because it cutteth them so neere the bone Moreover it may not be omited that God is called the Lord God of the holy Prophets which proveth that this Prophesie is of equall authority with the Prophesies which were of old in as much as the same God is the Author of it And this Book is to be held in the same account with the Books of Moses and of the Prophets for all things contained in it shall as certainly be fulfilled in their times as theirs were In Esay in Jeremy in Ezechiel in Daniel and in the rest we finde many things which the Lord shewed by them long before they came to passe Even so there bee many things fore-shewed and fore-prophesied in this Booke which in their time shall be assuredly fulfilled Nay we see and know that many things here fore-told are already fulfilled and some things are come to passe even in these our dayes He that shall look into the times that are past since this Prophesie was given shall finde that all things have fallen out agreeable to the Prophesie of this Booke And surely if there were none other thing to perswade us touching the authority thereof this might suffice that every thing hath fallen out just and jumpe as the Prophesie did fore-shew It is our great negligence that wee doe not cleerly see so much And I doe humbly entreat all the people of God to looke more diligently and narrowly into it in all time to come And thus much as concerning the circumstances Now as concerning the Booke it self it may very fitly be divided into three visions as it were into three generall parts The first vision is contained in the three first Chapters The second vision is contained in the next eight Chapters following from the fourth to the twelfth Chapter And the last vision is contained in all the Chapters following from the twelfth to the end As concerning the first vision my purpose is not to stand much upon it because it is plain and easie to understand and because it containeth no Prophesies of things to come but only openeth the present state of the Church at that time and also because I have already touched the summe of it in handling the circumstantiall points I will therefore content my self with a very briefe opening and resolution of it beginning at the first Chapter CHAP. I. The summe of the first Chapter THe first Chapter containeth foure principall things The Title of the Book The salutation of the Churches The manner of Johns calling to receive this Prophesie The description of Christ the person that called him The Title of the Book is set downe in these words The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him It containeth three things First the Author of the Booke which is Jesus Christ receiving it from God the Father Secondly the end and use of this Booke Ver. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. which is to shew unto all the Servants of God the things which must shortly bee done Thirdly the singular fruit and benefit which the Church shall receive by it in these words Blessed is he that readeth and they that heare the words of this Prophesie c. The salutation is in these words John to the seven Churches which are in Asia Grace be with you and peace c. It containeth a description of the Trinity or three Persons in the Godhead The Father is described of his eternity namely to be Hee which is which was and which is to come The Holy Ghost is described of his divers gifts and operations and therefore is called the seven Spirits which are before the Throne or which proceed from the Throne but S. John speaketh here of the holy Ghost according to the vision shewed him in the fifth Chapter where Christ is said to have seven eyes which are the seven Spirits of God sent into all the world Of the which afterward Jesus Christ is described of his three great offices of King Priest and Prophet and also of his glorious power and eternity First touching his Kingly office he is called the Prince of the Kings of the earth that is King of Kings for he is King of Sion He is a King to rule and governe his Church He must reigne over the house of Judah for ever Hee must reigne over all his enemies and in the middest of his enemies even till hee have trode them all under his feet And this benefit wee have by it that we are made Kings in him in this life to reigne over our corrupt affections and after this life to reigne as crowned Kings for ever with him in infinite glory and endlesse felicity Secondly touching his Priest-hood Ver. 5. he is said to love us and wash us from our sinnes in his bloud For he is our only high Priest which by his owne blood hath once entred into the holy place and obtained eternall redemption for us Hee onely it is Heb. 9.12 which through the eternall Spirit offered himselfe without fault to God to purge our consciences from dead workes to serve the living God Heb. 9.14 So then by vertue of his Priesthood and sacrifice we are reconciled unto God have free accesse unto the Throne of Grace and are made Priests in him to offer us spirituall sacrifices acceptable to GOD through him Verse 6. For he hath made us Kings and Priests unto God even his Father Thirdly Veâ—se 5. concerning his Propheticall Office he is called that faithfull witnesse For He is said to Pilate John 18.37 For this cause was I borne and for this cause came I into the World that I might beare witnesse unto the Truth And the Apostle saith Hee witnesseth under Pontius Pilate a good confession Tim. 9.13 So then Jesus Christ is one of those three great