Vers 16. his mouth That is the multitude of Christians in Councels prevayling in the Orthodox faith dranke up the Diabolicall inundation even as the Earth is wont to doe the water when it is exceeding dry For if the water but venemous and contagious such as proceedeth out of the mouth of the Serpent doth represent heresie the reason of the analogie did altogether require that that which should drinke it up and abolish it should be figured by the Earth as which by its drinesse is wont to drinke up the inundations of waters Which truly in this matter falleth out so much the more apt to signifie the thing in hand because even other where in an hystoricall and simple speech the earth in many places is wont to be put for the inhabitants of the Earth See Gen. 41. 57. 1 Sam. 14. 25. Deut. 9. 28. and in many places beside Concerning the tenne horned Beast blaspheming God and the two horned Beast or false Prophet his Authour and chiefe priest A New Tragedie of evils did set upon the woman being entered At Chap. 13. the bounds of the Wildernesse for forthwith she falleth upon a double Beast in appearance indeed little to be feared as resembling the Panther or Lambe but no whit the Dragon or Serpent the likenesse of whom alone she abhorred Yet in truth * Fiduciariam the onely one in trust for that Dragon cast downâ— and one that in his stead should much vexe her off-spring which she should bring forth in the Wildernesse And the Dragon was wroth with the woman for from thence Vers 17. I fetch the story of this Chapter and went to make warre with the remnant of her seed to wit with them which she was to bring forth in the Wildernesse which keepe the Commandements of God and have the testimonie of Iesus Christ and he stood upon the sand of the Sea That is when the Dragon had perceived he who even now was deprived of the Romane Empire that he nothing prevailed by the flood of Arianisme to overwhelme the woman flying into the Wildernesse but that neverthelesse she was come safe thither and furthermore that the Romane Empire would no more suffer that he in his proper name should manage the affaires there as in times past he setteth upon her by another way to wit by substituting covertly for himselfe * Regnum â—icarium a deputed Kingdome and to that end he stood upon the sand of the Sea that he might raise to himselfe a new deputed forme of the Romane Kingdome then to have its beginning Now the history of a two-fold Beast to manage the Romane State followeth the one Tenne horned the other Two horned tyed in a neere alliance betweene themselves both of them reigning together and in the same Dominion The first of which being the Tenne horned thou mayest call Secular the other being Two horned Ecclesiasticall Of the Tenne horned Beast The Tenne horned or secular Beast is that Whole state of tenne Kingdomes or thereabouts into which the Empire of Câ—sars Chap. 13. was parted by the warres of the Barbarians after the Dragon was thrust out growing together againe into one Romane Common-wealth the wickednesse of the Dragon being renewed I saw saith he a Beast rise up out of the Sea having seven heads Vers 1. and tenne hornes and upon his hornes tenne crownes and upon his heads the name of blaspemy The same Beast is here described which afterward Chap. 17. beareth the Whore even the seven headed Romane Beast under the course of the last head I saw saith Iohn the type of that last State of the Romane kingdom wherein governing under the seventh head it should be devided into ten kingdoms and yet even as he had done under his former heads he should blaspheme the only true God by the worship of Idols For the number of Seven heads is the ensigne of the Romane kingdom as is the bearing of Ten hornes The name of Blasphemy is a note of Idolatry The crownes sâ—t upon the hornes which are only of the last head doe shew that that kingdom should be exhibited under the couâ—se of the last head which will be further confirmed by the rest of the description of the Beast And â—he Beast which I saw was like unto a Leopard and his feet Vers 2. were as the feet of a Beare and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion That is this kingdom in respect partly of regiment and state partly of its nature was so ordained that it did resemble in a certaine confused temperament those three Monarchies long agoâ— set forth to Daniel by the same Beasts For truly in the residue of the shape of his body it should resemble the Grâ—cian in the feet by his going the Pâ—rsian in his mouth by making Edicts the Babylonian Kindgdome For the Leopard is the type of the Kingdome of the Grâ—cians the Beare of the Persians the Lion of the Babylonians First therefore that Kingdome in the body of it was plainly like the Graecian that is a Kingdome divided into more Kingdomes like unto that Dan. 7. 6. and 8. 8. 22. For the Graecian was divided into four parts but this last Roman was to be parted into â—enne Kingdomes the type thereof is the bearing of tenne hornes upon the head of the last Beast which by the interpretation of the Angel afterward Chap. 17. are tenne Kings or Kingdomes Vers 12. domes into which the Romane Empire of the sixth head being Chap. 12. rent should grow together againe into a new Kingdome under the seventh for to beare the Whore Now that the tenne hornes are onely of the last head that is the seventh and not promiscuously of them all as it is commonly accounted I thus demonstrate the head flourishing the hornes flourish which declining the hornes also growing thereupon must needs decline First therefore the hornes could not be on the five first heads because those five heads as the Angel saith Chap. 17. were passed then Vers 10. in the age of Iohn and together with the courses of the heads the courses of the hornes also growing upon the same were passed neither in the sixth because that reigning in the age of Iohn as also the Angel cleerly affirmeth notwithstanding the time of the hornes was not as yet come For saith he the tenne hornes are tenne Kings which have received no Kingdome as yet They remaine therefore for the last head Away with you paynters therefore which here at your pleasure distribute the tenne hornes among seven heads bestowing upon some one upon others according to your liberalitie two which how unfit it is and farre from any ground of the Text yea and plainly repugnant to the interpretation of the Angel there is no man which being now admonished shall throughly consider but will confesse It is therefore to be taken for true and certaine that it is the seventh head alone in that scale of heads one standing above another being the
highest in situation the last in time which beareth the hornes I now therefore proceede to expound the remaining Effigies of the same last Beast And this Beast in the feete by which the body is supported with which it moveth and goeth and the former of which in Beasts are in stead of hands and armes for handling snatching and fighting in feet I say doth exceedingly resemble the Empire of the Persians since as they did relye upon the Councels of their * Magi Wisards Wise men in managing their affaires so the Romane Kingdome of the last state is governed by the authoritie of the Monks and Idolatrous Clarkes like to those Wise men Whether that belongeth which afterwards shall be said of that other Beast the Vers 12. false Prophet that he exerciseth all the power of this tenne horned Beast before him For feet here are to be considered not as the basest and more unworthy members of the body but as they are in Beasts not onely instruments of going but also of fighting and Chap. 12. catching their prey in which of Beares I speake of the former feet the principall strength of the body consisteth Neither are feet here to be understood that part onely which maketh the tract upon the ground but which as the foresaid part comprehendeth the thighs and armes also To conclude the tenne horned Beast maketh Edicts with a Babylonian mouth to wit commanding the worshipping of Idols and Images denouncing the penalty of death and burning alive against those that refuse in like manner as that Nebuchadnezar against the Iewes refusing to worship the golden Image which he had erected to his Bel of sixty cubits long Dan. Chap. 3. Notwithstanding I would not that the interpretation of others should receive any prejudice by this of mine theirs I meane who conceive it rather respecteth the naturall disposition of these three Beasts the nature or crueltie of all which the tenne horned should expresse Let every one use his owne judgement And the Dragon gave him he that was cast down who stood Vers 4. upon the Sea sand his power that is his strength or forces 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and his seat and great authoritie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the Seventy signifieth forces or an Army out of the use as it seemeth of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Hebrewes whereby both as well strength power as also an army is signified the Seventy Exod. 14. 28. concerning the Army of Pharaoh drowned doe thus translate The waters covered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the Host of Pharaoh and 15. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Host hath he cast into the Sea and so in many places not onely with them alone but also with prophane writers From this notion are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord of Hosts And Mat. 24. 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the powers or Hosts of the heavens shall be shaken likewise in the next vers it is said The Son of man shall come in the clouds of the heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which in the Chapter following is expounded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vers 31. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in his glory and with all the holy Angels with him So in this place The Dragon or Satan gave to the tenne horned Beast 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is his forces or his Host Now the forces of Satan are his Angels or * Daemons Devils and Idols the receptacles of * Daemons Divels To wit these forces he gave to this last Beast to be garnished and adorned together with his seat and great authoritie that is in one word that universall authoritie Chap. 13. from which lately he had fallen being overcome and vanquished by Michael and the holy Martyrs and Confessors of Christ So that the Dragon or Satan in this Beast of the last state did in a certaine manner recover his ancient dominion which he had exercised in the state of the Red Dragon but in a representation so unlike the former that the Seed of the woman in the Wildernesse did for the present little observe it For now the Dragon did not behave himselfe like a Dragon as before that is he professed not himselfe to be what he was the sworne enemie of the Christian profession for if he had done this the Seed of the woman would presently have knowne him and would have taken heed of him as of a most cruell enemie to wit out of that inbred antipathy which God even from the beginning of the world had ordained should be between them I will put saith he enmitie betweene thee and the woman and betweene thy seede and her seede But surely when as he had transfigured himselfe into the Gen. 3.15 shape not of a Serpent but of another Beast having no affinitie with a Serpent it was not so hard a matter for him to deceive the seede of the woman that is the Christian Church being joyfull for the late victory and now secure from the Dragon and to allure it to obey him Which the false deceiver did so cunningly and secretly under the maske of a Beast which he himselfe did hate that not till it was too late the Church did know her selfe to be deceived by the old enemie and to worship the Dragon under this maske For who would have suspected that under the representation of a Leopard or of a Panther which is the same there had lyen hid the Dragon that is under the shape of that Isidor lib. 12. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so called because he is the friend of all other Beasts excepting the Dragon Beast which when as other Beasts being allured either by the beauty of the skinne or the sweetnesâ—e of the smell love to come neere unto and looke upon onely the Dragon is said to abhorre and to flie from Or that I may a little more cleerely unfold the matter who would have judged that under an Empire pretending the worship of Christian Religion demolishing Idols horrible idolatry and lately abolished heathenisme should be mainly set up and promoted by lawes and Edicts And I saw one of his heads to wit the sixt as it were wounded Vers 3. to death this came to pasâ—e in the battell with Michael and the holy Martyrs and his deadly wound was healed to wit by the medicine of this substituted authoritie Chap. 13. Now that the seven headed Dragon I meane the Romane Empire upon which the old Serpent did sit that is to say Rome heathen was the Beast of the fixt head may as well appeare out of that which is said afterward concerning those heads Chap. 17. that five were already fallen in Iohns time one which is the sixt governed the Romane State at that time as also chiefly because that this Beast of the last course succeeded him next in the same seale The Dragon I say is said here to have given his seat to the Beast of the
last course or seventh head therefore he was his last predecessour or a Beast of the last head save one Neither let that move any man that yet under the course of the sixt head this Beast did notwithstanding appear seven headed there in the vision â—or although the heads kept their courses not together but in order and one after another yet notwithstanding the Beast with all the furniture of his heads and hornes is presented under any State to the end that one and the same Romane kingdom might be every where signified although sometime by some sometimes by other courses of governments But let us return to the text where the Complutense edition Irenaeus Aretas the Siriaque Paraphrast lately set forth and among the Latines Primasius consenting doth not allow the word vidi I saw but joyneth the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it were to this purpose The Dragon gave him his power and his seat and great authoritie and one of his heads wounded with a mortall stroke that it might be healed I suspect that also the vulgar Latine anciently reade it so because of that de capitibus suis for otherwise it would seeme it should have been said de capitibus eius But whether this reading be to be preferred before the other I will not rashly affirme only this it seemeth to be so very ancient that I marvell it is not marked by R. Stephanus But whatsoever it be the reading received if we interpret it rightly and as the matter it self altogether requireth it will come plainly to the same sense I saw saith he one of his heads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is as if it had been wounded to death to wit not then the Apostle looking on but before it rose out of the Sea in this forme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or in a preterpluperfect sense even as before Chap. 5.6 he said he had seene in the midsts of the Elders and Beasts a Lambe standing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is as it had Chap. 13. been slaine not slaine then while he looked on But that which is added concerning the curing of the wound that either he saw done while yet the Beast rose out of the Sea or as soone as he rose thence Neither was this healing any later destinie which notwithstanding is beleeved of the most hitherto but the very nativitie of the last Beast There was a passage from every of the other heads to the course of the succeeding head without a wound but in the passage from the sixt to the last the Beast fell down with the deadly wound from the healing whereof I say neither sooner nor later the ten horned Beast or the Beast of the last head tooke his beginning neither fetcht he his originall higher Which that it is so the whole order of the following narratâ—on proveth For whatsoever evill the Beast is mentioned to have committed whatsoever worship and adoration is done unto him by the inhabitants of the earth all that is said to come to passe after the curing of that wound I saw saith he one Vers 3. of his heads as it were wounded to death and the wound of his death or deadly wound was healed and the whole earth wondering followed the Beast to wit now healed and they worshipped the Dragon c. Then also there was given unto him a mouth speaking greaâ— things Vers 4. and blasphemies c. And he opened his mouth against God c. Vers 5. All these things came to passe after the healing but before this Vers 6. none of the hainous acts of the Beast are reported no mention of any subjection or honour conferred upon him by the Nations Whatsoever before is mentioned pertaineth partly to the forme of the Beast partly to the occasion and manner of his rising And wherefore I pray you should we frame unto our selves an Ante-christian Beast whereof for sometime no actions are related no persecution mentioned yea if we follow the reading of Irenâ—us and the Complutense leaving out the word vidi I saw there will be no place more left for such interpretation And all the world wondered after the Beast Vers 3. That is with full approbation and consent they tooke part with the Beast And they worshipped the Dragon which gave power unto the Beast and they worshipped the Beast saying who is like unto Vers 4. the Beast who is able to make warre with him That is then worshipped not the Beast simply as the Beast but Chap. 13. also as the substitute of the Dragon and therefore they worshipped not the Beast only but under the maske of the Beast the Dragon himself also For to worship the Beast except as an Idolater the Dragons Vice-gerent in which sense it is here spoken had been no more impious then to yeeld obedience to any worldly authoritie Doubtlesse the Beast doth signifie the kingdom Now to worship the Beast out of the use of the Hebraisme and the East is no other thing then to be subject to the same Which that * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 explication added to the word of worshipping doth not obscurely shew they worshipped saith he the Beast saying who is like unto the Beast who is able to make warre with him As if he should have said they did freely yeeld themselves in obedience to the Beast as to one who so farre excelled in power that none was able to make resistance or to wage warre with him In which same sense Vers 12. the earth it self and not alone the inhabitants thereof is said to have worshipped the Beast that is to have yeelded to his dominion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. And caâ—seth the Earth and them that dwell therein to worship c. So in the blessing of Iacob Gen. 27. 