Vers 16. his mouth That is the multitude of Christians in Councels prevayling in the Orthodox faith dranke up the Diabolicall inundation even as the Earth is wont to doe the water when it is exceeding dry For if the water but venemous and contagious such as proceedeth out of the mouth of the Serpent doth represent heresie the reason of the analogie did altogether require that that which should drinke it up and abolish it should be figured by the Earth as which by its drinesse is wont to drinke up the inundations of waters Which truly in this matter falleth out so much the more apt to signifie the thing in hand because even other where in an hystoricall and simple speech the earth in many places is wont to be put for the inhabitants of the Earth See Gen. 41. 57. 1 Sam. 14. 25. Deut. 9. 28. and in many places beside Concerning the tenne horned Beast blaspheming God and the two horned Beast or false Prophet his Authour and chiefe priest A New Tragedie of evils did set upon the woman being entered At Chap. 13. the bounds of the Wildernesse for forthwith she falleth upon a double Beast in appearance indeed little to be feared as resembling the Panther or Lambe but no whit the Dragon or Serpent the likenesse of whom alone she abhorred Yet in truth * Fiduciariam the onely one in trust for that Dragon cast downâ— and one that in his stead should much vexe her off-spring which she should bring forth in the Wildernesse And the Dragon was wroth with the woman for from thence Vers 17. I fetch the story of this Chapter and went to make warre with the remnant of her seed to wit with them which she was to bring forth in the Wildernesse which keepe the Commandements of God and have the testimonie of Iesus Christ and he stood upon the sand of the Sea That is when the Dragon had perceived he who even now was deprived of the Romane Empire that he nothing prevailed by the flood of Arianisme to overwhelme the woman flying into the Wildernesse but that neverthelesse she was come safe thither and furthermore that the Romane Empire would no more suffer that he in his proper name should manage the affaires there as in times past he setteth upon her by another way to wit by substituting covertly for himselfe * Regnum â—icarium a deputed Kingdome and to that end he stood upon the sand of the Sea that he might raise to himselfe a new deputed forme of the Romane Kingdome then to have its beginning Now the history of a two-fold Beast to manage the Romane State followeth the one Tenne horned the other Two horned tyed in a neere alliance betweene themselves both of them reigning together and in the same Dominion The first of which being the Tenne horned thou mayest call Secular the other being Two horned Ecclesiasticall Of the Tenne horned Beast The Tenne horned or secular Beast is that Whole state of tenne Kingdomes or thereabouts into which the Empire of Câ—sars Chap. 13. was parted by the warres of the Barbarians after the Dragon was thrust out growing together againe into one Romane Common-wealth the wickednesse of the Dragon being renewed I saw saith he a Beast rise up out of the Sea having seven heads Vers 1. and tenne hornes and upon his hornes tenne crownes and upon his heads the name of blaspemy The same Beast is here described which afterward Chap. 17. beareth the Whore even the seven headed Romane Beast under the course of the last head I saw saith Iohn the type of that last State of the Romane kingdom wherein governing under the seventh head it should be devided into ten kingdoms and yet even as he had done under his former heads he should blaspheme the only true God by the worship of Idols For the number of Seven heads is the ensigne of the Romane kingdom as is the bearing of Ten hornes The name of Blasphemy is a note of Idolatry The crownes sâ—t upon the hornes which are only of the last head doe shew that that kingdom should be exhibited under the couâ—se of the last head which will be further confirmed by the rest of the description of the Beast And â—he Beast which I saw was like unto a Leopard and his feet Vers 2. were as the feet of a Beare and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion That is this kingdom in respect partly of regiment and state partly of its nature was so ordained that it did resemble in a certaine confused temperament those three Monarchies long agoâ— set forth to Daniel by the same Beasts For truly in the residue of the shape of his body it should resemble the Grâ—cian in the feet by his going the Pâ—rsian in his mouth by making Edicts the Babylonian Kindgdome For the Leopard is the type of the Kingdome of the Grâ—cians the Beare of the Persians the Lion of the Babylonians First therefore that Kingdome in the body of it was plainly like the Graecian that is a Kingdome divided into more Kingdomes like unto that Dan. 7. 6. and 8. 8. 22. For the Graecian was divided into four parts but this last Roman was to be parted into â—enne Kingdomes the type thereof is the bearing of tenne hornes upon the head of the last Beast which by the interpretation of the Angel afterward Chap. 17. are tenne Kings or Kingdomes Vers 12. domes into which the Romane Empire of the sixth head being Chap. 12. rent should grow together againe into a new Kingdome under the seventh for to beare the Whore Now that the tenne hornes are onely of the last head that is the seventh and not promiscuously of them all as it is commonly accounted I thus demonstrate the head flourishing the hornes flourish which declining the hornes also growing thereupon must needs decline First therefore the hornes could not be on the five first heads because those five heads as the Angel saith Chap. 17. were passed then Vers 10. in the age of Iohn and together with the courses of the heads the courses of the hornes also growing upon the same were passed neither in the sixth because that reigning in the age of Iohn as also the Angel cleerly affirmeth notwithstanding the time of the hornes was not as yet come For saith he the tenne hornes are tenne Kings which have received no Kingdome as yet They remaine therefore for the last head Away with you paynters therefore which here at your pleasure distribute the tenne hornes among seven heads bestowing upon some one upon others according to your liberalitie two which how unfit it is and farre from any ground of the Text yea and plainly repugnant to the interpretation of the Angel there is no man which being now admonished shall throughly consider but will confesse It is therefore to be taken for true and certaine that it is the seventh head alone in that scale of heads one standing above another being the
forth Christ in the Romane â—mpire to be King 300. yeeres But after she brought him Vers 5 forth the Dragon being cast downe from the Romane throne by Constantine he was there enthroned This chance of the Dragon Vers 7 8 9. contemporiseth with the sixth Seale The woman after the bringing Vers 13 14. forth of her sonne dwelleth in the wildernesse 42 monethes or for a time times and halfe a time typifying the state of the Church in a middle condition freed from the rage of persecution and not attained to the state of glory but still persecuted by the Vers 15. flood of errors and heresies â—ast out of the Devils mouth A new Tragedy of evils falleth upon the Woman entred into Chap. 13. the wildernesse she lighteth upon a double Beast the one ten horned Vers 1 c. being the secular whole estate of ten Kingdomes into which the Empire was divided by the warres of the Barbarians The other two horned being Ecclesiasticall which the Pope with his Clergie make up both Beasts reigning together and tyed in a neere alliance governing under the seventh head exercising the crueltie of the Dragon and pretending the worship of Christian Religion demolishing Idols but promoting by Laws and Edicts â—dolatry â—nd lately abolished Heathenisme termed blasphemy against God Vâ—rs 6. his Name his Tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven His Name when any thing besides God is worshipped with divine worship Joh. 2. 19. and vers 21. His Tabernacle that is the humane nature of Christ wherein the Deitie dwelleth by transubstâ—ntiation And them that dwell in heaven that is by calling idols which they worship by their names in derogation of Christ his prerogative and glory The company of 144000 virgins followers of the Lambe mentioned Chap 14. and sealed before at the seventh Seale for connexion of the Vers 3 4 5. two prophesies signifie the Church in the middest of the Papacie continuing faithfull to the Lambe the native progenie of the twelve Apostles apostolically multiplyed purely and rightly honouring the Lambe and his Father with the Evangelicall song not addicted to any one Sea but accompanying the Lambe whithersoever he goeth often and sharply admonishing the worshippers of the Beast concerning Evangelicall worship and warning all to withdraw themselves from those Idolaters except they will perish eternally set forth in the Cry of three Angels The first admonisheth to worship God purely and rightly according Vers 6 7. â— to the Gospel fulfilled in the yeere 720 in the Greeke and Easterne Churches when the Emperours Leo Isaurus Constantine Iconomachus Leo Armenius Michael Balbus and Theophilus by their Edicts and Decrees made Protestation for presenting religious worship to one God the Creator against worshipping of the creature not only Images but also Saints and their reliques as also by the Councell of 338 Bishops assembled at Constantinople by Constantine Iconomachus the adoration of images was accused and condemned of impietie c. The second Angel threatneth mysticall Babylon for the crime Vers 8. of spirituall fornication with inevitable destruction Fulfilled in the time of the Albigenses and Waldenses who were the ministers of this Cry by word and by deed proclaiming the Church of Rome to be the Apâ—calyptike Babâ—lon by her idolatry and mysticall whoredome c. The third Angel denounceth horrible and hainous torments Vers 9 10 11 c. easelesse and endlesse to the whole traine of the Beast and those that shall abide in his obedience After this threefold admonition by the Angels followeth the Vers 14 15. vindication of the Church against her enemies under the types of Harvest and Vintage By Harvest is understood the preparation of the Bride by the conversion of the Iews together with the overthrow of the Turkiâ—h Empire the Lord Ieâ—us being the Lord of the Harvest and this at the sixt phyall As touching the Vintage the vineyard of the earth is the Vers 17 18 19 c. dominion of the Beast The grapes the followers of the Beast The winepresse the place of slaughter Armageddon in the 2 Thess 2.8 seventh phyall to which place the grapes being gathered by the Angel the Vintager with the helpe of the Saints the Lord Iesus shall tread them at his comming Now both Harvest and Vintage is obtained by prayers of the Church universally Mysticall Babylon is Rome the mother Citie of spirituall Chap. 17. fornication Vers 1 2. The Beast is the Romane Empire Vers 3. Seven heads are seven hils upon which Rome standeth or seven Orders of succâ—ssive Rulers viz. Kings Consuls Tribunes Decemviri Dictators Emperours in respect of the change whereof into ten Kingdomes it mâ—ght seeme another Ruler yet is but the same and Popes which last Beast is the bearer of the whore The ten hornes are those ten Kingdoms into which the Empire Vers 4. is divided The cup in her hand c. hath allusion to whores and stewes Vers 4. which is interpreted by the Angel to Iohn in the Chapter following at the eighth verse In this Chapter is figured the state of the Church cleansed from Idolatrous pollution and singing the triumphant song at the powring Chap. 15. out of the phyalls The effusion of the phyalls signifie the ruine of the Antichristian Beast The seven phyalls so many degrees of the ruine thereof Vers 6 7. And whatsoever the phyall is powred out upon suffereth dammage and losse thereby The first phyall is powred out upon the Earth that is the people or common sort of Christians this was fulfilled by the Albigenses Chap. 16. v. 2. and Waldenses c. The second phyall is powred out upon the Sea that is the compasse Vers 3. of the Popes iurisdiction fulfilled by Luther c. Reformers of the Church The third upon the Rivers that is upon the Ministers and Vers 4 5 6 7. Defenders of the Antichristian iâ—risdiction fulfilled in the yeere 1588 upon the Spanish Champions Priests and Iesuites by laws executed upon them in the reigne of Queene Elizabeth The fourth upon the Sunne that is the Germane Empire now Vers 8 9. by the warres there in powring out The fifth upon the Throne of the Beast that is Rome it self Vers 10 11. The sixth upon Euphrates to prepare away for the Kings of Vers 12 13 14 15 16. the East viz. The conversion of the Iâ—raelites by removing the obstacle the Othoman Empire of the Turks agreeing with the plague of the sixt Trumpet Chapter 11. The seventh phyall is powred out upon the Aire that is upon Satan Vers 17 c. comprehending not the dominion of the Beast onely but all the enemies of Christ gathered to gether under the conduct of the Power of the Aire and shut up in Armageddon The seventh Trumpet with the whole space of 1000. yeeres Chap. 20. thereto appertaining signifying the great Day of Iudgement circum scribed within two resurrections beginning at the iudgement of Antichrist as the morning of that day and continuing during the space of 1000 yeeres granted to new Ierusalem the Spouse of Christ upon this Earth till the universall resurrection and iudgement of all the dead when the wicked shall be cast into Hell to be tormented for ever and the Saints translated into Heaven to live with Christ for ever FINIS Erratain the latter part of this Booke Page line Erat. Corrected 3. l. 13 as measuring is measuring 7. l. 3.  cap. 6. Gr◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 19. l. 6. that may that they may 21. l. 31. to the Saint to the sift 24. l. â—0 That tâ—nth That this tenth 39. l. 33. with her childe her childe 56. l. 3â— a few dayes a few dayes together 65. l. 19. that the Romane that that Roman 75. l. 11. twleve virgins twelve being eminent as well in the company of virgins 81. l. 27. nation notion 94. l. 16. other drug other bitter drug 96. l. 12. the ruine the crime 122. l. 14. for many of many 125. 18. adde in marg 2 Thess 2.8 against line 28. adde Dan. 2.35 2â—8 l. 19 and 30. ◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 133. in the marg over against 1. 27. put lib. 11. c. 1
East winde I will scatter them that is the Iewes before the enemie that is the King of Babylon Hither also that of Daniel seemeth to be referred Chap. 7.2 3. Behold the foure windes of the heaven strove upon the great sea and foure great Beasts came up from the Sea that is out of the conflict of the Nations every where fighting together and striving for the dominion and Empire there arose foure great Kingdomes I saw saith he another Angel afcending from the Sunne rising Chap. 7. having the Seale of the living God happily therefore it is Vers 2. the Lord Christ and he cryed alowd to the foure Angels to whom it was given to wit by setting the windes at libertie which they had restrained to hurt the Earth and the Sea 3. Saying hurt not the Earth neither the Sea nor the trees untill we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads That is loose not the Windes noâ— suffer them to have power of going and raging upon the world For he nameth the Earth the Sea and Trees answerably to the representation of Windes as to which the Windes are wont to bring dammage to the Earth by the ruine of houses to the the Sea by shipwrack to the Trees by a manifold overthrow and rending Forbeare saith he untill we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads That is by imprinting some marke upon them we have distinguished as it were the elect company of God over whom these destroying Windes which shall destroy the other company of men have no power but over whom taking regard to their Seale the Divine providence would continually watch least in this ruine of the Romane state which the Trumpets should bring their sacred Progenie should be extinguished For so provision would be made that neither they who did hurt them could be free from punishment as having transgressed the bounds of that power which God had given them and moreover the dammage if any were done at length should be repaired by God It hath allusion pâ—rhaps to the place of Ezech. Chap. 9. Where those that sigh and cry out for the abominations of Ierusalem are marked by the Angel to this end lest they sustaine like destruction with the wicked and reprobate by the smiters And surely as touching the event if any shall weigh the state of the times here handled it will seeme almost miraculous how it could come to passe that the Romane Empire being scattered and destroyed with so great a destruction of the Cities and Inhabitants so that the ancient Inhabitants being well neere extinguished it was inhabited by barbarous nations and strangers from Christ Yet the Church there should continue in the middest of these evils and the world as it were conspiring her ruine Yea also as we shall heare in the proper place the Beast at the same Chap. 7. time polluting whole Christendome with Idolatrous worship should neverthelesse cherish in her bosome a company as this is uncorrupted and for that cause tenderly regarded by God Of such consequence was it to be fenced with Gods Seale And I heard saith he the number of the sealed there were Vers 4. sealed an hundred forty foure thousand of all the Tribes of the children of Israel that is twelve times twelve thousand out of every Tribe twelve thousand For even as in the beginning we have seene the Theatre of Visions or the Apocaliptique session described after the representation and state of the old Synagogue and a great part of the Types of this Booke hath relation to it so that even the counterfeit Christians in the Epistles to the Churches for that cause beare the name of counterfeit Iewes so here also the Catholique Church of the Gentiles to be â—enced with the Seale of God is figured by the Type of Israel the twelve Apostles of that aptly answering to so many Patriarchs of this And it is so done not without good cause as well for other causes as specially because the Church even from the first rejection of the Iewes hitherto is gathered out of the Gentiles succeeded in the room of Israel and is as I may so call it surrogated Israel and in that place for a little while estemed by God untill his old people againe obtaining mercy the fulnesse of the Gentiles shall Vers 9. come in that is that innumerable multitude out of all Nations Tribes People and Tongues which the sealing of this Israel at length being finished Iohn testifieth he saw singing prayses to God and to the Lambe For this indeed is that I speak of the surrogation that the Apostle Paul would teach Romans Chap. 11. whilest he urgeth vers 11. the fall of the Iewes to have brought salvation to the Gentiles and vers 15. their casting away to have beene the reconciling of the world Not that otherwise the Gentiles in their time should not have beene called sithence the whole Quire of Prophets proclaime that the Gentiles should be gathered to the glory of Israel and turned to the Lord which neither the Iewes of old nor at this day doubt of but that not by this calling which was by anticipation substitution and for provocation to jealousie except the Iewes had first renounced Christ The discreet Reader may know what I meane It was necessary saith Chap. 7. the Apostle Acts 13. 46. that the word of God should first have been opened to you but after you reiect it and iudge your selves unworthy of everlasting life loe we turne to the Gentiles But concerning the preventive conversion of the Gentiles that is which should goe before the restoring of the Iews that I may remember that also that testimony of Amos seemeth to be taken cited by Iames in the Councell of the Apostles Acts 15. and for that purpose perhaps then chosen before other Prophesies which otherwhere might have been had concerning the choosing of the Gentiles to be the people of God For he meaneth that not only the name of the Lord should be called upon by the Gentiles that is that Vers 17. the Gentiles should become his people but also that that in part should then happen whilest yet the tabernacle of David should lye Vers 16. fallen down that is the kingdom of Israel should not yet be restored by Christ After those things saith he I will returne and build Vers 16. again the tabernacle of David fallen down and I will build again the ruines thereof and will set it up vers 17. that the residue of men might seeke after the Lord and all the Gentiles upon whom my name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is called that is that the rest of the men together with those Gentiles upon whom heretofore my name was called then at length should seeke after and worship me the true God For for that which is now had in the Hebrew Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they may possesse the râ—nant of Edom. The ancient
