in honour of his people Gothia or after his owne name Ataulpha which counsell and purpose of his had it beene effected Sir Antichrist with all his primacies and supremacies had bid us good night long ago and all his gainfull enâ—erludes of Fides vestra and Ne deficiat fides tua and Pasce oves and Tibi dabo claves and Quorum remiseritis with all his pestilent painted traine of succession had been dasht in repeating before ever they had come on stage But to the end this recovery might be the plague sore of the earth his deadly wound was healed as the Spirit saith But the wound of his death was cured For by the pleasing prayers and subtile intercessions of the Emperours fister Placidia whose beauty and body was espoused to Ataulphus for such a time his fury was averted and his designe dissolved and himselfe not onely content at her amorous mediation to grant the City of Rome pardon for her name but also to leave her eclipsed and dying honour with all her Italy to her stupified Honorius who for feare was crept into his earth at Ravenna and taking his Spouâ—e Placidia with such dower as himselfe listed departed Italy and pitched his Tabernacle in France then one of the chiefest Provinces of the West Empire And to this Plaister the Spirit pointeth in saying But the wound of his death was cured And the holy Ghost foreseing the greatnesse of the Beasts power to come which was yet but like unto his sin and how that Satan his creator who had formed him after the image and perfection of his owne wickednesse should afford him such letters commendatory to all the world which naturally loveth wicked inventions that the primacie of his Church and supremacie of his person should overspread all and obtaine the praise of â—he earth concludeth of him in this manner And all the earth was in admiration of the Beast VERS 4. And they adored the Dragon which gave power to the Beast and they adored the Beast saying Who is like unto the Beast or who may war with him ANd the children of misheliefe ascribed to the Dragon inhibited honours decking his heathenish Christianisme with names of holy and most holy titles due to God alone and they adored his execrable inventions and doctrines of divels worshipping and divifying his uncircumcised train of Caesars who had granted unto Antichristsuch power incomparable and uncontrollable jurisdiction which the Spirit anatomizeth in these words And they adored the Dragon which gave power to the Beast And as in evil there is no meane so these children of unbeliefe went on and bestowed like titles and magnifications upon this base and vile Antichrist who as the Prophet long agoe foretold us by policie should prosper and by peace destroy many and strike Dan. 8. his adorers with such a spirituall drunkennesse that they should not onely hang their gold but their faith also upon him and verily beleeve that this vile and despicable Antichrist Delegate to Romulus and Deputie to Caesar was Vicar to the Lamb and successor to Peter And thus rejoycing over the errour of their owne fantasie should with Pigmalion admire and dote upon the idol of their owne carving and falling downe should adore and â—rie with that drunken King Great art thou O Bell and in thee is no deceit which occasioneth the Spirit in detestation of their madnesse to disclose their shame saying And they adored the Beast and said who is like unto the Beast or who may war with him VERS 5. And there was given to it a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and power was given to it to worke fourty two moneths ANd as the Dragon did bequeath unto Antichrist his throne and his power in so large and ample manner that his priestly key was in cutting and killing so like the Dragons sword that he that is wise may easily perceive one craftsman made them both so Satan the Master and seducer of them both endowed his Antichrist with mouth and lips so like his own that whoso hears him open may truly say Quam similes habent labra lactucas like lips like lettice at which the Spirit pointeth in saying And there was given to it a mouth and proveth it by an argument drawne from the fruit of his lips speaking great things Dan. 7. and blasphemies Whereof the Prophet Daniel also inditeth him foreâ—elling that he should open his execrable mouth and speake words against the most High of which presumptuous and blasphemous magniloquence the holy Ghost arraigneth him more particularly in the verse following And the Prophet also forther reporteth that times and laws and great power should be given into his hand for Dan. â— a time and times and the dividing of a time butting and bounding his tyrannous reigne and government within the self-same circle and period as here the Spirit doth by another like propheticalâ— construction saying And power was given unto it to worke forty two moneths VERS 6. And he opened his mouth unto blasphemie against God to blaspheâ—â—e his name and Tabernacle and those which dwell in heaven IN dâ—scovering the blasphemous mouth of Antichrist the holy Ghost doth first and principally challenge him for presuming to lay hand upon his divine and spirituall sword and to weare the name and title of Vicar to the Lamb which title name and honour is onely due to the Spirit of the Lamb the onely moderator comforter commander of all the Lambs affaires and forces in heaven and in earth and of tâ—is principall blasphemy the Apostle condemneth him in saying And he opened his mouth unto blasphemy against God Next the Lord challengeth him for presuming to blaspheme the word of God superadvancing his whorish Church above the divine eternall testimony in and by which the Son of God is named and knowne which contumely offered to his most holy word the Lord accounteth as done to himselfe and his most holy name for so the holy Ghost speaking of that Lord that is faithfull and true who with justice judgeth and