29. Let people serve thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and nations bowe down to thee be lord over thy brethren 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and let thy mothers sonne bowe down to thee Moreover â—oncerning this acception of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See Gen. 37. 7. and 49. 8. in the blessing of Iuda also Esa 45. 14. But to be subject to the Beast according to his râ—ligious constitution as he resembleth the seven headed Dragon that truly is blasphemy and impious against God Whereupon who doe so worship the Beast are said to worship the Dragon in worshipping the Beast And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and Vers 5. blasphemies and power was given unto him to * Faâ—iendi of doing continue fourtie and two moneths Hitherto of the constitution and state of the Beast Hereafter is expounded in what matters he exercised his power committed to him by the Dragon that is to say in two in blasphemy against God and persecution of the Saints But the whole description is taken out of the prophesie of Daniel Chap. 7. where is handled the
worsâ—ipped that first Beast which being healed of the mortall wound rose out of the Sea By what way and by what means and crafty fetches he compassed it that he dâ—â—larâ—th particularly * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in that which followeth For saith he â—â—â—â—th great wonders so thâ—â— he makethâ—fire come Vers 13. 〈◊〉 from heaven on the earth in the sight of men And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by reason of those Chap. 12. miracles which he had power to doe in the sight of the Beast Vers 14. saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an Image of the Beast which had the wound by a sword and he lived For he doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the Hebrew van and thence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Scripture is a conjunction not onely Copulative but also disjunctive rationall causall ordinative explanative as the reason of the sense requireth which once to have shewed let it sufficâ— Now to the matter The Pseudopropheticall or Pontificiall Beast was the authour unto the nations of establishing that tenne horned Beast whereby the power of the Dragon revived For by wonders and miracles he perswaded them to consent with him in framing the Image of the Beast slaine in the sixt head Which at length being formed according to his pleasure that wound received in the state of the Dragon seemed to be cured and the Dragon-worshipping Beast to be renewed by the bringing in of new Idolatrie and tyranny like the former For the Romane Beast of the last head is the Image of the Beast slaine in the sixt head He said saith he to them that dwell on the earth that they should â—ake Vers 14. an Image of the Beast which had the wound by a sword that is his Image in such condition as it was when he received the wound 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and he lived that is and so at length the Beast revived or was renewed For these words doe not belong to the description of the Beast whose Image was to be expressed as it were the words of the false Prophet speaking but of the Angel reporting or bringing in the event of that counsell to wit so that slain Beast revived And it is as if he had more at large said after this manner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—ying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an Image of the Beast which was wounded with the sword and they did so and he revived As 2 King 20. 7. Esay said Take a â—â—mpe of dry figges and they tooke and laid it on the boyle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and â—e râ—oâ—vered that is to say Ezechias or the boyle Doubtleâ—â—e this is that which was said in the description of that Secular Beast that the Dragon gave him his power and grâ—at authoritie and thereupon his mortall wound recovered that is the Dragon imprinted the forme of his worship and authoritie upon a Beast of another religion whiles he placed his Angels or Chap. 13. * Daemons Devils not indeed as in time past by those titles by which they professed themselves enemies of our Lord Christ but under colour of Christian Religion to be worshipped by the names of Saints and good Angels yea and O blasphemie of Christ himselfe For he who worshippeth Idols by what name soever he calleth them worshippeth Devils Yea and that nothing might be wanting to the full Image of the slaine Beast that is of the Dragon the Pope himselfe also caused himselfe to be honoured with divine honours and authoritie peculiar to God as certaine Emperours worshippers of the Dragon had done so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God 2 Thess 2. 4. shewing himselfe that he is God as Paul saith Which although Iohn or the Angel revealing the history of the Beast unto him doth not here specially touch yet under the generall name of an Image he would have it comprehended a part of that similitude wherein the slaine Beast is resembled And hitherto of the framing of the image now of the wonders used for perswasion thereof He doth saith he great wonders so that he even maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth I should here not unwillingly fall into the opinion of Graserus if it could be warranted by the writings of the Hebrews that this bringing fire from Heaven should be spoken by a proverbiall hyperbole * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for amplification of that which went before as if it had been said He doth great wonders yea even such and so great that they may seeme not farre different from the miracles of Eliah himselfe by which he did vindicate the true worship of God For the Iewes commonly saith Graserus doe attribute so much to that miracle of Eliah that they use it proverbially for all wonderfull workes wherein the glory of God is more coâ—spicuous But if any man be not pleased here with let him follow the Complutense reading witnessed also by many other coppies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he doth great wonders and causeth that fire commeth down out of heaven upon the earth and so as if the summe of those things which are more largely set forth afterward were propounded in these words let him interpret it of a double kinde of means which the false Prophet should use to induce the inhabitants of the Christian world to frame anew the Image of the Beast slaine in his sixt head that is to say by provision of miracles and excommunication By the one Chap. 13. of which he might draw the nations unto errour by the other he might breake the contumacy and pride of the stubborn For both these and to what end they tend are handled in order in the words following Concerning the wonders in these words And Vers 14. he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the wonders which he had power to doe saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make the Image of the Beast which was wounded with the sword and the words that follow to the 16. vers But concerning Vers 16. excommunication in these He causeth all to receive a marke in their right hand or in their foreheads and that no man might buy Vers 17. or sell save he that had the marke or the name of the Beast or the number of his name A Synechdochicall speech whereby the censure of the Ecclesiasticall Anathâ—ma is meant by the forbidding of commerce with others And that truly is not unaptly resembled to fire from heaven or lightening For what is it I pray you in the name of God to deliver any one over to that eternall fire other then to call for fire from heaven especially since that punishment of the wicked proceeding from God is againe and againe in this booke set forth by the lake of fire and brimstone or Asphaltites where Sodom and Gomorrha were burned with fire rained down from heaven Yea
1â— The times of the Beast and of the woman dwelling in the wildernesse begin at the very same instant of time to wit the conquest of the red Dragon and the thrusting him downe into the earth therefore since the said times are of aequall continuance it must of necessity follow that they did concurre in the whole in termediate space of time and likewise at length end their course together That the times of either of them do commence from the same beginning or terme is manifest out of the 12. chap. for when as the dragon is cast downe by Michael then the woman escapeth from his presence into the wildernes ver 6 and 14. The Dragon being angry that hee had in vaine attempted to destroy her now entring thither in the 15 16 and 17. ver he went to make war with the rest of her seed to wit those which she should bring forth in the wildernesse vers 17. * For without doubt it is to bee read with all the latine translations the greeks of Aldus an 1518. and the Syriaque Interpreter who out of the greeke turneth it et steâ—tit and he stood not as at this day the greek copies have it et steâ—i and I stood And standing upon the sea sand vers 18. To the ten horned Beast thence ascending chap. 13.1 he gave his power and his throne and great authoritie there verse 2. Chap. 11. The Synchronisme of the Beast and the prophecie of the witnesses The times of the Beast and of the prophecie of the witnesse being likewise aequall are finished together at the end of the sixt trumpet therefore it is manifest that they also begun together and through the whole space betweene did Synchronize Now that the times both of the Beast and of the witnesses of God prophecying in sackcloth ended together with the end of the sixt trumpet that also appeareth out of the 14. ver of the 11. Chap. where aswell the ascension of the witnesses into heaven which is the period of their mourning prophecie as that great earthquake wherewith the Imperiall citiâ— being overthrowne the kingdome of the Beast was abolished is marked out by the moment wherein the second woe which is the sixt trumpet went out and the third woe or seventh trumpet should forth with ensue for in that moment of time the witnesses whom the Beast which had ascended out of the bottomles pit had slaine being even ready to finish their testimony in sackcloth for this when they sâ—all finish is meant by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reviving by God ascended up into heaven verse 7. 11. 12. and the tenth part of the city fell by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meanes of the great earthquake the same houre ver 13. and the matter came to that passe that the 7. trumpet sounding all the Kingdomes of the world became our Lords and his Christ verse 15. The Synch of the Witnesses and of the Court or holy city Chap 11. possessed by the Gentiles That the times of the Witnesses and of the Court or holy citie possessed by the Gentiles do contemporize it appeareth as well by the meaning of the text Chap. 11. v. 2 3. as also by the wrath of the Gentiles now cast out in the beginning of the seaventh Trumpet that is from the end of the sixt when also the dayes of the witnesses shall end as it hath already been manifested for the Gentiles which in the 18. verse are said to be enraged at the found of the seaventh Trumpet are the very same which hitherto by the space of forty two monthes had troden underfoot the court of the outer Temple that is the holy city and which now therefore come to be destroyed by the wrath of God And surely this Synchronisme is called into question by none to my knowledge or remembrance The Synch of the Witnesses of the Court of the Beast Chap. 11 12. 1â— and of the Woman If the treading under foot of the court and holy city did agree â—n time with the prophecy of the Witnesses it will agree in time also with the Beast with which the Witnesses agreed in time and therefore also with the Woman in the wildernesse to which thâ— Beast agreed in time So the Woman in the wildernes the dominion of the Beast the treading of the holy city under foot and the prophecie of the witnesses do synchronize each with other The second Synchronisme Of the two borned beast who is also the false prophet Chap. 13. with the ten horned Beast which is also called the Image of the Beast For the two horned Beast is the founder or erector of that seaven headed Beast wearing crownes upon his ten hornes which after his deadly wound to the great hurt of the Saints he anew restored according to the image of a certain former estate wherein he was to rule full 42. moneths chap. 13. v. 3 5 12 14 15. which being done he doth exercise all his power in his presence and also doth shew or worke great wonders in his sight verse 12 13. and chap. 19. verse 20. At length this very same two horned Beast which Iohn calleth elswhere the false prophet together with that other Beast in whose presence hee had done the wonders as inseparable companions are taken and both cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone Chap. 19. v. 20. when therefore the ten horned Beast give me leave for plainnesse so to call the seaven headed Beast restored and the two horned false prophet are not separated one from the other either in their rising or in their ruine Moreover whereas the one excrciseth the power of the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is in his presence who seeth not that they necessarily contemporize through their whole time But that the whole matter may bee rightly perceived it is to be understood that there is no other state of the seven headed Beast described cha 13. then that of the instauration or of the last head which was tenne horned that which the whole order of the description doth make evident For whatsoever evill the Beast is said to have committed whatsoever worship or adoration is given unto him by the inhabitants of the earth all that is said to be done after his instauration or healing of his wound Furthermore that the ten hornes doe belong to the last head or state of the Beast which is the state of his â—stauration is manifest by the interprâ—tation of the Angel Chap. 17. For there when five heads had fallen that is had fulfilled their Verse 10. courses and the fixt even then in Iohns time was in being yet the time of the hornes is said not to be as yet come Therefore of necessitie it must belong unto the seventh or last head An apendix concerning the mutuall interchanging of the names of the Beast and the falâ—e prophet likewise of the Beast and the image of the Beast For of both these the title of the
