whole Crop so is the small number of true Beleevers reserved by grace to the whole field and crop of the world CHAP. XIII IF we compare this description of the Beast in this Chapter with that in the 17. we shall easily perceive that by both Beasts the Romane State is represented but yet not of the same time This designes old Rome or the Romane State as it was especially under the heathen Emperors although Antichrist be not excluded from that description For the perfect Beast is propounded having seven heads the last of which is Antichrist The 17th Chapter describes Rome as it was after The first Beast representeth the persecuting Emperours and is described in the beginning of the Chapter The second Antichrist and begins at ver 11. and so forward to the end of the Chapter Vers. 1. And I saw a Beast arise up out of the Sea having seven heads and ten hornes and upon his heads ten Crownes Rise up Signifyeth to get strength Dan 4.8 and 8.8 Out of the Sea That is of many and divers peoples which it had vanquished Crownes for dignity hornes for power and heads for subtilty The seven Heads are seven Hills and ten Hornes are ten Governments Mr Dod. The hornes of the Beast are crowned and not his heads because the Romane Empire hath alwaies more prevailed by power than by policy but the Dragon hath his heads crowned and not his hornes therefore he hath alwaies done more by policy subtiltie than by power and strength Vers. 2. And the Dragon gave him his power viz. That Dragon mentioned 12.3 the Devill that old Serpent 12.9 whom Moses also set forth by the Serpent Gen. 3.1 The Dragon hath something of the Serpent but flying is added to it that is swiftnesse of moving Vers. 8. Whose names are not written in the Booke of the life of the Lambe slaine from the foundation of the world Some thinke this is not spoken of Election since Christ as Mediatour was elected but of those which the Father gave to Christ in the Covenant before the world Others refer this from the beginning of the world to the book of life as Apoc. 17.8 rather than to the Lambe slaine not as though there were any absurdity or incongruity in the speech as Ribera being so justifiable by the parrallell places of Scripture Weemes and other learned men say from the beginning not from eternity in reference to that promise Gen. 3.15 the death of Christ being then publisht that is slaine as well then as now not only in the Counsell and Decree of God whereby he is borne and slaine in all times and places nor only in regard of the eternall power efficacy and merit of his death but also in respect of the heart of the Beleever whose faith makes that which is locally absent after a sort truly and really present Mr Perkins In regard of Gods acceptation of it for Belleevers in the types and shaddows of it whereof the Ceremoniall Law was full Dr Tailor Vers. 9. If any man have an eare let him heare A solemne preface before some great matter and diligently to be observed Mat. 11.15 and 13.9.43 Mark 4.9.27 and 7.16 and 8.18 Luk. 8.8 and 14.35 See afore Ch. 11.7.11.29 that is let him heare with his eare let the eare do its work and not be idle Vers. 10. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity Rome which had led captive the Christians is become a Captive to the Goths and Vandales For lead and goe there is an elegant para nomasia in the Greek He that killeth with the Sword must be killed with the Sword Domitian which had slaine so many Christians with the Sword he also was slaine by the sword and 17 of his own Servants So Grotius Here is the patience and faith of the Saints That is by this the patience and faith of the Christians is confirmed because they knew that God would revenge their injuries Ver. 11. This Beast can be no other but the Pope of Rome who riseth out of the earth that is out of most base beginnings and steppeth or riseth above the earth and all earthly power he hath hornes like the Lambe that is professeth the meeknesse and innocency of Christ which the Turke never did but speakes like the Dragon which is to be understood partly of his blasphemous speeches which he doth utter partly of the Doctrines of Devills which he doth teach partly of those hellish Curses which he thundereth against the true professors of the faith partly of those great promises which like the Prince of the world he maketh to those that do adore him Down of Ant. l. 1. c. 4. The Pope of Rome with his Clergy for the Pope by himselfe and alone though he may be tearmed a false Prophet yet he maketh not up the Beast except his Clergy be joyned with him since the Beast doth signifie a company of men composed of a certaine order of members Vers. 12. Whose deadly wound was healed All the Papists almost say that Antichrist is understood by that Head which was wounded who shall feigne himselfe dead and shall rise againe by the devills helpe And that they say is the common and received opinion of the Fathers Vers. 13. He maketh fire come downe from heaven on the earth The Pope say the Papists doth not cause fire to come down from heaven therefore he is not Antichrist This cannot be taken litterally because the whole Chapter is mysticall it is an allusion unto 1 King 18.24 that is Antichrist shall make his false Religion appeare to men to be