fighteth saith that he was cloâ—â—hed with a garment sprinkled with blood and his name is called The Word of God The pourtraiture of which divine and essentiall word is the ingraven Scripture of his most holy and written word and of this blasphemy the Spirit inditeth him in these words To blaspheme his name Lesse marvell then if like a raging â—lood down bearing all before him and over flowing all banks of obedience towards God he dare extoll his cursed head above all that is called or named God that is to say all magistracie authority and power secular which by Gods owne ordinance and commandement is the onely true lively and immediate representation of his owne person justice and government here on earth in and over all temporall causes and persons as well Ecclesiasticall as civill of which high treason one Apostle also convinceth him 2 Thess 2. No marvell then if thus daring to blaâ—pheme the Lord of the house and
or other creature of strange shape as some have vainly phantasied the Spirit calleth him a man saying For it is the number of a man comprehending by a Synecdoche under the word Man a successive state and Kingdome of men after the speaking and stile of the Prophers for so the Lord informed his servant Moses to speake Let my sonne goe that is let my Exod. 4. Dan 7. Dan. 8. People of Israel depart and so in Daniel under the forme and name of foure singular Beasts aâ—e designed foure severall Monarchies most of them containing a long succession of many Monarchs The Ramme which thou sawest are the Kings of the Medes and Persians after which maâ—ner of speaking the Spirit speaketh also in this place and under the name of a man presenteth unto us the whole race and succession of men of sinâ—e whose totall summe is one Antichrist the bounds and limits of whose dominion and tyâ—anny the holy Ghost impâ—leth within the circuit of a certaine sure prefixed period and determinate number of yeares saying And the number of him is six hundred sixty six Wherein many as well ancient as late writers as in the rest have vainly imagined that Antichrist is one singular person which must suddenly start up and after three civill yeares and a halfe depart againe and that he must bee by birth a Iew and of the Tribe of Dan when notwithstanding those cursed Scatterbags have neither Tribe nor shadow of Tribe left amongst them and that he must reigne in Ierusalem of which Citie and Temple there is not any one stone left upon another and that he must kill Enoch and Elias who are to appeare about the Kalends of Greece with divers other such legendary phantasies never meant nor sent from God so in this point also concerning the number of Antichrist they have given up an account so far from the audite of truth as nothing can be more And as men that thought it worth the labour to find a knot in a rush so by a conceited framing and anagramming of letters they have endeavoured to find out such a name as by characters might express the number 666 and withall might something square either with the name nature blasphemie or residence of the Bishops of Rome as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Remiith Adonikam filius perditionis c. whereunto also may be added the conjectures of John Wickliffe John Bale Francis Junius men otherwise of good and worthy memory in the Church of God as also the conjectures of others as worthy and honourable as they that have reserred the number of 666. to the time of Antichrists revealing and yeare of rising when notwithstanding it is a strange voyce and not knowne to the eares of the Scriptures for the word number to be used for the beginning and rising of any terme of time limited and predicted by the Prophets but onely for the end period and determination thereof But if it were lawfull to smile in so grave an inquisition amongst all phantasticall charmes and cabalisticall conjectures upon this word number there is none more ridiculous then that which most pleaseth our Rhetoricall Rhemists who by a rare supputation of characters have as roundly found out the Beasts number as the Sodomites did the doors of Lot in the name Luderus which in the Almain tongue is the name of Luther and although we are sure they cannot so much as think upon the poor Frier Luther but for very feare they stinke all the world over yet this device so tickleth the Clergy of Antichrist that they pretend to laugh for joy But as for their prefixed time of three naturall or civill yeares and a halfe which they allot to the reigne and rage of their Antichrist it doth so unevenly square with Luther or Lutherans continuance that these miserable Sardonians are faine to eat their word and to endure the foolish world to laugh at them whiles as dying they faine would seem to laugh at it But to leave these cursed leaders of the cursed blind and returne againe to those that have thought to calculate and find out the mystery of Antichâ—ists number 666 in a word at a word we say they are deâ—eived and erre not knowing the power and construction of the Scripture For fiâ—st by the word name delivered in the former verse in these words Or the number of his name is meant the very existence and person of the man of sin by a propriety of speech common to holy Scriptures as Acts 1. 15. Apoc. 3. 4. 11. 