is that of justification and salvation hoped for by the merits of works yet it is such as which of late and when the whore was now growen old hath Chap. 17. been permitted by the just judgement of God to enter into the Church as it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a recompense of her Rom. 1. 27. great errour least indeed they who had so long and so obstinately contemned the long suffering of God and the preaching of the Witnesses afterward as we reade was provided against our first parents stretching out their hands should take of the fruit of the Gen. 3.22 tree of Life and eating thereof should live for ever Furthermore Reader this is singular in this place nor to be passed over with light observation of which likewise I advertised thee in the Apocaliptique Key to wit that this vision concerning the great Whore and the Beast bearing her is opened to Iohn and us by the Angel which he used not to doe by a most plaine interpretation without doubt to that end that by the benefit of the interpretation thereof as being the chiefest vision of all the rest the other mysteries contained in the Revelation hitherto indeed shut up but depending upon it wonderfull artificially might be revealed Here therefore be attentive and least the Angel shall have taken this paines in vaine as farre forth as it concerneth thee remember this right well that the interpretation of the Allegory or parable such as this of the Angel is is not a new Allegory or parable For what strangenesse should this be or more truely madnesse of an interpreter or what profit is there of interpreting an Allegory by an Allegory or a parable by a parable therefore doe not thou here look after I know not what ages of the world or such like fained things but take the meaning of the prophetique Angel according to the letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not as if he were yet allegorising but rather interpreting the meaning knowing that it is thy part not to open the meaning of the Allegorie as otherwhere it happeneth but to apply its interpretation already given it to the things themselves Which application as farre forth as God hath revealed to me I will declare to thee thus 1. The Woman which Iohn saw sitting upon the Beast is that great Citie which then reigned over the Kings of the earth v. 18. The Application What is this but Rome 2. The Beast carrying her now become a whore is that Beast which before this vision being shewed to Iohn was of a certaine Chap. 17. other forme but he was not as yet of that shape wherein he should carry the Whore but in such a forme afterward he was to arise out of the bottomlesse pit and in it at length utterly to perish that is that forme wherein he should carry the Whore should be the last of the Beast beyond which he should not continue his life vers 8. It followeth in the same vers that thou mayest know also by that marke that this is the very same Beast shewed Chap. 13. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names are not written in the Booke of life from the foundation of the world laid beholding the Beast which was and is not and yet is to come In Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Et tamen adfutura est For so I read it with the Complutense Edition Primasius and the Syriaque Interpreter that it may agree in sense with the precedent description The Beast which was and is not but at length shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit But now of what forme the Beast had beene before and in what shape he was to ascend out of the bottomlesse pit that we shall know particularly by those things which the Angel by and by addeth The Application In the meane while if the Woman be Rome it selfe what then can this Beast of many formes be upon which she rideth that is ruleth but the Kingdome or Empire of Rome 3. The seven heads of the Beast is a double type first they are Ver. 3. and 7. seven mountaines or hils upon which the Citie being the Metropolis Vers 9 10 11. of the Beast is seated againe seven orders of Kings or successive Rulers and that on the same hils which the unitie of the type setteth forth * Hoc teneas vultus mutantem Protea nodo this is a sure marke of her whereof indeed five that is to say of Kings Consuls Tribunes Decemviri Dictators now in the age of Iohn were past one of Caesars was yet remaining but that also under Christian Caesars so to be changed that it seemed as another Ruler but of a very short continuance yet in truth not another but the last and as already I have said in respect of the changed Caesarship the eight but in truth but the seventh for there are onely seven heads of the Beast that very same it is under which the Beast should be at length 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the bearer of the mysticall whore and in that state and forme wherein she is seene of Iohn in the present vision In whose time it might be said both that he was Chap. 17. in time past and notwithstanding not yet sprung up For in time past he had beene a Beast under the courses of the five first heads partly also the sixt but as yet he was not under the course of the last head to wit of the Popedome under which at length he should beare the Whore The Application Now therefore harke Reader if the sixt head of the Romane Beast which reigned in Iohns age in the City standing upon seven hils now almost for 12. * 1200. Yeers ages â—ath ceased to reigne there it must needs be that he who now beareth sway there since that which is as it were the seventh and of short continuance cannot be called a head is that last of long continuance and truely the seventh Ruler of the seven hils and therefore that State or Common-wealth of Nations over which Rome now reigneth and long hath reigned is that government which Iohn fore-saw should beare the Whore 4. The tenne hornes of the Beast the Ensignes of the last head Vers 12. are tenne Kingdomes not yet risen in the age of Iohn but into which at length the body of the Romane Beast should be rended in his last course by the wound of the Caesarian head and which with one consent should conferre all their authoritie upon the Beast to be made whole and restored under the government of Vers 13. that last head The Application But unlesse from that time that the Emperours have ceased to reigne at Rome the Romane Empire be divided and rent into tenne or more Kingdomes even of Nations in Iohns age strangers from the Empire and barbarous when I pray you ever or by what meanes at length shall we expect it to be divided 5. Those tenne
Synchronisme did admonish and first that the two horned Beast and the false prophet be the same Irenâ—us one amongst the most ancient interpreters of the Apocalyps hath observed Which by the comparing of the 13. 14 15 and 16 verses of the 13. chap. with the 20. verse of the 19. Chap. is so cleare and manifest that it needes no further proofe But that which the title further seemeth to intimate that the ten horned Beast is wont also to be called by the name of the image of the Beast that is not so evident and which the reader except very attentive will scarce at all perceive But that the same is so I think that I have observed upon good ground and therefore wheresoever the Beast and the false prophet are mentioned together which I finde three times there by the surname of the Beast is understood no other then the ten horned beast when by the false prophet it is evident there is meant the two horned Contrarily where with the Beast thou seest coupled the image of the Beast as chap. 14. ver 9.11 chap. 15. ver 2. chap. 16. ver 2. chap. 19 ver 20. and chap. 20. ver 4. there by the Beast is to be understood the false prophet and by his image the ten horned Beast or the seven headed restored for this Beast seeing hee acknowledgeth the false prophet to be his restorer and that he suffereth himselfe to be guided by the will of him as of his supreme Lord chap. 13. verse 12 14 15. he is not without cause called his image not whose similitude hee representeth the genitive being passively taken for in that respect he is the Image of another happily of the seven headed dragon or of the state in in which hee flourished before the wound according to whose example he doth afresh blaspheme God and make warre against the Saints but that image which that two horned Beast speaking like the Dragon did restore and challengeth for his owne the genitive to wit signifying the Agent or Posseslor even as in the self-same places that is not the marke of the Beast which is stamped upon the Beast himselfe but wherewith that same Beast doth brand those that worship him And that it is so as I have said concerning the image of the Beast that which is said in the 13. chap. Verse 15. is for an argument in the first place that that very image of the Beast which the false prophet did give life unto did cause that whosoever shall not worship the image of the Beast should be slaine likewise else where that thou mayest know him to be the Beast hee is almost ever put after a verb which signifies to adore as an object of worship when as therefore the Apocalyps doth pourtray onely two and no more Beasts this so wicked a majestie with like power either of commanding or compelling cannot but agree to either of them Furthermore where the Beast is present together with the false prophet the image of the Beast in the same construction of words is not to be found as if there the appellation of the Beast should serve the turne To conclude of that self-same is the image of the Beast said to be of whom is the name and number chap. 15.2 But the name and number seeme not to be called the name and number of any other beast chap. 13. then of the two horned therefore it is like that he is also called the image of him as of his principall founder or chief Lord. But this image whether it be or be not that tenne horned Beast it nothing hindreth our purpose for the Synchronisme of the Beasts is not built upon this foundation The third Synchronisme Of the great harlot or mysticall Babylon with that same seven headed Beast ten horned Chap. â—â— 1 The time of the Beast is the time of the desert Synch 1. â— 1. and the harlot is seene of John in the desert chap. 17. verse 3. 4. but this marke doth not much enforce 2 The ten horned Beast carrieth the harlot or if you had rather so call her the whore and the harlot sitteth upon the beast Machatricem therefore they are both of one and the same time verse 3.7 3 The ten hornes of the Beast with which his last and newest head is branched marke it well under the courses of which alone in which likewise it revived after its deadly wound the courses of the first heads being now before fulfilled the harlot doth ride the Beast and the Beast doth beare the harlot these ten hornes I say are ten Kings who take their authoritie as Kings at one houre with the Beast to wit with that Beast which was restored and di beare the whore and now was become ten horned that is exercising the course of the last head These the time being fulfilled wherein they should deliver their authoritie to the Beast ver 13.17 that is when the frame and body of the Beast came to be dissolved they hate the harlot and make her desolate and naked and at length burne her with fire ver 16. So therefore the Beast which in the state of ten hornes in which onely Iohn did prophetically consider her first began with the harlot that is with the whore and shall not survive the harlot nor the harlot him therefore the harlot and that Beast doe synchronize universally and exactly which was the thing to be proved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Fourth Synchronisme Of the 144000. sealed being virgins with the Chap. 14 Chap. 17. whoâ—e of Babylon and the Beast 1 For first they are called Virgins and for that commended that they had not defiled themselves with harlots Chap. 14. ver 4. Therefore they fall into the adulterous times of the whore of Babylon with whom the Kings and inhabitants of the earth commit fornication Chap. 17. verse 2. and 18. 3. 2 Out of this company of Virgins proceed those which denounce the ruine of Babylon Verse 8. of the same 14. Chap. and who do deterre men from all communion with the Beast or his Image or his Marke therefore this company of Virgins doth contemporize with Babylon and the Beast 3 To conclude these are those called chosen and faithfull followers of the Lambe Verse 4 of the said Chap. with whom being accompanied Chap. 17. v. 14. he maketh war with Kings or the hornes of the Babylonian Beast and who by conduct of him as being King of Kings and Lord of Lords shall at length get the victorie in the same verse for those words Lord of Lords and King of Kings I thinke ought to be read by a parenthesis where the Angel saith these shall fight with the Lambe and the Lambe shall overcome them because hee is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are with him called Elect and faithfull that is the Lambe and who are with him called elect and Faithfull shall overcome the tenne Kings supporting Babylon 4 But these things suffice not
wherein the Saints approved their faith and constancie to â—od while the Beast ruled went before the judgement the reward followed the decree then made 2 The same doth yet further appeare out of that hymne of praise â—ung of the elders and beasts at the overthrow of Babylon câ—ap 19. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hallâ—u-jâ—h for the Lord God that Almightie one hath reigned ver 7. Let us be glad and rejoyce and give glorie to him for the mariage of the Lamb iâ— come his wife hath made herself ready For I doubt not but that the kingdom is the same in both places 3 But of all most clearely out of the 11. chap. ver 15 16 c. where at the found of the seventh trumpet the dayes of the witnesses and of the Beast and the moneths of the Gentiles being runne out there is proclaimed in heaven the kingdomes of this world are our Lords and his Christs and he shall raigne for evermore And the foure and twentie Elders fitting before God in their thrones fell upon their faces and worshipped God saying We give thee thanks Lord God Almightie which art and which wa st and which art to come for thou hast received thy great might and hast entred thy Kingdome This is that finishing of the mysterie of God declared by the Prophets which the Angel had foretold before the tenth Chap. ver 7. should come to passe about the the time of the sounding of the seventh trumpet when neither the moneths of the Beast nor the dayes of the witnesses mourning nor any thing at all concerning the period of time times and halfe time shall be any more remaining verse 6. 7. plainely according to that which was foretold to Daniel chap. 7. vers 25 26 27. and before concerning the Universall dominion of Christ or kingdome of the Saints to come after the same times and altogether the same session of judgement Also that chap. 12 ver 7. where the same Angel which is here in John is read with the same behaviour rite and which is chiefly to be noted almost in the same words to have sworne that that space once being ended of a time times and halfe a * Are not these 〈…〉 21 2. time the dispersion of the holy people and together with that that last of wonders should be consummate He which here desiâ—eth further confimation let him use the Charecters of the former Synchronisme for they affoord as I said their mutuall helps The sixt Synchronisme Of tâ—e new Jerusalem the bride of the Lamb with the seaventh Chap. 21.2 Chap. 11 1. trumpet or the space from the time of the destruction of the Beâ—st 1. The marriage of the Lamb and that Emperiall kingdome of the Almighty Lord God both begin after the destruction of Babylon where the seaventh trumpet beginneth this appeareth out of the hâ—mne of the Elders and Beasts which in the former Synchronisme we have commended out of the nineteenth chap. vers 6.7 Halliluâ—ah for our Lord God Almightie reigneth Let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her selfe ready But the new Jerusalem is that bride of the Lamb adorned and prepared for her husband chap. 21. verse 2. And I saw saith he the holy City new Jerusalem coming downe from God out of heaven as a bride adorned for her husband and verse 9. Come and I will shew thee the bride the Lambes wife c. Therefore even she shal begin and contemporize with the seventh trumpet 2. Now Jerusalem is the beloved citie but that beloved citie forthwith after the 1000. yeares are ended is said to be compassed about by those last troopes of Satan then let loose chap. 20. ver 9. And they compassed the tents of the Saints and the beloved citie therefore it must needs have beene extant before while Satan was yet bound I have thought fit to adde two other either for confirmation or illustration and setting forth of these two arguments 3. The seventh Viall being poured out wherewith the Beast is dispatcht and abolished there came a loud voice from the throne saying TETONE It is done chap. 16. vers 17. So also He that sat upon the throne saith to Iohn beholding new Jerusalem descending from heaven chap. 21. verse 5 6 Behold I make all things new TETONE It is done I am * Alpha â— Omega A and â— the beginning and the end therefore new Jerusalem the bride of the Lamb beginneth at the last terme of the Vials TETONE the whore being already dispatcht and so it contemporizeth with the space of time which insueth the destruction of the Beast 4. One of the Angels of the Vials Chap. 17. sheweth unto Iohn the condemnation of the whore even while the Vials are in pouring out and at least by one of them to be executed And the same Angel of Vials chap. 21. vers 10. sheweth to the same Iohn the bride of the Lambe the great citie holy Jerusalem to become glorious even when the Phials are now ended that is the Beast and Babylon being destroyed The 7th Synchronisme Of the palm-bearing multitude of the numberlesse triumphants out of all Nations Tribes People and Tongues chap. 7 vers 9. with the seventh trumpet or space of time from the destruction of the Beast chap. â—â— â—â— c. 1. The palm-bearing multitude next succeedeth the companie of â—44000 sealed but that companie being to be measured or judged of by its opposite both state and duration to the Beast with whom it contemporizeth ended with the Beast also Synchronisme 4. Part 1. Therefore the palm-bâ—aring multitude followeth both and consequently will fall out in the time of the seventh trumpet which is the space of time from the destruction of the Beast 2. The palm-bearing multitude are the citizens of new Jerusalem for of both it is said * Chap. 7. 16. 17. That they shall not hunger nor thirst any more c. That the Lambe shall feed them and lâ—â—d them to the living fountains of waters and * Chap. 21. 4. that God shall wipe away every teare from their eyes Now new Jerusalem contemporized with the seventh trumpet therefore the palm-bearing multitude also The Apocalyptique Epoche or computation of the Revelation The Epoche or computation of the Apocalyps as it is a prophecie of things to come whether thou shalt determine the beginning of it in the beginning of Christianisme or in the overthrow of the Iewish politie and church or in that moment of time wherein the Revelation is shewed to John or howsoever it be fixed for I will not here play the interpreter being mindfull of my purpose I suppose none will doubt but that thence the beginning of the seales as touching things done in them is to be fetcht But that the beginning of the second prophecie also or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the open booke is to be fetcht from the same account if the very words
