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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20217	The ruine of Rome: or An exposition vpon the whole Reuelation Wherein is plainly shewed and proued, that the popish religion, together with all the power and authoritie of Rome, shall ebbe and decay still more and more throughout all the churches of Europe, and come to an vtter ouerthrow euen in this life before the end of the world. Written especially for the comfort of Protestants, and the daunting of papists, seminary priests, Iesuites, and all that cursed rabble. Published by Arthur Dent, preacher of the word of God at South-Shoobery in Essex.	Dent, Arthur, d. 1607.; Culverwell, Ezekiel, 1553 or 4-1631.	1603 (1603)	STC 6640; ESTC S117456	184,102	332

to passe nor fulfilled and therfore more hard for them to interprete and vnderstand for those things in this Prophesie which are not yet fulfilled are hardest for vs of this age to vnderstand and resolue of But when a Prophesie is fulfilled it is an easie matter to say this was the meaning of the Prophet Some things in this booke were fulfilled before the daies of the Fathers and some thinges in the daies wherein they liued and both those they did clearely vnderstand Some things were fulfilled after their daies as the rising and raigning of the great Antichrist which they did not so clearly see into Hereupon it commeth to passe that many things which vnto them were very obscure are vnto vs most cleare manifest as being already fulfilled insomuch that all which are not wilfully blinded may see and vnderstand them yea the most vnlearned Be not therefore discouraged gentle Reader at the darknesse difficultie of this booke Doe not preiudicially resolue and set downe with thy selfe that the naturall sense of this booke cannot be giuē nor the true meaning found out but that we must be faine when we haue done all that we can to rest in vncertaine coniectures some following one sense and some an other as seemeth most like and probable But no man can say confidently and precisely this is the meaning of the holy Ghost Oh be not of that minde good Christian brother for if we haue not an vndoubted certainty for the sense meaning of this Prophesie we are neuer the nearer and that is it which the Papists would driue vs vnto But know for a certainty that the naturall sense of this booke is to be found out as well as of other bookes of the Scripture And that we might not be left to our selues in the darke and to our vncertaine coniectures and doubtfull interpretations Behold the mercifull goodnesse of God to his Church who himselfe doth expound the darkest and most misticall things in this Prophesie or at least so many of them and so far as the rest are thereby laid open and made manifest The Lord himselfe expoundeth some things in the first Chapter which giue cleare light to the first vision The Angell expoundeth diuers other things In the 17. Chapter which is the key of this prophesie the Angel doth of purpose open and interpret all the greatest doubts of this booke as who is the Whore of Babylon who is the beast what be his seuen heads what be his 10. hornes what be the waters which the woman that is the Whore of Rome sitteth vpon Moreouer for the better vnderstanding of this Prophesie we must note that the writings of Moyses and the Prophets vnto which there bee sundry allusions and from the which sundry things are drawne do cleare diuers things in this Reuelation The knowledge of antiquities ministreth much aide to the vnderstanding of this Prophesie The knowledge of the histories of the Church and the particular state thereof in diuers ages bringeth great light The obseruation of the phrases and maner of speech vsed by the old Prophets doth helpe also not a little The serious and deepe weighing of all the circumstances of the text conferring one thing with another the cōsequents with the antecedents the antecedents with the consequēts furthereth greatly for the bolting out of the true natural sense And furthermore as the spirit of God is the author of this prophesie so the same spirit is the best interpreter of it doth opē and reueale it to all such as vsing al other good meanes are earnest and humble suters vnto God for the illumination thereof whereby they may vnderstand both this and all other the mysteries of his will which the Apostle saith God hath reuealed vnto vs by his spirit For the spirit searcheth all things yea the deepe things of God To all this may be added the knowledge of artes tongues and the learned writings and interpretations of sundry excellent men which all do bring great furtherance to the vnderstanding of this Prophesie Sith then there be so many helpes for the opening and expounding of this Reuelation why should any be discouraged from the reading and study thereof But if any man demaund a reason why Saint Iohn writeth this