of Israel being resembled vnto them which contended with the Cananites for the land of promise For these also contend with these vnchristian Cananites for the true doctrine and meanes of saluation promised by Iesus Christ Those who are sealed according to the doctrine which they keepe and with which they worship the Lord in the secret of the Almightie * Psal 91.1 are a b cap. 7.9.10 multitude which no man could number of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues like holy and these ascribe all saluation vnto our God that sitteth vpon the throne and to the Lambe c Euseb 10. 4. de vi Con. 2. 19. For the people lately redeemed from the former persecutions praysed God the King and Christ the onely Sauiour Yea the Emperors did acknowledge thus much writing it on pillers to bee read The seuenth scale open After the sealing of the seruants of God followed the emotions which are comprehended in the seuenth seale which the Lambe openeth In the declaration whereof first is set downe the vniuersall disposition of all to bring into action and to behold the visions And this is a d cap. 8.1 Euseb vit Con. 3. 10. 11. graue silence both in the preparation and expectation of that which should follow Secondly the instruments which are to bring about these troubles are seene and are said to be e cap. 8.2 seuen Angels with seuen trumpets For the future alterations were to be wrought by the diuersitie of doctrine and perswasions which should induce men to stirres In the third place is shewed the principall matter which is to be the argument of the troubles that these trumpeters should sound which is concerning the doctrine of the mediation of Christ which while some should labour to maintaine precisely according to the doctrine of the East and others should corrupt much trouble would arise in the world The mediation of Iesus Christ is presented by an f cap. 8.3 other Angel differing from the foure Angels which were to holde the windes as also from the seuen trumpeting Angels The thing he presenteth is the readines of Iesus Christ to make reconciliation betweene God and man For he stoods before the altar of incense which was before the throne hauing a golden censor as the g Leuit. 16. priest in the law was prepared to make reconciliation betweene God and the people By this is signified the readines a Euseb vit Con. 3. 13. of Constantine and all godly Bishops at the Councell of Nicea to heare with pacience and to vnderstand in sinceritie and to iudge with truth the questions and differences which were made in that time Hereof first the godly make a good and religious vse for by them much b cap. 8.3 odors was giuen vnto him c Rom. 12.1 Psal 141.2 that is reasonable seruices and petitions to offer with the prayers of all Saints that is that euery man labored for an d Euseb vi 3. 16. 18. 4.36 vnitie and to be made members of the vniuersall Church as it was required according to the prescript of the word of God The effect hereof is an vniuersall reconciliation and peace both in heauen with God and in earth amongst men the e cap. 8.4 Leuit. 16.2.13 smoke of the odors going vp out of the Angels hand before the presence of God For in the Councell of Nicea which f Caranza was held Constantine being Augustus and Licinius Caesar there was g Euseb de vit Con. 3. 16. diligent enquirie into all things till there was pronounced a sentence pleasing and acceptable to God that beholdeth all things for the concord and consent of the mindes of men And that so that there was nothing that seemed leaft to breede any matter of discord or controuersie of faith In this Councell was h Caranza f. 37. b. 39. â— acknowledged the necessitie of confessing the Godhead of Christ against Arius As also the heresies of Photinus Sabellius c. were condemned Againe when new contentions did arise i cap. 8.5 this Angel filleth his censor full of coales of the altar readie to make an atonement but because men now doe not bring odors but hypocrisie he casteth the coales into the earth k Rom. 1.21 that is reiecteth their seruice and deliuereth them ouer into a reprobate minde to doe things not conuenient For when as the peace of the Church was not sought but men gaue themselues onely to pretextes of good things there was great corruption l Socr. 1. 10. 18. 19. 20. For Constantine hauing recalled the Arians who had made a very hypocriticall submission he so farre trusted them that he committed the hearing and determining of the questions of the time to the discretion of such which pretended to be Catholickes but were Arians in heart And then m Euseb vit Con. 4. 40. 43. Massaeus 10. p. 136. 137. Soc. 1. 9. 22. 4. 