the Pope be sitting vpon the Empire by litle and litle And England at 1200. yer would not grant him supremacy Sigibert And good father WICKLIFE now 200. yeares ago preached that if the commune lawes of England might stand the Pope should haue no stroke in England And good Lady Margareth a pearle for a woman the mother to K. Henry the seauenth when she built Christs Colledge S. Iohns in both which I was fellow and owe them this dutie she in those dayes made lawes to aduance knowledge to ruinate the Pope And the valiant Henry VIII trust him out from being head or taile in our Church so the Empire ridden by the Pope stood but a litle while in sundrie places And all the while of the arising the Grecians as Chrysostome Andreas Oecumenius taught that the Romane Empire would be reuiued though in Greek stories Sysimus and the ecclesiasticall Alaricus Giezerichus wrought much harme and there Antichrist should reigne And if the Greeke old Doctores had bene well known the Pope had neuer gotten peny by his Masse Areopagita taketh the worde in the Law sense the token of the body so Eusebius the Image and Symbolon and so elder Origene and later Nazianzene Antitypes and later Theodorit in a full disputation and Macarius the Greeke Monke calleth it Symbolum and full many moo Then the Pope had no auctoritie for turning bread into the body of Christ to make him haue 1000. bodies and to make Religion a stage to Angels and men This long warning of the Popes arising was a warning to all ages that they should not suffer the starr falling to make bitter the waters of the Law nor darken the starrs and in all ages he had gainesayers And both Princes and People who contemned the warning of this book were worthie to be giuen ouer to all force of error And the Beast which was and is not the same is also the eight and one of the seauenth The Pope shall be the eight chaleng place aboue all follow all heathen superstitiō in name staffe apparel of Caesares and Temples setting but a face of Christianity vpon them A plaine description of the Popes comming vp And the tenne hornes which thou sawest are tenne Kings which haue not yet receiued the kingdome but receiue auctoritie as kings one houre with the beast These haue one minde and shall part their power and auctoritie to the Beast These shall make warre with the Lambe and the Lambe shall ouercome them for he is Lord of Lordes and King of Kings and they which are with him are called and chosen and faithfull Steuchus against Valla reckoning the Countries which held of the Pope bringeth them to ten But we must know that ten vsually is a great number about ten fewer or moo These kingdoms vnder the first Caesares were not so parted as when Iulian the Apostata kept at Paris who neuer heard that his Fathers brother the great Emperor Constantine gaue the West to the Pope and if any such matter had bene it could neuer be hid from him But when the Pope of Rome by long begging for S. Peter and so for Monasteries in many Countreies had gotten much wealth and ready good wills in Rome and the West to set vp againe the Empire at Rome He picketh quarrels with the Patriarch of Constantinople for procession of the holy Ghost and Pascha day and supremacy still of old labored to extinguish the Greek tongue and puritie of Latin and weakneth the East Empire that barbarous Gothes reigned whom to ouerthrow Princes gladly ioyne with him and he with them still for great Countreyes that in the end they sweare to helpe him to hold Constantinus donation and to bring the East the Greeke to agree with Rome And after 1000. yea the king of Locustes hath Satans throne in such power that his winges bee chariots and horses to cause kinges to doe what hee will As for Ierusalem warrs to ouerthrow all their kingdomes And in these tymes Satan bare sway that scant any learned were in the West But Monasteries and Collegies were built to fortifie haeresie that Greeke was vnknowen till our age and Ebrew to this houre for skill in the tongue able to hold water and to make a translation of good warrant to all learned iudgements In this blindnesse still some Abates and such fought well by pen and at the last by Martyrs whom the Pope damned and the secular power put to death But in the end Christ by his martyrs roareth like a Lion and seauen thunders tell his anger seauen Angels poure it out and men eate the little booke of Scripture and preach to nations and kinges to bethinke them how they did set vp Rome And hee saith to mee The waters which thou sawest where the Where sitteth are people and folke and nations and tongues The phrase is from Babel Ierem. 51. O thou which sittest vpon many waters and from Dan. 3. These phrases teach the simple how plaine Gods Law is lightning the eyes to call old matters into minde and to teach by old euents howe other matters will fall out Moreouer this open speach of manie waters to meane people and nations would making a commentarie in the margin vpon many places of the old Testament inlighten much Of the Popes fall And the tenne hornes which thou sawest vpon the Beast these shall hate the Whoore and make her desolate and naked and eate her flesh and shall burne her in the fire The same kingdomes which cleaued to the Pope for profite or deceipt when they see all profit gone and how he by terror of forged purgatorie gate Princes great lands wil alter their minde to hate the Pope Many millions in England hate his keies in Canterburies armes as a mockage to the true keies of knowledge so they hate the title grace in Scotland as doth the learned M. Meluin others hate Leuies Linen Cope Priest and Kneeling at receiuing bread which should bee receiued with most holy iudgement not in the Popes gesture others hate the Leprosie of the Apocrypha books the writers of which shew no more faith in Christ then did Flauius Iosephus nor so much Others hate the Popes forme of prayer patched vp for his vse to content the people not to spend that tyme in requiring of them opening of the Bible And many would haue our Bishops caught in praemunire to loose all Others make great sute to haue their lands Now if in England most reuerend right reuerend fathers so learned as they take vpon them to bee bee so hated for remnant of Papistrie what hatred shall open Popery haue where the Pope dareth excommunicate kinges Thal. Ierusal noteth that the King might not be excommunicated nor any chiefe Ruler But be sagely warned to keepe his house for a time and to saue his honor But the high Sacrificer was whipped with as many stripes as any other for his faultes Ierus in Sanedrin But our Pope will bee excommunicating
Seleucolaegidae in ten hornes fiue of each side vexing Iuda But there were tenne particular Kinges heere Kingdomes noted by a crowne vpon euery horne Now exactly fiue Seleucidae are not notable but fiue Lagidae bee So for the strict number God would not haue all the world vexed in men not worthy strict regard of storie But aboueX Kinges of old Kingdomes now be noted And Strabo lib. 17. noteth that Augustus diuided all Proconsulships into X. And Steuchus against Vallu diuideth the Popes in the same sort As I haue in Con. Scr. shewed The color of Leopard is from Alexander Beares foote from Paras Lions mouth from Babell Hornes color feete mouth meane all tyranny demeanour course lawes alike As Babel deified the Image Dan. 2. Paras their King Alexander would bee a God And Antiochus would haue Iupiter Olympius So the Caesares would still be Diui And termed the Christians Atheists as when martyrs were moued to abiure Christ this was the recantation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is away with the Atheists As a speach vnto Caesar to hold Christians Atheists and to request their destruction Eus Eccl. Histor In this sort the Caesar hath a name of blasphemy holding Gods seruants whose conuersation is in heauen to be not Gods seruants but wicked men as the text will shew anon And the beast which I saw was like a Leopard and his feete as a Beares and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion the Dragon gaue him his owne power and his owne throne and great auctoritie Heere we see why Satan bare armes from the Romanes armes Euen because Satans autority was executed by them The god of this world had such auctority giuen to trye the elect that the Gospell might be knowne to be hid to none but to whom the God of this world blinded vnderstanding This farre reacheth the profane Empire which our great Constanstine made dead when he left old Rome and made Bizantiū new Rome By the death of one head the exposition following sheweth the whole beast once dead Pompei with Romes force oppressed Gods people there Iuda felt one head and he perished in Aegypt M. Grassus with Romes army made another head and robbed the Temple of Abrahams sonnes who came from Charran or Carrae At Carrae the Parthians ouerthrew his whole army to the aeternall shame of the Empire Iulius Caesar tamed Aegypt and disposed Cleopatraes Gouernement to haue Iudae vnder a toe of that legge a third head he was kild in the Senate house Brutus Cassius the chiefest of his murtherers their Romane host oppressed Iuda and they made a fourth head Antonius he with the Romane force being made a mighty King in the East maried Cleopatra and made Herod for Her King of Iuda that Daniels Image might haue some remembrance till Christ came He as Pompei perished in Aegypt a fift head Then came the state of Rome to one Person and so continued one head from Augustus vnto great Constantine And in that head when he left cursed Rome the beast there was dead So the sixt head had beene and was not and yet was restored to be a seauenth head and the Pope is in that head with all his power and also will be a seuerall power aboue all and make also an eight head chap. 17. That is heere once told And I saw one of his heades as slaine vnto death and his deadly stroke was healed that admiration was through the whole earth after the beast they worshipped the Dragon which gaue his power vnto the beast and they worshipped the beast saying who is like to the beast Who can warre with him And a mouth was giuen him speaking great thinges and blasphemies and auctority was giuen him to be doing 42. moneths and he opened his mouth to blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and his Tabernacle and them whose Tabernacle is in heauen And it was giuen him to make warres with the sainctes and to ouercome them And power was giuen him ouer euery tribe tongue and nation That all who dwell in the earth should worship him they whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb which was slaine fromt the beginning of the world Heere the tyrannie of the profane Caesares caried by the spirite of Diuell is fully described well knowen by Diuus Nero Diuus Domitian and the rest of Diui or Diuels vnto Diocletian That Christians reading this might looke for such troubles as the holy in Daniel susteined This needeth no exposition but it selfe expoundeth chap. 12. for the vpper part of the Dragon And as Dan. 7. God sate vpon a fiery throne shewing a reueng vpon all the afflicters of his people So Apoc. 6. warre bloody black and pale and a gulfe of a graue was opened shewing how the Caesares warred and perished miserably 300. year with their great armies The Romane stories tell all most plentifully and Rome after their destruction felt it by Alaricus in Zozimus by Giezricke in the Eccles story from Lybia a new Hanniball by Theodoricus Totilas THAT AS STEVCHVS CONFESSETH ROME HAD BEENE MADE A MOST FILTHY LODGE OF OXEN AND HOGGES BVT FOR THE POPES Now the Caesares punishment followeth with a seuere taunt of dulnesse to them that will not marke stately speaches From Mat. 13. and Apoc. 2. and 3. If any man haue an eare let him heare Hee that carieth captiuitie shall goe into captiuitie Abb. 1. 2. for the Chaldean if any kill with sword hee shall bee killed with sword Gen. 9. When Antiochus the vile slew Iewes faithfull to God had affinitie with Egypt God plagued both houses more notablie then any families that euer were before Heathen did note it though they knew not that they made a cōmentary to make Daniel a most cleare booke so Aurelus Victor commonly read with Iustine in Grammar scholes sheweth howe the Caesares were plagued to the astonishment of the world since Rome crucifyed the Lord of Glory And Herodian handleth an Iliad of their plagues for 70. yer how the Emperores were so vile as dogges Sozimus sheweth litle better successe And before our Lordes dayes in the fleshe when their Empire made an head ouer Iuda Pompei Crassus Iulius Brutus Antonius and their Ciuill warres were wonders of misery And Plini recordeth what miseries made Augustus weary of his life full often These rules should be a bridle for Buyshopps of Rome and all of their Caius Heere is the faith and constancie of the holy Our gratious aeternall Spirite here meeteth with the weak that they should not iudge of Gods fauor by prosperitie in this world From Cain to Tuualcain or heathen smith Vulcain the wicked bare sway Which Spirite went and preached in the dayes of Noe to them that are now Spirits in Prison Nemrod the Rebel had first dominion and Niniueh and Babel at the last Nemrods house and in Dan. 11. 35. and 12. 10. the faithfull are told what God meant to let wicked Magog so afflict his
