Constantiue the Great commeth to the Imperial seat the Dragon is overcome and Heathenism extirpated vers 4 and following In the second Period from the 400. years and upward Period 2. until the end of the 1200. and 60. years these seven concurrent times are described 1. The holy City is trodden under foot by the Gentiles 2. The two Witnesses cloathed with Sack-cloth Cap. 11. ver 2 3. to the 10th the explaining of which I refer to the 11. Chap. 3. The woman fled into the Wilderness and is fed there The primitive Church rescued from heathenish bondage fled into the wilderness i. e. into a midle estate not wholly hid and invisible nor yet gloriously visible but as it were in a middle condition betwixt both Rob. The two wings of a great Eagle given to the woman to by into the wilderness Mede refers to the Roman Empire whose Ensign is an Eagle and to the two Cesars of the Eastern and Western Empire divided as two wings by whose aid and protection the Church fled into her wilderness estate Cap. 12. verse 6. to 14. As Mary upon the birth of Christ fled from Herod into Aegypt So the Woman i. e. the Primitive Church notwithstanding the persecution of the Dragon having brought forth a man Child who was to rule the Nations with a rod of Iron which primarily belongs to Christ personal Psa 2. Secondarily to Christ mystical his Church and members which Christ mystical ruled all Nations by a rod of Iron subjugating the Roman Empire partly by a spiritual Gospelvictory promoted by Michael and his Angels against the Devil and his Angels rulers in that Empire partly by a corporeal conquest afterward when Christians prevailed and obtained such power and success under Constantine the great and his Successors fled into the Wilderness where she hath a place prepared by God that they should feed her there 1200 and 60. days vers 6. which is again related v. 14. The meaning I conceive is this the Church though freed from heathenish tyranny yet is afresh imbarked in new troubles and persecutions by divers enemies Now during all this time the Church is in her wilderness condition as Israel of old was after their deliverance from Aegypt Thus take the parallel Israel delivered from Egyptian bondage under Pharoah fled towards the wilderness but was persued by Pharoah had liberty to worship God in the Wilderness where their Tabernacle was erected there Apostatized from God and his pure worship in the matter of the Calf Baalpeor Baalam c. and was there exercised with new troubles and afflictions of hunger thirst fiery Serpents and of divers enemies abode in the Wilderness 40. years during which space they made 42 journeys and stations from Aegypt to Jordan And at last all their enemies being subdued Numb 33. from 1. to 50. they quietly possessed the promised rest the Land of Canaan So the Church being freed from Heathenish Tyranny under the Red Dragon fled into the Wilderness but was persued and persecuted by the Dragon had liberty granted of worshipping God in the wilderness by the edicts of Christian Emperors and Kings who erected for them Temples or publique places for Christian worship yet in that her Wilderness estate she made many idolatrous defections Apostatizing from God and his pure worship especially to Antichristianisme Cap. 12.17 And the Dragon was wroth with the woman went to make war with the remnant of her seed c. Cap. 13.1 And I stood upon the sand of the Sea c. Mede saith the words are to be read not steti but stetit Cum Latinis omnibus Syre interpr i. e. The Dragon stood upon the sands i. to bring up this beast out of the sea to persecute the woman Further he saith v. 3. And I saw one of his heads wounded to death That the word vidi is not in some Editions as the Complutense reading the sentence thus The Dragon gave him his power seat and great authority and one of his heads wounded to death that it might be healed or that had been wounded to death and the healing of his wounds which is added this he either saw to be done while he was rising out of the sea or as soon as he was risen out of it is there exercised with new troubles and persecutions by the Dragon Beast and False Prophet abides in this Wilderness seat 42. moneths At last the Dragon the Beast and the false Prophet with all her enemies being vanquished the Church obtaines the new Heavens and new Earth and reigns with Jesus Christ a thousand years yea for ever and ever the former and following series of this Prophecy clears this parallel This state of the Church seems to last till the seventh Trumpet So that to this day the Church is still in this Wilderness-condition but drawing towards the borders of a far happier estate 4. The beast with ten horns blasphemeth God and maketh war with the Saints cap. 13. v. 5 6 7. This ten horned Beast as was mentioned before is the Dragons Delegate or Substitute he is said to rise out of the Sea by Sea here understand that multitude of ten Kingdomes into which the Barbarians had shredded the whole compass of the Roman Territories out of all which the Dragon now endeavours to extract and of which to compose one Roman Dominion or that conflux of Armies and people striving in war like a tempestuous Sea He is said to have seven heads and so is the same beast cap. 17.3 compared with vers 9 10. His seven heads are interpreted by the Holy Ghost himself to be seven Mountains whereon the Royal Seat of the Empire of Rome was built and seven Kings or kindes of Government by which the Empire should be governed The names of blasphemy notes his blasphemous idolatries tending to the extream reproach of God his Religion and Saints his ten horns and upon his horns Voyce out of the Wilderness p. 38. ten crowns these signifie that he should not come to his crown by the strength of his Sword his Leaders and his Legions But of the crowns upon the hornes see another interpretation p. 90. as the Dragon did but by the base and voluntary submission of all the Caesars Kings and Princes as should with one Councel and Vote deliver up their authority and power secular to the devotion and pleasure of the beast therefore he wears his Diadems not upon his heads as the Dragon did but upon his Hornes and upon his Hornes ten crownes Which ten Hornes crowned say most Writers denote ten Kings or Kingdomes into which the Roman Empire of the sixth head was divived all which were to be conjoyned Mede in Cum. Apoc. part 2. cap. 13. into one for carrying of the whore These 10. horns thinks Mede belong not to all the seven heads but onely to the seventh because the heads flourishing the horns flourish the heads fulling the horns necessarily fall therewith Now these ten
4.13 I will tell thee the mystery of the woman and of the Beast that carries her whichha th seven heads and ten horns ver 7. Hereupon the Angel doth more clearly interpret and explain the Vision 1. The mystery of the Beast carrying the Whore 2. The mystery of the Whore her self First The Angel explains the mystery of the Beast in the Whole and in the Parts First in the whole the Beast is interpreted 1. Partly According to his Many-form State or fourfold form and condition of this one and the same Beast The Beast that thou sawest was and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition The beast thou sawest 1. was And 2. Is not And 2. shall ascend out of the bottomless pit And 4. Go into perdition This very Interpretation it self seems to be a riddle and a paradox that needs a further interpretation To omit variety of mens opinions sundry whereof rather obscure then clear this present Description This seems plain to be the sence As the whore is after interpreted to be the great City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth viz. Roms for what other City in Johns time did so reign So the Beast that carrieth this Whore what can it be but the * To this agrees Irenaus Lactantius Jerom which restimony of the Antients Cornelius a Lapide considering professeth that he will not tergiversari but granteth that by Babylon is meant Rome Roman Empire which though for substance it was one One Beast yet for States conditions and manner of Government was multifarous or many form as here described viz. This Beast the Roman Empire Was that is before Johns time when this Revelation was given it was but in another form and state then in Johns time i governed by Kings Consuls Dictators Decemviri and Tribunes all which were past in Johns time And is not i.e. this beast the Roman Empire is not in Johns time under those or any of those five manners of Governments but under a sixth viz. of Cesars and those both Heathenish and Christian This sixth head of this beast that ruled in Johns days viz the Heathenish Cesars they became no Christians till Constantine Yet the whore sits not upon this beast as under any of those forms or states of Government but on the Beast under another form which should rise up after them six as then not in being And is not viz. the beast under the Pontificial or Papal Government And shall ascâ—nd out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition that is saith Mede that form of the beast in which he shall carry the Whore shall be the last form of the beast beyond which he should not pâ—â—long his life Now what form of this Beast shall ascend out of the bottom â—ss pit or the abyss as t is in Greek this word abyss may be taken either for the Abyss of the sea or the Abyss of hell Now take it either way The sixt head the Ceasars heathen and Christian was deadly wounded The Heathen Cesars received a deadly wound by Constantine and his Successors who overcome the heathen Emperors and rooted our their hear◠〈◊〉 Idolatry c. The Christian Cesars received by the bath 〈◊〉 Nations a deadly wound who dilaterated the Empire into ten Kingdoms And the deadly wound of the heath 〈◊〉 Cesars was beaâ—ed by the substituted 〈…〉 Beâ—â—◠〈◊〉 course of his seventh head and by his how Idolatry or Idol-worship not of Pagarworship but of Saints and Angels The deadly wound of the Christian Cesars was healed when the Roman Empire divided into ten Kingdomes was again made up into one for the 〈◊〉 of the Whore by the subtilty of the Dragon and false Prophet it agrees to that form of beast that carries the Whore For that Beast that ariseth out of the Abyss of the Sea having seven heads and ten horns as also out of the Abyss of Hell for the Dragon Satan gives him his power and seat and great authority Rev. 13.2 The Cesars heathen and Christian were the beasts sixt head or form The beast at last under the Christian Cesars received by the barbarous Nations a deadly wound the Empire beginning to be divided about Anno. 456. into ten parts or Kingdomes viz. of Britons Saxons Franks Burgundiâ—â—â— Wisigoths Sweves and Alans 〈◊〉 Almanes Ostrogoths Grecians as Mr. Mede hath observed out of Sigonius This distracted state or form of the beast under these ten Kingdoms at least though really and in substance the same with that under the Cesars yet seems to be another distinct power and as it were the seventh King Rev. 17.10 which was to continue but a short space but is indeed the same with the 6. viz. the Cesars The Roman Empire thus torn into ten at last by the subtilty of the Dragon and the false Prophet the two horned beast Antichrist is recollected and all the ten united as in one Empire under the Pope Rev. 13.3 12 13 14. as head and Monarch thereof and so his deadly wound was healed And this is the Pontifician or Papal head the onely forme of the Beasts State and Government which seventh bears the Whore this Pontifician head or forme of the Emperors Government in respect of that changed and miserably dilacerated Cesarship Re. 17.12 which was as the seventh seems to be as it were the eighth head or King but really and indeed is but the seventh and last head of the Roman beast and this Papal head goeth into perdition and in him the Roman Empire shall be utterly abolished 2. As the Beast in the whole is interpreted partly by his many forme state or a fourfold forme so partly according to the Worlds wonderment after this beast whereby it is evident that this is the self-same seven headed beast and ten horned which was formerly described Cap. 13. Rev. 13.1 3 4. And they that dwell on the Earth shall wonder whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the World when they behold that beast which was and is not and yet is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or rather as some read it and yet is at hand for so it notably agrees with the former description in the beginning of the verse The beast was and is not and shall asound out of the bottomless pit or it â—ay thus be explained retaining the ordinary reading The Beast that was i. e. the Roman Empire that was under five former sorts of Government And is not i. e. is not as yet under the seventh or last form or sort of Government viz. Pontificial or Papal And yet is that is under the sixt form of Casars at present in Johns time vers 8. Thus the beast in whole is interpreted Secondly The Beast is interpreted in his Parts viz. his seven heads and ten hornes what they are An Emphatical intimation of the singular wisdom required to the true discerning of these misteries being first premised And