18. began it to be esteemed more religion to build certaine places and to pray in them rather than in others and to liue by some prescriptions and will-worships of Monkes Eremites c. than to walke by Gods word The effect is that hereupon are n cap. 8.5 made voyces and thundrings and lightnings and earthquakes that is great and very fearefull emotions both for the matter and manner of them Here therefore doth the Dragon take the opportunitie to make his purpose appeare For his Angels doe holde now the foure windes that is do bring in an a â— Thes 1.11 vniuersall strong delusion that men should beleeue lyes that they might be damned which loue not the truth which is done by the restraint of the spirit of the truth By this delusion he first maketh warre b cap. 12.13 against the woman the Church which had brought forth a man childe and after against her seede In his warre against the woman by strong delusion he at once persecuteth some and corrupteth others In his persecution he first laboureth to destroy the Church peecemeale and fayling of his purpose the second time endeuoreth to drowne it altogether In this first battell we are to consider the enemies with their seuerall manner of fight and the successe The enemies are the woman the Church and the Dragon on earth that is the diuel by his deputy The woman is the selfe same before described in the first battell which was in heauen namely those Christians which came out of the former c cap. 7.14 tribulations and great persecutions vnder the heathen Emperors continuing the faith which was persecuted in the first battell in Saint Iohns time whereof some had been marked with an eye put forth and their hamme cut to haue stoode against Arius before and in the Nicene Councell These are said to be of the twelue Tribes of Israel that is by their true profession of the Christian faith and circumcision of the heart to be d Rom. 2.29
PISGAH EVANGELICA By the Method of the Reuelation presenting to publike view those Cananites ouer whom our Lord Iesus Christ and his holie Church shall triumph after seuerall Battailes THAT WHICH IS PAST IS SHEWED IN a briefe Ecclesiasticall Historie containing most of the Mutations which haue befallen the Church from the yeere of our Lord 97 vnto the yeere 1603. as they haue been shewed vnto S. Iohn in Patmos and recorded by such Historiographers as are of least suspected faith Gathered by WILLIAM SYMONDS sometimes Fellow of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford REVEL 6.1 Come and see ISAIAH 42.9 Behold the former things are come to passe and new things doe I declare before they come foorth I tell you them ISAIAH 34.16 Seeke in the booke of the Lord and reade none of these shall faile none shall want her make for his mouth hath commanded and his very spirit hath gathered them Imprinted at London by FELIX KYNGSTON for Edmund Weauer and are to be sold at his shop at the great North-doore of S. Pauls Church 1605. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE SIR ROBERT BERTIE KNIGHT Lord Willughby Lord of Willughby Berke and Erisby my most honourable good Patron all increase of honor in this life and eternall happines in the life to come INfinite are the benefits right Honourable that God hath prouided for man but amongst them all the word of God hath the preeminence For howsoeuer the fruition of the rest may seeme to make a man happie in this life this and onely this doth make a man a 2. Tim. 3.17 absolute as b 1. Tim. 4.8 hauing the promises of this present life and that which is to come Yea the keeping hereof doth adde c Prou. 3.12 an encrease of prosperitie to Salomons royalties but the want hereof made d Gen. 4.12.14 Kain a vagabond and a runnagate who was the heire of Adam the greatest Monarch and e Gen. 27.40 Esau to liue by his sword that had the birthright of better promises The chiefest point of the Scriptures is that which saueth namely f Rom. 10.9 confession of Christ and faith in him But that which striketh the veriest Atheist with greatest consternation the false worshipper with most astonishment and the looker on with deepest admiration is g Isai 45.21 41.21 c. and 43.12 44.7 the propheticall spirit here to bee found and no where else truly plainly and perfitly setting downe before hand what shall be accomplished afterwards in his due time Hereby the erroneous haue bin often h Mat. 22.40 c. conuicted and they which i Dan. 9.2 c. waited vpon the Lord singularly directed k Est 4 1â— and comforted This spirit which hath bin alwaies in the word of God doth fully shew it selfe in the Reuelation For in it the Lord hath written vp before hand the steps of his prouidence by which he would rule the Christian world l cap. 1.19 from the time of the Apostles to the last day Here m cap. 13. the reader and hearer are blessed the godly witnesses n cap. 2. 