that you came of curtesie to see me I must thanke you and am right sorye my leisure did not serue me to haue further speches with you You deliuered vnto me two Propositions as the grounde-worke of your opinion the one that the principles of your doctrine are grounded firmelie vpon the catholike Church which antiquitie vniuersalitie and consent doe plainelie make manifest vnto you The other that the signes giuen of a true Church by theÌ„ of the reformed religion which are the sincere preaching of the worde the right administration of the sacraments religious prayers holesome discipline are no true signes of a true Church but so to affirme them is an error in Logique for that the Church is a signe of them and not they of the Church For your first proposition that the errors thereof may better appeare I will brieflie handle these 3. points First that neither the Catholike Church nor the doctrine antiquity vniuersality or consent thereof can otherwise be knowne then by the scriptures Secondly that sundry principles of your religion are not at all grounded vpon the catholike Church Thirdly that the Romaine Church vpon the which your principles are grounded is neither the Catholike Church nor a sounde member of the catholike church For your 2. proposition that the errors thereof may likewise be seene I will in few words deale with â—â—â—se three points First that of a particuler Church no better iudgement can be giuen whether it be sounde or vnsound or of two particuler Churches which is the sounder then by the worde and doctrine that they preach by the sacraments that they minister by the praiers that they vse and by the discipline that they exercise for where these are moste pureliest and perfectliest done that Church is to be thought the purest and perfectest member of the Catholike Church Where these are impurest and corruptest that Church is to be iudged the impurest and corruptest member where these are not at all there is to bee accompted no visible Church to be at all Thus to affirme is an error in Logike but a truth in diuinitie Secondly that of the truth of the doctrine of the right administration of the sacraments of the sinceritie and puritie of the praiers of the godly exercise of the discipline in any Church the onelye perfecte absolute and true touchstone is the holy scripture which ought diligently to be read of all men Thirdlie that for the true vnderstanding of the Scripture in those things that are necessarie the circumstance of the place the conference of other places the proportion of the doctrine the summary of our faith and the holy Ghost working in our harts doe sufficiently enable and enlighten vs. The holy Catholike Church wee define to bee the congregation companie and societie of all those that haue beleeued in Christ from the beginning of the world to this present time all that nowe beleeue in him and all that from henceforth shall beleue in him to the end of the world It is called Sancta holy because it is sanctified hallowed by the holy ghost it is called Catholica catholike or vniuersall because it conteyneth all ages all places al persons that beleeue it is called Ecclesia because it is a calling out or euocation of people out of ignorance and error vnto the faith and knowledge of God This Church is the misticall body of Christ who is the true and onely heade of it which gouerneth it in omnipoteÌ„cie and is ioyned vnto it in charitie Saint Augustine vpon the 56. psalme confirmeth this our definition of the Church Corpus Christi est Ecclesia non autem ista aut illa sed toto orbe diffusa nec ea quae nunc est in hominibus qui praesentem vitam agunt sed ad eam pertinentibus etiam ijs qui fuerunt ante nos ijs qui futuri sunt post nos vsque in finem soeculi tota enim Ecclesia constans ex omnibus fidelibus quia fideles omnes sunt membra Christi habet illud caput positum in coelestibus quod gubernat corpus suum si seperatum est a visione annectitur Charitate The body of Christ is the church yet not this church or that but that whiche is dispersed throughout the whole world neither yet that alone which is in men that liue at this present but that vnto which they likewise appertayned that haue bene before vs and that are to come after vs vnto the worlds end For the whole church consisteth of all the faithfull for all the faithfull are members of Christ hauing that head placed in the heauenly places which gouerneth his bodye though it be separate from the sight it is adioyned in charitie It is deuided into two parts the militant and triumphant the triumphant already in blisse and glory ineffable the militant hoping for the like happinesse and in the meane time vnder the banner of Christ Iesus warfaring heere on earth against the world the flesh and the Diuell This church for antiquitie so auncient for number so great for estate so diuers for situation so vniuersall no mans age coulde serue to knowe no mans knowledge were able to conceiue no mans conceit were of sufficieÌ„cy to comprehend if the holy Scriptures wherein the spirit of God hath deliuered these thinges for our instruction were not extant amongst vs. In them we are taught that the churche began in Adam that the first Martyr was Abel the first persecutor Cain that by the Breach of Gods commaundement mankinde fell into that miserable and corrupt estate that it was not able to performe that Law of perfect obedience and righteousnesse that GOD had giuen and grauen in the hartes and mindes of men by the accomplishment whereof they were to haue life and by the impeachment whereof they were to haue death eternall and that then GOD in his infinite goodnesse and mercie graunted a remedie for vs in the promised seed which should restore mankinde and treade down the serpents head which was the first preaching of the Gospell published by God himselfe apprehended by faithe beleeued by Adam Afterward of God reiterated to the holye Patriarches by them imbraced and taught to their children and families preached and foretolde by the Prophetes shadowed out in the Lawe written in the Leuitical ceremonies performed in Christ testified and published by the Apostles confirmed with signes and miracles beleeued of al nations maligned by the Deuill persecuted by the wicked in all ages and yet continued to the end of the worlde by Gods especiall grace prouidence These things wee plainely see conteyned from the first of Genesis to the last of the Reuelation which otherwise coulde neuer haue come to our knowledge In them wee may see the beginning increasing continuance and perpetuation of the church the estate and condition of it in tyme past at this present in time to come the doctrine deliuered by the holy Ghost to the Patriarches to the Prophets to