here is the mind that hath wisdom First The seven heads of the beast are interpreted to be seven Mountains and seven Kings that by this double accommodation this interpretation might be more sure Partly to seven mountains the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth vers 9. That is these seven heads are seven hills upon which Rome is built viz. the Capitâ—line Palatine Calian Aventine Aesquiâ—â—â— Viminal and Quirinal Mount For the honour of which seven mountains saith Parens an Annual 〈◊〉 was observed on the third of the Iâ—â—s of December either in memory of Romulus the builder of the seven mountained City or of Servins Tullus who to Romnlus four Mountains added three more seven in all Partly to be seven Kings i. e. seven orders formes or kinds of Governors or Governments of this Roman Kingdome or Empire whereof Rome is the Imperial seat And there are seven Kings vers 10. viz. seven orders or sorts of Rulers Kings Consuls Tribunes Decemvirs Dictators Cesars Ponâ—â—ficrans or Popes Five are fall i. e. in Johns time the first five viz. Kings Consuls Tribunes Decemvies Dictators And one is i. e. Cesars then in being in Johns time and the other is not yee come i. e. the dilacerated state of the Cesarship or Cesartan Empire into ten Kingdomes at the least by the Barbarians as was before intimated this was as it were a seventh head but was indeed but of the sixth being the same in substance with the Cesars but was not come in Johns time and was but to continue a short space till the Dragon and falle Prophet had reunited and so healed this wounded and dilacerated state of the Empire Therefore in the Text it is added And when he commeth Rev. 13.2 he must continue a short space vers 10. And the beast that was and is not even he is the eighth and is of the seventh and goes to perdition v. 11. That is the Roman Empire that was under five heads or formes of Government before Johns time and under the sixth head of Cesars in Johns time which Cesars were changed as it were into another and seventh form in its dilacerated state of the ten Kingdoms yet is not i.e. In Johns time is not yet brought under the last head or forme viz. the Papal which is the eighth i.e. in respect of the change of the Cesarship into ten Kingdomes which seemed to be as a seventh but was indeed onely part of the sixth head and the Papal head is of the seventh i.e. he is indeed the last and seventh head or form of this beast in the course of which seventh head he carries the whore and in this state or form the beast shall be utterly destroyed Thus of the seven heads and their Interpretations 2. The ten hornes of the Beast are Interpreted to be ten Kings Bestia decemcornupeta seu secularis est unia versitas illa decem pluâ—m nus Regnorum in quae Caesarum post exturbatum â—raconem Imperium Barbarica plaga dissilierat in unam denuo Rempull cam Romanam redintegratà Draconu impierate coalescentium Mede Cap. 13. page 181. or ten Kingdomes viz. those ten before mentioned Kingdomes into which the Empire of the Cesars was divided by that deadly wound of the Barbaman Nations which ten Kings or Kingdoms were not yet sprung up in Johns time but into which afterwards the body of the Roman beast in the course of his last head should be dilacerated by the deadly wound of the Cesarean head And which ten Kings should unanimously give all their power to the beast for his restitution and reparation under the Government of his seventh and last head For unto this seventh head onely and not to any of the six aforegoing these ten horns belong Now these ten hornes are interpreted and described First Partly by their constitution as hath been now explained v. 12.13 Secondly Partly by their hostile persecution against the Lamb in his Members These shall make war with the Lamb viz. by making War with the Saints and overcoming them 42. months as was before declared Thirdly Partly by their overthrow by the Lamb Christ Jesus and his Saints at last which overthrow is confirmed both by the Lambs Regal power and by the Saints three victorial properties And the Lamb shall overcome them for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful v. 14. Hitherto of the interpretation of the Mystery of the beast carrying the Whore 2. Now of the Mystery of the Whore her self carried by this beast which is here also interpreted Herein note 1. Her Ample Dominion 2. Her utter destruction and 3. Topical Denomination 1. Her ample Dominion over peoples of many Nations and Languages signified by the waters where the Whore sitteth And he said unto me The waters which thou sawest where the Whore sitteth are Peoples and Multitudes and Nations and Tongues 1.15 2. Her utter destruction and judgement which the Angel promiseth to tell Johns is described First By the Instrumental means of her destruction the ten hornes upon the beast Secondly by the degrees of her destruction from these ten horns And the ten hornes which thou fawest upon the beast shall hate the whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire vers 16. These degrees of their destroying her shall be 1. Their hatred of the Whore with whom they have committed fornication 2. Deserting of her betaking themselves to Christs pure worship 3. Denuding of her or making her naked both by words laying open her filthy and abominable whoredomes and Idolatries c. and also by deeds withdrawing her respective revenues from her which were wont to be given her 4. Eating her flesh not onely by retaining to their own use her rich incomes Carnes nostras illi manducant qui nos persequuntur Aug. in Locum Tom. 8. but also by opposing and persecuting her which in Scripture language is as eating of ones flesh Job 19.22 Psa 27.2 5. Burning of her with fire When the punctual time cannot particularly be determined but it hastens apace and cannot be far off if the fift viol be now running which shall be poured out upon the forme of the beast which is now the judgement of many learned Divines Let the Saints strive mightily with God and pray the Whore into flames for her ruine approacheth And some of those Kingdomes that helped to raise up the Whore shall be as ready to pull her down Thirdly Her utter destruction is also described by the principal cause thereof Gods providential dispensation according to his Word who can as easily make these ten hornes unanimous to her ruine as they were to her rise and raign For God hath put into their hearts to fulfil his Will and to agree and to give their Kingdome to the beast until the words of God shall be fulfilled v. 17. 3. We have
with his horn so the Dragon i.e. the Heathen Empire had done before them while they were his born Rev. 12.3 that is propugn himself and oppugn his adversaries for this hath been Antichrists course all along to push down and to gore even to death for the most part all those that opposed his Idolatries and Heresies in all nations by those horns i.e. by the Kings and people of those Nations who have given their power and strength to the beast Rev. 17.13 and who do generally continue it to the Beast with one mind and consent Which have received no Kingdom as yet For when the Apostle wrote there was no such Kings in rerum natura or existent in the world as the King of France the King of Spain c. These Kingdoms were then horns of the Dragon i.e. Provinces of the Empire and therefore in the description of the Dragon chap. 12.3 the Crownsare not said to be upon the horns i. e. upon the Kingdoms who had then no Kings of their own but upon the Heads i. e. upon the Imperial head at Rome As for instance this land Britain was in the Apostles time a Province or Kingdom but it had no King of its own and so no Crown that was upon the head of the Emperor at Rome and he had supreme power over this Island but when as these Kingdoms became the horns of the beast they came also to have peculiar Kings of their own England had and hath its King and France its King And to go on in the description of the Beast the Crowns are not said to be upon the heads but upon the hornes And upon his hornes ten crowns Rev. 13.1 But received power as Kings one hour with the beast The Roman Empire was by little and little so divided that Anno. 403. some hornes appeared i. e. The Kings and the beast began their raign together now the Kings and Kingdomes began to arise above 400. years after Christ when the Empire began to be destroyed Clavis Apoâ—alypt Histories do not speak much of them under the name and notion of Kings till after 400. years or about 410. but the truth is Histories are very confused and no wonder for those were times of strange confusion The beast is said to begin with them at one and the same time or as the word may be interpreted the first hour the word in the Greek Text that signifies one signifies also first and so it may may be interpreted the beast began to rise the very first hour the Kings began to rise rather then the first hour after they were risen for therein is a difference of many years it being almost 60 years from the first breaking of the Empire before the ten Kingdomes were set up in it That the word that is here translated one is used also to signifie first For two or three years we must not pinch much it is hard to make an exact account so as there be no mistake as to time Modicum non curat nec prator nec propheta we may see in many instances as Luk. 24.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is word for word one day of the Sabbath or week but it is generally rendred and so the meaning is the first day of the week the women came to the Sepulcher Now if the Kings and the beasts begun their raign together so long since as between 400. and 410. then is this Earthquake which is to ruine him and them also if they persist in his service Dan. 2.44 45. Rev. 19.18 19. near at hand Quest What reason have we to think that the Pope about that time began to be the great Antichrist Answ For answer we are to know there are two particular characters of the Beast as some Divines observe out of the Text the former the cause of the latter viz. 1. Blasphemy for he is full of the names of Blasphemy Rev. 17.3 by which understand Heresie and Idolatry 2. Cruelty for he is ascarlet-coloured beast and makes war with the Saints Rev. 13.7 but both these flow from a higher principle which is as I may say proprium quarto modo and a more convertible character of the beast and that is his primacy or supremacy This supremacy hath in it two things that make it up one is a clayming authority over the consciences of men and so over their faith and worship 2. the extending of his power to all Churches and Nations I will not say these two are the same things nor that they issue from one and the same root but surely this I may say they are neer a kin and have their roots not far asunder because they are generally still found in one and the self-same person That both these meet in the grand Antichrist will appear First He arrogates authority over the soul So much I take to be intimated in these words of Daniel speaking of him Dan. 7.25 He shall speak great words against the most high and think to change times and Laws that he shall arrogate power to himself to change Gods Laws as in coyning and altering Articles of faith appointing worship for God c. high words great words against Godâ— 2 Thes 2.4 He as God sits in the temple of God shewing himself that he is God how doth he do that viz. by Lording it over the consciences of Gods people as if he were God and thereby deprives Christ of one of the principal flowers of his Crown which is to have dominion over the faith see more for this Rev. 13.5 6 15 16. Secondly the great Antichrist is to extend his power at least presumptively and intentionally where he cannot do it actualy over all kindreds tongues and Nations Rev. 13.7 It is Antichristian to claym such authority The Title of Pontifex Maximus renounced by Gratian and Theodosius after him was after the death of Theodosius the first taken up by the Pope who holds it to this day So that what ever the Ropes name be Poutifex Maximus is his ordinary stile Cotton on Rev. 13. vers 16. though but over one man or one Church It is more Antichristian to claym such authority over many Churches more Antichristian to claym this Authority over whole Provinces still more Antichristian to claym it over many Princes and Kingdomes but yet all these do not amount to the grand Antichrist Why because there may be a greater But now he that claims such Soveraignty over all the Churches in the World is the grand Antichrist indeed for there can be no greater Now this the Pope doth yea that he may be sure to challenge as large a dominion as Christ hath he doth not onely arrogate authority over all the World but also in Heaven and Hell where Christ hath power yea in purgatory where Christ hath no power He that will but look upon the sentence condemnatory of Pope Leo the tenth in his Bull against Luther will find this true wherein he doth not labour to convince
horns cannot belong to the first five heads because in Johns time these five were fallen already Rev. 17.10 and consequently their hornes with them nor can these horns belong to the sixth head which then was in Johns time raigning for the Angel tels John plainly the ten horns are ten Kings which have received no Kingdom as yet compare Rev. 17.10 with the 12. verse Therefore it remaines that these ten horns belong onely to the seventh or last head Again this beast is described by his shape vers 2. And the beast that I saw was like a Leopard i. e. like unto the Grecian Monarchy resembled by a Leopard and divided into four heads as this Roman into ten Dan. 6.7 The Leopard is a beast all spotted Pareus in Apoc. 13.2 very swift extream cruel a notable Embleme of this present beast Voice out of the wilderness p. 37. who for his presumption in extolling himself above the Prince of the Covenant defiling his Sanctuary desolating his Sacrifice burning his Statutes and inforcing the humble and meek to the abnegation of the truth by blood fire strapadoes and such like exquisite torments the spirit resembles him to his Arch-type Autiochus descended from the Monarch of Greece here as in Daniel deciphered by a Leopard and I saw the beast like a Leopard Secondly for his strength cruelty and devouring nature the spirit likeneth him to a Bear and his feet were like the feet of a Bear strong cruel and of a devouring nature the embleme of the Persian Monarcy It had saith Daniel Cap. 7.5 three ribs in the teeth of it and they said thus unto it Arise and devour much flesh Thirdly the Holy Ghost likeneth him to the Lyons mouth The Lion was an Embleme of the first Monarcy the Baby lonians the Lions mouth notes strength and cruetly in tearing crushing and swallowing up his prey yea herein the Holy Ghost ascribeth unto him the prophane and cursed mouth of the Monarch of Babylon in commanding the dwellers upon earth Dan. 7.4 upon pain of fire and furnance to adore his golden Idol that he had set up How notably sets this our the Character of this beast his parts being framed of the most notable persecutors that ever were being a confection or compound made up of the terribleness strength and cruelty of all the three foregoing Monarchies hence Daniel admirably describeth this fourth Beast Dan 7.7 as dreadful and terrible and strong exceedingly And it had great Iron teeth Further the Holy Ghost describes him as by his shape so by his State and constitution he was vested with great power and Royal Dominion and herein the holy Ghost sets down the efficient cause the manner of acquiring it and the event of it 1. The efficient cause of it we have in the latter end of the second Verse viz. The Dragon the Dragon gave him his power and his seat and great authority by power Scripture notes not onely strength but bands armies and multitudes of persons The Dragons Bands or Army are his Angels or Devils with Idols their receptacles saith Mede these he gives to this beast together with his Seat and great authority viz. all that authority which he had in the heathenish Roman Empire from which Michael and the Martyrs cast him down overcoming him this he gives to the beast his Substitute to recover it for him How cunningly now Satan acts not now as a red Dragon but as masked in a new manyformed beast to draw the Church to Idolatry under the Christian Empire 2. The manner of his acquiring this Dominion by healing of his mortal wound received in his sixth head by the barbarous Nations Or rather according to Mede by Michaels Victory over the Dragon but now cured by this substituted power of the Beast in the course of his seventh and last head See these two opinions reconciled afterwards And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death and his deadly wound was healed v. 3. 