the truth as effectually as if like Elias he should cause fire to come from heaven for a confirmation of his Doctrine Squire on 2d of Thes. Mr. Mede saith Excommunication is meant which is saith he not unaptly resembled to fire from heaven or lightening For what is it in the name of God to deliver any one over to that eternall fire other than to call for fire from heaven especially since that punishment of the wicked proceeding from God is often in this Book set forth by the Lake of fire and brimstone or Asphaltites where Sodom and Gomorrah were burned with fire rained down from heaven If that fire which Antichrist shall cause to descend from heaven be litterally understood it agreeth to the Pope because in divers Popisth miracles there hath been as they say fire brought down from heaven But it is rather to be understood mystically and allegorically as well as other Prophecies of the Revelation Descending of fire from heaven in Scripture signifieth three things 1. Gods approving of the Religion and Sacrifices of his Servants 2. His sending down of the graces of the Spirit upon his children Act. 2.3 3. His vengeance executed from heaven upon his enemies Antichrist doth by such signes and wonders confirme that Doctrine and Religion which he professeth as though God answered him by fire
battell shal be fought there but it is so called because of the neere resemblance of the battell fought in this field unto those battels which were fought in Megiddon in old time For it is usual in the Prophets of the New-Testament to allude unto things spoken of in the old Here is an allusion to three notable battels fought in Megiddon Iudg. 5.19 2 Kings 23.29 1 Sam. 31.28 It is spoken of in the Hebrew tongue because this shall befall the Hebrew people The summe is that these Spirits went forth to gather those Popish and Heathen Princes together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon where the battell shall have the like successe that it had of old unto the destruction of Gods three enemies the utter ruine of Antichrist as of Saul the setling of the kingdome of Christ upon David unto the conversion of the Jews who shall upon this occasion mourne bitterly over him whom they have pierced It is a mourning of compunction whereby they seeing in this battell that Christ is indeed the true Messias shall mourne that they have been so long estranged from him Ve. 17. The aire That is the kingdome of Satan Ephes. 2.2 See Brightman Rather thus the Lord will send forth such a bright and cleere knowledge of his Christ and Church and Saints and holy things which will prevaile so farre as to dispell all the mists of darknesse in all the world It is done The mysterie of iniquity is abolished and the mysterie of God is fulfilled Vers. 18. And there were voices and thunders and lightnings The Lord will so terribly affright and amaze the Sons of men with the power of his holy word and will as that it shall suddenly breake forth all the world over And there was a great earthquake This imports agitations and changes not terrour onely it will shake out popery and when by it the Popish aire is smitten the Lord also will shake all the world by it and the time doth hasten Vers. 19. And the great City That is Rome See 17.18 18.20 Was divided into three parts It will be divided into three factions some will sticke fast unto Popery and others of the people of God that before durst not openly professe Religion will now renounce Popery the third part may be a neutrall betweene both the other And the Cityes of the Nations fell The Cityes of the nations were they who did subject themselves to the popish government To give unto thee the cup of the wine of the fiercenesse of his wrath Cup is a part or portion Psal. 11.6 and 16.5 By a metaphore taken from Masters of feasts who were wont to measure out to every one as much as he should drinke Gods judgements are inflicted upon men in a just measure and wine because they are pleasing to God as mens sins to them Vers. 20. And every Island fled away and the mountaines were not found He speaketh of the Mountaines and Islands of the Antichristian state The Mountaines are the places where they went a whoring after their Gods in old time Ier. 3.6 Islands places consecrated by Popish devotions as Church-yards and the like Vers. 21. And there fell upon men a great haile It is an allusion to the haile storme in Aegypt whereof the effect was that they sinned and hardened their hearts ye more This kind of haile-storme is such a plague of God upon men as shall destroy all their lying refuges and discover all the counterfeit Religions in the world CHAP XVII THe ninth and eighteenth verses are the key for the opening of this Prophecie concerning the beast and the whore The Whore in this Chapter is Rome the Beast the Romane State the last head of the Romane State Antichrist The name of the Beast is taken in this Chapter two wayes either for the whole body of the Beast as v. 3. where the woman is said to sit on the Beast in which sense the Beast is the same with many waters v. 1. viz. people nations languages subject to the Romane Empire or for the head which is Antichrist See 11 12 13 17. verses Vers. 3. And I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast First it is to be observed that St Iohn here and 13.1 according to the example of the Prophet Daniel Dan. 7.3 doth by the tearm of a beast import some earthly kingdome state and government therefore named a beast to signifie the same to be led wholly with beastly and carnall affection to these things that concerne the flesh and savour of the flesh 2. By a woman a harlot he noteth a City which is the place and palace of such a state given to fornications both spirituall by idolatry and corporall by wantonnesse which sitteth and hath advancement by the preheminence of that kingdome state and government thus the Angell plainely distinguisheth the woman and the beast v. 7. Though sometimes they are used indifferently for the same v. 1. Compared with 15. and 18. but there was no City that reigned over the Kings of the Earth and over those many nations and people but onely the City of Rome therefore she is here meant v. 9. further confirmes it The City of Rome is famous for seven hilles Septimontium nominatur ab his septem montibus in quibus vrbs sita est Varro de lingua Latina l. 5. Ver. 4. Having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations Pareus saith by this golden cup the golden titles of the Pope are meant in which he hath hitherto drunke the wine of his fornication to the world as Papa Pater Patrum Pater sanctissimus Sanctitas Christi vicarius Petri successor c. Full of abominations and filthinesse of her fornication Gold without but poyson within He understands the wicked blasphemous Doctrines and filthy sins with which the Whore of Rome hath made drunke the Christian world Vers. 5. And upon her forehead was a name written Mystery One saith he saw a mystery engraven in the Popes Myter or Crown It is called mystery because Rome was raised in a mystery that is she got up to her height insensibly and cunningly Babylon the great Not long after the time of the foundation of the Church of Rome did Saint John write this Book of the Revelation wherein he revealeth that the City of Rome is Babylon according to the generall consent of their own Jesuites and Divines Babylon Apocalyptica est Romana Bellarmine l. 3. de Pont. c. 12. lib. 2. c. 2. Ribera Vega in Apoc. 14. And not only Rome as it was Ethnicall in the daies of the heathenish Emperours but Rome Papall see Rhemists on Apoc. 17.5 because say Ribera and Viega the Spirit warneth all that were in her to depart 18.4 but there were then no faithfull in the heathenish Rome and they are commanded to come out of her for feare of being consumed with fire Rome is termed Babylon
was initiall to the world so the day of the resurrection of our Lord is the beginning of our glorification as in that day light was produced so Christ rising the light of righteousnesse and joy is risen to us Gerh. in Harmon Evang. Vide Piscat mea Critica Sac. Graeca Vers. 3. Onely Marke expresseth this doubting but when the rest of the Evangelists say that the stone was rolled away by the Angell we may easily collect that they stucke perplexed doubtfull in counsell untill a passage was made by the hand of God Vers. 5. A young man sitting Marke here and Luke 4.4 Say they were men Matthew and Iohn they were Angells that appeared Matthew and Iohn shew what they were indeed the others declar'd what they seemed to be at the first appearance or in what shape they appeared Gen. 18.2 and 19.1 and 32.24 The Angells usually appeared unto men in the shape of men that their Message might be delivered more familiarly and received more comfortably Mr. Ball. Affrighted The Greeke word signifies to be sore amazed and astonished with feare the Septuagint use it Dan. 7.7 Vers. 7. Tell his Disciples and Peter Peter was specially named and severally from the rest of the Apostles not as Baronius thinkes because of his superiority above the rest but because he onely denyed Christ and so had of all other most need of comfort after his horrible fall yet is he set behind all the Disciples as inferiour unto them whereas they preferre the Pope to the whole Church and make him Lord over it That he goeth before you into Galilee These women followed Christ out of Galilee therefore the Angell foretels them that before they returned into Galilee Christ should go before them there and manifest himselfe unto them this promise of Christ is Matth. 26.32 Mark 14.28 But wherefore doth the Angell foretell that Christ should specially go before them in Galilee and that they should see him there when he was seen there neither onely nor the first both Christ and the Angell speake of that solemne and publike apparition in which Christ revealed himselfe to all the Disciples together in a Mountaine of Galilee 1 Cor. 15.6 Gerh. Vers. 9. First to Mary Magdalen Therefore not to the Virgin Mary as the Papists say It is very observable saith Iansenius that our Saviour after his regeneration in consolationem paenitentium for the comfort of true penitents appeared first to Mary Magdalen and Peter who had been grievous sinners Vers. 12. Into the Countrey Luke saith they went to the Castle of Emaus Marke expresseth the middle of the way Luke the terme or end Vers. 14. Vpbraided them with their unbeliefe Either because some of them did not yet believe as it also happened in the last apparition Matth. 