Reuelation in such misticall and allegoricall maner I answere that there may be diuers reasons yeelded hereof First that the world being blinded might fulfill the things herein specified Secondly because Iohn was to publish this Reuelation in such maner and forme as he had receiued it from Iesus Christ which was figuratiue and allegoricall Thirdly because it was much more wisedome to foretel the destructiō of the Romaine Empire which al that time bare the sway almost ouer all the world vnder couert and figuratiue speeches then in plaine tearmes least the Romaine Princes should rage more against the Christians euen in that respect The like also may be said for Daniels darke maner of deliuering his Prophesie For if he had vttered those things in plaine tearmes which he spake darkely and allegorically it might haue cost him his life For the heathen enemies would neuer haue endured to heare that all their Empires glory and renowne should fall one after another and one by another and that the Iewes were the onely holy people whome God did defend and to whome in the ende God would not onely giue a quiet possession of their owne land and kingdome but also a kingdome euerlasting that through their Messias and great deliuerer But to grow to a conclusion gentle Reader thou shalt find in this poore trauell First an exposition of the first 13. Chapters after thou shalt find the next 6. Chapters vnto the twentith reduced all to one head which is to proue the 5. points propounded and last of all the 3. Chapters following briefely and plainely expounded If any through lazinesse will not or through want of leisure cannot read ouer this short trauel yet for his cōfort let him read those things only which are written vpō the 14. Chapter And thus Christian Reader hoping that thou wilt not neglect that which may be for thine owne good I commēd thee to God to the word of his grace which is able to build further and to giue thee an inheritance among all them that are sanctified Thine in the Lord Arthur Dent. Vpon the 14. Chapter of this Booke these fiue points are handled First that Babylon in this Booke of the Reuelation is Rome Secondly that Rome shall fall and how Thirdly that Rome shall fall finally and come to vtter desolation in this life before the last iudgement Fourthly by whom and when it shall be ouerthrowne Fiftly the causes of the vtter ruine and ouerthrow thereof Apoc. 18. vers 4. I heard a voice from heauen say Goe out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sinnes and that ye receiue not of her plagues THE RVINE OF Rome or an Exposition vpon the Reuelation Wherein is plainly

and of the straunge accidents and euents which followed vpon the opening of euerie seuerall seale For in this chapter sixe of the seales are opened by the Sonne of God and the mysteries thereof disclosed vnto Iohn that he might declare thē to the Church for the comfort and instruction thereof This chapter containeth sixe principall things arising from the seuerall opening of the six seales and they are these vers 1.2 vers 3.4 vers 5.6 vers 7.8 vers 9.10.11 The spreading of the Gospell Great persecutions following therevpon Famine Pestilence Complaints of the Martyrs vers 12.13.14.15.16.17 Fearefull vengeance vpon the worlde for sheading the bloud of Gods Saints vers 1 After I beheld when the Lambe had opened one of the seales and I heard one of the foure beastes say as it were the noise of thunder Come and see Now after all these former matters Iohn did verie intentiuely fixe his eye vpon the Lambe being now about to open and vnclaspe the first seale of the booke and all on the sudden hee was admonished and stirred vp by one of the Cherubins that he should drawe neare and come vp and take knowledge of these great and important matters which were now to be reuealed vnto him And to the end that he might be throughly awaked and stirred vp to attention in so waightie matters it is saide that the voice of the Angell which spake vnto him was like the voice of a thunder So that hereby Iohn was throughly rowsed fitted and prepared to receiue these heauenly visions Therefore I beheld and loe there was a white horse vers 2 and he that sate on him had a bowe and a crowne was giuen vnto him and he went forth conquering that he might ouercome Iohn keeping his eye steadie vpon the Lambe hauing now opened the first seale doth in a vision see a white horse c. By this white horse is meant the ministerie of the worde of God and the first preaching of the Gospell by Christ and his Apostles and the successors in the Primatiue Church chapter 19.11 The white horse is taken in this sense in the 19. chapter of this Prophesie where our Lorde Iesus beeing vpon this white horse beateth downe all his enemies before him For who is able to resist his worde and the ministrie of it In the first chapter of the Prophesie of Zacharie our Lord Iesus purposing