme to preach Gods euerlasting truth and to set our selues against the common aduersaries For if wee will not set our selues against them yet they will be sure to set themselues against vs. And thus much concerning the third maine point which is the finall fall of Rome euen in this world Now it followeth to speake of the fourth maine point which is by whom and when Rome shall bee ouerthrowen But for the better vnderstanding of this point concerning the persons that shall ouerthrow Rome wee are to obserue that S. Iohn describeth the whore of Babylon sitting vpon a scarlet coloured beast hauing seauen heads and tenne hornes whereby is meant the Romane monarchie as hath beene shewed before After this the Angell expoundeth vnto Iohn what the heads and hornes of the beast meane and saith that the ten hornes are ten kings or ten kingdomes ver 12 which yet haue not receiued a kingdome but shall receiue power as kings at one houre with the beast The sense is that these tenne kingdomes had not receiued such power and authoritie vnder the Emperours as they should vnder the Popes for there was great difference in these kingdomes vnder the Popes from that which they had beene vnder the Emperours For they receiued far greater power and they carried an other minde toward the papacy then the nations did before toward the empire for they did submit themselues to the papacy for conscience and loue euen as to the holy Church which they neuer did to the Empire And this is the reason why the holy ghost saith they had not receiued a kingdome but should receiue power as kings at one houre with the beast Which is not to be vnderstood simply but after a sort for they had receiued kingdomes vnder the Emperors but not in such sort as afterward they did vnder the Popes For the Romane monarchie vnder the dominion of the Popes was in his greatest height and altitude and the kings of Europe grew vp together with the papacie in power might and dominion And S. Iohn addeth that these ten kings or kingdomes were all of one minde and did giue their power and authoritie vnto the beast that is they did with might and maine labour to vphold the Babylonicall strumpet But the Angell telleth Iohn flatly that the ten hornes that is the ten kingdomes of the empire which before had giuen their names their power and authoritie to the beast to vphold her and defend her should now in these last daies all change their mindes and turne against her For saith the Angell to Iohn chapter 17.36 The ten hornes which thou sawest vpon the beast are they that shall hate the whore and make her desolate and naked and shall eate her flesh and burne her with fire Heere then it doth plainely appeare who they bee that shall ouerthrow Rome and by whom it shall bee destroyed To wit by the tenne kings of Europe or kingdomes of Europe which some very learned doe reckon vp to bee these England Scotland Germany France Spaine Denmarke Sweueland Poland Russia and Hungary S. Iohn words are plaine that these kingdomes which tooke part with the beast shall take against her pull her downe But we know that all the kingdomes of Europe did take part vvith her therefore it followeth that all the kingdomes of Europe shall take against her And therefore it is very probable that in time France Spaine and Italy shall turne against the beast Wee know that the rest of the kingdomes are already turned against the beast and the beast hath lost seuen of his hornes the eight which is France beginneth to be somewhat loose and to shake a little which if it fall off the rest will follow after a pace The reson why the kingdomes which were subiect
away as a scrole when it is rolled and euery mountaine and I le were moued out of their place Vpon the opening of this sixt seale very dolefull and fearefull things which doo followe As earthquakes the darkening of the Sunne the obscuritie of the Moone the falling of the Starres the rolling together of the heauens the remouing of mountaines Iles out of their places the howlings and horrors of kings and captaines other great potentates of the earth which all are things very terrible and fearefull to beholde and all these do represent and figure out vnto vs the most fearefull tokens of Gods high displeasure and most heauie indignation against the wicked world Very grieuous things fell out vpō the opening of the 2.3 4. seales but they are farre more grieuous which followe vpon the opening of this sixt seale for this sixt seale containeth an aggrauation and encrease of all the former iudgements For now after the crie of the Martyrs for vengeance GOD the auenger of the bloude of the righteous doeth shewe himself from heauen and declare his wrath in more fearefull manner then before euen to the great astonishment of all the creatures in heauen and earth So horrible a thing is the sheading of the bloud of the Christians For now we see plainely that God heareth the cries of his Martyrs and commeth as a Giant or as an armed man to take vengeance of all their enemies For Pretious in the sight of the Lorde is the death of his Saints and hee is much mooued with the crie of their bloud as here wee see And therefore now threatneth to holde a generall Assises wherein hee will make inquisition after bloud and arraigne