knowledge thereof wherein I douâ—t not â—ut any will be of the same minde with me who shall throughly consider the matter The Theater being prepared in thâ—s manner â—he which sate upon the throne reacheth forth in his right hand a book written Chap. 5. wiâ—hin and on the backside closed with â—â—aven seals and therewithall Verse â—â— 2 an Angel coming forth upon the stage with alâ—ud voice proclaimâ—th that â—f power were given to any to open it whereby those things might be seen and read that were therein contained he should take it iâ—to hâ—s hands and endeavour it a thing without doubt if he shall perform would be very acceptable to all that are enflamâ—d with a desire of secret things And in truth the book was most worthy that any one should strive with aâ—l the powers â—f his wisdom and industry to oâ—en it as a book of prophesies or of the the councells of God wherein is contrived the series and order of thiâ—gs to be done till that second and glorious câ—mming of Christ For of such sorte certainly that double prophecie following of things to come which that booke did containe appeareth for to be which is the cause â—nles I be deceived why Iohn going about to set forth his visions prefixed in the fronte of â—is history the description of that gloriouâ— comming as â—t were the bond of the Apocalyptique race Behold Hypotyposiâ— Chap. 5. saith he chap. 1.7 he commeth with the cloudes of heaven and every eye shaâ—l see him they also which pierced him and all tribes of the earth shall waile over him as if he should say this is the scope his is the the bound of the visions which shall declare But whâ—n no man in heaven nor in earth neither under the Verse 3 4 5 6 7. earth was able to open the book and â—he matâ—er seemed now to be past help so that Iohn brake forth into weeping for griefe behold a Lambe seeming as it had beâ—n sâ—in that is bearing the signes and of his by past death rose up in the midst of the throne Skarts of elders and Beasts and took the book to unseal and open as who alone above all had deserved the power to do it Now this being seen forth with the Quire of Beasts and elders Verse 8. together with the Angels standing round about and all creatures in generall being full of joy sing a song of praise to the Lamb and to his father Wherein I thought good to observe that alone that they plainly refer the power of opening the book to the merit of the passion of the Lamb. Thou art worthy say they to open Verse 9.10.11 12.13 14. the book and the seaâ—s thereof because thou wast slainâ— and hast redeemed us to God with thy blood out of every tribe and people and tongue and nation Out of which perhaps light may come to the saying of our Saviour neither having as yet suffered nor entred into his glory of that day and houre suppose of his second Mat. 42. 36. coming whether it should bâ— sooner or later no man knoweth no not the Angels in heaven nor the Son but the father onely For why as yet the Revelation was not given to Christ of the father nor the order of things to be done unâ—ill his coming opened I affirme nothing rashly let the reader way the matter well with himselfe The Lamb thus opening the book at every severall seal thereof Chap. 6. singular types of things to come are exhibited the body whereof runneth through the whole Apocalyptique race and so concludeth Systema the first universall prophâ—cie The interpretation whereof now by the favour of him that sitteth on the throne and of the Lamb we will undertake Chap 6. Concerning the two Apocalyptique propâ—eces The first prophecie of the seales comprehendeth the destinies of the Empire The other of the little book the destinies of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Church or of christian religion untill at length both shall be united in the Church raigning the kingdoms of this world becoming Chap 11. 15. our Lords and his Christ For as in the old testament Daniel did foreshew as well the coming of Christ as also did digest the destinies of the Iewish church according to the successions of Empires so it is to be conceived that the Apocalyps doth measure the state of Christanity by the affairs of the Romane Empire which should yet remain after Christ Neither doth the event crosse it For the interpretation of the first prophecie out of this generall supposition thus procâ—edâ—th Of the first prophecie which is of the seals and first of the things meant by the first six seals The sâ—ope of the seven seals in sum is that there might be shewed by the distances of ensuing time distinguished by the characters of events in what order of the chances of the Romane empire running out it should come to passe that Christ should vanquish the Gods of the world what whom he had begun war to wit in the sixt course or sixt seal the Gods of the Empire of Rome heathen but in the seventh when the course of the trumpets shall come to the last trumpet whatsoever else of the worship of idols and devils did after there a new or should as yet any where else in the world arise should be utterly destroyed For he must reign untill he have put all his enemies under his feet that is shall have abolished all contrary principality auâ—hority and power 1. Cor. 15. 25. Let us in the first place handle the first period as order requireth Chap. â— The first six seals therefore by a six fold character of events not much unlike to those which our Saviour also had foreset for the appointed time of the overthrow of Ierusalem do distinguish so many different times of the yet standing and flourishing Romane Empire untill at length in the sixt Christ should utterly overthrow the power of idols and heathen gods in that region Now characters I call the notable chances of the Romane Empire whereby as by certain emblems the different times are disceâ—ned and those in this first period not brought from without by the barbarous nations such as were of the Empire under the plagues of the seven rumpets afterwards falling but intestine chances and rising in the very Empire it selfe which difference certainly is therefore set by the holy spirit that by unlike markes the unlike times of the Râ—ane estate here flourishing there decaying may be described Moreover that commeth here to be observed Since these characters of châ—nces which I have named scarse or seldom go through the whole space of the seal and therefore no way by themselves avail for the limiting of their different times by any certain beginning and end therefore the holy Ghost in the four first seals where that should be most requisite as well for the cause aforesaid as for the in equality of the different times
East winde I will scatter them that is the Iewes before the enemie that is the King of Babylon Hither also that of Daniel seemeth to be referred Chap. 7.2 3. Behold the foure windes of the heaven strove upon the great sea and foure great Beasts came up from the Sea that is out of the conflict of the Nations every where fighting together and striving for the dominion and Empire there arose foure great Kingdomes I saw saith he another Angel afcending from the Sunne rising Chap. 7. having the Seale of the living God happily therefore it is Vers 2. the Lord Christ and he cryed alowd to the foure Angels to whom it was given to wit by setting the windes at libertie which they had restrained to hurt the Earth and the Sea 3. Saying hurt not the Earth neither the Sea nor the trees untill we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads That is loose not the Windes noâ— suffer them to have power of going and raging upon the world For he nameth the Earth the Sea and Trees answerably to the representation of Windes as to which the Windes are wont to bring dammage to the Earth by the ruine of houses to the the Sea by shipwrack to the Trees by a manifold overthrow and rending Forbeare saith he untill we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads That is by imprinting some marke upon them we have distinguished as it were the elect company of God over whom these destroying Windes which shall destroy the other company of men have no power but over whom taking regard to their Seale the Divine providence would continually watch least in this ruine of the Romane state which the Trumpets should bring their sacred Progenie should be extinguished For so provision would be made that neither they who did hurt them could be free from punishment as having transgressed the bounds of that power which God had given them and moreover the dammage if any were done at length should be repaired by God It hath allusion pâ—rhaps to the place of Ezech. Chap. 9. Where those that sigh and cry out for the abominations of Ierusalem are marked by the Angel to this end lest they sustaine like destruction with the wicked and reprobate by the smiters And surely as touching the event if any shall weigh the state of the times here handled it will seeme almost miraculous how it could come to passe that the Romane Empire being scattered and destroyed with so great a destruction of the Cities and Inhabitants so that the ancient Inhabitants being well neere extinguished it was inhabited by barbarous nations and strangers from Christ Yet the Church there should continue in the middest of these evils and the world as it were conspiring her ruine Yea also as we shall heare in the proper place the Beast at the same Chap. 7. time polluting whole Christendome with Idolatrous worship should neverthelesse cherish in her bosome a company as this is uncorrupted and for that cause tenderly regarded by God Of such consequence was it to be fenced with Gods Seale And I heard saith he the number of the sealed there were Vers 4. sealed an hundred forty foure thousand of all the Tribes of the children of Israel that is twelve times twelve thousand out of every Tribe twelve thousand For even as in the beginning we have seene the Theatre of Visions or the Apocaliptique session described after the representation and state of the old Synagogue and a great part of the Types of this Booke hath relation to it so that even the counterfeit Christians in the Epistles to the Churches for that cause beare the name of counterfeit Iewes so here also the Catholique Church of the Gentiles to be â—enced with the Seale of God is figured by the Type of Israel the twelve Apostles of that aptly answering to so many Patriarchs of this And it is so done not without good cause as well for other causes as specially because the Church even from the first rejection of the Iewes hitherto is gathered out of the Gentiles succeeded in the room of Israel and is as I may so call it surrogated Israel and in that place for a little while estemed by God untill his old people againe obtaining mercy the fulnesse of the Gentiles shall Vers 9. come in that is that innumerable multitude out of all Nations Tribes People and Tongues which the sealing of this Israel at length being finished Iohn testifieth he saw singing prayses to God and to the Lambe For this indeed is that I speak of the surrogation that the Apostle Paul would teach Romans Chap. 11. whilest he urgeth vers 11. the fall of the Iewes to have brought salvation to the Gentiles and vers 15. their casting away to have beene the reconciling of the world Not that otherwise the Gentiles in their time should not have beene called sithence the whole Quire of Prophets proclaime that the Gentiles should be gathered to the glory of Israel and turned to the Lord which neither the Iewes of old nor at this day doubt of but that not by this calling which was by anticipation substitution and for provocation to jealousie except the Iewes had first renounced Christ The discreet Reader may know what I meane It was necessary saith Chap. 7. the Apostle Acts 13. 46. that the word of God should first have been opened to you but after you reiect it and iudge your selves unworthy of everlasting life loe we turne to the Gentiles But concerning the preventive conversion of the Gentiles that is which should goe before the restoring of the Iews that I may remember that also that testimony of Amos seemeth to be taken cited by Iames in the Councell of the Apostles Acts 15. and for that purpose perhaps then chosen before other Prophesies which otherwhere might have been had concerning the choosing of the Gentiles to be the people of God For he meaneth that not only the name of the Lord should be called upon by the Gentiles that is that Vers 17. the Gentiles should become his people but also that that in part should then happen whilest yet the tabernacle of David should lye Vers 16. fallen down that is the kingdom of Israel should not yet be restored by Christ After those things saith he I will returne and build Vers 16. again the tabernacle of David fallen down and I will build again the ruines thereof and will set it up vers 17. that the residue of men might seeke after the Lord and all the Gentiles upon whom my name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is called that is that the rest of the men together with those Gentiles upon whom heretofore my name was called then at length should seeke after and worship me the true God For for that which is now had in the Hebrew Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they may possesse the râ—nant of Edom. The ancient
