all the cursed helhounds that barke and bite and take their part shall euer bee able to stand in his hands For rage they neuer so much hee will hamper them all well enough For though he haue giuen them the reine a long time and let them alone and suffred them to play the tyrants with the woman his spouse yet now he will no longer put it vp at their hands but will vp and maintaine the womans cause and beare her out against them all nay hee will make readie his bow that he may shoote off and make his arrowes drunke in the bloud of her and his enemies and will whette his glittering sword that hee may sheath it in the heart of Antichrist and all his adherents Therefore now let both the great beasts and their Sire looke to themselues for heere comes in one that will knocke them all downe and lay them in the dust that they shall neuer rise vp againe For this cause now at length Saint Iohn in a vision seeth a Lambe stand vpon mount Sion that is Christ present with his Church For mount Sion was an ancient figure of the Church as it is written Mount Sion lying Northward is faire in situation it is the ioy of the whole earth and the citie of the great king And againe The law shall goe forth of Sion and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem Moreouer Saint Iohn seeth heere with the Lambe an hundred fortie and foure thousand that is the particular members of the Church putting a certaine number for an vncertaine and specially alluding to the sealing of the twelue tribes of Israel as before hath beene shewed For it might bee demaunded where the Church was chapter 7.4 when all the world wondred and followed the first Beast and also when all both small and great rich and poore receiued the marke of the second Beast Saint Iohn answereth that euen then in the middest of the heate of persecutions God had his hid inuisible church whom Iesus Christ did protect and preserue euen in the verie flames of persecutions being alwayes present with them and amongst them as he said to his Disciples a little before his bodily departure from them Lo I am with you euen vnto the end of the world And heere hee is said to stand vpon mount Sion with his hundred fortie and foure thousand And it is added that this number of Gods faithfull elect children had the Fathers name written in their foreheads That is they did professe and practise the doctrine and religion of God their Father onely vtterly renouncing and abhorring the worship and religion of the Beast For the Fathers name in this place is set opposite to the marke of the Beast to signifie that as the worshippers of Antichrist receiued his marke so the true worshippers of God receiued his brand which is his Spirit and the fruits therof whereby they were perfectly discerned from those which had the beasts marke So then it cleerely appeareth from this place that God preserued many thousands of his true worshippers euen in the daies of the great Antichrist when there seemed to bee verie fewe or none remaining vppon the earth as it was in the dayes of Elias In vaine therefore doe the Papists aske vs where our Church was before Luthers time sith the holy Apostle heere stoppeth their mouth and telleth vs plainely that Christ had his little flocke in the wildernesse euen then when it was in greatest streightes and as wee say driuen to the wals And therfore visibilitie is no sound note of the Church as the Papists doe most ignorantly dispute For it is a fond and absurd kind of reasoning to say there is no Church at all because it doth not visibly appeare as if a man should reason that there is no Moone in the heauens because sometimes there is none seene as in the change And I heard a voice from heauen vers 2 as the sound of manie waters and as the sound of a great thunder and I heard the voyce of Harpers harping with their harpes Heere is set forth how this companie of true worshippers doe magnifie and praise God for his great mercies towards them First Iohn heareth a voyce from heauen that is an heauenly voice or the voice of the Church praising and glorifying God For wee haue heard before chapter 8.1 that heauen in this Booke is sometimes put for the Church vppon the earth and the reasons thereof Whersoeuer therfore the Church is assembled to heare the word and to pray and giue thanks there is a voice from heauen or an heauenly voice Now this voice is compared to three things first to the sound of manie waters Secondly to the sound of a great thunder Thirdly to y e voice of harpers harping with their harps It is likened to manie waters because it proceedeth from sundrie sorts of people of sundrie nations countries and kingdomes as the word Waters is taken afterwards in this Prophesie It is compared to Thunder because the prayers and inuocations of the true Church are as loud in the eares of God as any thundercracke It is compared to Harpers harping with their harpes both because their spirituall worship and seruice is as sweete vnto God as any musicke vnto men as also because all Gods faithfull people doe tune together among themselues and in their worship as the strings of a well tuned instrument of musicke or as manie musitians playing together which make a sweete harmonie and most melodious dittie vers 3 And they sung as it were a newe song before the throne and before the foure beasts and the Elders and no man could learne that song but the hundred fourtie and foure thousand which were bought from the earth Now is shewed how this holy societie of the faithful do continue their praising and glorifying of God They are not weary of well doing but hold on constantly in the course of Gods worship hauing new songs of thanksgiuing in their mouthes and seruing God dayly with renewed affections as men inflamed with the zeale of Gods glory and all this they doe performe before the throne before the foure beasts and the Elders that is in the presence of God and his Angels and his holy congregation And no man could learne that song but the hundred fortie and foure thousand that is none of the reprobates and vngodly worldlings could inwardly feele and vnderstand this spirituall worship but onely the elect to whom it is giuen to vnderstand the secrets of God and the mysteries of his sonnes kingdome These are they vers 4 which are not defiled with women for they are virgins these follow the Lambe wheresoeuer he goeth these are bought from men being the first fruits vnto God and to the Lambe And in their mouthes was found no guile vers 5 for they are without spot before the throne of God This holy cōpany are not defiled with women that is with grosse diuers sins or rather with idolatrous pollutions