quiet words calmed boysterous preparation of warres But my hast cannot suffer stay And so sayd many strangers at Basil and French were earnest to bring me to their King And what will to my rare honour the state of Basil Zurick and Berne meant I will let them write Now for Iesuites humanity D. Pistorius himself four yeares agoe asked M. Hakewill of Oxford at Friburge of me whether I was alive He said he left me at Francfurt then said he I am hartily glad and gave high good words Now he is dead and I am sory for I hoped to turn him Now two Cardinalls of Rome Caesar Baronius as the Iesuites of Mentz told me and an other whose letters were intercepted at Heidelberge of him I heard no more obteyned of Pope Clement a principall Cardinalship for me and dealt with Mentz Iesuites to perswade me who when they could not Archb. Ioh. Adami would have had me of his court and obteyned that in Chapter saying that he reioyced more for my honouring of him with dedication of my Greeke translation of the Prophetes then for his late election to be Prince of the Empire And he should by order have part of his court Protestantes and he spake of me as not misliking my religion But then Q. E. died and I returned and he died soone after None but shamelesse will denie this Now this is past all deniall that Mentz gaue me leave to print in Greeke my owne Religion That brake the neck of Purgatorie besides other Papistique great poincts Of this the best of Paris wrote to Franckfurt to the Kings agent that of nine hundred yeeres so much was never obteyned of the Pope as that booke obteyned Rome must allow what Mentz alloweth And if Haides have but two places as they graunt Heaven and hell Purgatory must give back all the land that it wan Furthermore when my book of Concent came in Latin Pater Baltasar Ezelius in the hearing of his felowes in their college at Mentz spake as by common consent We allow all that that book hath This I have printed in Latin and I am sure he will not deny it and when we are both dead none may seing in my life time it is not denyed So this much is graunted me of Rome to assure the simplest so far how far the city is sunk And badnes or madnes geveth Nabal for name Nabala for fame to him that will not see how vpon this Rome graunt the comment vpon the Apocalyps is past reply I have turned the Apocalyps into Hebrew and so I would expound it if the Turky merchants would pay the charges If they refuse I will leaue them to try whether strange shipwrack shall revenge them Their agent L. Ed. Barton gave the beginning writing thus If M r. Br. may be brought to Const. that may turne to the common good of Christendome This he sent to M r. Stapers Seing our age fleeth wee should sell all to buy the Pearle of heaven Let the just be just still The summe of the Apocalyps IOhns Apocalyps telleth that Christ shewed the state to come to the ende of the world a vision of himselfe as vnto Daniel chap. 10. this doth hee chap. 1. And in singular sweetnes to the seaven starres in the seaven golden Candlestickes all these partes be applyed with addition against all Arrianes that the Eternall the sonne of God the Creator of the world is he that appeared vnto Daniel So Iohn expoundeth Daniel into Salvation of all Iewes of grace This goeth through chap. 2. 3. in easie facilitie Now for tymes to come this appeareth chap. 4. God on a throne fitteth a iudge like Iasper for Beniamins temple Sardius as Ruben to fight for the tribes And Christians in state Persones are 24. Bishops and besides goodly this in chap. 4. Then the Lambe and Lion openeth the Booke of seaven seales chap. 5. then hee cometh further against Caesares on horse white with plaguing riders vpon red blacke pale For the martyrs who crave to destroy the Empire but are bid to expect Diocletianes persecution Then shall their profane world be rowled vp chap. 6. After that a generall apostasie commeth chap. 7. Howe that falleth out the seaventh seale doth shew Christ standeth at the golden Altar to receive all prayers Rome bendes a policy against all this Therevpon Christ as in Ezekiel casteth fire into the earth and Angels trompetters sound howe haile and fire is mixt with blood by that Popes bee made a mountaine so a mountaine of fire cast into the worlds sea to set all on fire when the starre-Byshop falleth from his heavens to turne the Law-waters into wormewood and to darken the chiefe Sunne Moone and Starres comming vp by falling and by turning the Scriptures into gall soone darkening the third part of the Church that three woes are pronounced chap. 8. By his keies of the pitt whence he fetched the wormwood of his haeresies he bringeth locastes of Monkes to devour all the West and able to make warres and becommeth King of Locusts and maketh warres and so becommeth a firie mountaine to make haile and fire mixt with blood This was one woe He weakned the East Empire to set vp the Saracens and is plagued from Euphrates as his Idolatry and treachery turned away the East chap. 9. Christ reviveth the Gospell when men eate the little booke teaching againe how hee is the Angell of Covenant and Mediator for the faithfull chap. 10. Martyrs bring policies to see what the king of Locusts his Citie or policie is and he falleth and the Gospell is restored and he falleth with worlds ende chap. 11. The same matter is repeated for Caesares and Pope in a dragon of Romane Armes As it was called Egypt chap. 11. and Pharaoh a Dragon Esai 27. The vpper parte of the Dragon is shewed to be the Romane Empire one compiled of the foure in Daniel and the taile is expounded to be the beast arising from the earth chap. 11. or King of Locusts chap. 9. he reuiueth the former empire so that none can live in it without his marke chap. 13. His marke is to force Christians to Idolatrie For which vilanie Romane Babilon is told of a fall chap. 14. By vrging Idolatry he driveth from his Aegypt the Church through a sea of fire and fagot into the wildernesse Where the Tabernacle built hath a smoke of Gods anger and Angels seaven plague him as hee plagued all vnder the seaven Trompets Chapter 16. For that our holy Martyrs calling for vengeance from vnder the Altar rowled vp also the Popes heaven as a booke rowled The Beast revived hath no difference from the former but in bloody color and the daughter Rome riding vpon it all bloody Chapter 17. Rome shall fall as Babilon Tyrus did Chapter 18. It shall fall when all nationes sing Halelu-Iah vpon the destruction of the wicked with vnderstanding Then the WORD of GOD will catch the Beast-false-prophet the whole Dragon revived
Now this false Prophet forging himself taught by the Angel Gabriel taketh Daniels terme in the highest sense Machmad delite it self Rashi telleth that because he humbled himself before GOD in fasting and prayer he was so called But Turk and Pope will have the holynes of Apollo past repentance CHAP. X. Now commeth a most lively description of Christ opening himself from Esa 19. and 54. and Genes 9. and Apoc. 4. Daniel 10. and Exod. 14. and Dan. 12. and Es 31. and Iob for the thunder of his power which is past vnderstanding and shall not be perceived of the Pope till the next trumpetter or common place teacher soundeth and endeth the world Now the Angel biddeth Iohn take from Christ the litle book of the Gospell and to eat it which was sweet in his mouth in preaching but bitter in affliction and to the enemy also as Ezekiels book CHAP. XI Iohn sheweth that the Church shall be built as Ierusalem freed from Babel vnder Zorobabel and Iesus when Zachary seeth an Angel with a reed meating the length breadth So Iohn hath a reed to meat the tēple and altar that is from the litle book to shew the breadth and length and depth and height of the love of God in Christ Christ himself is the temple Therefore to check Thalmudiques which to this day look for a third temple as sheweth Rambam whom vpon Koheleth Salomon the oratour I have cited and translated to check them he sheweth court of sacrificing is geven to the heathen and Ezekiels goodly citie is a city of affliction as Christ was afflicted 42. monethes Zacharies olive trees Zorobabel with Israel and IESVS with Levi and candelstick of Gods fauour Churches Chapter 1. revived Here is a new Elias a new Moyses to call fyer from heaven and to stay all dew of grace and successe and to turne their waters of armies into blood to plague their enemies with all kind of plague The experience followeth The combat of the King of Locusts with the Martyrs When the Martyrs begin to revive the Gospell the city which is called for spiritual vncleannes of religion spiritually Sodoma for cruelty against Israel Aegypt setteth fourth the King of Locustes who commeth with his Locustes winges of chariots and warre horses and fighteth in all nations with these two captaynes of Martyrs and killeth them and their case is playne how they are murthered as if a Crowners quest went vpon the policy that crucified Christ after his preaching 42. moneths or dayes 1260. or yeares three and an half Now as Beda and Carthusianus well note in three yeares and an half all time of preaching Christ in memorie of his preaching so long so the time of their noted death while their ashes may be seen and they are not put in grave is in a proportion called three dayes and an half Now that all may know that two yeare is not proper twise one but as all the returned from Chaldea Babylon be two Zach. Ch. 4. and 5. So the witnesses of truth that leave spirituall Babel all are in that sense called two and the citie which killeth them in peoples tribes tongues and nations is not a building of houses but a building of policie So the two be not two men but two companies and the dwellers in earth would not reioyce and send giftes one to another as Iewes against Haman in Ester for two but for the companies of two sorts rare wightes full of eyes 24. Bishops and the troupes that give glorie to God and the Lambe and pray onely to the Lambe the great God and Saviour these in all nations where the king of Locustes tyranny reacheth are the two Prophets who vexe them whose mindes dwell on earth and cannot see the heavenly policy of Christ In that sense after three dayes an half spirit of life from God entred into them and they stood vp and feare fel vpon their enemies and they heard a great voice from heavē saying vnto them come vp hither and they ascēded vnto heaven in a cloud and their enemies saw it Iohns vision went vpon two and vpon one city one beast But Romes policy the king of pit keyes with his Locustes and the states that write and fight against them must be meant of whom when one is dead an other is alive iump in the same veine as though it were the same man and their enemies see they goe vp to heaven and the beast which is ascended out of Abyssos that is all his corporatiō millions of millions these visions represent corporations and vnder one millions of men be told all Papistes goe from their Abyssos of black ignorance vnto Abyssos Luke 8. and Zohar vpon Genes 1. 2. whither the Divels shall come in their time but are yet in this world to be tormented for ever and ever After this teaching and fighting a great earthquake shaketh a tenth part of the king of Locusts city which crucified Christ and prayeth to the virgin Mary to commaund her sonne the Eternall God by the right of a mother as though she were mother to the godhead because shee was mother to the Person one of two natures And they are very wise who thinke the mother of God in schoole phrase can finde no better speculation in heaven then to listen to the Citie that crucified the Lord of glory Iscariot the traitour confessed his fault yet Christ gave him over to hang him selfe Rome that kild Christ after justifying him sinning so against the holy Ghost and sinning more then if they had kild all the men in the world yet is worse then Iscariot and wil not cōfesse sin but clayme right to rule the world because once they durst crucifie the maker of the world and pray to the Virgin Marie to forgive the Popes holynes the Vicar of Pilate In Elias 7000. bowed not the knee to Baal and live In this Citie 7000. that bow the knee to Baal dye are kild in vision 7000. in storie seaventie millions of thousandes with this 120. yeares of the Gospell revived And full many give glory to God and leave the virgin Mary alone to be happy as other faithfull Bathshebagh Ruth Thamar and Sarah al her mothers and who more in sin yet stayed vpō her sonne who was then in their loynes Thus the second woe is past The Popes fall the seaventh trumpet of common place Since Kingdomes match the Pope in strength and have brought him that he dare not queck but be content to hold his owne An open voice is in kingdomes that whereas the Pope hath been once cast out and now God reigneth wee looke for no chaunge till the resurrection at 6000. by old guesse Hence at 463. For our Lord was borne at 3927. adde 1610. then now Adams soule and dust hath 55 37. at 463. the gesse will shew it self At 3000. the Arke was brought into Salomons Temple at 4000. exactly the Romanes destroyed Zerobabels temple And as the Pope falleth by steppes as he
