R. 1. Rib. in Apoc 14. s 39. A lca pag. 721. nay the Iesuites themselves Alcasar not excepted do not now oppose the same Yet lest they should any waies prejudice their Pope they feine that by Babylon here is meant not Christian Rome as it hath been more then a thousand yeers under the government of holy Popes But heathenish Rome as of old it was under Emperours But it will easily appeare that this is a vaine evasion For first Heathenish Rome was not the seat of Antichrist touching which seat as all consent Iohn here prophesieth off Neither was Antichrist come so long as Rome remained heathenish Therefore the former Rome is not this Babylon Secondly It cannot be understood of the Old but Popish Rome Babylon is no Pagan but Popish Rome that she indeed it is who hath made drunke all the inhabitants of the earth with the wine of her fornication and that all the Kings of the earth have committed fornication with her For Old Rome however it did abound with most foule idolatry Yet she alwaies gave liberty to all nations subjected to her for to exercise their owne religions and superstitions yea suffered the gods of all other people to be set up and worshipped even in Rome Christ onely excepted as Eusebius records out of Tertullian Neither can it be proved by any history that ancient Rome forced their worship on forraine people whereas on the contrary Popish Rome compelleth and imposeth on all nations and kings her superstitious and idolatrous worship on paine of excommunication seeking to be esteemed the Mother of Churches and in very deed the whole East lucked their abominations and idolatries from her as from the paps of a mother Thirdly In the time of the Fathers before alledged Tertullian excepted Rome was no longer heathenish being under the power of Christian Emperours and yet they call her Babylon Therefore they understood it not of heathenish Rome such as it was not but of Christian Rome such as then it was Fourthly That Rome is Babylon of which it is here said It is fallen it is fallen and which was to be destroyed in the latter times But the ruine of heathenish Rome is not here published as Alcasar vainely feineth for that Rome is ceased long agoe but the destruction of Popish Rome is yet to come for it is foretold to be in the last times These things therefore belong to Popish Rome Fiftly that Rome is Babylon which makes merchandise of the soules of men Revel 18.13 Now this beastly trade was not driven by heathenish Rome but by the Popish Rome as we shal fee heareafter Lastly that Rome is Babylon out of which in the last times Gods people are commanded to goe forth Now they are not bid to depart out of heathenish Rome which hath ceased to be long agoe Neither doe we read that ever any Christians by vertue of this commandement did forsake heathenish Rome but did alwaies constantly there persevere even in the times of most cruell persecutions Gods people therefore are commanded to goe out of Popish Rome Thus we see Rome is this Babylon which must be destroyed Ribera the Iesuite not daring to deny so evident a truth changeth himselfe into divers shapes to salve the Pope First he propoundeth a weighty scruple the which he saith is not yet unfolded by the Patrons of his opinion viz. wherefore John doth foretell so many evills to befall this city which although of old it were the chiefe seat of idolatry yet now is the head of sanctity and defender of the Catholick faith and the proper seat of him that is head of the Church c. But O Ribera Riberas defence of Popish Rome thy doubt is here clearely unfolded by the Angell viz. that this shall be the cause of all these evills because Babylon-Rome makes drunke all the nations of the earth with the wine of her fornications And that which thou speakest of the seat of holinesse in this very thing thou unwittingly accusest the Pope The Pope Antichrist and makest him to be Antichrist For he that possesseth the sea of Antichrist is Antichrist The Pope sits in the seat of Antichrist For Rome which is to be overthrown is the seat of Antichrist 〈◊〉 that is to be destroyed is the seat of the Pope The seat therefore of the Pope is the seat of Antichrist And so consequently the Pope is Antichrist Secondly Riberas evasions touching Popish Rome confuted he objects that it cannot be understood of Papal Rome First because John here describeth a most potent and wealthy city which was the Queen of the world But Papall Rome neither is so now nor ever is likely so to be Secondly because in Chap. 18.20 The heaven and holy Apostles and Prophets are bid to rejoyce over her because God had avenged them on her but whom saith he of the Apostles or which of the Prophets hath the Romish Church or Popish Rome persecuted What injurie hath she done unto them that they should rejoyce at her punishment Therefore he concludeth that Babylon here spoken of is to be understood of heathenish Rome which persecuted the Apostles and Prophets But in vaine he seekes for pretenses in so cleare a matter For he granted before that the future state of Rome is here spoken of therefore he is contradictory to himselfe And as for his objections they are easily answered To the first it sufficeth that Rome did then Lord it over all nations when John wrote this booke The same Rome the Pope now holdeth And besides this even Papall Rome is a most wealthy and powerfull city and the Queen of the world for all the treasures and delights of the Christian world have now long agoe by thousand enticements been drawn unto Rome alone She challengeth the Empire of the world unto herselfe for she boasteth that the Emperours and Kings of the earth doe reigne by her favour and benefit All must be vassals of Popish Rome yea if we beleeve the Iesuits even in temporall things Papall Rome therefore is Lady of all and Empresse of the world according to the verses Roma caput mundi quicquid non possidet armis relligione tenet To the second I say that which he pretends is ridiculous as if because Papisticall Rome had not persecuted the Apostles and Prophets therefore they ought not to rejoyce at her destruction for then also the heaven ought not to rejoyce for was heaven I pray you slaine by Papistical Rome Nay how could heathenish Rome kill the Prophets which never saw Rome Notwithstanding the Apostles and Prophets and heaven it selfe are worthily bid to rejoyce for the destruction of her both because in persecuting the Saints she persecuteth the Prophets and Apostles as also because all creatures ought to rejoyce for the vindicating of Christs glory and destruction of Antichrist whether they have been hurt by him or not Lastly if Popish Rome the which Ribera was not afraid to write shall be punished