28.17 and so their should be a synecdoche in the words by which that is attributed to the whole society which some of it did or because their faith was not yet free from all doubting but their mind was strucke with the mutuall waves of faith and doubting Gerh. Vers. 15. Every creature That is to all nations so Matthew and Luke by the name of creature as 1 Col. 23. is understood onely the reasonable creature they onely were capable and stood in need of the doctrine of the Gospell man is so called by an autonomasie because he is the chiefe of all creatures Gregory gives a more subtill than solide reason of it because man is a microcosme and hath some thing common with all creatures Being with stones life with plants sense with beasts reason with Angels The Monkes say St. Francis preacht to Birds and to Fish Beda to the very stones Eve is called the mother of all living that is of all men Preach the Gospell to the Jews and Gentiles to bond and free of what state degree or condition soever See Mat. 10.5 and 28. Matth. 19. Vers. 16. He that hath beleeved and hath been baptised shall be saved Qui credierit baptizatus fuerit c. that is shall have believed and shall have been baptised but he that hath not beleived That is shall not have believed shall be condemned Vers. 17. The promise was made by Christ unto his Church to be fulfilled immediately after his ascension It extends onely to the times of the primative Church and to such as then lived Perkins Vers. 21. Sat on the right hand of God The Apostle most plainely shewes 1 Cor. 15.25 what Christs sitting in the Heaven meanes that which David said sit at my right hand he saith it behoves him to reigne To sit therefore is to reigne and to governe the Church in the same phrase in which we are wont to say that such a Pope now sits at Rome Vide Estium ad Roman 8.34 ad Ephes. 1.20 ad Heb. 1.3 13. ANNOTATIONS UPON S. LVKE CHAP. I. LVke collected an Evangelicall History in the fiftieth year after Mark. See Grotius on ver 1. He was the perpetuall Companion of Paul in his travells 2 Tim. 4.11 Col. 4.17 Philem. 24. He only makes a preface before his Gospell that he may briefly shew the reason which induced him to write He was a Syrian by nation being born at Antioch the Metropolis of Syria and by his calling a Physitian His speech both in the Gospell and Acts is more elegant and savours of secular eloquence A Father said of Sains Lukes Gospell which he dedicated to Theophylus which signifieth a lover of God Si Deum diligis ad te scriptum est If thou beest one that lovest God this Gospell is written to thee Vers. 1. Many Either Matthew and Marke published before Luke as Chemnit or some false Apostles and Evangelists whereof there were many He calls in this proaemium the Gospell a narration or declaration which the Apostles viva voce delivered concerning the Person Life Office and Actions of Christ which the whole Apostolicall Church then received with a certaine faith and full assent Chemnit Most surely beleeved Or fully perswaded the word in the originall which signifieth to be fully perswaded is a metaphor borrowed from ships which are carried with full saile and it signifies a most certaine perswasion of the truth of things which have been sufficiently proved to us so Grotius Vers. 2. Even as they delivered them unto us c. The sense is that that is the true Doctrine of the Gospell which the Apostles as Embassadours being called by God and sent to preach delivered viva voce through the whole world as the rest or in writing as Matthew Vers. 3. Having had perfect understanding The Greeke word is metaphorically deduced from them which tread in others steps lest ought should escape them for Luke would declare unto us a diligent study and manner of learning From the very first He declares the cause why he writes after the other Evangelists because he enquired after the conception birth and education as well of John Baptist as
from heaven 1 Kings 18.38 Vers. 16 17 18. Some hold that the marke the name of the Beast and the number of his name is one and the same thing and that the latter of all these is the exposition of the former The marke of Antichrist is nothing else but the name of the former Beast containing the number of 666. therefore Rev. 14.9.11 20.4 He reckons not these three as distinct but mentions the marke alone Vers. 16. To receive a marke in their right hand or in their foreheads Gerhard saith the marke in the right hand is an oath by which the Clergy is bound to the Pope and the marke in the foreheads notes the subjection of the Lay people to the Pope Mede interprets marke his name therefore it is said the marke or name of the Beast and in the Chapter following the marke of his name For he alludeth to the old custome by which servants were wont to be marked with the names of their Masters Souldiers the names of their commanders the first especially in the forehead the other in their hands Therefore the followers of the Lambe also 14.1 that they may be contrary to the followers of the Beast are written in their forehead with the names of the Lambe and his Father with the same meaning of the Type in both to shew who is the Lord and for whom each Company fighteth Those professing themselves servants of the Beast and his