sword Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints Here is shewed that the things spoken of this great beast are very secret and mystical and can be vnderstood of none but those onely whose eares and eies God openeth to heare see and vnderstand that is the very elect of God as for al papists and worldlings their eares eies are sealed and shut vp they cannot vnderstand them but doe stil worship the beast ascribing vnto him diuine power and honor In the 10. verse the iudgement and vengeance of God is denounced against the Romane monarchie both former and latter which as it hath long oppressed the church with cruel bondage and drawne thousands into perpetual captiuity so it selfe also should be cast downe with al the adherents thereof both in this life and that which is to come For as the Romane Empire did tyrannise ouer the world and led millions into spirituall captiuity and bondage so here it is auouched that according to the iust lawe of quittance it selfe should be brought to the same lore And as this beast had murdered many by the sword so he him selfe must be murdered by the sword also As the Apostle saith God is iust and therefore will recompense tribulation to them that trouble his Church Now al this seemeth vnto me to be a cleere prophecy of the fal and final destruction of the Romane Empire which indeede considering the pitch that it was at may seeme a thing strange and incredible and therefore the Holy-ghost stirreth vs vp to attention in the ninth verse as to a thing of great woonderment and admiration for if the Romane monarchie fall the Papacy must of necessity fal with it For the Romane Empire is that beast chapter 17. verse 3. which beareth vp the whoore of Babylon as appeareth in the 17. Chapter of this prophecy where we shal God willing plainely and at large heare of the ioint destruction of them both together It is added Heere is the patience and faith of the Saints That is here is required great patience of al Gods children to waite and carry til the performance and accomplishment of those things and also faith and ful assurance to beleeue that they shal in Gods appointed time come to passe For few doo beleeue these things and therfore wait not with patience for the accomplishment thereof And I beheld another beast comming out of the earth ver 11 which had two hornes like the Lamb but he spake like the dragon Hauing described the first beast which is the Roman Empire now the Holy-ghost commeth to describe the second beast which is the Papacy or the kingdome of the great Antichrist for although hee bee described before in regard of his monarchy that is the ciuill iurisdiction which hee exercised as he was the seuenth head of the beast and head of the Empire yet here he is described after another sort that is according to his ecclesiastical authority and therfore he is called another beast or a beast differing from the former in that he exerciseth an other power besides the power of the heathen Emperours of Rome which is his spirituall iurisdiction in which respect he is called the false prophet This second beast riseth out of the earth as the former rose out of the sea then it appeareth that Antichrist is by his breed a sonne of the earth obscurely borne by little and little creeping vp out of his abiect estate as did the Turke It is here most truly said that the kingdome of Antichrist ariseth out of the earth is the very breed of the earth for assuredly it neuer came from heauen It was first hatched out of couetuousnesse ambition pride murders treasons poisonings sorceries enchantments and such like For al stories do shew that from these roots the Papacy grew to his exceeding height and altitude This second beast hath two hornes like the Lambe Whereby is meant his ciuil and ecclesiastical power or his kingdome and Priesthood which he falsly pretendeth to come from the Lamb and therefore he giueth in his armes two keies and hath two swords carried before him So Boniface the eight shewed himselfe one day in apparrel as a Pope and the next day in armour as the Emperour and the two hornes in the Popes miter are signes hereof But the Holy-ghost here telleth vs that these two hornes are not the hornes of the Lambe but only like the hornes of the Lamb for he receiued not his power from the Lamb Christ but from the diuel that is the dragon with ten hornes Then thus it is the Papacy is the seauenth head of the first beast that is the Empire yet a beast by it selfe with two hornes like the Lamb in respect of his ioint power and authority both ecclesiastical and ciuil in which respect he is called euen the eight and one of the seuen Chap. 17. ver 11. Although this second beast haue two hornes like the Lamb yet he spake like the dragon that is al his words and workes practises and proceedings lawes and decrees are for the dragon of whom he hath his power and throne and great authority So that whatsoeuer he pretendeth in religion and matters of Gods worship as though he would be like the Lamb yet assuredly hee is altogether for the dragon and the diuel he is assured vnto them as al experience doth manifestly witnesse And he did all that the first beast could doe before him he caused the earth them that dwel therin vers 12 to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed Here is shewed that this second beast was as mighty and stronge as the first beast and could doo as much as he euen in his presence Whereby is noted the great power and authority of the Papacy in performing as much in the seruice of the dragon against God and his church as euer the Empire of the heathen and those wicked Emperours could doo yea he did much more against Christ and his religion then euer the persecuting Emperours could do euen then when they were at their highest pitch And al this he did in his presence that is in the sight and open view of the whole Empire or whole world And he caused the earth and them that dwell therin that is al Papists and worldlings to worship the first beast that is to receiue the worship and religion of the old Roman tyranny which set vp and maintained Idolatry So then although the power in the Papacy came vnder the name of Christ yet in truth it was the same that the power of the persecuting Empire for the heathen emperours condemned the true worship of God and set vp false worship euen the worship of diuels which is Idolatry and so do the Popes also So then we see that this second beast is al for the first beast that is he leuieth al his power and authority to set vp the worship and religion of the old Romane tyrants and to force al men
by cruel lawes and decrees to receiue and embrace the same So this second beast is nothing better thē the first nay in truth a great deale worse vers 13 And he did great woonders so that hee made fire to come downe from heauen on the earth in the sight of men vers 14 And deceiued them that dwell on the earth by the signes which were permitted him to doo in the sight of the beast saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make the Image of the beast which had the wound of a sword and did liue These two verses do containe two special things The one is the false fained miracles of Antichrist The other is the cursed effect thereof Touching the first which is the woonders and miracles which Antichrist should worke it is here said that he should make fire come downe from heauen as Elias did The meaning whereof is not that the Popes could indeed cause fire to come downe from heauen as Elias did but in the opinion of the blind world they seemed to haue as great power as euer had Elias For partly by counterfeit miracles and partly by some strange things done by the power of Sathan the seduced world hath verily beleeued that the Pope and his clergie had as great power to worke miracles as euer had Elias Touching the second thing which is the effect of these woonders It is here sayd that the inhabitants of the earth that is Papists and Worldlings were grosselie deceiued and deluded by them euen by those lying woonders which were permitted him to doo in the sight of the beast that is in the face and open view of the Empire According as the Apostle foretolde that the comming of Antichrist should be by the effectuall working of Sathan with all power and