which wee haue not already found FOVRTHLY and lastly wee may obserue that as the mysticall condition of this Babylonian Rome is by cleere remonstrance made by learned and iudicious men notoriously discouered vnto all the World so the hornes of the Papall Beast haue begun to fall from his head his power being thereby much abated and neuer likely to bee recouered againe but one horne after another shall be plucked off Wherefore as I may certainly conclude that the Turke shall not destroy the states and dignities of these ten Kings whatsoeuer Zanchius a learned and profound Diuine did conceiue to the contrary for which he suffered some opposition as in the second part of his Miscellanea it may appeare and whatsoeuer Melancthon himselfe deliuered in his publike Lectures that all Germanie should bee possessed by the Turke and my reason is grounded vpon the Scripture shewing that the ten Kings which arose with the second Beast in Rome shall destroy Rome at the last and therefore if the Turke obtaine their Kingdomes it must be after the fal of the Rome which they must first ruinate so I may very reasonably and probably affirme that the Kings which are alreadie fallen from the Beast the Pope shall neuer returne vnto him againe to giue their power a second time vnto him and to submit their Royall States vnto the Papall Crowne But if Babylon should aduance her selfe in England againe which wee haue no cause to feare nor Papists reason to hope yet that shall not hinder the accomplishment of this worke for Babylon must fall it is decreed by GOD it shall bee performed by these Kings Notwithstanding since Babylon is full of malice and indignation playing first the Foxe to enter into the Lords Vineyard that shee might be a Lyon afterwards to kill the Keepers thereof let vs not be secure in obseruing her courses nor fearefull to sustaine her conflict Let vs be prepared for that which may not perhaps be prepared for vs Wee must not bee wanting to Martyrdome though it may bee wanting vnto vs ne desit animus Martyrio saith Saint Cyprian Let vs not want a mind to die for the truth of Christ hee may be an habituall Martyr euer that is an actuall neuer in preparation of mind not in passion of bodie in will and not in worke as Saint Bernard speaketh of Saint Iohn the Euangelist that hee was a Martyr in will though not in worke whereas the Innocents were Martyrs in worke but not in will and Saint Stephen in both But here let no man deceiue himselfe with a sudden apprehension of Martyrdome as a matter of little difficultie to vndergo but let him consider rather that multi ante persecutionem Leones in persecutione cerui many are Lyons in the time of peace but Harts in the time of persecution as one of the Ancients spake by experience of those times that many who speake gloriously of their resolution appeare cowards in their performance as the historie of Doctor Pendleton and Master Sanders may testifie and finally that they whom God calleth vnto so great a worke shall bee prepared by him with gifts conuenient for that purpose Therfore Saint Ambrose writing vnto his sister Marcella Epist 44. saith modestly of himselfe because God knew me to be weake hee hath not yet giuen the Deuill power ouer my bodie And though I should desire martyrdome and offer my selfe vnto it perhaps he doth iudge mee yet to be vnable for so great a strife and therefore doth exercise mee with other labours and diuers afflictions but hath not tried mee in this kind O the rare humilitie of such an excellent spirit Let vs then by his example bee willing not boasting readie not desirous to dye for the cause of God if Babylon should yet againe try vs in the fire of her persecution before shee come to the fire of her owne ruine And so much of the third point namely the time when Babylon shall be destroyed by these Kings The FOVRTH Question THe FOVRTH and last question concerneth the state of the Pope of Papists and of Poperie vpon this fall of Babylon whether hee and they and it shall come vnto a finall extirpation with Babylon or what may bee conceiued probably of each in the discourse of iudgement and reason by deduction out of the sacred Scripture it selfe This question then hath three seuerall branches as you heare and therefore I will treate of them all in order as it shall please God to assist mee with the celestiall illumination of his blessed Spirit The FIRST Branch of the fourth Question concerning the POPE WE doe not now enquire concerning the Person of the Pope whether a Iohn as many were or a Iohne as one was supposed to be but concerning the State place office and dignitie of the Pope and as hee is the Second Beast in Babylon inuading there the Imperiall Seat and by another forme or colour of gouernment vsurping the Imperiall power as the ancient Fathers doe vsually speake of Antichrist according to the tenour of the Scripture it selfe in this behalfe and as the experience of latter ages doth really verifie and exhibite the truth of their iudgement herein vnto our eyes I answere then that as Bellarmine doth vainely flatter himselfe lib. 4. de Pont. Rom. cap. 4. concerning the time of this ruine of Babylon namely that it shall not be vntill the end of the world and in the time of their chimericall and imagined Antichrist whose reigne enduring three yeeres and an halfe is ended by the second comming of our Lord Iesus Christ as they simply pretend so hee doth delude himselfe and others when he saith that in the time and after the time of her ruine the Pope shall bee called and indeed shall be Romanus Pontifex the Bishop of Rome For the truth is apparant by the tenour of the sacred Booke of the Reuelation that the Papall Beast is the cause of the expedition made by the tenne Kings against Babylon that this warre made vpon Babylon is in regard of the pride oppression and other sinnes in Babylon as shee is borne vp and supported by the second Beast whose Dominion was aduanced by their submission vnto him and shall bee suppressed by their concurrencie against him It is not then a quarrell against the Citizens or the edifices of Rome but against her vsurpations exercised by the Triple-crowned Beast therein Neither had these Kings performed their designe if when they burnt the Citie of Rome the Beast should still remaine Therefore as Babylon it selfe shall fall so the power of her Beast shall be destroyed by these Kings as being coupled and commixed with the same For as the ruine of Literall Babylon was accompanied with the ruine of the Chaldaean Empire so the fall of Mysticall Babylon shall bee accompanied with the fall of her Beast whom these Kings will now permit no more to tyrannize with Papall dominion in the Ciuill or Ecclesiasticall State for as the power of the Beast standeth