being again quieted suppressed at length began in a horrible manner to be stirred up and to fall upon almost the whole Romane Empire by fire and sword continually and cruelly wasting and spoyling it For this very yeere Alaricus first brake in out of Thracia upon Macedonia with a huge Army of Gothes and other Barbarians sparing neither towns nor men Thence marching forward thorow Thessaly taking the streights of Thermopilae he came down into Greece that is Achaia he raced all the Cities except Thebes Chap. 8. and Athens He forcibly entred Peloponnesus he wasteth Corinth Argos and Sparta I hence he brought himself into Epirus where he goeth on to make the same ransackings and destructions The yeere following leaving Epirus he invaded Achaia and the same with Epirus and the bordering Provinces for full foure yeers space he laboureth shamefully to destroy by setting them on fire and razing them When thus for five yeers he had afflicted the East with cruell ransacks he set his minde to invade the West he passeth into Dalmatia and Panonia and those regions he razed farre and neere Heare Ierome who then lived be wayling the state of this time the tempest hitherto raging Epist 3. The Romane blood is daily shed between Constantinople and the Iulian Alpes The Goth the Sarmatian â—â—â—dus Alanus the Hunns the Vandals the Marcomanâ—i do â—orce and â—ake by violence Scythia Thracia Macedonia Dardania Dacia Thessaly Achaia Epirus Dalmatia and all the countrey of Panonia How many Matrons how many godly Virgins and comely and noble bodies were mocking stocks to these beasts The Bishops taken the Presbyters and divers Orders of the Clergy slain The Churches overthrown Horses stabuled at the Altars of Christ the reliques of Martyrs digged up The Romane Empire goeth to ruine what heart doest thou thinke have the Corinthians now the Athenians Lacedemonians Arcadians and all Greece over whom the Barbarians command But the yeere following being of Christ 401 the same Alaricus the Gothes Alanes and Hunnes following him about to wage warre in Italy also brake thorow Noricum and came thorow the â—orrest of Trent into Venice those Cities in a short time he brought under his power and besieged the Emperour Honorius at Hasta so that almost all in Italy now thought upon removing But here at length Stilicho the Captain of Honorius having gathered a great Army stayed his fury and constrained him being once or twice overcome and wearied with battels which â—eâ—l out against him to retire into Panonia whence he came Out of which a little after a league being made and he honoured with a Military government by Honorius he departed into Illyricum a Province of the East Alaricus being quiet a little while yet least thenceforth the West should be at any time idle forthwith in the yeere 404 another Chap. â— memorable violent breaking in of the Barbarians upon Italy is undertaken Radagaiso a Scythian being Captain who with an Army of Gothes Sarmatians and Germanes to the number of two hundred thousand the fortifications in the Alpes being beaten down he passeth into the Venetian region Aemilia and Hetruria besiegeth Florence where being vanquished with a great slaughter by Stilicho he is taken and beheaded This enemy howsoever terrible in a short space of time and with lesse losse being taken away presently in the yeere 406 the third and that the most grievous and deadly inrode of the Vandales and Alanes is made upon the West taking with them the Marcomanni Heruli Sweves Alemans Burgundians with a rabble of other Barbarians whereby first France then Spaine and lastly Africa are taken and afflicted with all kind â—â—f calamities Which destructions Ierome Epist 11. hath thus partly expressed partly implyed Innumerable saith he and most fierce naâ—â—ons have taken whole France Whatsoever is between the Alpes and Pyrenaean mountains which are enclosed with the Ocean and the Rone the Quadus the Vandale Sarmatian Alans Gipides Heruli Saxons Burgundians Alemans and Panonian enemies have destroyed Mentz is taken and plundered and many thousands slain in the Church The Vangions with long siege are destroyed the strong Citie of Rhemes the Ambians Aâ—trebates Morini Tornacus Nemete Argentoratus translated into Germanie Aquitan and the Provinces of Novem populorum Lyons and Narbon excepting a few Cities are all razed I cannot mention Tolosa without teares which that it is not yet destroyed the merits of Exuperius that holy Bishop were the cause The very Spaniards even now ready to perish tremble Rome ransoms her life with gold And this was that terrible storme of Haile mixt with fire and blood a representation truly of so easie an application that there fell so apt a thing from Niceph. Gregor lib. 2. cap. 7. never thinking of the Revelation but yet treating of the Scythians that I cannot but set it down As saith he terrors from heaven are oftentimes stricken into men by God as lightenings flaming fires and suddain stormes c. So these Northern and Hyperborean terrors are reserved by God that they may be sent for pâ—nishment when and upon whom it shall seeme best to his providence But I will adde a Corolary also out of Achmetes for the Readers further confirmation Chap. 8. A Corolarie out of Achmetes concerning the signification of Haile Fire and Trees in his interpretation of dreames In the â—91 Chapter out of the Rules of the Indians Persians and Egyptians Snow Haile Ice doe portend miseries cares and torments If any shall seeme to see Haile any where fallen let him expect a suddain hostile assault If he shall seeme to see Haile which shall have hurt the stalkes of Wheat or â—arley in that place where the stalkes were broken warlike slaughters shall happen Also Chap. 159. out of the declaration of the Indians Chap. 160. out of the explication of the Persians and Egyptians Fire signifyeth death war fightings punishment and affliction If it shall seem to burn any thing or any one Also chap. 151. The Persians Indians Egyptians interpret trees to signifie men chiefly Magistrates Peeres and honourable men as If any shall seem to himself to water trees and to pruyâ—â— them he shal be an Honourable man and a nursing father of the people If a King shall seem to himself to have planted trees he shall ordain new Magistrates Also If trees by continuance of time being corrupted and putrifyed shall decay the Peers of the King shall die of a naturall death If he shall seem to see young sprouts which are growen to trees this appertaineth to the succession of his Lords If one of the common people shall seem to himself to have gathered leaves of trees into his house he shall obtain wealth from the Nobility according to the measure of the leaves c. The second Trumpet The second Trumpet being about to subvert the Romane Empire now enough wasted in the Earth thereof with a more grievous Chap. 8. stroke yet assayleth the Sea the third part whereof by the fall of a great
Sun of the morning thou art cut downe to the ground which didst weaken the nations Otherwhere also as in the place of Esa Chap. 34.4 already before cited Starres falling from heaven are understood of the ruine of Princes or great personages A starre therefore of a singular and unusuall magnitude doth designe a Prince above the common sort of Princes that is a great and excellent one It followeth And the name of the Starre is called Wormwood It is a propheticall figure wherein by the imposition as it were of a proper name the qualitie or destinie of the thing or person handled is set forth since other where also in the Hebraisme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the matter as Luk. 1. 37. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every thing is not unpossible with God and to be called is all one as to be or to exist as Esa 56.7 My house shall be called an house of prayer for which Luk. 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is shall be or shall be accounted an house of prayer And Gen. 21. 12. In Isaac shall thy seed be called that is shall be You may see also the Septuagint Esa 14. 20. Ruth 4. 11. And examples of this figure whereof I spake are every where obvious For so in Esa 7.14 concerning Christ his name shall be called Emanuel that is he shall be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God-man And Chap. 9 6. His name shall be called Wonderfull Counsellour the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of peace that is he shall be all these Likewise in Jerem. 23. 6. And this is the name whereby they shall call him THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESSE And Zach. 6. 12. Behold the man his name is the BRANCH it followeth because he shall spring out of his place c. Adde hereunto Rev. 19. 13. His name is called THE WORD OF GOD that is he is that Word of God The like to these are found Ierem. Chap. 8. 20.3 The Lord calleth not thy name Pashur but Magor-Missabib that is feare round about for thus saith the Lord Behold I will put feare into thee to thy selfe and all thy friends And Ezech. 23.4 The names of them that is of the women of Samaria and Ierusalem Aholah and Aholibah Adde hereto Esa 8.3 Hos 1.6.9 By the very like figure is this Falling starre called Wormewood that is according to the Hebrews with whom the abstracts are used for the concretes Absinthites to wit A Prince of bitternes and sorrowes Such indeed was that Hesperian Caesar if ever any were exercised with continuall calamities from his first rising unto his end Who while he reigned the Romane Empire should be ruined Yea by the setting up of whom occasion of the ruine was given because by the such division of the Empire brought in a way was opened to the Barbarians and the Roman State was cast into fearefull calamities Is not he worthily called Wormwood for his lot which fell out to be so bitter to himselfe and others according to that of Naomi Call me not Naomi call me Marah because the Almighty hath afflicted me with bitternesse But before I depart hence something must be said of the state of the City and Romane State after that fall of their Caesar that a way may be prepared to the interpretation of the following Trumpet Caesar therefore of the West being so cast downe and extinct the meane while Odoacer the Herulian held Italy 16. yeeres by name of King who after two yeeres restored the Consulship to Rome and to the West and still kept it which notwithstanding in the beginning upon displeasure he had taken away Him did Theodoricus the King of the Ostrogothes succeed and that as Paulus Diaconus reporteth Zeno the Emperour of the East delivering him Italy by pragmaticall sanction and confirming it by putting upon his head a sacred veyle Who Odoacer being vanquished and slaine added Sicilia also to his Kingdome besides Dalmatia and Rhetia which were Provinces of Odoacer he repaired the wals and some buildings of the Citie of Rome having gathered together a great summe of money for that purpose so that there seemed nothing could be desired more to the height of her former fortune the infamy of a City sacked and burnt being excepted he ordered the Kingdome very wisely he changed no Roman Ordinance but retained the Senate and Consuls the Senators the Governours of the Praetorium the Governours of the city the Questor the high Treasurer the Master Chap. 8. of the privie purse and Captaine of the Guard Captaines of foot and horse and other Magistrates that were in the Empire and committed them onely to Romans which was also a while kept by his Successors Athalaricus Theodobatus Vitiges Ostrogothian kings of Italy See Sigonius de imperio occidentali lib. 15. An. 479. lib. 16. annis 493. 494. 500. The fourth Trumpet The fourth Trumpet proceeding yet further did utterly take away the light of the Roman Majesty in the citie of Rome wherwith Verse 12. it had shined untill then even under the Ostrogothian kings to wit after the Consulship of Rome had failed from the yeare 542. in that Ostrogâ—thian war waged for the recovery of Italy first by Belisarius afterward by Narsetes Captaines of Iustinianus then it selfe once and againe taken burned and the third part of it demolished by Totila forsaken moreover a memorable mock of fortune by all her inhabitants at length after so many decayes and â—laughters being regained by Narsetes but a little after overthrowen by aboisterous storme and lightnings she that was sometimes the Queene of Cities now at length being How doth thâ— city sit solitariâ— that was full of people how is she become as a widow sheâ— that was great among the Nations and Princesse among the Provinces how is she become trâ—tulary Lament 1. 1. bereaved of Consular power authoritie of Senate and other Magistrates wherewith as with stars she had enlightned the world is fallen from so great glory into I know not what ignoble dâ—kedome of Ravenna over which in times past shee had commanded after is constrained to serve under the Exarchate O miserable darknesse and pay tribute And this which is here mentioned was the smiting of the third part of the Sun Moon and stars whereby it came to passe that the third part of the day could not give light and the third part of the night likewse Where the light of the day which is the sunne is called by the name of the day and the light of the night which is the moone and the stars of the night according to that Iere. 31. 35. Which giveth the Sunne for a light to the day and the courses of the moone and of the starres for a light of the night The sonne of Rome shonne as long as shee enjoyed the Consular diguitie and her raigne over other cities and provinces The moone and starres there gave light as long as the Chap. 8. ancient authoritie of the Senate and
the foure Angels signifie so many Sultaniâ—s or Kingdomes into which the Turkes were dâ—vided when first having passed over Euphrates they had spread themselves into the neighbouring coasts of A … a and Syria These Christopher Ricâ—erius concerning the originall of the Turkes doth thus reckon up out of Scilix a Greeke author the first of Asia the second of Alepo the third of Damascus and of Antioch the fourth The first of which the Asian or of Asia the lesse had its beginning in Câ—tlamusus otherwise called by Elmachinus except I be deceived Sedyduddrulas allyed to that Tangrolipix who first tooke Bagdad He began his Kingdome in the parts of Asia bordering Chap. 9. upon Euphrates Caesâ—ria or Capadocia being conquered and taken from the Romanes to him and his posterâ—ty about the yeere of Christ 108. as the same auther witnesseth The borders whereof afterward Solyman his successor enlarged as farre as Nicaea of Bithynia but being vanished by ours in that renowned expedition unto Jerusalem he was constrained to leave the whole region which he had gotten and to retire to Euphratâ—s And the seat of this Tetrarchie though in the beginning it were else where yet for the most part was at Iconium in the same Caâ—adocia The second was the Tetrarchie of Alepo the city thereof being Alepo which is watered with an arme of Euphrates brought thither by one of the Sultanus Siarsud aulas was the first king hereof as witnesseth Elmachinus having obtained Alepo in the yeere 1079. whose successor was Râ—duwanus Salghâ—â—ides in the yeere 1095. The founder of the third Tetrachie whose chiefe city being Damascus by the testimonie of the same author was Tagiuddaulas Nisus the nephew of Togrulbâ—cus or Tangrâ—lipix who subdued Damascus in the same yeer 1079. His successor was Ducathes or Decacus the brother of Râ—duwanus the Sultan of Alepo in the yeere 1095. Whom saith Scilix all the region of Dâ—capâ—lis obeyed But this reached to Euphrates To these Scilix reckoneth the Antiochian â—oâ— a fourth contained within moderate boundes For saith he the Calipha of Egypt out of the Saracenicall stock possessed the regions of Syria unto Laodicea But forasmuch as that Antiâ—chean Kingdome as it was a little remote from Euphrates so it endured not but fourteene yeeres Antiâ—chia being presently taken by ours under the conduct of Bâ—â—mund happily it were better leauing out Antioch to adde for the making up of the number of fourâ— the Bagdad or Persiaâ— Empire upon the other side of Euphrates for Scilix had onely respect to the Turkes who had passed Euphrates that so the whole Turkish Empire beyond and on this side Euphrates may be understood to be devided into those foure Sultanies which with the course of the Kings or Sultans for a certain time see Reader described in the following figure for thy more distinct Diagraâ—mate contemplation A Diagramme of the Tâ—â—kish Kingdome parted in Foure Partes at Euphrates from the yeere 1080. and so forth out of Elmachinus the Arabian and Sâ—ilâ—p a Greeke Author Beyond Euphrates on this side Euphrates Of Bagdad Togrulbecus Orbarsalanus Of Cesaria Capadocia I. conium c in Asia the lesse Of Alepo Of Damascus Ghelaluddaulas in the yeâ—re 1071 Barkyaruens Mâ—hammâ—dus Mahmudus began in the yeâ—re 1117. c Seijdudâ—aulâ—s by surname Cutlumusus Sâ—limanus Tâ—nismanius Masutus Calisastlanus c Sjarâ—uddulas Roduwanus Tagjudâ—aulas his sonnâ— Bulgarus begaÌ„ in the yeere 1117 Tagjuddaulas Decacus Ababacus then alive in the yeere 1115 Sanguinus Noradinus And this was the state of the Turkish affaires when first they passed Euphrates and as it were making a shew of their breaking in upon the Romane territories they were restrained in their limited prison at Euphraâ—eâ— But howsoever this quaternion of Sultans remained not entire till the the time of their loosing but underwent divers changes yet the Holy Ghost esteemeth the nation according to the state of the first irruption wherein having passed Euphrates they are bound untill an appointed time And those foure Angels were loosed being prepared for an houre and a day and a month and a yeare that they might slay the third part of men This loosing of the Turkes happened a little before the yeare 1300 the Caliphatship of Bagdad with which the first Woe utterly expired being now extinguished by the Tartars in the yeere 1258 