Priests Yea Clemanges affirmeth that of old time it was their proper charge to carry the dead and to serve about buriall affaires Thus of carriers of the dead they are become the Lords of the Church The sects of Canons and Monkes arose one after the other out of the earth neither is their originall very ancient as we may see in the History of Hospinian touching the originall of Monkes As for the Jesuites it is certaine they sprung up even in the memory of our fathers Anno 1540. out of the dunghill of the Spanish Souldier As therefore the former Beast did not rise at one instant out of the Sea but by degrees so this riseth out of the earth not all at one time but leisurely and as it best stood with Antichrists necessity and profit and established his kingdom from time to time by sundry instruments Having two hornes like the Lamb This Beast in his hornes is likened to the Lamb or Christ in his speech to the Dragon or the Devill in his power to the former Beast or Antichrist Now what is all this but to teach us that Antichrist should seine himself to be Christ or Christs Vicar which title Gregory VII that most wicked Sorcerer did first assume unto himselfe and by his diabolicall doctrine seduce the world Hornes signifie power The Lamb hath seven hornes Chap. 5.6 signifying his absolute and perfect power The Beast hath two like unto these In the similitude I observe his hypocrisie in that he hath but two his defect of power he arrogates indeed all the power of the Lamb unto himself But he comes farre short of it for Christ remaines infinitely more powerfull then he The which makes much for the consolation of the godly Some understand the two hornes of the Popes double sword which is not amisse For howsoever the Lamb never exercised any secular power but alwaies put it off from him Extra de major o … d. C. unam sanctam yet Antichrist in pretence of the Lamb hath violently taken it unto himself because the Lamb said Behold here are two swords it is enough Like a Lamb In the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without an article for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like to the Lamb. Hence some doe thinke that these hornes are not likened to the hornes of the Lamb Christ but indifinitely to the hornes of a common Lamb or Sheep But it hath been shewed before that Christ is called a Lamb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as well without as with an article and more examples hereafter follow Let the antithesis here suffice And he spake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as a Dragon where the words of the Beast are not likened to a Dragons speech indefinitely as Ribera feineth for Dragons indefinitely taken do not speak but to the speech of that Dragon viz. the Devill which in v. 2. Gave his seat to the Sea-beast And yet it is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like the Dragon without an article The likenesse therefore of his hornes to the Lambs signifies not in generall a lam-like hypocrisie that being a goat he should feine himself a sheep But in particular his Christian hypocrisie who being indeed the Antichrist should yet falsly boast himself to be Christ or Christs Vicar To this also we may referre the hypocrisie and fraud of his whole ecclesiasticall fraternity Franciscus they say that Angelicall Monke bore in his body the wounds and marks of Christ Thus also the hypocriticall Jesuites falsly assuming the Lambs name speciously deceive the world c. But let us hear his speech And he spake as the Dragon And for But. In his hornes there is a feined simplicity of the Lamb But his speech bewrayes his guile like the asse by braying was discovered though in the Lyons skin so this Beast had not the voyce of a Lamb but of a Dragon Hitherto we read not that the Dragon spake but gave his throne to the former beast as also his mouth by which the same is governed vers 5. the which the Beast opening spake great things and blaspemies vers 6. The Beast therefore speaking like the Dragon uttereth likewise great things and blasphemies by the instinct of the Dragon that is the Devill for the Dragon is the Devill Chap. 12.9 This is the letter Now the speech of the Beast is nothing else but the doctrine he preacheth as if it were the Lambs but in truth it is the Dragons The Apostle calls it a lye because the Dragon is a lyer and the father of lies his comming is after the effectuall working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders that they might beleeve a LYE because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved Antichrists doctrine therefore is false and blasphemous touching the Scriptures justification of sinners of merits and humane satisfactions of the sacraments indulgences jubilees fasts forbidding of meats and marriage to Priests 1 Tim. 4.3 the which the Apostle expresly termes the doctrine of Devils and for this diabolicall language the Beast here is generally afterward called the false prophet as Chap. 16.13 and Chap. 19.20 and Chap. 20.10 12. And he exerciseth all the power of the first Beast before him Thus much of his hornes and speech his power followeth and it is the same with the former Beast Because howsoever this Beast differs in rising and type yet really and in power he is the same Antichrist all whose power no man but himself shall ever exercise Now this power was both to speake great things and blasphemies as also to make war with the Saints and lastly to command every kinred and tongue and nation all which this Beast also exerciseth In that it is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 before him or in his sight it imports the manner how he exerciseth the same power because he not onely blasphemeth makes war and seduceth immediately by himself but also by the help of his Legates a latere who do all things in his sight that is according to the appointment beck and pleasure of the Beast whatsoever things these do the Beast is said to do Now what is this but that for these five hundred yeares and more as Histories testifie the Legates a latere or Cardinals do all things in Emperours Courts by the authority of the Pope their master determine Councils direct the decrees thereof at his beck and for the establishing of his power Thus also his Inquisitours and chiefe Apostolicall Notaries such like agents execute al wicked acts against the Saints according to the wil of the Pope see Sextus Decret l. 5. tit 2. de Hereticis per totum And causeth or maketh the earth and them that dwell therein Here follow divers effects of his power Six effects of the beasts power which he executeth partly by himself and partly by his vassals He maketh This respects his doctrine that is he preacheth commandeth and forceth viz. by his Emissaries and