example may prouoke others if God shall call you vnto this employment attend your Princes goe with their persons or go vpon their commands for I know not whether they shall goe personally to this war or not certaine I am that they shall go in their power in theis people in their treasure set forward this great designe it is not to accompany Caesar to conquer Prouinces for the glory of Rome nor Alexander to subdue the Persian Monarch it is no such politicke attempt for humane ends but it is the worke of heauen and earth conspiring in her destruction who inslaueth you with her tyrranny poysoneth you with her heresie defileth Gods name with blasphemy conculcateth all royall dignitie with her pride murdereth Gods Saints with her crueltie worke therefore her ruine that seeketh yours FOVRTHLY I speake vnto you who are Subiects of an inferiour degree I doubt not but in regard of your Christian pietie and zeale I may say of you as Deborah of her magnanimous people Praise the Lord for the auenging of Israel and for the people that offered themselues willingly Iudic. 5.2 Many Volones shal then appear to offer themselues in this sacred expedition There is no necessitie of disputation in this case whether in such a war so iust and lawfull voluntary or mercenary warfare may be approued or not And you that are pressed vnto this warre by your rightfull Princes shall not be troubled with that scruple which so much vexeth the Schooles how farre in what causes with what limitations a Souldier may fight vpon the commandement of his Prince since the authoritie of vndertaking warre is in the King the ministry of executing it is in the Subiects as S. Augustine writeth contra Faustum l. 22. c. 75. for you see that the proclamation and ordination of this warre is from the vnquestionable authoritie of God himselfe and therfore as you shall serue your Souereignes so they shall serue God therein This warre therefore is honourable religious necessary and to be preferred before a base cowardly and profane peace If Iehoram speake of peace yet Iehu will heare of none because hee is the minister of Gods Iustice Pax ab illis non cum illis saith S. Bernard of wicked persons so I say here haue peace from Babylon in not medling with her societie you can haue no peace with her in treating with her vpon sweet and amicable termes FIFTHLY and lastly I end with that which is the beginning of euery successefull enterprise Prayer Souereignes must pray with Moses while their Subiects fight with Amalek Constantine the Great attributed his victories vnto the force of prayer and therefore hee had a Tabernacle in his Campe framed according to the modell of a Church Theodosius conquered a puissant enemy Maximus in name and power by the preuayling vertue of prayer Let prayer also arme the Souldiers of this warre it is more defensiue then any Shield and more offensiue then any Sword And you that go not forth with them in person to fight against Babylon yet fight also by your praiers for their safetie and successe Hee that hath not an hand able to fight nor a tongue learned to preach may yet haue an heart well affected to pray Pray then pray all for the peace of Ierusalem and the ruine of Babylon cry with one voyce and cry still cadat cadat let it fall till wee heare actually cecidit cecidit it is fallen And though God doth more respect herein the goodnesse of the cause then of our persons in the issue of this warre yet let vs be armed with pietie vertue grace that we may be more fit and proper instruments for his purpose according to Gods owne precept Deut. 23.9 When thou goest out with the hoast against thine enemies keepe thee then from all wickednesse So shall our warres prosper abroad peace continue at home with the aduancement of Gods truth both there and heere which the Lord of all mercies conserue vnto vs and vnto our posteritie after vs euen till the glorious appearance of our Lord Iesus Christ Amen FINIS A Correction of the Errata In the FIRST Sermon PAge * 10. Line 28. put out third p. 11. l. 2. Read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 11. l. 8. read vnto for vpon p. 15. l. 21. read excecation p. 24. l. 12. mere for nere p. 25. l. 10. and I doubt * p. 29. l. 2. put out foure p. 31. l. 22. read disâ—â—â—sions * p. 33. l. 2. it being * p. 45. l. 4. read time of Antichrist woording to the common doctrine of Babylon when * p. 49. l. 26. read vnto Mahomet and the Turke * p. 5â— l. 17. read Apocal. 13 1.* p. 55. l. 6. read fourth in stead of third p. 57. l. 15. powerfully l. 18. naturall * p. 73. l. 5. put out most * p. 83. l. 19 read they haue not such p. l. 91. l. 8. which for with * p. 127. 29. and in a second In the SECOND Sermon Page 10. Line 11. Read So in this p. 19. l. 24. as it is the. p. 20. l. 14. this is the fall * p. 24. l. 5. any people * p. 31. l. 28. indignitie * p. 32. l. 25. read then in stead of that p. 36. l. 1. and in stead of as p. 38. l. 28. some of them in stead of they * p. 39. l. 29. they were for he was * p. 48. l. 10. his flesh * p. 50. l. 18. footesteps for stoolesteps * Pag. 4.
this vnlearned foolish and erroneous proiect as Vlphila a Bishop of the Goths did sometimes insnare the credulous and ignorant people assuring them that the differences betwixt the Catholikes and the Arrians did consist rather in the forme of words then in the substance of matter as Theodorit doth report lib. 4. cap. 37. Now as the Reconcilers of the two Religions doe iustly deserue your censure so the secret Babylonians that hold outward conformitie with England and inward correspondencie with Rome are to bee lamented as well as detested being no lesse dangerously affected in the state of their owne soules then against the state of this Church These are men that stand like a needle in a dyall North and South personally in England affectionately in Rome heterogeneous members of both and neither Church amphibia creatures liuing in the two Elements of Sion and Babylon they speake both languages of the Iewes and Philistines they comport themselues so wisely that the present times may beare them and the future receiue them men more subtile for themselues then sincere to any It were to bee wished that as men belieue if such men doe belieue any thing so they would confesse For with the heart wee belieue to righteousnesse and with the mouth wee confesse to saluation EIGHTHLY since Papall or Ecclesiasticall Rome is that Babylon which Saint Iohn doth here propose and exhibite in liuely colours vnto our view I cannot without indignation or rather compassion obserue that this truth being of such cleere euidence and of so great consequence for the consolation of Gods Church afflicted by her and confusion of Babylon triumphing in her pride malice and crueltie vpon vs as also prouoking the diuine Maiestie by her monstrous Idolatries by her false doctrines by her base superstitions by her taking from the people the key of knowledge in the holy Scriptures with many more absurd and impious courses should bee so little regarded by some vngratefull therefore vnto God for this sacred Reuelation made vnto his Church or so much questioned by others who either out of negligence search not into this truth or out of a puzzeled vnderstanding cannot comprehend it or out of a preiudice will not discerne it but like men in a secure and pernicious Lethargie with heauie and drowsie spirits raise not vp their thoughts vnto a more acute penetration of so excellent and so necessarie a point for the prediction whereof so long before wee owe much vnto the prouidence of God and for the discouery of it now so long after in these our dayes wee owe much vnto his goodnesse And I doe more earnestly presse all Diuines in this Church vnto a serious and diligent contemplation of this mysterie now so reuealed vnto vs which was concealed from our fathers because they shall thereby inable themselues with more sufficiencie of meanes to confirme many in the truth and to recall many from their errours when they shall by good discourse of reason founded vpon the circumstances of this Scripture comparing it with other Scriptures and with the euents of time the successe