and condemne all such as are founde guiltie thereof according as the persecuting Emperours and many others did finde and feele by wofull experience For if God be angry but a little who may endure it Now although the Stories do report that in those dayes which was aboue 300. yeares after Christ there were many great and fearefull Earthquakes in diuers nations and cities of the world yet it is apparant that the Earth-quake here spoken of cannot bee taken literally nor any of the rest here mentioned For there was neuer any time neither is it mentioned in any Chronicle that euer the Sunne was as blacke as sacke-cloth of haire or the Moone turned into bloud or the Starres fell from heauen or the Heauens rolled together like a scrole or that Mountaines and Ilandes were mooued out of their places Therefore of necessitie all this must bee vnderstood metaphorically that is that God did in so straunge and fearefull a manner manifest his wrath from heauen by tumults commotions seditions alteratiōs of kingdomes as if these things of the Sun Moone and Starres had bene visibly represented to the eye An earth-quake in this booke and other bookes also of the scriptures doth by a borrowed speech signifie commotions of common-wealth troubles tumults vprores and great alterations of states kingdoms The darkning of the Sun Moone and Starres rolling together of the Heauens do by a metaphor in the scriptures signifie the fearefull wrath and angrie face of God which they being not able to endure are said here to blush at to couer themselues to hide themselues to be ashamed of thēselues to remoue out of their places no more to do their offices c. For as birds doo hide themselues and thrust their heads into bushes when the Eagle commeth abroade And as all the beastes of the forrest doo tremble and couch in their dennes when the Lyon roareth And as that subiect doth hide himselfe and dare not shewe his head with whom the King is displeased So here it is saide that the whole earth doth tremble and all the celestiall creatures are amazed and confounded with beholding the angry face of God against the worlde in so much that they do as it were drawe a canopie ouer them hide themselues vnder a cloude and surcease to do their offices The darkning of the Sunne and Moone is taken in this sense in the second of Ioel and also in the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles For there God promising and foretelling that in the last dayes he would abundantly powre forth of his spirit vpon all flesh which is to be vnderstood of the plentifull preaching of the Gospell in the Apostles time and the aboundance of grace that was giuen with the same addeth that for the contempt of so great grace and mercie he would shewe wonders in heauen aboue and tokens in the earth beneath Bloud and fire and the vapour of smoake the Sunne shall bee turned into darkenesse and the Moone into bloud before that great and notable day of the Lord come The meaning of the Prophet is as Peter also dooth expound it that God from heauen will shewe such apparant signes of his wrath against the worlde that men should bee no lesse amazed then if the whole order of nature were inuerted And this was performed when as the Iewes for the contempt of Christe and his Gospell were most miserably destroied by the Romanes Euen so here vnder the opening of the sixt seale God dooth threaten that for the murdering of his sonne Christ and his Apostles and innumerable Christians hee would bring straunge iudgements and extraordinarie calamities vpon the worlde according as all stories do shewe that those times were full of bloud-sheads commotions famines pestilence and miseries of all sortes I am not ignorant that the darkening of the Sunne and Moone and the falling of the Starres from heauen are sometimes in this booke put for the obscuritie and corruption of pure doctrine and the falling away of the Pastors of the Church from their sinceritie and zeale But in this place the circumstances will not beare that sense First because heere the darkening of the Sunne and Moone c. is ioyned with an Earth-quake the rolling together of the Heauens and the mouing of Mountaines and Ilands out of their places which argueth a most horrible confusion and concussion of all things Secondly because afterward in the eight chapter hee doth of purpose speake of the corrupting of pure doctrine the falling away of the Ministers referring it to that chapter as his proper place Thirdly because the kings and captaines of the earth here immediatly mentioned would neuer haue bene cast into any such perplexities and horrours vpon any corruption of doctrine and the ministrie as here we reade of For commōly men are not any whit touched or moued with that or such like things Last of all because the scope and drift of the holy Ghost vnder the opening of this sixt seale is to describe corporall not spirituall visible not inuisible iudgements For he doth orderly and of purpose handle them in the next chapter Now whereas it is said in the last three verses that the Kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men vers 15 and the chiefe Captaines and