wicked common-wealth of old Rome Now the truth is nothing can be more vainely spoken And I wonder that the Iesuite when he wrote these things had not considered that he himselfe lived in Spaine where the ancient Moores formerly inhabited IV. He addes from Chap. 16.19 That Great Babylon came in remembrance before God 18.5 Babylons sins have reached unto heaven and God hath remembred her iniquities Therefore saith he towards the end of the world her old sins which hitherto for religion sake seemed to be forgotten shall againe be remembred and punished because of the new and like transgressions added to the former But first not onely things done long agoe are said to come in remembrance before God but also such things as are newly done by an Anthropopatheia for so in Act. 10. The prayers and almes of Cornelius which he daily performed are said to come up for a memoriall before God Secondly albeit his glosse were granted yet there were no need that new Rome should be punished for the sinnes of the old for as much as Popish Rome for these thousand years and more hath abounded in all manner of villanies for which the Lord most justly may take vengeance on her Lastly he flees unto the Oracles of the Sybills But they speak nothing touching the Popes ejection or apostacy of the Romanes from the faith of Christ unto Heathenisme but only touching the destruction of Rome therein agreeing with the prophesie of this booke By all which things it appeareth that whatsoever the Iesuite alledgeth for the upholding of the credit of the Pope it is nothing but a frivolous dotage of a dreaming writer The summe of the place is this That Babylon here threatned with destruction is Rome not of the Pagans which ceased in Constantines time Nor new heathenish Rome the which as the Iesuite feineth shall thrust out the Pope But Popish Rome which a long while hath boasted her selfe to be the Mother of Churches and from whose breasts all the nations and kings of the earth have sucked their errours superstition and idolatry Thus our insoluble argument is no way weakned by the Iesuite but stands firme against the Romish Antichrist But now when we speak of Rome we understand not simply the walled city or palaces towers and stately walkes thereof but chiefly the Pope himselfe with his whole kingdom and power over the Westerne Churches of which afterward in Chap. 17.18 Now why is Rome named Babylon Why Rome is called Babylon lib. 2. cap. 3. hist The cause may be the likenesse that is between them of which OROSIUS Behold saith he the rising of Babylon and Rome is alike their power is alike their greatnesse times good things and also evill But I rather thinke the reason is their likenesse in tyrannny and destruction The old Babylon afflicted the ancient Church Rome the new Babylon hath oppressed the new Church The Old is fallen The New shall fall Babylon is fallen is fallen The doubling of the threatning denotes the certainty and hastning of the destruction Therefore also it is said in the preterperfect tense hath that is is fallen because it shall certainely and suddenly fall like as we say of a dying man that he is dead or the like Neither did the Angell prophesie vainely For even during the preaching of this Angell while Luther I say yet taught a great part of Babylon fell both in Saxony Germany and other neighbouring Countries But touching the destruction of Babylon it followes in Chap. 18. Alcasar againe by his consequence is forced to make blacke white applying the ruine of Babylon to the conversion of heathenish Rome to the faith of Christ making the sence of the words Babylon is fallen is fallen that is is converted to Christ Now who ever heard so great an absurdity The whole context and consent of all interpreters evinceth that the ruine of Babylon signifies not mercy but punishment And therefore so impudent a depravation of holy Scripture is to be rebuked Because she made all nations drinke This reason evidently refutes Alcasars absurdity The cause of Babylons destruction shall be her fornication by which she hath most foully defiled her selfe with the Kings and Inhabitants of the earth for she is the Mother of all whoredomes This fornication as before was shewed is idolatry by a propheticall and metaphorical phrase for idolaters like harlots do by spirituall uncleannes perfidiously violate their faith to God prostrate themselves before their Idols and run headlong into utter destruction as we have largely expounded in our Commentary on Hosea Chap. 1.2 Of the wine of her fornication For the Pope obtrudes his idols on all nations who therefore are said to drinke of the wine of his wrath because idolatry through the corruptnesse of mans nature is more pleasing to all then the true worship of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a figure when with a little change of a word the sence is wholly altered In the Greeke is an elegant * parenomasia in the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For as Antichrist gave all to drinke of the wine of his fornication so shall all drinke of the wine of Gods wrath