of things in later Ages concurring with the prediction in former cleerely and fairely perceiue that Rome as now shee is and long hath beene vnder the gouernment of the Pope is the Mysticall Babylon the Mother of Whoredomes the Seate of the Second Beast the verie Synagogue wherein Antichrist doth reigne For defect of which certaine knowledge in the vnderstanding and secret perswasion of the mind therein a greater gap is left open for the entrance of Babylon into many hearts whereof I could say something by the particular experience of my vnhappy selfe Since therefore I doe so well apprehend the force and efficacie of this truth for which I giue most humble thankes vnto my benigne and gracious Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I doe more willingly excite and stirre vp my learned Brethren to settle their iudgements vpon a perfect and exact knowledge thereof being able and readie by speciall demonstration and strength of discourse to explicate the same in particular manner and forme omni poscenti to euerie one that shall aske a reason of their assertion and beliefe in this point wherein now the Iesuites themselues Ribera and Viegas haue carryed vs securely and firmely beyond the speculation of Augustine and some others conceiuing this Babylon to bee the generall societie of the wicked and no particular place and beyond the decision of Hierome supposing it to bee Ethnicall Rome and so to bee alreadie past at which wee doe not meruaile since Hierome by experience saw that State past but could not by diuination foresee this to come namely that the Pope should bee the Second Beast and that Rome should bee Babylon vnder him a matter not imaginable in those more happie times Therefore though the said Iesuites going beyond Augustine confesse this Babylon to bee Rome and going beyond Hierome yea beyond the most generall conceit of other Babylonians confesse it to bee Rome in a new second and latter estate after the entertainment of Christian Religion therein but deny it to bee so in regard of the Church at all or of the Citie as it now is and while shee shall so remaine vnder the Pope yet wee see them so wrapped vp in sundrie inextricable difficulties to maintaine this their determination of the point that till wee come vnto the perspicuous and solid resolution thereof by laying so great a power of Babylon which they saw in it vpon the Papall Souereignety and so large a Dominion which they saw in it vpon the extension of his authoritie in the world and so much Idolatry which they saw in it vpon the superstitious foolish practises of the Romane Church and such a correspondency with the world which they saw in it vpon the communication of her Wares and negotiation of her Merchants with it together with the dependencie of of States and Churches vpon it there is no meanes in congruitie of reason and in ordinarie sense to vntwine and loose the doubts which arise thereupon and bind vp these men so fast viz. How Rome within the space of three yeeres or therevpon with which limits of time they circumscribe the reigne of Antichrist out of a false and erroneous opinion of the Ancients should attaine vnto such a vast power and so ample a Dominion in the world with such grosse Idolatrie diffused so copiously from thence into the world with such a subiection of Kingdomes and Prouinces vnto it which things though they saw truely and affirme constantly by the certaine and infallible euidence of the Text it selfe yet they would not or they could not by reason of their forestalled conceit which they haue of the holy Father and of his Apostolicall State behold and discerne them there where onely they are to bee found where onely the Scripture doth assigne them where onely the palpable euents and cleere ocurrences of the time discouer them where onely reason and her discourse doth bring them
MYSTICAL BABYLON OR Papall Rome A Treatise vpon those words APOCAL 18.2 It is fallen it is fallen BABYLON c. In which the wicked and miserable condition of Rome as shee now is in her present Babylonian estate and as she shall be in her future ineuitable ruine is fully discouered And sundry Controuersiall points of Religion betwixt the Protestants and the Papists are briefly discussed By Theophilus Higgons Rector of the Parochiall Church of Hunton neere Maidstone in KENT PSAL. 119.126 It is time for thee LORD to lay to thine hand for they haue destroyed thy Law LONDON Printed by William Stansby for Matthew Lownes and William Barret 1624. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE SIR HENRY MOVNTAGV Knight Baron of KIMBOLTON Viscount MAVNDEVILLE Lord President of his MAIESTIES most Honorable Priuie Counsaile Right noble and truly Christian LORD SInce I haue presumed to appeare thus in publique and to treate peculiarly of this subiect Mysticall Babylon rather then of any other and finally to recommend this Treatise vnto your fauourable patronage I stand therefore obliged to expresse my Motiues and Reasons in the two former points for the generall satisfaction of others and in the last for the particular of your Honorable Selfe As for the FIRST I am not mooued vpon any oblique respect to take vp the Sword of my Pen in this spirituall warfare I am not vexed with the ambition of preferment nor affectation of applause for I desire earnestly of God that the diuine sentence of Saint Paul may bee deeply grauen in my heart The World is crucified vnto me and I vnto the World Neither am I prouoked vnto this designe out of any spleene or vindictiue humour against the Church of Rome or any person therein and indeed I haue beene so farre from giuing them any speciall distaste that I haue obserued the tearmes of ciuill and morall respect towards some of them to my greater preiudice then I will either bragge or complaine of vnto the World But the true and proper causes are these First I am bound as a dutifull Sonne of my Mother-Church from whose sacred breasts I drew the first nutriment of my faith to succour and comfort her in her distressed estate while the little Foxes of Rome eate vp her Grapes and the wild Boare thereof seeketh to enter into the Vineyard of God And therefore since euery man indued with any facultie of writing should performe his seruice vnto the Church of God especially when and where the contagion of Heresie doth dilate it selfe as Saint Augustine doth grauely aduise I could not bee silent in so necessarie a time for as wee shall answere vnto God for our idle words so wee shall answere vnto him for our dangerous silence Secondly to make some satisfaction thereby vnto the Church of God which being vniustly wronged by my meanes doth iustly challenge this remedie of my paines that the hand which hath hurt her may somewhat helpe her and that as I haue made a wound so I may make a cure againe Thirdly to procure the sweete peace of my conscience towards God that I may heale the wound which I haue formerly made vnto my owne soule Christian Wisdome teaching me to powre some Oile into that to supple it which hath found so much Vineger to fret it and therefore I am resolued to neglect all troubles without that I may find this comfort within Fourthly to exempt hereby all scruple out of their hearts who desire to vnderstand the state and disposition of my conscience in the matter of Religion For as Saint Hierome being vehemently suspected of the infection of Origens errours did therefore diuert that suspition by cleere publication