of boyles that dayly some losse he hath as he brought warres to be hayle and fyer mixed with blood He became a mountain of fyre cast into the sea to make the third part of it bloud so his nations be made all known dead in sin and in seas of war fall from him The starre wormwood fell into the rivers fountaines of Scriptures made them bitter His rivers fountaines of forces are turned to drink blood He obscured the sun of justice the sun of persecution parcheth his He got lands for Monasteries that the Locusts might make him their King But now the throne of the beast is darkened by contempt and pillage of Land In the old time Virgil complayned of Romes distresse that Hinc movet Euphrates illinc Germania bellum and at Euphrates Ch. 9. Angels were tyed but to be loosed by starts now the river is dry that Turks and Saracens come even to Germanie and Germanie also looketh to freedome that now the king of Canaan the servant of servantes the false prophet sending from his mouth three that is many vncleane spirits to cause kings to war hath no better successe then Iabin by Sisera at Mageddon and here a faire warning is given to watch and integritie The ayre was darkned and earthquake shooke the citie that the tenth part of the citie fell and Gods wrath ended all So here a great earthquake and hayle greater then Iosuahs falleth vpon the enemy who can not repent but holdeth on to destruction Thus men Gods messengers shall give the Pope measure for measure that he can not repent but blasphemie not knowing how far Patmos passeth Rome CHAP. XVII As Daniel at the last openeth his Visions in proper speaches so here vision and proprietie come togeather though some knots be knit that the wise may vnderstand and no wicked take the paynes to search One of the seaven Angels calleth Rome an harlot sitting vpon manie waters that is people and troupes and nations and tongues as Daniel 3. speaketh with which the Kings of the earth committed spirituall fornication by accepting that filthy Idolatrie as dronck with the wine of her Idolatry This Angel doth in vision that which a Doctor would in reading And he carieth Iohn into a wildernes in vision as men are best to judge when the noyse of city troubleth not Now he hath another vision for the Empire revived a beast with heades and hornes as the former the old Empire and purple colour as more in persecution and full of names of blasphemie as accepting the Popes Canons and Masse and Ceremonies and a woman sitteth vpon this beast clothed in purple and scarlat as drunk with the blood of the Saincts and golden in Gold as old Babylon Esa 14. and brave in pearles and precious stones as be the Popes in their Copes and their Arch-Bishops and Cardinals in cloth of Gold and Aharons stones mocking with God in apish imitation as they mock with the keyes that God gave his Apostles which Saint Paul had as the best if any could be better then other and Iohn specially authour of Gospell and Epistles and Apocalyps That Ruben might as well be chief Patriark as Peter chief Apostle And this woman had in her hand a golden cup as old Babylon full of her lothsome filthy fornication though Rome set soorth in gold and silver their crucifix and Virgin Marie and Saincts And in the forehead a mysterie Babylon the great the mother of the fornications and lothsomenes of the earth Here we see plainnes that none should think that Babylon meant whence S. Peter wrote Rome is Babylon in a mysterie and trope S. Peter was to speak properly as all men when they tell whence they write But visions are in borrowed speaches Now this is sure and plaine The woman is the city which hath kingdome over Kinges of the earth Now of the beast his body this is told that the beast is is not and is In Caesars it was in Rome Dead by Constantinus house and not being and againe revived by the Popes The seaven heads are seaven hilles whereupon Rome was built famous for that and also seaven Kings whereof five ruled Iudah before our Lord came in the flesh Pompey Crassus Iulius Antony Brutus with Cassius Iohn and all Iewes knew that well Then commeth the whole Empire the old a sixt head then present afterwards the Empire to be revived the seventh and by the Pope the eight King as he ruleth the Empire Now the ten hornes are Kingdomes as they serve the revived beast not yet so set vp but in the Popes time it shal be Now these shall with one mind give their power to the Pope and persecute But Christ and his Martyrs will overcome as in Chap. 7. and 10. and 11. and 12. and 14. and 15 and 16. And when Martyrs teach the truth countreyes will revolt from Rome and make it desolate that the empire shall not be prophane nor favouring Rome but as in new Rome before the Turk ruled CHAP. XVIII An Angel that lighteneth all the earth by his glory proclaymeth that Rome is fallen knowen to be a dwelling of vncleane spirits in all places of the policy and the holy are commaunded to come out of all that policy Their Canons and Prayers and apparrel are al bent to a blind drift and not fittest to have bene vsed in our tongue The whole frame is out of order The Lords prayer is maymed from their Latin Mat. 6. leaving out a most noble sentence Their Creede is foolishly translated that 20. severall opinions are made of a most cleare phrase of 3000. yeres vse of going to God their letany is dangerous in phrase praying to te Persons severally and is applyed vnto their doctrine of doubting of justification and in Battologie is hatefull to God and in trifling arguments for sainctes dayes and hath lies for the place of Eves creation and Archangels our Lords comming into the world at midwinter Wee should come out of all these follies if our myndes put on white and clean linen and wee tye golden girdles about our brestes Specially the Divelish fable of Toby is vntolerable to be still kept Bishops vnder Q. E. gave leave in allowance of these things to adde in subscription this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things may be suffred Romes fall is told from Babels Tyrus and Ierusalems Ierem. 51. Esa 21. and 47. and Esa 23. and Ezekiell 27. and Ier. 7. to shew from stories past the certainty of all this And these reasons are rendred that the Roman policy killing men for the Prophets is guilty of their blood as the Scribes for Abels Math. 23. that the Kinges who should be Bishops next God trafiqued with Pope for his confirmation by the witchcraft of Papistry CHAP. XIX When people can sing Haleluja that is praise onely God in whom we breath who drenched Pharoh when Iah stopped his breth Exo. 15. there Iah is first vsed when foure times Aleluja is vttered from all sorts
happinesse Redemption that Iewes and Philosophers could speak of Emperors causes better then they Thus for 9. cōmun in stead of 10. for the Lords prayer maimed and turned to Battus infinite repetition against the Law Eccles 5. that our words before GOD should be few and their beliefe stayned in the maine sheweth how they of Rome taught the people that would not receyue the loue of the trueth but became a great deepe sea of darknesse that Sun ayer Christ the sun of righteousnesse and the scripture by which light commeth to our eyes were darkned by a smok of haeresies marring in their Masse al religion The Iewes though faithlesse yet they doe search most narrowly and profitable the speach and story of the law and shew vs Christ in all whom they cannot see But Romulus man of sinn setting forth him selfe as if he were God in his Masse booke darkneth sunne and ayer in steed of seruing God alone that is praying to God alone as our Lord Mat. 6. repeated his Law when ye pray pray to your Father which is heauen Maymony sheweth vpon what Command prayer dependeth otherwise prayer were sin saith in his treatise for prayer That all the Fathers expounded the Law for seruice to be prayer And Menachem saith God forbid that any should pray but vnto God only euen as Psal 50. Pray vnto me in the day of trouble I will heare thee so thou shalt honour me No holy in all the Bible the ayer to see Christ did euer pray to any Angell but the Eternall Son nor euer to any man departed Therefore Romylides liturgie in praying to infinite millions of creatures hath infinite sinnes Of the Locustes most liuely describing the Popes subjects to make him King of Locustes distinguished from all other policies that be or euer were in the world Locusts came out of the smoke and the hoat vapours of Lybia bred cloudes of Locustes which by South windes flee to Sardinia Silicie Spaine and Italie as others in Ioels dayes to Iudea that in one night the slow-bellies deuoure whole valleies of tender Corne where it would grow otherwise 100 fold This a Sardinian man tolde my selfe merchants manie as past doubt that exorcistes by Satans helpe were invited to helpe the matter Now the millions of Monkes and Friers and such as deuoure other mens labours void of all actions for political vse are so fitly compared with these that we may say God in the Creation made locuste to abound in Lybia to shew in time the locusts bred by Rome which would crucifie the King of glorie and should deuoure the fruites of such as had no loue to the trueth but would Honor the Citie that would kill the Lord of glory that was a greater sinn then the deuouring of all the fieldes in the world A distinction of these locusts from the proper locusts in Ioel that these be as scorpions These had power as the scorpions in Italie which sleepe vnder euery stone that no common weale could be healed of their sting but such as make their blood pay for it and by them selues be healed A further illustration of distinction from naturall Locusts Scorpions These locusts might not strike the blades of the earth nor anie greene thing or coleworts nor any plant but onely the men that had not the seale of God in the forehead professing openly that Christ is the Angell of Couenant and his Humanitie the golden Altar and his Mediation the Censer to receiue the prayer of them who by the aboundance of the grace of the gift of Iustice looke to reigne by Christ Iesuus A further distinction how their sting is not of naturall scorpions but of spirituall These kill not but torment men fiue moneths with a torment as it were of scorpions Heare the reade must marke corporation speaches that the whole state is termed by one man So doth Moses speake to Israel for many thousandes of yeeres in speach as though all were to the present men so Ezekiel speaketh of the King of Tyrus then liuing as hee was for a King in Salomons and Chyrams day Salomon had Chyrams daughter and he was a Proselite and by his charges Chyram the workeman wrought Salomons brasse workes so the king was of Eden garden so heere men of long descents bee stonge and not only for a particular age And as scorpions in locusts haue no more tyme to hurt but hide themselues in winter as Nahum telleth so these locusts hide themselues when sharp weather of policie commeth The Church spend neere 1000. yeeres good Abbates as Bernard others full many in Flaccius Illyricus and Antilogiâ Papae and such telling the Daemones or Popoi of their dealings and Princes resonablie matched them so long but Satan was let loose after 1000. yeeres That Popes deceiued Princes to spend their strength 200. yeeres as Gods enemies to bring the land cursed for euer into glory to make God a liar so Princes being weakned Daemones Popoi by strange forgerie of Constantinus gift became strong Constantinus sonnes knew no such matter no Iulian that scoffed all that he could forge against his Vncle nor Sozimus as bad as Iulian nor any Grecian Yet the Popoi Daemones will haue their owne testimonie for Empires giuen without States consent Thus the Papae or reuerend Father that would be a king by his locusts beggers the wealth of all Countreyes Of the Scorpiones stinges 1. Popoi Daemones taught to deny this that so God loued the world that he gaue his onely sonne to the end that whosoeuer belieue on him should not perish but haue life euer lasting 2. As the serpent deceyued Eue so the Pope hauing the throne of the serpent deceyued many mindes from that playnesse which is in Christ and so stong their heartes as they Iob. 3. who desire the graue and digge for it more then for treasures 3. And whereas this is only the work of God wherein a Christian is distinguished from Ciuill scribes to belieue in him whom God hath sent the Pope teacheth not to rest in this 4. He teacheth trust in wicked workes in giuing Landes to Locustes to auoid Purgatorie vnknowen to Greekes and to hate the Bible as auctor of haeresie to pray to Creaturs to be sure for that only if no more sinne were to perish for euer And he teacheth that men should doubt of their saluation So his Locustes haue the stinges of Scorpions Of the Locusts strength and auctoritie When by their forged Purgatorie and much begging the Locusts had gotten the fatt of all Countreyes thē they were horses prepared to warres that they sett Kings to warre as they would And though they would seeme to haue no secular Power yet their dealinges shewed they ware crowns like gold being in face as priuate men of womans haire in keeping in Cloisters yet haue they teeth of Lions to deuoure all and habergions of yron to defende them selues and the noise of their winges the proper noise of