to build vp his church being in a very ruinous estate after the captiuitie is brought in by the Prophet on horsebacke both for the reedifying of his Church and also for the punishment of the Babilonians his enemies and the enemies of his people In the 45. Psalme the church the spouse saieth thus to her beloued husbande Christ Gird the sworde vpon thy thigh ô thou mightie one the sworde of thy glorie and comely beautie and with thy comely beautie ride on prosperously for the businesse of truth and of meeke righteousnesse c. Now in all these places of the scripture wee do plainely see that when Christ goeth about either to broach his Gospell or build vp his Church or to be reuenged on the enemies thereof hee is brought in on horsebacke And this doth strongly confirme and warrant this exposition seeing it is not any imagined sense or new deuice of mans braine but such a sense as other places of scripture will verie fully beare out Moreouer if wee doo seriously consider and deepely weigh the purpose and intendment of the holy Ghost in all this it will not a little helpe and further this exposition For the chiefe scope and drifte of all is to describe the state of the Church from the Apostles time to the ende of the worlde chapter 1.1 For this Prophesie serueth to shewe vnto Iohn the thinges that must shortlye come to passe Now wee all knowe by blessed experience that the first estate of the Church did consist in the preaching of the Gospell by Christ and his Apostles and therfore this must needs be vnderstood of that time estate of the church For Iesus Christ is he that sitteth vpon this white horse that is by the ministery of his Gospell he conquereth and subdueth the nations vnder him There may bee three reasons alledged why this horse is saide to be of a white colour First because the doctrine of the Gospell which was preached by Christ and his Apostles was pure and sincere being without all spots and blots of error and heresie For the white colour in the scripture doth signifie puritie sinceritie innocency ioy glory and beautie Secondly because the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles was full of ioy and comfort As it is saide of Samaria after Phillip had set the Gospell abroache there that there was great ioy in that Citie Thirdly because the ministery of Christ and his Apostles was very glorious and beautifull as it is written How beautifull are the feete of them which bring the glad tydings of peace c. And againe with thy comely beautie ride on prosperously for the businesse of truth c. If any man demaund a reason of Christs sitting on horse-backe and riding forth on horse-backe I answere that it doth most fitly represent that maruellous swiftnesse wherewith the light of the Gospell should be carried and spread not only throughout all Iudea Samaria and Galile but also throughout all the kingdomes of the world For is it not a wonder to consider how swiftly and as it were on horseback and also how farre ouer the Heathen nations within a fewe yeares after Christs ascention the doctrine of the Gospell was preached and of multitudes imbraced He rode forth indeed prosperously and swiftly vpon this white horse euen the ministrie of the Gospell for the businesse of truth and of meeke righteousnesse and his right hande wrought fearefull things as saith the Psalmist Moreouer it is here saide that Iesus Christ hath a bowe in his hand And in the 45. Psalme from whence it seemeth all these phrases and speeches are borrowed hee is saide to haue sharpe arrowes in his hande whereby he pierceth the heart of his enemies Now this bowe and arrowes doo signifie the piercing power of the Gospell whereby the world hath bene subdued vnto Christe For all the arrowes of the Gospell which Christ shooteth out of this bowe which is euen the tongue of his ministers doo sticke in the hearts of men yea they pierce into all the secret places of the soule For the ministrie of the Gospell is liuely and mightie in operation sharper then any two edged sworde and entreth through euen vnto the deuiding asunder of the soule and the spirit of the ioynts and the marrowe and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart Heere is yet further mention made of a crowne which was giuen vnto Christ and that hee went forth conquering that hee might ouercome This crowne signifieth the victorie which he getteth ouer the worlde with his bowe and arrowes For the Psalmist