3. of Christ are directed in their greatest tentations and o cap. 44. the honourable wise and godly polititians in their p cap. 4.11 and 5.5 grauest deliberations and q cap. 11.17.18 reuising of histories c. Now though many haue laboured very profitably in the vnfolding of this booke yet wisedome lieth so deepe in the waters that r Eccl. 24.32 the first man hath not knowne her perfectly no more shall the last seeke her out For her considerations are more abundant than the sea and her counsell profounder than the great deepe But howsoeuer it be yet notwithstanding with Å¿ Dan. 12.4 often running it ouer knowledge is euer encreased and this was my comfort that sought to be further satisfied in a scripture of so great vse That which I haue attained vnto seeing the importunitie of many godly men hath preuailed with me to publish vpon good reasons I doe humblie present vnto your Lordship For first the Lord hath so mercifully disposed for me that both I and mine doe liue vnder your Lordships patronage wherefore I was bound to make some remonstrance of my thankfulnes and wanting other meanes I tooke this opportunitie Againe I was not onely set on worke to study this booke but also much encouraged and holped herein by your most honourable wise learned and godly Father my dearest Lord and therefore was to returne the fruites of my labour to his house And further I giuing it abroad in the language of my nation as a counterpoyson against the shamelesse fraudes of popish seducers your Lordships experience affoording you greater satisfaction of the times than can be knowne by bookes will be a strong retentiue to wauerers when they see the relation of the present popish impieties to be patronized by your good Lordship Great and many were the benefits which the Church of God obtained by the sincere and godlie profession of the Gospell which your Lordships most honorable ancestors did make Your Lordships * The Dutchesse of Suffolke grandmother did suffer much for the Gospell euen vnto banishment her Graces faithfulnes appeared herein that in the daies of her prosperitie and peace at home she is * By Master R. Allen sometimes her Chaplen reported to pray vnto God with lifted hands and eyes vnto heauen that the Lord would continue her house in honour to the glorie of God and of the Gospell of Christ for euer Your most honourable father with the blessed sword of Gedeon did fight in the defence of the Gospell and in a sicknes thought insuperable stood so resolued in the truth that hee desired none other graue than to die in the defence of the Gospell and of his Queene Both of them regarded the Lords Prophets and them that feared his name both small and great Their vertues haue a part in the booke of life in the holie citie and in the things which are written in this booke Honourable Lord the loue you beare to the Gospell and your wisdome in taking to wife a daughter of the true God doe make demonstration that your Lordship doth inherit the vertues of your most Christian ancestrie To your Lordship therefore I presume to dedicate this Treatise The subiect is Scripture and therfore worthie your hands the manner of explaining is somewhat new a thing that is wont to bee desired the maine is historie which giueth contentment and instruction to the studious Let the faithfulnes and dutifull affection of the giuer counterpoise the homelines of the handling And so I doe most humblie take my leaue praying vnto God that we which honoured your Lordships most honourable ancestrie may still encrease our thankfulnes to God and the ioy we take to see your Lordship and all yours euer abounding in all the blessings of almightie God and that stil of your Lordship also Christ may say as now he doth t
of diuels and holde of all foule spirits and a cage of euery vncleane and hatefull bird The reasons of this fearefull iudgement are first a cap. 18.3 because she made all nations to drinke of the wine of the wrath of her fornications by diuerse interdictions execrations exactions tumults treasons rebellions murthers massacres c bringing greiuous calamities vpon such as refused to bee subiect vnto the idolatrie superstitions and other filthie constitutions of that policicie or citie Secondly because the kings of the earth haue committed fornication with her giuing their power to be executioners of her fornication which is the cause why the holy people depart from the vngodly commaundements of them both Thirdly because the Marchants of the earth are waxed rich of the abundance of such things which were gained by the marchandise of the word of God and of the kingdome of heauen c. which were sold of her pleasures as pleased her to bestow them For now were sold both Sacraments and Church and heauen They doe also abound in pleasures Now because of this abundant riches and fatnes of the great and princely Marchants followeth as a third argument of this riders confidence namely a publike proclamation to all sorts of greedy people to take away the liuings of the popish Clergie be they great or small And to this purpose b cap. 19.17.18 Saint Iohn saith I saw an Angel stand in the sunne that is openly in all mens fight who cryed with a loud voyce by preaching and teaching and saying it is lawfull to all the fowles that did flie by the middest of