3. The event of this his great Dominion upon the World generally all admiring and adoring this beast thus healed and now termed as the Dragons Deputy viz. highly approving of him and subjecting themselves to him and his power as incomparable and irresistible Adoring in Scripture is put for yeilding subjection Gen. 27.29.37.7 and 49.8 Esa 45. In obeying the Emperors or the Popes Idolatrous decrees they not onely Worshipped them but the Devil in them for the Dragon gave them that power and his work they did And all the World wondred after the beast and they worshipped the Dragon who gave power unto the beast i. e. they subjected themselves to the Dragon in the Beast and they worshipped the beast saying who is like unto the Beast who is able to make War with him v. 3. Again this beast is described by these acts which are ascribed to him viz. his Acts of Idolatrous blasphemy and cruel Tyranny First His acts of Idolatrous blasphemy for the Scripture is wont to set forth Idolatry as Blasphemous opprobrious and contumelious See Deut. 31.2 Jer. 23.25 Isai 65.7 This whole description is taken out of Daniel Cap. 7.25 where he speaks of the same Roman beast but what the Angel declares to Daniel more briefly John explains more largely this is generally mentioned And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and then the continuance of this blasphemous beast is computed And power was given to him to continue 42. months vers 5. The objects of his blasphemies or Idolatries are particularized And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and his Tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven v. 6. thinks Mede Gods name by Image-worship his Tabernacle Christs body Here note saith Mede the beasts 42. months are not to be reckoned from the beginning of his euelty and war against the Saints but from the beginning of his blasphemy i. e. His Idolatry or spiritual whoredom which is when that is attributed to the creature which properly belongs to God Or when any thing beside God is worshipped with Divine Honour or when Saints or Angels are invocated which is to blaspheme them that dwell in Heaven v. 5 6. which invocation of Saints begun saith Perkins to be brought into the Church Anno. 3080. and in 20. years and upward no doubt it grew up to some height wherein the God-head dwelt personally by transubstantiation them that dwell in heaven viz. Saints and Angels by Angel worship Saint-worship or rather Devil-worship under their names Secondly His acts of cruel Tyranny 1. Partly persecuting the Saints And it was given to him to make was with the Saints and to overcome them i. e. with the remnant of the womans seed in the wilderness now this War against the Saints he did not wage from his beginning but when he came to his strength 1200. years after Christ his first expedition was against the Waldenses and Albigenses i. e. true worshippers
of Christ called by that name whereby multitudes of those people and other true Christians were destroyed for seventy years together first intended against the Saracens after turned against the Christians that would not worship and submit to the beast besides the destroying of ten hundred thousand of them in France if Peronius may be beleived many thousands since slain by the Popes Champions in Germany where Charles the fifth made woful slaughter especially at Magdeburge by the Popes appointment and what bloody work hath been made in Germany since for forty years together by the Emperor I need not relate Not to speak of the many thousands slain in France Ireland and England besides those many more that have died for Religion by the bloody inquisition by the hands of the Hangman 3â—â—o in the Low-Countries by the command of the Duke De Alva 800. here in Queen Maries days c. hence the beast is said to make himself drunk with the blood of the Saints Note here with Master Mede that this killing by this war of the Beast is of another kind and differs from that against the Witnesses Cap. 11. his words are these The War which the beast wageth against the Saints universally is one and the war which he shall wage against the Witnesses towards his end when the Witnesses shall finish their testimony is another and this is manifest from the different issue and event of both these Wars the first war of the beast is very prosperous for by it he obtaines power over kindreds tongue and Nations Cap. 13.7 but the other is fatal to him and precedes his ruine and downfall 2. And as his cruelty and tyranny is partly seen in persecuting the Saints so partly also by subduing all to his power except the elect And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the book of life vers 7 8. This is amplified by a conclusion drâ—â—n from hence which is both monitor and consolatory Monitory to atteâ—â—â—nd consider well who adore the beast If any have an ear to hear let him hear vers 9. Consolatory to the faithful not worshipping the Idolatrous Beast notwithstanding all his cruelties inflicted to this end they are comforted from Gods just revenge and retaliation of their Imprisonment and butcheries upon the beast He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity and he that killeth with the Sword must be killed with the Sword they are also comforted from the eminency which will appear in their faith and patience waiting on God till he thus avenge them of the beast here is the patience and faith of the Saints vers 10. I come now to the fift concurrent time under this second period That is the beast with two hornes at the same time The false Prophet beasts or the Pope of 〈◊〉 and his Clergy was the Author of nothing for the Nation that ten horned beath whereby the power of the Dragon was revived by a new Idolatry and Tyranny brought in after the likeness of the former Mede And the Pope and his Clergy together do Institute this false Prophet Beast or false Church Beast 〈◊〉 drives a trade with his pedling wares v. 11. to the 18. This is the second beast viz. the two horned beast or false Prophet the reviver and restorer of the ten horned beast which seems evidently to be the Roman Antichrist viz. the Papacy or the Pope and his Clergy so all interpreters do most unanimously interpret this beast Pareus Mede Piscator Diodate Forbes Now in the Vision of this beast note his rise his character his power and acts First his Rise not so noble as the former beast out of the Sea of Worldly Dominions but more base out of the earth a low and mean condition of things or not out of the Sea of Armies and people striving in wars as formerly but out of the earth silently without all noyse as the grais or Plants silently rise And I saw another beast come out of the earth 2. His Character The Character of the beast is laid down in this three-fold resemblance 1. He resembles the Lamb in his horns i. e. his power And he had two hornes like the Lamb the Lamb had seven hornes denoting his perfect power Rev. 〈◊〉 6. This Beast had two hornes like him though not equal to him Some think hereby the beast Hypocritically imitates Christ in his meek Lamb-like power as Diodate Some by the two horns understand the double power of binding and loosing So Mede or the secular and Ecclesiastical power or sword Usurped by the Pope Some by the two hornes like the Lamh understand the Law and the Gospel Voice out of the wilderness wherewith the Lamb doth save and kill but as concerning the use and force of the hornes the spirit saith they were therein so contrary to the Lamb that when they did open either to touch the Law or preach the Gospel they spake and taught like the Dragons Doctors and like the Priests of Jupiter Teaching and Preaching to the Children of the World that they ought to Worship the God of Heaven as the Dragons Priests had taught their Fathers to worship the Gods of the Heathen The power of the first beast did consist in Idolatrous worship saith Mede which power was given him by the Dragon Voyce out of the wilderness Therefore in the second place he is said to resemble the Dragon in her voyce And he spake as the dragon vers 11. i. e. by his doctrine and decrees he patronizeth Idolatry and persecuteth the Saints as the Dragon did in the former beast Thirdly He resembles the first beast in the exercise of his power And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him i.e. he causeth his new Christened Cesars to set up a race of sycophantical high and princely priests who under a colour of practising the affairs of the Lamb should cunningly clap Jupiters coat upon the Lambs back and bestow all the rites add ceremonies of Jupiter and his Idols upon Christ and so by turning Jupiters worship into Christianism he might turn the worship of God into Paganism and Idolatry and that so he might at least prophane and desolate the true worship of the true God whose Majesty and truth of Deity they could no way blemish And for the better success in this their project should cause to be erected throughout all Kingdomes and Nations certain Covents and swarms of ungodly and prostituted Clarks by avouching and maintaining against all commers that the Pope in Peters Successor and that the Supremacy his Caesars and his Kings gave him is the very Keys of Heaven and Hell that his Throne and Seat is Peters Chayr and Sea Apostolick and that the execrable forme of Jupiters Worship wherein his Bride and Caesars delighted is the very true Worship of God which the Lamb and Apostles delivered Should I say by these mists leger-demains and new editions of old Idolatry established
in the fight of the Beast V. 12. Conspectu ejus rendred before him is as much as to say for his sake or in favour of him the self same prophanation and devout impiety which his predecessors the Cesars so ardently imbraced for so much the spirit rippeth up in saying The Pope of Rome who is the head of this beast doth exercise also the supreme rule or government of the for esaid beast Mede And all the power of the first beast he did in the * i.e. before him or unto him according to that 1 Sam. 2.18 compared with 1 Sam. 3.1 sight of the beast and thereby so strongly deluded and seduced the children of disobedience as followeth in the third place Tirdly The description of his power and acts 1. He causeth the inhabitants of the earth to loath the sacrifices of the God of heaven In the presence of the beast is the same as with him or in his behalf as if he should have said This two horned beast is Chaplain to the ren horned beast so that it ought not to be wondred at if he speak like the Dragon Mede Comment part 2. cap. 12. vers 12. and to refuse to worship as the Lord commanded but to chuse rather as the Spirit saith to worship and submit to the first beast i.e. to worship the God of their fathers as the Dragon commanded them just after the prescription of his Cesars and manner of the heathen And that we may the better discern from whom those Procters of Antichrist borrowed their Church service the Spirit remembers he repaired the wound of the first beast mentioned vers 3. whose deadly wound was healed 2. Mede Hoc facâ—um est in prel a cum Michacle sanctis martyribus He seduceth and causeth men to make an mage to the first beast who was wounded the first Beast being the sixth head as was formerly shew'd of the Roman Empire which was heathenish when wounded The Roman beast of the seventh head is his image becomming like him not onely in his kingdom power and foveraignty Bestia Bicornu loquitur ut draco imaginem gestit Bestiae prioris viz. Romani Imperii Idololatrici eamque in vitam invocat Zanch. 2 Thess 1. T. L. but also in his new Idolatry or Idol-worship not of Pagan-worship but of Saints and Angels c. like thereunto The image of the Beast saith a learned writer is the image of the beasts religion i.e. such a Christianism as doth counterfeit and represent the Paganism of the Dragon attiring and decking Jupiters prophanation with the holy and honorable names of God Jesus Spirit Scriptures Church Sacraments Saints c. like excellent Comedians who deck themselves with Crowns Scepters Purples representations of Kings when indeed they are the Idlest and basest of the people And as the Lord commanded his servant Moses to erect such a Tabernacle of witness here on earth as should in all points be after the Idea model and platform of that divine and eternal Tabernacle which he saw in the mount So Antichrist Lord of misrule commands his propudious Clergy to cause all People Nations and Kingdomes to set up such a Christianity as should in all points answer the Idea and model of that prophane and execrable Heathenisme wherewith he saw the Gentiles enamored and thereby so strongly seduced the inhabitants of the earth that they verily thought the mystery of iniquity to be pure and undefiled Christianity and the abomination of desolation spoken of in Daniel the Prophet to be the onely true ancient and apostolick Religion teaching them that perish by consenting to lies that they ought to worship God as the Gentiles did worship Jupiter That as the Gentiles had their Arae so Christians must have their Altars And as Heathens had their bloody Sacrifices so Christians must have their unbloody Sacrifices most Offer Bread and Wine to God as the Heathens did to Ceres and Bacchus And as the Pagans had their Pontifex Maximus so Christians must have their Pope And as Ethnicks had their Sacerdotes so Christians must have their Priests And as the Dragon had his Pantheon so Antichrist must have his All-Saints And as the Ethnicks had their Supplications so Christians must have their Processions Lustratio A purging by Sacrifice As Gentiles had their Lustrations so Christians must have their Holy Water As the Dragon in his Church-Service had his Cerei Novendiale Sacrum Liv. A Solemnity or Sacrifice at Burials used nine days after the party was dead so Antichrist in his Church-Service must have his candles As the Dragon had his Novendial Sacrifices so Antichrist must have his Masses of Requiem Hecatombs were Sacrifices wherein was killed a hundred Beasts As the Dragon had his Hecatombs so Antichrist must have his Trentalls As the Dragon had his Colledges Sodalium and Arvalium fratrum i. e. Priests of Bacchus and Ceres Ordained by Romulus so must Antichrist have his Cloysters of Monks and Friers And as the Dragon had his Vestals so Antichrist must have his Nuns and Sanctimonials And as the Dragon did celebrate the birth-days of his Caesars so Antichrist must solemnize the Nativity of his Saints And as the Dragon had his Annals so Antichrist must have his Legends And as the Dragon had his Sreularia Spectacula so Antichrist must have his Jubilees And as the Dragon had his Bacchanals So Antichrist must have his Carnivals And as the Dragon had his Lupanaries Lupanor a Brothel-house or Srewes so Antichrist must have his Stews and as the Dragon had his Enchanters so Antichrist must have his Exorcists And as the Dragon had his Asyla so Antichrist must have his Sanctuaries And as the Dragon had his Exequies and Parentals so Antichrist must have his Dirige and de Profundis And as the Dragon did deifie his Caesars so Antichrist must Canonize his Saints And as the Dragon had his civil Laws so Antichrist must have his Canon Laws And as the Dragon had his Imperial Rescripts so Antichrist must have his decretal Epistles And as the Dragon had his Tribunitial Intercessions so Antichrist must have his ancontroulable Interdictions And as the Dragon had and used his Proscriptions so Antichrist must have and use his Excommunications And as that Beast commanded his Heathens to please their Goddess June with Cane votalibeas so this beast commands Christians to please their God with Vows And as the Deagon had his Triceps Hecate so Antichrist must have his Triple Tiara to signifie his triple pretended Jurisdiction Hexaphorum A Litter or Chayr to be cartied up and down by 6. men And as the Dragon had his Hexaphorum so must Antichrist be carried up and down Briefly as the Dragons Priests did teach the Heathen to Worship Jupiters God so Antichrist must teach his Christians to Worship God as Jupiter is And look what form of Religion the Dragon had and what manner of life he led the same must Antichrist in