13. where by an Hebraisme names signifie men and are converted with the parties and persons themselves as the name of God in holy Scripture is often taken for God himselfe and therefore as in the former verse the Scripture calleth it the number of his name so in this verse he calleth it the number of a man understanding by a man as is aforesaid the totall sum of that succession of beastly men which make and constitute the existence and person of one Antichrist and by the word number is meant the fatall end and finall determination of their reigne and government for so the finger of God speaketh to Belshazzar God hath numbred thy Kingdome that is God hath ended and finâ—shed the dayes of thy Kingdome so that the number of his name or the number of the man is nothing else but the period and finall determination of the usurped tyranny and domination of Antichrist which the Lamb the Lord and preserver of Israel for the glory of his name consolation of his Church and confusion of her foes with a mighty and outstretched arme shall bring to passe in the yeare which shall be 666. For forasmuch as the egge of Antichristianism was laid in the daves of Innocent the first successoâ— to Anastasius the first also of that name in the yeare of salvation 406. as is before delcared and that by expresse commission there was furthermore granted to the Beast his heirs and successors 1260. years for the hatching fostering and perfecting this child of perdition and mystery of iniquity which being added to 406. by rule of true audite must needs verifie this admirable judgement which the Spirit of God hath here denounced and determined to make good upon him in the yeare which shall be 1666. In which account and discovery of his end the holy Ghost of purpose leaveth out the millenary number as not onely knowne perfect and immutable for that these vile and evill dayes shall not exceed more thousands then one but as respecting also the common use of all Nations as well Hebrews aÌ„s Gentiles who in their stiles for brevitie sake do no lesse often speak and â—rite by th'â—mperfect number omitting the â—illenary then after the perfect adding the millenary as Munster well observeth And in that year my Lord of Rome shall lay down his Vide Calendarium Hebraicum Sebastiani Munsteri proud wavesâ— and although he fortifie never so strong
somewhat short and his voice low I say this notorious Impostor the said Narrator of his Life tells us He doubts not but his Reader is sufficiently convinc'd that he was a Saint but how to get him a place in the Church Kalendar which is now so throng'd he confesseth he is to seek Yea and the above-said H. B. who seems to be perfectly baptized into his Behmens Spirit they are his own words is not affraid to H. B. Pref. to the Reader prefixed to the 4. Tables c. write that he was a deep illuminated man of God and further although all wise sober Christians the Children of God may easily discern that his dictates were no other then the meer frothy products of his own fancy vitiated and deluded by th' unclean and lying Spirit that he was a Man whose writings though not to us made Canonical by miracles manifestly appear to have been the dictates of Gods Spirit as he the said H B blasphemously affirms by divine influence as jt is his own expression out of his three-leav'd Book which the hand of God had opened in him wherein he found the knowledge not onely of all that Moses the Prophets Christ and the Apostles taught in sacred Scripture but of all Mysteries as himself affirms in his Epistles And further as he brings H. B. ibid. in his learned German relating it that God stirred up this our dear Brother Jacob Behmen a plain unlearned Tradesman and gifted him with such a noble endowment of the universal knowledge of God and Nature and shewn him the Centre of all beings how all things arise from God originally consist in God and again return and flow into him c. And in conclusion the said H. B. H. B. ubi supra tells us that this Deceiver had the knowledge of that wonderful Mystery containing the secrets of the whole Creation The Language of Nature and that in his native tongue whereby the very name of every thing gave him clear inspection into the nature of it This knowledge had Adam in his innocency but lost it by his fall else it had been understood saith he as Behmen affirms in the language of every Nation Parallel hereto is that of Mr. Hotham in his life Going abroad saith he into the Fields to a Green before Neys-Gate at Gorlitts he there sat down and viewing the Herbs and Grasse of the field in his inward light he saw into their Essences use and properties which were discovered to him by their Lineaments Figures and Signatures But leaving this blind leader of the blind and his monstrous horrible notions and delusions with his wretched possessed Disciples I proceed 17. And now let the Familists think of me and say what they please I have the testimony of my own conscience that what I have herein said hath not been out of disaffection to any of their persons though I know divers of them but only moved with sense of pitty to their Souls For undoubtedly unlesse they can now in this day of grace and time of salvation hear the voice of God unharden their hearts attain repentance and remission of sins they must at the second and glorious coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and Resurrection of the dead at which as close as they carry it they now make a mock and reject it as a Scare-Crow impudently affirming that it is past already as their predecessors Hymenaeus Allegoricam quandam Resurrectionem fingebant Hymenaeus Philetus quod etiam hac aetate tentarunt impuri quidam Canes Calv. in loc Resurrectionem ut quidam ferunt appellabant Hymenaeus Phil. successionem illam quae ex procreatione liberorum fit Vide autem quot mala oriantur si dicatur factam esse jam Resurrectiouem Privamur prâ—sentiâ Christi non est retributio neque ultio mentitur qui ista est pollicitus multa hujus generis ut si Resurrectio non est neque Christus resurrexit neque Judex erit Vivorum Mortuorum Isid Clar. Annot. ad 2. Tim. 2. 18. apud Crit. Sac. T. 7. Col. 3882. Qui aberrant à salutari doctrina gloriosae Resurrectionis non retinent fundamentum quia negata Resurrectione totus Christianismus negatur 1 Cor. 15. Tales igitur Apostolus dicit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 6. 21. h. e. veram doctrinam Apostolo ipso 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exponente 2 Tim. 2. 