of his mind in writing That they who would not beleeue his tongue in his deniall might yet beleeue his Pen in his refutation thereof as hee doth ingeniously write in this behalfe so I find my selfe very deeply charged in the point of conscience and discretion to giue sufficient notice vnto all the sonnes of my Mother touching my Faith and Religion by some Treatise now to bee published vnto the World and to remayne I hope after my decease as a Record what I doe certainly beleeue concerning the doctrine of faith professed in this Church of England and oppugned by the Church of Rome SECONDLY therefore I haue made speciall election of this subiect concerning Rome and her ruine as being of greatest importance in it self and specially in these dayes For whereas the most vsuall subiects of disputation betwixt vs and the Papists are particular and therefore haue a particular issue of veritie or falshood therein this is of an higher nature of a larger extent and of a more generall effect for that it doth concerne not onely a part of her doctrine but the whole being of the Church of Rome it toucheth not a branch or two but the very root it selfe it reacheth not onely vnto a piece of her building but vnto the very foundation thereof And therefore this disputation viz. Whether and How the name of Babylon in the visions of Saint Iohn doth agree vnto Rome is of singular consequence thereby to confront the audacious insultations of her politike Agents to giue an Antidote against the poyson which they seeke to instill into many vnsetled hearts that so they who are fallen from the truth may bee happily reduced vnto it and they who are falling may be strongly confirmed in the same Now THIRDLY and lastly it remaineth most worthy Lord that I make true remonstrance of the causes which haue bred this confidence in mee to offer vp this little Treatise vpon the Altar of your Honourable fauour I speake not of your descent and extraction out of a Noble Family nor of your high degree of Honour nor of your speciall aduancement in the State for which respects many men apply themselues vnto the seruice and attendance of great persons but aboue all things I am comforted in your sincere and constant profession of the Truth which grace seemeth to be hereditarie in your House as being spectable in all the branches thereof Since therefore Greatnesse and Goodnesse haue mutuall coniunction in your Lordships person I cannot suppose that a Worke of this nature can want your acceptation nor the Author thereof your protection Whereof also I conceiue the greater hope because I haue knowne heretofore by the double testimonie of mine eyes and eares the gracious inclination of your Honour towards mee and that onely for the Truths sake and the Words sake as indeed I haue euer found them to be my most assured and certaine friends that haue affected mee in this regard But if I should need or seeke any externall or farther motiue to induce your Honour to vouchsafe your patronage vnto mee and vnto this Treatise I would not goe out of your owne Family though it must bee from the liuing to the dead but I would intreate it by the deare and precious memory of that religious learned most accomplished Prelate your famous Brother
may particularly name our profoundly learned Souereigne in his iudicious and well composed Paraphrase vpon this mysticall booke who is described here by his excellency he had great power and by his operation the earth was lightned with his glory SECONDLY The manner of his proclamation He cried out mightily with a loude voice verse 2. with a voice more then Stentorian and no maruell for it was Verbum à Verbo a word from the Word a word powerfully spoken by the Word ineffably begotten THIRDLY The matter it selfe It is fallen it is fallen Babylon the place is considerable for it is Babylon by qualitie and name also a great Citie by amplitude of place and power The ruine of it is markable for it is a fall extreme and finall and it is fallen in the time past though it be yet to come by an enallage of the tense and againe it is fallen by an anadiplôsis the one and the other shewing an infallible certainty of euent Thus now my Text is like Rebeccaes wombe it hath twinnes in it Cecidit cecidit as if the ruine of Babylon were sounded forth by the two siluer trumpets Num. 10.2 It is a double voice of ruine fall vpon fall so that I may vse the words of the Psalme God hath spoken it once or twice Psal 62.11 And as my Text is double here by the ingemination of one word so it is double by the repetition of the same sentence elsewhere viz. Apoc. 14.8 Againe that which in both these places is spoken of mysticall Babylon Rome as an one you shall heare is foretold by prophecie and we haue seene it verified by experience of literall Babylon the renowned Citie of Chaldaea in the Praedictions of Esay 21.9 Babel is fallen it is fallen This consonancie is in the Scriptures this resemblance in sinne and ruine betwixt the old Babylon and the new For Babylon â—s the first Rome and Rome is the second Babylon I come to the words of my Text wherein there is a fatall coniunction of two things Culpa and Poena the Sinne of Rome implyed in her name Babylon and the punishment of Rome annexed or prefixed rather it is fallen it is fallen We may Logically therefore make this partition of my Text heere is the SVBIECT Babylon and heere is the PRAEDICATE it is fallen In order of the words as they stand herein my Text Babylon is last but in order of sense it is first For in Grammer the nominatiue case goeth before the Verbe In Logicke the Subiect goeth before the Praedicate and in Diuinitie the Sinne goeth before the Punishment Pride goeth before Destruction Pro. 16.18 Wherefore in the prosecution of my Text I will change the place of the words and as Iacob gaue the prioritie to Ephraim Gen. 48.14 in the aduised imposition of his hands so I will giue the precedency to Babylon the last word in my Text and then I will reflect duely vpon her fall expressed in the first place thereof The FIRST part concerning the Subiect and Sinne in the Text BABYLON THough I haue affirmed this Babylon to be Rome yet I require not your suddaine beliefe without a substantiall proofe So that to deduce this matter fairely and cleerely to your vnderstandings I must propose a double inquisition in pursuit whereof we shall come securely vnto the hauen of my desire and then arriue happily vpon the coast vnto which I direct my thoughts First What is this Babylon in my Text. Secondly Why this name is imposed vpon that place which is thereby signified vnto vs. These two points being sufficiently discussed for the true explication of my Text and illustration of this name I will conclude the first part of my Text with such obseruations as shall kindly and properly ensue vpon the same The FIRST Inquisition What is this Babylon in my Text. THis Babylon is not literally to be vnderstood neither for that ancient Citie in Chaldaea nor for that famous Citie in Egypt once called by the name of Memphis and now of Cair since the generall scope and purpose of this booke doth not intend any such sense and many circumstances therein doe sufficiently refute it and finally not any Author in former or later times no Father in the ancient Church no Doctor in succeeding ages did euer so conceiue of this place This Babylon therefore is mystically to be vnderstood according to the common and vsuall tenour of this booke That whole booke of the Reuelation of Saint Iohn is spiritually to be vnderstood by the iudgement of Saint Hierome Epist 148. And hence it is that Dionysius sometimes Bishop of Alexandria confesseth of this obscure and profound booke that it cannot be vnderstood according to the first and obuious sense thereof as Eusebius relateth Histor Eccles l. 7. c. 24. but that there are deepe and hidden mysteries in the same Deepe I confesse and hidden till that Time the mother of truth in the successe and euent of things was the midwife to helpe the Church of God which trauelled long in bringing forth the true and proper sense thereof For as Sampson was directed and guided by his seruant vnto the pillars vpon which the house did stand Iudic. 