it Gods worke against whom none may plead he maketh one little booke exceed for varietie and elegancie of wordes aboue 4600. chosen wordes Thus the booke might be made easie 1. The wordes should be all in a table that all might read them quicklie 2. Appellatiues and propre should be sett in their colours 3. For Appellatiues all Attique and eloquent Speaches of them as Rom. 12. 3. Paul passeth all Athenes these should all come in their families 4. Next many thousand frō the 70. with Ebrew to them and in how many God followeth the 70. departing from the Ebrew This would carrie the Reader through all the old Testament 5. Thalmudique speaches be plentie and easie to a Rabbin as Forgiuenesse neither in this world nor in the world to come and girded about the brest second death and such these most trouble Greekes and would be easiest handled in their veines and they be very many 6. Sometimes the Apostles mende the 70. or speake more eloquently as in Iaspis Apoc. 21. vers 19 it is Beniamins stone after the Ebrew Exod. 28. But vers xj the Carbuncle Isai 54. So Sardonix for Zabulon and Chrysophrase for Nephtaly are the Apostle Iohns passing in Greeke skill And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eb. 1. 3. from Isai 4. Tzemach Lecabod and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From Exod. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these S. Paul bringeth All this kinde settled together would bring light and delight to all godly learned Of propre names Many propre names be taken from the old Testament wherein the 70. is communely folowed Sarra will try a scholar and Phanuel from the margine reading and Ionanan Luc. 3. and the names from Israell in Egypt being full many shew they knew Ptolomies Egypt should fall many cōteyne Psal 89. as Zorobabelidae Mat. 1. many other speciall stories chiefly Townes full many call to Seleucidae and Lagidae as Antiochia Seleucia Philadelphia such Many are cleared by Thalm. Ierusalemy as Lazar for Eleazar and Alphai for Chalphai a. s in the fathers stead and such The Greeke and Latin in one familie Alexander and Rufus shew that the Thalmud lieth bringing Iesus our Lord his dayes to the Maccabees tymes The name Marck and Paul and all the Latin termes shew that vnder the Romans Christ was on earth Epilogue Thus when euery word should be handled alone and wordes tossed in disputatiō handled alone the whole booke would be soone eaten and millions would be able to Prophecie and to defend the faith against the Beast that commeth out of the pitt of Sathans deepenesse to make Seniorie of true Bishopps that vnlearned pseudo-piscopi should no longer pine better learned in prison sage and learned be lawfull Episcopi bestowing reuenues aright but nobles ought and lower gentrie to be the best learned and to keepe all in sage dealing So the King of Locustes would soone loose his crowne The 2. oliue trees in Zacharie which poure oile into the golden Candlestick are they who not by might but by Gods spirit as they vnder Aggei and Zachary built the Temple The chiefe ruler was holden as anointed so King Iosias though none but the first of the house as Dauid or in stirre as Salomon for Adonias and Ioash for Athalia Ioachaz for elder Ioakim were annointed The high sacrificer was of course so both states were vnder the two oliues and whē all be sacrificers Apo. 1. Then the gouernor that prouideth for bread and they who labor in word are the two oliues that giue matter of light to the golden Candlestick Clothed in sackcloth in sadnesse of their minde considering how the gold is darkened The restorers of the Gospell be as Elias And if any man will hurt them fire commeth out of their mouthes and eateth vp their enimies yea if any man will hurt them so he must be killed These haue power to shut vp the heauens that raine raine not in the dayes of their prophecying Heere the kingdome of the beast arising from the darke pitt is closselie compared with Israell in Achabs dayes when Baal was worshipped by so many false prophetes And Elias knewe none but him selfe left of true religion in Israell and the Altars which GOD tolerated extraordinarie were all broken downe The Papistes damne themselues mightilie when they cast in our teeth That our companie had not open policie still Sigibertus complayneth that at 1200. England admitted not the Popes supremacie So hee answereth Papistes And still our commune Lawes made it treason to appeale vnto the Pope and holy Wickliffe condemned him as freelie as any in our tymes Wickliffe that set ouer the Bible into English Wickliffe that taught how the cōmune Lawes would vtterly fall the Pope Wickliffe whose Bible many yet haue the Copiers of which shew where the Church of God was Such had the spirit of Elias which called for fire from heauen into Bohemia and Prage and Saxonie to burne much of Rome as Elias called fire from heauen to burne two Captaines and two fifties so Eliseus called fire from Hazael that brent vp Israell And Iohn Baptist called for fire from heauen that brent vp all Herodes house And as Elias staide raine three yeares and an half so Eliseus spirit brought famine to Samaria and the Christians in Claudius dayes and the martyrs by the black horse bring corne to be weighed as spice for dearth so still God sendeth famine for his martyrs The Martyrs be as Moses These haue power to turne the waters into blood and to strike the earth with any plague so often as they will This sheweth Rome to be a new Egypt still rebelling against Moses and therefore hath plagues to the same effect 1. Egypt had waters turned to blood so Rome chap. 11. and 16. 2. Egypt swarmed with frogges so Rome chap. 16. 4. Egypt was plagued with serpents and all sauage so the Locustes had tailes like scorpions and their plaguers had horses with Lions mouthes and their tailes had heads like to serpentes and the Caesares people were spent by the beastes of the earth 5. A plague killed the beasts of Egypt so the Caesares people 6. 6. Boyles vexed Egypt so the marked of the beast Apo. 16 7. Haile Fire vexed Egypt so Rome haile and fire mixed with blood chap. 6. and chap. 16. great haile 8. Locustes ate the fruites of Egypt Locustes strangers swarme Apo. 9. 9. Darkenesse vexed Egypt the throne of the beast is darkned Thus God compareth propre Egypt and the king of Locustes Egypt how they that folow Moyses Law and Prophecie and bid the king of Locustes grant freedome to Israel still plague their Pharaoh And when they had ended their martyrdome the beast which ariseth out of the deepe shall make warre with them and shall kill them and their carcasses shall lie in the large Common weale which is called spiritually Sodoma and Egypt where also the Lord was crucified For doctrine of vncleane spirites they are termed
sin should arise Both be heere in one dragon which the profane Caesares and the Popes can not perceiue They who be of the heauenly state they all do see the Dragon is the Diuill or accusar of God the great is the Diuells power by Rome the ruddy bloodie persecution His seauen heades are seauē states of Rome ouer THE FAITHFVL as the Iewes knew their story full well Pompei by Rome was an Emperour in the East But perished neere in the land of Cham. So in Iudah M. Crassus was after him armed ouer Iudah as a King for Rome who robbed the Temple of Salem of Abrahams house but at Abrahams Charan he and his army had a most famous destruction Iulius Caesar made Cleopatra Lady of Iudah who perished in Capitolio for that Brutus Cassius force after was a King for Rome They by Antoni perish Antoni hath the East and marieth Cleopatra and ruleth Iuda and both perish So fiue diademes of the Dragon perish The 6. state is the wholle power which crucified Christ and his members till our Helenaes sonne left Rome and New Troy to be a pillage to Alaricus Giezerichus Theodoricus Totilas for old persecuting of martyrs The seuenth is the Popes wealth getting landes by S. Peters forged supremacy and setting vp the Empire in the West These be the seauen diademes spoken to the Iewes plaine vnderstanding Heathen stories may fitt Romes 7. other states The more fall out fitt as often many do to one speach the more Rome that crucified Christ is condemned when GOD turneth continuall reuolution to haue Rome called into minde Moreouer the allusion is to Daniels foure beastes which had 7. heades The Lion one the Beare one the Leopard foure the fourth beast one The Roman state winning all those contreyes of the East are fitly noted by their armes And specially by the then hornes The Seleucidae by fiue kinges vexed Iudah by warres against Lagidae and Lagidae by so many againe wasted Iuda So that Greeke beast in one parted Kingdome had 10. hornes From that beast the Roman beast hath also ten Kingdomes at the least and vnder Augustus and vnder the Pope rekoned to that number Strabo 17. Steuch contra Vallum Lib. 2. so these matters be all most plaine Of the tayle The prophane Caesares persecution moued few Christians the starres of heauen to fall But the taile of the Empire the false prophet that speaketh lies he as Antiochus Daniel 8. maketh many fall from heauen praetending religion with much praetense and no substance The combat of the Roman Empire with the Church And the Dragon stood before the woman beeing in trauaile that when she bore her childe he might deuour it And she bare a manly sonne which will rule all nations with a sceptre of yron And the child was taken vp to God and to his throne The allusion is from the dayes of Christ borne in Bethleem when Satan by Herodes swords would haue deuoured him but his mother fled with him to Egypt after that Satā hoped to deuour him in the graue he was taken vp into heauē so when Christians soules trauailed to breed Christ the Emperors stormed to deuour that doctrine as Dauid told Ps 2. But they brought forth into the light of the world the SON would bruse all nation-with an yron sceptre as he did bruse the image in Daniel And shewed that his throne is in heauen being taken vp vnto the aeternall King And the Christians fled into the wildernesse as CHRIST did in the tyme of his preaching or halfe seauen Dan. 9. and often handled in the Gospell in Eusebius handled and of Beda who cited the Apoc. allusions M. Scaliger and others that make mo yeares of our Lordes preaching spent ill good houres All tyme of affliction is sweetly termed by our Lords affliction to be as his of dayes 1260. though it were of 300. yer vnder Caesares resistance and 600. vnder Popes enimies to Iohns Apocalyps The speach is full of comfort calling vs vnto the afflictions of Christ himselfe who reckoned all his owne dayes and will haue all our teares in his bottle and pay all dogges and Doegs for Cerberean barking A Commentary vpon the former vision And there was warre in heauen MICHAEL and his Angells made warre with the Dragon and the Dragon and his Angells made warre but held not strength neither was there place found any more for them in the heauen And the great Dragon the old Serpent called the Diuell and Satan who deceiueth the wholle world he was cast out againe I say he was cast and his Angels were cast with him into the earth The state of the faithfull heere is sweetly called hēauen to shew our certeinty of hope for the propre heauen as the word of Law and Gospell is as sure to vs as if we saw the third heauen that aboue the ayer and aboue the starres as S. Paul did at his first calling to a comfort against all his following afflictions so the holy Daniel that in one image made abridge from the end of the old Testament vnto the beginning of the new called the state after abrogation of Moises the Kingome of heauen Iohn Baptist doth begin with his tongue The kinddome of heauen is come And the aeternall WORLD the essentiall WORDE who spake and all was made he confirmeth the same speach to shew that Daniels Image was ended and the GOD of heauen setteth vp a kingdome that cannot be corrupted The obseruation of this speach had kept Daniel in a cleare meaning and not brought the West Empire of Christians for East Greeke Seleuco-Lagides athean Nor tymes after Christ for stories teaching when he would come The termes of the Bible be pearles still beate vpon the open story for noblest matters So Saint Paul Ebrew XI speaking of the Maccabees martyrs famous in the Talmudiques and after his dayes historied by Greeke Iewes saith from Daniels last speaches of double resurrection That they would not be deliuered because they looked for the better resurrection So he sheweth that Antiochus persequutions were the last mentioned in Daniel The Romans hindred not the Iewes holy religion till by the Pharisees they vexed our Lord himselfe when he opened the kingdom of heauen dayes 1260. They who without knowledge of Daniel would know the Gospel are as men that would goe from one Land to another parted by great waters without a shipp All that care for the kingdome of heauen will care for him And my paines in a third commentary an English a Latin a shorter in English came forth by my care and charges By the third milliones of our simple might haue knowen the Prophets whole heart But that Bargulus Illyricus would cast him into the Lions den If Lions rent not his bones I will commende him to the God of Daniel and the firy flames streaming from his throne for his fighting for the dragon against MICAEL and his Angells Of MICAEL Michael and Gabriel are the only holy