witnesses which beare record in Heaven Jesus Christ is the Prince of Prophets even that great Prophet that should come into the world through whom all the counsells of God are revealed to us He is that only begotten Sonne which is come downe from the bosome of his Father and hath made knowne unto us whatsoever he hath received of his Father Hee both by his Doctrine Life and Miracles hath borne witnesse unto the truth and by the vertue of his Propheticall Office the whole will of God is made knowne unto us For GOD hath sent him as the great Prophet to instruct the world in Righteousnesse and hath revealed himselfe to us in him and therefore he is called the Image of GOD the brightnesse of his Glory Col. 1.15 Heb. 1.3 and the ingraven forme of His Person And therefore Hee said to Philip Hee that hath seene Mee hath seene my Father also John 14.7 And if you had knowne Mee you should have knowne my Father also Mat. 11. â—7 And againe No man knoweth the Father but the Sonne and hee to whom the Son will reveale him Thus we see that Jesus Christ is that faithfull witnes and Prince
Booke heere are to be found very large and lively descriptions of the most glorious Person of Christ Chap. 1. Chap. 2. Chap. 3. and all his excellent offices both of King Priest and Prophet and also most notable descriptions of the Church and of the Ministers of it and of the persecutions and afflictions which it must of necessity passe through in the World Also of Gods mercifull providence for his Church and most vigilant care over it in the middest of all extremities Here are set before our eyes very lively descriptions of the Churches deadly enemies both of Satan himselfe and his three great instruments the Roman Emperour the Pope and the Turke Here are set down all their cruell persecutions of the Church and their utter overthrow in the end Here are described Hell Death the resurrection and the last judgement Here also the very Kingdome of Heaven is at large described with all those great rewards infinite glory and endlesse felicity which remaine for all the faithfull worshippers of God I conclude therefore that for as much as this Prophesie is of such excellent contents therefore the use and necessity of it must needes be very great And for this cause Iohn is willed and commanded by Alpha and Omega to write the things which he had seene the things that were and the things that shall come hereafter By the things which he had seene is meant that glorious vision mentioned in the first Chapter wherein Jesus Christ did appeare unto him in the middest of the seven golden Candlesticks â—erse 13. â—4 15.16 in most glorious manner as is there described And all this was in the Isle of Pathmos where Iohn was first called and authorized to this worke and therefore he is willed first of all to record this vision which hee had already seene By the things that are hee meaneth the present state of the seven Churches of Asia which were then the most flourishing Churches in the World as they are described in the second and third Chapters and in them the estate of all other Churches By the things that shall be he meaneth all the prophesie of this booke which were to be fulfilled in their time and all those strange accidents which should come to passe in processe of time and the severall ages of the Church even unto the end of the world Thus we see how Iohn received a precise commandement from the Sonne of God to write things past present and to come that they might stand in record unto all posterities from generation to generation Thus much touching the fift circumstance which is the end and use of this booke Now followeth to speake of the last circumstantiall point which is the authority of this Prophesie which is strongly confirmed from the Author of it which is JESUS CHRIST and therefore it is called the Revelation of Jesus Christ which GOD gave unto him And againe it is written I Jesus sent mine Angell to testifie these things in the Churches Here wee see plainly Chap. 22.16 that Jesus Christ the very Sonne of God the Alpha and Omega is the Author of this booke for he subscribes his name unto it and set his hand and seale unto it Needs therefore must the authority of it be very great which commeth from so great a personage for looke what dignity and auâ—hority he is of from whom the booke commeth of the same dignity and authority is the book it selfe Another strong argument to confirme the authority of this book may be taken from the protestation of Jesus Christ in these words I protest unto every man that heareth the words of the Prophesie of this Booke Cha 22.18 if any man shall adde unto those sayings God shall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this Booke And if any shall diminish of the words of the Booke of this Prophesie God shall take away his part out of the Booke of life Heere we see how Jesus Christ maketh the authority to this Booke equall to all other the Oracle of God to the which it is not lawfull for any man to adde or detract under paine of condemnation It maketh much also for the authority of this booke that S. John doth so often repeat reiterate and inculcate his owne name I John I John I John I John the Apostle I John the Evangelist I John the Divine shewing by all these repetitions how needfull a thing it was that the faithfull should bee throughly instructed who he was even one of the Lambs twelve Apostles and therefore to be void of all suspition and doubt concerning the authority