because they suffered themselves universally to be drawne aside to the worship of Idols by the pretended authority of the Catholick Church Idolatry is compared to wine because by its sweetnesse and outward lustre it is pleasing unto the flesh and much desired Also from the effect for it makes idolaters madde furious and blinde like as wine takes away the sence of a drunkard The wine of wrath so named from the effect because it stirres up Gods wrath and drawes downe his judgements As also from the efficient cause because God in his anger doth justly inflict blindnesse on the worshippers of Antichrist according to that of Paul 2 Thes 2.11 For this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should beleeve a lie that they might be damned who received not the truth It might seem the words here should thus be read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the wine of her fornication as in Chap. 17.2 The inhabitants of the earth are said to have been made drunke with the wine of her fornication c. because the wine of fornication is opposed to the wine of Gods wrath vers 10. The same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God But all copies have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the wine of the wrath c. Not here onely but also in Chap. 16.19 18.23 The use of this preaching The use of this Angels preaching doth plainely respect both the godly and the wicked The godly are exhorted to the duty before published by the former Angell To feare God and not the Beast To give glory to God not to Antichrist And lastly to worship God the Creator of heaven and earth not the Beast or his Image Also in Chap. 18.4 he admonisheth all such as desire to be free of Babylons
Cage of uncleane birds ver 2. 2. Two causes of the destruction One fornication by which she hath defiled all nations and Kings of the Earth The second Luxuriousnesse and most filthy trading with the Merchants of the Earth verse 3. In the second voyce are three things I. An exhortation unto the Godly under Antichrists kingdome ver 4.5.6.7.8 II. The lamentation of the Kings Merchants and Mariners of the Earth This shall be the former effect in the ungodly from verse 19. unto verse 20. III. A turning to the heavenly inhabitants Rejoyce c. This shall be the other effect in the Saints ver 20. I. The exhortation unto the Godly living under Popery is two-fold First to go out of Babylon Come out of her my people with three reasons 1. Least they might be defiled with conversing with the wicked 2. Least they be partakers of their plagues and ruine ver 4. 3. Because the inevitable time of vengeance is at hand ver 5. Secondly that they might render double unto her which I. he amplifies by Phrases foure times changed and prophetically set forth ver 6. 7. II. He perswades by a reason from the equallity because she proudly lifts up her selfe I sit a Queene ver 7. III. He expounds the kind of punishment ver 8. she shall be burnt with fire and the first cause hereof Gods power and righteousnesse ver 8. II. The lamentation is distributed into three sorts of men The first are the Kings of the Earth of whom it is said 1. What they did before They committed fornication and lived deliciously with the whore ver 9. 2. What they should do beholding the smoake and fire 1. They shall see it burning a farre off trembling and mourning saying Alas Alas 2. Acknowledge the judgement of God ver 10. The second are Merchants of the Earth whose wayling is described first generallye They shall weepe and mouâ—â—â— and it is Illustrated both by the procreating cause Their gaine ceasing in regard of the contempt of their wares verse 11. As also by a Register of their divers merchandize among which also are the soules of men ver 12. 13. Lastly by the effect on Babylon it selfe which shall be deprived of all her delights verse 14. Secondly specially what thâ—â— did before They bad gathered riches and what then they will doe Tremeâ—â— and mourn to behold her burning afar off v. 15. 2. Cry Alas Alas and the cause of their wavling is shewed viz. by comparing the present condition of the whore with her former ver 16. The third are the Shipmasters and Saylers of whom likewise is noted 1. What they did before They reaped gaine to wit by Babylon 2. What then they will doe 1. Behold her destruction a farre off ibid. 2. Cry out What City is like c. ver 18. 3. Testifie their griefe both by signes as casting dust on their heads ver 19. As also by weeping and crying Alas Alas adding the procreating cause of their sorrow ibid. III. The turning of the second voice unto the heavenly inhabitants to close up the lamentation with joyfulnesse The Proposition is Rejoyce The reason is taken from the remote impelling cause because Babylon is punished for her Tyranny exercised against the Saints ver 20. In the third voice is the finall and irrecoverable destruction of Babylon I. Figured out by a Symbole which is both acted by an Angell A mighty Angell tooke a stone like c. As also expounded Thus with violence shall that great City be throwne down ver 21. II. It is amplified by the effects 1. She is deprived of musicke 2. Of trade 3. Of all manner of corne 4. Of light 5. Of Mariage-Feastings ver 22. 23. III. This is approved by three inforcing causes 1. The Luxuriousnesse of Popish Traders 2. Their witchcraft and seducing of the Christian world ver 23. 