signes and lying woonders and in all deceiueablenesse of vnrighteousnesse among them that perish c. But concerning the Popishe counterfeit signes and woonders it is needelesse to write beeing so wel knowne to al men as they are and so common and notorious in al stories ver 14 Saying to them that dwel on the earth that they should make the image of the beast which had the wound of a sword and did liue Now Antichrist hauing gotten the world vnder him by his counterfeit miracles dooth lay his commandement vpon thē to make the Image of the beast Now what is here meant by the image of the beast is somewhat hard to discusse some thinke that by the image of the beast which had the wound of a sword and did liue is meant the repairing and the restoring of the decaied estate of the empire by the Popes to his ful strength and vertue We doe read that the state of the empire vnder Nero Otho Galba and Vitellius was weak feeble in comparison of that which it was before vnder Augustus Tiberius Claudius We doo reade also that the Gothes and Vandales made horrible rents and dissipations in the Romane empire We doe further reade that the empire was deuided and rent in peeces so that there was the emperour of the East the emperour of y e West yea at last the empire of the West fel quite downe so that for the space of three hundred yeares and more there was no Emperour of the West vntill the Bishop of Rome Leo the third made Charles the Great the king of France Emperour Then was the empire of the West againe erected and in time grew to as great an height vnder the dominion of the Popes as euer before yea and farre greater Now I say some do take this restoring of the decayed estate of the Empire by the Popes to his former strength and power to be the making of the image of the beast which had the wound of a sword and did liue But for mine owne part I cannot be of that opinion and my reason is that the restoring of the decaied estate of the empire to his former condition was the setting vp of the beast himselfe for the empire is the beast and not the Image of the beast for we must needes graunt that the beast and the image of the beast are two seueral things But the Popes in recouering the empire to his pristinate estate set vp the beast againe and therfore not the image of the beast Therefore the image of the beast cannot be vnderstood of the restauration of the decaied estate of the empire Besides this it is here said that the inhabitants of the earth had a great hād in making of this image But the inhabitāts of the earth bare smal sway in the recouering and erectiō of the empire For therein the Popes were al in al after it came into their hands Therfore this cannot be vnderstood of y e Empire but of some other thing let vs then diligently search out what may be the true meaning of this place It must needes be graunted that by the beast which had the wound of a sworde and did liue is meant the recouered estate of the empire as before vers 12. and by the image thereof I vnderstande the forme of gouerment for an image doth signifie a likenes a similitude a figure or forme of a thing And as in all ciuil and ecclesiasticall regiments there is both a substance and a forme a matter and a manner so here vers 12 hauing before set downe that Antichrist had erected the substance and matter of the old Romane tyranny now he sheweth that he should also set vp the image and forme of the same For before ver 12. it is said that Antichrist this secōd beast caused the world to worship the first beast that is to receiue and imbrace the lawes worship and religion of the olde heathenish Romane tyrants as before hath bin shewed and now here is added that hee did not content himselfe with causing the inhabitants of the earth to worship the old beast in the substance of his religion but also he laieth commaundements vpon them to make his Image that is to erect an externall forme of Ecclesiasticall gouernment after the verie patterne and forme of the gouernement of the old Empire yea so like it that it is called the verie image of the same For as the forme of gouernement vnder the old Emperours was cruell and tyrannicall and altogether bent against the Church so the forme of Ecclesiasticall gouernement vnder the Popes was cruell and tyrannicall and altogether bent against the Church and therefore heere it is called the Image of it for it is as like it as it can looke Then it followeth that Antichrist hath set vp that externall forme of worship which the Idolatrous Romans of old vsed and that he hath renewed the persecuting Empire not onely in substance of matter but also in forme of gouernement and therefore I conclude that the Popish Church-policie and externall regiment is the verie Image of the beast Heere the inhabitants of the earth are said to make the Image of the beast
because they gaue their consent to the making of it for indeede the Popes themselues were the chiefe agents and doers in it ver 15 And it was permitted vnto him to giue a spirit vnto the Image of the beast so that the Image of the beast should speake and should cause that as many as would not worship the Image of the beast should bee killed Heere is shewed that this image of the beast was not a dead image but a liuing image for Antichrist put a spirit into it that is life and power and great authoritie insomuch that this Image could speake and not onely speake but speake with great authoritie and terrour so as whosoeuer would not worship this Image that is submit himselfe to the Popish Hierarchie should bee put to death But may some man say How did this image speake I answer by the Popes Clergie For the Romish rabble of Cardinals Abbots Monks Priests Friers and all that cursed corporation were the verie breath life and spirit of this image I meane that the life-bloud of their externall regiment did lie in the execution thereof by the Clergie as it were in certaine arteries and veines For what was their outwarde forme of gouernement without this cruell execution of their stinging Clergie men but as a dead Image without life But when Antichrist had once consecrated and erected his Romish priesthood then did hee put life into his Image which before he had caused to bee made and erected Then wee doe plainely see that the popish Hierarchie is not a bare resemblance of the old Roman policie to stand as a picture on a wall but hath a spirit put into it by the false Prophet and speaketh with such power and terrour in all kingdomes that it causeth all to bee put to death that will not submit themselues vnto it and fall downe and worship the beast Who knoweth not this that as manie in all countries as would not embrace poperie and the old Roman tyrannie the Popish Clergie their inquisitors and other Officers did condemne them in their Courts as heretikes schismatikes and deliuered them ouer being condemned to the secular power to bee put to death And he made all both small and great vers 16 rich and poore bond and free to receiue a marke in their right hand or in their foreheads And that no man might buy or sell vers 17 saue he that had the marke or the name of the beast or the number of his name Antichrist is not content to murder and massacre all in all countries which will not worship the Image of the beast that is stoupe to his gouernement and authoritie but hee will goe yet a steppe further and will haue all sorts of people brought in bondage vnto him as his marked seruants For as men vse to