It remaineth And the rest were affraid and gave glory to the God of Heaven To wit by their astonishment wherein even unwillingly and unthankfully they acknowledge his hand For to acknowledge the wisedome goodnesse and power of God by what token soever is to give glory to God Even as they who being taken with the manner by God confesse their sinnes and are said to give glory to God as Achan It followeth The second woe is past and behold the third wâ—e commeth Vers 14. quickly The meaning is that that great earthquake is to continue till the end of the second Woe or the sixth Trumpet and together with it the mourning Prophesie of the Witnesses is at length to be Chap. 11. finished For truely after so great a victory over the followers of the Beast and their ascending into the heaven of authoritie and honour they shall put on sackcloth no more But now if the second Woe or the plague of the sixt Trumpet be that overflowing of the Turkes from Euphrates into the Romane Empire now long since as there we have interpreted it can scarcely be but that this departure of the same plague is that drying up of the water of Euphrates to come to passe at the powring out of the fifth phyall whereby the way is prepared for the Kings of the East to come Chap. 16. 12. At which coming of the Kings of the East lest a gap be left otherwise betweene either Trumpet the seventh Trumpet seemeth to beginne and so that wonderfull preparation of the Dragon Beast and false Prophet for the warre to be waged in Armageddon there vers 13 14. together with the event thereof at the last phyall vers 17 c. ought to be placed in the beginning of the same seventh Trumpet And surely it seemeth to be very meete that the preparation to warre doe pertaine to the same Trumpet to which the warre it selfe pertaineth But out of this a doubt ariseth which requireth satisfaction and therefore not to be passed in silence For since there is the same terme of forty two moneths of the Beast as is of one thousand two hundred and sixty dayes of the mourning of the Witnesses and since those dayes of the mourning of the Witnesses are ended at the departure of the plague of the sixt Trumpet or second Woe it may be demanded not unfitly wherefore the moneths of the Beast should not be further reckoned since after that terme no little of the Beast yet remaineth being not to be abolished before the seventh Trumpet is begun It may be answered that this cometh to passe either because then the conversion of Israel and as it were a new Kingdome beginneth for they are called the Kings from the rising of the Sun or because in the continuance of the Beast consideration is had especially to the Empire of the Citie of Rome but that great Citie the royall seat of the Beast in this earthquake is taken and overthrowne even so farre that from thenceforth the Beast shall as it were change his forme since being driven so from his Metropolis it can no more be accounted for a Kingdome of seven Chap. 12. hils which is the other signification of the seven heads thereof There is moreover in the Text concerning the sound of the seventh Trumpet and the Emperiall reigne of Christ in that great day of Iudgement the interpretation whereof we will put off to the end of the booke that we may there at once set forth all the prophesies appertaining thereunto The meaning of the red seven headed Dragon contending with Michael about the child birth The first vision of the open booke which we handled Chap. 11. went through the whole course of the Revelation from the beginning to the end and that as elsewhere we have touched to shew the conextion of the same with the Seales and Trumpets Now the other prophesies of the same time and Ecclesiasticall affaires come to be knit to that vision to the making up of the body of the open booke among which The battell of the seven headed red Dragon with Michael doth comprehend the same space of Ecclesiasticall affaires with the measured Court wherein truely the Romane Empire * Draconicola worshipping the Dragon tyrannized with lamentable persecutions against the Church in travaile with childe labouring to bring forth Christ to be King in the Romane Empire and at least three hundred yeers made war against the Spirit of Christ mightily working in his servants But the woman at last after many sorrowes cuttings and slaughters in child-birth brought forth the King even Chap. 12. 5. Christ such as she travelled with to rule the Nations with an iron Rod and the Dragon being throwne downe from his Romane throne salvation and strength and the Kingdome of our Chap. 12.10 14. God and the power of his Christ was brought into the Empire The summe of the whole matter being premised for perspicuitie let us come to the exposition of the Text particularly And there appeared saith he a great wonder in Heaven VVHither indeed Iohn was called in the beginning to behold Chap. 12. 1. where he had beheld all the former visions Neither do I thinke an other sense is to be sought of this circumstance For it Chap. 12. is manifest even out of the end of the foregoing Chapter that Iohn hitherto looked towards heaven A woman clothed with the Sunne and the Moone under her feete and upon her head a crowne of twelve starres Truly a most beautifull image and representation of the Primitive childebearing Church to wit shining round about by the faith of Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse treading under feet the rudiments of the world whether Legall shadowes or darkenesse of Gentile superstition and to conclude glorious with the ensignes of the Apostolique off-spring Most men would have the Moone to be a symbole of earthly and mutable things which the Church of Christ contemneth as below her selfe which although it be true yet no where as I take it in the whole Scripture is the Moone noted by this propertie But the interpretation of propheticall Symboles is not easily to be attained other-where then from those properties which the Scripture some-where doth warrant And now this is certaine that the most feasts wherein typicall worship was celebrated by sacrifices were ordered according to the motion of the Moone as the new Moone the Paschall Pentecost the Feast of Tabernacles yea the account of the whole Ecclesiasticall yeere depended upon the motion thereof to which happily belongeth that Psalme 104 19. He made the Moone 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for festivall seasons Why therefore may not the Symbole of the Moone be referred to the Mosaicall worship which doubtlesse the Church by the revealing of Christ discerneth as it were prostrate and put under her feete according to that of the Apostle to the Colossians Chap. 2. 14. affirming Christ to have blotted out the
highest in situation the last in time which beareth the hornes I now therefore proceede to expound the remaining Effigies of the same last Beast And this Beast in the feete by which the body is supported with which it moveth and goeth and the former of which in Beasts are in stead of hands and armes for handling snatching and fighting in feet I say doth exceedingly resemble the Empire of the Persians since as they did relye upon the Councels of their * Magi Wisards Wise men in managing their affaires so the Romane Kingdome of the last state is governed by the authoritie of the Monks and Idolatrous Clarkes like to those Wise men Whether that belongeth which afterwards shall be said of that other Beast the Vers 12. false Prophet that he exerciseth all the power of this tenne horned Beast before him For feet here are to be considered not as the basest and more unworthy members of the body but as they are in Beasts not onely instruments of going but also of fighting and Chap. 12. catching their prey in which of Beares I speake of the former feet the principall strength of the body consisteth Neither are feet here to be understood that part onely which maketh the tract upon the ground but which as the foresaid part comprehendeth the thighs and armes also To conclude the tenne horned Beast maketh Edicts with a Babylonian mouth to wit commanding the worshipping of Idols and Images denouncing the penalty of death and burning alive against those that refuse in like manner as that Nebuchadnezar against the Iewes refusing to worship the golden Image which he had erected to his Bel of sixty cubits long Dan. Chap. 3. Notwithstanding I would not that the interpretation of others should receive any prejudice by this of mine theirs I meane who conceive it rather respecteth the naturall disposition of these three Beasts the nature or crueltie of all which the tenne horned should expresse Let every one use his owne judgement And the Dragon gave him he that was cast down who stood Vers 4. upon the Sea sand his power that is his strength or forces 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and his seat and great authoritie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the Seventy signifieth forces or an Army out of the use as it seemeth of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Hebrewes whereby both as well strength power as also an army is signified the Seventy Exod. 14. 28. concerning the Army of Pharaoh drowned doe thus translate The waters covered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the Host of Pharaoh and 15. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Host hath he cast into the Sea and so in many places not onely with them alone but also with prophane writers From this notion are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord of Hosts And Mat. 24. 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the powers or Hosts of the heavens shall be shaken likewise in the next vers it is said The Son of man shall come in the clouds of the heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which in the Chapter following is expounded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vers 31. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in his glory and with all the holy Angels with him So in this place The Dragon or Satan gave to the tenne horned Beast 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is his forces or his Host Now the forces of Satan are his Angels or * Daemons Devils and Idols the receptacles of * Daemons Divels To wit these forces he gave to this last Beast to be garnished and adorned together with his seat and great authoritie that is in one word that universall authoritie Chap. 13. from which lately he had fallen being overcome and vanquished by Michael and the holy Martyrs and Confessors of Christ So that the Dragon or Satan in this Beast of the last state did in a certaine manner recover his ancient dominion which he had exercised in the state of the Red Dragon but in a representation so unlike the former that the Seed of the woman in the Wildernesse did for the present little observe it For now the Dragon did not behave himselfe like a Dragon as before that is he professed not himselfe to be what he was the sworne enemie of the Christian profession for if he had done this the Seed of the woman would presently have knowne him and would have taken heed of him as of a most cruell enemie to wit out of that inbred antipathy which God even from the beginning of the world had ordained should be between them I will put saith he enmitie betweene thee and the woman and betweene thy seede and her seede But surely when as he had transfigured himselfe into the Gen. 3.15 shape not of a Serpent but of another Beast having no affinitie with a Serpent it was not so hard a matter for him to deceive the seede of the woman that is the Christian Church being joyfull for the late victory and now secure from the Dragon and to allure it to obey him Which the false deceiver did so cunningly and secretly under the maske of a Beast which he himselfe did hate that not till it was too late the Church did know her selfe to be deceived by the old enemie and to worship the Dragon under this maske For who would have suspected that under the representation of a Leopard or of a Panther which is the same there had lyen hid the Dragon that is under the shape of that Isidor lib. 12. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so called because he is the friend of all other Beasts excepting the Dragon Beast which when as other Beasts being allured either by the beauty of the skinne or the sweetnesâ—e of the smell love to come neere unto and looke upon onely the Dragon is said to abhorre and to flie from Or that I may a little more cleerely unfold the matter who would have judged that under an Empire pretending the worship of Christian Religion demolishing Idols horrible idolatry and lately abolished heathenisme should be mainly set up and promoted by lawes and Edicts And I saw one of his heads to wit the sixt as it were wounded Vers 3. to death this came to pasâ—e in the battell with Michael and the holy Martyrs and his deadly wound was healed to wit by the medicine of this substituted authoritie Chap. 13. Now that the seven headed Dragon I meane the Romane Empire upon which the old Serpent did sit that is to say Rome heathen was the Beast of the fixt head may as well appeare out of that which is said afterward concerning those heads Chap. 17. that five were already fallen in Iohns time one which is the sixt governed the Romane State at that time as also chiefly because that this Beast of the last course succeeded him next in the same seale The Dragon I say is said here to have given his seat to the Beast of the
is that of justification and salvation hoped for by the merits of works yet it is such as which of late and when the whore was now growen old hath Chap. 17. been permitted by the just judgement of God to enter into the Church as it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a recompense of her Rom. 1. 27. great errour least indeed they who had so long and so obstinately contemned the long suffering of God and the preaching of the Witnesses afterward as we reade was provided against our first parents stretching out their hands should take of the fruit of the Gen. 3.22 tree of Life and eating thereof should live for ever Furthermore Reader this is singular in this place nor to be passed over with light observation of which likewise I advertised thee in the Apocaliptique Key to wit that this vision concerning the great Whore and the Beast bearing her is opened to Iohn and us by the Angel which he used not to doe by a most plaine interpretation without doubt to that end that by the benefit of the interpretation thereof as being the chiefest vision of all the rest the other mysteries contained in the Revelation hitherto indeed shut up but depending upon it wonderfull artificially might be revealed Here therefore be attentive and least the Angel shall have taken this paines in vaine as farre forth as it concerneth thee remember this right well that the interpretation of the Allegory or parable such as this of the Angel is is not a new Allegory or parable For what strangenesse should this be or more truely madnesse of an interpreter or what profit is there of interpreting an Allegory by an Allegory or a parable by a parable therefore doe not thou here look after I know not what ages of the world or such like fained things but take the meaning of the prophetique Angel according to the letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not as if he were yet allegorising but rather interpreting the meaning knowing that it is thy part not to open the meaning of the Allegorie as otherwhere it happeneth but to apply its interpretation already given it to the things themselves Which application as farre forth as God hath revealed to me I will declare to thee thus 1. The Woman which Iohn saw sitting upon the Beast is that great Citie which then reigned over the Kings of the earth v. 18. The Application What is this but Rome 2. The Beast carrying her now become a whore is that Beast which before this vision being shewed to Iohn was of a certaine Chap. 17. other forme but he was not as yet of that shape wherein he should carry the Whore but in such a forme afterward he was to arise out of the bottomlesse pit and in it at length utterly to perish that is that forme wherein he should carry the Whore should be the last of the Beast beyond which he should not continue his life vers 8. It followeth in the same vers that thou mayest know also by that marke that this is the very same Beast shewed Chap. 13. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names are not written in the Booke of life from the foundation of the world laid beholding the Beast which was and is not and yet is to come In Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Et tamen adfutura est For so I read it with the Complutense Edition Primasius and the Syriaque Interpreter that it may agree in sense with the precedent description The Beast which was and is not but at length shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit But now of what forme the Beast had beene before and in what shape he was to ascend out of the bottomlesse pit that we shall know particularly by those things which the Angel by and by addeth The Application In the meane while if the Woman be Rome it selfe what then can this Beast of many formes be upon which she rideth that is ruleth but the Kingdome or Empire of Rome 3. The seven heads of the Beast is a double type first they are Ver. 3. and 7. seven mountaines or hils upon which the Citie being the Metropolis Vers 9 10 11. of the Beast is seated againe seven orders of Kings or successive Rulers and that on the same hils which the unitie of the type setteth forth * Hoc teneas vultus mutantem Protea nodo this is a sure marke of her whereof indeed five that is to say of Kings Consuls Tribunes Decemviri Dictators now in the age of Iohn were past one of Caesars was yet remaining but that also under Christian Caesars so to be changed that it seemed as another Ruler but of a very short continuance yet in truth not another but the last and as already I have said in respect of the changed Caesarship the eight but in truth but the seventh for there are onely seven heads of the Beast that very same it is under which the Beast should be at length 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the bearer of the mysticall whore and in that state and forme wherein she is seene of Iohn in the present vision In whose time it might be said both that he was Chap. 17. in time past and notwithstanding not yet sprung up For in time past he had beene a Beast under the courses of the five first heads partly also the sixt but as yet he was not under the course of the last head to wit of the Popedome under which at length he should beare the Whore The Application Now therefore harke Reader if the sixt head of the Romane Beast which reigned in Iohns age in the City standing upon seven hils now almost for 12. * 1200. Yeers ages â—ath ceased to reigne there it must needs be that he who now beareth sway there since that which is as it were the seventh and of short continuance cannot be called a head is that last of long continuance and truely the seventh Ruler of the seven hils and therefore that State or Common-wealth of Nations over which Rome now reigneth and long hath reigned is that government which Iohn fore-saw should beare the Whore 4. The tenne hornes of the Beast the Ensignes of the last head Vers 12. are tenne Kingdomes not yet risen in the age of Iohn but into which at length the body of the Romane Beast should be rended in his last course by the wound of the Caesarian head and which with one consent should conferre all their authoritie upon the Beast to be made whole and restored under the government of Vers 13. that last head The Application But unlesse from that time that the Emperours have ceased to reigne at Rome the Romane Empire be divided and rent into tenne or more Kingdomes even of Nations in Iohns age strangers from the Empire and barbarous when I pray you ever or by what meanes at length shall we expect it to be divided 5. Those tenne