16.26 so the successe of things conspiring with the Oracles of this booke hath conueighed vs vnto a sound and euident knowledge of many mysteries therein vnknowne to former ages but reuealed in this in regard whereof this booke doth now more fully answere vnto its name for now it is a Reuelation indeed as it was before in title Since therefore this Babylon is heere so called by a Mysterie we will passe along by a gradation through foure seuerall interpretations thereof that so wee may discouer in this point how farre the ancient Church digressed from the marke then how neerely at the last the Romish Church is come vnto it and thereby to know her selfe and then finally how the Reformed Church hath directly hit the marke as the Beniamites could sling stones at an haire breadth and not fayle Iudic. 20.16 The FIRST Interpretation THe first interpretation is framed by S. Augustine whom many follow in this and sundry other points rather for the reason of his authoritie then for the authoritie of his reason and therefore are carried into errour by the venerable estimation of his name Hee confesseth that Rome is another Babylon de ciuit Dei l. 16. c. 17. and that shee is the daughter of Babylon l. 18. c. 22. but not in regard of her sinne and ruine as it is now in my Text which things that greatly learned Father neuer seemed to suspect and therefore teaching truly that there are two Cities in this world mixed together in outward things but seuered in their inward qualities and tending consequently vnto different ends he assumeth falsly that this Babylon out of which wee must flye Apoc. 18.4 is onely the generall Citie of the Deuill and his members whereas the other Citie is a Spirituall Ierusalem and the Citie of God Read S. Augustine
shee committed in the time of Iohn shee shall bee called Babylon againe marke this well good hearers for now the Iesuite draweth neere vnto the point as it was in the case of Ierusalem which of a faithful Citie once became afterwards a Whore So he But let vs heare the man tell out his tale hee hath yet more to say to acquit his Mother Church and Father-Pope and therefore num 38. hee affirmeth That this name of Babylon is neuer applyed vnto the CHVRCH of Rome but onely vnto the CITIE howbeit not as the Citie long hath beene vnder the Pope and now is vnder him nor indeed shall haue this name while the Pope is Lord and Gouernour thereof but as shee was Babylon in her Ethnicall state so she shall be hereafter againe vpon her defection from the Pope and from Christianitie neere the end of the world Now because Ribera feared another censure here hee maketh another preoccupation num 40. in this manner diuinare me dicet quispiam Some man perhaps will say that I take vpon me to be a Prophet and to foretell things to come but saith hee I would intreate that man to lay aside his preiudice to examine the whole matter with mature iudgement and to beleeue me no farther then reason and truth shall perswade him in this case Then hee addeth num 42. That for as much as Rome in her Ethnicall state was so idolatrous so wicked and so cruell against the Christians for that all the Martyrs throughout the Romane Empire were put to death by the authoritie of Rome and by the power of Romane Magistrates therefore it is iust and meet that she her selfe should once suffer for her impious courses which being not yet done according to the purport of this Scripture shall be done hereafter when she shall be no lesse wicked then she was in former times Then num 43. he proceedeth in a faire and ingenious manner of Theologicall discourse saying Whereas this extreame desolation shall fall vpon Rome neere the end of the world it is very iust and equall in good congruitie of reason Why Because the Citie is still the same which being once so defiled with sin must one day be purged with fire Besides saith he there are many Citizens in Rome at this day who by their name and stock boast of their descent from the ancient Romans who alwayes increased there in great number Then hee addeth further that as a Citie built out of the ruines of a former is reputed to be one and the same Citie with it so here in this case the latter Citizens of Rome when she shall be destroyed may be accounted the same Citizens with the former though they be not of their bloud and kindred because they ioyne themselues vnto the former and become as it were one body and one common-wealth with them but specially by their imitation of the facts and sins of their Predecessors This saith he Num. 44. is the cause therefore why the latter Romanes neere the end of the World following the impieties of the ancient shall be punished and the more grieuously also in that regard So that saith hee though her old sinnes committed in her Ethnicall state were forgotten by God in regard of her Christian profession which shee entertayned afterward yet now vpon her new and like Impieties neere the end of the World the old are remembred againe and therefore she shall be burned for them both together Excellently and diuinely spoken according to the true tenour of the Scriptures elsewhere and particularly of the Reuelation it selfe and therefore Ribera began to grow warme in the conclusion of this discourse protesting in this manner We know this truth so perspicuously by the words of this Reuelation VT NE STVLTISSIMVS QVIDEM NEGARE POSSIT so that the veriest foole in the world cannot deny the same Then hee addeth Since Babylon shall be the shop of all IDOLATRIE and of all impieties therefore it cannot be doubted but that this shall be the condition of Rome hereafter And thus hauing made his explication of the Text he propoundeth a very fit question in the end of his discourse Num. 51. namely By what meanes the Citie of Rome neere the end of the Vorld should attaine vnto so great a power and abundance of riches He answereth first that no man can certainly know the reason thereof and secondly that this may come to passe partly by reason of the tenne Kings who shall make a conquest of the whole World and diuide it amongst them and partly in regard of Antichrist who shall bee aduanced in this time by meanes whereof Rome shall shortly returne vnto her ancient power and shall haue these tenne Kings vnder her gouernment who a little after shall reigne in the whole World but finally these Kings shall destroy Rome Apoc. 17.17 Here the coniecture of Ribera founded vpon the vaine speculations of some ancient Fathers not vnderstanding the nature of this mysterie nor the sense of the Scriptures in this behalfe failed him very much as not knowing that Ecclesiasticall Rome is this Babylon and that the Pope is the second Beast therein by which meanes truly Rome hath beene eleuated in a new and second greatnesse in the World in some sort excelling the former in her Ethnicall estate as by due remonstrance it shall hereafter appeare Meane while good hearers excuse my tedious declaration taken out of the Commentarie of this learned Iesuite as contayning much varietie of matter of very markeable obseruation for my purpose My second Babylonian Authour is Viegas a Iesuite also and a Doctor of Diuinitie and Professor thereof first at Conimbrica then at Ebora two Vniuersities of Portugall who framed a more copious and elaborate Commentarie vpon this sacred Booke of the Reuelation insisting very often in the steppes of Ribera and especially in this point whereof we now intreat Therefore though it bee materiall to expresse the iudgement of Viegas also vpon the same yet I may contract his long Discourse into a few words This Viegas then in Apocal. 