of this booke and not once to imagine it to bee any invention of man or feigned device sith it was penned by so great an Apostle Moreover the authority of this Prophesie is confirmed by foure reasons in the last Chapter The first is the affirmation of the Angell who saith The words are faithfull and true Chap. 22.6 7 8. The second is the authority of the most high GOD himselfe in these words The Lord GOD of the holy Prophets sent his Angell to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be fulfilled The third is the testimony of Jesus ver 6 7. who pronounceth them blessed which keepe the words of this Prophesie For saith he Behold I come shortly Blessed is he that keepeth the words of this Prophesie The fourth and last is the witnes of John in these words I am John which heard and saw these things Now it may bee demanded what is the cause that here are so many things heaped up for the confirmation of the authority of this Booke Surely we must thinke there is some speciall cause and reason of it For the Holy Ghost doth not use to deale so much and so earnestly in a matter but upon great cause Wee may easily gather what the cause is The Booke painteth out the Whore of Babylon and the whole Kingdome of the great Antichrist together with all Sathans cunning and fleight therein and for this cause Sathan hath laboured especially to weaken the credit and authority of this Booke He by some meanes in old time prevailed thus farre that even among some Churches of true Christians the authority and truth of it was doubted of The Holy Ghost did well foresee the practice of Sathan and therefore bringeth the more reasons for the confirmation thereof If the credit and authority of this Booke should never have been impugned there needed not any such speciall confirmation But now God be thanked there is no question or controversie concerning the authority of this Prophesie It is received as authenticall by the common consent of all the Churches Almost all the ancient Fathers doe acknowledge it to be canonicall The new Writers doe with one voyce give their consent and approbation unto it The Papists themselves doe acknowledge it to be the sacred and undoubted Word of God though of all Scriptures they cannot endure it should be medled withall
of Prophets in whom the will of God and all the counsels of the Father are revealed unto us The manner of Johns calling to receive this Prophesie is set downe in these words I John even your brother Ver. 9 10 11. and companion in tribulation and in the Kingdome and patience of Jesus Christ was in the I le of Pathmos for the Word of God and for the witnessing of Jesus Christ And I was ravished in the Spirit on the Lords day and heard behinde me a great voice as it had beene of a Trumpet saying I am Alpha and Omega that first and that last and that which thou seest write in a booke and send it unto the seven Churches which are in Asia c. Now out of these three verses five things are to be observed First that John is commanded by the voyce of Christ which he heard behinde him as loud as a Trumpet to write and record the visions which he saw being so writen and recorded to commend them to all the Churches for the common benefit and use thereof So that herein John doth nothing of himselfe nothing of his owne braine but all things by speciall warrant and authority from Jesus Christ and that Alpha and Omega which doth call him and authorize him to this great businesse which now he is set about Secondly Johns ravishment in spirit to the end he might be made more capable of all these heavenly visions which were shewed unto him Thirdly his great humiliation whereby also he was fitted to receive and understand these great mysteries For God will guide the meeke in judgement and teach the humble his wayes Psal 25. yea his secrets are with them that feare him Therefore although John was a great Apostle and hath seene wonderfull visions yet he is not thereby puft up with pride and conceit of himselfe but in the greatest humiliation of his soule calleth himselfe a brother and companion of all the faithfull Ver. 9. but specially of such as patiently suffer for Iesus Christ and his Kingdome Fourthly the time when Iohn was called which was the Lords day Fiftly and lastly the place where he was called which was the I le of Pathmos as formerly hath been shewed The description of Christ the Person that called Iohn to this new office is set downe in the next five Verses following wherein the excellent glory of Christs Person is described First Ver. 13 14 15 16. from the place where Christ did appeare unto him Secondly from the severall parts and members of his royall Person Thirdly from his provident care over his true Ministers and all his faithfull people Touching the place where Christ in a vision did appeare to Iohn he saith it was in the middest of the seven golden Candlestickes For saith hee I turned backe to see the voice that spake with me and when I was turned I saw seven golden Candlestickes and in the middest of the seven Candlestickes one like the Sonne of man c. The seven golden Candlesticks are interpreted by Christ himselfe in the last Verse of the Chapter to be the seven Churches The Churches are said to be of gold because Christ delighteth in them as we doe in gold he valueth every true member thereof as we doe gold for every beleever is all glorious within every true Christian is very faire and beautifull every regenerate man is as gold even as most pure gold