the Dragon which is part of this repeated prophesie do ascend to the very head of the period or time of the Revelation so that the Revelation hath nothing more ancient then it or which deriveth its originall higher which will be manifest as well out of the nature of the thing it selfe which is a birth as also out of the Synchronismes hitherto demonstrated and hereafter to be demonstrated why should not much rather the beginning of the same prophesie and the first vision of all the rest be thought to ascend thither But the moneths of the outer court cannot ascend thither as which wholly have contemporized with the ten horned Beast Therefore to mee it is most clear that the times of the * Inner Court 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chap. 11. vers 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verse 2. of the same chapter measured do not onely go before the moneths of the * outer unmeasured but also ought to be derived from the originall of the repeated prophecie together with the vision of the child-birth and dragon Now that these three the habitation of the woman in the wildernesâ—e the ten horned beâ—st and the treading under foot of the outer court by the Gentiles are contemporaries it appeareth out of the first Synchronisme therefore the times of the measuring of the inner court and the child-birth of the woman together with the lying in wait of the dragon and the battell with Michaeâ— are the immediate antecedents of contemporaries and consequently they themselves cannot but contemporize each with other * the very point I was to demonstrate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The 7th Synchronisme Of the seaveâ— Phialls and of the Beast and of Babylâ—n inclining Chap. 6. to ruine The effusion of the Phialls bringeth the ruine and destruction of the Beast as out of the text it selfe is manifest for the conquerours of the Beast sing the * triumphant song of Moses chap. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verse 2. 3. And it is moreover specially manifest concerning the first Phiall chap. 16. verse 2. which inflicteth a grievous â—ore upon men having the mâ—rk of the Beast and those that worship his image concerning the first Phiall verse 10. which is poured upon the throne of the Beast and makes his kingdome dark And likewise concerning the last which being poured out Babylon is utterly destroyed vers 19. Therefore the pourings out of the Phials doth contemporize with the ending of the Beast and Babylon The other part I Have gone through the first part in seven Synchronismes the other part of the seals followeth wherein I shall demonstrate the connexion of all the foresaid prophecies and if there be any other also with the seales in so many other Synchronismes Whence it will plainly appear a thing most worthy observation and of no small moment to the interpreter unlesse I be deceived that the whole Revelation from the fourth chapter For I now meddle not with the seven Churches is distributed into two principall prophecies either of which proceedeth from the same time and endeth in the same period The first is of the seale and Apoâ—ha in them of the trumpets for the seventh seale is the seale of the trumpets which I take for granted every where out of the grammaticall sense of the context neither is the same order of meaning which is held in all the rest of the seales to be thought not to agree to the seuenth alone as that that vision which followeth the opening of the seale should be the matter of the seale Now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the vision of the seven Angels with the seven trumpets succeedeth the opening of the seventh the other prophecie or rather body Systâ—ma of propheticall visions is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or of the little book opened which beginning at the same instant of the Apocalyptique time â—epeateth the time of the former prophecie which is of the seales from the eight verse of the tenth chapter unto the end of the book And that this is a repetition of the prophecy is shewed by that transition verse 11. of the same châ—pter where the Angell saith to Iohn thou must againe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prophecie to many people and Nations and tongues and Kings Furthermore reader that also perhaps shall not be unworthy thy observation that the severall beginnings as well of both these as also of the first vision of all concerning the seauen Churches as of three entire prâ—phecies are proclaimed with a voice as of a trumpet from heaven speaking with Iohn as if the holy Ghost by this note would distinguish them from the rest of the prophecies which are parts of these maine principles in which partiall prophecies you will see no such thing to be Now these are the beginnings of the prophecies of which I admonish of the vision of the seven Churches chap 1. 10. in these words And I was in the spirit upon the Lords day and I heard a great voice behinde me as of a trumpet saying c. of the prophecie of the seales also chap. 4. verse 1. on this wiâ—e And the first voice which I heard as of a trumpet speaking to mee said c. of the prophecie of the booke opened last of all chap. 10. vers 8. And the voice which I heard from heaven to wit as of a trumpet speaking spake againe unto mee and said c. Hitherto hath been the Prologue and that as I hoâ—e not inpertinent to the matter we have in hand The Synchronismes now follow I. The principall Synchronisme OR The Synchronisme Of the seventh seale which as touching the six first trrmpets is Chap. â— of the same time with the ten horned and two horned Beasts and the rest contemporizing For first the beginning of the Beast doth contemporizâ— with the beginning of the seventh seale which is of the trumpets For since the company of the sealed being as it were opposite to the Beast raigning must therefore justly and exactly contemporize with the Beast and since the same company of the sealed beginneth with the beginning of the seventh seale or seale of the trumpets it followeth altogether that the Beast likewise beginneth with the same seventh seale or the seale of the trumpets Now therefore that the company of the sealed entirely and exactly contemporizeth with the Beast it hath beene shewed Synch 4. the first Part. That the same company of the sealed begin with the seventh seal is apparant out of the seventh chapter where that sealing is subjoyned immediatly to the sixt seale For the vision of the sixt seale being over when the seventh which is Chap. 6. 12 of trumpets was now to bee opened provision is made for the sealing of Gods elect servants lest they should be destroyed by the great and bitter calamities which were to fall upon the world when the foure Angels being set over the foure quarters of the world shall at the sound of the trumpets let loose the
windes whâ—ch hitherto they had restrayed for whom also a caveat is given at the sound of the fiâ—t trumpet chap. 9. verse 4. that thou mayest at least by that marke know that sealing to belong to the times of the trumpets And that the end and going out of the sixt seal is the beginning of the seventh is out of all question since the order of the seales one after another neither can nor ought â—o bee interrupted Therefore it must needs bee that the companie of the 144000. sealed which followes the seale being over do begin with the seaventh seale which immediately sucâ—eedeth the said sixt seal And so the holy spirit by the marke of this sealing as I judge hath in his marvellous councell taken order that wee might know the connexion of the beast beginning with the beginning of the seventh seale since no other reason can be rendred why the orderly succession of the seales not otherwise to be interrupted should be confounded with the interposition of this vision of the sealed Chap. 7. Secondly the end of the Beast doth contemporize with the going out of the sixth Trumpet For since the 1260 dayes of the witnesses mourning in sackcloth are ended at the going out of the sixth trumpet or the beginning of the seventh it must needes be that the 42. moneths of the beast end there also and by consequence that the tyrannie of the beast is contained within the compasse of the six first trumpets which was the very point I was to demonstrate But that the 42. moneths of the beast in like manner as the 1260 dayes of the mourning of the witnesses their contemporaries are to be ended at the going out of the sixt Trumpet is already demonstrated in the first part Synch 1. § 3. where out of Vers 9 10 11 12 the eleventh chapter is shewed when the witnesses after they had continued dead three dayes being raised to life againe and carried up into heaven had fulfilled the dayes of their mourning prophesie and a great earth-quake being caused the same houre or time the Verse 13 great City was fallen and the Beast the cruell enemy of the witnesses Animam agereâ— by reason of the destruction then to bee suffered was at the last cast that wee may know in what time of the seales and trumpets this should happen the Spirit hath immediately joyned the Verse 14. second woe that is the sixt trumpet even then to be past and the third woe to wit the seventh trumpet to come anon which character another guide of this great Synchronisme I do beleeve to be inserted in that place even chiefly to that end that it should bee as it were another of the hinges upon which this great and universall frame of the open book and prophecie of seales should be turned For otherwise both this warning and the sound of the seventh trumpet which followeth forthwith in right and naturall order should have been placed at the end of the prophecie of seals chap. 10. But the holy spirit having in that place foreshewed the mysterie of the seventh trumpet after the manner of a Proclamation lightly only yet as much as seemed sufficient to wit that at the sounding thereof the mystery declared to the prophets should Chap. 10.7 be consummate he would a little while withhold and deferre the sounding thereof and the expresse definition of the mysterie and that no doubt not without some weighty cause to wit untill a transition being made to the new prophecie of the open booke Chap. 10. from the eight verse to the end he had brought up the first vision thereof the course of the Revelation being likewise run over to the lame period For that I would the Reader should well observe in this one vision of the eleventh chapter as being the first of the prophesie repeated over again the most wise spirit runneth through as the Weaver the warpe with the woofe the whole space of the prophecie of the seals and knitteth the same by the seventh trumpet as it were with a curious knott to 〈◊〉 the order of the seales for direction of the time But to what end but that the other prophecies of the little book being joyned by their characters to the first vision so fixed and compared with the seales the whole body of the repeated prophesie might bee aptly conjoyned with the seales Furthermore lest that happily should raise any scruple in any that those things which are related in the Text concerning the overthrow of the Beast concerning the Fall of the Citie and the slaughter of men caused by the Earth-quake seeme not at all that they ought to be understood of the utter destruction of the beast I say that neither is this requisite to that Synohronisme whereof we have treated but that they be meant at least concerning the finishing of his time of authority and raigne which is determined in 42. moneths and which the Synchronisme of the beast and witnesses being granted must needs end together with the dayes of the witnesses But that estate of the Beast which yet a little while shall be remaining as hence may be gathered shall bee so unlike the former as is not to be accounted the same but also not long after under the seventh Trumpet utterly to bee destroyed and abolished the Kingdomes of this world becomming our Lords and his Christs And so this principall Synchronisme being well groundâ—d it will be manifest that the other Synchronismes may be easily derived thence and knitt together with the sâ—ales The second Synchorisme Of the inner Court and of the warre of the Dragon and Michael Chap. 1â— concerning the birth oâ— the childe bâ—ing conâ—â—mporarie Chap 7. with the first six Seales Because they are the next antecedents of the succeeding contemporancies For the six first seales are the next antecedents of the seaventh The inner Court and the contention of Mâ—chael with the Dragon are the next antecedents of the Beast and the company of 144000. sealed But now the seaventh seale or which is all one the six first trumpets the company of the sealed and the Beast are contemporaries as is shewed in the former Synchronisme The third Synchronismâ— Of the Vialls with the sixt trumpet Chap. 16. Chap. 9. The seven Vialls of the last wrath since they are so many degrees of the ruine and fall of the Beast Synchronisme 7. Part 1 thereupon necessarily they are to begin with the beginning of the ruine and fall of the Beast But the kingdome of the Beast began so much to decay the sixt trumpet yet sounding and proceâ—ded to that ruine at length that at the going forth of that trumpet there should be an end of that power of 42. moneths in which it was given him to bear rule and to overcome the Saints Synch 1. of this part But the Beast could not fall to that ruine and fatall calamities before that the fift Viall at least should be poured out for then at
whether those elogies of the Angel of the bottomlesse pit and Abaddon can agree with any other besides him Howsoever it is certainly Satan was not then bound the bottomlesse pit as there it is said was not shut upon him and sealed up but as you may see chap. 9. 2. open and that so that the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a great furnace and the sunne and the aire was darkned by the smoke of it To conclude but that this libertie of the Dragon or Satan in deceiving the people continued even to the very destruction of the Beast and therefore was altogether of one time with the six first trumpets I thinke no man can doubt which shall well mark what is read to be done from the effusion of the sixt Viall to wit that when the seventh that is the last by and by was to be pouâ—ed out and therefore the finall ruine of the Beast was even then at â—and out of the mouth of the Dragon and the Beast and false prophet his Vicars three uncleane spirits spirits of devils working miracles shall goe out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battell of that great day of God Alâ—ightie Chap. 16. 13. 14. So the 1000. yeeres of Satans being bonnd that he should not â—eceive the people any more can have no place neither under the six first seales noâ— under the six first trumpets therefore they are â—o be left in the sevenâ—h trumpet 2 Arg. After a thousand yeers being fulfilled Satan being let loose cut off his prison for a short time hee had raised new stirs the scum of the deceived people which hee had gathered together being conâ—uâ—ed with fire fallen from heaven the deceiver himselfe being taken and arrested is said to be sent into the lake of fire and brimstone * Chap. â—â— 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where were both the Beast and the false prophet Marke here reader the chronicall caracter by which is intimated that this whatsoever it is concerning Satan being taken and condemned after his second loosing it succedeth the vision of the former Chapter concerning the Beast and the false prophet being vanquished taken and thereupon cast into the lake burning with fire and brimstone by him which sate upon the white horse as in order of narration so also in the time of the thing done For otherwise it should not have been said that Satan was sent thither where both the Beast and the false prophet were except both the Beast and the false prophet had been sent thither first Neither can any man of judgement say by way of evasion that this war after a thousand yeeres of this 20th chapter is not differing from that of the former chapter when as not onely the character already brought but also all the circumstances on both sides are repugnant the parties the battell and the manner of the slaughter there with the sword here with fire yea and the event of either war unlike as anon the matter being demonstrated shall be made plaine there the binding of Satan onely for a time but here a condemnation to eternall fire The war therefore wherein the Beast and the falsâ— prophet being taken are sent into the lake of fire seeing that it is different from this last to which Satan at length to be cast into the same lake had stirred up the nations presently after his loosing either it must needs be waged within the very same thousand yeeres or els when they were not yet begun It couâ—d not be waged within the thousand yeeres because so long Satan is said to be bound and shut up in the bottomlesse pit that he should not deceive the people any more untill the thousand yeeres should be consummate chap. 20. vers 3. But in the war wherein at length there is triumph over the Beâ—st and the false prophet and their companions if ever at any other time hee was most free and loose to deceive as appeareth by those things which even now wee have alleadged out of the sixteenth chapter concerning the preparation of this war to wit that from the effusion of the sixt Phiall when as now the seventh wherein the Beast was utterly made an end of was ready to be poured out out of the moâ—th of the Dragon out of the moâ—th of the Beast and of the false prophet * Chap. 16. 