they had coined Phrases to new vexation of our spirits and make the word seeme a nose of wax Thus we hinder our owne fight but some still hold the truth that the accusation cannot be generall The rest should be wise with them The Diuell and his Angels by MICAEL that standeth vp for his people who be his Angels are banished from the Church and knowen to be vnclean spirits A second and playner exposition of the Dragons warre And I heard a great voice saying in the heauen now is come the saluation and power and Kingdome of our GOD and the auctority of his CHRIST because the accusar of our brethren who accuseth them before GOD day and night is cast downe And they haue ouercome by the blood of the Lambe and by the word of his Testimony and despised their liues vnto death Therefore reioyce yee heauens and they who dwell in them wo be vnto them which dwell in the Land and the Sea because the Diuell is come to you hauing great wrath knowing that he hath but a litle while Where a company by Martyrdome shew that saluation commeth onely by the death of CHRIST and are constant in that Testimony then troupes that make the heauens kingdom heere protest they know how saluation cōmeth know Gods power that falleth the mighty state of the Pope and know wherein the Kingdome of God standeth And the auctority of Christ where the Pope had a Kingdome of Satan in his policy through all partes of all common weales euen from ruling Emperours to the poorest that had but a chimney to pay a Peter-peny The holy Testament playnelie shewing our Creatores And how the spirit of CHRIST flootereth vpon all the waters of both Testaments and cleared the holy story And cleareth our hearts to call vpon GOD with a good heart this sheweth in this plaine sum what the Kingdome of God and auctority of CHRIST is Gouernement standeth vpon plaine rules The wealthy that know CHRIST Kinges Dukes Earles Barons Knights will study to excell in Diuinity to be true Bishopps and Elders to eate vp the Booke of the Gospell and to see all miscariage sagely restreined being those that Saint Paul and the Talmudiques meant by Pastors And will see how by Church lands an infinite company may be made cunning in tongues and sense of both Testaments That the Angelos Ecclesiae and daylie Seniores may be so taught in Diuinity as men are in liberall artes to know the wholle facultie and the propre vse of euery holy booke And what concent all the scripture hath and where one error putteth all out of tune but may soone be remoued so a faithfull minde will often in a day runne ouer all the Bible and see all ages faithfull as trees planted by waters and all wicked as dust scattred by the winde And such will be true Bishopps as Cucullus non facit monachum so a courtiers fauor and title maketh not a Bishopp for saluation and power and kingdome of God and authority of Christ Buy-shopps mocke with GOD but all Mordecaies will vse them as Agagites and as leprous to the Church So when all Gouerners in state be learned Bishopps ioy will be in the Church that the Diuell must goe to Land or quiet state of the Pope or sea warres of Emperors bad to seeke whom he can deuour The learned dealers for the Church will finde for it meanes in persequution to be protected Yea and to make the Land or Papisticall state as King H. VIII did drie vp the riuers of the Popes persequution In the middle of Papistry he ouerthrew the Pope by Papistes Who were content to buy the Abbeies that fed Idolatrous Locusts could not for starke shame denie a common prayer booke made from the masse booke turned to English so so much was chosen from the masse booke to be in English as seemed not directly to fight with Gods trueth and subscription for allowance to that was no further meant but that the Papists could finde no fault with it Vnder K. E. 6. and Q. E. the best Bishopps allowed the communion booke no further and gaue others leaue to expresse that how they bare with it vntill fitt tyme of amendement Of the Dragons short tyme. This speach sheweth the tyme neere the seauenth trumpet for the worlds end by the Dragons tayle the Pope heere meant in his persecution that the Diuell is fierce knowing that he shall not be long the God of this world And the Pope feareth least his Kingdome shall soone fall And our Buyshopps that vrge his canons damned by our common Lawes are now in rumores that they incense some to begge all Buyshopps lands Leicester went farre to chaing 40000. lib. for rack rent but more harme is bred by Buyshopps tyranny now Bishopps vnder King Edw. haue beene such as none but of Satans spirite would deny them to bee lawfull Bishops And such as agreed well with Nobles Gentry and all The name troubleth none but the Barbarous They who hold the place without teaching the people the trueth and with tyranny breake the cōmon lawes of the realme which stand with reason that is the Law of God such should chainge their minde and obey the Gospell lest their short tyme be for Sarans seruice and for euer And when the Dragon saw that he was cast into the earth he persequuted the woman which brought forth the male child This common place toucheth all the Popes persequutions though it be vttered as at one tyme. The Pope had still ready cruell torment for all of his that descried wickednesse in his religion And to the woman were giuen two winges of an eagle to flee into the wildernesse into her owne place to bee nourished there a tyme and tymes and halue a tyme from the praesense of the Serpent The Pope driueth the Church into the Wildernesse as Pharaoh droue Israel Saul Dauid Antiochus the holy Iewes the Pharisees he Lord of glory for a tyme two tymes and halfe a tyme three yeeres and an halfe and as I shewed all tyme of persecution is called in remembrance of our Lordes a persecution of dayes 1260. as chap. XI or of a tyme two tymes and halfe a tyme As Beda and Carthusianus well noted In Exo. 19. God saith hee brought Israel from Egypt as with eagles winges so the persecutor heere is a newe Pharaoh and Rome is Egypt spiritually as in chap. XI And the Dragon Pharaoh is heere a new Dragon And the Pope which will bee worshipped for a God is as Darius Dan. 6. and in the fable vpon that as the Dragon which the Chaldeans worshipped The Phrase of the fable folowed a true storie Of the tyme of these persequutions And the Dragon did cast after the woman out of his mouth water like a riuer to make her riuer-caried But the earth holpe the woman and the earth opened her mouth and dranke vp the riuer which the Dracon cast out of his mouth And the Dracon was angry with the
woman and went to make warre with the rest or her seede which keepe the Commaundement of God and holde the testimonie of IESVS CHRIST The Popes power when Satan was let loose to deceiue that Kinges gaue their strength to Pseudo-Petre driueth the Church not to be seene for certaine hundreths of yeres before Martyr Zuinglius at Zuricke in the Church which Charles the Great built shewed that he was the taile of the great Dracon which drew the starres of heauen from their place And now they comment best vpon this place asking where was our Church before M. Lutheres tyme I will aske where was it not Milliones in England opened themselues praesent when valiant K. Henry the VIII shooke off the Pope and the best learned of the Popes pay were least enimies to vs as Cuthbert Tonstall who at London and Duresme still bare with the Protestants workes and would sweare by his Fathers soule therein faulty that neither the accusares nor he could amend them full many moo were of that vein as they who gaue harbor closely to the teachers of the holy Gospell and what learned haue the papistes bred till our side forced them to studie And at this houre their best grant that wee ouer-reach them in the testaments tongues and clearness defense of the purenesse of the text Our greatest hinderance commeth by our Buyshops that are voide of loyalty full of cruelty I speake not against Bishops sage and learned but Buyshops sauage vnlearned Waters of trouble they helpe the Dragon to cast from the mouth of his canons that no praemunire will serue their turne and if any would keepe them from hell will burne such papers And when common Lawes of earth policie drinke vp and drie the K. of Locusts waters yet if the rest of vnaduised zeale giue them aduantage Cerberus shall barke so that they may bee forth comming but not comming forth The maine of the Church in Albion Almany France Zuitzerland the confederate prouinces and Denmarke haue made the earth to drie the Popes Riuers of Belial as 2. Sam. 22. speaketh But yet in Spaine holy Martyrs dayly finde the 42. moneth like affliction to bee conformed to the sufferings of Christ because they worship God only That is as all Iewes expound the phrase pray only vnto him and rest in the abundance of grace of the guift of iustice to reigne by Christ What authoritie on earth maketh this Dragon the chap. 13. following will tell plainely and the 14. how for Idolatry reiected the taile of the Dragon maketh Martyrs CHAP. XIII And I stood vpon the sand of the Sea and I saw a beast comming out of the Sea hauing seauen heades and ten hornes and vpon his hornes ten crownes and vpon his heades a name of Blasphemie THIS holy Reuelation speaking of matters to come borroweth speaches from matters past which is the sure way to giue a sound Iudgement Daniel comforteth the family of Nathan by Gods vengeance vpon great Kinges arising great from seas of troublous warres The first was not Assur but Babel the Lion with NABV his mouth who can deliuer you from my handes chap. 3. The second was a Beare from Madai Paras the East deuouring North West South as hauing 3. ribbes in the mouth And by two mighty kingdomes Medes and Persans set vp one gouernement These two had but two heades as all of the kinde the third was a Leopard with foure heades Alexander Macedon and his foure chiefe which in 40. yer brought all his dominion parted into 23. Captaines and many Kinges afore holding their owne into the Power of foure The fourth was no new Beast but the same nation of the Greekes in a parted kingdome in Seluchus who gate seuentie two kingdomes and Ptolomie Lagides in Aegypt Of two speciall points to be noted heere They who make the Romans one of Daniels Beasts do pleasure the Iewes highly concluding that Caesar and Rex Romanorum and our Constantine and his successores went to eternall flames Eusebius began it as Oecolampidius citeth his fragment good Caluin folowed that Atheisme and good Beza too thence thundering with powder without pellet against the Pope and not marking how seauen tymes ouer gracious Daniel teacheth that Greekes be the last that afflict holy Iewes in his pictures And Iewes vpon Dan. 8. confesse as Ralbag and Seror Hamor of Abr. Sebagh that Greekes bee Daniels last pictured And our error is duller then the Iewes they confesse for our Gospell that Greekes be the last afflicters When the matter forceth them to speake trueth wee relinquish their grant to our Gospells strength and folow them in a lye to our Gospells ouerthrow Heere we haue no better to say then that Satan hath deceaued vs. Polichronius the learned Greeke Father of old saw the trueth and wicked Porphyri confesseth the same And Sebastian Munster at Basill reuiued a touch of the trueth and Polyhistor Bodinus Tremelius and our learned Whitaker and D. Iohn Reignold in dayly speach and M. Rollock and Geneua the zealous towne in their last french reiect all notes damning Rome and the Pope The Iewes ouer the world were broken if all the Popes side for their owne cause would do the same and the Iewes broken would breake the Turkes Machumed The second Poincte The goodnesse of God was infinite in breaking Salomons kingdome and sending Iewes to Babell to preach God that made the world and to shew the wickednesse of the towres building forworshipp of starres So the power of the great God appeared in extolling base Babell to fell Assur and all kingdomes and to fall in seauenty yeeres that Cyrus might say The God of heauen gaue him all the Kingdomes of the world and when Daniel had taught of the redemption by Christ after seuen seuenties Iewes went home from 120. nations to Ierusalem in that hope God made foolish the wisedome of Plato Aristotle for their dreamed happinesse And this aboue all is a miracle of miracles that the Greeke tongue knowen in the West ouer was conueied by Greeke soldiers ouer North East and South by Seleucidae and Lagidae So that in three hundred yeares Greeke was made common ouer all the world And Homer was turned into the Greeke tongue as Fr. Portus praef in Hom. writeth doubtlesse by some Macedonians for increasing Greeke in their Colonies By this meanes the Greeke tongue was made commune ouer the world that commune saluation might be written in Greeke Also the Macedonian Kinges setted in Aegypt and they of Syria both clayming Iudea and still fighting for it as they became victores scattered Iewes into all partes that they abide scattered there yet And Itinerarium Rabbi Beniamin sheweth euen through the furthest India So the Apostles might speake in the Greeke tongue to the old law And thus the 4. Kingdomes tyranny holpe much to saue others by their owne destruction How the Romanes armes are taken from the Kingdomes in Daniel The ten hornes are from the