they are the more apparent Therefore he could not more effectually set forth the excellency and worth of Heavenly good things erewhile promised unto the Conquerours viz. eternall abode with God his everlasting amitie absence of all evill abundance of all good things the Eternall and Heavenly refreshing and last of all the coinheritance with Christ in the new Heaven and the new Earth and of all things that are then by giving a touch on the contrary of the miserable and unhappy portion of the ungodly But the fearefull saith he and unbeleevers shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone whose horrible judgement hee repeateth from the end of the foregoing Chapter Whosoever was not found written in the Booke of Life was cast into the Lake of fire This part of the judgement he expoundeth more fully that the godly may the more contentedly beare the troublesomnesse of their warfare and miseries in this life which shall shortly be turned into joy and the lesse be grieved at the successe and delights of the ungodly who shortly shall be cast into the torments of Hell fire Furthermore he reckons up eight rankes of reprobates whose names are not written in the Booke of Life unto which all the wicked belong in speciall the worshippers of the Beast and his Zealots are set forth in their colours For of these chiefly it is said Chapter 13.8 That their names are not written in the Booke of Life And truely these wickednesses have notoriously born sway in the Papacy Fearefull These he opposeth to Christs strong champions and Conquerours Fearfull understanding indeed generally those delicate professours who for feare of danger would have nothing to do with Christ nor suffer any trouble for his sake But chiefly noteing those most base Vassals of ANTICHRIST unto whom a servile dread and spirit of fearfullnesse is proper For they are never taught certainely to trust in the mercy of God touching the remission of sinnes of faith and salvation but torment themselves with perpetual doubting false conjectures and feare of beeing deceived all their life time standing in dread of Purgatory and Hell fire Vnbeleeving Such indeed bee all that are Alients from the Faith of Christ Vnbelievers Iewes Pagans barbarous Infidels of whom it is said Hee that beleeveth not in the Sonne of God Ioh. 3.36 the wrath of God abideth on him Yet none are more bitter enemies of justifying faith then Antichrists Zealots for these both by Arguments and force of armes furiously oppugne free justification by Faith They therefore are principally these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vnbeleeving seeing the Scriptures of the new Testament usually call other faithlesse men The abominable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 disobedient and obstinate Abominable Both actively who abhorre God and Christ and passively who because of their abominable wickednesses are odious to God and men Andreas reads it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Abominable sinners such indeed are blasphemers out of the Church But principally it agrees to the worshippers of the Beast for they imitate the nature of the Beast and his blasphemous mouth against God his Tabernacle and those that dwell in Heaven But what more cursed abomination can there be Cha. 13.6 then for Popish Priests really to sacrifice and kill the Sonne of God under the species of bread in the Masse mortifying destroying and offering him unto the Father if they be beleeved Murderers Such indeed have been all the robbers from Cain Murderers and Nimrod the Tyrants time cruelly spilling mans blood but none are more cruell man-slayers then Antichrists zealots and actors in the Inquisition who for many Ages have indeed by fire and sword killed innumerable bodies of the Martyrs but infinite soules of men by their devilish doctrine Whoremongers Such indeed are all impure adulterers and fornicatours whom God will judge Notwithstanding the Romane Clergy are the chiefe Adulterers and whoremongers who under pretence of vowed chastitie have long agoe polluted the Christian world with whoredomes adulteries sodomie and filthy secret lusts Sorcerers Or such as mingle poysoned cups Sorcerers or serving the devil by magical Art and so are hurtfull unto men Many Popes and Monks have excelled in this kind of wickednesse never was Magicke more used or esteemed of then in the Papacie Never were Kings and Princes in such danger of beeing poysoned as by these men Idolaters Among these indeed are comprehended Pagans who worship false Gods Idolaters for the true Govetous men whose Mammon is there God Epicures who make a god of their belly For all these are Idolaters but no Idolatry is so horrible as is in the Papacie where under the Image of God and Christ and of the Saints Idols of wood stone gold and silver are religiously worshipped and adored All Lyars That is Lyars Pro. 12.12 Iohn 8 44. all Liars and framers of lyes in generall adversaries of trueth of whom it is said Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord Every lyar is of the devill the father of lyes But the Papacy is as the very sinke of falsehood Their head the Pope is a lyar falsely affirming himselfe to be Christs Vicar Peters Successour Monarch of the Christian world Head of the Church and Lord of Kings and Emperours Their Religion and whole worship is false Their doctrine of meritorious works of Purgatory of satisfactions is false Their Doctors are lyars To bee short their blasphemies and calumnies by which they continually defame the Gospell of Christ are most false Thus we see whom the threatning respects Now for the punishment They shall have their part in the Lake An Hebrew Phrase Psa 11.6 Psa 16.5 Psa 63.10 Act. 8.21 Fire and brimstone is the part or portion of their cup Jehovah the part of my portion and of my cup. They shall be the portion of Foxes So PETER to Simon Magus Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter By an Allusion unto Heires among whom the inheritance is divided into certaine parts that every one may have his due portion Now because he had said that such as overcame should inherit all things Here on the contrary he saith the portion of the wicked shall be in the Lake of fire that is this shall be the inheritance of the ungodly Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the part of them The Relative 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of them is after the manner of the Hebrews a redundance or over-plus And the Verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Is or shall be is wanting Beza rightly Is assigned to wit the sentence being now pronounced For erewhile he said all that were not written in the Booke of Life were cast into the lake of fire The lake of fire Lib. 20. de C. D. c. 14 Touching this Lake of fire and brimstone we need not with idle Sophisters dispute what kind of Lake it is and where and what kind of fire Elementary or not AVGVSTINE This fire saith he in what
and is not communicable to any creature no not unto the Angels Which further confirmeth the X. and XVIII argument before mentioned Secondly we are taught that all who professe the truth and make a shew of holines are not truely faithful and regenerate persons but many of them are hypocrites and deceivers as being farre otherwise then they are accounted of for hypocrisie is an outward shew of inward holinesse or a profession of faith with the mouth beeing in the mean time destitute thereof in the heart And hence we may conclude that a bare profession argues not true faith as the patrones of hypocrites affirme whereby they oftentimes delude themselves others Act. 8.13 Simon Magus is said to beleeve Therfore say they some who professe have true faith may fall away and perish But this place shewes us that many are inwardly dead who outwardly seem to be alive being with Ananias the hie Priest whyted walls Act 23.3 Matt. 23.27 Mat. 8.22 1 Tim. 5.6 with the Pharises painted sepulchres spiritually dead as Christ spake to the yong man let the dead burie the dead And Paul speaketh of some wanton widowes who are dead while they live yea all men considered in their natural condition are dead in trespasses and sinnes To be short many have faith without love which is dead a faith which the Devils also have Thus we se in scripture how they are said not onely to be dead who are deprived of naturall life but also