For they are virgins that is chast worshippers of God which are not polluted with the defilemēts of Antichrist These follow the Lamb Christ whersoeuer he goeth They heare his voyce they professe his worship and obey his doctrine they abhorre Antichrist they followe not the beast nor receiue his marke They are bought from men and bought from the earth as it is sayd before that is they are redeemed and bought with a price from the corrupt lumpe of mankind and cursed race of Adam that they might bee the first fruits vnto God and to the Lambe that is wholy consecrated to his worship and to serue him in righteousnesse and true holinesse all the dayes of their life In their mouthes was found no guile That is they doe declare their innocencie and vprightnesse both in their words and works as those which Christ hath chosen out of this world and bought with a price thorough his bloud in whom they are without spot or speck before God vers 6 Then I saw another Angell flie in the middest of heauen hauing an euerlasting Gospell to preach vnto them that dwell on the earth and to euery nation and kinred and tongue and people vers 7 Saying with a loud voice Feare God and giue glorie vnto him for the houre of his iudgement is come and worship him that made heauen and earth and the sea and the fountaines of waters Hitherto the holy Ghost hath taught vs how the Church was preserued vnder the tyrannie of Antichrist and greatest waues of persecutions and that euen then they did purely and faithfully worship the true God Now he proceedeth to foreshew the ruine and downfall of Antichrist and plainely to prophesie the vtter decay of the kingdome of Babell This doctrine therefore we are to hearken vnto with great attention and cheerefulnesse because it doth so much concerne our good the good of the whole church also because we liue in the dayes wherin we see it is in part fulfilled First therefore wee are to vnderstand what is meant by this Angell heere mentioned to wit not anie celestiall Angell or inuisible spirit as it is sundrie times taken before but by this Angell and the two Angels following are meant all the faithfull Ministers of the Gospell which should bee raised vp in these last dayes for the ouerthrow of Rome and the deliuering of the Church from vnder the captiuitie of Antichrist which may plaine●y appeare by this that it is said this Angell preacheth the euerlasting Gospell vnto them that dwell on the earth which cannot properly agree to the celestiall spirits Wee haue heard out of the tenth chapter that Iesus Christ did open the little booke which is the Bible and did giue authoritie to his faithfull Ministers to goe preach and publish the doctrine thereof to manie nations countries and kingdomes chapter 10.11 nowe vnto that agreeth this which is heere spoken of and is a further opening and declaring of that which is there set downe For as there Iesus Christ commeth downe from heauen and openeth the little booke which had beene long shut vp vnder the darknesse of Poperie and the smoake which came out of the bottomlesse pit so heere Christ Iesus raiseth vp his faithfull Ministers and preachers to publish and proclaime the doctrine of the Gospell which had long lyen hidde vnder the outragious persecutions of the two monstrous and most hideous beasts chapter 18.1 To this also agreeth that which is written in the eighteenth chapter of this Booke where Saint Iohn seeth an Angell come downe from heauen hauing great power so that the earth was lightened with his glorie By which Angell is meant all the Preachers of this age And the Angell is saide to haue great power For what is more powerfull then the ministerie of the word And moreouer it is sayd that the earth was lightened with his glorie that is with the brightnesse of the preaching of the Gospel whereby the darkenesse of Poperie was dispersed and driuen away and Babylon falleth vpon it as there you may reade and as heere we shall see the like effect by and by Moreouer it is heere sayd that this Angell flieth in the middest of heauen that is verie swiftly carrieth this euerlasting Gospell thorough all the Churches For when Gods appointed time was come wherein he would goe about the ouerthrowe of Poperie he caused his euerlasting Gospell to be set abroach and to spread ouer many kingdoms and nations as wee see this day Now because these kingdoms where God would haue the knowledge of his Gospell diuulged were manie and great therefore heere is expedition required and this Angell doth carie it not standing but flying And all this we see perfectly fulfilled with our eyes when God raised vp Luther Zuinglius Melancthon Peter Viret Caluin Bucer Bullinger Peter Martyr and all their worthy successours vnto this day which haue spred the euerlasting Gospell verie farre and caried it verie swiftly ouer England Scotland Germanie Denmarke Polonia Sweuia Russia and many parts of France and Flaunders Another reason why this Angell is said to flie in the middest of heauen is because no power of man shall euer be able to stay the course of this euerlasting Gospel which this Angel carieth abroad no more then men are able to stoppe the course of the Sunne in the heauens or a cloud in the skie For this Angel flyeth in the midst of heauen far aboue the reach of the beast and al Kinges and Potentates that stand for the kingdom of the