handled a plaine story for this prophecie Lotharius saxo by persuasion or superstition cast himselfe at the Popes feete as hee tooke the Crowne The Romistes to make this a matter praeiudiciall to other Emperors set vp a picture when Lotharius was gone with this inscription Rex venit ante fores iurans prius vrbis honores Post homo fit Papa sumit quo dante Coronam That is The King before the doores doth come The Cities honors first hee sweares That done the Popes man he is made Of whom he takes the Crowne he weares Frederick the first was angry saying To bee the Popes man was all one as to be his seruant or subiect The Pope once tooke away the Picture but soone after fearing lest the Emperours courage would wholy shake him off thought to bridle him at the first and vpon strife by letters he warned him that he should haue before his eyes how hee had receaued the ensigne of the Imperiall Crowne from him And a stirre rising against this one of the Legates said Romanum imperium à Grecis translatum est ad Alamannos vt Rex Teutonicorum non antequam ab Apostolico coronaretur Imperator vocaretur Ante consecrationem Rex post Imperator Vnde igitur habet imperium nisi a Papa Ex electione suorum principum habet nomen regis ex consecratione Papae habet nomen Imperatoris Augusti Caesaeris Ergo per Papam imperat Recolite antiqua Zacharias promouit Carolum Magnum fecit ei nomen grande vt esset Imperator vt posthac perpetuò rex Teutonicus esset Imperator aduocatus sedis Apostaticae vt Romano Episcopo Apulia per eum pacata esset Subiecta quae Papae cum Vrbe Romanae est non Imperatoris Roma Papae sedes est Imperatoris est Aquis in Arduenna quae est sylua Galliae Imperator quod habet totum habet à Papa sicut Zacharias transtulit Imperium à Graecis ad Teutonicos Ita Papa potest iam transferre ab Alemannis ad Grecos Ecce in potestate eius est vt det illud cui vult propterea constitutus à Deo super gentes regna vt aedificet destruat plantet euellat That is The Romane Empire was translated from the Greeks to the Almanies that the King of the Germanes should not be called the Emperor before that he was crowned by one Apostolique Before the consecration he was King after Emperor whence then hath he his Empire but from the Pope By the election of his Princes he hath the name of King by the consecration of the Pope he hath the name of Emperor and Augustus and Caesar Therefore by the Pope he rules search antiquities Zachary promoted Charles the Great he gaue him the name of Grande that he might be Emperor and that euer after the German King should bee Emperor and aduocate of the Apostatique sea That Apulia brought to peace by him should be subiect to the Romane Bishop which is the Popes together with the Citie of Rome not the Emperors Rome is the Popes seat The Emperours seat is Aquis in Arduenna which is a wood in France That which the Emperor hath he hath wholy from the Pope as Zachary translated the Empire from the Greekes to the Germans so now the Pope can translate it from the Almaines to the Greekes Lo it is in his power that hee may giue it to whom hee will and for that cause hee is ordeyned by God aboue nations and Kingdomes that he may build and pull downe plant root out This Oration of the Popes Legate maketh a most liuelie commentarie vpon the text following And it was giuen him to giue spirite to the Image of the Beast that the image of the Beast should speake and cause that all who would not worship the Image of the Beast should be kill'd He quickneth the Empire to haue power of life and death against the reiecters of his allowed Emperour till he depose him and set vp others Of subiection in all matters to the Pope And he causeth all both small and great both rich and poore both free and seruants that hee may giue them a marke on their right hande or their forehead and that no man may buy nor sell but he that hath the marke or the name of the beast or the number of his name Marke in the hand is oth of fidelitie and subscribing to his Supremacy When Emperor Henry VII refused to take oth of fidelitie to obey Clement VII he was soone after poysoned in the hoast transsubstantiated from wholesome bread into poyson Because he called great Assemblies and Scribes and answered that this was a new matter and not seene in his praedecessors age That the Prince of princes and Lord of the world should be bound by an oth of fidelitie to the seruant of seruants The vicar of the Dragon who was a murtherer from the beginning shewed all his conscience that pretending to giue Christ our life gaue death After Henries death Clemens being terrible that Emperours should bee redier to sweare vnto fidelitie to the Bridgemaker of Rome putteth foorth the contents of that oth Vt Caesar Ecclesiam Romanam defendat Haereticos exterminet neque cum impijs vllum commercium habeat vt privilegia quondam Romanae Ecclesiae consessa quocunque tempore conseruet in primis ea quae profecta sunt à Constantino Carolo Magno Henrico Othone IIII. Frederico secundo Rodolpho nequid Iuris in illas Ecclesiae Romanae facultates atque possessiones quocunque titulo sibi vendicot vt reliquas etiam vbiuis Eccesias earumque libertatem ac Iura protegat c. in Clementius sub Tit. de Iure That is That Caesar defend the Romane Church expell haeretiques nor haue any commerce with vngodly men that hee should preserue the priuileges once granted to the Romane Church at what tyme soeuer and especially those which proceeded from Constantine Charles the Great Henri Otho 4. Frederik the secund Rodolph and that he chalenge not any right or power vpon any tytle ouer those priuileges and possessions of the Church of Rome That also he defend the rest of the Churches whersoeuer their liberties their lawes c. In Clem. sub Tit. de iure Thus Emperors must defend all Popes Lawes by which all his foes and haeretiques cannot buy nor sell And all must haue auricular confession and all housekeepers must pay a ricks-penny for euery chimney and Priests be the exchequer men Chauncelors for ecclesiasticall praefermēts Buyshoprickes Abbeies c. that Kings and Emperours should haue but small force And the Locusts should haue the Lions teeth to hold fast all that they caught and should be like Horses praepared to warres and should haue Crownes vpon their head thought their King called himselfe the seruant of seruants and bare the face of a milde priuate man the Locusts had winges of Camps and the brest plates of yron to command warre peace as
teach there the trueth of saluation That which Ierem. speaketh chap. X. of our Gods prayse against idolls is heere repeated That Egypt and Babel teach the Pope what to look for Thus the holy protest their honor to God and labor to increase the Church that all nations may come and worship him And afterwardes I saw and behold the Temple of the Tabernacle of Couenant was opened in the heauen and the seauen Angells came forth hauing the seauen plagues from the Temple and they were clothed with cleane and pure linen and girded about the breast with golden girdles As Angells help Gods seruants to victories so proper Angells considered with men whom they strengthen may heere be meant Their clothing signifie syncere holinesse which men should desire and the golden girdle about the brest signifieth the binding of the minde in golden syncerity of heart Maymo in Beth Bechira handling Aharons garment citeth traditions from them that saw the high sacrificers manner that Aharon was girded about the brest that sheweth Iohn to speake most learnedly chapter 1. and heere 15. and wiser then any who would forge a booke could doe And one of the foure liue-wights gaue to the seauen Angells seauen golden cupps full of the anger of God who liueth for euer and euer The liuely wight is heere as orator of the whole Church and after the acknowledging of Gods goodnesse by Gods charge the Angells take in hand to poure Gods wrath vpon his enimies visibly by men but vnseene as the armie that guarded Elisaeus So as I told the punishment of Nabuchadnezar Daniel chap. 4. commeth by the decree of the watchfull and the petition of the holy What the Angells desire in reuenge for the Church God appointeth them to help forward in assisting men that be the fighters So millions of millions waite vpon Gods throne to rule the foure beasts that the house of Zorobabell afflicted should know that the heauens ruled and tyrants should soone be tamed by them The Pope should from Dan. 7. learne this and from Apo. chap. 6. where the profane Caesares be destroyed and know that after long angring of God hee must haue full payment Mortall Princes soone fade as a floure But God is euerlasting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Daniel 7. 9. and liuing for euer Dan cha 12. and Apoc. X. and XV. who because men did not receiue the loue of the trueth to be saued sendeth workfull error that they belieue falshood that all may be condemned which belieue not the trueth but delite in badnesse This Booke was penned in such a style that it openeth not onely it selfe but also teacheth how all the old Testament belongeth to Christ And the Temple was filled with a smoke of the glory of God and of his power and none could goe into the Temple till the seauen plagues of the 7. Angells were finished When the Tabernacle of Moyses and the Temple of Salomon were consecrated then Moyses and the Leuites could not goe in while the glory of God filled them Here a cloud of Gods anger filled with defense the Church in the wildernesse that God will not giue the wicked grace to ioyne with them vntill they be cōsumed the sturdy wicked who fight against open light and be of the 666. sonnes of Adoni-kam which had rather haue 666. talents of Cethem from Ophir then all the knowledge of Iohns Reuelation such that striue against the light shall neither be forgiuen in this world nor in the world to come but heere haue a conscience stinged as by scorpions and in the world of soules death aeternall CHAPTER XVI As the Popes manner of rising plagued the World in a like manner God consumeth him As the Popes arisinge plagued the world vnder Angells Trumpets as 1. The earth 2. The Sea 3. Fountaines of waters 4. The Sun 5. By kingdom of Locusts 6. By raising vp the Turk 7. By earthquake So to him plagues come vnder the same terms but in another signification as 1. His earth hath boyles 2. Sea blood 3. Fountains blood 4. Susnn parching persecution 5. By darkned throne of spoile 6. By Euphrates by Turke 7. By whole earthquake And I heard a great voice from the Temple saying goe poure out the cupps of the anger of God into the earth In the heauen Christ is the Temple and the Church by him By his commandement and the Churches care the Popes world is plagued spirits being Gods messengers inuisiblie men visiblie And the first went and poured his cup into the earth and there came boiles sore and painefull vpon such as hath the marke of the beast and worshipped his image The plague of Egypt vnder Iannes and Iambres resisting Moyses is now vpon the minds of Papists which resist Law and Gospell the discouery of which Idolatry becommeth a sound meanes for Kings that made the beast a King of Locusts to eate vp the flesh of the beast The West Kings made the Pope mighty to ouerthrow the East weakned so that Machmad and Turcke ouerhtrew it And euer since the Pope came to be mighty he became auctor of haile and troubles and brought haile and fire of warre to be mixed with blood So now he looseth many Countreies vpon Martyrs telling that he held Satans throne and vpon diligent scholes detecting him in euery part bringing the Apocalyps to be dayly read and all the eloquent N. Testament in Greeke founteine of heauenly water to baptise the minde by the spirit into the kingdome of heauen And the second Angell poured his cuppe on the sea and it became blood as of the dead euery liuing soule dyed in the sea When the poore father of Rome forging S. Peters being there became by Saint Peters name of low and poore an high mountaine he became fiery and cast himselfe into the sea of Empires that by all his warres a third part of the liuing in one age were kill'd and destroyed Till a thousand yeeres hee became not a full mountaine till then Satan was tyed but in Ierusalems warre he was loose that 200. y. warres turned the third part of politicall sea and shipps into blood and destruction And what warrs haue bene since in Europe which the Pope hath not kindled So he payeth for it so hee looseth whole countreies as Netherland with the blood of 40. yeeres warres and wast of the Spanish nation That scant a third part escaped death in them that could warre for his killing of K. Philips sonne bent to heale the boyles of his religious This did they dead in blindnesse and known to be such And a third Angell poured his Cup into the riuers and fountaines of waters and blood came of it Heere lesser waters are lesse forces that continually he hath bad successe and great losse The yeare 1588. gaue him an open token of wrath in this sort and Flanders 1600. And if he had gone forward Venice had taught the same and Iuliaque will 1610. if he goe forward dayly litle riuers of 700.