set a brand vpon their sheepe and other cattell and to eare-marke them that it may openly and manifestly appeare to whom they appertaine so doth Antichrist this Romish beast cause all men in all kingdoms to carie in open viewe his marke or brand whereby all may see that they do appertaine vnto him It is heere said that all the vassals of Antichrist of what degree estate or condition soeuer must receiue his marke in their right hand or in their forehead that is they must openly professe and practise the worship and religion of the beast For the forehead is put for the profession and the right hand for the action so that in one of them at the least euery man must openly declare that hee acknowledgeth the Pope of Rome to be Lord of his faith Moreouer it is added That no man might buy or sell saue hee that had the marke or the name of the beast or the number of his name the meaning is that no man might traffique in the world or haue anie doings amongst men nay hee might not be suffered to liue except hee had the marke of the beast in his forehead or in his right hand that is vnlesse he did professe and practise the worship the religion the lawes and decrees of the Pope For the marke of the beast is put for his worship religion lawes decrees regiments and policie Moreouer the Popes vassals haue not onely his marke vpon them whereby they may be knowne but also the name of the beast for they must bee named after him euen as children beare the name of their Fathers and must bee called of the Pope or Papa Papists And not onely so but also they haue another priuie marke vpon them and that is the number of his name which is Latinos or professours of the Latine religion Latine kingdome and Italian Church as shall by and by appeare Now then to grow to a conclusion and to make a briefe recapitulation of all thinges heere spoken concerning the second beast which is Antichrist Let vs consider what increasings and proceedings hee hath made as it were by degrees First although he haue two hornes like the Lamb that is ciuill and ecclesiasticall power yet he speaketh like the Dragon that is he bendeth all his power and authoritie words and works for the diuell Secondly he doth as much as the first beast could do in the seruice of the Dragon Thirdly he causeth the first beast to be worshipped that is establisheth the substance of his religion Fourthly he maketh the image of the beast that is addeth a forme to the substance Fiftly hee putteth life into his Image by his Clergie Sixtly he will haue this Image worshipped and yeelded vnto on paine of death Lastly he will haue all men of all conditions to weare his liuerie and to receiue his marke as it were his hired and couenant seruants Heere is wisdome Let him that hath wit count the the number of the beast for it is the number of a man and his number is sixe hundred theescore and sixe Now last of all the holy Ghost telleth vs that it is a verie high point of wisedome and vnderstanding to count the number of the beast and requireth a sharpe and pregnant wit and withall telleth vs that it is the number of a man that is such as a man endued with Gods Spirite may finde out Then wee are encouraged to search into it sith it is within the compasse of mans reach It is no impossible thing If therefore wee could find out his name wee would desire no more then the field were wonne for his name would discouer him and descrie him to all the world and quite stoppe the mouthes of the Papists so as they should neuer haue anie thing more to say For if Saint Iohn had said expresly and in plaine tearmes that the Popes of Rome are this second beast and the verie Antichrist himselfe then the Papists had beene put to perpetuall silence all matters quasht and all controuersies ended betwixt them and vs for euer But heere the holy Ghost doth not tell vs his name plainely but mystically as manie other things in this booke that the worldlings which
the mightiemen and euery bond-man and euery free-man hidde themselues in dennes vers 16 and amongst the rockes of the mountaines and said to the rockes and mountaines vers 17 fall on vs c. the sense and meaning of all is this that these visible iudgements should bee so horrible and extraordinarie that all sorts of men then liuing vpon the face of the earth should euen wish themselues buried quicke or that they might runne into a mouse-hole or awger-hole to hide themselues from the wrath of the Lambe For being both outwardly terrified with these sensible iudgements and inwardly griped and tormented with the furie of their owne consciences they were at no hande able to endure it CHAP. VII THis chapter dooth wholy appertaine vnto the opening of the sixt seale It sheweth generally how God in the middest of all the broiles which happened vnder the opening of the sixt seale yet did preserue his church and mercifully prouide for his owne people This seuenth chapter may very fitly bee deuided into three parts First it sheweth that as God did most fearefully punish the world with visible sensible iudgemēts as we haue heard before so now he would set vpon them with inuisible and spirituall plagues which are of all other most grieuous and intollerable vers 1 Secondly it sheweth the state and condition of the Church militant here in earth as before was shewed vnder the opening of the fift seale the state of the Church triumphant in the heauens vers 2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9 namely that it is sealed and set in safetie from all daungers Thirdly it sheweth the blessed and happie estate of all Gods elect vers 10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17 and their feruent praises and zealous worship of God who thus mercifully did prouide for their securitie in the middest of greatest perils and extremities vers 1 And after that I saw foure Angels stand on the foure corners of the earth holding the foure winds of the earth that the windes should not blowe on the earth neither on the sea neither on any greene tree These foure angels are angels of darknesse or foure diuels which is proued by this reason that they holde the foure windes from blowing on the earth that is stop the course of the Gospell which is a spirituall plague They are said to stand vpon the foure corners of the earth because power was giuen them to plague not some one or two countries but the vniuersall world both East West North and South The blowing of the windes doth very fitly represent the preaching of the Gospell and that heauenly inspiration and breathing of the holy Ghost which goeth with it Winde is so taken Ioh. 3. where our Lord Iesus saith The wind bloweth where it listeth c So is euery man that is borne of the spirit And again in the 4. of the Cantic in these words Arise ô North and come ô South and blowe on my garden that the spices thereof may flowe out Where it plainly appeareth that the Church craueth the inspiration of the spirit that her fruites may abound For what can be meant by these windes which she wisheth to blow vppon her garden but the heauenly breathings of Gods holy spirit and word It followeth then that if the blowing of the windes in the scriptures doo signifie the breathing of Gods grace and holy spirite that the stopping of the windes by a reason of the contraries doth here signifie the stopping of the same and the depriuation of all heauenly blessings So that it is cleare that a spirituall plague is heere represented which also is the more