beast Therefore let them doe al what they can they shal neuer be able to stop the course of the Gospel For it is called the arme of God his very arme holdeth it forth to the world and who is able to bend it in or to turne it backward There be three reasons why the Gospell is called euerlasting First because it is in his owne nature euerlasting as it is written the worde of the Lord indureth for euer Secondly because it putteth vs in possession of euerlasting things As it is written Thy word O Lord endureth for euer in heauen Thirdly principally because as it was long before Antichrist was hatched so it shal continue when he and his kingdome is dead and rotten Saying with a loud voice Feare God ver 7 and giue glory vnto him c. Here is sette down the doctrine which this Angel preacheth with a loud voice that is with great zeale The summe whereof is this Feare God and giue glory vnto him and worship him that made heauen and earth c. The sense is that the true and euerliuing God should only be feared and worshipped and all glory should be giuen to him alone through Christ and none to Antichrist none to Cardinals and Legats none to Angelles none to Saintes none to images roods crosses and crucifixes Here then is set downe an abridgement of the doctrine of this euerlasting Gospell namely that men should onely feare God and worship him and

be cared for to be made much of and to want nothing For indeed a good Minister is a Iewel of price A good Minister is as a friend in court which we say is better then penny in purse A good Minister is like a candle which spendeth it selfe to giue light to others A good Minister is like a cocke which by the clapping of his wings awaketh himselfe and by his crowing awaketh others For a good Minister by his priuate studies praiers meditations awaketh him selfe and by his publike preaching awaketh others The scripture affirmeth a good Minister to be the very glory of Christ And againe that a good Minister is a singular blessing of God For the Lord himselfe saith I will take you one of a citie and two of a tribe and will bring you to Zion and I will giue you Pastors according to my heart which shall feede you with knowledge vnderstanding Now then if a good Minister be so great a blessing of God and so pearelesse a pearle how great is the sinne of those which contemne them and treade their Ministrie vnder foote as vile and nothing worth Our Lord Iesus saith of all such He that despiseth you despiseth me Let those scoffers and scorners therefore take heede how they despise Christ for assuredly he wil not long put it vp at their hands If any man demaund a reason why all these Epistles are specially sent and directed to the Angels or Pastors of the Churches seeing Iohn before chap. 1. verse 11. is commanded to write them to the Churches of Asia I answer that he writing to the Pastors excludeth not the Churches but in them or vnder them he writeth to the whole Churches as it plainely appeareth in the conclusion of euery Epistle when hee saith Let him that hath an eare heare what the spirit saith to the Churches Then that which is spoken to the Angell of the Church is spoken to the Church The reason why the speech is specially directed to the Pastor of euery church is because the good or bad estate of the church for the most part dependeth vpon the Minister For commonly we see it commeth to passe Such a Pastor such people Such a shepheard such sheepe Such a builder such building Such a husbandman such husbandrie And as the Prophet saith Like Priest like people For we may obserue in all these Epistles that where the Minister is commended the people are cōmended and where the Minister is discommended the people are discommended also So that they stand and fall sinke and swim together As concerning the person from whom these Epistles are sent it is Iesus Christ who is very gloriously described of his diuerse qualities in the entrance of euery one of these Epistles First in the Epistle to the Church of Ephesus it is said These things saith he that holdeth the seuen starres in his right hand and which walketh in the middest of the seuen golden Candlestickes Secondly in the Epistle to the church of Smyrna These things saith hee that is first and last which was dead is aliue Thirdly to the church of Pergamus Thus saith he which hath the sharpe sword with two edges Fourthly to Thyatira These things saith the sonne of God who hath eies like a flame of fire and his feete like fine brasse Fiftly to the church of Sardis These things saith he that hath the seuen spirits of God and the seuen starres Sixtly to the church of Philadelphia it is thus said of Christ These things saith he that is holy and true which hath the key of Dauid which openeth no man shutteth shutteth and no man openeth Lastly to Laodicea it is thus said These things saith Amen the faithfull and true witnesse the beginning of