13. 14 three uncleane spirits the spirits of devils shewing wonders went forth to the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them together to the battell of the great day of God Almightie Because therefore the * Raâ—â—â— state of the thousand yeeres doth no way admit such Satannicall troubles and stirs it must needs be that this warre of the Beast shall in time goe before them and so at length the 1000. yeeres of Satans binding shall contemporize with the space from the slaughter of the Beast which was to be demonstrated 3. Arg. To conclude since through those thousand yeeres wherein Satan is kept in prison Christ is said to have reigned in that Emperiall and Magnificent Kingdome with his thereupon by the same arguments and marks by which the Synchronisâ—e of either is established the other also will be confirmed Therefore that that Emperiall Kingdome of Christ doth begin with the seventh trumpet or from the destruction of the Beast is now for us to shew The fifth Synchronisme Of the 1000. yeeres of Christ his Emperiall raigne and of the seventh trumpâ—t or the space from the destruction of the Beast 〈…〉 1 The excellent and Emperiall Kingdom of Christ often and again mentioned in the Revelation and upon the coming whereof the quire of the Beasts and triumphant elders are wont to sing hymnes and thanksgivings to God every where succeedeth in order the conquest of and the triumph over the Beast and Babylon For first where this reign of a thousand yeers is proâ—erly handled in chap 20. of the number of those which reign with Christ are 〈◊〉 4. they who had not worshiâ—ped the Beast nor his image nor had received his marke in their foreheads or in their hands doe not these words sufficiently shew that this reign of Christ succeeded the reign of the Beast his image and his stigmatized followers For wherefore should this elogie be given to those sons of the kingdome that they had not worshipped the Beast c except the Beast had now gone before For certainly the desert in time goeth before the retribution and reward But now this kingdom is given as the order of the narration sheweth to the Saints as a reward of their faith and constancie and that after their cause was first discussed in open Court of which Session as iâ— were there is a description in these words * Veâ—â—e 4. And I saw thrones and they sat upon them and judgement was given to them that is to say to them was given authoritie of judging c. Therefore the time
wherein the Saints approved their faith and constancie to â—od while the Beast ruled went before the judgement the reward followed the decree then made 2 The same doth yet further appeare out of that hymne of praise â—ung of the elders and beasts at the overthrow of Babylon câ—ap 19. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hallâ—u-jâ—h for the Lord God that Almightie one hath reigned ver 7. Let us be glad and rejoyce and give glorie to him for the mariage of the Lamb iâ— come his wife hath made herself ready For I doubt not but that the kingdom is the same in both places 3 But of all most clearely out of the 11. chap. ver 15 16 c. where at the found of the seventh trumpet the dayes of the witnesses and of the Beast and the moneths of the Gentiles being runne out there is proclaimed in heaven the kingdomes of this world are our Lords and his Christs and he shall raigne for evermore And the foure and twentie Elders fitting before God in their thrones fell upon their faces and worshipped God saying We give thee thanks Lord God Almightie which art and which wa st and which art to come for thou hast received thy great might and hast entred thy Kingdome This is that finishing of the mysterie of God declared by the Prophets which the Angel had foretold before the tenth Chap. ver 7. should come to passe about the the time of the sounding of the seventh trumpet when neither the moneths of the Beast nor the dayes of the witnesses mourning nor any thing at all concerning the period of time times and halfe time shall be any more remaining verse 6. 7. plainely according to that which was foretold to Daniel chap. 7. vers 25 26 27. and before concerning the Universall dominion of Christ or kingdome of the Saints to come after the same times and altogether the same session of judgement Also that chap. 12 ver 7. where the same Angel which is here in John is read with the same behaviour rite and which is chiefly to be noted almost in the same words to have sworne that that space once being ended of a time times and halfe a * Are not these 〈…〉 21 2. time the dispersion of the holy people and together with that that last of wonders should be consummate He which here desiâ—eth further confimation let him use the Charecters of the former Synchronisme for they affoord as I said their mutuall helps The sixt Synchronisme Of tâ—e new Jerusalem the bride of the Lamb with the seaventh Chap. 21.2 Chap. 11 1. trumpet or the space from the time of the destruction of the Beâ—st 1. The marriage of the Lamb and that Emperiall kingdome of the Almighty Lord God both begin after the destruction of Babylon where the seaventh trumpet beginneth this appeareth out of the hâ—mne of the Elders and Beasts which in the former Synchronisme we have commended out of the nineteenth chap. vers 6.7 Halliluâ—ah for our Lord God Almightie reigneth Let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her selfe ready But the new Jerusalem is that bride of the Lamb adorned and prepared for her husband chap. 21. verse 2. And I saw saith he the holy City new Jerusalem coming downe from God out of heaven as a bride adorned for her husband and verse 9. Come and I will shew thee the bride the Lambes wife c. Therefore even she shal begin and contemporize with the seventh trumpet 2. Now Jerusalem is the beloved citie but that beloved citie forthwith after the 1000. yeares are ended is said to be compassed about by those last troopes of Satan then let loose chap. 20. ver 9. And they compassed the tents of the Saints and the beloved citie therefore it must needs have beene extant before while Satan was yet bound I have thought fit to adde two other either for confirmation or illustration and setting forth of these two arguments 3. The seventh Viall being poured out wherewith the Beast is dispatcht and abolished there came a loud voice from the throne saying TETONE It is done chap. 16. vers 17. So also He that sat upon the throne saith to Iohn beholding new Jerusalem descending from heaven chap. 21. verse 5 6 Behold I make all things new TETONE It is done I am * Alpha â— Omega A and â— the beginning and the end therefore new Jerusalem the bride of the Lamb beginneth at the last terme of the Vials TETONE the whore being already dispatcht and so it contemporizeth with the space of time which insueth the destruction of the Beast 4. One of the Angels of the Vials Chap. 17. sheweth unto Iohn the condemnation of the whore even while the Vials are in pouring out and at least by one of them to be executed And the same Angel of Vials chap. 21. vers 10. sheweth to the same Iohn the bride of the Lambe the great citie holy Jerusalem to become glorious even when the Phials are now ended that is the Beast and Babylon being destroyed The 7th Synchronisme Of the palm-bearing multitude of the numberlesse triumphants out of all Nations Tribes People and Tongues chap. 7 vers 9. with the seventh trumpet or space of time from the destruction of the Beast chap. â—â— â—â— c. 1. The palm-bearing multitude next succeedeth the companie of â—44000 sealed but that companie being to be measured or judged of by its opposite both state and duration to the Beast with whom it contemporizeth ended with the Beast also Synchronisme 4. Part 1. Therefore the palm-bâ—aring multitude followeth both and consequently will fall out in the time of the seventh trumpet which is the space of time from the destruction of the Beast 2. The palm-bearing multitude are the citizens of new Jerusalem for of both it is said * Chap. 7. 16. 17. That they shall not hunger nor thirst any more c. That the Lambe shall feed them and lâ—â—d them to the living fountains of waters and * Chap. 21. 4. that God shall wipe away every teare from their eyes Now new Jerusalem contemporized with the seventh trumpet therefore the palm-bearing multitude also The Apocalyptique Epoche or computation of the Revelation The Epoche or computation of the Apocalyps as it is a prophecie of things to come whether thou shalt determine the beginning of it in the beginning of Christianisme or in the overthrow of the Iewish politie and church or in that moment of time wherein the Revelation is shewed to John or howsoever it be fixed for I will not here play the interpreter being mindfull of my purpose I suppose none will doubt but that thence the beginning of the seales as touching things done in them is to be fetcht But that the beginning of the second prophecie also or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the open booke is to be fetcht from the same account if the very words
was subdued and uâ—teâ—ly destroyed by the Franks in the yeer 526. But for the making up of the number of ten fitly the dominion of the Ostrogothes at the same time was parted into two kingdoms Panonia which â—itherto had obeyed them taken by the Longobards and Italy only left to thâ— Kings of the Ostrogothes 5 Wisigothes In Aquitane and part of Spaine Theodorick 6 Swedes Alanes In that tract of Spain which is contained in Galaecia and Lusitania Riciarius 7 Vandales In Africa but a little befoâ—e in Spain Gensericus 8 Allmanes In that tract of Germany which was called Rhetia Sumanus 9 Ostrogothes In Panonia the Huns being vanquâ—shed neither was this age past but they enlarged their kingdom into Italy also Theodomirus The kingdom of the Alemans from the yeer 475 became one with the kingdom of the Heruli so long as they reigned in Italy to wit 16. yeers 10 Grecians In the residue of the dominion of the Empire For the Empire of the ancient Rome being dissolved the Empire of the Grecians is to be accounted one of the kingdoms into which the dominion of the citie reigning sometimes largely was divided Marcianus The â—ongobards succeeded the Ostrogothes also in Italy being called out by Narâ—etes after he had destroyed the kingdom of the Ostrogothes in the yeere 567 but then delivered their seats in Paâ—onia to the Huns Avares to be enjoyed afterwards And at length after this manner these tenne Kingdomes into Chap. 8. which the holy Ghost had foretold as well by Daniel as by Iohn the Romane Empire at the last should be divided seeme to be reckoned and not at all to be esteemed according to so many bare names as usually is done of so many regions or tracts of land but rather Kingdomes into which the Dominion and Lordship of the Empire should be rent Yet notwithstanding let us not thinke that the limitation of this number of tenne is to be so strictly construed that it excludeth at any time more Kingdomes or any manner of governments but that the Empire should be severed into ten at the least or into ten principall Kingdoms That which even from that originall rending which we have set forth untill our age under so many fates and alterations I think to have been alwaies the truth although it were sufficient for confirmation of this truth if onely in the beginning it had been divided into so many Kingdomes howsoever happily afterwards the number were diminished But the like prophesie concerning the rending of the Monarchie of Alexander may teach us that so as I have said and not otherwise that limitation of the number of ten Kingdomes is to be understood in which although besides these foure principall Kingdomes of Macedonia Asia Syria and Egypt a fift also Thracia was added Lysimachus being the founder yet the holy Ghost bounded that multiplicitie in a number of foure Reckon them to be so many at the least or so many principall Kingdomes For there was no succession in the Kingdome of Thracia though it began together with the rest and endured forty yeeres but it ended with the first King Lysimachus and therefore not to be brought into the number The like hereunto is to be judged of this ten fold Romane division Wherefore let it move no man if besides the Kingdomes reckoned up in France he shall happily finde there the Kingdome also of the Alanes of Orleance and also the dynastie of the Cities of Baitaine continuing from the Empire of Honorius untill these times For he shall finde the latter to be but of a very meane Dominion the other to have from thence endured but a small time to wit tenne yeeres at the most Neither of them therefore to be reckoned with the rest for like place and order nor if any be to be found of the same sort otherwhere The third Trumpet Chap. 8. The third Trumpet did utterly throw downe and extinguish Vers 10. the shining starre to wit the Romane Hesperus or the Western Caesar even now from the time that Gensericus the King of the Vandals had spoyled Rome being taken falling headlong and as it were struggling a little while with death under these names of Caesars of no account Avitus Maioranus Severus Anthemius Olibrius Glycerius Nepos dying with mutuall treasons and slaughter at length in the yeere 476 fetching his last breath under the fatall name of Augustulus and pulled from the heaven of his authoritie by Odoacer King of the Heruli sent against him this being the most bitter fate of the Rivers and Fountaines that is of the Provinciall Cities and Magistracies The Hesperian Caesar here I call him who after the division of the Empire into East and West established even from the death of Theodosius the first remained as yet Emperour of ancient Rome and the West but of a very short continuance as who should utterly fall from his heaven at the sound of this Trumpet after the yeere 91. For whereas the Bishop of Rome more then 320. yeers after that this Hesperian Caesar had set in Augustulus did anew surrogate the Kings of France who were afterwards of Germany into that name and title he brought no other thing to passe but that by this coverture of Caesar revived or of the sixt head of the Beast yet reigning he himself might not at length be so apparently accounted for the last head that is Antichrist by men of ordinary understanding But this papall Caesar pertaineth not to the heads of the Roman Beast but to the hornes or Kingdomes into which the Empire of the sixt head now about to yeeld his roome to the last head was to be rent Neither indeed after so great a space of time as is of 325. yeeres for so many they are from Augustulus to Charles the Great could there be a succession as it were of a continued series of Hesperian Caesars But goe to let us give further light to the Text of Iohn that the reason of the interpretation may be manifest And there fell saith he a great Starre from Heaven burning like a Lampe He seemeth to descâ—ibe a blazing Starre or Comet amongst the kinds of which reckoned by Pâ—iny Lampadias is one specially so called And surely not unfitly is Caesar of the West figured by such a starre Chap. 8. for short duration Concerning whom therefore it will be said Chap. 17. When he cometh he must continue but a small time But the Starre was a great one as the fitter to resemble a Supreme Majestly Vers 10. whose excellency the Sunne otherwhere in Prophetique parables doth represent And surely it is knowne there have been Comets which have seemed to equall even the Sunne in magnitude of which sort that this Starre was happily he shall not erre who affirmeth it Now the like parable of a falling Starre least thou doubt of the application Esay useth Chap. 14.12 of the fall of the King of Babylon How saith he art thou fallen from heaven O Lucifer
365. The exactnesse of the account is such that any one may easily imagine that even the howre which according to the proportion of the rest should make fifteen dayes agreed in like manner with the event if the month of the inauguration of Togrulbecus had beene declared as well as in the yeare is In the meane while untill that appeare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an houre may he taken here not for thâ— twentieth part of the day but for a fit time and the coniunctionkâ—â— and to be expounded declaratively as it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prepared for a fit time to wit for a day a month and a yeare to slay the third part of men But how many yeares after wardes should runne till the ruine of the Turkish kingdome is no where had only it is said that it shall come to passe at the end of the times of the Beast to wit the second Woe shall passe when the third Woe should be at hand for the abolishing of the kingdome of the Beast chap. 11 v 14.15 But before I depart hence I shall not unwillingly confesse this that except so exact an agreement of the prophesie with the thing done did as it were enforce mee another interpretation should no way have displeased mee to wit this that those Angels were prepared and furnished for every occasion whether need shall require for an houre or a day or a month or a yeare to take the matter in hand But whether it bee like that so accurate answering of time as here the event sheweth should have happened by chance let others judge Some one perhaps there will be who will make conscience so to thinke It followeth of the quality and number of the Armies And the number saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Army of horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand Hee â—ameth an Army of horsemen and no other Armies in the whole description of the plague as if this enemie from Euphrates should be wholly an Army of Horsemen Whether because in the Turkish warre the horsemen so farre exceed the foote men in number that this is of no account in respect of that rather which I beleeve the Holy Ghost especially respected because this is the very character already consecrated by Ezechiel of the Nation of Magog of whom the Turkes are derived For so hee describeth that Nation by warrfare on horse-back in that famous prophesie concerning Gog this in the same age of Ezekiel was the * Râ—b Moses Bar. Naâ—hman upon the Pentatench Gog. saith he is a generall name by which every Prince of Magog is called the same saith Iohannes Baptista of a lew becomming a Christian in the prologue of the second part Leunclavius in the Pandicts of the Turkish Hâ—story p. 186. Gog at this day by the Turkes is called Giok or Kâ—oc with one only syllablâ— whence Kioc Can whâ—ch otherwhere is Gog Can c. Gog Eâ—p which also is Gug Elp. common name of all the King of Magog as Pharaoh was of the Aegyptians Chap. 38. 