and the remnant of the Turkes who on the other side of Euphrates hitherto raighned in Persia being cast by the same in the yeare 1289 as it were out of a sâ—â—ng into the countries belouging unto the Romane Empyre on this side of Euphrates For things thus framing it happened also that at the same time the Latines who had hindred and staied the irruptions of the Chap 9. Turkes now almost 200. yeares were driven out of Syria and Palestina in the yeare likewise 1291. In the meane time the Turks although as yet devided into severall provinces invaded almost all the lesâ—er Asia parted it among themselves to be possessed by right of inheritance and at length uniting themselves under the sole conduct of my Othâ—man without any restraint cruelly raged and passed over into Europe ne ther could they any â—ore bee restrained with any force untill tâ—ey had destroyed the whole Constantinopolitan Empire with miserable slaughters But unlesse I be deceaved the Oracle designeth the time also of this overthrow of Câ—nstantinople to wit that it should come to passe a day a month and a yeare that is 396 yeares afâ—er the Turkes the Saracenicall Empire being given them dâ—gan to be made ready by God that is from the time that Bâ—gdad was taken by them For this was the beginning of the breaking of the Turks when the Empyre of the Saracens began to be subverted and the dominion of the Romanes to be afflicted yet so as the force of the cvill was to be restrained until the appointed time of setting them loose Certainly the space of time agreeth to an inch For Almachinus the Arabian Historian whom we haue sometimes cited then whom none hath more accurately noted the moments of times reporteth that Zâ—grulbecus Salghucides the Prince of the Turkes whom we cal Tangrolipix of the Zelzucâ—ian family the royall city of Bagdad being taken was clothed with the Imperiall robe by Caliphâ— Caâ—inus Biamrilla and enstauled in the kingdome in the yeare of the Hegira 4.9 that is 1057 of Christ then sayeth he was the kingdome stablished to him From this time therefore the Turkes having the principall seate of the Sarecenicall Empire with the whole dominion beyond Euphrates are prepared that after a propheticall day month and yeare they should kill the third part of men that is in the yeare of Christ 1453 they should utterly cut of the rest of the Romane Empire in the East the royall city of Constantinople being taken Fro the space from the yeare 1057 to the yeare 1453 wherein Constantinople was taken is precâ—â—ely 396 yeares whereof the day maketh one the Month 30 the yeare
the Phyals suffereth not to be so neet come considering that we have not passed the fourth of them as yet although we hope it is in agitation in the present Germane warres as there it shall be taught But that the ruine of the Citie belongeth to the fifth we shall shew anon Whose forerunner therefore that this destruction shall be which we have in hand it is very probable especially since it is usuall with Christ our Captaine to subdue his enemies and to reward his with victory by the method of the Crosse Neither yet because this destruction is the last and even yet to come can any thing be certainly determined concerning the grievousnesse thereof above all wâ—â— have gone before for happily not so much in respect of the grievousnesse certainly not of the long continuance as that it should be for a signe of the mourning of the Witnesses then forthwith to be ended and of the ruine of the Citie of Rome being at hand therefore it alone of all the destructions wherewith the Beast should afflict the Saints deserved a singular remembrance and description even as indeed the environing of the inhabitants of Ierusalem by the Armie of Cestius Gallus a little before the â—atall siege by Titus was foretold for a signe of the sacking thereof then to approach and to be at the doores For even as our Saviour told his Apostles enquiring the signes of the time of the sacking thereof When ye see Ierusalem besieged by an Luk. 21.20 Army then know that the desolation thereof draweth neere the like may be thought here to be meant of the sacking of Babylon when ye shall see that three yeeres and an halfe slaughter of the Witnesses know ye that the desolation of the great Citie draweth neere But the slaughter where with the Witnesses are foretold to be overcome by the Beast I thinke is to be understood in the most generall signification wherein he comprehendeth death also metaphorically or analogicaâ—ly so called â—or he is said to Dye in that sense who being settled in any state whatsoever whether Politique or â—cclesiasticall or any other ceaseth to be what he was Whereupon also he killeth who punisheth any one with such a death For so in the Sacred stile to live is all one as to be to die not to be In which understanding we are said to die to Satan and to sinne when for the time to come we cease to be their slaves Chap. 11. and to live unto Christ when we beginne to be his And the reason of opposition doth altogether seeme to require that in what manner theresurrection of the Witnesses to life after the slaughter accomplished should be such should be the slaughter it selfe but that appeareth to be analogicall because no resurrection properly so called can be before the coming of Christ under the seventh Trumpet But this cometh to passe while the sixth is in being The killing therefore of the Witnesses if we expound it according to such a rule of understanding it will seeme to be a molestation and dejection of them from the office and place which they a little while had gotten in the reformed Church by the efâ—icacie of their preaching whether it be joyned with corporall death or otherwise so that thenceforth they live not the propheticall life such as then they had lived nor exercise the functions thereof any more Whereby it must needs likewise come to passe that the pillars thereof being taken away and the false Prophets of the Beast being againe brought in instead of the Prophets of Christ the whole politie of the reformed Church as far as this shall happen shall goe to the ground which whether it shall happen sooner or later onely he knoweth in whose hands are times and opportunities In the meane time lest happily any one may be deceived this is diligently to be observed that this last warre of the Beast is not of the same kinde with that which he had waged continually hitherunto against the company of the Saints of which indeed in the history of the Beast it is said Chap. 13.7 That it was given unto him to make wâ—rre with the Saints and to overcome them bâ—t altogether different For wherefore should that be declared as peculiar to the last times of the Beast which had beene usuall with him if not from his infancie yet at least from his * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 perfection therefore it is one kinde of warre which the Beast waged universally against the Saints another which in his last he shall wage with the Prophets who had begunne now to put off their sackcloth and to end their propheticall mourning that is with the Bishops of the Church in the reformed part thereof which is more manifest out of the divers event of either warre there â—urâ—ly with successe here very lamentable For there the Beast â—â—tained power over every Tribe Tongue and Nation c. But here he procureth to himselfe a sudden and fatall ruine as is Chap. 11. to be seene in the Text. And their dead bodies shall lie in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the street of the Vers 8. great Citie which spiritually is called Sod me and Egypt where also their Lord was crucified That Citie surnamed great is Rome so called not so much for the quantitie to looke upon as because she had beene the Queene of other Cities according to that of the Angel Chap. 17. 18. The woman which thou sawest is that great Citie which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth As in like manner by the name of the great King as God is called Psal 28. 2. and Matth 5. 35. and which title did peculiarly comply in times past with the Kings of the Assyrians and Persians is meant the King of Kings who â—ath authoritie over â—ther Kings Whereupon throughout the whole Revelation whatsoever other name Rome is called by either Babylon or Harlot it is alwaies intituled the Great as that Great Babylon that great Whore Adde hereunto that through the whole Revelation that title is given to no Citie besides it except at length after the sacking of it to that new Ierusalem Chap. 21.10 descending from heaven in the light whereof afterward the Gentiles should walke Which he that should thinke to be here meant he certainly should have need of some * Neesing powder Hellebore For neither was Jerusalem in the age of Iohn nor is any other Ierusalem ever to be the Great Citie or head and Queene of other Cities of the world excepting it It is added which is spiritually called Sodome and Egypt Egypt for the tyrannie over the people of God like the Egyptians tyranny Sodome for whoredome to wit spirituall Now here which let the Reader diligently marke is the Key of the Allegorie of which sort more in this Booke doe occurre Whereby indeed the holy Ghost at once would intimate that whatsoever in these visions is exhibited any where of the plagues of Egypt or destruction of
Sodome all that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is mystically to be interpreted since that Rome or the state of the Romane Empire the subject of all those plagues is mysticall Sodome and Egypt Now there fall out passages concerning the Egyptian plagues in the dâ—scription of the Trumpets and Phyals as also in this very history of the Witnesses concerning the destruction of Sodome in the judgement of the Beast Chap. 19. 20. and 20. 10. the meaning of all which is to be opened by this Key Hence also Chap. 11. it may be demonstrated that the subject of the Trumpets is the Romane dominion Because some of theirs are Egyptian plagues and upon what should Egyptian plagues be inflicted but upon Egypt and this is Rome by the authoritie of the holy Ghost So concerning the great Citie the matter is plaine But what that * Street 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the City may be whereof here is mention is not so easie to be knowne Surely for a street or for that which in Latine we call platea or a market place or any other place within the Citie it seemeth it cannot be taken and that for the reasons following 1. For first the Lord Christ who is said to be crucified in this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was crucified neither in any street or market place or court of the Citie of Rome nor of Ierusalem but without the gate of the one Heb. 13.12 and onely within the Province of the other by Pilate the Governour Therefore * The street of that great Citie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is not any street or broader way within the wals of either Citie but a place without the Citie 2. It is very like that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 put in the singular number doth note out some thing of that sort or kinde whereof there is but one in a Citie not more But there are more streets then one in every Citie at lest in a famous Citie 3. It is to be thought that the bodies of the Witnesses lyâ— there where they be overcome in battell But it is not the custome for Armies to encounter within the wals of a City but if not in the enemies land at least in the Region and Provinces subject to the Citie 4. Whose slaine karcases might be openly beheld for three dayes and an halfe by people kindreds tongues and Nations and care taken that they should not be buried these lay not in any streete or broad way of a great Citie but either seeme to have beene dispersed or carried about through the Provinces to which therfore the signification of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ought to be applyed And if any shall say that the Army of the Beast whereby the Witnesses are discomfited and slaine is compact out of severall people and tongues and therefore they could easily behold the dead bodies of those whom they had slaine we must have recourse to the former Argument that such Armies use not to meet within the wals of a Citie For at any hand the thing is to be so expounded especially where no reason of an allegory can be pretended Chap. 11. that no absurditie bee committed against the litterall sense What else therefore shaâ—l we say here but that by the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is signified the whole Region and Territory subject to the dominion of the City and that that signification was drawne even from the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to which it often answereth in the Septuagint Translation to wit after the manner and use of the Septuagint who in translating of an Hebrew word * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of many significations are wont to use a Greek word which properly answereth it but in one sense to expresse the force of it in another sense as by many examples may be proved if here it had beene pertinent And now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the Hebrewes signifieth whatsoever is altogether without the house whether without buildings as streets and wayes in Cities or without the Citie as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Region or ground lying about it Surely Iob 5. 10. where in the Hebrew it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon the fields the Chalde rendereth it who giveth raine upon the face of the earth and sendeth waters upon the face of the province or region of the people or from the notion of breadth as though it were the same as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Esay 8. 8. And the stretching out of his wings that is of the Assyrian shall fill the breadth of thy Land O Immanuel And Revel 20 9. concerning Gog and Magog 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They went up on the breadth of the earth and compassed the beloved Citiâ— For hither it tendeth that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is the other word which the Seventie translate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth breadth or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have all one and the same letters and both of them by the Chaldeans are expressed by the same word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or to conclude by the notion of breadth which is proper to the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the holy Ghost would intimate the largenesse of the dominion of that great City wherein it hath and at this day doth exceed all other Cities as if 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had been put for * Vpon the large region 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Surely the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is an adjective put Substantively and thereupon some what ought to be understood and truely one thing and another may be to explaine the signification thereof neither know I whether that signification of a street may at all be found among the ancient Greeke Writers And now to whom this interpretation shall approve it selfe Chap. 11. to him it cannot be obscure any more either why Christ is said to be crucified in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Citie of Rome or where the dead bodies of the slaine Witnesses are to be cast forth to wit not in the Citie of Rome but within the Romane dominion Truely I know very many of ours that may come to the same end doe understand here by the name of the Citie the whole dominion of the Citie But then I pray you what shall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be for according to this interpretation it can be neither of those two things of which it must of necessitie be the one to wit either the Romane dominion or else some province thereof Not the dominion as which is expressed already in the name of the City it selfe not any province because a great City may have many such but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meaneth something that is one and singular being put in the singular number But it shall suffice to have noted these things of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the street of the great Citie Let us now proceed to the rest And the men of