the creatures Now then wee doo plainely see how gloriously Iesus Christ is described of his seuerall properties in euerie one of these Epistles and what honourable and magnificent titles are giuen vnto him and all to this ende to moue attention and to worke in vs a reuerence of so great a personage that wee might more seriously regarde and deepely ponder the things which proceede from so great a maiestie For we see and know by cōmon experience that almost euery mans words are heeded and regarded according to the opinion reuerence which is had of his person Sith then that euery one of these Epistles is fronted with this great authoritie Thus saith the sonne of God Thus saith Christ Thus saith Alpha Omega therefore wee ought to giue diligent heede to the things herein contained So likewise we reade in the Epistle to the Hebrewes that after the holy Ghost had very notably described the person of Christ and extolled him far aboue the Angels all other creatures hee giueth the vse of it in the beginning of the second chapter saying Therfore we ought to giue more diligent heede to his doctrine And thus much concerning the Exordium or entrance of these seuen Epipistles touching the person to whom and the person from whom these Epistles are sent Now it followeth to speake a word or two of the generall propositiō contained in these words I know thy workes We read in all these Epistles how the Son of God doth praise some of the churches dispraise others commend some of the Pastors and discommend others Now hee that will praise or dispraise must specially looke to this that he be vpon a good ground and therefore Iesus Christ before he enters into any praising or dispraising commending or reprouing doth first protest that hee knoweth their workes is priuie to all their particular actions yea their very thoughts and therefore cannot erre or be deceiued in his censures True it is indeed that men may erre in their opinions censures of others because they know not mens harts with what affections things are carried Men I say may praise or dispraise too much or too little But Iesus Christ whose eies are as a flame of fire and which searcheth the raines cannot faile one iot nor erre a haire breadth as we say either in commēding or discommending and therefore he stoppeth their mouthes at the first dash so as they can haue nothing to reply when he saith I know thy works I know wel inough what thou art what thou hast bin I am not deceiued in thee I know thy sitting downe rising vp am accustomed to al thy waies And this briefly of propositiō The narration as is aforesaid cōtaineth the matter of the Epistles consisting of praises dispraises admonitions reprehensions threates and promises Touching the first we find that some churches are wholy commended others wholy discommended others partly commended partly discommended As for example the Pastor people of Smyrna and Philadelphia are generally commēded for all things and discommended for nothing there is no fault found with them that is no grosse fault as in others for they were not without commō corruptions and infirmities

should fulfill them might be blinded whilest the eyes of Gods elect are opened to see into the truth of all these matters Well to come to the point Saint Iohn doth onely heere set downe the numeratiue letters of the beasts name Hee wrote in Greeke and he onely setteth downe three Greeke letters or characters which in Greeke numeration make sixe hundred sixtie sixe Now further wee are to note that the numeratiue letters of the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doe make iust this number And yet further we are to obserue as a verie speciall thing that Irenaeus an ancient Father of the Church who liued verie neere vnto the Apostles times mentioneth this worde Lateinos as the name of the beast And moreouer affirmeth that it was a common receiued opinion in his time and before that the Beast should be so called Now then let vs consider how this fitteth First we know that the numeratiue letters of Lateinos doe iustly fit Saint Iohns Greeke numeratiue letters Secondly we know that Antichrist is the head of the Latine Church or Latine Empire and therefore this verie Lateinos For here we doe not enquire after the name of anie particular man but about the name of a kingdome for the beast is a kingdome and a succession of men Now Italy in old time was called Latinum the Italians Latini which noteth of what countrey the beast should come Moreouer the beasts name or name of the Romane Empire is Lateinos because the Empire both vnder the heathen tyrants and the Popes especially had all their religion seruice prayers lawes decrees writings and translations in Latine all was in Latine Latine The Pope preferred his Latine translation of the Bible before the Hebrue and Greeke originals Thus then it is Saint Iohn telleth vs flatly that the number of the beast