3. Their cruelty against the Saints verse 24. The first Part of the CHAPTER Publishing the Ruine of BABYLON 1 And after these things I saw another Angell come down from heaven having great power and the earth was lightned with his glory 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice saying Babylon the great is fallen is fallen and is become the habitation of devils and the hold of every unclean spirit and a Cage of every unclean and hatefull bird 3 For all Nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication and the Kings of the Earth have committed fornication with her and the Merchants of the Earth are waxen rich with the abundance of her delicacies THE COMMENTARY ANd after these things I saw another Angell What Origen writeth touching the song of Songs that the History thereof is after the manner of an Interlude acted by four persons appeares more clearly to have bin observed in this Prophesie as hitherto we have still observed For as in Comoedies divers persons come and go on the Theater so we see done here In this sixt Vision the first person was the Angell having seven Vialls leading John into the wildernesse and shewing unto him the Babylonish Strumpet on the Beast and expounding the mystery of both which things being done another Angell came forth on the Scene to declare the judgement of the whore under the Type of Babylon Therefore Iohn saith that he saw another Angell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 After these things viz. which were acted and spoken by the former Angell Of whom is expounded in three Verses whence he came what for an Angell he was what he did and spake Descending from Heaven The place from whence he commeth gives divine authority to his Message For he comes from Heaven as Gods Herauld and therefore publisheth the judgement of Babylon in the Name of God that so we might not question but all shall certainly come to passe Who this Angell is which is foretold by this heavenly Messenger Who he was it is not needfull to enquire The following description sheweth that he was one of the chiefe Emissarie Angells of God Neither is it of necessity to understand it of Christ seeing the action of this Vision is distributed between many Angells This might be demaunded whether these three Angells proclaiming the ruine of Babylon be the same with the three mentioned Chap. 14. The first of whom proclaimed the eternall Gospell The second the destruction of Babylon in the same words in which this also proclaimed it The third deterred men with threatnings from worshipping of the Beast and committing fornication with the woman I suppose they are not the same Because the time and argument of the Act differs The former came forth long before these viz. when God in compassion to his people was about to restore the Gospell suppressed by Antichrist and purge the Church from the dregs of Popery which as we shewed was first done by Wickleffe Husse Jerom of Prague afterward by Luther Melanchthon Zwinglius Calvin and the following Preachers of the Gospell for these restored both the doctrine of Grace and first
as with a pestilent plague she had infected the Christian world her horrible idolatry I say and cruelty by which she defiled and oppressed the Church The commination is taken out of Isai 21.9 Babylon is fallen is fallen and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground And Ier. 51.8 Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed howle for her In which words the Prophets threaten ruine to Babylon of the Caldeans which had grievously pressed Gods people by 70. yeares captivity Now it may be demanded whither this Babylon here threatned be the foresaid Chaldaean Babylon or another and which That it is not Babylon of Chaldea appeares by many reasons First that Babylon neither was is or shall be the Seat of Antichrist This is not the CaldeaÌ„ Babylon For however there be an ancient fable of Antichrists rising out of Babylon yet the same makes not Babylon but Ierusalem to be his seat Now the Babylon here threatned by the Angell shall be the Seat of Antichrist by the consent of all interpreters Secondly This Babylon is that great city the which in Johns time ruled over the Kings of the earth Rev. 17.18 But then the Caldeans held not the Monarchie but the Romanes Besides this Babylon defiles all nations of the earth with her fornication But now how the Caldean Babylon should so doe in these last times no sound reason can be given for it Lastly the people of God are bid to goe out of this Babylon Chapter 18.4 But Gods people for these thousand yeeres have not been nor shall be in the Easterne Babylon c. Therefore this Babylon is not Babylon in Caldea although the holy Ghost doth apply the propheticall threatnings of old against Babylon to good purpose and fitly here from the letter therefore wee must necessarily come to the figure which thing Ribera also acknowledgeth Now secondly some of the Ancients will have this Babylon to be the world as being the great city of the wicked in which the Devill ruleth So Ambrose Bede Arethas Andreas Ansbertus Haymo Primasius Anselmus c. But this opinion cannot stand For first This Babylon is that Great whore making drunke the inhabitants of the earth with the wine of her fornication But how shall the world make drunke the inhabitants of the earth seeing themselves are the world made drunke by the whore shall the world make the world drunke the whore therefore which maketh drunke is plainely distinguished from the inhabitants of the earth who are made drunke Secondly the sence would be absurd Babylon is fallen that is the world is fallen for by the ruine of Babylon the whole world shal not decay but there shal remain Kings and merchants which shall see and bewaile the ruine of Babylon whereas after the ruine of the world there wil be no kings nor marchants Thirdly we are commanded to goe out of this Babylon Chap. 16.8 But we are not bid to goe out of the world 1 Cor. 5.10 except in a spirituall sence But out of this Babylon a locall departure is commanded Fourthly it is the common opinion that John prophesieth of that Babylon which is the seat of Antichrist But the whole world shall not be Antichrists seat For he shall sit in the temple of God 2 Thes 2.5 the which cannot be meant of the whole world Fiftly This Babylon is Rome see Chap. 11.8 17.18 Ribera addes that this Babylon standeth on seven Mountaines Chap. 17.9 Now that the citie of wicked men or the world should stand on seven mountaines cannot be true in any sence And therefore Ribera concludeth that we must expound it otherwise And indeed at last the said Iesuite doth ingeniously confesse that this Babylon is ROME for which opinion he alledgeth many old writers as Austine l. 8. de Câ—â—â—â— where he amimeth that Rome was built by the fall of the Assyâ—â—an kingdome and calleth the same the Daughter of Babylon or another Babylon Orosius lib. 2. cap. 2. Eusebius lib. 2. hist cap. 14. Bede Occumenius Victorinus Hierom in Isa 24. in his Prologue in lib. Dydimi lib. 2. against Jovinian Epist. 