with it in a learned Writer since I thought good here to put it down and leave it to the judgement of the Reader to choose which Interpreration he likes best pointing no doubt at the Christian Emperor who did-not differ from the Heaven Emperor as a distinct form of Government for they were both Souldiers and chosen by the Souldiers but in the quality of his person the one hating and persecuting the other loving and protecting Christian Religion And when he comes he must continue a short space For the Empire when it came into the hands of the Christians stood but a short time in its strength a matter of seventy or eighty years from about the middle of the reign of Constantine the great for till then he was exercised with mighty Wars against the Heathen Emperors unto the end of the raâ—â—n of Theodâ—sius the great from about Anno. 316 or 320. to 395 or 397. It follows in the next verse the beast that was and is not even he is the eighth and is of the seventh viz. The Papel state was in respect of the bulk of the Empire whereof he is a horne And is not i. e. it hath not any present existence in the Apostles times as the seventh head for the time of that is not yet come Even he is the eighth and is of the seventh that is he is the eighth if you make the Christian Emperor one but he is indeed the seventh for there is but seven heads and he is but the seventh distinct form of Government Kings Tribunes Decemvirs Dictâ—ors Consâ—ls Emperors and the seventh Popes Now here lies the Argument It is 〈◊〉 to wards the end of the 1200 end 60. years since the Pope became the head of the Roman Kingdom Ergo the Earthquake that must ruine him and his Kingdom draws near To make this appear we are to know as some have observed there were divers degrees of the fall of that vast body of the Roman Empire one after the death of Julian the Apostate about Anno. 365. For then the barbarous Nations invaded and made huge Havock in the Provinees of the Empire A second was about Anno. 410. when Rome it self was sacke by Alaricus the Goth and the Empire dismembred A third about Anno. 455. when ten Kings were risen up instead of the Empire to which let me interpose one notable one out of a learned writer about Anno. 395. at the death of Theodâ—siâ—s the great the barbarous nations had made many attempts before but were from time to time especially by his valour repelled 2 Thes 2.7 The time of Antichrists revealing is when he who letteth is taken out of the way now this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or he that did let the 〈◊〉 pearing of Antichrist is interpreted by Anrient and laâ—â— Writers 〈◊〉 be the Roman Empire not then wholly demolished but divided and weekened it was divided after Theadosius into Eastern and Western 〈…〉 in the East and Arcadius in the Wost now the Western Empire was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which was taken away by the death of Arcad. us But upon his death they brake in like an huge inundation bore down the Empire before them shivered it in a hondred peices so as it near recovered any more This great mine of the Roman Empire was six years adoing for so great a body as the Empire could not by created means be ruined in a short time And it is very remarkable both because it made so great a change in the Kingdoms of Europe and Affrick planting them almost universally with new nations and names and in special because that storm brought our forefathers into this Land setling here a new Nation and language It is thirdly also observable because in it the sixth Head of the Roman Monarchy the Emperor went off and the seventh the Pope came on onely the question is about which of these times and degrees was the Empires destruction Not so high as Julians death for the Empire stood in good strength after that for thirty years at least nor so low as 455. when it was quite broken and not long after lost its very name but somewhere between viz. either about 406. or 410 years after Christ when Rome it self the head of the Empire was taken Now if the beasts reign began about or between 406 and 410 then the ruining earthquake must needs approach considering how many years are gone of the 1260 years Object The sixth Head of the Empire continued long after the death of Theodosius the Great Answ 1. Not in strength but was still more and more broken unco its dissolution 2. Rome became the the Seat of the Beast by the means of translating the sear of the Empire from Rome to Constantinoplâ— from whence ensued the parting the Empire into two parts by which division it being weakened and alter also sundred in affection as well as in place was the easier to be entred upon and obtained by the Pope especially after the death of Arcadius Bishop Vsher sum of Christian Religion p. 443. It is not absurd to imagine that the sixt head and the seventh might be in some degree together For first it is but a comparison not like that natural head of which there can be but one atonce more makes a monster and truly this Reast is a monster Besides the Impesial and Papal Head did not so thwart or cross one another at first as afterwards they did so as it might be with them as Logicians say of contrary qualities they may consist together in the same subiect gradibus remissis non intensis they might both of them have their power and not intrench one upon another Popes at first medled in a manner only with the matters of the Church as being desirous to settle their Ecclesiastical authority and the Emperors on the other side almost wholly busied themselves about the Civil State to govern and defend the Empire And yet further which may lessen the absurdity before that you shall have in the Roman Government sometimes as it were two heads at once as Consuls who were for a year and a Dictatator chosen it may be for three months or for six moneths upon some extraordinary exigencies and necessities of State who was for the time supreme as namely in matters of war as the Consuls were supreme for other Civil affairs The Earthquake whereby Antichrists Kingdom is to be ruined approacheth Indice or Evidence 2. appeareth by this second Indice or Evidence Because t is almost 1200 and 60 years since the ten Kings began and the Beast began with them as may appear Rev. 17.12 The ten horns which thou sawest are ten Kings which have received no Kingdom as yet but received power as Kings one hour with the Beast The ten Kings are the many Kingdoms that sprung up out of the ruins of the Empire as the Kigdoms of France Spain c. These are called horns aptly because Antichrist doth with them as the beast doth
A Sober Guess CONCERNING Several Dark Prophesies IN THE REVELATION Especially The XI Chapter Extracted out of several Authors Expositors on the APOCALYPS By T.P. Minister of the Gospel P. P. 1 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure Word of Prophesie whereunto ye do well to take heed as to a light that shineth in a dark place till the day come c. LONDON Printed c. TO THE READER THe reverend and learned Author of this ensuing Treatise having had of late an unpleasing liberty from his Ministerial Imployments wherein he hath for these many years last past been exercised with much acceptance and precious fruit and being studious how he might best serve his Generation and improve his time and talent for common benefit did engage himself moved no doubt thereunto from above to the study of the book of the Revelation and to make a search into the deep Mysteries contained in it the rather that he and others by his means might the better understand the mind of God in the way of his providential dispensations which are so variously interpreted and at which so many stumble and fall The Province the task though difficult yet is proper for him and men of his capacity to undertake to whom the Arcana Coeli the lively Oracles the mysteries of the Kingdom of God are committed and whose duty it is to make Visions plain In this work the Author hath laboured ad sudorem ad pallorem and no doubt found it to be dolor in oculis as the Psalmist phrases it When he had laboured much in this work and had brought it ad umbilicum knowing and considering with himself as Piscator did upon the very same occasion That we know but in part prophesie but in part and that the spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets he willingly offered his papers to the perusal and submitted them to the judgement and censure of his Brethren and among others to me the least of all whose acquaintance with the Author and his work within not many hours bears the same date And I must profess I count it a mercy to have acquaintance with both and do cordially own the Work for the Authors sake and the Author for the Works sake After I had saluted the Treatise a limine I found more and more encouragement to pass further and further into it and having perused it was fully concurrent in my judgement upon it with others that had run the lines before me that it was Opus praelo dignum and did heartily press the publication of it as that which would be of precious use and much for benefit to such as desire to move by the Apocalyptique line wishing that being well taught it might have the fairest gales and a most gainful trade Reader the Treatise is now in thy hand and wilt thou not take cognizance of it and be acquainted with it Solomon gives it for the character of a fool That he hath a price in his hand to get knowledge and hath no heart to it will it be for thy honour to be so charactred When the little book mentioned Rev. 5. was held in the hand of him that sate on the Throne and none found worthy to open it and look into it John was deeply affected and wept much to think that a Book that would be so much for the Churches benefit should remain a sealed book God hath made gracious provision formerly and now of late that by Labours and Lucubrations of this and other the faithful servants of Christ this mysterious book should be opened and elucidated the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 explained and shall not this precious provision be accepted and made use of Thou hast in this Book which the Author hath laboured in an account given in a prophetical and mysterious way of a Lamb slain but alive again standing on Mount Zion in a military posture fighting and conquering and going out to conquer A Lamb I say so the great Shepherd of the sheep delights to be stiled and called by his Lambs and Sheep 2. Thou hast an account of a lovely Bride in beauty and bravery made ready for the Lamb her Husband and the solemnization of their happy Nuptials after Espousals 3. Of a foul and formidale Beast succeeding a great red Dragon in place and power and under specious pretences of holding correspondency with the Lamb making war against him 4. Of a scarlet coloured Whore having upon her the names of Blasphemy and in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and filthinesses of her fornication inebriating therewith the Kings and Princes and Inhabiters of the earth 5. Of the followers of the Lamb in their numbers witnessing to him warring with him and suffering for him and then appearing with his fathers name in their foreheads with Crowns and Palms rejoycing and triumphing having gotten the victory over the Beast and over his Image and over his Mark and over the Number of his name 6. Of the followers of the Beast and fornicators with the Whore receiving a Beasts mark and their dreadful doom as persons that were not the Lambs Milites conscripti not written in the Lambs Book of life Briefly Thou hast an account of seven Seals seven loud sounding Trumpets seven Vials filled up with hot scorching and scalding wrath and poured out upon the Antichristian world These and other the like mysterious things are held forth in this Book of Revelations and in part cleared up in the Writings of this and other the servants of Christ make use then of this provision made and bless God that thereby thou art in a fair way to possess that blessing which in Rev. 1. is pronounced on them and ascertained to them that read and hear and keep the sayings of this Book The time hastens wherein the things contained in it will have their full accomplishment and then instead of a prophesie of things to be done it will turn it self into a History of things already done beleive it now as a Prophesie that thou mayst rejoyce in it as a History And take heed lest through neglect to labour and search for the right understanding of this Book by such holy helps thou be not found in compliance with Beast-worship and fall under the power of that word which is pronounced in a judicial way Rev. 22. Let him that is filthy superstitious idolatrous be so still which Scripture is doing quick and severe execution at this day A word or two more that I may not hold thee too long at the door The time is hastening wherein the Lamb of Zion will compleat his victories over the Beast of Babylon and then Beast and false Prophet shall be cast into the lake of fire and the smoak of their torment shall ascend out of the bottomless pit Make it thy care that when others shall be found the marked followers of the Beast thou mayst be found among the sealed followers of the Lamb while others defile their garments with