not beeing regenerated to a spirituall or who are sincere in appearance onely and not in truth Let us therfore take notice that all are not godly who seem so to be neyther shall all they who say Lord Lord enter into the kingdome of God for the Church consisteth of a mixture of saintes and hypocrites and this difference is not onely in the laitie but chiefly in the Clergie as they call it that is many who in sheeps cloathing seem to be true Pastors teachers are in truth but mercenarie wolves and howsoever these may deceive men yet Christ knowes them And therfore let not the Bishops of Antichrist thinke to blinde the eyes of Christ with their titles mitres and royal robes The consideration of this informeth us in the first place of the divers condition of the Church in this world For many are called to be members of the Church whereof some are good others bad some saintes others hypocrites like as the net takes in al manner of fishes But howsoever the faintes elected are not knowen of men yet God Christ doe discerne them For the Lord knoweth who are his Therefore let every one try and examine himself whether he be dead or alive for hypocrites deceive not God but man their owne soules Wherfore let us shun hypocrisie even as a pest remembring what Ambrose admonisheth not to rest contented with a bare name in the mean while to be greevously guilty or with the hight of honour while we abound in sins or with a profession of Godlinesse while our actions are devilish For otherwise we should onely have a name to live when in deed we are but dead Lastly observe that the efficacie of the ministry doth not depend upon the goodnes of the minister For God doth sometime vivifie and governe his Church by dead officers as we have here an example which serves to confute the Donalists and Popish Sophisters who maintaine that there was not any Church of the elect untill the time of Luther in the Papacie but themselves except we wil acknowledge their Bishops for other there were none to have been approved of by the Lord. 2. Bee watchfull The second part of the narration is an exhortation admonishing the Angel in Sardis of divers things to the end he might purge himself from the crime of hypocrisie and withal he is threatned to be punished except he doe repent First he is commanded to shake of that hypocritical drowsines into which he was fallen Be watchful that is stirre thy self up for he is not onely required to be more faithfull and careful over the Church then formerly he had been but also called upon as it were to live againe for so faith Christ but thou art dead Now death in scripture is frequently compared to a sleep so that this place and that of the Apostle speaking unto men fallen into a deep sleep of sin is of the like interpretation Ephe. 14 A wake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light Not as if wee could of our selves arise from the death of sin for this is a worke of Grace but because the Lord by his precept powerfully worketh in us that which he requireth of us and by the operation of his owne spirit rayseth us up beeing asleep in sin unto newnes of life And strengthen the things Or rather strengthen the rest that is such dying members of the Church as are committed unto thy charge who because of thy negligence decay both in faith and holinesse For it is no wonder that a Church should fal into a deadnesse and securitie while the officers therof are asleep Christ therfore commâ—ndeth him to strengthen them that is to labour by a holie life and doctrine to bring them againe into the way of life That are ready to dy in Gre. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that shall dy that is which are near unto death like as in Luk. 7.2 it is said of the centurions servant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he should dy that is was ready to dy So these here were near unto death though not altogither dead and therfore the Pastor is exhorted carefully and speedily to put to his helping hand for their recoverie This care the Apostle recommendeth unto all the faithful Rom. 14.2 namely to receive them that are weake in the faith And therfore it is a speciall dutie of the ministers of God who are spirituall physitians to applie to Christs weaklings the holesome medicines of Gods word 1 Tim. 2.9 for otherwise God saith unto them by the prophet forasmuch as ye have not strengthened the diseased Ezec. 34.4 nor healed that which was sick nor bound up that which was broken nor sought that which was lost c. Behold I am against the shepheards and I will require my flock at their hand and cause them to cease from feeding my flock Montanus reads it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which thou art ready to lose that is destroy by thy negligence which is a more heavie expression For I have not found thy workes perfect These words containe a reason wherfore God requires him to be watchfull But it may seem that this reproofe is not equal just 1 Cor. 13.9 considering that no mans workes on earth are perfect before God if he should enter into Iudgment with us for we know but in part we prophesie in part and there is not a just man on earth that doth good Eccle. 7.20 and
adversaries who perished by the ruin of the tenth part of the city But how some understand it of the bloody warres commotions which Antichrist to his own hurt hath raysed up against the Gospel For many millions of his followers have been consumed by this meanes to the exceeding losse of the great city But perhaps not lesse but rather more blood of the Saintes hath been shed by Antichristians in the civil warrs of France Spaine England the Low countries and other where Others therfore do rather understand it of the spiritual destruction of the adversaries by the preaching of the Gospel for by it many of the Papists beeing the more blinded hardened and enraged have eternallie perished Brightman interprets it of the Popish Clergy who by the rising of the Gospel being spoiled of the revenues yeerly profits of their Monasteries Colleges were bereaved of their delight former luxuriousnes put to such an exigent as either to labour or starve for hunger But I rather allow the former because of that which followeth And the remnant were afrighted The last effect is good The conversion of many to the faith of the Gospel noting the conversion of the â—est of men from Popery unto the faith of Christ For the ruin of the tenth part of the great Antichristian eity shall be the building of Christs little city Many therfore in the forsaid provinces observing the wonderful work of God in preserving propagating the Gospel were afraid any loÌ„ger to resist the truth but gave glory to God by forsaking the lies idols of the Papacy Now touching these things we may behold them as in a table by which we have a plain description the very events partly in the histories of our times and partly by what we dayly see with our own eyes so that we need not have recourse unto ancient commeÌ„taries 14. The second woe is past This is a transition from the third Act unto the fourth Woe He notes the calamities by the effect for calamities cause woe unto the flesh In Chap. 8.23 an Angel flying through the midst of heaven proclaimed three woes to happen under the sounding of three trumpets The first woe under the fift trumpet were the calamities of the Godlie under the Western Antichrist even from the time of his rising until the Council of Constance The second woe of the sixt trumpet is yet to this day under both Antichrists viz. the Turke in the East and the Pope in the West The