Papacie was aloft and the Roman Empire ioyned with it so that the eyes of the world were dazeled with the pompe and magnificence thereof and they said What is like vnto it or who is comparable to the Pope the seuenth head thereof For then the blinde worlde thought that the power of the Popes was not onely aboue all things in this world but also did reach euen vnto heauen and hell For they imagined that the Pope might carie to heauen whom hee would and whom he would he might cast downe to hell and therefore who could warre with the beast And thus wee see the reason of their wonderment and of their speech All stories and experience it selfe doe shew that there was neuer anie power in the world so wondred at as the vsurped power and maiestie of the Pope after he came to bee the head of the Roman monarchie For then the world supposed that hee had power euen as God and that he might depose and set vp kings and Emperours at his pleasure Then it is cleere that vnder the dominion of the Popes Rome hath beene in her highest exaltation and glorie For the Papacie was the seuenth head of the beast whereby the whoore of Babylon was supported in her most magnificall pompe and pride vers 5 And there was giuen vnto him a mouth that spake great things and blasphemies and power was giuen vnto him to do 42. moneths ver 6 And he opened his mouth vnto blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them that dwel in heauen Here are set down the proud and blasphemous speeches both of the old and new Romane Empire and of the old and new Romane Emperours For this beast as I said before comprehendeth al the Roman Empire both vnder the Heathen Emperours and the Popes Touching the great things and blasphemies which the old persecuting Emperours haue belched out against the God of heauē it wold require a volume to set them downe in particulars I wil therfore only mention two or three for exampels sake As first that of Caius Caligula which would haue his image set vp in temples to be worshipped as God and that the people should sweare by his name Nero also did openly blaspheme the name of Christ and required diuine honour to be giuen vnto him Domitian commanded that he should be called God and Lord. Many others required the like things and so al the world woondred and worshipped this blasphemous beast Now as the sixt head which was the old empire of Rome was ful of the names of blasphemy so the seuenth head which is the new Empire vnder the dominion of the Popes which he here chiefely speaketh of did most of al blaspheme For the Pope did challenge vnto himselfe al power both in heauen and earth he would be worshipped as God he vsurped authority ouer the worde of God he did take vpon him to forgiue sinnes He did most blasphemously incroach vpon all the offices of Christ as king priest prophet He hath commāded the Angels He hath erected blasphemous images and caused pictures to be made of the Godhead He boasteth and craketh great things of his Papal power of Peters keies of Peters chaire of Peters succession of his miracles of his two swords and of his manifold praerogatiues roial One of the Popes poisoned his God another cast his God into the fire another would eate his peacocke in despite of God Some of thē counted the religiō of Christ a tale or a fable some drank to the diuel some said they could doe as much as God It were infinit to set downe al their blasphemies for it is saide of the whoore of Babylon that she was full of the names of blasphemy Let this suffice for the vnderstanding of this text that as the olde heathenish Emperours did blaspheme so the Popes being heades of the Empire did most of al blaspheme And as it is here said they did not only blaspheme the name of God but also did open their black and blasphemous mouthes against his tabernacle that is his church calling it a cōpany of heretickes schismatickes apostataes and such like and also against them that dwell in heauen that is the spirits of iust and perfect men which are in heauē as Luther Caluin Melancthon and such like Moreouer it is to be noted that this mouth was giuen vnto this monstrous beast thus to blaspheme and speake great things But this is to be vnderstood that it was giuen in the wrath and iust iudgement of God vpō the world to plague them withal because they regarded not the knowledg of the truth But it is added that this power of the beast thus to worke his actions was limited vnto 42. monethes so that although he rule and rage for a time yet shal he not long continue ver 7 And it was giuen vnto him to make war with the Saints and to ouer come them and power was giuen vnto him ouer euery kindred and tongue and nation ver 8 Therefore all that dwell vpon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the booke of life of the Lambe which was slaine from the beginning of the world These two verses do set forth the great power which was giuen vnto this beast both in fighting against Gods people and also ouercomming of them and murdering of them by heapes As we reade of thousands murdered in the first ten great persecutions and ten thousands by the Popes since they came to exercise the ciuill authority and iurisdiction of the Romane Empire and that in al countries and kingdomes of Europe as it is here said that power was giuē vnto him ouer euery kindred and tongue and nation And it is