18. Scult in Epist ad Tim. c. 5. apud Crit. Sac. Tom. 7. Col. 3887. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vid. 1 Cor. 15. 12. Siâ—ut Philosophis mala vita mors dicitur ita vita correcta 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 At in Evangelio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tam apertè tot locis describitur ut non possit alia intelligi quam quae erit post Corporis ab Anima sejunctionem quae sejunctio vulgari sensu mors dicitur certê illa nisi speretur ne altera quidem illa morum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 talis erit qualis fuit in Apostolis fidelibus Discipulis Quare istis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sensum maximè necessarium excludentibus omni modo obsisti debet Grot. in loc apud Crit. Sac. Tom. 7. Col. 3896. Philetus Saturninus Basilides Cerdon Valentinian Marcion Apelles Hieraâ— Manes of late amongst others Tho. Muntzer David George Joh. of Leyden Knipperdoling Henry This H. N. Successor of David George affirmed that there is no other Christ but holinesse and no other Antichrist but sin that the Family of love hath attain'd the same perfection that Adam had before he fell that there is no Resurrection of the body that the day of Judgment is already come and that this H. N. is the Judge of the world that there had been Seaven great Lights in the world and that he was the Eighth and greatest of all that Angels were born of women that there was a World before Adam that in H. N. dwelleth all perfection c. and other blasphemous matters He further affirmed that at last God would bring all men nay the Devils and evil Spirits themselves into perfect happinesse All things that were spoken of Devils Hell or evil Angels and eternal Judgment he said were only told by Scripture to cause fear of civil punishment and establish right Policy Anonym in vit H. N. Nicholas and this new upstart Jacob Behmen did and a rabble of others their infatuated stupid followers at this day do subverting the faith of some I say unlesse they can now attain Repentance and forgivenesse of sinnes they must then be excluded the holy City and stand without and reap their part with the Abominable Murtherers Whoremongers Sorcerers Idolaters and all lovers and makers of lies whose worm dyeth not and torment is everlasting 18. Thus you may see by what is premised how the Familists have not been wanting to doe service to Satan in concealing Antichrist all they could from the world as
are Caesars and unto God the things which are Gods Which many blind and fleshly humours not considering have laboured and brought forth such errour and distraction as we see every where this day Some so drunken with the primacies and prerogatives of Caesar as that they feare not to revile the freedome appertaining to the Kingdome of God Others so headlong carried with a false pretended liberty and freedome of a Christian as that they care not to deny the lawful sword and authority of Caesar so that amongst so many so few from time to time are found that can discerne how Saints are free and yet subject to Caesar But God loveth Sion and hath chosen it for in her is truth without confusion And this is the generation of the counsell and wisedome of God and the true description of all her children which if you understand and doe thereafter then shall you discerne those reprobate times and save your selfe from the visitation to come What man is he that travelling by desart places and seeing the day at his going downe hasteth not to recover his Inne for feare lest the night leave him in distresse Hasten then after the counsell and correction of God whilst yet the day lasteth for behold the night commeth And these are all which I advertise you few as they be and simple as they goe yet if truth deceive me not their right understanding is far finer gold then is your Scepter and much more honourable then your Fathers house And this shall be for a signe that I speake not of my self Behold the Mountain which you fear so much I mean the Beast the Man of sin Lucifer Son of the morning the Horne that hath so many hundred years blaphemed heaven and oppressed earth behold I say tho now he be so great as that the makes the earth to Isai tremble and shake with a word only the very roots of Kingdoms the â—ime hasteth and is at hand â—herein he shall be made so little as neither name nor remnant of him nor son nor sons son shall be found upon the earth For his days are numbred signed and sealed up in the bâ—ok of God and yet seventy and seven days and his number 666. shall be fulfilled And all his Princes his Sorcerers and multitudes of people which now rejoyce and â—lap their hands drunken with the whoredoms and prosperity of Babel shall then lie comfortles and wring their hands as fast for Beltis their God is dead And the death of Babylon shall be the life of Sion but her light may not long endure as testifieth the Prophet and then and in those dayes shall be finished the secret knowne to the Lord alone even the great mystery and redemption of God forespoken of by the Dan. 12. 22. mighty Angel who stood upon Sea and Land and swore by him that liveth for ever and ever That time should be no more And when these things shall come to passe as Revel 10. 