heauen euen all couetous hungrie and needy persons which were in estimation with Princes c. to gather themselues together vnto the supper of the great God which he had prepared by the hands of the popish prouiders and builders who had cooked their liuings for gentlemens mouthes c. That they may eate the flesh euen the fatte liuings of such as were aduanced in the world as Kings and the flesh of high captaines namely the Cardinals and Abbots c. who now became Generalles of warres c. Contrarily on the other side the deputies of the Dragon the diuel namely c cap. 19.19 the beast the popish policy and the Kings the tenne principalities which inhabited the two third parts of the earth formerly subiect to the Romane Empire and their hast of iudges inquisitors secular arme of familiars executioners and souldiers c. gathered themselues together to make warre against the word of God which sate vpon the horse and against his armie all those faithfull people which did stand for the authority and sense of the Scriptures The successe of this bloudie fight is begun in this chapter but finished afterwards and is that the lambe and they that are on his side though first a cap. 13.10 ouercome yet by patience in the ende doe ouercome the Kings that warre against him For the beast b cap. 19.20 which consisted of the Romane policie the Hierarchie with the Princes their aides was taken so conuicted by the equitie of the cause of innocentes that they were able but onlie to answere like a rauenous beast viz to gnashe vpon the saintes c. With the beast is also taken the false Prophet which deceaued the world with lying reuelations to wit the Friers Monkes Popes which gloried in this kinde of vanitie and all their subtile and scholasticall sophistrie profited not but was sifted and confuted so effectually as that they were not able to make it appeare to be the truth yea that false Prophet is taken which wrought false miracles and lying signes before the beast the Princes whereby he deceiued them that receiued the beasts marke his superstition and armes and deceiued them that worshiped his Image esteeming the Hierarchie as a God All their iugling is knowne and detested The meanes by which the false Prophet is taken is the c cap. 20.1 restraining the diuell the lying spirit in the mouth of wicked prophets and by the setting vp of true iustice according to the word of God In the prophecie of the diuels captiuitie first the person is shewed by whose ministrie it is done who is said to be d cap. 18.1 and 20.1 The Angel that came downe from heauen hauing great power to declare the power of almightie God Secondly are shewed the instruments which he vsed in this waightie worke first The key of the bottomlesse pit namely the true and faithfull opening of the doctrine of hell and damnation as it is set downe in the word of God farre different if not contrarie to the doctrine of hell and purgatorie c. as it is deliuered by Antichrist Secondly he hath a great chaine in his hand that is * Psal 149.8.9 the doctrine of the iudgements of God as it is written different from that which Antichrist doeth teach of binding and loosing Now by these two meanes the Lord togither working mightily a cap. 20.2 he apprehended the Dragon that is manifestly prooued that the superstition of the Gentils brought into the Christian Church by the Popes was abhominable This Dragon was the olde serpent euen the same that by his subtiltie b Gen. 3.1 c. beguiled Eue and now againe by lying signes and reuelations and by sophisticall schoole-learning deceiueth the world Hee is the Diuell and not the spirit of God in the mouthes of popish Prophets and Sathan an aduersarie alwaies an enemie to the good of mankinde especially to the Saints in their prophecie now reuiuing the persecutions which their ancestors the Gentiles and Arians vsed against the truth This wicked spirit of the Antichristian prophets is bound by restraint by the power of God and c cap. 20.3 cast into the bottomlesse pit all men assuring themselues that the spirit of popish prophets is the diuell of hell who now is shut vp and sealed that he should deceiue the people no more but that al the sleights of Antichrist should bee as manifest as was the madnesse of d 2. Tim. 3.8.9 Iannes and Iambres The iudgement also vpon the beast and the false prophet which are the whole bodie of Antichrist is that e cap. 19.20 they both were cast aliue into the lake of fire burning with brimstone not onely knowne to belong to hell but in the meane time seeing plagues like vnto those of Sodome For the Princes henceforth doe beginne to f cap. 17.16 hate the whore for her inuentions wil-worships and idolatries c. and make her desolate forsaking her and naked taking from her her costly ornaments and eate her flesh by taking away her large reuenewes and burne her with fire like Sodom in the end of her iudgements The time of which destruction appeareth by the computation of the raigne of Antichrist namely 1260. yeres from the time of Pelagius the angel of the bottomlesse pit to bee neere the yeare of Christ 1820. As touching the restoring