4. And I will bring thee forth saith he and all thins army Horses Chap. 9. and Horse men and all of â—hem clothâ—d with armour Againe verse 15. And thou shalt come from thy place out of the North-parts thou and people with thee all of them Riders on horsâ—s c. furthermore this Gog is called the chiefe Prince of Meshek and Tubal That is who going out of his coasts commanded both the Armeniaes beyond and on this side Euphrates I comprehend here under the name of the hither Armenia the Capadocians anciently called Meschim and Moschi and where the chiefe towne Mazaca is afterwards called aesarea and in the same Coast the Moschi mountaines being no obscure tokens that the Inhabitants are derived from Meshek The further or greater Armenia is that which is called at this day Turcomania from the habitation of the Turkes wherein in time past the City Thelbalana was the Tibarenian and Balbitenian people the river Teleboas and other marks of the name Tubal Yet notwithstanding the Warre which Ezechiel declareth is not to be taken for this irruption of the Turkes which Iohn describeth this only he seemeth to intimate bee understood of another the last under the returne of the Jews and that if a man may conjecture this which now is something before departing But of the type of the Armie of the Horse-men there is another thing which with the good leave of the Reader I will adde but on this condition that no man thinke mee over much to regard the deceitfulnesse of names and eâ—ymologies Even solid and well cooked meates are wont to taste more deliciously with saucâ— Let not the Reader therefore disdaine that I set such before him To wit that the Turkes before the loosing now by long habitation have beene Perfians and by that name called every where in the Byzantine Historians Certainely Nicetas who in a History comprehended the most part of the time wherein they were restrained at Eupbrates almost alwayes calleth them Persians verily rarely Turkes Now the Persians if thou marke even by the very sound of the name are Harse men since 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Paras by which name Persia is called in sacred writt with which Parthia is the same onely otherwise Chap. â— pronouned in the three Easterne languages the Hebrew Chaldean and Arabâ—an dothsignifie a Horse or Horse-man Therefore by this reason the Euphratean Horse-men are Turcoperâ—ians that is the borderers of Euphraces by a namâ— of their Nation are called Horse-men Neither doth example of such allusion if any shall object dispose seeme to bee wanting in Daniel chapter 8. where the Macedonians who at that time were called Aegeades that is to say Goatish are signified by a type of Goates and the King is set forth by the representation of a hee Goate Behold saith hee Hircus Caprarum that is the Male of the Goates commeth Verse 5. from the West c. for hee meaneth Alexander the great the KING of the Aegeans They are the Macedonians For so that Nation was called where the first seate of the kingdome was from Caramos the Founder about two hundred yeares before Daniel The occasione of the name the Epitomizor Iustinus reporteth out of Trogus lib. 7. whose words I will not sticke to mention Caranus saith he with a great multitude of Grâ—cians being commanded by an answer of the Oracle to seeke places of habitation in Macedonia when he had comâ—into Emathia he possessed himselfe of the Citie Aedessa following a stocke of Goates flying from a shower the Citizens not perceaving by reason of the greatnesse of the showres and fogge and calling the Oracle to minde whereby he was bidden to seeke an Empyre by the conduct of Goates he appointed it the State of the Kingdome and afterwards religiously observed whethersoever hee removed his Army to have the same Goates his ensignes using those as guides for his enterprises which he had for authors of his
be effectually verified also in his Prophets And who knoweth whether or no the reformed Church shall be worthily punished for the reproach offered Christ in this behalfe by the taking away of the witnesses for a time because they reverenced them not according to the dignitie of their embassage while they enjoyed them It is too well knowne what offence the reformed Churches commit in this behalfe and that while the Prophets of Christ mightily bestirred themselves in reforming of the Church of God others in the meane while disgraced that most sacred worke by pillaging and interverting the maintenance thereof not leaving in some places so much as food to the great disgrace of true Religion whereby the Ministers thereof might be honestly sustained and according to the dignitie of their calling much lesse that any thing should abound which they might set aside for the enlarging of the reformation the necessities of the holy warre the reliefe of afflicted brethren and other pious uses Was not that praevarication of this kinde for which the Iewish Temple was given to Antiochus Epiphanes to be prophaned and the Religion of the true God likewise to be troden down for the space of three yeers An Hoast saith Daniel shall be given to him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression and it shall cast down the truth to the ground and shall doe it and prosper Chap. 8. 12. See also the history in the second book of the Macchabees from the beginning of the third Chapter to the Saint and Iudge But I will touch upon this sore no more This only I will adde Happily this encrease of honour and power shall happen to the witnesses after their resurrection by the command of the Supreme Magistrate which seemeth to be that voyce from heaven as in recompence of that infamy and ignominy wherewith the followers of the Beast did punish them being dead if so be that were signified by that prohibition of buriall And the same houre there was a great earth-quake and the tenth Chap. 11. part of the citie to wit that great one fell and there were slaine in Vers 13. the earth-quake seven thousand names of men At what time the Witnesses or Prophets returned to life and ascended into heaven there was a great earth-quake that is a great commotion of the Nations and alteration of Politique affaires whereby indeed a way is opened for the Witnesses and power given them of reviving with so great increase of dignitie and authoritie In that stirre of Nations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the tenth part of the citie is overthrowne and there are killed seven thousand names of men Of which words that as farre as may be possible in a future thing we may attaine the neerest meaning to the truth two things are by us to be premised and proved First since there is no fall of the decaying Beast but is contained in some of the phyalls therefore the samâ— destruction of the Beast is here described which belongeth to the powring out of the fift phyall For proofe there is the same subject of the plague in both there the seate or throne of the Beast here that Great Citie For that that Great Citie to wit Rome is the seat of the Beast is so evident that there needeth no proofe Further it is confirmed because the destruction which is here described doth so neerely goe before the utter abolishing of the Beast at the seventh trumpet that nothing is shewed to have come betweene but the departure of the second woe And now the utter abolishing of the Beast is the worke of the last phyall the departure of the second woe or of that plague from Euphrates is of the sixt phyall Therefore the destruction of the great Citie which next preventeth that departure falleth into the fift phyall The other thing by us to be premised is that the fall of the great Citie is the very same destruction of Babylon which is sung Chap. 18. It is proved because it is certaine out of the same Chapter that that destruction of Babylon or of the Citie Vers 2. of Rome was to goe before the full destruction of the Beast and the Emperiall Raigne of Christ to be begun with the seventh trumpet But now the destruction of the same Citie which is here declared doth so neerely goe before that same kingdome that the spirit presently passeth to that kingdome and the description of the seventh trumpet without mentioning any other destruction besides It must needs therefore be that the same destruction of that Citie is described in both For who can be perswaded to thinke that the holy Ghost should altogether let slip that Chap. 11. great destruction interposing the mention of some lesse destruction and with it no way to be compared These things being thus it followeth that the interpretation of this place is to be directed by the rule thereof and as it were to be tryed by the same touchstone and so such a meaning of these words to be sought as may agree with the description of that destruction of Babylon Which how it may be done let us now see Philippus Nicolas a Divine of the Augustine Confession a learned and acute man thinketh that by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is understood the Decharchie of the Citie or the ten kingdoms subject to the dominion thereof which forsooth in this stirre of the Nations should fall away from Rome to the Empire whereof they had been subject so many yeers not obeying the command thereof any more To wit the very same which is in another place said The ten Kings which had delivered over their power to the Rev. 17. 16. Beast then when the word of God shall be fulfilled shall hate the Whore shall make her desolate and naked shall eate her flesh and burne her with fire But such understanding of the word â—EKATON howsoever it first offered it selfe even to me thinking of the meaning of this place and by reason of the concinnitie of the matter it selfe did like me very much yet afterwards considering it better it seemed somewhat harsh and unusuall that I feare it will not easily be approved by those who desire a plaine and genuine interpretation I seeke therefore another interpretation And first it cometh into my minde that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is happily a name of tribute either of that which the Pope receiveth out of the whole kingdome of the Beast or of that which the Citie it selfe receiveth out of her large possessions by right of Lordship That tenth of the Citie shall fall in that great commotion of affaires that is shall cease and thereby is intimated that the principalitie of the Citie shall be utterly extinguished to wit deprived of the ground allotted for her patrimonie and the Pope thence driven by force loosing the prerogative and dominion which she was wont to have over Cities and People farre and wide when that Prerogative and Dominion which she had gotten shall continue
last course or seventh head therefore he was his last predecessour or a Beast of the last head save one Neither let that move any man that yet under the course of the sixt head this Beast did notwithstanding appear seven headed there in the vision â—or although the heads kept their courses not together but in order and one after another yet notwithstanding the Beast with all the furniture of his heads and hornes is presented under any State to the end that one and the same Romane kingdom might be every where signified although sometime by some sometimes by other courses of governments But let us return to the text where the Complutense edition Irenaeus Aretas the Siriaque Paraphrast lately set forth and among the Latines Primasius consenting doth not allow the word vidi I saw but joyneth the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it were to this purpose The Dragon gave him his power and his seat and great authoritie and one of his heads wounded with a mortall stroke that it might be healed I suspect that also the vulgar Latine anciently reade it so because of that de capitibus suis for otherwise it would seeme it should have been said de capitibus eius But whether this reading be to be preferred before the other I will not rashly affirme only this it seemeth to be so very ancient that I marvell it is not marked by R. Stephanus But whatsoever it be the reading received if we interpret it rightly and as the matter it self altogether requireth it will come plainly to the same sense I saw saith he one of his heads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is as if it had been wounded to death to wit not then the Apostle looking on but before it rose out of the Sea in this forme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or in a preterpluperfect sense even as before Chap. 5.6 he said he had seene in the midsts of the Elders and Beasts a Lambe standing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is as it had Chap. 13. been slaine not slaine then while he looked on But that which is added concerning the curing of the wound that either he saw done while yet the Beast rose out of the Sea or as soone as he rose thence Neither was this healing any later destinie which notwithstanding is beleeved of the most hitherto but the very nativitie of the last Beast There was a passage from every of the other heads to the course of the succeeding head without a wound but in the passage from the sixt to the last the Beast fell down with the deadly wound from the healing whereof I say neither sooner nor later the ten horned Beast or the Beast of the last head tooke his beginning neither fetcht he his originall higher Which that it is so the whole order of the following narratâ—on proveth For whatsoever evill the Beast is mentioned to have committed whatsoever worship and adoration is done unto him by the inhabitants of the earth all that is said to come to passe after the curing of that wound I saw saith he one Vers 3. of his heads as it were wounded to death and the wound of his death or deadly wound was healed and the whole earth wondering followed the Beast to wit now healed and they worshipped the Dragon c. Then also there was given unto him a mouth speaking greaâ— things Vers 4. and blasphemies c. And he opened his mouth against God c. Vers 5. All these things came to passe after the healing but before this Vers 6. none of the hainous acts of the Beast are reported no mention of any subjection or honour conferred upon him by the Nations Whatsoever before is mentioned pertaineth partly to the forme of the Beast partly to the occasion and manner of his rising And wherefore I pray you should we frame unto our selves an Ante-christian Beast whereof for sometime no actions are related no persecution mentioned yea if we follow the reading of Irenâ—us and the Complutense leaving out the word vidi I saw there will be no place more left for such interpretation And all the world wondered after the Beast Vers 3. That is with full approbation and consent they tooke part with the Beast And they worshipped the Dragon which gave power unto the Beast and they worshipped the Beast saying who is like unto Vers 4. the Beast who is able to make warre with him That is then worshipped not the Beast simply as the Beast but Chap. 13. also as the substitute of the Dragon and therefore they worshipped not the Beast only but under the maske of the Beast the Dragon himself also For to worship the Beast except as an Idolater the Dragons Vice-gerent in which sense it is here spoken had been no more impious then to yeeld obedience to any worldly authoritie Doubtlesse the Beast doth signifie the kingdom Now to worship the Beast out of the use of the Hebraisme and the East is no other thing then to be subject to the same Which that * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 explication added to the word of worshipping doth not obscurely shew they worshipped saith he the Beast saying who is like unto the Beast who is able to make warre with him As if he should have said they did freely yeeld themselves in obedience to the Beast as to one who so farre excelled in power that none was able to make resistance or to wage warre with him In which same sense Vers 12. the earth it self and not alone the inhabitants thereof is said to have worshipped the Beast that is to have yeelded to his dominion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. And caâ—seth the Earth and them that dwell therein to worship c. So in the blessing of Iacob Gen. 27. 29. Let people serve thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and nations bowe down to thee be lord over thy brethren 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and let thy mothers sonne bowe down to thee Moreover â—oncerning this acception of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See Gen. 37. 7. and 49. 8. in the blessing of Iuda also Esa 45. 14. But to be subject to the Beast according to his râ—ligious constitution as he resembleth the seven headed Dragon that truly is blasphemy and impious against God Whereupon who doe so worship the Beast are said to worship the Dragon in worshipping the Beast And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and Vers 5. blasphemies and power was given unto him to * Faâ—iendi of doing continue fourtie and two moneths Hitherto of the constitution and state of the Beast Hereafter is expounded in what matters he exercised his power committed to him by the Dragon that is to say in two in blasphemy against God and persecution of the Saints But the whole description is taken out of the prophesie of Daniel Chap. 7. where is handled the