apparant because here is such speciall prouiso and care had for the churches safetie that it might not be infected with this spirituall contagiō Now all this doth plainly fore-prophesie not only the stopping of the course of the Gospell but euen the vtter taking of it away from the world for their great contempt thereof and the horrible murthering massacring of all the true professors of it according as it came to passe afterward in the preuailing first of heresies and afterward of the Popish and Mahometish religion as in the two next Chapters following shall plainly appeare And I sawe another Angell come vp from the East vers 2 which had the seale of the liuing God and he cried with a loud voice to the foure angels to whome power was giuen to hurt the earth and the sea saying Hurt yee not the earth neither the sea vers 3 neither the trees till wee haue sealed the seruants of our God in their foreheads This Angell is Iesus Christ who by the Prophet is called the Angell of the couenant That Angels do represent sustaine the person of Christ their head is so common vsuall a thing in the scriptures that I shall not neede to staie in it That this Angell is Christ it doth plainly appeare by the things heere attributed vnto him which can agree to none other First in that he hath the seale of the liuing God which is the spirit of adoption to set vpon all the elect for hee is the onely keeper of this great seale and this priuie seale Hee onely hath authoritie to set it vpon whom he will Secondly because hee is saide to come vp from the East that is hee is the onely sonne of righteousnes which ariseth vpon his Church euery morning and with his bright beames expelleth all darknesse from it According to that of Zacharias in his propheticall song Through the tender mercy of our God the day spring from an highe hath visited vs. Thirdly because he holdeth a soueraigntie and commaund ouer the diuels for he chargeth them here to staie their hands from doing any hurt till he had prouided for his elect vers 2 Whereas it is saide that power was giuen to these diuels to hurt the earth the sea and the trees that is the number of reprobates we may note that the diuels haue no absolute power but only by permission as appeareth in this that they could neither touch Iob nor enter into the heard of swine without leaue and licence vers 3 Whereas it is said Till we haue sealed the seruants of our God in their foreheads it doth plainely shewe that the punishments of the wicked are deferred till prouision be made for the elect The floud came not vppon the olde worlde till Noah and his family were receiued into the Arke The Angels destroyed not Sodome till Lot was set in safetie The plaguing Angell spared the first borne of Egipt till the postes of the Israelites houses were sprinkeled with the blood of the paschall Lambe The sixe Angels sent to destroy Ierusalem are charged to staie the execution till the seruaunts of God were marked in their fore-heads All these examples do manifestly declare what tender care the Lorde in all ages hath had of his owne people that they might be deliuered and set in safetie in the midst of all extremities Euen so heere we see that God
West North and South The sense is that the diuels haue yet further and greater scope giuen them to plague and destroy the inhabitants of the earth These diuels had exceeding great power in the kingdome of Antichrist but they are vnsatiable in mischiefe and so after a sorte lie still bound till they haue their desire The place where they lie bounde is Euphrates wherein is a mysterie for Euphrates literally taken is a great Riuer which ranne so nigh the citie Babylon in Chaldea that it was a mightie defence vnto it so that the citie could not be taken vntill they that laide siege vnto it cut out trenches and deriued the waters an other way Now for the mysterie it is this Rome in this booke is called Babylon By a metaphor and after the same manner the great Riuer Euphrates as wee shall see afterward chap. 16. signifieth the power wealth and authoritie which that citie Rome euen this westerne Babel hath to defend it selfe Then it followeth that in this power authoritie and strength of Rome the diuels lie bounde for they waited through the power of Rome to worke yet farre greater mischiefe and therefore are saide to bee bounde so long as they were restrained The mischiefe which they plotted and purposed to bring to passe by the authoritie and power of Rome was the hatching and bringing forth of the Mahometish religion which in very deed did spring from the darknesse of Rome as from his proper roote and originall cause The diuels did foresee that out of the superstitions and Idolatries of Rome defended by their great power and authoritie Mahometish religion might very well bee framed and therefore not being content to plague the West part of the worlde with Poperie and Idolatrie they do greedily desire also to plague the East part of the worlde with the false religion of Mahomet They are not satisfied with plaguing and poisoning all Europe with abhominable Idolatries except also they plague and infect all Asia Affrica with the Turkes most execrable religiō so insatiable are the diuels in working mischiefe Now in the meane time they think thēselues too much straightned bound and tied vp in Rome Romish religion except they may be loosed and proceede further to ouerspread the whole world with all impieties and most horrible abhominations A man would thinke that when the diuels had preuailed so far as to place Antichrist in his cursed chaire and to breede the swarmes of Locusts out of the smoake of hell they might haue bene satisfied for then as wee say hell seemed to be broken loose But yet all this cannot satisfie the vnsatiable diuels but they will haue the religion of Mahomet established to poison and plague all the East parts of the world in their soules and also they will haue the most huge cruell and sauage armies of the Turkes raised vp to murder and massacre milliōs of men in their bodies in the west parts of the world as presently we shall heare Now till all this bee effected they are saide to lie bound at Rome But here we see that this sixt Angell hath a precise commaundement from Iesus Christ to loose these diuels which lay bound at the great riuer Euphrates that they might plague the whole world farre and neare at their pleasure so now all the diuels of hell are let loose and let vs heare what followeth And the foure Angels were loosed which were prepared at an houre at a day at a moneth and at a yeare vers 15 to slay the third part of men Now the diuels being loosed and vnbounde by speciall commandement from Christ were in a readinesse to execute their mischiefe This ascending by degrees from a short time vnto longer longer From an houre to a day c. dooth signifie that as the diuels were prest at hand at an houres warning as we say to put in practise whatsoeuer they had plotted so they were as forwarde to continue the same From an houre to a day from a day to a moneth from a moneth to a yeare that is frō time to time vntil the date of their commissiō was out for their time was limited and their commission bounded as afterward we shall see And this is our comfort that both the Papacie is limited to fiue monethes and the Turcisme to houres daies monethes and yeares The diuels power is limited though it grieueth them full sore They cannot doo what they list they cannot continue as long