amongst the Popes there beeing sometimes three at once and euery one raging against the other with cursings c. to the great griefe perplexitie and destruction of Christian men a See Fox Martyr It was also a time of great persecution of the Gospel whose professors were many learned godly and constant b Peuc 5. f. 155. c. In the yeare 1400. was proclaimed a Iubile to bee held at Rome Against which Hus did teach that the true Iubile was in preaching of Iesus Christ that the Pope and Cardinals bee not the Church the institution of Christ is to bee kept there ought not to bee any worshipping of Saints the Popes decrees are not to be admitted c. At this time was an extreame famine in Italie c Epit. Blond And thus the first resurrection appeareth CHAP XI The warres begunne at the first resurrection are continued c. And the resurrection is more manifest NOw is come that blessed time which the Prophet d Dan. 12.12 Daniel spoke of namely 1335. daies that is yeres after the destruction of Ierusalem which was in the yeare of Christ 74. At which time is a more cleare demonstration of the first resurrection For here also doe ende those e cap. 12.6 1260. daies that is yeares to be reckoned from the tenth yeare of Antonius Pius which was in the yeare of Christ 149. when the woman the Church fled into the wildernesse after shee had brought forth many contagious professors as a man childe During which time shee remained confusedly amongst the wicked as in a wildernesse full of Dragons and Ostriches But now f Dan. 12.2 many that were as sleeping and dead in the dust doe rise vp to euerlasting life and their cause doth come abroad by the reuiuing of the Gospel Here therefore is continued the first resurrection and the warre betweene the word of God and the hostes in heauen that followed him against the beast and the kings of the earth And here is that blessed time in which the witnesses doe separate themselues from the kingdome of Antichrist The meanes by which they separate themselues from Antichrist the beast is said to be that those of the spirit of Saint Iohn g cap. 18 4. heard a voyce from heauen to wit from the Church of God in the persons of his witnesses who had learned the doctrine of saluation of the God of heauen out of his word and also had spread it abroade in the world The doctrine is a commaundement from God the same which was giuen to the a Isai 48.20 Ier. 51.6 Zach. 2.6 Isralites that were in the captiuitie of Babylon Goe b cap. 18.4 out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sinnes and that ye receiue not of her plagues For now the people of God doe see that she that tooke vpon her to forgiue others their sinnes is not able herselfe to escape the damnation of hel nor those other plagues which euery man foresaw would light vpon her for her owne sinnes The cause why men should flie from her is for c cap. 18.5 that the heapes of her sinnes doe reach vp to heauen being infinit and prodigious euen fighting against the God of heauen and ascending like the sins of Sodom and Egypt As also because that God hath remembred her iniquities to take vengeance of them as he did of Sodom and Egypt For these two witnesses are Gods d Gen. 18.21 19.5 Exod. 2.7 messengers to make experience whether the sins of Antichrist be as it is reported and henceforth principally detect her sinnes and reproue them The plagues are first proclaimed and then required to be executed And this Proclamation is made as by the third e cap. 14.9 c. Angel which followed them that before first reuiued the preaching of the eternall Gospel and threatned the fall of Babylon He mightily bringeth in the doctrine of vengeance to be inflicted vpon Antichrist as if he said with a loud voyce If any man worship the beast of hereticall monarches and his image the papacie and receiue his marke in his forehead or in his hand following those superstitions henceforth the same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God yea of the pure wine which is powred into the cup of his wrath and he shall be tormented in fire and brimstone before the holy Angels and before the Lambe And the smoke of their torment shall ascend euermore and they shall haue no rest night or day that worship the beast and his image and whosoeuer receiueth the print of his name Here f 12. cap. 13.10 are the fruites of the patients of the Saints and here ar they that keepe the commaundements of God and the faith of Iesus the executioners of the fiercenes of the wrath of almighty God That which is required to be executed is that the Saints who hitherto haue been persecuted should take the sworde in hand and â—ap 18.6 reward her to wit popish Babylon as she hath rewarded them and giue her double according to her workes in the