hornes and vpon his head seauen Crownes because so many states of Rome afflicted Gods people In chap. 13. Tenne hornes had tenne Crownes to shew that so many kingdoms not seuerall kings as in Daniel for Aegypt and Syria belonged to the Empire And the woman was clothed in Purple and Scarlat and golden in Gold and pretious stones pearles hauing a golden Cup in her hand full of abominations and vncleannesse of her fornication and vpon her forehead a name written A MYSTERIE Babylon the great the mother of fornications and the abominations of the earth Red color is vsuall for blood and Lycurgus or Dracoes lawes and most fit for Romulus towne where hee embrued his handes in the blood of his brother but most of all for the Popes persequution The gold reuiueth Babel and the very phrase is taken from it Isai 14. And the story is in Dan. 3. where the King made an Image of gold sixtie cubites high six cubites broad So they amazed foolish with the cost of the matter but of Christ we are to buy the true gold Apo. 3. and 21. The golden rules of Faith and Trueth and not to esteeme of a crucifix of gold to crucifie Christ againe for the matter So the picture of Mary is in diuers places trimmed with chaines of gold and pretious stones and their Copes wickedly following Aharon bee of cloth of gold So the 3. Kings of Colone that returned from Ierusalem to their countrey and were but Persian sages and no Kinges nor any Persian that would be called Baltasar they are said to be trimmed at solemne times with chaines of great Iewels I would not see it because I would not goe bare-head into their Temple A golden Cup had Babel to make nations drunke with Idols making Gods of their Starres and was ful of lothsome things and vncleane fornications So is Rome manifestlie Colon and Spaine as if Babylon a mystery were written in the forehead As the learning of Daniel could doe no good to Babel but still it would keepe the old Gods till Cyrus tooke their kingdome so Rome is so deepe in Idolatrie that no learning will make men leaue their places Pharaoh Nebuchadnezar were neuer so hardened And these passe all that euer were for crueltie in persecution The profane Caesares did not so strictly hinder all vse of religion They hindred not the reading of Gods word as the Pope doth though they feared lest the Kingdome of Christ should be a bridle to them Romes cruelty told chap. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. is now plainely handled And I saw the woman dronk with the blood of the saincts and with the blood of the martyrs of IESVS And when I saw her I marueiled with great marueile Heere the blinde may see that since the Empire was reuiued in the West the persecutions of them who say Christ freely iustifieth and only heareth prayer and will haue the Idole of him selfe as Plato speaketh of vertue to bee fetched from his word were bloody against the Saintes and Martyrs of Iesus When the Pope contemneth a thousand times better learned then himselfe how can hee looke to escape the wrath of God Iohn marueiled to see a womā dronke with blood therefore the Angel calleth him to consider the chapters afore as especially the thirteenth chapter And the Angell said to mee why doest thou marueile I will tell thee the Mysterie of the woman of the beast which beareth her which hath seauen heades and tenne hornes A more perticular description foloweth then was cha 13. But any may see this to be a commentarie vpon that place as God is a perfect expounder of his owne worde The beast which thou sawest was and is not and hee shall ascend out of the Pit The Empire was and againe is made dead by the remouing to Bizantium and it shall ascend out of the Pit chapt 9. when the locust and their king come out of the pit And shall go to destruction This speach is part of Balaams for Italy Num. 24. which should afflict Heber that is the faithfull and hold on to destruction The same he spake of Amalek that he should go on to destruction that was neere a thousand yeares after Balaam spake that was Amalek was destroyed by Israel As a thousand yeeres are but as one day with God so Satan was tyed 1000. yea before the king of Locusts had the winges of horses and chariots to vexe the Church the true Ierusalem for the Low to the ruyne of the West And they who dwell on the earth will marueile whose names are not written in the booke of life from the beginning of the world when they behold the beast that was and is not and yet is Heere is a meaning that hath wisdome The naturall man obserueth not that when countreyes fall they rise no more Aegypt Aram Assur Paras Graecia that none would thinke Rome beeing once destroyed should raise againe But the taught of God see a plaine reason That the West in the end should afflict first by strength and next by subtiltie in religion that Christ his seruants should be tried both for body and minde and he pay the City that crucified him both with horse as chap. 6. and by the spirit of his mouth and diligent searching of the Prophets So for easier memory of story Christ would haue Rome that crucified the king of glory once to bee plagued through their Emperors and the Empire to be taken away and the Citie to bee destroyed as by Gothes and by Lybians by Giezerichus a new Annibal And then an enemie to God in all trueth to shewe himselfe in the Temple of God as if he were God to be consumed by study about the Bible by the word and sword that commeth from CHRIST his mouth So the beast was againe is not and yet is God speaketh in the praesent tempus for things to come because all things with him are praesent This is a meaning that hath wisedome as Iobs case and Daniels Image Therefore wee should flee to God to be the expounder who openeth what is in darknesse and with whom light doth dwell The seauen heades are seauen mountaines vpon which the woman sitteth also they be seauen Kings fiue are fallen and the principall is the other is not yet come and when he is come he must tary but a litle while The Iewes felt Pompei heauy that made Iuda prouince to Rome M. Crassus was heauy that spoyled the temple of much gold Iulius Caesar was also heany who strengthned Cleopatra ouer Iudea long lost to set vp Herod at the last Brutus and Cassius were also heauy with their army Antonius who married Cleopatra and holpe in Capitolio Herod to be King was also heauy all these came to destruction for medling with Gods people and all their state by Ciuill warres So fiue Kings are fallen and the principall is Augustus and the other is not yet come the Empire reuiued But at 1000. yer will
Vbiquitie and others iourney to hell be great spotts yet many are free from these and mo wil be in tyme. And out of his mouth commeth a sharpe sword to strike the nationes with it and hee shall bruise them with an yron Sceptre The sword of his word hath in all ages told that euery trespas should receiue iust recompence and by stories past wee should assure vs of them that be to come and the yron Sceptre taught by Dauid how Christ his enemies should fall And the Image beaten to dust Dan. 2. and the Romane ciuill warres taught them what it was to meddle with the Iewes and with Tully to say Barbara Iudaeorum superstitio Gens nata seruituti So Diui Caesares for 300. yeares were brused and now the Pope for 400. to come may still looke to bee plagued that by 6000. yeeres of the world he shall be as the Macedonians at our Lords birth voyd of all authoritie This short vision may endure a long time as that in Ezekiel of Gog and Magog 38. and 39. contayned matter of 300. yeeres And hee treadeth the presse of the wine of the anger and indignation of God of hostes and hee hath vpon his garment and vpon his thigh a name written KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS Esay 63. telling of the winepresse teacheth now by story of old euents and the other Attributes Nabuchad Dan. 2. giueth to Daniels God and the stories shew the works And students of iudgement would bee ready in heathen which open the holy Bookes from the first Greek stories to the last By garment and thigh written vpon open dealings of Christ teach men to contemne his mediation and to feele that hee ruleth all An open proclamation of the Popes destruction And I saw an Angell standing in the sun and hee cried with a great voice saying to all the birds that flee in the ayer come and assemble vnto the supper of the great God to eate the flesh of Kings and the flesh of Coronels and the flesh of the Mighty and the flesh of horses and of their Riders and the flesh of all free and bound This speach Ezekiel vsed ch 38. speaking of Macedonians that should afflict Iuda specially vnder Antiochus Epiphanes after whom that Kingdome fell dayly more and more with horrible destruction And as the speach in Ezekiel is caried hither so the names of Gog and Magog be in the next Chapter where the Popes chiefe ripenesse commeth to let Satan loose And I saw the beast and the Kings of the earth and their armies to make warre with him that sate vpon the horse and with his armie This short prophecie telleth that the Pope and Empire shall fight against the Restorers of the Gospell and still haue the worse Albion and Ierne haue shaked him off and much of Germanie and Netherland and halfe Zwitzerland and all Denmarke and his murthering of the French King will haue reuenge In Ireland his stirring of Papists vnder Desmond to rebell made greater death then kites wolues doggs could deuoure or men bury or riuers wash without poysoning their fish And Brabant now 40. yer hath seene great slaughters and the Kinges putting of his owne son to death was more losse to his house then many millions And his owne death was of a strange sicknesse So many French that persecuted the Gospell had strange death And one after another while they fight against Christ shall haue strange successe as the Popes haue strange deaths and boyles at home An abridgement of all Gods iudgements in one And the beast was caught and with him the false prophet which worketh signes before him by which he deceiueth them that receiue the marke of the beast and worshippeth his image Both were cast aliue into the lake burning with fire and brimstone Andreas vpon chap. 13. teacheth plainely that Antichrist setting vp the Empire is there meant So Pope Emperor must needes be meant heere to as euident destruction as if they were cast aliue into eternall flames this should be a faire warning for men to come out of Babel to vse no garments no prayers no lawes of the Popes making And the rest were killed with the sword of him which sate vpon the horse which went out of his mouth and all the foules were filled with their flesh The principall had open terrible miserie the others in vision had but death So in Daniel chap. 7. the fourth beast was cast into the fire and the common sort in Ezek. are eat of foules CHAPTER XX. The Diuells are not simply bound And I saw an Angell comming downe from heauen hauing the key of the Pit and a great chaine in his hand and he laid hold vpon the Dracon the old Serpent which is the Diuell and Satan and he bound him a thousand yeeres and cast him into the Pit and shut him vp and sealed vpon him that he should not deceiue the nations any more vntill the thousand yeeres were ended Afterwards he must be loosed a litle while THAT the Diuels are not simply bound one houre Iob. 1. and 1. Pet. 5. teach vs when they fell the sixt day misliking the charge of care ouer man the darke ayer wherin we breath a black Tartarus without starre-light is their lodging in chaines of Gods prouidence as if they were in prison So wee may not thinke that the Diuels were euer simply bound but they were in the Pit whence at the last the locusts came foorth among the company of the profance that they deceiued not the great number sealed chap. 7. and former martyrs ch 6. But for a thousand yeeres some reigned in all ages with Christ and many were martyred and moo vndeceiued to worshippe the beast and his Image to take the marke in the forehead or hand They liued the true life by the Gospell where all faithlesse aliue be dead in sinne as S. Peter saith and Zeror Hamor infinitely The Apostles in their ages liued reigned with Christ and Iustine Martyr and Athenagoras and such in their ages Athanasius and many of his tyme and so others in their ages liued heere the Christian life and reigned as Kinges sacrificing their owne affections chap. 1. Some in all partes of the thousand yeeres not altogether a thousand yeeres The rest of the dead did not reuiue vntill the thousand yeeres were ended as the profane Caesares and Idolatrous Locusts who had great occasion offred to the first resurrectiō with Christ Rom. 6. Eph. 2. But they being dead in sin despised the truth and reuiued not The first resurrection is by faith to be risen with Christ He is happy and holy that hath his portion in the first resurrection The second death shall haue no power ouer them but they shal be sacrificers of God and of Christ and there shall be such to reigne with him for a thousand yeares From Adam of 1000. yer Satan deceiued not generally while the Fathers liued that the flood was denounced in the old world