as they would After the number of horsemen of warre were twentie thousand times ten thousand for I heard the number of thē vers 16 Now vpon the loosing of these diuels here followeth the description of a most horrible plague which they raised vp and it is a huge army a murthering army an army in number exceeding great for he saith They were twentie thousand times ten thousand that is two hundred millions or two hundred thousand thousands But we may not think that this army was euer all at one time or in any one age but here are the armies of many ages reckened vp and the full plague of many yeares set forth How could Saint Iohn number such an army may some man say He answereth this doubt and saith Hee heard the number of them Hee did not number them but the number was tolde him Moreouer it is to be noted that as this army did exceed in number so also in terror and strength and therefore they are said to be all horsemen For an army of horsemen are both more strong and more terrible then any arm of footemen vers 17 And thus I sawe the horses in a vision and them that sate on them hauing firy Habbergeons and of Iacinth and of brimstone and the heads of the horses were as the heads of Lyons and out of their mouths went forth fire and smoake and brimstone Heere is the description of these horsemen and horses as they appeared to Iohn in a vision First touching the horsemen it is saide that they were very well armed with Habbergions that is coates of Maile Corselets or Curets and that of a fiery colour and of the colour of Iacinth that is of smoake as appeareth in the last clause of this verse and also of the colour of Brimstone For as horsemen in compleate armour were wont to weare in their breast-plates and targets certaine ensignes and colours whereby they might be made terrible to their enemies So these Turkish warriours and horsemen do holde out their colours of fire smoake and brimstone as it were flagges of defiance against the whole world threatning present death to al that should withstand them or as if they meant to spet fire and flame them or to choake them with smoake and brimstone then burne them vp with fire brimstone All this their colours and ensignes in their breast-plates and Habbergions did portend Now as concerning their horses no doubt they were as fierce as the horsmen They were great Launces they had heads like
Lyons that is they were full of stomack fiercenes and out of their mouthes went forth fire smoake and brimstone that is they had the same colours and ensignes vpon them that their riders had Of these three was the third part of mē killed that is vers 18 of the fire of the smoake and of the brimstone which came out of their mouthes Here is set downe the great slaughters and massacres which these martiall horsmen Turkish armies made throughout the most part of Europe For hee saith the third part of men that is great numbers in Europe were slaine by the fire the smoake and the brimstone which came out of their mouthes that is by their bloudy crueltie barbarous immanitie some being murthered in their bodies by cruell death others violently drawne to the wicked religiō of Mahomet For partly by externall violence and partly by a subtill shewe of religion and deuotion they destroied thousands both in their soules bodies And therefore it is said vers 19 Their power is in their mouthes and in their tailes For their tailes were like vnto serpents and had heads wherewith they hurt But for the better vnderstanding of these things I thinke it not amisse a little to open and lay forth the rising vp and encreasing of the power of the Turke About the yeare of our Lord 591. was Mahomet borne in a certaine village of Arabia called Itrarix for so Histories do report This Mahomet by fraude and cousenage grew into great credit and fame among the seditious Arabians and Egyptians in so much that they made him a captaine ouer them to warre against the Persians After this hee married a rich wife and by that meanes he wonne the hearts of many with gifts In the daies of Heraclius the Emperour which was in the yeare of our Lord 623. he grew to be very mightie After this he faigned himselfe to be a Prophet and said that he had visions and reuelations and talked with Angels And so by the helpe of Sergius a Monke hee framed a new worship and religion patched partly out of the olde Testament partly from the Papists and partly from the Heathen Hee raigned nine yeares and so died After him succeeded in the kingdome of the Saracens Ebubezer who raigned two yeares Haumar who raigned twelue yeares Muhauias who raigned 24. yeares All these made great warres against the Persians and sundrie other nations and ouercame them and set vp the religion of Mahomet amongst them and so the kingdome of the Saracens grew mightie but in processe of time the kingdome of the Turkes grew great and the kingdome of the Saracens diminished Within a short time after this the Tartarians a barbarous people waxed strong and made warre against the Turkes and preuailed greatly for a time But about the yeare of our Lord 1300. the Empire of the Tartarians was ouerthrowne and the Empire of the Turkes did flourish more then euer before For now come the greatest monsters and most sauage and cruell tyrants of all The first of them was Ottomanus The second Baiazethes The third Amurathes These made bloudie warres against the Christians I meane the Papists in Europe and enlarged the Turkes dominions very farre They did from time to time so cruelly murther and massacre the inhabitants of the West with their huge and bloudie armies that at last both the Pope the Emperour the King of Hungary the King of Polonia the King of Fraunce the Duke of Burgundie and the Duke of Venice and almost all the Potentates in Europe did ioyne together to make warre against the Turkes and did leuie huge armies but yet could not preuaile so strong were the Turkes so huge and dreadfull were their armies Then wee see that verified which here was foretolde to wit that the monstrous armies of the Turkes with their horses and horsemen should slay the third parte of men that is the Idolaters in Europe by heapes and infinit numbers To set downe the particular battailes betwixt the Turkes and the Christians in Europe and their horrible bloudsheaddings would require a volume but this which I haue briefly set downe may serue to giue some light vnto it may suffice for the vnderstanding of this text vers 20 Now it is said in the next verse that notwithstanding this heauie hande of God which was vpon the Papists in Europe and these fearefull iudgements and massacres they repented not of their Idolatries but waxed worse and worse for no iudgements no plagues can make the wicked any whit the better as wee see in the examples of Pharaoh and Saul vers 20 And here it is saide that the remnant of men which were not killed by these plagues repented not of the workes of their handes that they should not worship diuels and Idols of gold and of siluer of brasse and of stone and of wood which neither can see nor heare nor goe vers 21 Also they repented not of their murther and of their sorcery neither of their fornicatiō nor of their theft And thus we see how the diuels which were bound at Euphrates being let loose vpon the world in the wrath and iust iudgement of God did fearefully plague both the Turkes in their soules and the Papists in their bodies The one with false religion the other with bloudie swordes