body of this Prophecy now in order to this ponder and weigh advisedly two things First The Scope or Intent of the Book Secondly The Synchronisms or the contemporaneousness of the Prophesies therein how the Visions therein run parallel one with another and what an acurate harmony and sweet consent there is among them in respect of time First Eye and observe intentively the scope of the Book that is the common time and Period whereunto all the particular Prophecies and passages in the Revolation do joyntly run and wherein they do ultimately determine For this is the Pole-stâ—â— and compass we must steer by the chief mark or white which must be aymed and levelled at in interpreting this whole book and all the mysterious visions therein contained Like an accurate Archer therefore keep the eye of thy judgement fixed stedfastly on the Scope that so far as possible thou shoot not wide not short nor over Now the Scope or intent of the Revelation 1. Parts of the book is more generally to make known to the Apostle John and by John to the Churches the present things that then were when the Revelation was given and the future things that should be afterwards from Johns time to the end of the World as the title of the Book intimates Rev. 1.1.1.19 2. More particularly Jesus Christ intends in this Book to declare the future condition of the Christian Religion and Churches of the Gentiles especially the European Churches the remaines of the Roman Empire and the Tyrannical dominion of Antichrist those singular subject matters of this book extending themselves in Europe peculiarly or as another learned writer expresseth it to the same purpose Christ intends in this book to describe the state of the Church in the New â—â—â—ament The Arocal vp is a Prophefie of the destruction of the Roman Empire not only as Heathenish but as Christian when as it were it was paganised again and persecuting the Church Mr. Thomas Goodwin in his Sermon before the Parliament 1645. and also the things that shall come to pass in the Roman Empire or the fourth Monarchy under which the Church of God doth subsist and that in divers remarkable Periods of events Now this description comprehends three Periods or three sorts of times The first Period containes the time of the Dragon the time in which the seven Crowns stood upon the seven heads of the Dragon Rev. 12.3 when the Dragon himself under the heathenish Emperors was publiquely adored and worshiped but the Christians banished persecuted and put to cruel death till at last Constantine the great came to the Imperial Seat whereby the raign of the Dragon came to an end for he throws down all both Idol-worship and Princes that upheld it So the Dragon was cast out of the Church Heaven the whole Empire turning Christian though as one well said the Devil did not thâ—â— turn Christian for he stirred up thâ—â—â—â—rian Christian world to persecute the Orthodox Christians as much as Heathen Rome had done yet notwithstanding the Church prevailed was built up and triumphed until after the death of the good Emperor Theodesins at which time the Devil left his shape of a Dragon and resigned his Host his residence and seat with his great authority unto the beast with ten horns that rose out of the Sea Cap 13.1 2. The second period comprehends the time of Antichrists raign Period 2. or the time in which the Pope of Rome as the Antichrist and enstalled Leiutenant of the Dragon Blasphemeth God and his name and persecutes his Saints for the space of 1200 and 60 days Rev. 13. Which God hath permitted as a scourge to Arrian Rome when the Dragon was overcome and cast out of the Church Heaven he did cast out of his mouth Water as a flood after the Woman Rev. 12.15 i.e. he stirred up the Septentrional Nations to invade the Roman Empire So Brightman Deed. Piscator I unius intending thereby to root out and destroy the Church but the earth swallowed up the flood in regard these Nations embruned the Christian faith Some by the flood understand Heresies especially Arrianism overflowing the Christian world and so interprers the earth to be the multitude of Christians mer in general Councels who defending the true faith overthrew and drank up these heresies as dry ground drinketh up water remaining in the Roman Empire and erected several Kingdomes in it Seeing then the Dragon saw that he could not maintain the Heathenism wherein be was openly worshipped and served he resigneth to the Beast which riseth up out of the Sea Rev. 13.7 and is ridden and governed by the great whore of Babylon Rev. 133. c. that is to the Antichrist who in the time of these wars doth creep out in the Roman Empire his power and his seat and great authority Cap. 13. vers 2. And so makes him his Vicar and Lieutenant by giving over to him his Seat and Residence the City of Rome and the whole Roman Empire whence it came to pass that about the time the Bishops of Rome began to seek to have the primacy and preeminence both in Church and State as Innocentius the first did in the year say some 402. others 406. The Dragon doth resign to his Lieutenant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Dragons delegate or Inostirute Râ—â— his whole host for in this sence the seventy Interpreters do use this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Exod. 14.14 and 15.4 as Mat. 24.29.30 The Host of the Dragon are his Angels or Devils So Mede and the Idols in which the Dragon and the Devils are worshipped and served by the heathen These Idols the Anti-Christian Popedome hath received and worshipped under the name of Saints the Dragon and his Vicegerent as hereof the Text speak's Cap. 13.3 4. The whole earth did wonder at the beast and they worshipped the Dragon that gave power unto the Beast and they worshipped the beast The Dragon doth give also to him great authority and makes him a head over great countries whereof David did prophecy Psa 110.6 The time of his Lieutenantship shall continue forty two Months i.e. one thousand two hundred and sixty years Vpon this follows the third Period which bringeth Statum Ecclesiae tranquillum Period 3. as the pure so the peaceable and quiet estate of the Church upon earth Seeing at the found of the Trumpet of the seventh Angel the seventh plague or the third we do come upon the Roman Empire and at the same time the seventh Viol of Gods wrath is poured out â— wherewith the enemies of the Church are wholly cut off and destroyed yea even the Devil himself shut up in the bottomless pit Rev. 20.1 2 3. therefore there can nothing but a true and constant peace ensue whence it is that the Church of God rejoyceth with great joy with a great voyce saying as Rev. 11.25 The Kingdomes of this World are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of
his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever and v. 17. She giveth also thanks to the Lord God Almighty because he hath taken to him his great power and reigneth Now unto these three Periods The scope of the Revellation or times the whole body of the Revelation of St. John and the parts of it are directed For the Son of God describeth in this Revelation the State of the Christian Church and the things befalling to the Roman Empire in relation to the Church in a three fold manner First By seven Epistles Cap. 2.3 Secondly by a Book Scaled Cap. 4.5 6 7. Thirdly By a little Book open Cap. 10. and so following He doth also appear to John every time in another shape First In the likeness of a Son of man who suffereth in the first Period i. e. in his Members Rev. 1.12 I saw one like to the Son of man in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks Secondly By his horns and eys which are 7 is noted the absolute perfection of his power wisdom all for his Church against his enemies As a beast in the shape of a lamb having seven horns and leven eyes chap. 5.6 which doth fight in the second period Thirdly As a mighty strong Angel cloathed with a cloud cap. 10. who in the third period hath all things put under his feet and reigneth First In the likeness of a Son of man in the midst of the seven candlesticks cap. 1. vers 12 13 14 15. These Epistles are by Christ not onely intended to those particular Churches named but to all the Churches wâ—h then were elsewhere in the world which should be in all ages till his 2d comâ—ing He declareth the condition of the Church in general by seven Epistles for though these seven Epistles seem primarily and immediately to have respect to the state of the Church then present to the state of the seven Asian Churches especially Yet secondarily mediately and Analogically they have respect to other following Churches as it were adumbrated and resembled by them Yea Mr. Brightman goes further and makes them to contain in them Prophesies touching the future state of all the Gentile Churches and so makes all these Epistles as well prophetical in respect of the future Counterpane Churches as historical in respect of the present Antity â—e Asian Churches So then I say Christ declares the condition of the Church in general by seven Epistles whereof the first and second belong to the first period viz. Ephesus and Smâ—rna The third fourth fifth sixth and seventh to the second period And the promises cap. 2 and 3. to the third period For then those promises made to the Church conflicting with her enemies and overcoming them as that chap. 2.7 I will give to eat of the tree of life in the midst of the Paradise of God parallel to that Rev. 22.14 and cap. 2.3 He shall walk with me in white parallel to that Rev. 7.9 13. and 19.8 and that chap. 2.26 To him that overcometh I will give power over the nations and he shall rule them c. and that cap. 3.21 I will grant to sit with me upon my throne parallel with Rev. 20.4 All which promises relating to the graceful and peaceful estate of the Church after her deliverance from her enemies by their just ruine and destruction shall be accomplished Secondly Christ appeareth to John as a beast in the shape of a Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes and openeth the book sealed the secret and hidden decree of God and intimateth thereby the things befalling the Roman Empire Mede divides the Apocalyps from the fourth chapter to the end of the book into two Systemes of prophetical Visions the one containing the fate of the Empire from cap. 4.1 to 10. and 8. yea to cap. 12. ver 1. the other of the Church from cap. 12.1 to 22.6 both begining from one Epocha viz. the second in such sort as the first as by comparing c. 4.1 with 10.8 Hence the second prophesie seems nor to be subsequent or sâ— bordinate to the first but coâ—ordinate thereto These two series of prophesies seems to be plainly intimated Rev. 10.11 Thou must prophesie again before many peoples nations and tongues q. d. thou hast prophesied once already by vertue of the vision of the seven seals and seven trumpets now thou must prophesie again a second time by vertue of the little book thou hast eaten up under which the Church is built up and preserved cap. 4 5 6 7 8 9. and distinctly how things shall be carried both in the Political and Ecclesiastical State and first in the Political State And that both in the first second and third period In the first period which by opening the first six seals is performed cap. 6. where in the first five seals is set forth the condition of the Church under the Heathen Emperors but in the sixth the full of Heathenism under the Christian Emperors from Constantine the great until the death or after the death of Theodosius is prefigured In brief the meaning of the first six seals is this That Prince of unspotted righteousness the rider of the white horse with his arrow and his bow in his hand aimeth at something of high importance and it is no less then what he promiseth his followers at their lowest ebb Luk. 12.32 Fear not little flock for it is your fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom and he hits the mark in the sixth Seal where the Pagan Empire is shattered to the purpose by Constantine turning Christian But to adorn the course of time till then by some prophetick Remarks the Riders of the Red Black and Pale Horses are brought in as also most concerningly the cry of the souls under the Altar whereby is denoted especially the reign of Dieclesian and that ten years unparalleld persecution then commencing which fifth Seal the rescuing of the Empire into the hands of Christ by the subversion of the Pagan power doth immediately succeed and is matter of the sixth Seal figured out by proper prophetical expressions as of a great earthquake the eclipse of the Sun and Moon and falling of the stars which Mr. Mede interprets to be when by Constantine the Great and his Sucessors there was such a mighty change and subversion of the Roman Heathenish affairs signified here by the great earthquake wherein all the heathenish gods were shaken from their heaven their Priests rejected and for ever deprived of their revenue their Idol Temples broken pulled down burnt demolished throughout the whole Roman world and the Emperors Kings and Potentates endeavouring to succour their indangered gods themselves subdued frighted put to flight at last none daring to defend their Roman Heathenish Religion so terribly crushed and fallen This is the first complement of Christs victory over the Roman heathenish Empire the foundation whereof Christ laid in the first Seal For the particular accommodation of events to the