17. § 2. confesseth that the destruction of this Babylon foretold cap. 18. shall be in the last times before the end of the World Afterwards § 3. he saith that this Babylon is the Citie of Rome howbeit not as she is now vnder the Pope but as she was heretofore in her Ethnicall condition and as she shall be hereafter in the time of Antichrist vpon her defection from the Pope and from her Christian Faith and then he sheweth in many words the qualitie of her sinnes and manner of her ruine conformably with the iudgement of Ribera and that for old sinnes ioyned with the latter God shall execute his wrath vpon her by these ten Kings as hee doth more largely deduce also in cap. 18. § 6. Thus you haue heard the consonant exposition of these two learned persons the second treading in the steps of the first and both for the maine point now in question in the steps
head of the Church of Rome descendeth vnto the members For as the Cardinalls who are the great regotiatours in the publike affaires of the world are the cosins of mightie Kings who salute them by that affable and gracious name as being glad and ambitious of the affection of these purpled Fathers in the Apostolicall Court so the whole bodie of the shaued Clergy pretendeth an exemption from the lawfull iurisdiction of their naturall Lords as being subiects secundum quid after a certaine manner or measure and a body rather collected and vnited vnder the Pope then vnder their owne Souereignes in whose Lands they receiued their first breath and vnder whose protection they enioy their liuelyhood with the preseruation of their liues FOVRTHLY this pride appeareth in his domination ouer the whole Church as first that all spirituall power of order and iurisdiction is deriued from his Apostolicall Seate that hee can depriue suspend excommunicate such as withstand his pleasure that appellations may be made and in some cases must be made vnto him from the sentences and censures of Bishops in all places of the world that he may demand and receiue a supply of monyes and necessaries for the vse and benefit of his Apostolicall greatnesse that hee is answerable to no power in the Church or State that hee may by reseruations and prouisions bestow Ecclesiasticall benefices vpon whom hee will in any part of the Christian world that he is greater then all the Church and is in truth and effect the very Church which being essentially in the whole societie of Christians is representatiuely in a lawfull Councell and virtually in the Pope so that finally the Church their Mother is the Pope their Father who is the Lord the Head the Guide the Pastour the Vniuersall Bishop of the Church Which insolencies and oppressions in the Holy Father made Gerson bitterly to complaine That the Head of the Church was growen too heauy for the whole bodie thereof and our learned Countrey-man Bishop Grosthead to pronounce That the Church would neuer be freed from the yoake of her Aegyptian bondage but by the dint and edge of a bloudie sword FIFTHLY and lastly his pride appeareth in his great and glorious titles taken vp partly by himselfe and partly ascribed vnto him by others with gratefull appobation of the Apostolicall Seate As for example hee is a Vice-God as in that inscription Paulo Quinto Vice-deo where the numerall letters V. L. V. I. V. C. D. make vp the fatall number of 666. containing the mysterie of Antichrist his name Apocal 13.18 but this is too little therefore hee is plainly a God nay that is too little also he is our Lord God as I shewed you once before and yet sometimes Nec Deus es nec homo sed neuter es inter vtrumque Thou ô Souereigne of the World art neither God nor man therefore Antichrist for Christ is both but art betwixt both neither the one nor the other Hee is Dominus dominorum quoad potestatem the Lord of Lords in regard of his power though Seruus seruorum quoad humilitatem saith bald Baldus the Seruant of Seruants and be it so but in the sense of Noah in his malediction of Canaan Genes 9.25 in regard of his meekenesse O meeke and humble Saint whose ordinarie title hath beene his Holinesse his Blessednesse more compatible with his Apostolicall office then his Maiestie which is indeed the pleasing and acceptable stile vnto which their proud and tyrannicall vsurpations doe aspire And therefore this was well attibuted vnto Paulus the fifth by Ludouicus ab Alcasar the Iesuite in his dedicatorie Epistle prefixed before his miserable exposition of this mysticall booke Yet thou wast more wise and circumspect ô noble and victorious Iulius Caesar that diddest refuse the title of a King and thou wast more modest ô Princely Augustus that diddest reiect the title of a Lord. But behold here is a greater then both which accepteth all alloweth all as indeed challenging a great deale more Let him then take one title more to furnish vp his glorious stile hee is Lucifer in his pride ambition and insultation ouer all States Ciuill Ecclesiasticall as the pretended Lord of both The THIRD Comparison betwixt Literall Babylon and Papall Rome THe third point wherein this comparison doth stand is INIVRIOVS VIOLENCE against the Crowne Imperiall and Estates of Souereigne Princes in which tempestuous courses the Spirituall Babylon of Rome doth exceed the Literall in Chaldea and the rather because the later had a speciall commission in this behalfe which the former doth vainely pretend by lame deductions and inferences but cannot prooue directly by the testimonie of any Scripture The commission of Nebuchadnezzer was vnder the warrant of God himselfe as being the executioner of his seuere Iustice and therefore God affoordeth him the title of his Seruant not onely for his expedition against Tyrus Ezek. 29.18 but against his owne people Ierem. 