as it were the tenth of that ancient largenesse of the Citie of Rome should remaine for the seat and last destruction of this Beast It is added and in the earthquake were slaine seven thousand names of men Here if by names of men we understand heads of men or severall men the number seemeth over slender and not agreeable to the greatnesse of the destruction which other where the holy Ghost intimateth For shall not the number of the slaine be farre greater in the destruction of Babylon then seven thousand men And is it likely that the powring out of the fift phyall upon the throne of the Beast should passe away with so small a slaughter of men That this scruple may by some means be satisfied First it is to be observed that by the name of the Citie here is understood not citizens and inhabitants but buildings and walles that is the royall Seat of the Beast and so a double ruine of Babylon is described in these prophesies First of Babylon taken for the royall Citie of the Beast to wit the Citie of Rome at the fift phyall Again of Babylon taken for the Citizens or State of Rome which doubtlesse the Pope with the Senate of Scarlet Cardinals the other company of Citizens especially Ecclesiasticall do make Who Rome being destroyed and burnt betake themselves to dwell elsewhere to be reserved for the last phyall At the powring whereof it is said above other destructions of any Land Nations and Cities in that greatest earthquake of all which ever have been even that Babylon the great came in remembrance before God to give unto her Rev. 16.19 the cup of the fiercenesse of his wrath when as notwithstanding that burning and overthrow of Babylon which is described in the 18. and 19. Chapters doth altogether prevent the full destruction of the Beast and false Prophet as in the text there is manifest I know some doe otherwise untie this knot saying that Babylon which is mentioned at the last phyall is Constantinople the Metropolis of the Turks but they shall never perswade me that the holy Ghost in the first and chiefest representation of all used so notable an * Homonymia and to understand two not alwayes onely When by one word divers things are signified one and the same Babylon though in a double respeâ—t That we may come therefore to the purpose It may happily come to passe that the former destruction of Babylon that is the ruine and overthrow Chap. 11. of the Citie of Rome is to be acted without any cruell much lesse totall putting to death of the Citizens And although the smoake thereof shall ascend evermore that is she shall be wholly Revel 19.3 turned into ashes and made even with the ground never after to be inhabited yet notwithstanding a great part of the Citizens shall escape out of the destruction of the Citie either because they shall betake themselves to flight in time or for some other cause which the event will manifest And this is one way whereby the scruple concerning the oversmall number of the slaine may be satisfyed Another is if we say that by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 names of men happily is meant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men of name for such * A figure when words are understood contrariwise Hypallage is not unusuall in the Scripture that in the government of Nounes that that Nowne which is in stead of the Epithite should goe before the other The places of Scripture following witnesse this Lev. 5. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the silver of shekles for shekles of silver or silver shekles And vers 3. of the same and Chap. 7. 21. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the uncleannesse of a man for a man of uncleannesse that is uncleane Rom. 9. 31. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the law of righteousnesse for the righteousnesse of the Law and Ephes 2. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the riches of his grace for his rich grace and the like And a name is familiar almost in all tongues for renowne especially in the holy tongue wherein 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men of name are men of renowne children 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without name Iob 30. 8. Numb 16.2 are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ignoble or base in the Chalde Ideots Whence Beza in his annotations upon Ephes 1. 21. and Philip. 2. 9. concerning the exaltation of Christ above every name as also Heb. 1. 4. taketh Name in the signification of dignitie and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worth Such interpretation if we follow neither doe I see what should oppose it the name of men shall be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dignities of men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men of name famous men and excelling in dignitie of whom there shall be ruined in this commotion of affaires and nations about seven thousand and what if of the order of the false Prophets which they call the Clergie yet I thinke the number of seven thousand is so to be defined that a few more or lesse after the manner of the Scripture may be understood Of the common people what number shall fall in this warre was to no purpose to mention since that might be conjectured by the destruction of the famous ones neither would the holy Ghost descend Chap. 11. to reckon the off-scumme in the account of the slaine But yet another interpretation may be given that there is no need to interpret it of men by polle to wit if we interpret the names of men Companies and Societies of men used to be called by their proper names no lesse then men in particular as are Cities Incorporations Parishes Boroughs Covents and the like titles of humane Companies For these what other thing are they if we would consider the matter then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 names of men for so the politie of the Thâ—bans is called by Eschynes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Roman name is put for the Romanes What therefore if in this commotion of the nations seven thousand of these titles of humane Societies whatsoever they be whether in the Citie of Rome or in the state of the Church as they call it be to be killed that is subdued by the adverse power which the Scripture is wont to call killing But we ought not rashly to determine of a future thing since the Commentary of a Prophesie is the event of the things foretold Notwithstanding to this end I have produced these things that it may appeare that the interpretation is much more free here as touching the words then happily is commonly accounted when as the use of the Scripture doth not tie the word Name to some one and certaine signification Neither can 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 joyned together be any where found but in the place we have in hand neither 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 simply for men by polle but twise onely Act. 1 15. Revel 3.4 Other where it is used sometimes in one sometimes in another signification
same Romane Beast of the last State which is here spoken of But those things which are declared there by the Angel to Daniel more succinctly are here opened more at large to Chap. 1â— Iohn as it were an explication being interposed There was given to him saith he a mouth speaking great things those words a mouth speaking great things are out of Daniel but here those great words are expounded by blasphemies by which name as by and by shall be said Idol worship is signified a matter indeed of the highest contumely against God Further he saith that the Beast should so blaspheme fortiâ— two moneths to wit annall moneths during the very same space of time wherein the Gentiles should trample the ouâ—er Court of the Temple or the holy Citie and not without cause for since that prophanation of the Gentiles doth altogether tend to the same impietie whereunto the blasphemie of the Beast doth each of them may signifie the dominion of the power of darknesse and of the night and therefore measured not by yeers or dayes according to the motion of the Sun but by moneths after the motion of the Moon which ruleth the night And surely unlesse the holy Ghost would have the specifying of the time to be referred to the blasphemie to what end hath he brought it in in this place presently after the mentioning of blasphemie Therefore the moneths of the Beast are not to be measured from the beginning of his cruelty or warre against the Saints but of his blasphemy So that if the word of doing should signifie â—â—â—e certaine act or state of the authoritie of the Beast some such thing some may imagine is meant here by the power of acting or doing that should be altogether referred to the act of blaspheming But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seemeth rather to be used in the signification of continuing or abiding as otherwhere it is wont being joyned with words of time For so Acts 15. 33. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after they had tarried there a space and 18. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he had spent some time or some while and 20. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there abode three moneths 2 Cor. 11. 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a night and a day I have been in the deepe Adde Jam's 4. 13. To day or to morrow we will goe into such a citie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and continue there a yeere Where Drusius noteth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be so used â—ccles 6. 14. and facere in the Latine tongue Seneca epist 67. Quamvis paâ—cissimos unà fecerimus dies although we tarried but a few dayes * In tabella â—arâ—orea â—n the maâ—ble table Cum qua fecit annos 9. with whom he dwelt nine yeers Apud A senum 1. c. Is servus fugerat annum à suga fecerat i. egerat manserat finierat transegerat That servant Chap. 13. fled and continued that is he dwelt he abode he ended he spent a yeere in flight These things being thus why may not these words Bestia fecit menses quadraginta duâ—s have this construction the Beast lived remained continued blaspheming fourtie two moneths The force of which speech those that understood not seeme to have inserted into the text that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 warre which is extant in some coppies Now that which I said that here by the name of blasphemy as it were by way of eminency is signified Idolatry or spirituall fornication that may be proved by a double or treble argument First because Babylon the Metropolis of this Beast is termed the mother of harlots and the Kings and inhabitants of the Earth are said to play the harlots with her But the Beast which we have in hand is none other thing but the generality of those Kings and inhabitants Secondly it must be such a manner of blasphemy as may fall into the courses of the next antecedent yea rather of all the other heads for the names of Blasphemy were put upon them all Vers 1. Adde hereunto that this Beast of the last course is descended and compact of the renewing of the impiety of his predecessour of the sixt course Now what blasphemy can be given to all these in common except onely idolatry None at all The use of Scripture expressing the idolatry of the ancient people by this name doth further confirme this Which that it may be understood it is to be known that there are three words in the Hebrew rendered in the acception of blasphemy by the Greeke interpreters and the vulgar Latine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all which signifie idolatry For the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ezek. 20. 27. yet in this your fathers have * blasphemed me when I had brought them into the land for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which I lifted up my hand to give it to them They saw every high hill and all the thicke trees and they offered there their sacrifices c. For the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Esay 65. 7. which have sacrificed upon the mountaines and upon the hills 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have reproached me In the English translation have blasphemed me And surely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 answereth the Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exactly as Theodotion hath translated Prov. 14. 31. for each of them signifyeth to reproach Whereupon 2 Kings 19. 22. it is joyned with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as a Synonima 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whom haste thou reproached and blasphemed as also Psal 44. 16. The Septuagints are wont to render each of them Chap. 13. by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifie to reproach to provoke Also the Chalde rendereth each of them by their word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which also signifieth to reproach Furthermore that I may adde this also that it was usuall not only with Esay but also with the Iews of the later age by the * Nomenclatura name of blasphemy to understand the worship of idols may be gathered even out of the Chalde Paraphrast where Psal 69. 10. for those words the reproach of them that reproached thee hath fallen upon mee the Chalde hath The rebukes of the wicked who rebuke thee while they make their idols partakers of thy glory have fallen upon me It remaineth concerning the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is the other of the two to which in the seventie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 answereth In Forster it is to vexe with contumelies reproaches cursing words Ierome in the Psalmes according to the Hebrew truth as often as it faâ—leth out and it happeneth five times alwayes translateth it to blaspheme with others it is to contemne or contemptuously to provoke so that the most true signification may seeme to be with reproaches and contumelies to provoke to wrath By this word I say as well as by the former that idolatry is signified may appeare out of Deut. 31. 20. When they shall
Which this was the issue that they were rather beaten put to flight every where spoyled of their goods and dignities and scattered here and there then being convicted of errour brought to repentance Therefore they who had defended themselves with armes in the beginning afterwards being conquered by armes fled for refuge into our countrey of Province and the Alpes borâ—ring upon France and found in those places refuges for their â—â— and doctrine A part departed into Calabria and there continued long even till the Popedom of Pius 4. A part passed over into Germany and setled their dwelling among the Bohâ—mians in Polonia and Livonia others turning Westward foundrefuge in Britaine But truly in this warre this also happeneth worthy of memorie that the Albigenses themselves being conquered upon a time at Morellum with a great overthrow by Symon Monfort Captaine of the souldiers * Cruce signatorum of the Crosse seemed to have made use of this Prophesie concerning the Beast his overcomming of the Saints for an Argument of comfort and constancie For when the Bishop of Tolosse hindering the slaughter admonished those Out of the Epiâ—â—â—es of the Prelates of France who â—â—llowed the campe of the ouldiers of the Crosse at the latter end of the â—onâ—inuation of thâ— holy Warre Edit Basi◠〈◊〉 1560 pag. 