is sixe hundred sixtie sixe Irenaeus saith that Lateinos is his name which containeth iust that number Therefore heere wee haue his name heere hee is found For if his name bee Lateinos wee neede search no further wee know who it is we know who is meant for is not the Pope Lateinos are not the succession of them Latini are they not the heads of the Latine Church and Latine Empire Haue they not all their worship and seruice in Latine Are they not Latines for what is the name of the Romane Empire but Lateinos And what is the name of the Popish Hierarchie but Lateinos True it is indeed which the papists say that manie names may bee inuented whose letters make this number but the Spirit of God speaketh not of fained names for thereof can come nothing but vncertaintie but he willeth vs to count the number of his name which then the beast had that is Lateinos I doe thus then conclude The beast is a kingdome and the Papacie is the kingdome of the Latines Therefore the Papacie is the beast The papacie is Lateinos and containeth the number of the beast For what other monarchie can bee shewed since this Reuelation was giuen whose numeratiue letters containe this foresaid number Assuredly none And therefore out of all doubt Saint Iohn pointeth at the Roman Empire and monarchie of the Popes For Lateinos doth both containe the number of the beast according to Saint Iohns computation and also his name which is the Latine Empire or Romane Empire And thus haue wee heard the description of these two huge and monstrous beasts the sea beast and the land beast which both from the Apostles times hitherto haue indeede played the beasts against Christ and his Church and still doe play the beasts and will neuer cease playing the beasts till their hornes and hoofes heads and bodies be cleane cut off which will be shortly as we shall heare anon CHAP. XIIII WE haue heard in the former chapter the description of the two great and dreadfull beasts We haue also heard how mightily they haue preuailed now manie yeeres raigned as monarches of the earth Now in this chapter wee are to heare of the fall and ruine of them both So that the maine drift and scope of this chapter and all the chapters following vntill the twentith chapter is to shew that both the Roman Empire and the Papacie shall ebbe as fast as euer they did flow shall wane as fast as euer they did waxe shall decrease as fast as euer they did increase and fall downe as fast as euer they did rise vp euen vntill they come to vtter ruine and desolation This Chapter containeth seuen principal things First vers 1 it sheweth that God had his Church vpon the earth euen then when it seemed to bee vtterly extinct by the preuailing of the two outragious beasts Secondly vers 2.3.4.5 it sheweth that the poore persecuted Church did sincerely zealously worship God euen in the fire and flames of afflictions Thirdly ver 6.7 it sheweth that the Gospell shall be preached with great successe in these last daies throughout manie kingdoms Fourthly ver 8 it sheweth that Rome shall fall downe at the preaching of the Gospell ver 9.10.11 Fiftly it sheweth that all Papists shal be condemned and cast into hell fire for euer ver 12.13 Sixtly it sheweth that it shall go well with Gods elect which hauing refused the worship of the beast do liue and die in the Lord. ver 14.15.16.17.18.19.20 Lastly it describeth the day of iudgement wherein all both good and bad shall haue according to their deserts Text. ver 1 Then I looked and behold a Lambe stood on mount Sion and with him an hundred fourtie and foure thousand hauing the Fathers name written in their foreheads Nowe at last the holy Ghost bringeth in Iesus Christ vpon the Theater of the world as it were to play his part in this tragedie and to helpe the poore weake woman which we heard of before against the Dragon and the two monstrous beasts which would haue torne her in peeces and vtterly deuoured her if this Lambe Iesus Christ had not stept in and rescued her Well now commeth in our Lord Iesus and beginneth to stirre in these matters and to take vpon him the protection and defence of the poore helplesse woman against both the dragon the dragons two great instruments But may some man say What is a poore Lambe to encounter with a dragon with a Lyon with a Leopard and a Beare I answer that although Christ be a lamb to his church euē the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world and the Lamb that was a slaine sacrifice from the beginning for the redemption of his elect Yet to all his enemies he is a most strong and terrible Lyon euen the Lyon of the Tribe of Iuda as he is called before chapter 5.5 Now this most terrible Lyon euen the Lord of hosts the Lord mightie in battell commeth forth to protect and defend his Church against all her enemies who is of such infinite might and puissance that neither the old Dragon nor his young imps nor