Which this was the issue that they were rather beaten put to flight every where spoyled of their goods and dignities and scattered here and there then being convicted of errour brought to repentance Therefore they who had defended themselves with armes in the beginning afterwards being conquered by armes fled for refuge into our countrey of Province and the Alpes borâ—ring upon France and found in those places refuges for their â—â— and doctrine A part departed into Calabria and there continued long even till the Popedom of Pius 4. A part passed over into Germany and setled their dwelling among the Bohâ—mians in Polonia and Livonia others turning Westward foundrefuge in Britaine But truly in this warre this also happeneth worthy of memorie that the Albigenses themselves being conquered upon a time at Morellum with a great overthrow by Symon Monfort Captaine of the souldiers * Cruce signatorum of the Crosse seemed to have made use of this Prophesie concerning the Beast his overcomming of the Saints for an Argument of comfort and constancie For when the Bishop of Tolosse hindering the slaughter admonished those Out of the Epiâ—â—â—es of the Prelates of France who â—â—llowed the campe of the ouldiers of the Crosse at the latter end of the â—onâ—inuation of thâ— holy Warre Edit Basi◠〈◊〉 1560 pag. 〈◊〉 which happily yet remaining abode in their Tents by sending a religious man unto them that being convinced by so great a scourge of God being angry as it were giving sentence against them now at length leaving their madnesse they would be converted to the faith which they call Catholique they retorting the sentence that they were the vanquished people of Christ as it were with this shield they frustrated the Bishops purpose and all of them to the last man valiantly died being slaine by the hand of the souldiers returning back upon them After this warre upon the Waldenses and Albigenses cruelly did the Beast rage divers waies as well against other remnants of them and in other places as also against others their companions Chap. 13. of the same pure Religion in what place soever till at length neverthelesse after the yeere 1500. whole Kingdomes Principalities Common-wealths the Churches being reformed fell away from the dominion of the Beast to the partie of the Saints Against whom afterward warre is waged and continueth at this day neither shall it be ended untill the ruine of the Beast Now if any doe diligently consider the whole series of this slaughter comprâ—hended in some few more then foure hundred and fiftie yeeres and cast the account of the number slaine either I am deceived or he will see and wonder that persecution of the Beast not onely to have equalled but also exceeded those tenne heathen Persecutions when as yet the Dragon in his owne name bare sway We heretofore shewed the number of the Albigenses and Waldenses that were slaine estimated to tenne hundred thousand men From thence to the reformation of the Church no man hath set downe the account of them that have beene cut off partly by fire partly by sword partly by other torments When as not withstanding it is knowne to be no small number From the beginning of the Jesuites to the yeere 1580. that is in little more the thirty yeeres Baldwinus de Antichristâ— noteth almost Cap. 6. n. 41. nine hundred thousand Orthodoxe Christians to have beene put to death and that alone by the hand of the Executioner the Duke â— Alva that cruell Champion of the See of Rome a Fra. Jun. Tilenus ad Bellar. lib. 3. de Pont. Rom. cap. 7. gloried that he had beene the authour of the slaughter of 36000. soules in Belgium onely within a few yeeres b Douâ—aâ—â— de Antich pag. 4.50 Vergerius witnesseth who best knew it that the Inquisition as they call it of haereticall pravitie in scarce thirty yeers space consumed one hundred and fifty thousand Christians by sundry manners of torments * De visibili Monarch lib. 8. dein 34. Sanders confesseth that many Lollards and Sacramentaries throughout all Europe were burned who notwithstanding â—aith he were not put to death by the Pope and Bishops but by Civill Magistrates even so as it was prophesied it was to come to passe For of the Secular Beast it is said that he should make warre with the Saints and overcome them and Chap. 17. vers 14. Of the teâ—â—s Kings that they shall make warre with the Lambe and with his elect and faithfull but of the Ecclesiasticall Beast not that he himselfe shall kill with the Sword but cause that whosoever will Vers 15. not worship the Image of the Beast be slaiâ—e with the Sword by the Chap. 13. same Image of the Beast as a little after we shall see It followeth And power was given him over all kindreds and tongues and Vers 7. nations But what is this power Is it of subduing the Saints as if it should extend it selfe so farre as the Romane Dominion reacheth For happily the speech is not of the largenesse of Dominion but of Persecution But if any would rather take it otherwise the sense will be that the authoritie of the Beast shall be so great that no kindred Tongue or Nation can resist his impietie Now here he meaneth not every severall man since there are many found in every age who kept their covenant with the Lambe but entire kindreds tongues and nations that is Common-wealthes of which it is most true that there was none found whom the Beast had not holden in obedience to his impiety for many ages so that those Christians truly so called which dwelt dispersed here and there throughout the Provinces of the Beast alone for that time made the undefiled Virgine Church as who had it is a griefe to thinke of it no Citie Common-wealth much lesse any Principalitie or Kingdome of their profession But here it is to be remembred that the forme of the Beast is that impiety which succeeded the Dragon by communion whereof those many Kingdomes as we have said of the Romane Empire become one Beast They therefore that took this upon them are said to yeeld to the authority of the Beast Which all kindreds tongues and nations did And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the Booke of life of the Lambe slaine from Vers â— the foundation of the world If any man have an eare let him heare Now least any one being bewitched by so universall and Catholique Vers 9. consent to the lawes of the Beast should presume it to be piously and well done and that he may follow the example of so many kindreds nations and people without danger or elsâ— being discouraged and weakned with the grievousnesse of the persecution breake his covenant made with the Lambe and yeeld to worship the Beast the holy Ghost denouneeth in what state and account they are with God who shall yeeld obedience to
Kingdomes which shall so grow together by the Vers 14. government of the false Prophet their head shall fight with the Lambe yet at length the victory falling out on the part of our Lord the Lambe The Application That battell hath beene fought long since and even daily is in action this victory even in some sort iâ— accomplished but we hope shall be fulfilled sometime much more gloriously For truely out of the same tenne hornes or Kings they shall Chap. 17. be who at length shall hate the Whore whom they have so long Vers 16. borne which partly we perceive to be fulfilled shall make her desolate and naked shall eate her flesh and burne her with fire For God by whose providence it cometh to passe that with so marvellous a consent they should grow together into this Beast of the last head untill his appointed time he even the same will sometime put into their hearts that they shall execute his will also upon their Metropolis the Whore these things the Angel hath interpreted But what moreover is contained in the description of the parable Vers 4. that this Whore held in her hand a golden Cup full of abominations and filthinesse of her fornication likewise that she did Vers 5. beare her name written in her forehead that needed not the interpretation of the Angel For truely in both there is an Allusion to the custome of whores and stewes in time past Which whores were wont to drink to their Paramores philters in a golded Cup in the Stews the Cels had the name of the whores written upon them even as that of Tertullian declareth in his booke De Pudicitia under the very gates of lust under the very titles of lust But Seneca more perspicuously Controvers 2. lib. 1. Thou art called saith he a whâ—re thou stoodest in a common place a title is put upon thy Cell See also Martiall lib. 11. Epig. 46. Moreover if a whore was famous it seemeth she bare her name and title not onely written on her Cell but in her forehead Seneca intimateth that in the place cited Thy name saith he hangeth in thy forehead thou hast received the reward of adultery and the hand that was to give sacred things to God hath received rewards To which Iâ—venal also had respect Sat. 6. concerning the unbridled lust of Messalina the Empresse nuda papillis constitit auratis titulum mentita Lyciscae She stood naked with her gilded pappes bearing the title of Lyciscâ— But if that of Seneca be to be taken of the front of her Cell this also of Babylon may be so taken neither wil it be harsh for the nature of the figure which comprehendeth both as wel the Whore as the place or Brothelhouse in which she prostituteth her selfe The fall of Antichrist Chap. 15. OR The meaning of the seven Phyals as farre forth as is yet given us to understand And first Of the Phyals in generall THe holy Ghost propoundeth the history of the Phials and of At Chap. 15. the Angels pouring them out two manner of waies First in generall from the beginning of the 15. Chap. unto the end of the 5. vers where the vision of the seven Angels having seven Phyals being only briefly rehearsed before he cometh to the particular description either of the Angels or Phyals a narration is framed of another vision exhibited together with them wherein is figured for the time of the powring them out the state of the Church cleansed from idolatrous pollutions and filthinesse in that sacred Laver or Sea of the Temple not made of brasse as Solomons Vers 2 3. but of Crystall and singing the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tryumphant Song for the victory over the Beast the whole time of the effusion and that whiles yet she stood upon the brimme of the Laver as it were scarse gone out of the bath wherein she had cleansed her selfe Then he cometh to the cloathing and preparation of the Angels and to describe the Phyals particularly from those words of the 6. vers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vers 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. And the seven Angels came out of the Temple having the seven plagues clothed in pure and white linnen and having their breasts girded with golden girdles that is in their Priestly habite For take heed that thou joyne not the words which we Ezek. 44.17 18. Maiemon de vasis sanctuarii c. 10. sect 1. have set downe with those of the precedent vers for truly that which is there said of the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimonie opened in Heaven that pertaineth not to the beginning but to the event of the Phyals That is to say the Temple which in the meane space while the Phyals were poured out was filled Vers 5. with smoake from the Maiesty of God and from his power so that no man was able to enter vers 8. he allâ—deth to the seven dayes dedication as well of the Tabernacle Exod. 40. 34. as also of the Temple 1 King 8. 10. 2 Chron. 5. 13. the Phyals being past it Chap. 16. will be so cleere that the Arke of the Testimony it selfe Christ shall be apparent even as we have it at the sound of the seventh trumpet Chap. 11. 19. with which that the last of the Phyals doth contemporize hath been shewed Synch 3. part 2. * Hypotheses Suppositions concerning the Phyals particularly 1. The effusion of the Phyals signifieth the ruine of the Antichristian At Chap. 16. Beast It appeareth out of the Text for which see Synch 7. part 1. For even as that former and more ancient * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Politie of the Romane Kingdome was to be overthrowne by the plagues of the Trumpets so this last by the plagues of the Phyals This is the cause of so great liâ—â—â—esse betweene them twain sith even this last beareth the Image of the former Romane Politie 2. The seven Phyals are so many degrees of the ruine thereof For like as the Beast grew up by degrees he is also so to be abolished by degrees 3. Whatsoever then it is on which every of the Phyals is poured out that suffereth damage and losse from the Phyall since the effusion of the Phyals is the effusion of the wrath of God Chap. 15. vers 1. Therefore no interpretation can stand here whereby the effusion of a Phyall falleth out to the benefit of that upon which it is poured out 4. The Earth the Sea the Rivers the Sunne are something concerning the Antichristian Beast answering to the earth the Sea and the Sunne For all the Phyals are poured out upon the Beast therefore also every of them upon something of the Beast or at least which is inseparable from the safetie of the Beast or concerneth his benefit 5. The whole body of the Beast or the Antichristian universe is in like manner as it was done in the Trumpets tacitly compared by the
holy Ghost to the Systeme of the world whose parts are Earth Sea Rivers Heaven Lights So that the earth in the Popedome answereth to the earth in the natural World Sea to sea Rivers to rivers Sunne to sunne 6. To conclude as already I have once or twise shewed because God useth Angels as ministers of his providence for moving and governing of the motions and changes of humane affaires Chap. 16. therefore those things that are brought to passe by the the hands of many are notwithstanding attributed to an Angel as it were the ruler and guide of the thing to be done after the common manner of speaking The Exposition of the Phyals according to the rule of the suppositions The first Phyall powred upon the whole body of the Beast The Earth in the Antichristian universe doth signifie the people Vers 2. or the common sort of Christians the footstoole the more shame of Antichrist upon which as the Basis that vastnesse of Papall Hierarchie being 〈◊〉 like the Tower of Babel * Vertice ad auras aetherias tendit reacheth to the very skies The Phyall being powred out upon this Earth pertaining to the Beast it drew that disposition from the effusion that it filled the followers of the Beast with furie and madnesse as it were with ulcers and those so foule and malignant that they could not be healed nor be closed up by any Cicatrice but they would breake forth againe This was fulfilled when the Christian common people called the Waldenses Albigenses Wiclifists Hussites and by other names began every where to renounce the authoritie of the Beast calling Rome Apocaliptique Babylon and the Pope Antichrist with which blasting of its earth burning with the * Rom. 10.2 zeale of God the followers of the Beast being stricken they were wholly enflamed with the ulcers of griefe and indignation by which being enraged they for very many yeers wonderfully tyrannized with fire and Sword but in vaine for they were smitten with an evill and uncurable ulcer which the more they bestirred themselves the more it grew worse and worse with them Exod. 9.8 9. So in times past the Land of Egypt being sprinkled from Heaven with dust like ashes it filled all the Egyptians and their cattell with ulcers Now the world of the Beast is called * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spirituall Egypt Chap. 11. 8. and thereupon the ulcerous sore here is to be interpreted * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spiritually that is mystically and by analogie which is diligently to be observed in the figures of the two following plagues also taken from the same history The second Phyall upon the Sea of the World Chap. 16. of the Beast The Sea in the Antichristian world is the whole compasse of Vers 3. the Papall Society wherein not onely severall Christians but whole Nations People Kingdomes Provinces Diocesses otherwise among themselves dis-joyned and severed are gathered together in one or thus the Antichristian Sea is the compasse of the Popes jurisdiction or dominion compassing and enfolding as the Sea doth the Land men and Nations worshipping Christ The second Phyall being powred out upon this Sea presently it became as the blood of a dead body or cold and congealed blood such as is wont to be of those that are dead and slaine or of a member cut off seeing it is destitute of the influence of spirit and heat the entercourse with the fountaine of life being dissolved The sense is The Pontificiall Sea was slaine as it were with death beheading or slaughter Now this was fulfilled when by the labour of Luther and other famous reformers of the Church of that Age God wonderfully blessing their undertakings not now some single persons onely of the common people of Christendome but even whole Provinces Diocesses Kingdomes Nations and Cities renounced communion with those of the Beast and there being made a great dismembring of the dominion which was so large in times past they departed from the body of the Beast By which event the Sea of the Popes Dominion became dead for a great part of it like the blood of a dead body in which the Popes creatures could no longer breathe and live The third Phyall upon the Rivers and Fountaines of the world of the Beast The Rivers and Fountaines of waters of the Bestian world are Vers 4 5 6 7 the ministers and defenders of the Antichristian jurisdiction whether Ecclesiasticall as Iesuites and other Emissary Priests or even Secular and Lay as the Spanish champions to both of which as from that jurisdiction is committed a charge of solliciting and advancing the cause which they call Catholique in Chap. 16. like manner as the rivers derive their originall out of the Sea so also they bestow their labour and cost to the enlarging and preserving of it even as also the rivers returne to the Sea Now these Rivers whilest they at randome runne through their Channels wherein now there was no more safety for them by Gods just judgment by the effusion of the third Phyall are turned into blood in like manner as even they had heretofore imbrued the Saints of God and his Prophets with blood For from this Phyall the state of the Beast came to that passe that the ministers and defenders thereof now changing course are compelled to suffer the same slaughters wherewith they had beene accustomed to slay the Saints and Prophets of God while their government flourished as it is plainly set sorth vers 5 6. as it were a Key for the opening of the parable Which thing concerning the Ecclesiasticall Emissaries with their attendants I thinke was fulfilled when in our ENGLAND in the reigne of ELIZABETH of famous memory and also afterwards those bloody Proctors for the authoritie of the Beast were according to the lawes made for that purpose punished with death which had never before sobefallen them for solliciting the Papall cause And not they alone but the Spanish champions for the cause of the Beast who were much more to be feared then they going about to recover by force of armes the dominion of the Church of Rome thirsting for blood drank blood by full draughts especially in that memorable overthrow of the yeere 1588. and some yeers following the English and the Dutch by Sea and Land abundantly powring out the Cup of the mightie hand of God So that wonderfull great praise was given to God for his just and true judgements upon them both not onely of the Islanders themselves revenging their blood now long since shed but also of the neighbouring French groning yet under the Crosse and the Altar yea even then the Massacre of the yeere 1572. being fresh And thus far the Phyals seeme to have gonne on the rest remaine to be powred out yet The fourth Phyall upon the Sunne of the Beastian heaven What the Sunne is in the world of the Beast that we may Vers 8 9. search out first it is throughly