first did praefigure the calamities of the godly alone The second the calamities commoÌ„ both to the godly the wicked Now followes the third woe only belonging unto the wicked which shal come to passe under the last trumpet Is past Not in event seeing it was then to come but in vision description as if he should say hitherto I have described the second woe the third remaines to be described Commeth quickly For shall come This he opposeth to the security of the Antichristians as Chap. 1. v. 1.3 And if then they were not far off how much neerer are they now to us after so many ages the seventh Angel being at hand to summon men to judgment by the last trumpet The second part of the Chapter The scound of the seventh Trumpet at the last judgement Containing the fourth Act of this Vision 15. And the seventh Angel sounded there were great voyces in heaven saying the kingdomes of this world are become the kingdomes of our Lord of his Christ he shall reigne for ever and ever 16. And the foure twenty Elders which sate before God on their seates fell upon their faces and worshipped God 17. Saying we give thee thankes O Lord God Almighty which art and wast and art to come because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast reigned 18. And the nations were angry and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be judged and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the Prophets to the Saints and them that feare thy Name smal and great and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth 19. And the Temple of God was opened in heaven and there was seene in his Temple the Arke of his Testament and there were lightnings and voyces and thundrings and an earthquake and great hayle THE COMMENTARIE ANd the seventh Angel sounded Of this Angel interpreters write diversely The fiction of Lyra I passe by Gagnaeus understands thereby the seventh order of good men or preachers Who is this seventh Angel who after Antichrists death and neer about the last day shal preach the Gospel the which he takes from the common fiction that Antichrist shall die fourty five dayes before the last judgment But Antichrist shal be destroyed by none save by the brightnesse of the comming of Christ Alcasar speakes little of him but applies the trumpet to the obstinacie of the Iewes and election of the Gentiles Which thing is unworthy of any refutation For the nations here are not said to be elected but angrie besides the very matter it selfe sheweth that these things appertaine unto the last times Brightman takes this Angel to have sounded anno 1558. when there were great voyces in heaven that is much joy in the reformed Church for the restauration of Christs kingdome in Germanie at what time Q Elisabeth also began to reign restore the sincere preaching of the Gospel in England c. But it is plain the words are to be applyed unto the last day when both the living and the dead good and bad shall come to judgement and therefore cannot be restrained to such a sence More truly therefore Fox Alphonsus Bullinger Tossanus Marlorate The seventh truÌ„pet foretels the last judgement with the rest of our interpreters a few onely excepted acknowledge that the seventh trumpet is the messenger of the last day in which the kingdomes of the adversaries being overthrown and abolished Christ will immediately restore his kingdome casting the wicked into eternall punishment and receiving the elect into endlesse glorie And this exposition of the trumpet plainly appeares to be right from Chap. 10. v. 7. where Christ the strong Angel expresly sweareth that the seventh Angel when he shal begin to sound the mysterie of God should be finished It is also evident from the text For in the last judgement and not before all kingdoms of the earth become Gods and Christs that God may be all in all Then shall be the time of Gods wrath and of the dead that they may be judged that the Martyrs Prophets and servants of Christ may receive an eternall reward of their labours and the wicked who destroyed the earth perish for ever and ever Therefore many of the Ancients as Andreas Bede Aretas A fained anticipation justly reproved Primasius others follow this opinion Ribera also acknowledgeth the same but faineth that these things are here brought in by way of Anticipation
no miracles can verifie false and blasphemous doctrines Adde to this that Alcasar the Iesuite contrary to the common opinion acknowledgeth that a litterall sence doth not at all agree with the stile of this aenigmaticall sentence which undoubtedly is most true although he brings in a most idle glosse taken not from the Scriptures but out of the conception of his own braine Antichrist therefore by an allusion unto the litteral history of the Scripture causeth fire divers waies to descend from heaven In the likenesse of fire rushing from heaven the Apostles received the holy Ghost How the Pope causeth fire to descend from heaven so Antichrist boasteth that he by power given him from above doth confer the grace of the holy Ghost in consecration confirmation confession and absolution to wit by a great and miraculous working In the likenesse of lightning the devill made fire to descend from heaven and devoured the sheep and servants of Job And doth not the Pope boast that he fulminates against Emperours Kings and Princes by his excommunications for so Gregory VII said that the Emperour Henry IV. whom he excommunicated was stroken with lightning And therefore in excommunicating the Pope casteth down burning torches or firebrands from on high that even hence we might understand that it is he who causeth this dreadfull fire to descend from heaven by which the sheep and servants of Job are devoured to wit by a marveilous wonder In that it is added In the sight of men it signifies that he gaines authority to himselfe and his deceitfull working by striking great amazement feare and delusion in the hearts of men For he bewitcheth the eyes and mindes of the people and so terrifies the conscience with his signes and lightnings as that the simpler sort are held in false devotion and the more prudent in feare and obedience 14. And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by those miracles Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the miracles Seducing by his signes and it seems to be put for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by or by means of those miracles as Chap. 4.11 12.11 This is the third effect of his power he drives wretched men from Christ to Antichrist from the truth to a lie and from the path of salvation to the way of destruction For to seduce is properly to bring out of the right way and lead into errour It is a metaphor taken from travellers ignorant of the right way for so Antichrist seduceth the inhabitants of the earth that is earthly minded men ignorant of God and of their salvation to wit as casting all care of religion upon their spirituall fathers and hence being bewitched and terrified with the signes and lightnings of the Beast they devoutly swear obedience unto his lies For as by true signes being the seales of true doctrine the Elect are helped and moved to believe that it is divine For God who is true and the authour of miracles gives no testimony save to the truth so the lying miracles of the Beast are the seales of his lying doctrine which earthly men embrace for true because of his miracles thinking that they are divine signes and so his doctrine also But thus thinking they are deceived and seduced What therefore are our workers of miracles but seducers And in this sence it