15. q. 11. to Agasia Epist 17. to Marcel Tertullian lib. 3. against Marcion and against the Iewes Some also of the latter Writers as Sixtus senensis lib. 2. Bibliot in vocabulo Meretricis Magnae Bellarmine lib. 2. de P. R. cap. 2. 13. Ludovicus Vives in lib. 18. de C. D. cap. 20. Lindanus lib. 4. Panop cap. 82. the which confession of his we willingly approve of he alledgeth also that of Peter The Church that is in Babylon salutes you 1 Pet. 5.13 that is in Rome as Eusebius lib. 2. hist cap. 15. expoundeth it the which the Papists doe therefore gladly lay hold on to shew that Peter sate at Rome but it is a weake conjecture for it may more probably be said that Peter wrote from Babylon of the East as Calvin in his Commentary on the place sheweth But be that place in Peter what way soever understood Many things perswade us that this Babylon is Rome First the description and situation of this great citie agrees not so fully to any as to Rome for it is said to stand upon seven Mountaines which cannot so well be said of any city as of Rome built of old by Romulus on seven hills named Palatinus Quirinalis Aventinus Coelius Viminalis Aesquilinus Janicularis Hence Virgil. lib. 6. Aeneid Scilicet rerum facta est pulcherrima Roma Septem quae una sibi muro circundedit arces Rome is become the famoust place of all Which hath inclos'd seven hills within her wall And Ovid lib. 1. Trist Eleg. 4. Sed quae de septem totum circumspicit orbem Montibus imperii Roma deûmque locus Rome is the place of gods and royal seat Or'e lookes the world with her seven mountaines great And Horace Diis quibus placuere colles dicere carmen Vnto the gods a verse to tell Whom the seven hills doe please full well And Propertius Vrbs septem alta jugis toti qua praesidet orbi The lofty citie on seven hills hie Which rules the world continually Secondly this Babylon is called a great city Rome the great city and that indeed emphatically with a double article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That great City Now it is known that Rome is called the City and the great City 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of Pra-eminence hence Tityr in Virgil thus speaketh Vrbem quam dieunt Romam Melliboee putari Stultus ego huic nostrae similem c. The city called Rome O Melibee I as a foole like ours did thinke to be Besides this great citie Babylon in Johns time Having rule over the world had dominion over the Kings of the earth Chap. 17.18 and no city then but Rome had monarchicall power But we need no further proofe seeing this opinion is backt with the authority of many Ancient writers Bellar. li. 2. de P.
to them of the houshould of faith 3. his faith that is his sincere preaching of the truth received from the Apostles And lastly his patience in suffering of afflictions for the cause of Christ for this Church also if it be true which Epiphanius writes was persecuted by the Pagans Jewes and Cataphrygians notwithstanding this Bishop remained still constant in the truth And thy workes and the last The first and is declarative for chiefly thy workes the latter and seemeth not necessarie and the text may thus be read thy last workes are more then thy first as the vulgar Complutensis and Andreas read it It seemeth that the Pastor of this Church had with much courage lately undergone some great persecution for the which Christ here much commends him as adding this exellent work to his former or otherwise because in the general course of his life he daylie became more excellent for his latter workes were more that is more manifest proofes of his constancie and more worthie of praise then the first So that he is commended for his holie progresse in the duties of piety which is an example unto us that we also should labour to increase in the like workes of faith and love 20. But I have a few things against thee The second part is a reproofe of few things so the like in v. 14. not as if his evils were of no great corcernment but Christ like a good physitian lessens the disease that the patient may the sooner admit of the cure and not despaire of amendment His evil was in permitting the false prophetesse Jezabel to teach and seduce many to commit fornication and be present with idolaters at their worship and Idol feastings for it seemeth this woman was one of the Sect of Nicolaitans whose doctrine she maintained For these deceivers under pretext of libertie and Christian charitie taught that women were to be accounted common that it was lawful for them to communicate with the heathen in their services and feastings now howsoever these things were scandalous and dangerous yet of them thought indifferent and in the liberty of Christians and this verie practice some libertines at this day doe imitate This was a great neglect of zeale and courage in the Pastor in not seeking to redresse and free the Church of so pestilent an instrument but to suffer her amongst them to the destruction of many Shee is called Jezabel by a similitude as being equal in craft and malice to Jezabel the wife of Ahab for as this vilde woman by false witnesses caused Naboth uniustly to be put to death and cruelly oppressed many of Gods prophets so this lying Prophetesse boasting of divine