his person parallel and maintain This is the Image of the Beast which he causeth men to make and this he effecteth two ways He perswad 's them by signes and wonders that with him they consent to make an Image of the Beast wounded in his sixth head which at length being made at his bidding that wound received in v. 13 14. 2 Thes â— the state of the Dragon is healed and the Dragon Deast seems to be revived Mede 1. By deceiving them with lying wonders and counterfeit miracles 2. By frighting men and terrifying them with formidable Edicts Anathemaes Thunderbolts of Excommunication debarring men even of civil commerce while excommunicated Now it follows vers 15. Vers 4. He had power to give life to the image of the beast that the image of the beast should speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed By which image of the beast is meant not onely as was shewed before that Religion which the first beast viz. the Roman heathenish Empire had and the second beast viz. Ecclesiastical Rome sought to revive vers 14. But also a lively portraiture or representation of that power and authority and soveraignty which the Roman heathenish Empire had Now it is said in this 15. verse Datum est ei dare spiritum c. He had power to give life to the image of the beast i.e. It is given to the false Propher viz. the Pope and his Clergy to give life to the Popish secular power to speak i. e. with power and authority to speak to command and forbid in all Kingdoms as well to command by his Edicts those things that were needful for the defending of his honour and dignity as also to forbid any other Religion but the Religion of the Beast and to punish and that with death all those that would not obey and worship the Beast And indeed all that power that the Image of the Beast viz. the Popish Secular power hath to rage against the Saints is given him by the false Prophet Beast viz. the Pope and his Clergy Hence the Pope and the Papacy affirm that even Kings and Emperors have from them whatever they have So that the German Cesar was not Roman Emperor till he was confirmed by the Pope And an Emperor saith Aretius is but an image of him chosen indeed by the seven Electors of Germany but confirmed by the Pope for if the Pope confirm not the new elect he is no Emperor And the matter is so carried in the exercise of this power against the Saints that whom the Pope and his Clergy do condemn for Herefie as they call it they forthwith deliver them over to the Secular power to be killed as ye may often read in the Book of Martyrs In these three last verses Ver. 16.17 18. I will endeavour to explain some things by shewing what is probable to be the sence and meaning of these four things in these three verses 1. The mark of the Beast 2. The name of the Beast 3. The number of his Name 4. The number of the Beast 666. And that no man might buy resell save he that had the Mark or the Name or the Number of his Name Now these are three distinct badges Bright man Pareus Forbes or characteristical notes of the Beasts Vassals or worshippers I like well Forb's his expression of himself in this point All that follow Antichrist have his Name but in diverse manner 1. Some have the character thereof i e. the name imprinted and are his proper goods as having his burning iron and mark a familiar phrase from the manner of men these are Priests and Jesuites Popish Peers and Prelates 2. Some have his Name yet so as they have not his Mark who have not learned the deepness of Satan nor are Antichrists sworn bondmen these are the common sort of Papists 3. Yet some have but the Number of hie Name i.e. they are so far from being his sworn and marked slaves as they are no otherwise his then so far as they are counted to be so and numbered among his So the Annotators upon the Bible The number of his name i. e. such as are esteemed so to be and numbered among such And a late learned Writer hath further improved this sence His words are these They that have the number of his name are a company of men taking part with Antichrist in a more remore kinde of subjection such as do hold and bring in such doctrines opinions and practices in worship as men shall reckon and account them Papists in heart and affection Such Numerantur Papistae they aim at Popery And though their professions deny it yet their actions and corruptions in Doctrine and Worship shall speak it in all mens consciences especially of all Orthodox and reformed Protestants who cannot but so judge that it is the Pope they fear and worship Further he saith They shall profess the Protestant Religion but in their practices and underhand dealings and policâ—es depress it and advance the Popish Religion and party like those Tit. 1.16 They profess they know God but in their works deny him being abominable disobedient c. These are justly to be accounted Papists and have received the number of his name which imports a secret cleaving to Antichrist and to be of his company as truly as they that receive his name for though in profession they go not so far as to take that name or openly to own the Church of Rome yet really they do that which shall cause all men so to reckon them That of the Apostle 2 Tim 3. is a prophesie of this generation of men ominus constituit duos Duces Mosem Aaron totedem Pharo magos orponi illis voluit Calv. on Tim cap. 3. For besides plain Popery which is prophesied of 1 Tim. 4. to arise in the latter days you have in 2 Tim. 3.1 another prophesie of a sort of men that shall arise in the last days Popery is prophesied of to be in the latter days who have a form of godliness and shall be despisers of those that are good Yea he compares them to Jannes and Jambres the cheif of the Egyptian Sorcerers who by their lying miracles did resist Moses yea and Aaron too which is to be understood though not named in the Text as Calvin notes to which two the witnesses are resembled Rev. 11. These saith my learned Author This was written above 20 years ago are the last Champious of the Beast before his fall ergo said to be in the last times who shall proceed so far as to slay the Witnesses in that Kingdom which is the tenth part of the City then this their folly or madness shall appear to all men which being discovered shall be their ruin for they shall priceed no further Amen Now touching the number of the beasts name Vers 18. 666. how hath it puzled and tortured all writers to satisfie themselves about
Nets and Gins and are joyntly executed in a most dreadful manner being both cast alive into a Lake of fire burning with Brimstone Their whole Army put to the Sword and the Fowls invited and filled with their flesh and enriched with their prey This is to be understood of Chricts final victory not onely spiritually but corporally over the beast and false Prophet now vexed and enraged at the iudgement of the Whore and this by some remarkable and dreadful demonstration of his providence In the 20. Cap. is set down the judgement of the Dragon that old Serpent the Devil and Satan that had incited and used as his instruments the whore beast and false Prophet and their followers to oppose and persecute the Lamb and his Saints and the 21. and 22. Chap. containe the Churches happy estate upon her enemies destruction and the glory of the new Jerusalem These things we may see and learn by observing intentively the scope of the boon of the Revelation of Saint John that is the common term and period whereunto all the particular prophesies and passages in the Revelation do joyntly run and wherein they do ultimately determine Now having done with the scope or Intone of the Book I am next according to the method I propounded in the beginning to speak of the Synchronismes Which we must pouder and weigh advisedly in order to the understanding of the Prophecies contained in this book concerning which I will premise four things 1. A Synchronisme of Prophecies is a concurring or meeting together of things foretold in those Prophesies at the same time or which may be said to be contemporaneous or coaetaneous of the same time and age that fall out or come to pass in the same intervals or spaces of time or if I may so phrase it that time together 2. The order of the seals and in them of the Trumpets is certain and indubitable the same certainly which the number assigned to them both doth indigitate or poynt to as it were with the Finger viz. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. The Seals are opened one after another in order in opening of the seventh Seal whereof the Trumpets are sounded one after another successively 3. Therefore the rest of the Prophesies compared first with themselves and then with the Seales by Synchronismes the order of the whole Revelation will be made manifest 4. These Synchronismes are not built upon the Hypothesis or argument drawn from any interpretation not do they lean or stay upon the praejudgement of the event of things but upoon the innate Characters of the visions themselves and are Apodictically or demonstratively true to any that have but a competency of wit and patience to peruse them as these Synchronismes The treading underfoot of the outward court the Witnesses prophecying in sackeloth the Woman in the wilderness the ten horned and two horned Beast the sealed servants of the Lamb the whore of Babylon the succession of the first six Trumpets the chief matters of the Apocalyps being comprehended within these Synchronismes All these are circumscribed within the space of 1200. and 60. days i.e. years 5. The dililent and heedful comparing together of visions that are contemporary will notably and especially help to the more certain defining and determining of the beginning and period of future times foretold in this book and so to the true understanding of the Revelation It being one of the greatest difficulties of the Revelation punctually and certainly to find out the beginnings and periods of the times therein intended Now in laying them down I will follow my former method and without prejudice to any mans judgement I may persue that method which to me seemes most clear and genuine most plain and easie to be understood how-ever the disposing of the Method will not alter the matter The contemporaneousness of these Prophecies or of the visions in these Prophesies stands thus 1. The first six seals appertain to the first Period viz. that time when Rome was heathen the sixt whereof signifies the mighty change of things to the advantage of the Church the Empire becoming Christian The Visions that are synchronal to the time of the six seals Rev. 12. are the fight of Michael and the seven-headed dragon about the childs birth wherewith the woman travailed the measuring the Temple and Altar and them that Worship therein which are Symmetral or commensurable to the Angels measure Rev. 11. Mr. Mede interprets the fight of the seven-headed Dragon and Michael the conflict of the Church of Christ with the Pagan cruelty till Constantine and Theodosius his time which therefore as it is synchronal so it hath great Cognation with the visions of the six seals For the Archer on the white Horse aimes at that effect all the time of that bloody Battel which he hits and reacheth in the completion of the sixth Seal The inward Court of the Temple that is measured signifies the pure Christian Church before it was adulterated by a kind of Christian Paganisme which condition also of the Church hath a plain cognation with other things synchronal as their resolute opposing the Dragon and their being so serious in their Religion that they preferred it before their own lives so that the measure of the Temple and the Altar and the battel of the seven-headed Dragon and Michael are contemporaneous to the six first Seales and one to another 2. The six first Trumpets sounding under the seventh Seal appertain to the second Period when the Empire was turned Christian and Paganized again under Christianity So they appertain to the Churches apostacy and the cruel persecution of the Members of Christ in this Apostacy Now I will shew you these things that are synchronal to the six first Trumpets 1. The unmeasured outward Court of the Temple or holy City given to the Gentiles to be troden under foot Rev. 11.2 42. months 2. The Lords two Witnesses at last to be overcome and killed by the beast after they have finished their testimony prophecying in Sackcloth 1200 and 60. days chap. 11.3 3. The Woman that brought forth the man child and fled from the Dragon into the Wilderness chap. 12.6 and was nourished there 1200 and 60 days or for a time times and half a time 4. The seven-headed and ten-horned beast after the deadly wound of his last head was healed blasphemeth God and his Tabernacle c. 13.5 6 7 and them that dwell in Heaven warreth with and overcomes the Saints 42 months 5. The two horned beast or false Prophet who restoreth the first beast Rev. 13.11 to the end of the chapter and exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him whose deadly wound was healed c. whose number is 666. 6. The Lambs Virgin Company 144000 redeemed from the earth who alone could learn and sing the new song standing with him on Mount Zion the Fear and worship of God is commanded Rev. 14. the ruine of Babel and them
of the way This I conceive to be the main reason the method and harmony of the Revelation is not observed In the Revelation all things are set down in good order what from time to time should come to pass the Synchronisms or concurrencies of times are set down one after another and the Revilation and changes in the Ecclesiastical and Civil States are exactly and punctually distinguished even as an excellent and well versed Historian is wont to do in the description of humane astions Dot contrary to all this many interpreters do pervert overturn and disturb the method seek and find out by-way boof error the things which as Relaâ—n belong to one and the same time they see down as following one another what shall come to pass after the call of Babyâ—â— they place before it ofttimes not knowing themselves where they stack or how they shall winde themselves out Besides they mistake and confound the States one with another not observing where mention is made of the Exclesiastical or Civil State So that many times they apply Monastical matters and the actions of Antichrist to that which is in the Revelation spoken of the Civil State Hence it is that the more one doth read some Expositors the more one is confounded But by the benefit of this key or guide of Synthronisms easily appears how natural a sense is made of every Vision and how perfectly answerable to History and events And thus much of the main body or substance of the Book Now before I come to the Eleventh Chapter I will here set down something concerning the time of Antichrists begining If we search the instant of his begining we shall hardly finde it seeing in the Apostles time it began to work under a mystery 2 Thess 2.7 but if we ask the time when he should be revealed we find it in Scripture to be at the ruine of the Roman Empire which being the onely obstacle to Antichrist was first of all to be taken out of the way that afterwards Antichrist might be displayed in his colours by these three degrees 1. Of a voluntary succession and removal of the Imperial Throne from that very place where Antichrist should place his Chair Hence learned Vsher saith Rome became the seat of the Beast by the means of the transâ—â—ting of the Seat of the Empire from Rome to Constantinople 2. The second of a violent oppression of Christendom by a forraign people viz. Goths and Vandals which Antichrist by glosing and flattery must win by little and little to the embracing of his abominations for the more speedy and surer planting of his ten several hornes 3. The third of a fraudulent Usurpation of a double sword the one spiritual in the Church the other temporal in the Common-weal by Antichrist himself then peeping abroad For the first it was to sall out at or about the three hundredth year after Christ about that time was the voluntary changing his seat dividing his Empire which Chrysostom expounds to be the removing of the let 2 Thes 2.7 For the second the overrunning of Christendom by the barbarous Nations when Antichrist did crouch at the feet of those Tyrants fawning and flattering them till out of them such Kingdomes might be settled as might give their power to the beast This was to fall out about the four hundredth year after Christ For the third when by these hornes he was hoysed up to that huge height of unjust Usurpation as to exalt himself above Kings and Emperors ruling not onely in the external and temporal estates but even in the faith and consciences of men this was about that year after Christ which some interpreters make the number of his name to