is truely said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for or because of the signes as being the formall cause of his imposture Now they work their signes in the sight of the Beast that is by the Popes authority because the miracles of these deceivers must of necessity be Canonized by the Pope that they may be authentick to the faith that is to the seducement of men Saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make Observe how often the holy Ghost doth reiterate the dwellers on the earth The image of the beast lest the faithfull should be offended with the multitude and readinesse of them that follow the Beast against Christ And this is the fourth effect of his power he commands the inhabitants of the earth to make an Image to the Beast which was wounded by the sword and did live With which cohereth the first that he gave life to the Image of the Beast and also that the Beasts image should speake and cause that whosoever would not worship the image of the Beast should be slaine Ribera in c. 13.32 For these two verses agree together by which indeed most interpreters amongst the Papists will have the third miracle of the Beast to be described viz. that he should perswade men to make an Image to Antichrist and worship him in their temples Lib. 3. de P. R. c. 15. to which image he would give life and speech c. Whence againe it followeth saith Bellarmin that the Pope is not Antichrist because none of them have made an Image to speake c. But first this fable touching Antichrists image placed in temples speaking and to be worshipped Alcasar refutoth Bellarmine Aleasar himselfe refuteth and expounds it of heathenish idols which they imagined by an heavenly miracle should receive and give answers This opinion is far more tollerable although not agreeable unto the text which openly speaketh not of Satans delusions among the Gentiles already past but of the future impostures of Antichrist sitting in the temple of God Secondly to let passe the fable do not the images in the Papacy speak and hath not the Pope caused and commanded them to be worshipped on paine of death Such of ours who understand the former Beast of the old Romane Empire interpret this Image of the Beast sometime wounded and again healed of the Romane Empire re-established by the Pope Which they think was done when Steven II. and Leo III. transferred the decayed Empire of the West on Charles the Great and as it were repaired the same The which was no more then a certaine image or rather a shadow of the old Empire comming short both in the majestie largenesse and power thereof But we have before shewed that the former Beast denotes not the Romane Empire but Antichrist Neither doe the circumstances of the text agree to it The Pope say they made the image of the Romane Empire But the second Beast or the Pope made not the image of the former but the inhabitāts of the earth did it by the commandement of the Beast That also which is added touching the worshipping of the image doth little agree For as much as none of the Germane Emperours commanded either themselves or their Empire to be worshipped on paine of death The participle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saying referred to that which goes before makes the sence cleare to wit that to the two former waies of power and seducing being his false doctrine and great miracles now are added two more to wit worshipping of Images and outward violence And the spirit doth plainely allude to Daniels History where the King set up a golden image Hebr.
mongrill as being Apostolicall in name but apostaticall in deed Like as a Libard and a Lion comming together engender an adulterate Leopard Page 119. he saith that the worshippers of the Beast worship the Divell in the Pope And againe That the Pope hath it from the Dragon that he is a sacrilegious and tyrannicall person wasting on himselfe and his creatures the goods of the poore and destroying men for his filthy dung sake And whereas he is the greatest hypocrite and calleth himself Apostolicall yet he despiseth Apostolicall conversation above all men living Ibidem Who was able to fight with the Beast or resist his will in regard of his twofold supreme power viz. Imperiall and Priestly which be pretendeth to have ever the Church Militant And page 120. It appeareth therefore when the Pope sitting in the Temple of God extols himselfe above all that is called God or is worshipped that he boasteth as if he were God and so consequently bewrayes himselfe to be that son of perdition who commonly is called Antichrist With many like places Franciscus Petrarcha a most eloquent Philologer of Italy in his time wrote such things Anno 1370. against the Pontificall sea as almost Luther never spake worse In his 15. Epistle lamenting the oppression of the Catholick Church That worthy Court saith he of Jesus Christ that excellent Tower of divine worship is now at length because of our sins being destitute of divine helpe become a den of cruell theeves And of the Popes tyranny I see indeed saith he afar off but not being able to hinder it I refuse to see nigh at hand It is a cruell and infamous guile by which this ecclesiasticall Dionysius vexeth and spoileth our Syracusaes And Epist 16. I speak not what I have heard but seen I know it by experience that there is no charity there no faith no piety no reverence or feare of God nothing that is holy just equall laudable or humane as for love shamefasinesse and purity it is banished thence Touching the truth indeed I am silent for what place is it where all things are so full of lies The aire earth houses townes sireets court-yards porches halls beds roofes of houses clefts of walls the secret and close roomes of houses and temples the seats of Judges and Popes yea in the last place the very mouthes of men their becks gestures voices and countenance And Epist 19. Behold now thou touchest with thy hands and seest with thine eyes what that last Babylon is viz. angry raging dishonest and terrible To which neither that Egyptian Babylon the worke of Cambyses nor the more ancient royall Assyrian Babylon built by Semiramis is equall c. Behold thou seest a people not onely adversary to Christ but that which is worse under Christs Ensigne rebelling against him and fighting for Satan c. For what else I pray you is daily practised by Christs enemies and the pharisees of our age doe they not buy and sell and make merchandise of Christ himselfe whose name notwithstanding they seem day and night to extoll with most high prayses whom they cloath with purple and gold whom they load with pretious stones salute and worship him I say they put to sale and make merchandise of here on earth and as if his eyes were covered and saw not they crown with the bryars of wicked treasures defile him with the spittle of a most impure mouth and inveigh against him with viperous hissings strike him with the dart of venemous actions what in them lies The Papists crucifie Christ doe again and again deridingly drag him as naked poore and scourged on mount Calvary and wickedly consent to naile him to the crosse And O shame O griefe O indignity even such the Romanists are at this day as it is reported Whereupon one merrily made these pithy verses Roma tibi fuerant servi domini dominorum Servorum servi nunc tibi sunt domini Once Lords of Lord O Rome thy servants were But servants now of servants thy Lords are Petrarcha goes on Epist 20. touching the Pontificall Babylon In the kingdom of covetousnesse nothing is counted as lost so that mony be safe there the hope of life