cup that she hath filled fill her the double For now beginneth the execution of that which is promised a cap. 13.10 If any leade into captiuitie he shall goe into captiuitie If any man kill with the sword he must be killed by a sword She must also be tormented for her pleasures and pride b cap. 18.7 For she saith in her heart I sit being a Queene of all other Churches and shall see no mourning the ship of Peter in which I sit may be tossed but it shall not sinke As these things are threatned so c 8. shall in due time her plagues come in one day together death sorrow and famine and she shall be burnt with fire for that God which condemneth her is a strong God During the time of which executions if any died in the cause against Antichrist they are Martyrs as it is said of all men in the Church of God d cap. 14.13 Then I heard a voyce from heauen saying vnto me write the dead that die in the Lord are henceforth fully blessed euen so saith the spirit whose testimonie is true and no lie for they rest from their labours neuer feeling the terror of the second death or purgatory by the execration of Antichrist And their workes follow them to receiue a crowne at the throne of God This testimonie beeing thus finished and continually preached by the two witnesses and of many beleeued c cap. 11.7 The beast that commeth out of the bottomlesse pit maketh warre against them and ouercommeth them for a while The beast that commeth out of the bottomlesse pit is as hath been shewed before the politike body of poperie consisting of the Pope and his Clergie assisted with those tenne kingdomes and principalities which did arise after the wounding of the Empire to death All which grew to be an vnited body by the doctrine of
he was commaunded to hold his peace Wherefore in that confusion hee cried out confirming his assertions by scripture and appealed from that wicked synagogue to Christ He reproued the corrupt manners of this assembly and had the same regard which Lot had in Sodom when he reprooued their violence Howbeit contrarie to the Emperours safe conduct and to the Popes promise he was condemned to the fire Beware of men for they shall deliuer you vp to the Councels For now is fulfilled the prophecie of the a 2. Tim. 3.1.3 Peucer 5. f. 176. c. last time i Mat. 10.17 which should bee perilous for truce-breakers His garments were taken from him as Christ had his he was crowned with a paper Miter * Mat. 10.25 with painted diuels as Christ was with thornes If they call the master of the house Beelzebub how much more them of the householde The principall cause of his condemnation was the same that the Arians obiected to Athanasius b Soc. 2. 5. Athanasius was accused because when he was remoued from his ministerie he tooke it againe without the consent of the Councell And Hus c Fox Mart. p. 603. was not onely accused by this Councell the liuely image of the Arians but also condemned because he continued preaching when he was excommunicated Also Ierom of Prage was likewise vsed Before their death they prophecied For Hus who in the Boemian tongue doth signifie a Goose prophecied that after him should come a Swan whoÌ„ they should not burne so easily And Ierom cited the Councell after an hundred yeres to answere God and him These prophecies doe seeme accomplished in Luther Before their execution d Orig in Ephe. was a fearefull eclipse of the Sunne For the Starres were seene as in the night and the birds by the suddaine darknes fell to the grounde Hus e Buchol ann 1415. and Prage were condemned by the Councell and by them committed to the ciuill Magistrate to be put to death For they themselus as the f Ioh. 18.31 Iewes cried to Pilate might not lawfully put any man to death But when they were dead they would not grant as much fauour to their ashes as g Ioh. 10 1â— Pilate did to the bodie of Christ to be put in graues but h Eus 5. 1 p. 62. they strawed their ashes in the Rhine as the Gentiles did the Christians into the riuer of Rhodanus to take away all hope of their resurrection The memorie also of Iohn Wickleife was condemned For it was decreed that his bones should bee taken out of his graue herein shewing themselues more cruell and vnnaturall then were the Arians against the Catholiques i Mass 18. p. 255 Pope Martine and the Emperour reioyced together because that at the last peace was restored to the Church For these two vexed them that dwell vpon the earth So did the k Theod. 4. 22. Arians reioyce when they had oppressed the innocent Catholiques The l Fox Mart. p. 575. Pope gaue gifts also For he gaue full absolution to all that were present at the Councell and also hee gaue another indulgence at the houre of death to the masters and household But so as the pardons must bee procured vnder seale that they may giue gifts one to another In a Gob. ae 6. cap. vlt. this Councell was no reformation of doctrine and manners b Caranza The institution of Christ and practise of the Primitiue Church in the ministration of the Sacrament of both kinds was antiquated yet do they boast of antiquitie It c Mass 10.19 was decreed that faith is not to be kept with heretikes and other blasphemers This d Geneb pag. 1059. c. 11.9 Councell continued three yeere and a halfe which the Scriptures call in a propheticall speech three dayes and a halfe This Pope Martine is reported to haue dispensed with a man to marrie his sister e Fasc Temp. p. 87. 