to be looked into what the heaven Chap. 16. may be lest otherwise wanting the line of Analogie we wander farre from the scope For the Sunne is not to be placed or conceived to be any where but in an heaven fit for it The Heaven therefore of the Antichristian world is either that supreme and universall authoritie of the Pope or any other excellent and regall Authoritie whatsoever in that world of the Beast that is in the whole universality of the Provinces acknowledging the Pope of Rome for their head For so in the physicall world all that which is upward and above the earth and waters is called Heaven in the notion of the Hebrewes and the holy Ghost Now in that Antichristian heaven according to the type of naturall Heaven there are very many Starres and of a divers magnitude Princes Dukes Prelates Lords of Countries and Kings There are also great lights like Sunne and Moone All which are carried about with the motion of the Heaven and by direction thereof keepe their courses Now of these the most glorious and by far the greatest light of all which shine in the Papall Firmament is the Germane Empire the proper inheritance of the House of Austria now for these two hundred yeers or there abouts Is not this therefore the Sunne of that Heaven Now upon this Sunne the fourth Phyall is even now to be powred out that it being pulled away from the heaven of the Beast and shining to another purpose may burne and torment the inhabitants of the Antichristian world even to blasphemy whom before it was wont to refresh with its heat and beames And behold whiles I bring to light these things which before I had written a fame hath filled the whole Christian world the godly rejoycing at it that there is now at length come from the North Gods revenger of wrongs to succour afflicted and distressed Germany a godly King happy and which way soever he cometh a conquerour whose prosperous progresse is wonderfull speedy Is not this he whom the Lord of Hosts hath destinated to execute the worke of this Phyall So I hope and heartily pray Gird thee with thy sword therefore O great King goâ— on prosperously and beare rule because of truth meeknesse and righteousnesse and thy right hand shall teach thee marvellous things Psalm 45. 3 4. The fift phyall upon the Throne Chap. 16. of the Beast The fift phyall is to be powred out upon the Throne or Seat Vers 10 11. of the Beast that is Rome it selfe Where the holy Ghost hideth not the matter any more with any vaile of Figures or Allegories haply because of the great light which shall then arise to these Prophesies by this most evident signe whereby it shall be cleere what phyals are past what to come Now by this destruction of the Citiâ— of Rome which I thinke to be the very same which is said shall immediately follow the resurrection and ascension of the witnesses Chap. 11. vers 12. 13. the name of the Pope shall not indeed utterly perish but from thence forth he shall be deprived of his glory and splendor so that for griefe they shall bite their tongues in the meane time notwithstanding persevering as yet in their impenitency their hearts being hardened they will abuse their griefs unto further blasphemy The sixt phyall upon Euphrates The sixt phyall shall be powred out upon that great River Euphrates Vers 12. that being dryed up a passage may be prepared for new enemies of the Beast to come from the East that is for the Israelites to be wonderfully converted to the pure faith and worship of Christ and now seekers for the kingdome promised so many ages since Whom the worshippers of the Beast haply shall esteeme for the army of their seigned Antichrist to arise out of the Iews God so revenging the obstinacy of their errour of whom that we are the forerunners they doubt not at this day to affirme But that I may take these Kings to come as it is said from the Sunne rising to be the Iews two things serve for it First that this is the last phyall save one at which therefore except the lews should be converted it should necessarily come to passe that they should be destroyed with the rest of the enemies of Christ amongst whom they yet remaine in that great Day of universall revenge and judgement which the next and last phyall shall bring upon them Then the place of Esay tending to that purpose Chap. 16. perswadeth me to this whence this of the Revelation is borrowed as it is very likely And the Lord saith he Chap. 11. 15 16. will destroy I had rather turne it Like as the Lord hath destroyed the tongue of the Egyptian Sea and rather so he shall lift up his hand upon the River Targum the River Euphrates in the strength of his spirit and shall smite it in the seven streames so that mâ—n may passe over it dry shod 16. And there shall be a way for the remnant of my people which shall be left by the Assyrians therefore Euphrates is understood as it was in that day wherein he ascended from the land of Egypt Let the Reader looke upon Zach. 10. 10 11. and there the Chalde Paraphrast But what at length shall we say this Euphrates is whose waters shall be dryed up For I something doubt whether it be to be taken literally or no especially in the place of Esay In the meane while to this of the Revelation I would have something of a parable and allegory interlaced and yet not very much that the Analogie of the other phyals concerning the object of the powring out may also here remaine safe For mysticall Babylon it seemeth shall have her Euphrates also even as that ancient Babylon to wit the Turkish Empire as I conceive which shall be the onely obstacle to those new enemies from the East and on that part the only defence of the Beast Neither will such understanding of Euphrates be without example of Esay himself who Chap. 8. 7. by the like parable of Euphrates hath expressed the Army of the Assyrians bordering upon the same River The Lord See Ierem. 47.2 c. saith he shall cause to come against them the Syrians and the Israelites the waters of that River so Euphrates 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is wont to be called strong and many the King of Assyria and all his glory Targum his Army c. why should not now this Euphrates of the phyals by the same reason be understood of the Turks being no lesse borderers upon Euphrates before their overflowing then the Assyrians yea inhabitants of the same tract To this it maketh not alittle that the loosing of that great Army of Horsemen long stayed at that great River Euphrates at thâ— sound of the sixt trumpet Chap. 9. 15. we interpreted to be meant of the Turks thence to overrun the Romane Empire having followed the series of the
trumpets and the apt truth of the matter Therefore by the sixt phyall this Euphrataean deluge shall be Chap. 16. dryed up Plainly according to that which is said Chap. 11. that next after that overthrow of the Citie which shall come to passe in a great earthquake which there we â—itted to the former phyall the second woe shall be past that is the plague of the sixt trumpet But by what means that is to come to passe and by what authors whether by the Iews themselves which happily Ezâ—chiel intimateth Chap. 38. and 39. who shall possesse the holy land again or by some intestine discord fitly to goe before the returne of these or happily both but in order and one after another or by some other cause we shall labour in vain in guessing as at a matter wholly yet to come Whatsoever it be this let being removed it is said a way of going to some place is prepared for these new Christians from the East and that as it seemeth to make an expedition against the Beast to the ruine of whom all the phyals serve For whence otherwise or wherefore from this drying up should so great a trembling and feare at an instant aâ—â—aile the worshippers of the Beast yea even the Devils themselves as it seemeth that it should minister occasion for so horrible and unheard of a preparation for warre as is here described unlesse they with their whole diabolicall band should feare all extremitie by the coming of these new Kings of the East The seventh phyall upon the Aire The seventh and last phyall is powred out upon the Aire that Vers 17. is on the power of the Aire or of Satan embracing and fostering in his bosome the dominions not of the Beast onely but of all the enemies of our Lord Christ in what countrey soever Now as the Beast fetcht his spirit and life from the beginning out of him so upon his power and conduct especially the last fortunes of the worshippers of the Beast shall depend which may appeare as well by the preparation of so many allyances and aydes for the warre of this last phyall to be procured as it is said by diabolicall devices as also from that that the Dragon Satan now not only by his Vicars the Beast and the false Prophet bestirreth himself to bring his matters to passe by raising this universall army but he by himselfe in this last danger of his Kingdome it may seeme shall have his proper and peculiar parts to act also vers 13. especially in calling them forth to joyne in this warre with whom Chap. 20. otherwise the Beast and false Prophet as they had at no hand prevailed by their authoritie so neither by favour or representation happily of the common danger Therefore upon so many enemies gathered together in one by the conduct of the power of the Aire and shut up as it were in a Cave in Armageddon the seventh Phyall shall thunder not Vers 16. with a humane arme now any more but with a heavenly and thunder striking revenge for it is the battell of that great day and Vers 14. of God Almightie By this the overthrow of the Beast shall be throughly consummate neither shall there be an utter overthrow of a Cell only or of so much as is within the wals of Babylon as before under the fift Trumpet but of the Citie it selfe that is of the Senate and people of Babylon wheresoever they shall be after the destruction of the Towne Moreover of all Kings and Cities till then committing fornication with Idols and false gods and of other Tyrants joyning together in opposition against the holy Church of Christ Concerning the thousand yeeres of the seventh Trumpet and other prophesies of wonderfull things contemporising therewith HEre Reader I will briefly deliver what I thinke nor in a matter incredible in respect of inveterate prejudice and the At Chap. 20. c. most abstruse of all the propheticall Scripture and most to be admired will I make any overlong discourse In so great a mystery it will be sufficient to understand the matter in generall and not curiously to search into the reasons of severall circumstances least happily enlarging more freely then is requisite that of Solomon be laid to my charge In the multitude of words there wanteth Prov. 10. 19. not sinne But concerning the matter it selfe it is grounded upon the undeceivable sequel of the Apocaliptique order which before I have demonstrated and the consent of other Scripture especially Propheticall doth wonderfully confirme the same This was so plainly perceived by the Christians of the next Age after the Apostles that Iustine Martyr witnesseth that not onely himselfe but if Chap. 20. there were at that time any entirely Orthodoxe Christians they Dial â—um Tryphoâ—c did with full consent beleeve it Which opinion of the first Christians their successours after an Age or two rejected either because it was corrupted by some additions or as indeed I suppose not rightly understood notwithstanding the heat of contention being proceeded in so farre before the matter could be brought to an end which thou mayest justly admire and grieve at that who so could not otherwise quit themselves from the force of the contrary opinion borne up by the foundation of the Revelation would rather call into question the most Divine Prophesie witnessed and sealed both by all the Disciples of the Apostles and their next successours yea and by presumptions fained for that purpose openly and boldly extenuate the authoritie thereof rather then yeeld and submit till at length having gotten a fit interpretation as they themselves then supposed of * Istius Mil. lennii this thousand yeers yeelding the Revelation to be Canonicall they desisted from their impious and fearefull enterprise But truly Reader that I may stay thee no longer in the preface I will so deliver the whole matter that as little as may be I may seeme to have departed from the received opinion concerning the day of the coming of Christ immediately following the ruine of Antichrist Doe thou weigh the matter in the fearâ— of God setting apart all prejudice and out of the judgement of charitie pardon me if any where I shall erre So therefore take it That the seventh Trumpet with the whole * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 space of the thousand yeeres and other prophesies thereto appertaining doe signifie that great Day of Iudgement 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 much spoken of by the ancient Church of the â—ewes and by Christ and his Apostles not some short space of houres as it is commonly beleeved but after the manner of the Hebrewes taking a day for time a continued space for many yeeres and circumscribed within two resurrections as it were the bounds * With the Propheâ—s every where as when they say â—n that day and otherwhere in the Old Testament And in the New Mat. 6. 11. with Luke 11.13 Ioh 16.26 2 Cor. â—
â— Heb. 3. 8 9. 13. c. likewise Chap 4 to conclude 2 Pet. 1. last vers where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for ever a Day I say first to beginne at the particular and as it were morning Iudgement of Antichrist and the rest of the living enemies of the Church by the glorious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appearing of our Lord in flaming fire and then at length to determine after the reigne of the thousand yeeres granted to new Ierusalem his most Chap. 20. holy Spouse upon this earth and after the utter destruction of new enemies yet to arise the great Day waxing toward evening and Satan being againe loosed at the universall resurrection and judgement of all the dead Which things being finished the wicked shall be cast into Hell to be tormented for ever but the Saints shall he translated into Heaven to live with Christ for ever This indeed is that time of the wrath of God upon the Gentiles and of judging the cause of them that died for Christ for which the triumphing Eldâ—rs give thankes at the sound of the seventh Trumpet Chap. 11. 18. For that then God would give reward to his servants the Prophets and Saints and them that feare his name small and great and would destroy them which destroy the earth This is that Day of Iudgement and perdition of wicked ones of which Peter 2 Epist Chap. 3. vers â— speaking presently addeth but be not ignorant of this one thing beloved to wit the day which I even now spake of that one day is with the Lord as a thousand yeeres and a thousand yeers as one day In which same day indeed the Apostle with his brethren of the same kindred the Iewes to whom he writeth expecteth that new forme of things to come of which by and by he saith vers 13. But we looke for new heavens and a new earth according to his promise wherein dwelleth righteousnesse Observe according to his promise But where was this promise of new heavens and a new earth extant when Iohn had not yet seene the Revelation except that of Esay Chap. 65. 17. and 66. 22. which promise surely whosoever shall read I should marvell if he should judge that it shall be fulfilled elsewhere then on earth This also is that Kingdome joyned with the appearance of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ ready to judge the world of which Paul to Timothy 2 Epist Chap. 4. vers 1. I charge thee before our Lord Jesus Christ who shall iudge the quicke and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdome For after the last and universall resurrection according to the same Apostle 1 Cor. 15. vers 24 25 26 27 28. Christ the last enemy being destroyed that is death shall deliver up the Kingdome to his Father that he may be subiect to him who subdued all things to himselfe so farre is he from being said then to enter upon any new Kingdome That Kingdome therefore which neither shall be before the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appearance of our Lord nor after the last resurrection Chap. 20. is necessarily to be concluded between them This is that Kingdome of the Sonne of man which Daniel saw who when the times of the horne of Antichrist were fulfilled or the times of the Gentiles come to end Luk. 21. 24. shall appeare in the clouds of Heaven when there shall be given him power glory and a Kingdome that all People Nations and Languages should serve him or when as the Angel by and by expoundeth it a Kingdome power and greatnesse of Kingdomes under the whole Heaven marke it well shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High Dan. 7. 13. 14. Also the 18.22 â—6 27. Neither yet as I said even now shall this Kingdome be after the last resurrection since the Sonne of man is not to enter upon a Kingdome then but as Paul witnesseth to lay it downe and deliver it to his Father Now that the same Kingdome is handled in both places as well by Iohn as Daniel may be proved by these two Arguments First that both begin at the same terme to wit the overthrow of the fourth or Romane Beast that of Daniel when the Beast governing under that last regiment of the horne with eyes was slaine and his body given unto the burning flame Dan. 7. 11. 2â— 27. That of the Revelation when the Beast and false Prophet that wicked Vers 10. horne in Daniel having mouth and eyes as a head are taken and both cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone Secondly from the same session of Iudgement premised to both For it will appeare that the one is borrowed from the other and altogether tend to the same purpose by comparing the words of the description of both Dan. Chap. 7.  Vers 9 I beheld till the thrones were set For so it is to be rendered with the Vulgar 70. and Theâ—d and so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a throne is used in Targum at the 15. v. of the 1. cap. of Jer. And I saw Thrones Rev. 20. 4. Vers 10 And the iudgement was set That is the Iudges as in the great Sanedrin of the Iewes to the rule whereof the whole description is framed And they sate upon them  And iudgement was given to the Saints on high that is power of judging Hence is that of Pâ—ul the Saints shall iudge the world And iudgement was given unto Chap. 20. them Vers 22. Chap. 20 Vers 22  And the Saints obtained the kingdom that is to say with the sonne of man who came in the clouds of heaven And the Saints lived and reigned with Christ a thousand yeers Furthermore I would have the Reader understand this Whatsoever almost is found from the Iews whatsoever is delivered by the Lord in his Gospel or any where in the new Testament by the Apostles concerning the day of the great judgement that is taken out of this vision of Daniel to wit that judgement to be accomplished by fire Christ to come in the clouds of heaven to come in the glory of his Father with multitude of Angels the Saints with him to judge the earth Antichrist to be abolished 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the brightnesse of his coming c. So that they goe about wholly to undermine the pillar of the Evangelicall faith concerning the glorious coming of Christ who neglecting the ancient tradition of the Church endeavour to turn this prophesie to another end Lastly that I may conclude this is that most ample kingdom which by Daniels interpretation was foreshewed to Nebuchadnezzar in that Propheticall Statue of the foure kingdoms not that of a Stone cut out of a Hill whiles yet the Series of Monarchies remained for this is the present state of the kingdome of Christ but of the Stone when they were utterly broken and defaced to become a Mountaine and to fill the