6. verily in their appointed time they shall then shal they kâ—ow that in the days of their rebellion there was a voyce of a servant of God heard amongst them 1 T. L. restifie these things with mine owne hand in sober humbleneâ—â—e commending them to your Majestie onely in regard of my duty and for no other reward Give your promotions to those sons of Beor that rise so early â—nd saddle their Asses to post after them for I your servant have bread and water enough thanks be to my God and am therewith as well content as if my Lands were as large as are the royalties of the little bird who possesseth all the fields over which it flyeth Proverb 1. Because ye have despised all my counsell and refused my corrections I will also laugh at your destruction and mock when your feare commeth FINIS BABYLON IS FALLEN OR A Prophesie that had lain hid above two thousand years Foreshewing The rising continuance and fall of the Empire and Supremacie of Rome with all matters of moment that were to come to passe during the reigne of the Emperours and Popes The last being the vanishing of the Germane Empire lately fullfilled The next the dividing of the Kingdome of France by the Sword of Spaine The third that of Spaine by the Sword of other Nations The fourth the destruction of Rome and desolation of her Church in the yeare 1666. The fifth the descending of the Kings of the East and of the whole world unto the battell of the great day of God Almighty The first title was onely Babylon is Fallen with these words of the Prophet For I heard the railings of many and how they watch for my halting saying it may be that he is deceived Jer. 20. 10. LONDON Printed by M. S. 1651. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE ROBERT Lord DEVOREUX Earle of Essex REading of late my Lord a Chapter of Esdras folding up in a mysticall and dark discourse a living Representation of a long time whereof the most is past and some little to come â— thought it no lost labour to take my Pen and unfold the same that therein wee may behold which naturally all desire to see as well the issues of things to come as what is past or now in being and thereafter to qualifie and moderate our hopes and call our troubled thoughts which otherwise run with reins on Neck within the Circle and limitation bounded and drawn from above And finding this Prophesie written by a Man greatly beloved of God and thereto which rare is a Princes Favourite high in grace with a King of Persia I presumed the rather to present this my Labour to your Hon. Lordship as upon whom God hath vouchsafed like great and rare graces ' Tsufficeth that your Honour read it greater favour Esdras seeketh not He Labours not to praise or please which now a dayes finds many friends but to admonish and forewarne which fataly finds none till 't be too late He fears not the Noble and Learned Reprover of supposed Predictions for he hath heard him honour the Prophesies of Holy Writ wherein himselfe hath no less honour gotten then given His other Enemies have wisht me to conceal and tâ— reserve them to a more open hearing But Esdras is at thâ— next leaf my Lord and craves your Honours patience for an Hour BABYLON IS FALLEN ESDRAS 4. Chap. II. Vers 1. Then I saw a Dreame AFter this the Prophet saw a Vision concerning the beginning continuance and fall of th' Empire and supremacie of Rome And this Vision was shewed him in the dayes of Artaxerxes King of Persia About four hundred years before the first stone of Julius Caesar her Empire was laid And behold there arose from the Sea an Eagle And there arose among the Nations the fierce and fearfull Kingdome and Empire of Rome seene in Vision by the Prophet Daniel some few years before Which had twelve fethered wings Wherein should arise and raigne twelve Emperours which should spread their Power like wings
also two Candlesticks which carry in them the light of my truth and power of my Spirit the great Moderator of heaven and earth VERS 5. And if any man will hurt them fire shall come forth of their mouth and devoure their enemies and if any man will hurt them so must he be slaine ANd if any man shall wrest their word from the aime and intention of their meaning saith the Lord or turne their Prophesie out of the way by perverting or clipping the honour or purpose of their word the fire of my wrath denounced by the the mouth of these my two Testaments for though they be two yet they have but one mouth shall surely judge and execute those lovers and makers of lies and for the more assurance of this sentence against them the Lord doth iterate the curse and vengeance of his heavy displeasure saying And if any man will hurt them so must he be slaine meaning I say by hurting all manner diminishing of the words of their testmonie by fals blasphemous and lying expositions as some have done VERS 6. These have power to shat heaven that it raine not in the dayes of their Prophesie and they have power over the waters to turne them into blood and to smite the earth with all manner of plagues so often as they will FOr the Lord hath touched the mouth of these his two Prophets as he did the mouth of Jeremy the rest of his servants of whom he saith Behold this day have I set thee over Nations and Kingdoms to pluâ—k up root out destroy and throâ— down build and plant And in another place Therefore have I cut them downe by my Prophets and slaine them by the words of my mouth Such priviledges the Lord hath given to these his two Testaments that if they once shut the heavens that it raine not in the dayes of their Prophesy that is to say if they denounce a famine of the bread of liâ—e to wit the word and knowledge of God or pronounce a sword to come upon a Nation Kingdome or People which the Lord here signifieth by turning waters into blood or if it pleaseth them to Prophesie which the Lord here calleth to strike of any Pestilence Earth quake or other judgement to come such power is given them that if they say the word it is done as it is written Heaven and earth shall perish but the words of their Prophesie shall not passe till all be fulllfiled VERS 7. And when they shall have finished their testimony the beast which ascendeth from the depth shall wage battell against them and kill them ANd when his servants the Prophets and Apostles shall have fulfilled their course and be translated from the land of their labours to the land of rest leaving to the world the inheritance as it were of their ministry sealed up