revelations led aside many from the waye of God to her filthinesse and devilish worship of Idols Interpreters doe differ whither this was one woman or many and whither there were a whole Sect and nation of them Epiphanius as we have already shewed supposeth this to be spoken of Priscilla Maximilla and Quintilla false Prophetesses of Montunus who blasphomously boasting himself to be the comforter seduced these women to commit fornication with him and to Prophesie in his name But on the contrarie the text sheweth that it is spoken of Jezabel who at that time bore sway in the Church of Thyatira and not of any to come afterward neither is it likely that onely this Epistle should reprove vices to come when as all the other speak of things present Andreas understandeth it by a figurative speech as meant of the heresie of the Nicolaitans But wherfore should that sect be here darkned with such a kind of speech which twife before was manifestly named and treated of Alcasar coniectureth that by her the Iewish Synagogue is to be understood But there is no reason to transform the Iewes into the woman Iezabel who were before v. 9. comdemned by name and again in cha 3. v. 9. Besides the whole description tends to set forth in special some one particular wicked woman seing therfore there is no necessarie reason leading us to depart from the literal sence it is probable that this woman was verie famous in the city of Thyatira for her wealth authoritie and shew of pietie but in truth for her uncleannesse deceit and ungodlines was equal with Iezabel of old seducing many to forsake the truth and participate with her in horrible wickednes But touching this woman and her mentioned chap. 17. who is called a great citie there is no agreement betwixt them For there it is expressly said that by her is signified a great multitude yea Rome it self whereas here no such thing is intimated 21. And I gave her time This sheweth Christs patience and the obstinacie of this woman who made no use of his long sufferance in giving her time to repent Thus the wicked grow secure because of Gods forbearance and seeing Iudgment is not speedilie executed they rejoyce and thinke to go unpunished But what their reward shall bee is plain both from this place and Rom. 2.4.5 22. I will cast her The third part of the narration is a threatning of judgment which men by their inpenitencie bring upon themselves The punishment denounced is threefold 1. Against the woman herself 2. Against her lovers And 3. against her children Jezabel is threatned with a foule disease for so God commonly punisheth impure harlots to make them lothsome to others and publick exampels of dishonest courses Into a bed The antecedent is explained by the consequence Sick persons keep their bed the sence is the bed which she hitherto had abused to lasciviousnes luxurie and pleasure should be changed into languishing and sorrow But the Godly man the Lord wil strongthen him upon the bed of languishing Psal 41.3 make all his bed in his sicknesse And them that commit adulterie with her Her lovers shall also be punished eyther externally by the sword of the magistrate or some others or internally by torments of conscience But I rather take it to be meant of outward shame and punishment Vnlesse they repent Behold the mercie and patience of God he wil not destroy a most wretched harlot with her adulterers before he cal them to repentance being ready to forgive such as amend their wayes thus we see how repentance is the onely means to escape punishment Some times indeed the Lord inflicts temporall chastisement upon the repentant but the same is both mitigated and turned to their good besides none of them are eternallie punished 23. And kil her children with death He threatneth death to the children of this harlot which some take properly for such as were borne in fornication whom the Lord would suddenlie destroy by a heavie judgment that such an adulterous generation might not be spread among men Others take it metaphorically for her companions and lovers who defyled themselves with her I rather approve the former sence for otherwise the difference between the adulterers and their children would be taken away Hence we may learn 1.
royall Priesthood to God and Christ c. 5. And in their mouth was found no guile The sixt title is their integrity they are without hypocrisie both in faith Their integrity word and manners This indeed is truely said of Christ alone Isay 53.9 But attributed to the sealed by participation with Christ their head August hom 11 in Apoc. and by imputed righteousnesse He saith not saith Austine there hath not been but there is no guile found c. for such as the Lord findes a man when he cals him hence such also he judgeth him to be c. For they are without fault before the throne of God These words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Kings bible hath not Innocency yet the old Latine and the other Greeke copies have them The last commendation is their innocency and full perfection before God The cause both of this and the former commendation is shewed before viz. because they have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb Therefore they all are without guile and spot The which if it be referred to the state of this life we must againe understand it that they are such by imputation and and inchoation And then the words before the throne of God signifie not the place but their esteem in Gods judgement as if he should say They are without fault not in themselves and before men but in the eyes judgement of God freely absolving the faithful from all pollution and accounting them as without fault because of the blood of the Lamb If unto the state of the life to come then before the throne not onely signifies the place but also the cause of the blessednes of the sealed ones in heaven for being without fault they shal enjoy the perpetual