added that all that dwell vpon the earth that is al the subiects of the Roman monarchy shal worship the beast and make a God of him as we read they haue don And the chiefe motiue therof was his blasphemous mouth boasting threatning great things if any did withstand him and also his mighty power and authority whereby he bare downe al before him For if any did but mute against him he was sure to smart for it And thus through his tyrannicall power he subdued al nations vnder him and made them stoupe and fal downe and worship him But it followeth that for al this none of Gods elect did worship him or submit themselues to his religion and authority but only those that dwell vpon the earth that is earthly men as papists atheists and reprobates and al such whose names are not written in the booke of life Christ is called the Lambe slaine from the beginning of the world because the sauing power of his death was from the beginning to all beleeuers although hee was not actually exhibited vntil the fulnesse of time Yf any man haue an eare let him heare Yf any lead into captiuity he shall goe into captiuity ver 9 ver 10 yf any kill with a sword he must be killed by a
should fulfill them might be blinded whilest the eyes of Gods elect are opened to see into the truth of all these matters Well to come to the point Saint Iohn doth onely heere set downe the numeratiue letters of the beasts name Hee wrote in Greeke and he onely setteth downe three Greeke letters or characters which in Greeke numeration make sixe hundred sixtie sixe Now further wee are to note that the numeratiue letters of the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doe make iust this number And yet further we are to obserue as a verie speciall thing that Irenaeus an ancient Father of the Church who liued verie neere vnto the Apostles times mentioneth this worde Lateinos as the name of the beast And moreouer affirmeth that it was a common receiued opinion in his time and before that the Beast should be so called Now then let vs consider how this fitteth First we know that the numeratiue letters of Lateinos doe iustly fit Saint Iohns Greeke numeratiue letters Secondly we know that Antichrist is the head of the Latine Church or Latine Empire and therefore this verie Lateinos For here we doe not enquire after the name of anie particular man but about the name of a kingdome for the beast is a kingdome and a succession of men Now Italy in old time was called Latinum the Italians Latini which noteth of what countrey the beast should come Moreouer the beasts name or name of the Romane Empire is Lateinos because the Empire both vnder the heathen tyrants and the Popes especially had all their religion seruice prayers lawes decrees writings and translations in Latine all was in Latine Latine The Pope preferred his Latine translation of the Bible before the Hebrue and Greeke originals Thus then it is Saint Iohn telleth vs flatly that the number of the beast is sixe hundred sixtie sixe Irenaeus saith that Lateinos is his name which containeth iust that number Therefore heere wee haue his name heere hee is found For if his name bee Lateinos wee neede search no further wee know who it is we know who is meant for is not the Pope Lateinos are not the succession of them Latini are they not the heads of the Latine Church and Latine Empire Haue they not all their worship and seruice in Latine Are they not Latines for what is the name of the Romane Empire but Lateinos And what is the name of the Popish Hierarchie but Lateinos True it is indeed which the papists say that manie names may bee inuented whose letters make this number but the Spirit of God speaketh not of fained names for thereof can come nothing but vncertaintie but he willeth vs to count the number of his name which then the beast had that is Lateinos I doe thus then conclude The beast is a kingdome and the Papacie is the kingdome of the Latines Therefore the Papacie is the beast The papacie is Lateinos and containeth the number of the beast For what other monarchie can bee shewed since this Reuelation was giuen whose numeratiue letters containe this foresaid number Assuredly none And therefore out of all doubt Saint Iohn pointeth at the Roman Empire and monarchie of the Popes For Lateinos doth both containe the number of the beast according to Saint Iohns computation and also his name which is the Latine Empire or Romane Empire And thus haue wee heard the description of these two huge and monstrous beasts the sea beast and the land beast which both from the Apostles times hitherto haue indeede played the beasts against Christ and his Church and still doe play the beasts and will neuer cease playing the beasts till their hornes and hoofes heads and bodies be cleane cut off which will be shortly as we shall heare anon CHAP. XIIII WE haue heard in the former chapter the description of the two great and dreadfull beasts We haue also heard how mightily they haue preuailed now manie yeeres raigned as monarches of the earth Now in this chapter wee are to heare of the fall and ruine of them both So that the maine drift and scope of this chapter and all the chapters following vntill the twentith chapter is to shew that both the Roman Empire and the Papacie