in the two Testaments of God to preserve the feare of his Name and the knowledge of his pleasure among the Sons of men which the holy Ghost calleth finishing their testimony Ant christ the Beast whose proper p'ace whence he is and whither he must is here described by the name of the depth shall not onely hurt and wound them by slanderous and lying Expositions as his Clerks and Assects doe but shall set his feet upon their Necks and tread downe their divine authority by the advancing of his cursed keyes and the beauty of his whorish Church above them which the Spirit calleth waging battell inhibiting them to Prophesie or teach the words of their testimony vulgarly And not onely putting them to silence but also reproving condemning them for corrupters seducers and sowers of heresies among the people which presumpâ—uous blasphemy and murder the Spirit discovereth in saying that he shall overcome them and kill them VERS 8. And their carkasses shall remaine in the street of the great City which is spiritually called Sodome and Egypt where their Lord also was crucified ANd the letter or text of their testimony which the Spirit calleth their corps or carkasses shall remaine in their Hoâ—ses Cels Temples hang at their girdles through all the Cities and Kingdomes where the Beast and his Church is adored which in regard of their number be here named the great City so in respect of their execrable worship and adulterous service contrary to God and his holy City they are here called also spiritually Sodome meaning that as Sodome her Sister did for sake the lawfull use and prescription of nature and wrought filthinesse against nature so these loathing truth and loving lies should erect strange oblations and propitiations as contrary to the offerings and satisfactions of the Saints as was the sin of Sodome opposire to nature And the Spirit further calleth them by the name of Egypt for that in blindnesse and hardnesse of heart they every way match the presumptuous and indorate Egyptians still pursuing and persecuting the truth as Pharaoh did Israel till the God of Israel destroy them by the Spirit of his mouth as he did Pharaoh and his hoast by water And in further detestation of the cruell murther and immanitie of this Beast and his adherents the holy Ghost layeth the blood of the Prince of the Covenant to theiâ— charge also as cunningly as they think to convey his murther and post it over to Jerusalem For as the Lord doth lay the blood of his servant Abel to the charge of the Scribes and Pharisees of his own time although he were slaine long before those Pharisees were borne or Jerusalem builded because they were the very image and lively imitation of his brother that murthered him so the holy Ghost doth here lay the innocent blood of the Lord of glory to the Charge of this Crucifier and his Citizens because they are the Children and Generation of that high Priest and those murtherers which cryed Away with him crucifie him crucifie him And that we should not marvell thereat the holy Ghost in another place goeth further and saith In her shall be found the blood of the Apostles and Prophets also and all that ever for the testimonie of the truth were staine on earth VERS 9. And there shall of the tribes and people and Gentiles see their dead bodies three dayes and a halfe and shall not suffer their corps to be laid in monuments ANd all Nations and Kingdoms where the Beast is worshipped whom the holy Ghost for their prophanation in life and Religion calleth Gentiles shall have handle and gaze upon the letter and corps of his two witnesles three days and a halfe that is to say the time times and halfe a time wherein the Beast shall Reigne and persecute even three propheticall yeares and 〈◊〉 accounting as in Ezekiel all dayes 〈◊〉 Neither shall they suffer the word of 〈◊〉 Proâ—â—efie to be read opened understood and â—â—d up in the hearts of the people the true and naturall monuments and sepulchers wherein the testimonie of their words ought to be interred VERS 10. And the inhabitants of
which did cast him into his minority and wardship againe And this his last estate of regiment imperiall the holy Ghost here calleth his taile which confisteth of a rout of Monarchs seventie Keysars long who for that they so furiously persecuted and havocked the blood of the chiefest Saints and servants of God the Spirit saith that with his cursed taile he drew the third part of the Starres of heaven and cast them to the earth And not contented with the slaughter of his fairest lights and stars of his Church proceeded to desolate the whole hoast of heaven even all the seed of the Spouse named before the Churches child and here her Son meaning those in whom by the ministry of his fairest stars his Servants the Apostles Christ was now formed and of whom the Church was now ready to be delivered for so much the Apostle unfoldeth in these words And the Dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered that when shee should bring forth he might devoure her son VERS 6. But she brought forth a man-child who was to governe all Nations with an iron rod and her Son was taken up to God and to his Throne BUt notwithstanding all their fury the Church brought forth her first fruit which for their faith charity labour and patience the spirit nameth a Man-child and because they followed the Lord in the Regeneration and overcame by keeping his words and works unto the end they received the selfe-same honour which to their Lord alone and in chief belongeth namely that they shall judge the Tribes of Israel and have dominion over the Nations and shall rule them with a rod of iron and break their glory like a potters vessel as the Lord hath promised Mat. 19. Apoc. 2. And in remembrance of the tender care and providence of God over the seed and first fruit of his Church the Spirit concludeth that when they had ended