and so was the desire of the diuels fully satisfied CHAP. X. HAuing opened and expounded the two first woes which fel out vpon the blowing of the fift and sixt trumpet containing the two great plagues of Poperie and Turcisme wherewith the world was punished many hundred yeares now in this chapter we are to heare of good newes and great comfort after so much sorrowe For here Iesus Christ commeth downe from heauen to relieue his poore afflicted Church and to be reuenged of all his cruell enemies For now before the 3. and last woe containing the greatest plague of al vpon the world which is the last iudgement wherein the wicked shall bee tormented in hel fire for euer both in body soule I say before the blowing of the 7. trumpet by the seuenth angel of which we shal heare in the next chapter Now in the meane time is shewed in this chapter what care God had for his little flocke which no doubt were hid in those daies and did not appeare and yet were scattered in corners euen in the middest of the darknesse of Poperie and the most furious hellish rage of the Turkish armies And therefore the principall scope and drift of this chapter is to shewe how the Gospell should bee preached in many kingdomes now after this generall darknesse for the discouering and ouerthrow both of Poperie and Turcisme and to shewe what should fall out in the church now in the middle time before the 7. last trumpet blow for then commeth the last iudgement as the Angel sweareth in this chapter ver 6.7 This chapter dooth containe foure principall parts vers 1 The first is a
others endued with the same spirite which should mightily defend both the doctrine cause and quarrell which their predecessors had maintained and sealed with their blood in whom they should after a sort reuiue liue againe euen as Elias did reuiue and as it were liue againe in Iohn Baptist who is saide to be endued with the power and spirit of Elias as it was foretold by the Prophet and as our Sauior himselfe doth auouch Now blessed be God that we liue in these daies wherein we see with our eyes all these things fulfilled For when the Pope his Cleargy had murthered Gerhardus Dulcimus Nauarensis Waldus Nicolaus Orem Iohn Picus Iohn Zisca Visilus Groningensis Armerius Wickliffe Husse Ierome of Prage and many Preachers in Sueuia and one hundred holy Christians in the countrey of Alsatia and many others in all countries and of all conditions of men yet for all that spight of their hearts God raised vp others in their stead as Luther Caluin Zuinglius Peter Martir Peter Viret Melancton Bucer Bullinger and their successors yea the thousands of excellent Ministers and Preachers which are dispersed ouer all Europe at this day In whom all the former witnesses do reuiue and as it were stand vppon their feete againe And now a great feare is come vpon the Pope and his Cleargy and all his fauorites for they did neuer so much as dreame of such an alteration but this is the Lordes doing and it is maruellous in our eyes vers 12 And they shall heare a great voice from heauen saying vnto them come vp hither and they shall ascend vp to heauen in a cloude and their enemies shall see them Here the Lordes witnesses whom Antichrist had murdered are called and taken vp into heauen that they may be crowned with glory and immortalitie hauing in the earth fought so excellēt a fight of faith as they had for euen as Christ their head was taken vp in a cloud into the heauens Euen so his faithfull members are here taken vp in a cloud to raigne with him for euer Moreouer it is here said that their enemies shall see them ascending vp they shall as it were ascend vp in their sight for from the fire and faggot swords and speares of their enemies they went directly vnto God and the very consciences of their persecutors did witnesse so much nay some of them being in horrible convulsions of cōscience did not sticke to vtter it auouching the innocency of Gods Martirs as sometimes Pilat and the Centurion did of Christ But though they had not bene iustified by their enemies yet are they here iustified by a greater testimony for the voice from heauen the voice of God doth iustifie them cleare them accounting them worthy to be called vp from the earth to heauen and receiued to eternall glory For howsoeuer the Pope his Cleargy condemned them for heretikes and scismatikes yet here they are iustified and cleared by a voice from heauen which is more then the voices suffrages and approbations of all men in the world And the same houre there shal be a great earthquake and the tenth part of the citie shall fall and in the earthquake shal be slaine in number seuen thousand and the remnant were sore feared and gaue glory to the God of heauen As hee hath shewed before that the world was very ioyful iocond when they had made dispatch of Gods witnesses but afterward full of feare terror when they sawe what followed So here in this verse is shewed that at the same houre that is about the same time whē they haue persecuted the Saints and see thousands of others raised vp in their stead and as it were out of their ashes or rather out of their blood that there should immediately follow a great earthquake that is horrible commotions seditions tumults and open warres among the kingdomes and nations of the worlde and amongst all people which should liue after the breaking forth of the light of the Gospell as this day we see with our eyes For who now in these dayes dooth not see and feele this Earthquake who knoweth not what stirres there haue bene and are euery where about Religion Who is ignorant that all the warres seditions treacheries treasons and rebellions that are this day in Europe betwixt one kingdome and an other are specially concerning the matter of religigion But marke what followeth Beholde the effect of this Earthquake It is saide that the tenth part of the citie shall fall By the citie here he meaneth the great citie Rome mentioned before vers 8. which is therefore called the great citie because it was the chiefe citie of the Romane Empire and the verie seate of Antichrist Now then the sense and meaning of the holy Ghost is that when there once beginneth to be an earthquake that is broiles contentions alterations questions disputations about religion and that the popish doctrine which had so long preuailed in the world should be called in question yea openly preached against conuicted and cōdemned that then Rome should begin to fall and Romish religion to suffer a great eclipse yea the tenth part that is some part of the citie of Rome I meane the doctrine and authoritie of Rome should be ouerthrowne Now this falling of the tenth part of Rome was fulfilled within some fewe yeares after the broaching of the Gospell by Luther and his immediate successors but since it is gone backe many degrees and hereafter it shall still ebbe consume away by degrees euen till it come to nothing as God willing shal be plainly proued hereafter Moreouer here is set downe another effect of this earthquake which is that thereby shall be slaine in number seuen thousand that is many thousands for the number of seuen is a perfect and vniuersall number as formerly hath bene declared But the sense of this clause is that all such as wil not yeeld to the Gospell after matters once come in question and the light therof breaketh forth but continue still in their blindnesse and hardnesse standing out sturdily against the truth shall feele the heauie iudgements of God vpon them and come to miserable and wretched endes as did here in England Stephen Gardiner bloudie Bonner and many other such open persecutors in other nations and countries as the booke of Martyrs doth plentifully witnesse Last of all it is said that the rest were terrified gaue glorie to the God of heauen that is the elect of God seeing these horrible iudgements vpon the persecutors of the Gospel and hauing their eies opened through these contentions and broiles about religion should repent of their former Idolatries blindnesse and ignorance should yeeld to the truth and giue glorie to the God of heauen as at this day we see thousands doo God be thanked chapter 9 Wee heard before in the time of the Turkes murthering army when the third part of men were slain that the rest repented not of their Idolatrie But