shall ebbe as fast as euer they did flow shall wane as fast as euer they did waxe shall decrease as fast as euer they did increase and fall downe as fast as euer they did rise vp euen vntill they come to vtter ruine and desolation This Chapter containeth seuen principal things First vers 1 it sheweth that God had his Church vpon the earth euen then when it seemed to bee vtterly extinct by the preuailing of the two outragious beasts Secondly vers 2.3.4.5 it sheweth that the poore persecuted Church did sincerely zealously worship God euen in the fire and flames of afflictions Thirdly ver 6.7 it sheweth that the Gospell shall be preached with great successe in these last daies throughout manie kingdoms Fourthly ver 8 it sheweth that Rome shall fall downe at the preaching of the Gospell ver 9.10.11 Fiftly it sheweth that all Papists shal be condemned and cast into hell fire for euer ver 12.13 Sixtly it sheweth that it shall go well with Gods elect which hauing refused the worship of the beast do liue and die in the Lord. ver 14.15.16.17.18.19.20 Lastly it describeth the day of iudgement wherein all both good and bad shall haue according to their deserts Text. ver 1 Then I looked and behold a Lambe stood on mount Sion and with him an hundred fourtie and foure thousand hauing the Fathers name written in their foreheads Nowe at last the holy Ghost bringeth in Iesus Christ vpon the Theater of the world as it were to play his part in this tragedie and to helpe the poore weake woman which we heard of before against the Dragon and the two monstrous beasts which would haue torne her in peeces and vtterly deuoured her if this Lambe Iesus Christ had not stept in and rescued her Well now commeth in our Lord Iesus and beginneth to stirre in these matters and to take vpon him the protection and defence of the poore helplesse woman against both the dragon the dragons two great instruments But may some man say What is a poore Lambe to encounter with a dragon with a Lyon with a Leopard and a Beare I answer that although Christ be a lamb to his church euē the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world and the Lamb that was a slaine sacrifice from the beginning for the redemption of his elect Yet to all his enemies he is a most strong and terrible Lyon euen the Lyon of the Tribe of Iuda as he is called before chapter 5.5 Now this most terrible Lyon euen the Lord of hosts the Lord mightie in battell commeth forth to protect and defend his Church against all her enemies who is of such infinite might and puissance that neither the old Dragon nor his young imps nor
bee the flesh of kings and Captaines c. Now out of all this may be strongly concluded that heereafter in all time to come when the armies of the Pope which is the beast the armies of the king of Spaine who hath giuen his power and authoritie vnto the beast is his great vpholder when the Armies of the Cardinall his great confederate whē the armies of the Leaguers his great adherents yea whē al these all other Popish armies shall ioyne band thēselues together against the christian kings and defenders of the Gospell they shall haue a notable ouerthrow insomuch that their dead carkesses shall euen couer the earth and the foules of the aire shall come to their great supper which the Lord of hosts will make readie for them For assuredly and out of al doubt they that liue shall see the fulfilling of all this and shall see the popish armies go downe by heapes in all countries and kinstdomes and be made meat for the foules of the aire For the holy Ghost saith chapter 16. v. 16. They shall come to Armageddon that is the place where their Armies shall be destroyed And againe If anie leade into captiuitie chapter 13. v. 10. he shall goe into captiuitie If anie kill with a sword he must be killed with a sword For as the Popish forces haue in former time taken captiue the people of God and cruelly murdered them so nowe the time draweth on apace wherein they themselues shall be taken and put to the sword And therefore now at last I conclude that Rome shal fall finally and come to vtter destruction in this life For as Rome did rise vp by degrees in this life so Rome shall fall by degrees in this life As Rome grew vp to her full height and highest pitch in this life so it shall come to her lowest ebbe and greatest declination in this life I meane before the comming of Christ vnto iudgement For the falling downe of haile like talents vppon the kingdome of the beast shall bee in this life The extraordinarie earthquake vpon the dominions of Antichrist shall be in this life The comming of the Popish Armies to Armageddon shall bee in this life The mourning of the kings merchants and marriners for the ouerthrowe of Babylon shall bee in this life The great battaile betwixt the beast and him that sitteth vpon the white horse shall be in this life before the day of iudgement The pouring foorth of al the seuen vials of Gods wrath vpon the kingdome of the beast shall bee euen in this life For it were an absurde thing to say anie of these things shal bee after this life or to say that these things shal not bee til the verie comming of Christ for they are all things to be effected heere in this earth and the holy Ghost doth