their course they were taken up to God and to his Throne far from the reach and rage of their enemies VERS 7. And the woman Fled into the wildernesse where she had a place prepared of God that there they might feed her a thousand two hundred and sixty dayes BUt the Church of God here named the woman mother of this faire and primitive fruit being no longer able to weather out her stormes was enforced to hide her beauâ—y and to retire her selfe into the secret chambers of Gods providence and heâ— owne conscience and to take up her lodging in the desart not that her light was utterly extinguished as her enemies reproach her for although she were dispersed distressed and enforced to hide her extraordinary and eminent graces yet the beauty of her true repentance and of her lively faith seconded with a charitable life and patient expectation of better things to come stâ—ll shined as a Candle in a darke place and like a ship preserved in a tempest she remained still the same of whom the world was not worthy never wanting the loving protection of her dearest Lord who in all her troubles was mindfull of her as of Elias his servant or Israel his first-borne carefull to provide her both of honourable harbour and princely diet Her resting place was restlesse strewed and scattered far and neare over the face of the earth for such a lodging oid best beseeme her broken and restlesse heart which sojourned in earth but dwelt in heaven and did also best defend her person from the furious inquisitions of her enemies Neither was her Lord lesse loving and provident concerning her food for he preserved for her diet the two witnesses of his eternall Covenant that â—â—â—m their breast she might suck the puâ—e and who some milke of grace and life that so she might be both nobly haâ—boured and priâ—cely sed during the tedious and odious Reigâ—e of the great Whore the Church of Rome who during her exile should â—surp her Chair and under the vizard â—f her name should persecuâ—e her name and generation a thousand two hundred and sixty years here as before mystiâ—ally deciphered under a thousand two hundred and sixty dayes VERS 8. And there was wages a battell in heaven Michael and his Angels fought with the Dragon and the Dragon fought anâ— his Angels ANd at the same timâ— that the Temple of God was opened in heaven the Apostle also foresaw that great and bloody contention then which since the dayes of heaven was â—ever waged greateâ—â— great in regard of the Aâ—mes and great in respect of the cause The Armies great as well for the greatnesse of the Generals as for the valour and number of their Forces The Generall on the oâ—e side was the power of God sciphered by Michael the Prince of the Covenant who stood for the children and people of the Highest The Gâ—nerall on the other side was the power of Satan figured by Ethnick Rome here as before called the Dragon In their Forces are to be considered the Leaders and the Souldiers The Leaders and Captaines on the part of Michael were Divus Petrus Divus Paulus Divus Johannâ—â— and the rest of that divine and Noble orâ—â—r of Saints And on the Dragons paâ—t were Leaders and Chieftains Divus Tiberius Divus Caligula Divus Claudius Divus Nero and the rest of that most filâ—hy and execrable traine So great was â—he multitude and number of Souldiers that none of what degree sex age or condition soever but must be prest for the one side or for the other the valour and veâ—tue of the Sâ—uldiers exceeded all praise few subdued many the weake overcame the stong a handfull of Chrâ—stians a world of infidels The cause was great and higher then the heavens whether God or Beâ—al Christ or Jupiter Christianisme or Paganisme were more venerable for antiquitie majestâ— call for amplitude more constant for continuance and in all other respects of wisdome honour and Majestâ—e more worthy to be imbraced and adored of the sons of men which was for life contenâ—ed by the Dragon his Angels and Assects and was â—oâ— life withstood and disapproved by Michael and his Angels and their followers The issue of this contention followeth VERS 9. But they prevailed not neither was their place found any more in Heaven AS the battel was great so was the victory glorious for though â—he Dragon with his sapient Senates his prophane Angels and his uncleane abbettors intended all their forces moving as it is in proveâ—b heaven and earth to make room for the aâ—omination of Jupter and to keep under water the everlasting Lord and Prince or the Coâ—enant as among the many Moâ—uments of time is sufficiently proved and maintained by Orosius and by him to whom he wrote in his bâ—ok de Civiâ—ate Dei yet the Spirit foreseeing the Dragons â—olâ—y and how in vaine he kickt against the spur in scorne of his presâ—mption saith But he prevailed not and concluding affirmeth that the possession of heaven so long time usurped byâ— incestuous murtherers and execrable curtizans gods
chair of state as the Spirit noteth saying which had the stroke of the sword and liveth VERS 15. And it was given to him to give spirit to the image of the Beast and that the image of the Beast should speake and should make that whosoever honoured not the image of the Beast be slaine ANd such art and perswasible power was given to those inchanters and apostates of Antichrist that they infused such a quickning spirit such a life giving animation into the Ethnick dead and desolate image of the Dragons religion by guilding it over with the reverend divine and honorable names of God omnipotent Christ Jesus the righteous his holy Spirit his precious blood his sacred word his blessed Sacraments c. that they easily perswaded the blear eyed world to think and beleeve that the execrable forme and image of Jupiters abomination commanded by the Dragon and his Caesars was the very true worship and service of God commanded by the Lamb