88. So corrupt were the times that of them it is said that conscience according to the feare of God abounding in times past in the Prelates did by laudable manners and examples set vp and aduance the Church of Christ In processe of time abounding with temporalties forgetting conscience they trusted vpon science which maketh proud palliating the holy Scriptures with diuers impostures not fearing to falsifie the iustice of the Lord c. But O abhomination con and sci are raised out of conscience and onely entia vnsensible creatures which neither haue knowledge nor conscience doe gouerne the spouse of Christ c. At f Geneb 1060. this time the Turkes recouer that which Tamerlane had taken from them remoue their seate into Greece come ouer Danubium and get much When g Par. Vrsp p. 381. these Martyres were killed by the Councell the spirit of life comming from God entred into the witnesses For first threescore then fifty foure of the Nobles of Boem wrote to the Councell by their letters patents shewing themselues to be wronged in the death and cause of Hus and testified that they would defend the preaching of the word of God with the hazard of their liues c. and so fulfill the precept h cap. 18.4 Goe out of her my people c. But i 1419. Bucholcer Fox Maâ—t p. 621. 622. c. after three propheticall dayes and a halfe the three yeeres and a halfe in which the Councell was helde the nobles and people of Boem enter into a sure league and the cause of the witnesses doth againe stand on foote whereupon the Pope and Princes feare The Boemians assemble and celebrate the memorie of Hus and Prage as of great Martyres ascended to heauen and decree the same yeerely to be kept And because the Pope had thundred and that with the Princes hee resolued to send armies against them the Boemians chose Zisca for their Generall and so began the Boemians warre for Hus c. which may iustly be compared to a great earthquake In this emotion Zisca winneth much a 1420. Bucholcerus The citie of Prage defecting from the Emperor ioyneth with Zisca and his Thaborites who by stratagems ouercommeth his enemies and hath the word of God faithfully preached and the Sacraments duely administred publikely And that he might execute the commaundement * cap. 1â— 6 reward her as she hath serued you c. he b Peuc 5. f. 169. b. persecuted in hostile manner the Monkes their patrones and defenders punishing those whom they gat exiling them that fled pulling downe the Monasteries and casting downe and burning their idols with fire c Chro. Chro. where many were slaine d 1421. Bucholcerus Sigismund the Emperor yeelded ground for feare and shamefully fled while Zisca was marching towards him e 1422. Sigismund with a new great army recouering some places by force or surrender but when Zisca now blinde rushed vpon him he fled with feare and trembling many of his nobles
Exod. â—â— â—â— expedition with great honour And what they must doe is committed vnto them For one of the d cap. 15.7 foure beasts or Cherubines which beareth vp the throne of God gaue vnto the seuen Angels seuen golden Phials or Censors full e Exod. 10.2 of the hot burning coles of the wrath of God which liueth for euermore as Alpha and Omega to whom is no variablenes nor changing And by their ministerie the temple the profession of the Gospell is as truly sanctified as was the f Exod. 40.34 35. tabernacle which Moses made or the g 1. King 8.10.11 temple which Salomon built when it was filled full of smoke of the glory of God and of his power which there was in Sacrament and Type but here is in deede and truth And as there Moses nor the Priests were able to enter into the tabernacle of the congregation because of the cloude so here the luster of the glory of God doth keepe men h cap. 19.8 N. B. that none can enter into the temple till the seuen plagues of the seuen Angels be fulfilled All things being thus prepared now followeth the effusion of those plagues In the prophecie whereof first is set downe the speciall vocation of these Angels to the effusion and then their powring of them out Their vocation is from the Church the godly which doe sincerely professe the Gospell newly restored and because of the manifold and grieuous persecutions they crie for and daily threaten vengeance vpon all their Antichristian foes For therefore it is said that that I Iohn and those of my spirit i cap. 16.1 heard a great voyce of such which suffered affliction and vnderstoode the