describe them as things to be done vpon the face of the earth for otherwise wee could haue small comfort in anie of these things if they should not bee done heere in earth or if they should all bee deferred till the verie comming of Christ and in the meane time Antichrist shal stil preuaile But it wil be obiected that Saint Paul saith The Lord shall consume Antichrist with the spirit of his mouth and abolish him with the brightnesse of his comming Therefore before his comming he shall not be vtterly abolished True it is indeede hee shall not vtterly be cut off in all his members til the verie comming of Christ For there will bee some Papists remaining in all countries euen vnto the end there be some nay manie that will carie the beasts marke euen til the last day But the holy Ghost in this Prophesie speaketh of the reuolting and falling away of kingdoms and countries from the sea of Rome whereby it shal come to passe that it shal bee exceedingly weakened and brought so lowe that the kings of the earth shall easily take it or as the holy Ghost speaketh shal easily passe ouer their Euphrates chapter 16. v. 12. being dried vp and enter their Babylon But then wil some man say Shal there be no Pope at all a little before the comming of Christ I answer and not I but the holy Ghost for mee Hee shall bee a poore Pope chapter 17. v. 16. a naked Pope a desolate pope a Pope whose flesh shal be torne whose flesh shal wither as wee shall heare anon He shal be such a Pope as Ishbosheth was a king when Abner and all Israel fel away from him He shal bee such a Pope as the king of Portugall is a king But it will be obiected How knowe you this are you a Prophet can you foretel of things to come I answer Saint Iohn was a Prophet and indued with a prophetical Spirit in this matter of his visions and reuelations and I speake no more then Saint Iohn hath set downe And therefore I hope I speake within compasse for I do but relate Saint Iohns words and explaine them in such measure as I am able This Prophesie doth plainely declare that Babylon shall fall Rome shall come downe the Pope shall neuer be esteemed againe And I doe beleeue it to bee so I beleeue God I beleeue his word I beleeue all that is spoken in the Scriptures and I doe endeuour to perswade others also For sith the holy Ghost hath so plainely and so fully foretold it why shoulde we not beleeue it Why are we so slowe to beleeue all that is written in the Scriptures Hath God spoken it and shal it not come to passe Shall any iote of his word faile Shall wee thinke hee iesteth with vs when hee doth so often and so seriously tell vs of the downefall of Rome Surelie surelie the cause why men are not fully perswaded of the finall fall of Rome is because they doe not diligentlie peruse this booke of the Apocalypse But let men be studious and diligent in this booke and they shall bee out of al doubt that Rome is the great whoore of Babylon that the Pope is Antichrist and the Papacy the beast But nowe mee thinketh I heare some man say how is it like that Popery shal fal downe more and more heere amongst vs sith it hath so many friends backers and vpholders and seemeth to gather strength and make an heade againe I answere that al is but a lightening before death I answere that al is but the stopping of a water-brooke or making a damme ouerthwart it which wil cause it to swel more and breake ouer with greater violence I answere that all is no more then is foretolde that 2the Iesuits shal come forth like frogges out of their puddles and marish groundes and keepe a croaking for a time til they haue croaked their owne destruction and many others For they shal neuer set vp Popery here in England to stand and continue doe what they can I must needes confesse that our sinnes beeing so horrible and outragious as they are and being
of the seuenth chapter 17. verse 11 therefore Rome shall go into destruction The assumption is set downe Chapter 17. verse 11. For the Papacy or dominion of the Popes is the seuenth head of the beast in respect of their ciuil power and yet a beast by themselues that is an eight in respect of their ecclesiasticall power Nowe the Angel sayth flatly they shall both together go into destruction that is both the Empire and the Papacy For as the dominion of the Popes goeth downe so also their worship and religion goeth downe with it and for this cause it is expresly set downe in the nineteenth Chapter chapter 19. verse 20 that the beast and the false Prophet that is the Romane Empire and the Papacy were both destroied together Sith then the Holy-Ghost hath spoken it twise for failing that Rome shall goe into perdition and shall goe into destruction I take it to be a very sound consequence that Rome shall fall and shall be destroyed But how shall it fall may some man say or wherein shall it fall I answer that it shall fall in the credite and estimation of her doctrine It shall fall in wealth and riches It shall fall in power and authoritie And in all these it shall fall by degrees as it did rise vp by degrees It shall not fall at once as it did not rise vp at once This is set downe in the sixteenth chapter chapter 16. v. 12 where the fall of Rome is compared to the drying vppe of the riuer Euphrates which was