intimate unto us Rev. 13.18 PART II. Concerning that great Question when did the 1200 and 60. days begin I will here set down further THe great Earthquake Rev. 11.13 whereby the Kingdomes of the grand Antithrist the whore of Babylon and all their supporters shall be utterly subverted in all Nations drawn near It may possibly be with us as it was with the people of the lews when our Saviour Christ name in the flesh or with the Churches of the Gentiles when Antichrist came Our Saviour was both come and gone before the Jews generally would know him for the Messiah and Antichrist was grown to his full age and stature before the world took any notice of him So Antichrist is neer his end and going a pace to perdition before the most of Gods people do so much as begin a little to discerne it That this grand earthquake is at hand appears because the Beast Antichrist who is to fall by it is so well stricken in years and so near his end The whole terme of his life and raign without the womb for the mystery of iniquity was framing this Embrio even from the Apostles times 2 Thes 2.7 is 42. months Rev. 13.5 or 1200. and 60. days that is so many years putting a day for a year as Numb 14.34 Ezek. 4.6 Now these years grow towards their full period for it is well nigh so much time since they begun this will be made to appear by these two Indices First it is almost so long time since the Papel state became the seventh head of the Roman Monarchy Secondly because is almost 1200 and 60. years since the ten Kings began and the Beast began with them as may appear Rev. 17.12 First It is almost so long since the Papal state became the seventh head of the Roman Monarchy Indice or Evidence first and when it began to be that head then it began to be the beast Rev. 17.11 that we may understand this we are to look upon the Text. Rev. 17.9 10.11 Here is the mind that hath wisdom the seven heads are seven Mountains on which the woman sits and there are seven Kings five are fallen and one is the other is not yet come See the same Exposition of these words before on the 17 th And when he cometh he must continue a short space and the beast that was and is not even he is the eighth and is of the seventh and goeth to perdition The seven heads of the Roman Monarchy signifie two things First Seven hills upon which the woman siâ—s i. e. upon which the City was built for the City is called the woman vers 18. the seven Hills what they were see before page 78 79. Secondly The heads also signifie seven Kings i. e. seven several formes of Supreme government that have been in Rome what these also are see before Page 78. Of these five are fallen when the Apostle received the Revelation that is Kings Tribunes Decemvirs Dictators Consuls One is That is the Emperor a Souldier chosen for the most part by the Armies And the other is not yet come He doth not say the seventh but the other This sense of the words though not the same with that I give on Chap. 17. Page 81 82. yet meeting
possessing and overthrowing the City to which this Text here seems to allude Luke 21.24 by being trodden by the Gentiles is meant the imitation of Pagan Worship introduced by the Apostacy of Christendome Dr. More so the Church typified by Jerusalem should be possessed and prophaned by Romish Gentiles and their Idolatries the meaning is as Mr. Mede well observes the Antithristian Apostacy which he calls Redivivus Ethuicismus Heathenisme revived shall prevail over the Christian Church and shall bring in a new kind of Idolatry into the places where the true religion was professed or the imitation of Pagan Worship This came to pass after Constuntine and immediately after the death of Theodosius the â—â—oths Huns and Alans with other barbarous Nations invade the Roman Empire ruined and destroyed the same on all sides whereby the Church in this sense as the holy City began to be trod under foot and the Antichrist had an occasion given to break forth and shew himself And this treading under foot shall continue 42. months parallel with the time of the Witnesses prophecying in Sackcloth which follows Vers 3. And I will give 〈◊〉 to my 〈◊〉 Witnesses and they 〈◊〉 Prophecy two 〈◊〉 â—â—â—dred and sixty days 〈◊〉 in sackcloth Here we 〈◊〉 the Concomitant â—â—ent attending upon this defiled and deplored estate of the Church the Lords 〈◊〉 Wiâ—nessâ—s prophecying all the while in Sackcloth 〈◊〉 continually bewayling and lamenting the 〈◊〉 For we must know that the Apostacy and degeneracy of the Church was never conceived so ill but there were some pure Apostolical Christians â—â—it The Apostacy though generall â—ver all toughâ—â— kindreds and Nations yet it was not so universal in all individual persons but them were a remnant according to the election of grace Rev. 11.4 as in the â—â—alitish Apostacy the Lord reserved 7000 that had not bowed their knees to Baal so in this antichristian defection the Lamb 〈◊〉 Mount Sion had twelve times twelve thousand that adhered to the Doctrine of the twelve Apostles Rev. 14.1 4 5 And as the Lord had his Saints during all the reign of Antichrist so he raised up his magistrates and his ministers who in 〈◊〉 several successive ages in several phares testified against the Tyranny spiritual whoredomes and Idolatrous worships and deceiving frauds of Antichrist It is true as the generality of the people so the generality of the Magistrates â—uinees and Priests in those times did worship the Beast even all that dwell upon the worth whose names wore not written 〈◊〉 the Lambs Book of Life But in this general defection both of people and of 〈◊〉 guides a â—â—â—trachers the Lamb had a remâ—â—â—t with him who were called Rev. 17.4 and the 〈◊〉 and faithful even an afflicted poor remâ—ent of Pastors as well as of people reserved in the midst of Balysia who during the reign of Antichrist solidwed the Lamb did not defile their garments but preached and prayed and liâ—â—d and died in their constant and consâ—â—â—â—â— us opposition of the man of Sinle appears not onely from this verse but also from chap. 12. vers 6. that the Church during the whole time of the 〈◊〉 of Antichrist should be in a sad laâ—â—entable and wilderness condition yet margre all the fury of the ten-headed and two horned Beast the Church as preserved safe all that time in the Wilderness she is fed and nourished Forty two moneths See Jus Divinum Ministerii Anglic. p. 35. This woman is not onely kept alive in the Wilderness all the time of Antichrists reign but she is 〈◊〉 and nourished there by Gospel Administrations She is fed by the two Witnesses for the prophecying of the Witnesses is contemporary with the womans flight into the Wildernese even as Elias was nourished in the Wilderness Doctos More makes the two Witnesses to be the two Testaments as well as Magistracy and Ministry Doctor More his Mystery of godliness Book 5. chap. 17. page 207. and kept safe 〈◊〉 the fury and rage of Jozâ—â—â—â— And as God by good Obadiah preserved a hundred Prophets of the Lord alive all the time of Ahaba bitter opposition against them Even so the Lord had his good Obadiahs some faithful Magistrates to encourage support preserve and nourish the faithful Ministers of Christ though in a wilderness condition all the time of Antichrists prevalency And as the two-horned Beast and ten-horned Beast the Ecclesiastical and Secular power conspired and united together in the general Apostacy which else could not have crept in so against these are opposed as united together the two mourning Witnesses the one sustaining the person of the faithful Magistrate the other of the faithful Minister Now the Text faith I will give power to my two Witnesses These two Witnesses prophecying were not two Individual persons Enoch and Elias as Bellarmin and other Papists affirm But a succession of holy men not in private but in publike station stirred up all that time to testifie the truth of Christ against Antichrist By the two Witnesses in general This noted by their Prophecying in Sackcloth are meant saith Mr. Mede all the Interpreters and Assertors of Divine truth who should by their daily complaints bewail the foul and lamentable pollution of Christs Church And in particular it is conceived by the two Witnesses to be meant say learned Expositors the faithful Teachers and Governours of the Church Clavis Apoc. both Ecclesiastical and Political More especially say the London Ministers in their Jus Divinum Ministerii Anglicani the true Ministers of Jesus Christ who are called Witnesses of Christ Acts 1.8 and whose proper office it is to bear witness to truth and holiness against all Heresies Blasphemies Idolatries and ungodliness of Antichrist To these Witnesses power is given To such I will give power that they may edifie and propagate the Church and preserve the same against all Heresies and hostile attempts Clavis Apocal. i. e. Authority and Commission yea the power of Christ is bestowed upon them by which they are enabled not onely to pray and to mourn but to prophesie not so much by prediction of things future as by preaching the everlasting Gospel It was a mighty power from on high that a few condemned persecuted Ministers should have gifts to be able and power to be couragious to preach against the Son of perdition when all the world wondered after the beast To my two Witnesses Two because very few in comparison of the Ministers of Antichrist who were innumerable and because two Witnesses were sufficient to confirm any truth but cheifly they are called two like their types in allusion to Moses and Aeron in the Wilderness on Elijah and Elisha when the Israeliteaâ— or shipped the Calves and Beal â—â— â—orobabel and Joshua in Babylon and 〈◊〉 the return of the Istatitie from raptivity And they shall Prophecy These sackcloth Propheciars were not onely Saints who mounfully bewailed the abominations of those times that the Holy City should be
Egyptian bondage and restorers of Gods true worship in the Wilderness The two witnesses shall exercise the power of Moses and Aaron whence Learned Mede collects the power of the Witnesses figured in this type not to belong to all the days of their sackcloth prophecy but onely to the end of their Prophecy viz. the pouring out of the Vials As Moses and Aaron immediately before and at their bringing of Israel out of Egypt turned those waters into blood and smote them with ten sore plagues So towards the Period of these two Witnesses Prophecy when the Christian Church under their conduct as it were of Moses and Aaron shall now begin to be rescued from the Antichristian bondage and Tyranny of the Beast the Vials of Gods wrath like Egyptian plaguen shall come upon the beast and his Gentilith worshipers the plague of the first Vial being a noysome grievous sore the second and third blood the plagues of the rest greater and more greivous to he inflicted upon the beast and his party or the Gentiles treading down the outward Court and holy City the interpretation whereof I refer till I come to Cimp 〈◊〉 It is enough here to note this last power of the Witnesses to belong to the pouring out of the Vials Vers 7. And when they shall finish their Testimony the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make War against them And shall overcome and kill them Hitherto of the gift and power of the Witnesses It followeth now that I speak of the sate or the various consequents and events of their prophecying expressed in this verse wherein these Witnesses become singularly conform to Jesus Christ who preached about forty two moneths i. e. three years and a half was then slain by the Roman Governour lay dead three days three days after rose again with a great earthquake and forty days after ascending into Heaven a cloud receiving him But to give some light into the Text Then they shall finish their testimony Translators and Interpreters have been mistaken in rendring these words thus When they have or shall have finished their testimony 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to think that this killing should not begin till the 1200 and 60 days should be expired because by this means the Witnesses should remain in Sackcloth and the woman in the wilderness beyond the time appointed and also the fourth beast should continue to blaspheme longer then 42. months to all which not onely the plain text but also the swearing of the Angel Dan. 12.17 and the great Oath of the Son of God Rev. 10.6 are contradictory Therefore the words must not be rendered in the Perfect-tence when they have finished or in the Future Perfect tence when they shall have finished but in Future simplici cum Finituri sunt When they shall finish their testimony So Claverius in his first Apotalyptical dawning page 124. and Mede in his Commentary upon the Revelation reads the words When they shall finish i. e. when the 1200 and 60 days shall draw towards an end And when now part of the Christian world shall repent of their Gentilish Idolatries and reforme and the Witnesses for joy shall begin to lay aside their mourning weeds though yet they were not past the danger that was prophecyed should come That seven-headed beast of Rome in the course of his last head of which see before Chap. 13. disdaining and scorning the prevalency of these mourning Witnesses by their Prophecying shall make war against them overcome and kill them First then to speak of the Witnesses finishing their Testimony I agree herein with Mr. Mede that the mourning Witnesses began to finish the Testimony of all the former Witnesses from the beginning of the reformation of the Reformed Churches and so on to the begining of the beasts war against them preceding the killing of them His words are these speaking of the Witnesses finishing their Testimony and of the War and slaughter of them quorum primum inquit de testium planctu finiri caepto ab initio Ecclesiae reformatae huc usque continue factitatum est c. In the beginning then of the reformation of the Reformed Churches this finishing began Now this reformation began in Germany in the raign of the Emperor Charles the fifth by Luther and his Associates Luther began the finishing of this Testimony by Sermons writings disputations whereby he discovered and detected the lyes and frauds of Antithrist as Moses did the Cheats and falsehoods of Jannes and Jambres the Egyptian Sorcerers which Doctrine of Luther Charles the fifth laboured by all means to suppress by conventions decrees and edicts but Luther and his Associates being backed and assisted by the Duke of Saxony the Lantgrave of Hesse and other Princes in Germany the Magistrates of Fellow Witnesses withstood these Edicts and decrees and answered to them in every point Entred into a Protestation against them Protestation And of this Protestation the Princes and all that adhered to them were called Protestants which name is now given to all them that in their Doctrine swerve from the Church of Rome League and Covenant Afterward being sorely for this threatened by the Emperor the Protestants entred into a League and Covenant to ayd each other in the Quarrel of Religion And not long after the Protestans drew up a Confession of their faith Confession of faith and presented it to the Emperor this is that Confession of faith that is called the Augustane Profession This finishing of the Testimony of the former witnesses thus begun was carried on by their example in other Cities and places abroad whence sprung up other reformed Churches as of Helvetia Sucvia Geneva France Holland Scotland and England last of all reformed The finishing then of the Testimony I conceive must be by the Magistrates and Ministers of some of these reformed Churches who shall give in their Testimony against the Churches Apostacy towards the latter end of the 1200 and 60 days For the finishing must be meant of the last Witnesses before the last battel of the Beast against them whereby he overcomes and kills them And it is likely the Witnesses of some of the reformed Churches last reformed conclude compleat and make an end of finishing this Testimony as the Witnesses of the first reformed Churches begun it Yea not onely by Witnessing against the Apostatical Church of Rome as they did but by giving the cleerest the fullest Testimony for truth and holiness against the errors and unholiness of Antichrist for Church purity against Church-corruptions and the Apostacy of the Church of Rome that ever was given this twelve hundred years So that these last Witnesses may be called the Finishing Witnesses that finish compleat and perfect the testimony of all the former Witnesses do it with so much light and convincing evidence and with so much heat in their testimony called fire in their mouths vers 5. as doth vex and torment their enemies and enrage them to a