to come is but a vaine fable and what is spoken of hell is all fabulous The resurrection also of the flesh the end of the world Christs comming to judgement are esteemed as fopperies c. O Babylon the worst of things situated on the fierce bancks of the river Rhone thou famous or rather infamous whore cōmitting fornication with the kings of the earth in very deed thou art the same whom the holy Evangelist saw in the spirit Thou art I say the same and no other sitting upon many waters c. The woman clothed with purple and scarlet and glittering with gold pearles and precious stones having a golden cup in thy hand full of the abomination and filthinesse of thy fornication Babylon knowest thou thy selfe Certainly that which followeth onely agrees to thee and not to any other BABYLON THE MOTHER OF FORNICATIONS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH Hear the rest And I saw a woman drunken with the blood of the Saints and the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus Why art thou silent Either shew some other that is drunken with this blood or else if thou canst deny that thou art not this drunken woman And Epist 21. against the Popes the Princes of darknesse Let the gods and goddesses nay rather the God of gods destroy them all both living and dead with their treasures and wicked works who being fatted with the blood of the heavenly Lamb doe spurne and rebell c. But why or to what end that we may see the good overwhelmed the wicked raysed up Eagles to creep and Asses to flie to see Foxes on chariots Kites on towers Doves on the dunghill Wolves at liberty Lambs in fetters to be short Christ banished ANTICHRIST to be Lord and Beelzebub judge c. These things wrote Petrarcha and more also Besides more then 230. yeeres agoe lived Michael Cesenas chiefe of the Minorite Friers The Pope Antichrist who openly accused the Pope to be ANICHRIST and called the Romish Sea the Babylonish harlot drunken with the blood of the Saints But for brevity sake I refer the Christian reader unto the Catalogue of witnesses of the truth where it is most clearly proved by innumerable witnesses of Christ Catal. testium verit Tom. 2. p. 79. before Luther was borne that the Pope of Rome was Antichrist Now let us consider the wisdome that is in the number of the Beast of which John cryes out Here is wisdome From the number laid down 666. he closely bids us to search our al the other mysteries for here we have the name of the Beast Latinos Romanus This name both the Greek and Hebrew number doth declare By the name also we have the Character for all that will buy and sell must professe the Latine service or Romane faith and be
inhabitants of the earth grosse and earthly men superstitious maintainers of Antichristian idolatry obstinate adversaries from whom they shall suffer grievous contradiction Secondly the successe of their doctrine is noted not to be very great They shall labour indeed to reforme the Papacy Caecis sabulam canent Aethiopes lavabunt to call the blinde unto the light but according to the proverb they shall sing to the deafe and wash Black-moores because Antichrist will resist them by all meanes possible and labour to keep his kingdome in peace And indeed it shall be so by the just judgement of God For because the world rather loveth lies then truth God shall send them strong delusion that they should beleeve a lie that they all might perish who have not received the love of the truth 2 Thes 2.11 The consideration hereof serves both to illustrate the goodnesse of God who graciously caused the everlasting Gospel to be preached unto the inhabitants of the earth that is the sworne vassals of Antichrist drowned in superstitions and idolatry As also to lessen the scandall that we be not offended at the small successe the Gospel then had at that time For what wonder was it that the inhabitants of the earth received not the same who were accustomed to heare and beleeve nothing but the dreames and lies of Antichrist And to every nation and tribe This partition is taken from Chap. 13.7 signifying that the fame of this Gospell should be spread as farre as the Papacy did extend For however those teachers should remaine in their places yet their doctrine by their writings was made knowne every where and found adversaries in all places Before I goe further let us here take notice of one thing touching the devils subtilty Cyrillus feineth a new gospell We finde by history that a little before God raised up this Angell in England the devill had begun to spread abroad his eternall gospell through one Cyrillus a carmelite Monke consisting of most foule errours and monstrous opinions pretending that it was the everlasting gospell of this Angell And indeed the Monkes under pretext of this prophesie did readily imbrace the same because he confirmed their monasticall rites rules superstitions and fables He taught that the Gospell of Christ was to remaine unto this time but thence forward his new Gospel was to take place in the Church This was a wicked depravation of this prophesie 1 Pet. 1.25 Rom. 10.8 Rev. 2.25 Gal. 1.8 and blasphemie against the expresse word of God The word of the Lord remaineth foe ever This is the word of faith which we preach Hold fast that which yee have till I come If an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospell let him be accursed To this ungodly fiction many learned of that age opposed themselves insomuch that Pope Innocent himselfe was forced by the Lateran Council to condemne this impudent assertion because it also touched the Popes kingdome Some say Joachim the Abbot was the broacher hereof but it is false See Centur. Ecclesiast 13. cap. 5. To discover therefore the imposture of the Devill the Lord began to bring to light in the same age the everlasting Gospell here prophesied of by Wickleffe in England and by other teachers in other places We may easily Iudge which of these two was that everlasting and true Gospell For the one abolished the Gospel of Christ and writings of the Apostles The other brought forth the same out of darknesse The former therefore was false the latter true Saying with a great voice The zeale of the Angell in publishing the Gospell is commended And indeed the foresaid teachers performed their office with unwearied labour and paines both in teaching preaching disputing for when they came into the world the world was in a deep lethargie of superstitions drunken buried in the wine of the wrath of Babylonish fornication So that they were forced to cry aloud so mightily to the end that they might be heard of the drowzy or rather deafe inhabitants of the earth This voice is to be understood not onely of their preaching but writings also by which they manifested the doctrine of the everlasting Gospell Feare God The argument of his preaching hath three parts yet the whole is doctrinall and hortatory The first part is the feare of God which is the beginning of wisdome Here rightly the teachers begin Sometimes by it the whole worship but here properly is signified that part of worship which consists in the true knowledge and reverence of God and it is opposed both to the carnall security of the whole world whence ariseth prophanenesse and the wicked contempt of God as also to the preposterous feare by which Antichrist hath along time kept the world under his yoake Both these I will briefly now expound The Papacy did abound with security and feare Security feare in the Papacy This carnall security was fostered by their bewitching confessions absolutions satisfactions Masses indulgences c. No wicked