dried vp by degrees Thus it is Euphrates was a great Riuer which did runne very neere vnto the olde Babylon in Chaldaea and it was the wall and fortification of the Citie in so much that Cyrus and Darius the kings of the Medes and Persians laying siege against it could not take it till by policie they digged great trenches and deriued the waters another way and so dried them vppe that the Holie Ghost saith The vvay vvas prepared for them to passe ouer Now as this Euphrates was the strength and fortification of old Babylon so the honour wealth riches power and authoritie of Rome is the verie fortification of it chapter 16.12 But the punishing Angell is commaunded to poure downe the Viall of wrath vppon this Euphrates that is vppon all that vpholdeth Rome or fortifieth Rome and foorthwith it dried vppe that is all the credite power riches and authoritie of ROME did diminish daylie vppon it doeth diminish and shall diminish by degrees vnto the end of the world For the vtter destruction of Rome is not yet come but it is greatly decayed from that it was fourescore yeares ago And if it continue decaying fourescore yeeres mo as assuredly it shall then will it bee brought to a lowe ebbe Since Luthers time wee knowe how the Popes Euphrates hath dried vp but there is yet much water left and it is yet too deepe for the kings of the earth to passe ouer and take it But it shall ebbe so lowe that the kings of Europe shall easily passe ouer and take it as wee shall heare anon But in the meane time we see that it falleth and that it is in falling and the worke of God goeth forward euerie day For now in this age God bee thanked manie kings and princes with great multitudes of their subiects haue their eyes opened to behold that the Romish religion is abominable and that the Papacie is the verie kingdome of the great Antichrist And whereas before they worshipped the beast now they holde vp their hands onely to the God of heauen and glorifie him in his sonne Iesus Christ Now wee see that manie lawes are made in sundrie kingdoms and prouinces to abolish that vsurped power of the Bishop of Rome Manie acts edicts and iniunctions are set forth in sundrie nations and kingdomes of Europe to destroy roote out and deface all monuments of Idolatrie and superstition which Antichrist had erected in all kingdoms Now the Popes which were honoured as Gods in the earth are accounted and adiudged as the most vile and abominable creatures that liue vpon the earth Doth not all this experimentally shew that Babylon is fallen and that Babylon doth fall by degrees It is very palpable we need no further proofe for this second point But heere wee are further to obserue that the Iesuits perceiuing the great decay of Rome and the continuall drying of their Euphrates doe bestirre them to stoppe the leake that it might not drie vp altogether Euen as when men let out the waters of great fish-ponds so as the water waxeth lowe wee see the fishes skip and plunge and take on wonderfully So the Iesuits perceiuing the waters of their Romish Euphrates to emptie and drie vp daily doe mightily take on digging and searching euerie day to open the springs and to find out some fresh fountaines to maintaine their great fishpond and to keepe the waters deepe enough that there may be no safe passage ouer for the kings of the earth to come and take their great Babylon All this doth appeare out of the sixteenth Chapter of this Prophesie where Saint Iohn in vision seeth three vncleane spirits like Frogges chapter 16. v. 13. comming out of the mouth of the Dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false Prophet By which frogges the holy Ghost meaneth the Iesuits and Seminarie Priests which are compared to frogges for three reasons First that as frogges delight in filthie lakes and puddles so the Iesuits delight in the filthie puddles of idolatrie and superstition Secondly as frogges make a great croaking in their marish grounds so the Iesuits make a great croaking in kings courts in Noblemens houses and Gentlemens houses and almost euery where where they can get any entertainment croaking and craking of the Popes supremacie the popes holinesse the Popes blessing the popes keyes the popes power Peters chaire Peters successour Christs Vicar and many good morowes I knowe not what Thirdly as frogs are all of one nature and qualitie delighting in croaking and liuing in puddle so the Iesuits are al of one mind and disposition in euil croaking euerie where to maintaine their Euphrates and liuing dayly in whoredome Sodomitrie and al kind of outragious beastlinesse But that I may more fully perswade the cōscience of the reader that by these frogs are meant the Iesuits seminarie priests let vs seriously weigh that which goeth before and that which followeth after in this text and wee shal discerne it to be verie cleere and apparant First it is said vers 10. that when the fift Angell poured out his viall of Gods wrath vppon the throne of the beast chapter 16. v. 10. by and by his kingdome waxed darke that is the maiestie power pompe credite and estimation of Antichrist beganne to bee diminished obscured and to suffer a great Eclipse which thing was fulfilled shortly after Luthers preaching And presently it followeth