It is said afterward that Christ walketh in the middest of the seven golden Candlestickes Ver. 11.13 that is Hee is alwayes present with His Church to feed it governe it defend it and comfort it The Prophet saith that Christ hath seven eyes which goe through the whole world whereby is signified his watchfull providence for his Church for he is alwayes looking out for the good of it to defend and protect it against all adversary power Which thing was figured in the Rammes skins wherewithall the Arke was covered to defend it against all violence of winde and weather Even so the mercifull protection of Christ as it were the continall covering of his Church As touching the parts and members of his royall Person he is described of his head and haire of his face of his eyes of his voyce of his feet of his garments and of his girdle As concerning his head and haire they are said to be as white as wooll and in snow which signifieth his great wisdome and knowledge to performe all things in his Church for wisdome and knowledge for the most part doe accompany white heads and gray haires His face shineth as the Sun in his strength Which signifieth that Christ is the same to his Church that the Sunne is to the World For as the Sun lightneth the whole World with his brightnesse so Christ with the brightnesse of his face enlightneth his whole Church His eyes are like a flame of fire that is exceeding bright and piercing into all places yea the very heart of men for nothing is hid from his sight with whom we have to doe Hee hath Eagles eyes to foresee all dangers intended and plotted against his Church that he may in due time prevent them His voyce is compared to the sound of many waters because it should sound throughout all the World by the preaching of the Gospell Waters is expounded Chapter 17. verse 15. of multitudes nations and tongues Christs voyce therefore is like many Waters because his voice should goe through many Countries and Kingdomes His feet are compared to fine brasse to signifie both the perfection of all his wayes and also his mighty power to tread downe all his enemies He is clothed with a garment downe to the ground to signifie that hee walked as King and Priest in the midst of the 7. golden Candlesticks For Kings and Priest in old time did weare long garments especially in the execution of their offices He is girded about the paps with a golden girdle For as Kings and Priests did gird their garments close unto them lest otherwise they might be hindred in the execution of their offices so Christ girdeth himselfe close to his businesse for he is no idle beholder of the state of his Church but one that continually worketh out the good thereof Concerning his provident care over his faithfull Ministers he is said to carry them in his right hand for he had in his right hand seven starres Ver. 16. Ver. 10. that is the Ministers of the Churches As Christ saith The seven starres are the Angels that is the Ministers of the seven Churches Ministers are compared to Starres because they should shine as bright Starres in this darke world both by life and doctrine Christ is said to hold them in his right hand because he alwayes defended them against the malice and fury of the World which of all others is most outragiously bent against them and their favorites But let men take heed of over-bold presuming to pull the Stars out of Christs right
numerative letters of the Greek word Lateinos do make just this number And yet further we are to observe as a very speciall thing that Irenaeus Irendi contra haeres an ancient Father of the Church who lived very neer unto the Apostles times mentioneth this word Lateinos as the name of the beast And moreover affirmeth that it was a common received opinion in his time and before that the beast should so be called Now then let us consider how this fitteth First wee know that the numerative letters of Lateinos doe justly fit Saint Johns Greek numerative letters Secondly wee know that Antichrist is the head of the Latine Church or Latine Empire and therefore this very Lateinos For here we do not enquire after the name of any particular man but about the name of a kingdome for the beast is a kingdome and a succession of men Now Italy in old time was called Latinum and the Italians Latini which noteth of what Countrey the beast should come Moreover the beasts name or name of the Roman Empire is Lateinos because the Empire both under the heathen tyrants and the Popes especially had all their religion service prayers lawes decrees writings and translations in Latine all was in Latine Latine the Pope preferred his Latine translation of the Bible before the Hebrew and Greek originals Thus then it is Saint John telleth us flatly the number of the beast is six hundred sixty six Irenaeus saith that Lateinos is his name which containeth just the number Therefore here we have his name here he is found For if his name be Lateinos we need search no further wee know who it is we know who is meant for is not the Pope Lateinos are not the succession of them Latini are they not the heads of the Latine Church and Latine Empire have they not all their worship and service in Latine are they not Latines for what is the name of the Roman Empire but Lateinos and what is the name of the Popish Hierarchy but Lateinos True it is indeed which the Papists say that many names may be invented whose letters make this number but the Spirit of God speaketh not of fained names for thereof