act how great soever but by money and such remedies might be expiated Hence Gods judgement neither was or to this day is feared in the Papacy as having present remedy for their sins in their confessions satisfactions and indulgences Hence springeth that bruitish security and liberty to sin So againe the feare of Antichrist hath and still doth vex the world because it is held a greater offence to neglect the edicts of the Pope then to violate the commandements of God So that they were easily frighted with the feare of excommunication poenall satisfactions purgatory c. insomuch as Emperours and Kings were forced to kisse the feet of Antichrist yea all both great and smal did tremblinglie submit to his beck Now this Angell recalling the world both from this prophane security as also from their preposterous feare bids them FEARE GOD not the Beast for it is not the Beast but God that can cast both soule and body into hell fire Math. 10.28 And give glory to him Secondly he requires faith and obedience unto the Gospell for then is the glory of Gods truth goodnes and power truely attributed unto him when his word is received by faith and performed in obedience In the former member the Angel prepared the world for the Gospell because without the feare of God that is so long as prophanesse and contempt of God doth reigne there the Gospell findes no place By this other member he instructs them thus prepared to give glory to God by receiving his word in faith and conforme their life according to his commandements And indeed this is all God requires of us So Moses And now O Israel what doth Jehovah thy God require of thee Deut. 1.12 save that thou feare Jehovah thy God and walke in all his waies and love him with all thy heart For the houre of his judgement is come A reason confirming what he had said is taken from threatning of judgement at hand the serious consideration whereof
Spirits Ribera understands them to be Three Devills whom they call familiar spirits such as Magicians send forth at their pleasure But they shall be men properly because they go speake and have to do with Kings in a civill way all which little suites with Devills Notwithstanding they are said to be spirits because by profession they shal be Spirituall Fathers And Three because there shall be many of them sufficient for to performe what they shall undertake for a threefold number denotes perfection as before in Chap. 11. the two witnesses were indefinitely put for a few yet sufficient for the Testimony of the truth Yet here it seemes they are said to be three rather then seven which number the Scripture more frequently useth because they shall be the choisest and subtlest out of the flockes of Locusts who ordinarily are not very many Notwithstanding they shall be of the true kind of the Locusts however they differ in forme and office Impure Spirits Not onely being of an impure originall but nature and manners also labouring to staine both divine and humane things even as the Locusts who came out of the filthy bottomlesse pit did defile all things with their venemous mouths and tailes Like to Frogs They shall not be Frogs nor in the forme of Frogs for so they should be unfit messengers to be sent to Kings but like to Frogs in filthinesse impudencie and loquacitie because like as Frogs with their continuall croaking 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are most irkesome to our eares Aristoph in Ranis so these Emissaries of Antichrist living a most impure life within their Covents and being taught much to bable do fill the eares of Kings with their cries untill they induce them unto their holy Warre Neither are they much unlike to the Locusts for Locusts skip like Frogs besides they resemble the foure square heads of Frogs by their geometricall hoods 14. For they are the Spirits of Devills He further describes them by their nature and craft they are instructed in the Schoole not of the holy Ghost but of the evill one and therefore they shall have the nature and disposition of their master yet will some of them make a fairer shew and thereby prove more hurtfull and are the more carefully to be avoided Working miracles They shall gaine credit to their Ambassage not so much by words as by signes and miracles and thereby allure and deceive the Kings of the earth But by what signes and whose by lies and the efficacie of Satan from whom they originally proceed for the wonders they worke are delusions of Satan which are spoken of in 2. Thessa 2.9 Rev. 13.14 19.20 Which go forth unto the Kings of the earth Thirdly he declares their office they shall leave the function of teaching unto others of their order and shall be imployed in Warlike Messages Here Ribera erreth in thinking that these Kings are the same unto whom the way was prepared by the drying up of Euphrates for they were Kings of the East spoiling the beast But these are the Kings of the earth and of the whole world The former were against These shall be for Antichrist The Kings of the earth Thus he calleth as before the sworne Vassalls of the Beast and therefore they are said to be of the earth however by profession they would seeme to be Christians And of the whole world That is all Forraigne Kings whatsoever for at last the beast will labour to have the friendship and assistance of them all For in regard he shall see that they of his owne profession are more remisse and negligent then he would have them therefore by Ambassages he will stirre up Forraigne Princes and by all meanes labour to draw them on his side Now if thou demaund who these Legates are I answer Who these three spirits are that are sent forth howsoever undoubtedly they shall manifest themselves so much the more by how much Antichrists fighting against God shall appeare and the nearer we come to the day of Iudgement yet it seems not to be obscure in the least both by history and experience For it is plaine that the chiefe of these Messengers are the Legates a latere who are sent with full power unto the Kings of the earth to negociate for Babylon next to them are the Bishops who order and direct the affaires of the Court In the next place are the Monkes and Iesuites who insinuate themselves into the clossets of women dive into counsells and are Architects of dissention These as their own Epistles witnesse are daily sent as Legates to the kings of India America and Africa to bring them into the fellowship of this warre that is a preparing And now of late if I be not deceived they have made the king of Persia bounden to the Sea of Rome And indeed without the religious interposition of these men scarse any counsells of peace or warre can be handled in Court as experience teacheth Moreover this Type doth very fitly agree to Frogs They are Spirits viz. spirituall fathers but uncleane like Frogs Because saith my Anonymus they remain in the mire of riches prating and tatling against the truth of the Gospell Spirits of devills because saith the same Authour they are inspired by the Devill onely so to doe Working miracles or doing signes that is making shew of outward holinesse though in truth they be the greatest hypocrites having their affections set on the earth and wordly Pompe and therefore howsoever they be the truest Proctours of Antichrist yet being outwardly cloaked with so many signes of Sanctitie they captivate as it were all men so that they are esteemed of them more holy then the rest of men These things Anonymus but we are further to consider that by prodigious and false miracles they shall gaine credit to their Ambassage viz. such by which the beast himselfe is said to seduce the Inhabitants of the earth Chap. 13.14 Now it is notorious that there are none at this day in the world who arrogate to themselves the glory of working signes and miracles but the Popes Emissaries Thus we see who the Legates are and to whom they go forth To gather them to the Battell They will not professe to make warre against God for then they should never induce any but mad men unto it but pretend that it is a warre undertaken for Gods glory and against hereticks for the safetie of the Catholicke Church although in very deed it shall be against the God of Heaven they shall I say prepare a great Dyet to cut off at last all the heririckes in one battell and at once restore the affaires of the Romish Sea But O great folly for it shall not be the day of Hereticks but of God Namely Of God Almighty Whereby the faithfull should be stird up to consider the wonderfull judgements of God The Frogs indeed shall gather the Kings of the earth to Warre thereby to root out the Gospell of Almighty God