25.9 Now our Babylonian Monarch not by the authoritie of Gods Word not by any cleere euidence of reason founded vpon the same not by any example of his predecessors or of any other Bishop in the more pure and innocent state of the Church but out of his owne appetite and desire of temporall power which Christ gaue him not which the ancient Popes challenged not which they durst not pretend nor could they execute till the decadencie and expiration of the Romane Monarchy in these occidentall parts hath often thrust the sickle of his forged authoritie into the haruest of other mens Kingdomes Witnesse the distressed King of Nauarre Iohn d' Albret mentioned before sententially deposed by the Pope and a part of his Kingdome thereupon inuaded by his neighbour the King of Spaine Witnesse my deare Countrey of England in the time of that vnfortunate Prince King Iohn whose Kingdome was by Papall authoritie exposed vnto the furie of the French the King himselfe being compelled like a silly man to surrender his Crowne vpon his knees into the hands of an Apostolicall insolent Legate and so remaining for the space of fiue daies without a Crowne committed now vnto the benignitie of the Church hee receiued it againe vpon such base and ignoble termes as it pleased my Lord the Legate to impose vpon him one whereof was if the Babylonians say true that he should hold it by fealtie from the Church of Rome and for acknowledgement thereof pay an annuall tribute vnto the Pope so wise and skilfull are these men to fish in troubled waters being now not fishers of men but fishers of Kingdomes Witnesse England againe in the time of King Henry the eight who by a Papall processe of Paul the third was depriued of his Kingdome and his subiects commanded by force and armes to eiect him out of the confines therof the successe whereof was for a time troublesome to the King but in the end inglorious to the Pope the tenour of whose roaring Bull and Capitoline thunderbolt deserueth your speciall
First Beast Apocal. 13.1 till the Second Beast Apocal. 13.11 by his artificiall proiects and the popular applause of the Citizens diuested and disseized the true Lord of his ancient right For Leo the lawfull Emperour of Rome residing in Constantinople as many of his Predecessours before him was excommunicated by Gregorie the Second bearing the name but not hauing the disposition of the first his subiects were released by Apostolicall dispensation from their Oath of Alleageance and vpon these proceedings the Romanes like wicked Traytours submitted their Citie vnto the Pope a more wicked Traytour then they as vnto their Souereigne Lord if that bee true which the Iesuite Azorius doth affirme Instit Moral part 2. lib. 4. c. 20. Thus the old Lord beeing vniustly depriued a new Lord entred vniustly into his place The second concerneth the Papall intrusion vpon Infidels for hee must goe out of the World that will goe out of his reach vpon whose estates also and Kingdomes this Babylonian Monarch stretcheth out the line of his Apostolicall power Witnesse America poore distressed America in the liberall donation of large and ample Territories therein vnto the Kings of Spaine For he was a Pope but a Catiline a Iudas the man of sinne or rather of all sinnes euen that execrable villaine Alexander the sixt who out of his meere motion and liberalitie as the Beast roareth in his Bull to that purpose did bestow all the great and mightie Kingdomes in these parts vpon Ferdinand King of Arragon and Elizabeth Queene of Castile and vpon their heires for euer Therefore Francis Lopez in his generall Historie of the Westerne Indies lib. 1. cap. 19. expressing the title and interest of the said Princes in these rich and spacious Kingdomes setteth downe the Bull of Alexander the sixt who out of his Papall authoritie and particular affection to his Countrey freely and powerfully bestowed them vpon the said Princes and their heires to this end and purpose That all men may vnderstand saith hee that the conquest and conuersion of these Countreyes which the Spaniards doe make is by the authoritie and donation of the great Vicar of Iesus Christ Is this then the title and right which Spaine pretendeth to haue in this new and other World Is this the colour and pretense for the cruell and infinite effusion of bloud humane though not Christian in these miserable Countreyes whereof Benzo an Italian and Bartholomaeus à Casa himselfe a Spaniard doe so pittifully complaint conuerted now as you may perceiue vnto Christian Religion so powerfully by the Sword Wherefore I may truly say that euery drop of Indian bloud shed in this discouery and conquest shall be required of Babylon as truly guiltie of the same according to the prediction of the Angell In her was found the bloud of all them that were slaine vpon the earth namely in the Dominions of Infidels as well as of the Prophets and of the Saints in the Christian World it selfe Apocal. 18.24 And now because the diligent obseruation of this particular prepareth vs vnto a fourth Comparison betwixt the Literall Babylon and Papall Rome therefore I pray you to cast your eyes backe a little vpon this passage of the Scripture that so you may looke forward the better vnto the sequele of my speech Well saith the Angell that the bloud of ALL MEN slaine vpon the earth was found in Babylon for in her is the bloud of these Indians in her is the bloud of her owne Pseudo-Catholikes shed in England by the Sword of Iustice in her is the bloud of all them that perish in for or by her designes in her is the bloud of many Christians shed for the truth of Gods Word in so many Countreyes in her is the bloud of many thousand persons shed vpon the contentions of her Popes in her is the bloud of so many people taking armes vpon her incantations against their Souereigne Lords in her is the bloud of so many thousand Christians in their vnlawfull warres against other Princes vpon her prouocations in her is the bloud of many poore subiects against whom she hath incited their owne Princes Thus Rome began in the bloud of two brethren it increased in the bloud of many neighbours it was inlarged by the bloud of many Prouinces it stood in the bloud of many subiects it continued in the bloud of many people first by Emperours lastly by Popes and it shall end in the bloud of her selfe and her followers as you shall see more cleerely hereafter when wee come vnto the second part of my Text. Meane while I proceed vnto a new comparison which fitly taketh its beginning from the end of this discourse The FOVRTH Comparison betwixt Literall Babylon and Papall Rome THe fourth point then wherein this comparison doth stand is CRVELTIE bloudie crueltie very spectable in that ancient Monarchie the figure of the Papall as the Scriptures themselues in the two Prophets Esay and Ieremy besides ciuill Histories doe sufficiently deduce vnto our knowledge vnto which for breuitie sake I must now remit you as men expert and skilfull in the sacred Sriptures it being a great part of your happinesse that you haue Gods Word in your owne tongue which many other Nations though bearing the name of Christians doe not enioy to read it and obserue it for your instruction and vnspeakable comfort Well then let vs leaue the first and come vnto the second Babylon which in this point of barbarous and inhumane crueltie exceedeth all example of Ages past and preuenteth the example of all that are to come vnlesse it be in the persecutions which she perhaps may yet raise against the Church of God for the instruments of crueltie are in their habitations which Iacob spake of his bloudie sonnes and I may speake it of our more bloudie mother Her voice is the voice of bloud Surge Petre Paule quinte Occide c. Arise O Paul the fift in name but Peter in Office so is euery Pope and therefore none taketh that name vpon him when in their entrance vpon the Papacie they leaue their former Christian names as comming vnto an Antichristian place arise and kill the Venetians saith that flattering false cruell Baronius their learned Cardinall kill them with thy thunderbolts which rarely kill any but men of softer metall despoile them of their Dominion expose them vnto ruine because they dare so insolently resist thy great and mightie power Heere was a killing Text in deed especially by vertue of SAINT PETERS name who knew well how to handle a Sword and because hee cut off a seruants eare why may not his successours cut off a Princes head For what Text if it touch Saint Peter doth not animate and confirme these Babylonian Monarchs vnto Depositions Assassinates Poysons though in their sacred Hoast it selfe as Henry the sixt the Emperour knew very well by wofull experience and finally to ruinate Christian Princes that dare withstand their Antichristian pride Yet wonder not at the former Text for that