sight of God which shall be their persect blessednesse And this is that which he said Chap. 7.15 Therefore they are before the throne of God and serve them day and night The second Part of the Chapter Of the three Angels publishing the everlasting Cospell against Antichrist 6 And I saw another Angell flee in the midst of heaven having the everlasting Gospell to preach unto them that dwell on the earth and to every nation and kindred and tongue and people 7 Saying with a loud voice Feare God and give glory to him for the houre of his judgement is come and worship him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountaines of waters 8 And there followed another Angell saying Babylon is fallen is fallen that great citie because she made all nations drinke of the wine of the wrath of her fornication 9 And the third Angell followed them saying with a loud voice if any man worship the Beast and his image and receive his marke in his forehead or in his hand 10 The same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God which is powred out without mixture in the cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoake of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever And they have no rest day nor night who worship the beast and his image and whosoever receiveth the marke of his name 12 Here is the patience of the Saints Here are they which keep the Commandements of God and the faith of Iesus 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me Write Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their workes doe follow them THE COMMENTARY ANd I saw another Angel Here followes the second part touching the Angels preaching against Antichrists kingdome Who these are and to what times the prophesie appertaines is much questioned All agree in this that these Angels represent the Preachers of the Gospell in the times of Antichrist But Popish expositours referre the same to the last foure years of the world in which time they absurdly imagine that Antichrist shall beare the sway For how should all those things which are treated of touching the Beast and the Whore from the 13. Chap. unto the end almost of the whole Book be accomplished in so short a space Ribera supposeth they are three renowned Preachers of the Gospell in the time of Antichrist But Alcasar by his consequence is forced to reject this interpretation of the Papists And therefore he feineth that these are the three principall writers of holy Scripture Peter Paul and John The which foolish fiction is refuted by the very naming of it Our interpreters doe generally acknowledge that these things appertain to the times of the reformation of the Church but by what occasion this vision is here againe demonstrated seeing it was before foretold in Chap. 11. touching the measuring of the temple they expound not By our Method it is plaine seeing here we handle the Third Act of this vision that these things are to be compared with the Third Act of the foregoing vision In the second vision indeed there was nothing answering to this because there onely the preservation of the sealed or elect under Antichrist was manifested to Iohn the which is here also treated of in the first part of this Chapter But in the third vision we have the measuring of the temple and the prophesie of the two witnesses Chapter 11. representing unto us the reformation of the Church that should be in the last times unto which therefore we are to returne for the two that is a few prophesying witnesses there mentioned are here said to be three preaching Angels that is they are more then before And this very thing Anselmus as Ribera reports acknowledgeth taking the first Angell to be Elias the second another Prophet and companion of him rightly indeed according to the scope but he erres in the persons But as before we shewed that the measuring of the temple began about the time of the Councell of Constance or a little before so without doubt these three Angels began to preach from that time forward whose ministery no sooner shall be ended but the Beast shall be thrust into utter destruction I saw another Angell flying No Angell had gone before Therefore he was not one of the Harpers or of the multitude of sealed ones Which signifies that from this time another state of the Church was to be looked for An Angell that is a Preacher of the Gospell as before in Vision first the singular number by an enallage being put for the plurall for there should not be one onely but more although at the first but few should zealously set themselves upon the worke of reformation The first Angell is Wickleffe One therefore is named because one should excell and with an heroicall spirit begin the worke This Angell is John Wickleffe Professour of the Vniversity of Oxford a man noted throughout the whole world For when the whole West admired and followed
Cardinalls Anointed Fathers Coped Bishops Silken Prelates fat Monkes Glittering Clergy and multitudes of people did abound in all manner of riot and luxuriousnesse there shall Devills Ghosts Scrich-Owls and all manner of hatefull birds inhabit This horrible judgement if the Pope Cardinalls and Clergy did read it were wonderfull if they could containe from teares and not thinke of repentance and flight from Babylon But to be inraged against me against the Prophet and against God what is it but to kick against the prickes Ribera demands wherefore evill spirits rather love and inhabit desert places then to frequent the company of men Before Christ they did so to the end appearing to travellers they might by terrour induce them to Idolatry After Christ he feineth another cause viz. to deterre Hermits and Monkes from abiding in the wildernesse But as the Question is foolish so the answer is as ridiculous The Lord Iesus Mat 12.43 saith that the devills being cast out of man do wander through dry places seeke for rest but