forceable falling on the Dragon Hee layed hold on him The Dragons Surname and binding and the time of thousand yeers ver 2. The place also and the manner of the imprisonment He cast him into the bottomlesse Pit and shut him up c. and the end that he should deceive the Nations no more and the time of his loosing Afterward he must be loosed a little season ver 3. 3. By a certaine Prolepsis or prevention whither in the meane while the affaires of the Church should be in peace and whither the Dragon being bound Tyrants should not persecute the godly and the Beast rage and invade the kingdome John seeth the soules of them that were beheaded for the testimony of Iesus and them that have not worshipped the Beast sitting on thrones living and reigning with Christ those thousand years ver 4. Whose happines is figured out by the Antithesis of the wicked who lived not againe during those thousand yeares but remained in the death of sin ver 5. And it is amplified by an Exclamation ver 6. In the second part touching the loosing of the Dragon is shewed 1. when and whence the Dragon was loosed Ver. 7.2 What he attempted being loosed to seduce againe the Nations and to gather Gog and Magog to battel Ver. 8.3 What was the successe of the attempt They compasse the campe of the Saints about and the beloved City this attempt is broken off in the former part of verse 9. In the third part which is the Catastrophe of the Gogish battell the destruction of the adversaries is described 1. Specially both the overthrow of Gog and Magog in the latter part of Verse 9. as also the punishment of the devill himselfe verse 10.2 Generally the last judgement of all In which type is noted 1. the majesty and preparation of the Iudge ver 11.2 The guilty to be judged all the dead and the sentence taken out of the Books ver 12. 3. A prevention touching such as were swallowed up of the Sea Death and Hell that they were all delivered up ver 13. 4. The execution of the Sentence both on the last adversaries Death and Hell Verse 14. as all others Verse 15. CHAPTER XX. The First part of the CHAPTER Of the DRAGONS binding a thousand Yeeres 1. And I saw an Angell come downe from Heaven having the Key of the bottomlesse pit and a great chaine in his hand 2. And he laid hold on the Dragon that old Serpent which is the devill and Satan and bound him a thousand years 3. And cast him into the bottomlesse pit and shut him up and set a seale upon him that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand yeers should be fulfilled and after that he must be loosed a little season 4. And I saw thrones and they sate upon them and judgement was given unto them and I saw the soules of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of Jesus and for the word of God and which had not worshipped the Beast neither his image neither had received his marke upon their foreheads or in their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand yeers 5. But the rest of the dead lived not again untill the thousand yeers were finished This is the first resurrection 6. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the second death hath no power but they shall be Priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years THE COMMENTARY ANd I saw Beza Then I saw which must be understood of the order of the Visions for this he saw after the former not of the order of the events as if this taking of the Dragon The order observeable and these thousand yeers should in time follow the damnation of the Beast For seeing the Beast is Antichrist certainly his destruction and casting into hell shall not be but by the brightnesse of Christs coming and in the last Iudgement as was shewed in the foregoing Vision 2. Thes 2 8 But after the last judgement there shall not be a thousand yeeres in which Satan shall be bound and these things be done which Iohn now seeth And therefore the Events of this Vision shall not follow but in time goe before the events of the foregoing Vision This is a certaine Argument that this Vision is diverse from the former and is no particular Vision which supplies the former and that in the Visions a continuated order of History or Times is not to be observed as most Interpreters imagine Wherefore after all other apparitions This last Vision is a recapitulation of all the foregoing visions this last Vision as it were in place of a conclusion is exhibited unto Iohn in which under new types and the wonderfull binding loosing and condemnation of the Dragon and of the description of the Heavenly Ierusalem is set forth unto Iohn the entire face of the Church prefiguring the History from the first gathering thereof among the Gentiles untill its last glorification in Heaven not indeed by a vaine repetition of the same things but a most profitable revealing of things divers from the former mysteries viz. touching the overthrow of Paganisme among the Gentiles through the coming of Christ of the tempests and distractions of the last thousand years with which besides the cruelty of the Beast the Church shal be exercised and of the most joyfull end of all the calamities of the Church For touching the First Iohn till now had seen nothing Of the Second he had seen somewhat but obscurely under the sixt Trumpet Of the third also he had heard but very little by one of the foure and twenty Elders towards the end of the second Vision Now it was very much for Iohns and ours instruction and consolation that none of these things should be hid from him Therefore there was weighty reasons why after the other Visions this also at last should be exhibited Thus much briefly touching the Order An Angell come downe from Heaven This Angell figures out CHRIST as the adjuncts and effects do prove For he hath the Key of the bottomlesse Pit that is the power of hell and death which Christ before attributes to himselfe Gen. 3 15. Heb. 2.14 Luk. 11.22 Chap. 18. ver 18. and he bindeth Satan which is proper to Christ for hee it is that bruised the head of the old Serpent Who through death destroyed him that had the power of death that is the devill He I say is that Stronger taking the house and dividing the spoile of the strong armed man Neither is it new that Christ should be represented by an Angell in this REVELATION as we see Chap. 7.2 Chap. 8.3 Chap. 10.1 c. But that it should be some ministeriall Angell who while Christ was suffering on the Crosse coming from Heaven bound the devill in the bottomlesse Pit is a fiction of Ribera's contrary to the truth of the Gospell Tob. 8.3 and is not