Iohn ibidem Of Iude 227 Of the Combat of 144000. 228 Comparisons of Phrases for holy soules departed 231 Reuenge for Christ his iustice 232 Reuenge for the prayers of the Church ibid. Reuenge by the iniuried themselues 233 The sure euent of Gods iudgements 234 The 15. Chap. pag. 235. A Plaine exposition of the woman fleeing in the wildernesse ibid. The Chap. 16. pag. 238. AS the Popes manner of rising plagued the world in a like manner God consumeth him ibid. Chap. 17. pag. 251. IOhn like Daniel ibidem A plaine description of the Popes comming vp 259 Of the Popes fall 261 A plaine condemnation of Rome pag. 263 Chap. 18. pag. 264 THE King is Angelus to cause the word to be sounded pag. ibid. Chap. 19. pag. 267. ISai Ieremy and Ezekiel compared with this chap. bring great light ibid. Of the Hebrew terme of Hallelu-Iah 268 Of the best way to ouerthrow the Pope 269 The warres of Christ and Christians against the Empire and Pope 273 An open proclamation of the Popes destruction 275 An abridgement of all Gods iudgements in one 276 Chap. 20. pag. 277. THE Diuells are not simply bound ibid. The Pope deceiued not generally till 1000. yeares 279 The Pope weakned the West in superstition prouoking to warre for the holy Land 280 The Pope is a Beast of Empire by his might 281 A liuely description of the latter Iudgement ibid. Chap. 21. pag. 284. THE second discourse vpon the 21. and 22. Chapters of the Apocalyps ibid. Iohn began the N. Testam and he likewise ended it ibid. Of Iohn 285 Of Ierusalem ibidem Of Melchitzedeke and Isaack causing glory to Ierusalem 286 Of Saint Pauls heauenly Ierusalem 287 Of the Iewes error to this day ibid. Of Alpha and Omega 292 Of ignorance in Alpha how it bred daylie error 293 Of Vowells 294 Of Tiphereth Israel ibid. Of Cethib and Kery 295 Of the Papists interlinear Bible 296 Of a most wicked slander ibid. Of Cetib and not Kery and Cery and not Cetib ibid. Of Iod not condemned 297 Of Omega ibid. Of Greeke stile 298 Of 4. Dialects in the Greeke 299 Of Attique Greeke ibidem Of the 72. Greeke 301 Of the Thalmu Greeke ibidem Of forgiuenesse in this world what Talmudiques meane ibid. Of the Apostles peculiar Greeke pag. 302 Of S. Pauls most eloquent expressing Moses ibid. Of the Talmudique agreement with the N. Testam 303 Of Idolaters 306 Of the Popes barbarous Answere pag. 307 An answere to his ibidem Concerning the second death 308 Of the great City Ierusalem 311 Of Arias Montanus placing the Altar of incense in the most holy 317 Of Prayer 318 The order of the Tribes 319 Reason of their order 320 Of the terme Iasper in the third place 323 Of the second fundation ibidem Of the Carbuncle 324 Of the Smaragde ibidem Of Sardomix 325 Of Sardius ibidem Of Chrisolite ibidem Of Beryll 326 Of Topax 327 Of Chrysophrase ibidem Of Hyacinth ibidem Of Amethyst 328 A plaine conclusion from Esai 6. and 51. and Ezeck 47. of the Gentiles Ierusalem 331 Chap. 22. pag. 334. THE Epilogue the Angells speach 336 How the Apoc. would force any Iew c. to yeeld c. 337 A sequell by any Iewes grant ibid. A digression to Iewes desire ibidem The greatnesse of the Iewes request pag. 338 The speach of Christ To whom be Kingdome power and glorie for euer and euer Amen 339. FINIS “ An Ebrician must teach the word to the simple the discourse would be harsh †Eph. 5. 27. In Iulian the Apostata †Beracoth Perek evening prayer fol. 28. †Iohn followeth the 70. most wisely hiding the Eb. propriety from dull heathen 2. Thess 2. Chap. 1. Chap. 2. and 3. Isai 54. 9. Chap. 4. Chap. 5. 2. Pet. 1. Chap. 6. Psal 21. Psal 45. 1. Seale 2. Seale 3. Seale 4. Seale 5. Seale In Aboth R. Nathan So the Israelites in Aegypt were sealed Exod. 12. 7. 13. 22. 13. 7. Seale Mat. 1. 11. Psal 141. 2 Rom. 5. Ephes 2. Psal 22. Ephes 3. Hebr. 2. Exod. 20. Iliad 3. †Chap. 1. the 7. stars be seauen sergeants of the Church Genes 49. Act. 17. 18 Attique Greeke The septua greek The Apostles Greeke 2. Cor. 5. Moses and Paul teach one thing Rom. 10. Psal 71. 20 Heb. 11. The Thalmudgreek Maymo Saned Mat. 18. compared with Rom 8. 38. 2. Cor. 11. 23 24. c. Act. 26. 21 22. Mat. 7. 2. Cor. 4. 6. Maymo in Hagigah 1. Tim. 3. 1. Cor. 2. 8. Iohn 3. So Babell and Antio Daniel 7. Isai 9. 1. Iohn 3. 2. Thes 2. Eph. 3. 16 17. 18. 19. 1. Cor. 5. Iohn 2. Heb. 9. and. 10. But when it pleased the Lord to make the Gentiles his people saith Esai Make larger Curtaines Chap. 54. 2. 1. Cor. 14. 22. Heb. 10. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 2. Cor. 5. 9 Mat. 16. Psal 109. Act. 1. Zach. 4. That the Popes iudgmēt must stād Heb. 11. By faith these turned to flight the armies of the aliens Mat. 12. Maymo poenit Apoc. 1. Maymo Beidh Apo. 20. Isai 22. Vzielides 1. King 19. 10. Rome hath all the plagues of Aegypt but two Note how and why Rome is called Egypt Sodom Babel ch 18. and compare the old stories of the old Test with Rome Hester 9. 1. Cor. 3. Such the Apost only speakes of Tit. 1. 14. many other places and he writing by the spirite could not crosse the spirit Rom. 15. 4. New Visions opening the former Gen. 3. 1 Iohn 1. 1. 3. 8. 5. 20. Eph. 2. 1. Rom. 5. The seauē heads afflicting the Church Rome is condemned both in these the other of Kinges Consuls Decemvires Dictatores Triumuires c. psalm 2. The Angell of his praesence saued thē Isai 63. †Commentarie or Register 2. Cor. 4. 3 The seauē heades afflicting 1. Pet. 1. 1 Ioh. 3. In Bar. his booke for D. Bil. syll 1. Chronic 24. 10 †This word signifieth an earnest pressing of men in suing for offices and bribing thē Adri. 63. distinct Auentinus lib. 4. Or Auentinus lib. 7. seq Naud others Naucler Gene. 44. A Miracle of the Popes transubstantiating the bread into Poyson These fables God hated and forbiddeth Tit. 1. 14. 1. Timoth 1. 4. and 4. 7. and so his people will Naucl. Gen. 44. C. 1. de Iure Iure in Clem. Abbas Vsp Naucl. Gene. 44. Cuspinianus in vitae Alberti Naucl. Genet 44. Psalm 2. The Concent of all the holy Bookes Geneses 1. Iohn 1. 1. 3. 8. Heb. 11. Exodu◠Exo. 15. Leuiticus Ioh. 2. Numbers Act. 26. 22. 23. Deutero Iosua Psal 95. Iudges Samuel Psalmes Canticles Prouerbes Ecclesiaastes Ruth 1. and 2. Kings Chronicles Daniel Hosea Ionas Ioel. Amos. Isaiah Michah Nahum Habba Ieremie Ezechiel Daniel Aggei Zacharic Malachie Ezra Nehemias Esther Matthew Marke Luke Iohn Acts. Romanes 1. Corint 2. Corint 2. Cor. 4. Galatians Ephes Philippi Colossi 1. Thess 2. Thess 1. and 2. Timot. Titus Philemon Hebrews Iames. 1. and 2. Pet. 1. 2. and 3. Iohn Iude. Ier. 10. Isai 21. Ier. 51. Psal 75 Psal 21 Esa 34. Ioel 3. 13. Against the law of nature against the lawe of England Rome cōpared to Aegypt the old Israel with the Spirituall This song is more fully described chap. 19. 2. Cor. 4. Ion. 3. 1 Cor. 15. 29. Rom. 6. 2. Coll. 3. 3. A myracle This Chap. is a plaine speach opening all the former Visions Iohn like Daniel Phll. 1. 27. Rome passeth al the enemies of the Church in cruelty and Idolatrie So Antio tooke away Moses Law The seauē heades afflicting * Walsingham Psalm 19. * Isa 41. 2. 3 Psalm 22. 2. Sam 22. The Gospell is the ioy of the godly As old Isratel praysed the Eternall IAH for their deliuerāce frō Aegypt Canaars Babel Antiochus all their enemies so heere the holy doe for deliuerāce frō Rome which is called and compared with Aegypt c. because that the cruelty Idolatr of all the enimies the the Gospel since the beginning was in Rome Psal 135. Psal 136. 9. 15. 24. Psal 78. 2 Tim. 2. This is made famous in 1588. and 1605. for our Albion Psalm 2. 1. Tim. 5. 6. Rom. 10. Paul taught nothing but Moses and the Prophets Act. 26. Rom. 4. 22. 23. 24 Heb. 12. Ier. 10. 11. Ioh. 3. The of God is not boūd consider the A post speach ◠Rō 15. 19. and the◠Lord gaue great victorie * that is perfected Heb. 2. 89. 1 Cor. 15. 27. Act. 14. 17. Eph. 2. 1 Cor. 1. 2 Pet. 3. Rom. 2. Rom. 11. Gen. 9. 1 Pet. 4. 3. Col. 3. 1 Virg. Georg. Lib. 2. This is the ancient faith this is that which the Apostle saith Eph. 2. 20. Heb. 6. Luc 2. 49. Luc. 2. 37 Iarchi vpō Iud. 18. from the Thal. Act. 2 20 Isai 61. 1. Iohn 3 Ezek. 47. 2. Chron. 2. 17.
yet the Pope would so vse the Church though heathen policy bridle him yet Pope Dracon is fierce against remnants as in his Spanish Inquisitions CHAP. XIII Caesars and Popes the Dracon and his tayle are expressed past all deniall who are meant The empire hath armes from the foure kindomes in Daniel So God forceth vs to be ready in Daniel and to compare together the brase of the Angelique men Then Greek Leopard had foure heades that of 23. Captayne 's al made Kings all came to fower quickly and every one dyed a violent death saving old Antipater to have blood for blood as the Romanes here The Beare had but one head the Lyon one and the fourth beast the parted Macedonians but one that beast is not named because it was the same nation with the former but is distinguished from the former by ten hornes or Kings five Ptolemies and five Seleuci or Antiochi that vexed Iudah From these the Romanes have their armes beginning with a beast with ten hornes with this difference Ten Diademes betokening so many kingdomes This beast was coloured like a Leopard footed like a Beare mouthed like a Lion As Nab. said who can deliver you from my hande was a Lucifer and would be equall to God So here it is sayd who can warre with the beast Alexander would be a God So Divi Iulij and Divi Augusti so the Persians And Antiochus Epiphanes hath a mouth speaking great thinges so hath this beast Now the sixt head being as dead sheweth that the Empire should be dead and revived otherwise five heads were gone and the seventh was not yet come But in a speciall sense one head seemeth as dead The time of Tyrannie was 300. yet by Metonymia meaning the argument of persecution from our Lords time it is called three yeares and an half Antiochus Epiphanes raged against the temple properly three yeares and an halfe as Elias plagued Israel properly three yeares and an half But the matter sheweth Ch. XI and twice in the XII and here that proper time cannot be meant Again I must advise the reader to learne Daniel before he learne this booke Twentie yeares ago I made him plain enough and plainer of late though the Dragon cast out of his mouth a river of water The whole Realme by this houre might else have knowne Daniel clearely The Tyrannie and blasphemie of the Caesars and their destructions are knowne The Popes description A beast arising from the earth that is without war having hornes like a Lambe that is Christes Vicar having the mouth of the Devill for divelish lawes restoring the Empire and working Miracles of deceit as though he were Elias a restorer of truth The Iesuites report of their miracles comment well on this And the Popes endevour since great Constantine left hateful Rome to set it vp by revived Empire to destroy the East this matter is famous in continuall stories And Canon lawe telleth that none may live vnder the Empire but by yeelding vnto the Popes lawes in subscribing or oth or some open token as a marke in the forehead And where a nūber given to a man as the sonnes of Adonikam were 666. that being called the number of the beast and to a sense of wisedome which is vsuall in notation A God stāding vp that is Adoni-kam this describeth plainlie the man that stands vp in the temple of God as if hee were God CHAP. XIIII The reviving of the Gospell by worship of God onely in Christ as on mount Sion of old religion taught with as great concent of law and gospell as any harpes can make by rare men of courage patience wisdome and high policie by virgin mindes vnstayned by Idolatry renued by Christ and following him is taught Ch. 14. as Ch. 7. 11. And the Pope is told of fall and of eternall death to all of his bent and the Martyrs of present heavens ioy without purgatorie And Christ sitting on a cloud at prayer of the Church and an Angel comming out of the Church bid by an Angel Lord over fire and Gods heat with sicles cut off Papistes that their blood would reach to the horse bridles over a Land as Canaan made to a square by the Thalmud 1600. furlongs 400. every way The new Testament speaking to Iewes is applyed to their manner of speach plaine to a Thalmudique where it is hardest to vs. The destruction which rebellion in Ireland wrought by the Pope in Desmonds countrey if all the blood of the dead were poured out would a good way reach to horse bridles as that also of Ostend And what would al that war now 40. yeares yeeld in blood of Papistes going withall to eternall destruction Happie are the soldiers that dye with a good heart for the gospell for they rest from their labours CHAP. XV. A new vision telleth the gospels restoring and the enimies punishment persecution borne sincerely through fire and faggot is a sea of glasse mixed with fyre and praise is against Romes Aegypt and Dragon Pharaoh and Romes Babylon from Exod. 15. and Ier. 10. And seaven Angels clothed with pure Iustice come out of the temple in heaven Angels represent what God by men will doe vpon earth when sincere harted fight in his cause These have golden girdles about their brestes as the Sacrificers were girded Maymoni in the holy implements sweateth to prove from Ionathan vpon Ezekiel and Kabalah that the Sacrificers were girded about their brests Iohn made no doubt of the matter but as a Thalmudique taught from God telleth resolutely the whole truth Chap. 1. and here Such poincts shewed would make Iewes all learned Iewes confesse that God penned the New Testament All Christians bee Kinges and Sacrificers and should consider that they must weare crownes of golde which no goldsmith but Christ maketh to rule them selves in order and to obey all in Gods law and the girdle of truth to bind their hartes in stedfastnes Now where one of the fower wightes giveth the Angels seaven cuppes of Gods anger the learned full of eyes teach the people who are the temple to pray vnto God for vengeance vpon Christs enemies and vpon the peoples petition the Angels have charge to serve them as in Dan. 4 Heb. 1. and men are fortifyed by them as Darius Gabriel Dan. 11. 1. As the temple Es 6. was filled with a smoke of Christ his anger and Seraphim the Angels which were instruments of fyer did attend so here the smoke is in all the Church that the enemies shall not perceive the truth till they be cōsumed having sinned against the holy Ghost as the Iewes Esa 6. even by Rambam his graunt could not amend by ten chastisements till the temple was brent CHAP. XVI Vnder the seaven trumpets the earth the sea the fountaynes and rivers the sun the King of Locustes Euphrates and earthquake is celebrated The seaven Angels in plagues keep that order The Popes earth or earthly hold of his possessions is full