find none So that it rather seems they are banished into desert places as it were into a large prison that they might not disturbe the society of men And so much the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying properly an hold or prison seems to import Not that they never return unto men but this they cannot do unlesse God permit them Indeed their proper domicile or abode is Hell into which Satan is thrust with his Angells yet in the mean while by Gods sufferance they often go forth some raging in the ayre others wandring through the deserts Now what do the wicked differ from deserts And therefore they more familiarly insinuate themselves and delight to be with them Hence it is that in the Papacy many are troubled with apparitions and evill spirits whether truly or feinedly others know that so Exorcists may have matter and occasion for their impostures Now this kind of Devills is wholly vanished from us by the shining light of the Gospell of God 3. For they have drunke of the wine The causes of so horrible desolation are divers times declared in this Chapter The causes of Babylons destruction that we might understand the righteousnes of Gods judgement Neither would the justice of God inflict so horrible punishments but for grievous wickednes Now their are two or three if we divide the former The first cause is In regard all Nations had drunke of the wine of her fornication that is because Babylon hath filled the Christian world with abominations and Idolatrous worship The Propheticall Phrase is before expounded on Chap. 14.8 where in stead of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have drunke here used it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made to drinke And so the Kings Edition reads here also the sense being one only if we read it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is in Chapter 14. the guilt of the whore is more expressed thereby The second cause is fornication with the Kings of the Earth Not corporall for that could not be committed with a City therefore we must understand it of spirituall fornication that is the Idolatry which Rome hath obtruded on the whole Christian world and which she hath maintained by the approbation defence and zeale of the Kings her Vassals Now what was that Ribera sends us backe to the Idolatry of old Rome the which we have before refuted First it is contradictory to histories which shew that the Romanes did not obtrude their Idols on other nations but made the Idols of all people 's their own least any of the gods should not be worshipped at Rome Christ only excepted Secondly God hath not till now differred the punishment of Old Romes Idolatry and wickednesse This fornication is nothing but Popish Idolatry but most grievously punished the same long agoe through the Vandals Gothes Hunni who three or four times spoiled and ruinated the Romane City Lastly here is treated of Rome in the last times which can be applied to no other then Popish Rome now she shall not be punished for anothers but for her own whoredom And therefore this fornication can be nothing else save Popish Idolatry which the whole Christian world hath drawne from the breasts of Rome their Mother And the Merchants of the Earth are waxed rich Here is a third cause which hitherto hath not bin mentioned The lasciviousnesse and riot of her Merchants Through riot Magnesia and Colophon were lost according to the Proverbe It was also the overthrow of Sibaris and shal be the ruin not of old Rome which now is not but of new Popish Rome of whose riot lasciviousnes Sodomie simony I need not say any thing it being notorious to the world Read if you please the selected Epistles of Franciscus Petrarcha The riot of Popish Rome who above two hundred yeares agoe most eagerly upbraided the Papall Court for its most excessive luxuriousnesse and Pompe What would he have done had he lived till now But thou wilt say the Angell seems not to note the riot but the richnesse of these Merchants Now should this be the cause of so great a judgement Is wealth or merchandize in it selfe vitious not in the least but because these Merchants being as it were masters of new delights and pleasures were not inriched by honest trading but as it is in the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the power or abundance of her lasciviousnesse that is because to their own excessive gain they have most earnestly furnished the Romish whore with all manner of riot and delicacies But who are these Merchants Ribera here also sends us to the riot and merchandize of Old Rome I confesse old Rome did much abound in these things but she hath ceased to be for a long time and so it makes nothing to the thing here in hand Neither did Old Rome obtaine her power and wealth by merchandize but force of armes not by Mercury but Mars Besides these Merchants are called Great men and Princes of the Earth ver 23. Therefore they are not common Merchants who bring in and carry out ordinary wares profitable and necessary for mans use But that singular kind of merchandize spoken of ver 13. sheweth that a speciall rank of merchants is noted for they shall buy and sell the soules of men What more palpable then that these Merchants are no other save Prelates and Princes whom they call Ecclesiasticall and all the sacrificing traders in spirituall wares Friars Monkes c. And that this merchandize is that whole Court of conscience reserved and unreserved Cases Indulgences Annuities Vacancies Commendums Dispensations Tithes and sale of Ecclesiasticall riches through which Channels the wealth and treasures of the Christian world have flowed to Rome and the whole Popish Clergy hath every where gathered so much riches as that Kings Princes Earles Cities Communities have scarcely wherewith all to maintaine their Politick State honestly Pope Alexander the sixt was a mighty Merchant in these things Of