length that his seat was to be shaken and his kingdome darkned appeareth chap. 16. ver 10. Therefore five of the Vialls at the least are powred out before the sixt trumpet left sounding and I beleeve also the sixt for the seaventh Viall which is the Viall of conâ—ummation there verse 17. 18. doth therefore concurre with the beginning of the seaventh trumpet which likewise is the trumpet of consummation chap. 10. ver 6. The fourth Synchronisme Of the thousand yeeres of the Dragons or Satans being bound with the seaventh trumpet or space from the destruction of the Beast Chap. 20. That this of the binding of Sathan may the better be understood Chap. 11. that is to be premised before the demonstration that in the text it is said that then thereupon Satan is not onely cast into the bottomlesse pit but there shut up and moreover chap. 20. 3. that the Angel had sealed it up upon him that hee should no more seduce the Nations untill the thousand yeers were consummate that is had surely enclosed him that at no hand hee should come forth For it was the manner of the Hebrewes and neighbouring Nations when they would surely shut and make fast a doore they sealed it So the stone put upon the Lions denne whereinto Daniel was cast king Darius sealed with his ring and with the ring of his Lords Daniel 6. * In the Apocryphall History the servants of Daniel shut the doores of 〈◊〉 and Dâ—agâ—n verse 11. the teâ—ple of Bel and seale it with the kings ring Likewise the Jewes Matth. 27. 66. did shut the Sepulchre of our Saviour or madeit sure by seâ—ling the stone c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where is to be observed that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doe mutually expound themselves For it is one thâ—â—g to be cast downe from heaven Chap. 12. which so many apply to this place and quite another to be bound to be shut up in a bottomlesse pit and to be sealed The first taketh not away the libertie of wandring abroad and doing hurt but the other by no meanes suffereth to come out of his prison yea I dare affirme that none of those things which are related in the 20th Chapter doe appeare in the 12. neither againe concerning that which is rehearsed in the 12. Chapter is there any word extant in the 20. so far it is off that the same thing should be represented in both Let us examine it a little In the 20. Chap there are four things related of the Dragon First that hee was apprehended by the Angel which descended from heaven Secondly bound Thirdly cast into a bottomlâ—ss â—pit Fourthly that he was shut up and sealed But thou shalt finde none of these in the 12th chap. Likewise that one thing which is declared in the 12. Chapter concerning the casting down of the Dragon from heaven into the earth of that there is not one * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sillable in th 20th yea it may plainely bee gathered out of the context that that was not at all then done for it is said there that the Angel which did come to binde the dragon descended from heaâ—en therfore the dragon was even then upon the earth For otherwise wherefore should the Angel descend from heaven to apprehend him hereupon cha 12 Michael descended not froÌ„ heaven but in the very heaven he fighteth hand to hand with the divell These things thus premised let us come to the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 demonstration of the Synchronisme 1. Arg. Vnder the first six seales the Dragon or Satan was free Arg 1 and loose likewise under the first six trumpets of the seventh seale therefore it remaineth that the 1000. yeeres of the binding of Satan are cast upon the time of the seventh trumpet For that Satan or the Dragon was not bound while the six first seales did yet run their course appeareth by this that during all that space he brussling with seven heads and seven Crownâ—s fought in heaven with Michael about the child-birth of the woman as lately hath been shewed Synch 2. But neither came it to passe in the six first trumpets of the following seale for this is the time of the woman in the wildernes and of the raigning ten horned Beast as appeareth out of the first Synchronisme of this part Surely it was far wide that the Dragon should be thought to be bound while the woman lived in the wildernesse who being throwne downe by Michael from heaven did endeavour to drowne her in her â—light with the flood of waters which he cast out of his mouth and then when this tooke none effect according to his minde the earth swallowing up the flood and the woman now received into the wâ—ldernesse being inflamed with wrath and fury hee went to make warre with the remnant of her seed which kept the Commandments of God and had the testimonie of Jesus Chap. 12. verse 13 15 17. Are these tokens of Satan bound But let us see also concerning the Beast and heare how the Dragon was bound under his raigne to wit the Dragon gave his power and his throne and great authoritie and all the world wondring followed the Beast and they worshipped the Dragon which gave power unto the Beast chap. 13. verse 2 3 4. But perhaps Satan was able to doe all these things from out of his prison certainly being shut up and sealed he could not But that there may be no shifting place left and that it may plainly appear how free and loose the Dragon was yet to commit those same villanies from which being once imprisoned he is said to be restrained behold another * Aiuâ—â—â—m scholler of his the falâ—e prophet being the inseparable companion of the ten horned Beast the administrator of his Bestiall authority of whom thou hast it expresly written that he did great wonders and that he deceived the Chap 13. 13 14. inhabitants of the earth by the signes which were permitted him to doe will any one now eaâ—â—ly beleeve these Beasts carrying things thus thâ—t the 〈◊〉 that is Satan was bound that he was cast into a bottomlâ—ssâ—â—it and 〈◊〉 up that hee might not deceive the people 〈…〉 â—ccording to the 20th chap. ver 2.3 Moreover out of the trumpets themselves for halfe the time at least an arguâ—ent is not wanting of the devils libertie and freedome â—or what is that king of the locusts of the fifth trumpet which is called the angel of the bottomlesse pit whose name in Hebrew is Aâ—addon and in Greek Apollyon and whom Saint Iohn painteth out to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him who fel from Chap 〈…〉 heaven lately into the earth that very same Dragon and Satan whom Michael before the sound of the trumpets had thrust downe from heaven unto the earth Neither doe I remember that in the whole Revelation there is read of any other besides him to have fallen upon the earth neither doe I know
concured with the same armes by Amurath this Mechmetes his Father and the Pelquenesians brought to obedience and by Mechmets himselfe were wholley subdued presently after the taking of Constantinople Corinthus also being conqureed by this manner of ordinance To this of their weapos is added another thing concerning the nature of the horses and horsemen That their power was not in 〈◊〉 9. their mouth only of which hither vnto but also in their tayles For their tayles were like serpents having heads by which they doe hurte That is the same which before hath binne said of the Saracens is true also of the Turkes To wit that they brought destruction where they came not onely by hostile force but also by the trayne of their Mahammedan imposture Whence it is that these are noe lesse serpents in their tayle then the Saraceinâ—all Lâ—â—usts whose religion they receaved but that one kind of serpentine tayle is attributed to these and another to them that ariseth from the naturall diversity of the shape of both the Locusts and horses whereupon a sharpe tayle of Seorpions to those but Chap. 9. to these tayles with serpentine heades did beste agree But the rest of the men which were not killed with these plagues veâ—â— 20. or which escaped these plagues repented not of the workes of their hands that they should not worship Devils and idolls of golde and silver and brasle and stone and wood which neyther 〈◊〉 see nor heare nor walke c. But who these may be it wil be no hard matter to gather since in the whole Romanâ— Empire or on this side Euphrates there are none now which worship Images O shamefull and grivous but christians Must it not needs be then that the very same worship Divells also since both is ascribed to the same in this place But what Devills then thou wilt say Shurely not those which they themselves hold for vncleane spirits and so call them for what christian wittingly and willingly would worship such but those Demone which by the heathen theologists were vnderstood by this name Damonia I meane Deastri consecrated men deiâ—yed see Hisiod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vers. 121. in simposiâ— by the names both of Angells and of dead men as it were mediators betwenne God and men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sayeth Plato 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Devils are of a midle nature betweene the Gods and mortall men Likewise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God hath noe society with man but all comunion and conference of Gods with men is by mediation of spirits or Devills The same the other Platonists and the most philosaphers of other sects except the Epicurians doe hold I will only rite the words of Apuleius where in the de Dhmonio socratis opinion of Plato and the rest is fully and perspicuously contayned Devills sayth he are meane powers by whom both our desiers and Let the Redet see Austin de civit dei lib 8. ct 9. merits have accesse to the Gods carriers betweene mortall men and those that dwell in heaven hence of prayers hence of gifts which carry hither and thither thence petitions thence supplies or certeyne interpreters or bearers of recomendations Neither Chap. 9. sayth he will it stand with the majesty of the heavenly Gods to take care of these thinges Doubtles they had two sorts of Gods heavenly who were continually resident in heaven and would not abase themâ—selves to these earthly things nor be defiled with the thought of them these propperly and singulerly were called Gods others Divells who being as it were mediating divine power ministers of the heavenly and chife Gods had the oversight Daemones of humane affayers Those the holy cripture if I conjecture rightly calleth the hoaste of heaven these especyally those that you â—â—y see Hieroâ— vpon 22 chap. of Ezech. likewise vpon Hoâ—â—â— chap. 2. and vpon Esay 46. Demonem vers 5. 13. they made of dead men Baales of all the kinge of the Babilonians or Asyrians or in the Caldâ— pronunciation Bel who first was consecrate by his for a Devil whence after it came to passe that such divine powers were called Baalim that is Baales as Baalâ—peor Baal-berith Baal-zebub Baal-melach â—er 19 even as from the first Emperor Julius Casaer the other Romane Emperors afterwards are called Caesars But how this doctrine of Divels agreeth with the worshipping of Saints and Angels by the counterfeit-christians the thing it Dâ—monâ— selfe speaketh with this only difference that with them there were many supreame or heavenly Gods with us there is only one the Father of all And truly there ought to be but one mediator also our Lord Jesus Christ but that the false prophets have brought in more like the heathen Dâ—mones Plainely according to what Paâ—l hath prophesied 1 Tim. 4. 1. 2 3. That it should come to passe in the latter times by the hypocrisie of false speakers faining lyes of Deâ—strorum miracles and through countorfeit holinesse of the Monkes abstaining from marriage and meates by reason of their â—ow that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is this doctrine of Divels should be brought back againe into the world The interpretation will aptly serve if thou take the ginitive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 passively that it may be the doctrine concerning devils as heb 6. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. The doctrine of baptisme the doctrine of lying on of handes For surely that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the hypocrocy of false teachers and what followeth that the order of construction maybe safe it is expounded by the government of to substantives 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the preposition setting forth the inâ—trument and cauâ—eâ— which according to the Hebrew phrase is familiar But I have declared this more at large in another place in a peculiar tracte neither is it my minde here to repeate it Of the third wâ—e Trumpet OR The sound of the 7. trumept The vision of the sixt trumpet being ended for there is on Chap. 10. Yerâ—e 1. 2. only vision of one trumpet even as of the seales and vialls the next place in order of things was due to the sound of the seventh which notwithstanding being put of to the prophecie of the little booke to which the spirit of God is now to passe lest any thing Veâ—se 6. in the meane space on his part should be wanting to the fulfilling of the prophecie of the â—eales now to be ended he supplyeth the courâ— of the trumpets sound which was to be deterred with an oath wherein the event of the trumpet is shewed at least in generall To Yerâ—e â— wit that it shall come to pasâ—e when that Angel shall sound that the Romane Beaste being destroyed the times of the last head being come to an end the mystery of God shal be finished as he hath declared to his servants the prophets For so long agoe it was foretold to Daniell that the fourth Beast being slayne the
Chap. 10. king of the saints should rule through the whole world c. 7 and together that glorious promise of restoring Israel should be fulfilled chap. 12. But that this Kingdome is it which hee called the finishing of the mystery of God that acclamation subjoyned to the same Trumpet afterward sounding suffereth us not to doubt the Kingdomes of this world are become our Lords and his Christs and he shall raâ—gne for evermore That it is wonder that there are any Cha. 11. v. 15. who should understand it otherwise Therfore that time of which the Angell here sweareth that it shall be no more cannot be any Verse 6. other then either the time of the foure Monarchies universally or which is more neere but the same in effect of the last Kingdom that is the Roman to wit the last period of a time times and halfe a time since the same which here with Iohn is said shall be when time shall be no more that with Daniel was shewed should bee then when that period of the last times shall be accomplished And surely this consummation of the mysterie of God is the matter of the seventh Trumpet to which are added as companions seven thunders For they are not the matter it selfe which the Trumpet doth exhibit but a temporary thereof To wit while the Angell maketh his proclamation concerning the mysterie of the Trumpet seven thunders utter their voyces He cried saith Versâ— 3. he with a great voyce as a Lion roareth and when hee had cryed seven thunders uttered their voices that is when he had begun his cry seven thunders also began to speake Neither can they but contemporize with the seventh Trumpet since that which followeth the sixth Trumpet necessarily falleth into the seventh But what is this voyce of thunder whether is it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bath Kol If it bee this the seven thunders are so many Oracles by which the space of the seventh Trumpet is distinguished as it were by certaine periods but of a matter not at all to be knowne nor to bee perceaved but in the proper times which the prohibition to Iohn of writing the voyces of the seven thunders given from heaven doth intimate Seale up thâ—se things which the seven thunders have Verse 4. spoken and write them not We shall therefore enquire in vaine of those things which God would have kept secret and to be reserved for their owne times And thus hath the seventh Trumpet beene fitly enough accommodâ—ted in its place and order although the discoverie of the sound thereof wherein the whole mysterie is fully unlockt be reserved Chap. 10. to another place The purpose of which reservation with the whole frame of such disposition although it be touched in the Key of the Revelation yet it will be neither needlesse nor unprofitable to repeate it here againe and a little more at large since the consideration thereof doth escape most of the interpreters The diligent contemplation of the body of the Apocaliptique visions fraâ—ed by the characters of the Synchronismes gave me the first light here and will give light to thee ò Reader also except I be deceaved But the matter that I may discover it with what plainnesse and brevitie of speech I came standeth thus Both prophesies as well of the Seales as of the little Booke are concluded with one and the same issue of things to wit with that which the seventh Trumpet doth exhibit For the declaring whereof the Holy Ghost hath deferred the more full opening of the sound thereof the mysterie of the seventh Trumpet being touched before in its proper place in the order of the Trumpets lightly and as much as was there needfull untill a passage being made to the new prophesie of the Little book Chap. 10. from the eighth verse to the end he had drawne up the first vision thereof the course of the Revelation being likewise finished to the same issue of things Chap. 11. 14. and then that Mysterie of the seventh Trumpet the common Catastrophe of both prophesies and only generally published in the former prophesie which was of the sealâ—s is here the sound at length being uttered fully expounded and that surely in a most apt order when as otherwise without a fore-knowledge of either propheâ—ie that which depended upon both could not have bin understood And hence it commeth to passe that the businesse of that translation is not taken in hand by any Angell oâ— the Trumpets but bâ— that great and excellent Angell who held in his hand the Little booke the Symbole of the second prophesie which was presently Verse 8 9. to be eaten by Iohn For it was requisite for him who should reveale the second prophesie that the explaining of the sound thereof whicâ— contained the Catastâ—ophe of either prophesie should be deferred thither Yea if that Angell bee Christ the Lord as it seemeth may be gathered by his more royall attyre and the whole â—â—rniture this right of suspending the last sounding in favour of the other prophesie doth agree to none so much as to him who Chap. 10. was the Author of both the prophesies Hitherto truely hee had appeared in forme of a Lambe but now it seemeth he had put on the person of an Angell for that he was about to reveale to Iohn the same mysterie of Consummation which hee had revealed long before to Daniel in the same apparâ—tion of an Angell and in the same rite and words of an oath you may see DANIEL Chapter 12. verse 6. 7. with the fifth verse of the tenth Chapâ—er FINIS THE INTERPRETATION of the little Booke or of the other System of the visions of the Revelation according to the rule of the Apocaliptique Key THe space of the Seales being runne Chap. 10. over wherein the affaires of the Empire were described let us proceed to the other prophesie by much the more noble as containing the fates of the Church or of Religion Iohn is prepared to it by the delivering and eating up of an open Booke as it were to take the degree of the facultie of prophesying And the voyce saith he which I heard from heaven spake unto Vers 8. me againe to wit that voyce as of a Trumpet speaking Chap. 4. 1. and sayed Goe and take that little booke which is open in the hand of the Angel which standeth upon the Sea and upon the earth I went therefore unto the Angel and sayed unto him give me Vers 9. the little booke and he sayed unto me take it and eate it up c. Furthermore since the prophesie now to be revealed as the knowledge of all divine and hidden things especially to come should be in the first receipt indeed sweet and pleasant but by Chap. 11. reason of the lamentable estate of the Church contained in the hidden part thereof bitter as Aloes or for the obscuritie happily of those Allegories and Types where with it is covered it should much perplex