haue heard before chapter 1.18 By the chaine in his hand is meant the doctrine of the gospell The time when Sathan was thus taken bound was when Christ first preached the Gospell and his Apostles after him to all nations The cause why hee was now bound and chained vp was for that hee had a long time seduced all nations and raigned as King and Lord ouer the Gentiles and greatly seduced the Iewes also The time of his imprisonment is set downe to be a thousand yeeres that is all the time frō the preaching of Christ and his Apostles vntill Gregory the seauenth other monstrous Popes which did let Sathan loose againe Which space of time is guessed by the learned to be a thousand yeeres or thereabouts But heere it is to bee obserued that this binding of Sathan is not to bee taken simply and absolutely as though Sathan was so bound and chained vp for this thousand yeere that hee could not seduce at all or doe no mischiefe at all after the preaching of the Gospell by Christ and his Apostles I say this is not to bee taken simply but afrer a sort that is that hee could not so generally and vniuersally seduce all nations as hee had in former time before the comming of Christ For otherwise it is well knowne that euen after Christs time hee did greatly persecute the Church bring in many errors and heresies and harden and blind many mens hearts but yet all this was nothing in comparison of that which hee had wrought in former ages when hee was euen as it were the god of the world and the Gentiles worshipped him as God as the Apostle teacheth that all the worship of the heathen nations was the worship of diuels And againe that God in times past suffered all the Gentiles to walke in their owne waies And then was Sathan a great prince indeede But now commeth a chaine for him For Christ preacheth the Gospell and sendeth foorth his disciples vvith power and therevpon saith I saw Sathan fall downe like lightning For the preaching of the Gospell beateth downe the kingdome of Sathan and sinne Moreouer it is to be noted that notwithstanding all Sathans power and might craft and subteltie yet this Angell vvhich hath the key of the bottomlesse pit doth apprehend him and shut him vp and seale the dore vpon him so that he cannot get abroad to seduce so generally as in former time But S. Iohn saith that after a thousand yeeres he must be loosed for a little season that is the time vvherein the great Antichrist should beare the sway vvhich vvas some 4. or 5. hundred yeeres For the Gospell did preuaile in some measure in the world a thousād yeeres after Christ the principles groūds of true religion cōtinued in the church vntil the ful loosing of Sathan though vvith many blotts corruptions and abuses For after the first six hundred yeeres the cleere sinceritie of the truth vvas much dimmed vvith errors and heresies but yet the maine grounds dyd remaine till the full expiration of the thousand yeeres Now vve know that the Gospell hath bene preached in these last daies aboue three score yeeres Therefore it followeth that the strength of Popery continued not much aboue 500. yeeres Which heere the holy Ghost for our comfort calleth a little season chapter 11.2 of vvhich vve haue heard before and therefore I doe heere omit it And I saw seates and them that sate vpon them ver 4 and iudgement was giuen vnto them And I saw the soules of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of Iesus and for the word of God and which did not worship the beast neither his Image neither had taken his marke vpon their foreheads or on their hands and they liued and raigned with Christ a thousand yeere But the rest of the dead men shall not liue againe ver 5 vntill the thousand yeeres be finished this is the first resurrection Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection For on such the second death hath no power ver 6 But they shal be the Priests of God and of Christ and shall raigne with him a thousand yeere Heere now is set foorth the state of the Church millitant for the space of the thousand yeere wherein Sathan vvas chained vp For it is sayd heere that the Church dyd grow and flourish yea and greatly exercise her power and aucthoritie during that time And therefore Saint Iohn saith that he saw seates and they sate vpon them and iudgement was giuen vnto them Whereby he meaneth that the Apostles and their successors had their chaires seates and consistories vvherein they did both preach the vvord and execute the Church censures as the Scribes and Phariseies beefore had sit in the chaire of Moises and I take it the latter part of the fourth verse is to be referred to the first clause to vvit that the Church dyd liue and raigne with Christ a thousād yeeres Which is not to be vnderstood of the Church triumphant as some doe take it all the rest of this fourth verse but of the flourishing estate of the Church militant during the time of Sathans captiuitie for all the faithfull do after a sort liue raigne with Christ euen heere in the earth when they ouercome the world by faith and subdue Sathan sinne by the power of grace Now where it is said that Iohn saw the soules of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of Iesus c. It is to bee vnderstood of those which in the time of the persecuting empire and growing of the papacie vvere slaine for the truth For the second beast which is the dominion of Popes raigned not in those thousand yeere in the which Sathan vvas bound but yet did grow by degrees towards their height and vsed great tyrannie against the seruants of God before Sathans full loosing The Chiliasts or Millenaries doe fondly gather from this scripture that after the ouerthrow of Antichrist the Lord Iesus would come raigne vvith the faithfull heere a thousand yeeres vpon the earth and that in this time that Christ should so raigne as a great and glorious king vpon the earth his subiects should enioy all manner of earthly pleasures and delights This foolish error is confuted by the words that follovv in the text as wee shall see afterward Whereas hee saith the rest of the dead shall not liue againe It is to bee vnderstood of such as were spiritually dead that is such as did despise the Gospell which vvas preached those thousand yeeres were not thereby reuiued and quickened vnto eternall life but did still remaine as men dead in sinnes and trespasses Therefore the meaning of S. Iohn is that as in the thousand yeeres many that heard Christ and his Apostles and their successors were raised vp from the death of sinne to the life of righteousnesse so many others were not quickened by their doctrine but stil dwelt in their sinnes