can come nothing but uncertainty but he willeth us to count the number of his name which then the beast had that is Lateinos I do thus then conclude The beast is a kingdom and the Papacy is the kingdome of the Latines Therefore the Papacy is the beast The Papacy is Lateinos and containeth the number of the beast For what other Monarchy can be shewed since the Revelation was given whose numerative letters containe this foresaid number assuredly none And therefore out of all doubt Saint John pointeth at the Roman Empire and Monarchy of the Popes For Lateinos doth both containe the number of the beast according to Saint Johns computation and also his name which is the Latine Empire or Roman Empire And thus have wee heard the description of these two huge and monstrous beasts the sea-beast and the land beast which both from the Apostles time hitherto have indeed played the beast against Christ and his Church and still doe play the beasts and will never cease playing the beasts till their horns and hoofes heads and bodies be clean cut off which will be shortly as wee shall heare anon CHAP XIIII WEe have heard in the former chapter the description of the two great and dreadfull beasts Wee have heard how mightily they have prevailed now many yeers and raigned as Monarchs of the earth Now in this chapter we are to hear the fall and ruine of them both So that the main drift and scope of this chapter and all the chapters following untill the twentieth chapter is to shew that both the Roman Empire and the Papacy shall ebb as fast as ever they did flow shall wain as fast as ever they did waxe shall decrease as fast as ever they did increase and fall down as fast as ever they did rise up even untill they come to utter ruine and desolation This chapter containeth seven principall things Verse 1. Ver. 2 3 4 5. First it sheweth that God had his Church upon the earth even then when it seemed to be utterly extinct by the prevailing of the two outragious beasts Vers 6 7. Secondly it sheweth that the poor persecuted Church did syncerely and zealously worship God even in the fire and flames of afflictions Verse 8. Thirdly it sheweth that the Gospel shall be preached with great successe in these last dayes throughout many kingdomes Ver. 9 10 11. Fourthly it sheweth that Rome shall fall down at the preaching of the Gospel Fifthly Vers 12 13. it sheweth that all Papists shall be condemned and cast into hell fire for ever Sixtly it sheweth that it shall go wel with Gods elect which having refused the worship of the beast do live and die in the Lord. Lastly it describeth the day of judgment Verse 14 c. wherein all both good and bad shall have according to their deserts Then I looked Verse 1. and behold a Lamb stood on the mount Sion and with him an hundred and fourty and four thousand having his Fathers name written in their foreheads Now at the last the holy Ghost bringeth in Jesus Christ upon the theater of the world as it were to play his part in this tragedy and to help the poor weak woman which we heard of before against the Dragon and the two monstrous beasts which would have torn her in pieces and utterly devoured her if this Lambe Jesus Christ had not stept in and rescued her Well now cometh in our Lord Jesus and beginneth to stirre in these matters and to take upon him the protection and defence of the poor helplesse woman against both the Dragon and the Dragons two great instruments But some may say What is a poore lamb to encounter with a dragon with a lion with a leopard and a bear I answer that although Christ be a lamb to his church even the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world and the Lamb that was a slain Sacrifice from the beginning for the redemption of his elect yet to all his enemies hee is a most strong and terrible lion even the Lion of the tribe of Juda as hee is called before Chap. 5.5 Now this most terrible Lion even the Lord of hosts the Lord mighty in baâ—tell cometh forth to protect and defend his Church against all her enemies who is of such infinite might and puissance that neither the old dragon nor his young imps not all the cursed hel-hounds that bark and bite and take their part shall ever be able to stand in his hands For rage they never so much he shall hamper them all wel enough For though hee hath given them the reine a long time and let them alone and suffered them to play the tyrants with the woman his spouse yet now he will no longer put
Acts 1.7 It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put into his owne power Yet even in this point I will by Gods assistance set downe so much as is revealed and so much as God hath given me to see First I doe confesse that God in his word hath set downe a just period and precise determination of all the greatest afflictions and persecutions that ever came to his Church before the coming of his Sonne in the flesh for the comfort thereof as that of Egypt after the expiration of four hundred and thirty yeers that of Babylon after the date of seventy yeers Dan. 8. that of the Medes and Persians after the determination of an hundred and thirty yeers that of Alexanders state Dan. 11. after six yeers that of Magog and Egypt after 249 yeers So likewise that of Christs death and resurrection after seventy sevens or seventy weekes which make 490. yeers Dan. 9.42 as the Angel Gabriel foretold unto the Prophet Daniel But concerning the just period and precise determinations of the persecutions of the Church since