War again them So much of finishing their testimony It follows The beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit c. That is Antichrist or any of the Beastian party He is compared to a beast not onely because of his inhumanity but because of his irrationality in seeking by killing the Witnesses to hinder the course of the Gospel 2 Thess 3.1 2. And he is said to come out of the bottomless pit or Abyss The word in the Greek signifies all these By this Beast here is meant the Popish Ecclesiastical Government who use the temporal sword Clavis Apoâ— which may be understood out of hell as chap. 9. 2. or out of the sea as the ten-horned beast did Rev. 13.1 or out of the body of the earth or a deep pit in the earth and so may signifie the two-horned beast chap. 13. 11. Now t is this beast and his party that makes War against overcomes and kills the Witnesses his party is described chap. 13. 15 16. Such as either receive his mark or his name or the number of his name The explication of which see before upon chap. 13. Shall make war against them i. e. against the Witnesses We read chap. 13. 7. of the Beasts war against the Saints And it was given to him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them i. e. saith Mr. Mede the remnant of the womans seed in the Wilderness chap. 12. 17. which the same Author conceives to be executed when such a numerous company of the Waldenses and Albigenses and other true Christians were destroyed seventy years together First intended against the Saracens after turned against the Christians that would not worship and submit to the beast Here in this 11. chap. vers 7. is set down by the holy Ghost the beasts war against the Witnesses Note here into 〈◊〉 precedes the killing of the Witnesses a War properly to caned and a War against the Witnesses â—â— the Magistrates and Ministers of some of the Reformed Churches for so it did the killing of the Witnesses to the German Churches the War betwixt the Emperor and the German Princes especally the Sweeds lasted many years at last ended in a Pacification out 〈…〉 were left and deprived of the liberty of the Consiliences whereby the Preachers and Professors of 〈◊〉 Gospel in the He 〈◊〉 Provinces were â—ivilly slain Apug 1650. which differs from the others regard of the time of its it being at the latter end of Antichrists reign when the Witnesses finish their testimony not then they begin to finish but when they shall finish It commonwealth from the time They were persecuted and fought against by Antichrist often before but this is the last hattel before their death and rising again to the ruine of Antichrists Kingdom Which War as Parâ—â—s notes is not onely Ecclesiastical but Civil for the beast doth stir up Princes of Kingdoms and Provinces to make War against the Witnesses that he may overcome and kill them And shall overcome them i. e. not by power and armed force as in the war against the Saints chap 13. 7. which made way for and effected a cruel bodily killing of the Saints before mentioned The enemies have now given over this bodily killing of the Prophets and Saints almost this 100 years few in this space have been called before Tribunals and sentenced to death Happily some few examples may be found like a few drops of rain after a great showr but not many They have forborn this course not out of any love or compassion to the people of God but meerly because they durst not or because they found by proof that this course prejudiced their cause Sanguis Martyr Semen Eccles but he overcomes them by his Jesuitical or rather bottomless pit policy bringing it so about that the secular and ecclesiastical power like Herod and Pilat are united against the Witnesses the latter making use of the former as a rider makes use of the power and strength of his horse to ride over tread down and kill the Witnesses Rev. 13.3 And kill them Now because these words are somewhat killing and discouraging because the same with those chap. 13. 7. and import as if this slaughter because the last were worse then the first I will first therefore give you the judgement and opinion of learned Mede of this last killing by the Beast His words are these Neither can it certainly be concluded that because this killing that the Beast makes of the Witnesses is the last therefore t is the greatest and the worst of all that went before it But it hath and deserves a singular mention and description amongst all the slaughters of the Beast perhaps not so much for the greatness of it sure not because of the continuance of it as because it was to be a sign that the mourning of the witnesses should end soon after it and that the ruine of the City of Rome should instantly follow it Fo as the compassing about of Jerusalem with Armies Luk. 21.20 did foretel and was a sign her destruction and desolation was at hand and near at her drors the like here may be intimated as we may conceive concerning the destruction of Babylon when you shall see that triennial slaughter of the Witnesses then know the desolation of that great City of Rome it at hand Now this killing of the Witnesses by the Beast or his party is to be understood according to the forecited Author and all late Interpreters metaphorically or analogically of a civil death For he is said to dye in that notion or sense who in that station wherein he stood either Political or Ecclesiastical or any other ceaseth to be what he was hence he is said to kill The slaying of the Witnesses is to be understood not of a corporal but civil death Caryl on Job cap. 21. 7. that doth punish any man with such a death For in Scripture language to live is often to be to die is not to be in which sense we are said to dye to sin when we are no longer the servants to sin and to live to Christ when we begin to be Christs Furthermore This killing is plainly meant a killing them as Witnesses not as men a throwing them out of their places and stations as if naturally dead Whether this sad time be past present or to come I leave others to judge it appears by the following Verses it must be meant of a civil death ver 8. Their dead bonies lying in the street of the great City three days and a half this shews it cannot be meant of a natural death for how should their bodies lye dead in that sense for three years and a half or say it were for shorter time Again it is clear from vers 11. For look what the resurrection of the Witnesses to life shall be after their killing and lying dead such a time such must needs be the killing for no resurrection properly so called can come
the beast that is described Chap. 18 and 19. doth altogether precede the destruction of the beast and the False Prophet as is manifest in the Text. To sum up all in a word happily it may so come to pass that that first destruction of Babylon viz. of the City of Rome may be without any very great slaughter at least without the total destruction of the Citizens for though the City be utterly destroyed yet a great part of the Citizens may fly from the destruction of the City timely consulting their own safety or for some other cause which the event will make manifest and thus the doubt or scruple concerning the small number of the slain may be satisfied 2. And will yet more fully if we consider what number may be designed in the words names of Men. Names of men may be taken for eminent and renowned Men high and great persons cheif heads of Noble Families Names of men is as much as to say men of name An Hypallage frequent in Scripture as silver Shekels for Shekels of silver Levit. 5. the Law of righteousness for the righteousness of the Law Rom. 9. Riches of grace for rich grace Ephes 1. So names of men may here be put for men of name persons of great honor and dignity in opposition to men without name base and ignoble Persons Job 30. According to this interpretation which nothing can be said against Names of Men signifing high and great persons suppose they be of the Popish Ecclesiastical Order whom we call Church men by great names and titles distinguished from the inferiour Clergy if 7000 of these be slayn how many of a lower rank and order which the Holy Ghost would not so much as count or reckon Besides this there may another interpretation be given of Names of Men viz. Companies and Societies of men which are wont to be called by proper names as well as particular men as Cities Towns Parishes Villages Monasteries and Nunneries and what are these if we consider the Matter but names of men as the Roman name is put for the Romans themselves the Thebane Polity is called the Thebane name what is therefore the Names of those humane Societies whether they be either of Rome or in that they call the Church State be the 7000 in this great Earthquake to be slain i. e. subdued by the adverse power which the Scripture useth to call death but we must not rashly determine any thing in a thing to come the best commentary of a Prophecy is the fulfilling of it but I bring these things to shew that of these words a larger sense may be given then is commonly conceived When the word Name in Scripture doth not use to be restrained to one single signification neither are Names of men joyned together in any place of Scripture but in this neither is the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Names taken simply for particular single persons but onely in two places Acts 1.15 Rev. 3.4 in other places it hath several significations It follows And the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of Heaven i. e. the rest of the Bestian party are amazed and terrified and thereby compelled to acknowledge the just judgements of God which he hath poured out upon them and to confess their sins which to do is to give glory to God Vers 14. The second we is past and be bold the third we cometh quickly The Second we is past the meaning is this great Earthquake continues to the end of the second we or of the sixth Trumpet together with which is to be finished the Prophecying of the mourning Witnesses For after so great a Victory over the beast and their ascending up into the Church-Heaven with so great honour they put on their mourning weeds no more But now if this second wo or plague of the sixth Trumpet be the Turks from Euphrates flowing in upon and over-running the Roman Empire in times past as was interpreted Chap. 9. it cannot be but the passing away of this second wo must be the overthrow of the Turkish Empire the drying up of the waters of Euphrates at the end of the pouring out of the fifth Vial whereby way is made for the coming of the Kings of the east cap. 16.12 At which coming of the Kings of the East least there should be left too wide a space betwixt both Trumpets the seventh Trumpet seems to begin Hiatus And so the wonderful preparation of the beast and false Prophet to the Armageddon Battel Cap. 16.13 together with the event thereof at the pouring out of the last Vial vers 17. must be made to begin at the sounding of the seventh trumpet And truely it seems very congruous that the preparation to the Battel as well as the battel it self should appertain to the same Trumpet but here an objection must be removed out of the way viz. Object Whether the Beasts 42 months and the Witnesses 1200 and 60 days are one and the same terme but now these days of the mourning Witnesses ending at the passing away of the sixth trumpet plague or second we It may very well be asked why the months of the beasts may not be supposed to be longer when after this time so great a part of the beast still remaines not to be quite abolished till the beginning of the seventh Trumpet It may be answered Answ This may be either because at the calling of the Jews there called the Kings from the East a new kingdom begins Or because in the duration of the beasts reign there is an ey or respect chiefly to the Empire of the City of Rome but now this great Royal City of the Beast in this Earthquake is taken demolished So that the Beast from thenceforth shall have changed his form when he is driven from his Metropolis it can no longer be counted which is the signification of his other seven heads a seven-mountained Kingdom Behold the third wo comes quickly This begins at the sound of the seventh Trumpet Wherefore these words immediately follow Verse 15. And the seventh Angel sounded And the seventh Angel sounds a Jubilee and then there be great proclamations and acclamations in heaven Called by some Divines the wo-joy Trumpet that the kingdoms of the world are the kingdoms of Christ and whereas before the Devil Dragon and Beast and his horns reigned now Christ takes to himself his great power and reigneth for which the whole Church under the type of 24. Elders praise him though the Nations be angry as they ever are when Christ puts forth his just power Verse 15 16 17 18. He now gives reward unto his servants the Prophets c. and destroys them that destroyed the earth that is he ruines the wicked and Idolatrous generation of Antichrist who wasted his Church before ver 18. His tabernacle is now open in heaven and the ark of his testimony seen ver 19. i.e. Christ represented by the ark is clearly manifested before