by these Kings so it shall fall by these Kings This is vnderstood in the words of the Scripture Apoc. 18. No man buyeth her ware any more of her that is to say The traffique of the Whore and spirituall negotiations of her Beast by Pardons Dispensations and other fornications as they are called shall cease vpon her ruine made by these Princes of the earth Whereas then Bellarmine saith the Pope shall still continue Bishop of Rome I answere not by any Souereignety and Dominion which Bellarmine perhaps may pretend that Antichrist shall not permit him actually to exercise in that time but wee affirme by demonstration of the Scripture that the ten Kings shall depriue him of that power in the world which he formerly enioyed by their concession which shall then expire Notwithstanding if Sibylla doe truely prophesie of Rome that it being once 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strength and power as S. Hierome descanted vpon her name shall afterwards become 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a street as Lactantius doth record Inst l. 7. c. 25. the Bishop of Rome may perhaps remaine then in the qualitie and place of an ordinarie Bishop but shall not bee receiued any more as vniuersall Pastour of the Church not as the Beast was before not with such latitude of power not insulting againe ouer States and Churches And if the prophecie of Hildegardis a sacred Virgin of great reputation vpon the yeere 1150. be of any force the Bishop of Rome shall bee reduced vnto the condition of other Bishops c. as I haue seene and read in a very faire and ancient Manuscript of parchment concerning the predictions of that religious person If therefore I may expresse a graue matter by a light example namely of Sir Thomas Moore who hauing resigned his office of the Lord Chancellour came himselfe vpon the next Sunday vnto the Pew of his Ladie in the Parish Church of Chelsey speaking vnto her in his facetious and wittie manner Madame will you goe My Lord is gone which were formerly the vsuall words of her gentleman Vsher when the Lord Chancellour departed out of the Church so may I say in this case when Babylon shall be wasted with fire and the Beast shal be despoyled of his power Our Lord the Pope is gone but yet the Bishop may still remaine And then Christians may reckon ab vrbe euersâ as Pagans did ab vrbe conditâ when the power honour and glory of Babylon and her Beast shall perish and bee extinguished by the concordable operation of these great and puissant Kings who therefore will continually suppresse it that it may neuer increase and gather strength againe The SECOND Branch concerning PAPISTS I Speake not now of ordinary Papists but chiefe Babylonian Papists that is to say such as haue a speciall vnion and coniunction with the Pope in those things which appertayne vnto the Mysticall impietie of this second Beast Wherefore the name of a Papist is taken either from Poperie which hee doth defend or from the Pope to whom he doth adhere In the first acception I esteeme him a Papist that leauing the Pope in the principall and essentiall points of the Papacie doth yet beleeue sundry errors defined resolued and maintayned in the Romish Church vnder the gouernment and administration of the Pope of which kinde of Poperie and sort of Papists I shall treate more particularly in the third Branch which doth immediately ensue But now in the second acception he is really and formally a Papist who is vnited vnto the Pope not in regard of the Popes person but in regard of his seat place and dignitie which he vsurpeth in Babylon and therefore doth especially beleeue and follow the Pope in such particular points as depend vpon his Papall Office as namely The Popes temporall Superioritie ouer all Princes as being the chiefe and in truth the onely Souereigne of the World which is the peculiar and intimate character of the Antichristian Beast or at the least if he haue not this temporall power ouer all Princes directly as their Lord yet indirectly as Pastour of the Church to depose and dethrone them which indirect authoritie doth yet inuest him with a pretended iurisdiction ouer all the World and is a more subtile insinuation of the Babylonian Beast and that he hath an infallible iudgement as Pope in the controuersies of Religion to bind the whole World vnto his definition vpon paine of Ecclesiasticall censure which opinion being greatly imbraced in their Church and daily increasing suffered much opposition by the Sorbonists and generally by the Church of France and that from this Papall seate all Christians haue the practice and benefit of Indulgences the peculiar Ware of Babylon that this Apostolicall and Supreame Seat hath power to dispense with Oathes and with Mariages in certaine degrees of consanguinitie and affinitie and that all Christians must haue recourse vnto her for Dispensations Absolutions c. that vnto this seat belong Appellations from all parts of the Christian World as vnto the highest Authoritie vpon Earth by which courses they exhaust much treasure of all Kingdomes and vexe the subiects with tedious and expensiue trauels that this Beast hath power to call generall Councels and to ratifie or nullifie their Decrees and other Babylonian doctrines belonging to the mysterie of the second Beast In this sense and acception of a Papist King Henry the Eighth in his iust necessary and conscionable discession from the Church of Rome vpon the point of his vnlawfull Mariage with the Ladie Katherine his Brothers Wife which by Papall Dispensation was contracted against the Word of God and Law of Nature especially as her case did stand was now no longer a Papist because he reiected the Pope in these Mysteries of the Papacie and in all points that had dependencie vpon his Seat Office and pretensed Authoritie in the Church Whence it is that this magnanimous Prince iustly prouoked but vniustly handled by the holy Father writeth vnto Charles the Fift and to all Christian States in these very words Orbis intelligat varias PAPISTARVM fraudes c. and againe ne Papa Regum authoritate ad extir pandas crescentis Euangelij radices c. abuti possit So that though this King remayned still a Papist in the first acception howbeit he made an happy entrance also to the purgation of sundry abuses in the Church as by taking away some superstitious Feasts some highly respected Images some much adored Relikes the Word of God was translated into the vulgar tongue and many other things were done in his time for the reformation of blind and ignorant stupiditie in the Church yet notwithstanding in the mayne and essentiall things which specially giue the true denomination of a Papist he is to be exempted cleerely from the crime and contagion of this Title And yet as Iehu did performe the Worke of God imposed vpon him for the ruine of Baal and that Idolatry but departed not from other sinnes of Ieroboam and