and his servants and that the picture of Jupiter Olympius which their Lord Epiphanes had set up and placed in Sanctum Sanctorum was the very Ark and propitiâ—tory of God set up and erected by Moses his servant and their abominable mysticall Masse the Sacrifice of an unbloody Messias made of bread of their owne baking which the Patriarks Prophers and Apostles never heard nor dreamed of is a Sacrifice not Eucharisticall but propitiatory and so all sufficient for the atonement and reconciliation of God unto the sinner as if it were figured and sealed in the precious blood of the Lord of the Covenant and that the horrible prophane and detestable supper of Thyestes is the very true holy and comfortable commemoration of the Lords love in giving his life for the children of the Church and their thankfull communion and celebration of the same And by these and such like inchantments these Proctors of Antichrist so baffled and blinded the Princes and Protectors of their synagogues that they inzeal'd them to authorize and erect inquisitions executions and torments against all such as refuse to honour and adore the idol-service and desolation of their Antiochus and that all such as doe but mutter against the magnificence of their Church and her worship which all the world adoreth should be accounted as Infoelix Lolium weeds Lollards Heretiques excommunicates and sonnes of death to the admirable confirmation of the Spirits prediction in this place saying that it was given to him to give such spirit to the image of the Beast that the image of the beast should speake and make that whosoever honoured not the image of the bâ—â—st be slaine VERS 16. And he should make all little and great rich and poore free and bond to have a Character in their right hand or on their fore-heads ANd the power of these prostibulous Clerks was so catholique and universall that they caused all Kingdomes and Nations figured here by a numeration of their estates conditions and callings little great rich poore bond free to confederate and unite themselves by a resolute and determinate purpose of believing and living after the laws and prescriptions of Antichrist which league of voluntary and resolute subjection the Spirit calleth the character of the beast for as unity and love in truth and a resolved purpose to live after the Commandements of God is the Character and cognizance of the Lamb so unity conspiration and banding against the truth with resolution to live after the traditions of Antichrist is the crest and character of the Beast Which profession of obedience was so studiously embraced and with such joy received of all the clients and creatures of Antichâ—ist that the Spirit saâ—th they did no lesse pâ—ide themselves in their errors and abominations then in the wearing of their braceleâ—s and abillements delivering it in manner of speech usuall with holy Scripture when it intendeth to expresse an ardent and hearty affection approved both by word and action by practise and profession as Deut. 6. 8. and 11. 18. where the holy Ghost useth the selfe same phrase in their right hand or on their foreheads VERS 17. And that no man may buy or sell but he that hath the character or the name of the Beast or the number of his name ANd in further proofe that Antichrist and his apostaticall Clergy should drive the Naâ—le of their impâ—ety home to the very head the Spirit saith that by them and meanes of their authority it should be enacted that none should trade or live for so much the inhibition of buying and selling doth inferre but such as acknowledge and adore the prerogative royall religion and discipline of the Beast and his holy Catholique Church for so by a figurative kind of blasphemy she must be called as is confirmed by Antichrist himselfe then named Martin the fift in his Bull directed to the inquisiâ—ors of hereticall pravity for so it pleaseth him to terme the profession of the truth Nec domicilia habeant nec larem foveant nec contractus ineanâ— nec negotiationes mercaturas exerceant nec humanitatis solatia cum Christi fidelibus habeant c. All which their domineering rage or madnesse the holy Ghost by way of prevision most admirably epitomizeth in these words And that no man may buy or sell no one excepted out of the King of Babvlons decree save those onely that carry his signing and flesh-mark in their hands or hearts as Beasts doe in their fells meaning such as under or above boord privately or in publique are obstinately and resolutely devoted to live and dye as the Beast commandeth which the Spirit unfoldeth in saying But he that hath the Character or are oâ—herwise allied as it were by way of cognomination unto Antichrist or his Church Catholique and are hereafter cleped Papists or Catholiques revealed in these words Or the name of the Beast or last of all are sound to adore within the very verge or lists of his reigne and Empire Pontificiall here butted and bounded within the circle and comprehension of these words Or the number of his name of whichmore at large in the verse following VERS 18. Here is wisdome he that hath understanding let him count the number of the Beast for it is the number of a man and his number is six hundred sixty six THe holy Ghost intending to reveale in this verse the secret councell and purpose of God concerning the period and finall end of Antichrist and his Church-dominion prepareth his Reader to attention by a little short Preface intimating that it is the discovery of a mystery and point of high understanding saying Here is wisdome wherein lest we should over-rashly judge as many have done the Spirit maketh choice of his auditors and addeth for a bar not he that will but he that can and hath understanding let him audite and count the number of the Beast He that hath understanding let him count the number of the Beast whom lest we should imagine to be a spirit