word of God crying out of the temple where they worshipped God and saying to the seuen Angell which are the executioners of Gods wrath Goe your wayes and powre out the Phials of the wrath of God vpon such Antichristian enemies as labour to possesse the earth rather than heauen The particular plagues are seuen k cap. 16.2.3.4 8.10.18.17 First Sores secondly death by sea thirdly death by land or riuers fourthly heate of the sunne fifthly the obscuring of the throne and kingdome of the beast sixthly inuasion and slaughter by the kings of the easte seuenthly the declaration of the truth and proceeding accordingly by prayer destruction c. The manner of the opposition of the beast is a cap. 11.18 cap. 16.9.10 21. that the gentiles be angrie gnaw their tongues for sorrow blasphemies c. but cannot mend themselues The speciall plagues shall be shewed in their proper places when their execution beginneth to be accomplished The complement Anno 1492. Alexander the sixth b Guicciard lib. 1. entring his papacie c Jouius hist sui tem lib. 1. the world was quiet and not beaten with any tempests of warres Especially Italy enioyed the best peace that euer it did from the time of Augustus in any mans memorie d Crantz Met. lib. 12 1. p. 814 Diuers men were in great expectation what would bee the successe of things euen many that followed the Pope as e f 262. b. in Pio 3. Volateran c. But the godly foresaw the vengeance to come For besides others elsewhere g Guies 2. p. 82. Sauanorola a man continually exercised for many yeares in the publicke preaching of Gods word at these times when there was in Italy no other appearance in mans reason then of common tranquillitie would in his sermons prophecy of the comming of forreigne armies with so great astonishment of men that neither walles nor campes could withhould them from comming to heare him h Fox Mart. p. 706. He held and preached iustification by faith for the arke of the couenant is seene and also threatned Italy with the wrath and indignation of God and prophecied before vnto them that the land should be ouerthrowne for the pride and wickednesse of the people and for the vntruth and falshood of the Clergie which God would not leaue vnreuenged i Par. Vrsp 437 That Italy was to be purged with the whipes of God for the manifolde sinnes of the Princes both Ecclesiasticall and secular and so bid the Angels powre out f their Phials For besides the sinnes of other Princes the Pope Alexander the sixth was k Jouius lib. 2 a man of too high a witte and that alwaies craftily liberall was elected for his bribes when beaten men were put by For a Guicc 1. p. 4. he brought by the consent and knowledge of euery one partly for money and partly with promises of offices and dignities many voices of the Cardinals who reiecting the instruction of the Gospel were not ashamed to passe to him by sale an authoritie power to make Marchandise of the holy treasures b Volat. 22. But hee was cruellie vngratefull to the Cardinals that elected him Hee chiefely sought by the example of Innocent to aduance his bastards buâ— with farre greater honours He c Moris papatu p. 95. approued the order of the flewes in Paris which was instituted by a Minorit and d Guicc 3. 179 himself liued incestuouslie with Lucreca his bastard daughter who was likewise common to her two bastard brethren And as e Jouius lib. 1. he defiled the Papacie with diuerse corruptions so he greatly troubled the ciuill estate of the Italian affaires And here is powred out the first Phiall The first Phiall f cap. 16.2 The first Angell therfore according to the commination which came out of the Temple went forth and powred out his Phiall vpon the men that sought only the possession of the earth The effect whereof is there fell a * Deut. 28.35 â—aysome and a grieuous sore vpon the men which had the marke of the beast being as superstitious as any of the Gentiles and vpon them that worshipped his image the Pope the very image of the heathen ciuill Monarchie And here is no mention of the number of his name because these vpon whom the plague first fell were not souldiers to the vse of the Papacie but went to gaine the countries to their owne subiection The complement Charles the eighth g Iouius 1. p. 66 king of France made an expedition into Italie to get Naples At Asta in Italy Ludowick Sforee the regent of Millan met him bringing with him his wife and the choicest women of that countrie knowing the young King to be delighted with such There fell vpon him a vehement sicknes of sores and paines which not somely afflicted his face and armes After his sicknes recured he h 2 89. c. 94. 86. marcheth to Rome with great pompe vpon his vowe to visit the temples at Rome and to worship the altars of Peter and Paul for his health and felicitie and so hee hath the marke of the beast As also humbly to adore the Pope which being the image of the beast held the highest dignitie of pietie and