Christ by the Roman Empire and the Papacy we find not the like set down and hereof there may be two reasons yeelded First because the Church of the Jewes was not under so cleer and precious promises as wee are therefore it was needfull for the better strengthening of their hope and comfort in afflictions that they should know the very time determined but because the Church of the Christians liveth under most cleer and comfortable promises of deliverance therefore God according to his deep wisdome would have our faith exercised in an assured expectation of the accomplishment thereof though the precise time be concealed Another reason may be this the utter overthrow of Rome falleth out to be but a little before the coming of Christ to judgement as appeareth in this Prophecie Now then if we knew the day or yeer certainly when Rome should fall finally it would give us too much light unto the knowledge of the last day which God in great wisdome hath of purpose hid from the knowledge of all men yea and of Angels I know right well that a certain learned Writer doth precisely determine the utter destruction of Rome to fall out in the yeer of our Lord 1639. Napier in Apoc. 14. pag. 183. But by the favour of so excellent a man be it spoken I see no sufficient ground thereof But touching this matter of the time of Romes finall fall I will deliver mine opinion and my reasons submitting my selfe to the judgement of the learned for I would be loth in this or any other thing to goe beyond my compasse or passe the bounds of modesty and humility and therefore do refer all to be tried by the shekel of the sanctuary I doe therefore thus judge that the utter overthrow of Rome shall be in this age I mean within the age of man my reason is this Wee in this age live under the opening of the seventh seale the blowing of the sixth trumpet and the powring forth of the sixth viall For the first it is manifest because the opening of the seventh seale containeth all things that shall fall out to the end of the world as hath been proved and shewed before For the blowing of the sixth trumpet that is also plaine because under the blowing thereof the little Book was opened Chap. â—â— and the Gospel preached as wee see in this age Chap. 10.2 10 11. For the powring downe of the sixth viall of Gods wrath that also is most cleer because thereupon the great river Euphrates dryeth up and the Jesuites are sent out to solicite the kings of the earth to battell against the Church as wee see fulfilled in these our dayes Then I reason thus Chap. 14 6 8. Rome must fall downe finally in that age wherein the little Book is opened and the everlasting Gospel preached But in this age the little Book is opened and the everlasting Gospel preached Therefore in this age Rome must fall downe finally And again I reason thus Chap. 16.16 Rome must fall down finally in that age wherein the river Euphrates that is the fortification of Rome dryeth up and the Jesuites are sent forth to stop the leak thereof But all this falleth our in this age as wee see with our eyes Therefore in this age Rome shall fall downe finally It is very probable that Rome shall fall finally in this age The reason of the proposition is for in this age the Popish armies shall come to Armageddon Moreover this I say and not I but the Lord when the seventh Angel bloweth the seventh trumpet then cometh the end of the world But the sixth Angel hath sounded the sixth trumpet long agoe as appeareth by the effects Therefore it cannot be long ere the seventh Angel blow But Rome must fall downe finally before the seventh Angel blow as hath been shewed before Therefore the utter fall of Rome cannot be long deferred I do not determine either of day moneth or yeer because it is not revealed But I ghess at an age because the holy Ghost pointeth us unto an agent If any man see further I will easily yeeld unto him thank God for light But all these things I set downe for the comfort of Gods Church not desiring to understand above that which is meet to understand but to understand according to sobriety Now it resteth to speake of the last main point which is the causes of Romes utter ruine and overthrow which first of all are set down foure severall times for failing Chap. 14.8 Chap. 18.3 Chap. 19.3 Chap. 17.2 to be because she made all nations drunk with the wine of the wrath of her fornication They which outwardly make others drunk or commit fornication with others are worthy to be severely punished How much sorer punishment are they worthy of which doe the same spiritually and therefore wo be to Rome Another cause of the destruction of Rome Chap. 16.6 Chap. 18.24 The causes of Romes utter downfall is for that she hath shed the bloud of all the Prophets Martyrs and Saints as it is written In thee was found the bloud of the Prophets and of the Saints and of all that were slaine upon the earth What is hee worthy to have that is a most cruel bloud-sucker nay what is hee worthy to have that shall murther a kings children yea that shall murther his eldest son and heir apparant to the crown But Rome hath murthered thousands of the King of heavens children yea Rome hath murthered the great heire of heaven and earth I meane the very Son of God Chap. 11.8 for Christ was put to death by the Roman power and authority and by a Roman Judge as before hath been shewed Therfore let all men judge what Rome is worthy to have Moreover Saint John telleth us Chap. 18.23 that Rome with her inchantments