Image these of 〈◊〉 and his Father Vers. 17. And that no man might buy or sell That is live among them or enjoy the benefits of humane Society Vers. 18. His number is sixe hundred threescore and sixe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lateinos the Letters of which exactly expresse the number of 666. λ is 30. α 1 Ï„ 300. â— 5. ι 10. ν 50. â— 70. â— 200. all joyned together make up the aforesaid summe Irenaeus whose Master Polycarpus had been Saint Johns Disciple an ancient Father of the Church mentions this word as the name of the Beast and affirmeth that it was a common received opinion in his time that the Beast should be so called The name of the Beast is not the name of Antichrist properly but of the Romane or Latine State the last Head of which is Antichrist which yet hath not been observed by some learned men who have diligently considered this place It is said to be the number of the name because the letters of which the name consists comprehend that number for the Hebrews Greeks use their letters for notes of numbers according to the order of the Alphabet It is called the number of a man either because men do number or because it is obvious and usuall as occurring more than once in Scripture or because the name of the Beast containing this number is also the name of a man It may be questioned whether the number of the name be to be computed according to the Hebrew or Greek letters if the name of the Beast be to be written in Greek letters which is very probable because the Revelation was written in Greeke then the name shall be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as was before exprest CHAP. XIV Vers. 1. HAving his Fathers name written in their heads Ad constantiam confessionis for the constancy of their confession Vers. 2. And I heard a voice from heaven as the voice of many waters and as the voice of a great thunder and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harpes The voice of the Lord is compared to many waters for its irresistible force and admirable noise making men wonder to thunder for its terrour and power shaking all things to a gentle sound of harpes for the worke of peace and joy in the conscience Vers. 6. And I saw another Angell flye in the midst of heaven That is another besides one of those fingers For he made mention of no Angell before this except we shall say those Musitians were a Quire of Angels Mede The everlasting Gospell Not in respect of the future but of the time past viz. that which was promised from the beginning of the world As the hills paths and desolations are said to be everlasting or ancient Esay 58.12 and 61.4 Jer. 6.16 and 18.16 Deut. 33.15 Gen. 49.26 Esay 54.47 So the Gospell that is from the beginning It is called Eternall saith Brightman as if the Holy Ghost would of purpose meet with the offence of those times when the truth that was restored should commonly be condemned for novelty Vers. 8. And there followed another Angell saying Babylon is fallen is fallen After the Preaching of the everlasting Gospell presently follow the fall of Babylon that is Rome It is already accomplished in part It is fallen 〈◊〉 purity of Doctrine 2. In the estimation which once it had 3. In authority but thâ—â— Prophecie notes the certainty of her fall by an outward overthrow This commination is taken out of Esay 21.9 and Jer. 51.8 in which words the Prophets threaten the ruine of Babylon of the Chaldees which had grievously oppressed the people of God with a 70 yeares Captivity This cannot be that Babylon 1. Because that neither was nor is nor shall be the Seat of Antichrist as this Babylon shall by the consent of all Interpreters saith Pareus 2. This Babylon is that great City which in the time of John ruled over the Kings of the earth Rev. 17.18 but then that Monarchy was with the Romans not the Babylonians Ribera ingeniously confesseth that this Babylon is Rome and the topographie of this great City agrees to none more evidently than Rome it is said to be seated on seven Mountaines which agrees to no City more than to Rome set by Romulus heretofore on seven hills Besides this Babylon is called the great City and that emphatically with a double Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 urbs illo magna that great City It is manifest that Rome was commonly called the City 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the great City and no City but that in Saint Johns time ruled over the Kings of the Earth all the shift the Jesuits have is that Babylon was Rome Ethnicall under the Emperours not Rome Christian under the Popes But this is a poore shift for Antichrist was not then come while Rome was Ethnicall 2. It was Papall Rome that made all Nations drunke with the wine of the wrath of her fornication and with whom all the Kings of the Earth committed fornication and the people of God are commanded to go out of Rome Papall Ver. 8. Because she had made all Nations drinke of the wine of the wrath of her fornication With the wine of the poyson of her fornication That is besotted them with amorous potions being poysoned Wine For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here hath not the force of anger or wrath but as it is used by the Seventy Poyson That is they would have it