〈◊〉 which happily yet remaining abode in their Tents by sending a religious man unto them that being convinced by so great a scourge of God being angry as it were giving sentence against them now at length leaving their madnesse they would be converted to the faith which they call Catholique they retorting the sentence that they were the vanquished people of Christ as it were with this shield they frustrated the Bishops purpose and all of them to the last man valiantly died being slaine by the hand of the souldiers returning back upon them After this warre upon the Waldenses and Albigenses cruelly did the Beast rage divers waies as well against other remnants of them and in other places as also against others their companions Chap. 13. of the same pure Religion in what place soever till at length neverthelesse after the yeere 1500. whole Kingdomes Principalities Common-wealths the Churches being reformed fell away from the dominion of the Beast to the partie of the Saints Against whom afterward warre is waged and continueth at this day neither shall it be ended untill the ruine of the Beast Now if any doe diligently consider the whole series of this slaughter comprâ—hended in some few more then foure hundred and fiftie yeeres and cast the account of the number slaine either I am deceived or he will see and wonder that persecution of the Beast not onely to have equalled but also exceeded those tenne heathen Persecutions when as yet the Dragon in his owne name bare sway We heretofore shewed the number of the Albigenses and Waldenses that were slaine estimated to tenne hundred thousand men From thence to the reformation of the Church no man hath set downe the account of them that have beene cut off partly by fire partly by sword partly by other torments When as not withstanding it is knowne to be no small number From the beginning of the Jesuites to the yeere 1580. that is in little more the thirty yeeres Baldwinus de Antichristâ— noteth almost Cap. 6. n. 41. nine hundred thousand Orthodoxe Christians to have beene put to death and that alone by the hand of the Executioner the Duke â— Alva that cruell Champion of the See of Rome a Fra. Jun. Tilenus ad Bellar. lib. 3. de Pont. Rom. cap. 7. gloried that he had beene the authour of the slaughter of 36000. soules in Belgium onely within a few yeeres b Douâ—aâ—â— de Antich pag. 4.50 Vergerius witnesseth who best knew it that the Inquisition as they call it of haereticall pravitie in scarce thirty yeers space consumed one hundred and fifty thousand Christians by sundry manners of torments * De visibili Monarch lib. 8. dein 34. Sanders confesseth that many Lollards and Sacramentaries throughout all Europe were burned who notwithstanding â—aith he were not put to death by the Pope and Bishops but by Civill Magistrates even so as it was prophesied it was to come to passe For of the Secular Beast it is said that he should make warre with the Saints and overcome them and Chap. 17. vers 14. Of the teâ—â—s Kings that they shall make warre with the Lambe and with his elect and faithfull but of the Ecclesiasticall Beast not that he himselfe shall kill with the Sword but cause that whosoever will Vers 15. not worship the Image of the Beast be slaiâ—e with the Sword by the Chap. 13. same Image of the Beast as a little after we shall see It followeth And power was given him over all kindreds and tongues and Vers 7. nations But what is this power Is it of subduing the Saints as if it should extend it selfe so farre as the Romane Dominion reacheth For happily the speech is not of the largenesse of Dominion but of Persecution But if any would rather take it otherwise the sense will be that the authoritie of the Beast shall be so great that no kindred Tongue or Nation can resist his impietie Now here he meaneth not every severall man since there are many found in every age who kept their covenant with the Lambe but entire kindreds tongues and nations that is Common-wealthes of which it is most true that there was none found whom the Beast had not holden in obedience to his impiety for many ages so that those Christians truly so called which dwelt dispersed here and there throughout the Provinces of the Beast alone for that time made the undefiled Virgine Church as who had it is a griefe to thinke of it no Citie Common-wealth much lesse any Principalitie or Kingdome of their profession But here it is to be remembred that the forme of the Beast is that impiety which succeeded the Dragon by communion whereof those many Kingdomes as we have said of the Romane Empire become one Beast They therefore that took this upon them are said to yeeld to the authority of the Beast Which all kindreds tongues and nations did And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the Booke of life of the Lambe slaine from Vers â— the foundation of the world If any man have an eare let him heare Now least any one being bewitched by so universall and Catholique Vers 9. consent to the lawes of the Beast should presume it to be piously and well done and that he may follow the example of so many kindreds nations and people without danger or elsâ— being discouraged and weakned with the grievousnesse of the persecution breake his covenant made with the Lambe and yeeld to worship the Beast the holy Ghost denouneeth in what state and account they are with God who shall yeeld obedience to
to the Vintage which as in the seasons of the yeere it is accustomed so here for order it is agreeable to reason that it follow the Harvest And another Angel came out of the Temple which is in heaven Vers 17. he also having a sharpe sickle 18 And another Angel came out from the Altar which had power over fire and cryed with a loud voyce to him that had the sharpe sickle saying thrust in thy sharpe sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth because her grapes are fully ripe 19 And the Angel thrust in his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth and cast it into the great wine-presse of the wrath of God and the wine-presse was troden without the citie and the blood came out of the wine-presse even unto the Horse bridles by the space of one thousand and sixe hundred furlongs This is the description of the Vintage At the interpretation whereof we shall so much the more certainly levell by how much the signification of the parable is here lesse doubtfull and the designment Chap. 14. of the treading of the clusters of grapes more plaâ—â—e For truly the treading of vintage in parabolicall Scripture constantly signifieth a cruell bloody and deadly slaughter This first Furthermore that this slaughter here handled is the same with that great slaughter Chap. 19. as a little before I shewed those words concerning the treading of the wine-presse of Gods wrath Cap. 19. 15. put in to the description thereof doe declare Therefore it will be the same also with the warre of that great Day of God Almightie at the last phyall With which that that deadly slaughter Chap. 19. is the same this maketh it out of doubt that both of them are the last ruine of one and the same enemy For each of them are to fall at the last upon the Beast the false Prophet and their confederates But their last slaughter can be but one Now if our vintage shall designe the same slaughter with them it must needs rest upon the same enemies with them therefore upon the Beast and false Prophet The vine therefore or vineyâ—rd of the Earth whereof here is mention is the dominion of the Beast The grapes ripe for gathering are the followers of the Beast swelling with blood guiltinesse ripe for judgement To conclude the vessell or winepresse is the place of slaughter The same forsooth which at the seventh viall being interpreted in Hebrew is called Armageddon happily because there at the universall slaughter of the Beast the troopes or bands shall be destroyed For * See Drusius Praeterit lib. 10. pag. 434. Arma 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth destruction Gedon or Geddon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a troope army or their Army * He gathered them saith he into a place which is called in Hebrew Armageddon the books of Plantines Printing are with a single Δ Armagedon and the seventh Angel powred Chap. 16. 16. out his phyall into the aire and there came a great voyce out of the Temple of heaven from the throne saying It is done Now where this wine-presse or place is like to be for treading of the grapes is yet in Gods secret and therefore not by us too curiously to be searched out nor determined untill either the event it self shall manifest it or the state of things neerer thereunto shall haply yeeld some marke Yet this we may lawfully tell without the reprehension of rashnesse out of so diligent a dimension of the space through which the slaughter should extend it may seeme the holy Ghost pointeth his finger to some such Region as may extend a thousand and six hundred fâ—â—longs in length For by so many furlongs he enformeth the slaughter shall Chap. 14. be made without the Citie That is if I be not deceived in the Region or Dominion of the Citie Hence it commeth to passe that some by that circuit thinke the Holy Land is meant as which comprehendeth exactly so many furlongs in the length thereof that is two hundred Italian miles but not above an hundred and threescore Gracian which to be the length of the Holy Land Ierome relateth in his Epistle to Darâ—anus For the Gracians say they measured their miles by ten furlongs every of which was an hundred paces now a pace which they call Orgya a faddom is sixe Romane foot so in the whole a Grecian mile contained 6000 Romane foot On the contrary the Romanes define a pace by five foot a furlong by 125 paces a mile by eight furlongs that is only 5000 foot Whence it commeth to passe that the Grecian mile although it agree with the Romane in the number of 1000 paces yet it is greater by a fift part then the Romane By which means 200 Romane miles make not above 160 Grecian This is the summe of the account Furthermore this addeth no little weight to the conjecture that the name of the place is expressed by an Hebrew word Armageddon as if it were to come to passe in the land of the Hebrews But by what means shall this be brought to passe Surely to those that conceive Antichrist shall come out of the East this opinion is easie and prompt enough to us not so except any one haply may thinke it likely that the false Prophet after the overthrow of Rome shall remove into the East and Seat himselfe there Indeed there are some of the servants of the Beast themselves who affirme this to wit that the Pope of Rome shall have his Seat at Ierusalem before the last Day of Iudgement For indeed it cannot be affirmed with any likelihood of truth that the Beast his affaires at home in the West being in such state and danger as is supposed should again as long agoe in the expedition to Ierusalem Lead an Army into Palestine leaving so many enemies at his back and there at length utterly be abolished Moreover least we who affirme Antichrist to be in the West should be inferiour in this respect to them who affirme him to be in the East there is a place likewise neere at hand to which the said number of furlongs in like manner agreeth for example Stato della Chiesa or the large possession of the Romane Church which from the Citie of Rome to the furthermost mouth of the River Pâ— and the Marishes of Verona extendeth Chap. 14. the space of two hundred Italian miles that is 1600 furlongs But whither goe I let us cease to be as happily hitherto we have been too curious Let us descend to other matters which will be more worth our labour And so let the Reader first marke this that here the Cutter of the clusters of the Vine is not the same as is the Treader of the winepresse but as the functions of the grape gatherer and the Treader of the winepresse are severall so also they have severall workmen for the grape gathering or cutting of the clusters an Angel furnished with
signifying Trajan from the West whose reigne with Hadrian his successour was full of blood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The third Seale a Man shewing a blacke horse and his rider signifying Septimius Severus from the South and by the ballances Vers 5. 6. in his hand Iustice and carefull provision for the Common-wealth in his time and Alexanders The fourth Seale an Eagle shewing a pale horse and his rider signifying Maximinus from the North in his time and Gallus Vers 7. 8. Volusianus and Decius the sword famine and pestilence met together therefore called Mortifer The fifth Seale no beast horse norrider entereth from Aurelianus Vâ—â—â— 9 10 11 in Anno 268. wherein is set forth the tenne yeeres persecution under Dioclesian The sixth Seale an admirable shaking of Heaven and Earth Vers 12 13 14 15 16 17 signifying the change and subversion of the state of Rome heathen by Constantine the Great Before the entrance to the seventh Seale which is a seale of Chap. 7. Trumpets there is care taken for the Church set forth by a company of 144000. to be sealed of every Tribe of Israel 12000 in Vers 4. 5. reckoning of which there is an unusuall order yet in that Type such as might best represent the profession of pure Religion miraculously in the bosome of the Empire to be preserved in the midst of the combustions of the World polluted with idolatrous worship and conspiring the ruine of the Church and therefore it is fenced with the Seale of God The twelve Apostles aptly answering the Type of Israel the number 12. being the Ensigne of the Apostolike race and by multiplying expressing the Apostolike pregenic To which is added by the representation of innumerable Palme-bearers 〈◊〉 a most ample estate of every Nation People Tribe and Tonâ—ue â— praising God The seventh Seale containeth seven Trumpets sounding the Chap. â— allarâ—e to the ruine of the Empire by a seven-fold order of plagues the foure first of lesse extent The first Trumpet wasteth the Territorie of the Romane Empire with a terrible breaking in of the Northerne Nations for by the third part of the Earth is meant the people or politicall Vers 7. Vniverse of the Romane Empire it being the third part of the then known habitable world This happened from the death of Theodosius Anno 395. by Alaricus and the Goths and by the Barbarians Radagaiso being their Captaine Anno 404. and by the Vandales and Alanes c. Anno 405 6. The second Trumpet assaileth the dominion of the Romane Vers â— 9. Empire expressed by the Sea Rome being taken by Alaricus Anno 410. After which the largenesse of the Romane dominion was daily cut off untill Anno 455. that Gensericus tooke and spoiled Rome againe after which the whole body of the Empire was divided into tenne Kingdomes Anno 456. The third Trumpet utterly throweth downe the Romane Hesperus or Westerne Caesar Anno 476. fetching his last breath under Vers 10 11. the fatall name of Augustulus a Prince of bitternesse and sorrowes therefore resembled by a falling Starre called Wormewood The fourth Trumpet taketh away the light of the Romane Vers 12. Maiestie shining till then under Ostrogothean Kings when the Consulship of Rome failed Anno 542. The three woe Trumpets Vers 13. The fifth or first woe Trumpet sendeth the hostile hands of Chap. 9. Saracens and Arabians in the Type of Locusts not onely to destroy Vers 3. and waste from the yeere 830 to 980. that is 150. yeeres or five moneths of yeeres but also to poyson with the venemous doctrine of Muhamedisme The Locusts had a King over them whose name was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Destroyer Vers 11. The sixth or second woe Trumpet loâ—seth the foure Angels Vers 13 14. that is the foure Sultanies or Kingdomes into which the Turkes were parted being before restrained at Euphrates which loosing happened a little before the yeere 1300. uniting themselves under the conduct of one Othoman which should come to passe after a propheticall day a moneth and a yeere being 396. yeers to wit from the yeere 1057. wherein Tangrolipix had taken the royall Citie Bagdad from which time the Turkes are prepared to kill the third part of men that is in the yeere 1453. Constantinople Vers 15. being then taken The number of the horsemen are two hundred Vers 16. thousand thousand their Munition Gunnes and Ordnance expressed Vers 17. by Fire Smoake and Brimstone The seventh or third woe Trumpet is put off to the prophesie Chap 10. of the Little Booke It containeth the consummation of the Vers 7. Mysterie of God which event is declared in an Oath taken by an Angel and a Crie upon which seven thundâ—rs utter their Vers 6. Vers 3. voices which Iohn is forbidden to write Verâ— 4. The Prophesie of the Little Booke wherein the destinie of the Church is contâ—ined followeth to which the Apostle is fitted by Vers 8 9 10. taking the Booke and eating it which was sweet in his mouth but bitter in his belly The measurâ—d court setteth forth the Primitive state of the Christiâ—n Church conformable to the rule of Gods Word shortly after to ensue and contrary to which is the Court not to be measured it not being Gods workmanship but to be prophaned by idolatrous worship renewed or Antichristian Apostasie to reigne fortie two moneths of yeeres While this Court is prophaned two Witnesses bewaile the prophanation Veâ—s 3. give testimonie to the truth of God and exhort to repentance 1260. dayes answerable to the fortie two moneths of prophanation denouncing Gods iudgements which beganne to be executed at the Phyalls and debarring the new Idolaters from the hope Vers 5. of eternall life Vers 6. The destinie of these Witnesses is when they have finished their testimonie to be made conformable to Christ in suffering to be Vers 7. inâ—licted upon them by the Romane seven-headed Beast these shall in the end suffer a mysticall death and lye unburied three Vers 8 9 10 11. yeeres and an halfe after which they shall be restored to their former estate or to a more excellent dignitie And upon a commotion and alteration of politicall affaires the Citie of Rome as Vers 12 13. now it is being but a tenth part of the old Citie shall be overthrowne at the fifth Phyall wherein shall be slaine â—000 men of Name or of the Clergie or Companies of men This is the ending of the second woe or sixth Trumpet at which time the Kings from the East or the Iewes shall beginne as it were a new Kingdome or the Beast i. the Pope shall change his forme being driven from his Metropolis Rome by the overthrow thereof So this Vision Chap. 11. of the open Booke goeth through the whole course of the Revelation to shew the connexion of it with the Seales and Trumpets THe Romane Empire worshipping the Dragon that is the Chap. 12. Devil in Idols persecuted the Church of God represented Vers 3 4. by the woman in travell to bring