the Apostles and the faith imbraced by the children of God in all ages there may we obserue the antiquitie that yeeldeth to no nouelties there may we see the vniuersalitie that giueth place to no schisme or diuision there may we finde that consent that grounded in veritye is polluted with no error or iniquity Therefore S. Augustine rightly iudgeth that the catholike church is to be sought in the Scriptures his words are these contra Petiliani Donat epist Si autem Christi Ecclesia Canonicarum Scripturarum diuinis certissimis testimonijs in omnibus gentibus designata est quicquid attulerint vndicunque recitauerint qui dicunt ecce hic Christus ecce illic audiamus potius si ouer eius sumus vocem Pastoris nostri dicentis Nolite credere Illae quippe singulae in multis gentibus vbi ista est non inueniuntur Haec autem quae vbique est etiam vbi illae sunt inuenitur ergo in Scripturis sanctis eam Ecclesiam scilicet requiramus If the church of Christ throughout all nations be discerned by the diuine and infallible testimonies of the Canonicall scriptures whatsoeuer they shall bring and whencesoeuer they wil alledge which saye Lo heere is Christ Lo there is Christ Let vs heare rather if we bee his sheepe the voice of our shepheard saying Doe not beleue them for al those in many nations where the same is are not founde but this same which is euery where is also founde where they are therefore let vs seeke the same church in the holy scriptures And in his treatise de vnitate Eccles cap. 16. Ecclesiam in scripturis sanctis Canonicis debemus agnoscere non in varijs hominum rumoribus opinionibus factis dictis visis inquirere We are to acknowledge the church in the holye canonicall scriptures and not to seeke it in the sundrie rumors opinions doings sayings conceits of men And againe in his 166. epistle In Scripturis didicimus Christum in Scripturis didicimus Ecclesiam has scripturas communiter habemus quare non in ijs Christum Ecclesiam communiter retineamus In the Scriptures we haue learned Christ in the Scripturs we haue learned the church this scripture we haue common amongst vs wherefore doe wee not in them likewise reteine Christ and the Church Hereunto also accordeth Chrysostome in his 49. homily vpon Math Antea multis modis ostendebatur quae esset Ecclesia Christi nunc autem nullo modocognoscitur nisi per Scripturas Before by many means was it shewed whiche was the churche of Christ but nowe by no meanes is it knowne but by the Scriptures Thus by the iudgement of these Fathers and by the nature of the catholike church it selfe we see that the knowledge of it is to be deriued from the scriptures which so being what can be more cleare then that neither prayers for the dead nor inuocation of Saintes nor worshipping of images nor the Popes primacie ouer the church nor his superiority ouer princes and kingdomes nor his doctrine of Purgatorie nor his power there to release soules nor transubstantiation nor the halfe communion nor monastical vowes nor forbidding of marriage nor meritorious fastes nor workes of desert and supererogation nor sacrificing Christ euerie daye nor releasing subiects of their othes of allegiance nor dispencing with Princes for periuries and incest nor sale of pardons nor offering vnto reliques nor a thousand other doctrines practises and ceremonies of the Papisticall religion were euer grounded vpon the catholike church Let the whole volume of the scriptures be pervsed you shall see none of these thinges taught beleeued practized vsed or imbraced by the catholike church examine the faith doctrine writings and documentes of the patriarches the Prophets the Apostles Christ himselfe you shall finde these things either not conteyned in them or contraried by them Try them by antiquitye you shall proue them far younger then the time of the Apostles try them by vniuersalitie you shal perceiue that neither the church before the Lawe nor the church vnder the Law nor the purest churches vnder grace did euer embrace them trye them by consent you shall finde that neither the patriarches nor the Prophets nor the Apostles nor the faithfull by them taught in sundrie churches did euer agree in them or once beleeue them it must needes bee then that they are not grounded in the catholike church but are some later inuentions and doctrine of a particuler church from whose errors and corruptions they haue proceded which particuler church is the Church of Rome which we will briefly shewe neither to be the catholike church nor to haue beene for many yeeres any sounde member of the catholike church The catholike church as we before rehearsed conteyneth all them that haue beleeued doe beleeue or shall heereafter beleeue in Christ Iesus to the end of the world The church of Rome conteyneth not all those that haue beleeued for in the dayes of many of them it had no beeing at all nor all them that doe beleeue nor all them that shall beleeue Therefore the church of Rome is not the catholike church The catholike church conteineth all partes both of the church triumphant and militant The churche of Rome conteyneth no parte of the church triumphant nor all partes of the churche militant Therefore the church of Rome is not the catholicke church Within the catholike church Christ was borne and of a blessed member of the catholike church Christ was not borne in the church of Rome nor of any member of the church of Rome Therfore the church of Rome is not the catholike church The catholike church alloweth not the adoration or deuine worshipping of any creature The churche of Rome alloweth the adoration and deuine worshipping of creatures Therefore the church of Rome is not the catholicke church The maior is the expresse sentence of S. Aug in his 2. booke de moribus ecclesiae cath cap. 30. it is also the expresse doctrine of Christ in the 4. of Mathew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Him onely thou shalt worship And of the Angell in the 19. of the Reuelat. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Before God shalt thou fall downe The minor is proued by the Nicene councel which teacheth that the image of the Trinity and the crosse are to be adored worshipped with the same kinde of adoration and worship that the trinitye Christ himselfe are to be worshipped with and by Thomas of Aquine an approued Doctor of the Romain church in his third booke of sentences the second distinction by Nauclautus Clugiensis whose words are these Non solum fatendum est fideles in Ecclesia adorare coram imaginibus vt nonnulli ad cautelam forte loquūtur sed adorare imaginem sine quo volueris scrupulo quin eo illā venerari cultu quo Prototipon eius It is not onely to be yeelded vnto that the faithfull in the church do worship before images as some happely speak for a cautell
stir vp hatred dissention debate war and murder amongest you for his wrath is great knowing he hath but a short time For he is a roaring Lyon that knowing his ende to be at hand is the more fierce He is that cruel tirant that knowing his raigne to be but short sheadeth so much the more blood the more his time is diminished the more is his malice increased what he wanteth in measure he will fill vp in waight 13 And when the Dragon saw that he was caste into the earth hee persecuted the woman whiche had brought forth the man child When the Dragon that is to say the Deuil perceaued himselfe to be vanquished and ouercome driuē and expulsed out of the harts of the faithfull caste and throwen downe amongst the vnbeleeuers and reprobats hee persecuted the woman whiche had brought forth the mā child he persecuted the church the congregation of the faithfull which to her eternall happinesse had brought forthe the man childe Christ Iesus euen the Lord her righteousnesse her beauty and her saluation 14 But vnto the woman were giuen the wings of a great eagle that she might flie into the wildernesse into her place where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time from the presence of the serpent The prouidence of God assisted the Churche against the malice of Sathan The Church hauing her faith supported by the two testaments as it were by the two wings of a great eagle in this wildernesse of the world did infinitly spread it self by the outward preaching of the gospel and the inwarde operation of the holy Ghost The time times and halfe a time that is to say a yeare two yeeres and halfe a yeare is the selfe same that we reade before a thowsand two hundred and threescore daies the which wee there reduced to 42. monethes and expounded the moneths by Sabaoths of yeares according to the prophecie of Daniel It may also signifie both heere and in the place before the whole time and troubles of the church militant frō the birth of Christ to the end of the world reckoning for a time 500. yeares for times 1000. yeares for half a time 250. yeares 15 And the Serpent cast out of his mouth water after the woman like a flood that he might cause her to be caried away of the flood Sathan that cursed serpent abounding in malice against the church cast out of his mouthe water after the woman that is stirred and procured sundrie people nations and gouernments which heere are comprised in the word water to persecut and to endeuor to extinguishe the church Like a flood that is to say aboundantly violently and ragingly That he might cause her to be carried away of the floode That is to the end that he might cause her to bee destroyed by persecution and as it were caried awaye by violence from the face of the earth 16 But the earth holpe the woman and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed vp the flood which the Dragon had cast out of his mouth The church increased by persecution dayly the persecutors died the earth swallowed them vp in their graues and as it were opened her mouth dailye for them and they daily fell in But the church remained continued and augmented euery day and the blood of the Martirs became the seed of the church So the earth holpe the woman and swallowed vp the floode 17 Then the Dragon was wroth with the woman and wēt and made warre with the remnant of her seede which keepe the commaundements of God and haue the testimony of Iesus Christ. The Dragon that is to say the Deuil hauing attempted first the head Christ Iesus Secondly the church his body aand finding his labor frustrated and his power too weake to worke the destruction of either of them taketh a third coursein executing of his malice which is to molest and persecute the members of the church which are the remnant of her seede which keepe the commaundements of God haue the testimony of Iesus Christ To the whiche ende he hath specially stirred certain diuelish and wicked instrumentes whose estats qualities actions and proceedings are very liuely pithelie and effectually set forth in this next Chapter ensuing 18 And I stood on the sea sand Heere the holy Apostle and Euangelist S. Iohn procureth in vs a certaine attentiuenesse and earneste animaduersion of the vision following declaring first the place wherein he stoode secondly what hee sawe which is this that followeth CHAP. xiii 1 And I sawe a beast rise out of the sea hauing seauen heades and tenne hornes and about his hornes were ten crownes and vpon his heads the name of blasphemy 2 And the beast that I saw was like a Leopard and his feete like a beares and his mouth as the mouth of a lion and the Dragon gaue him his power and his throne and great authoritie HEERE is described vnto vs the Romaine Empire vnder the forme of a beast most monstrous most cruell most strong and most terrible Saint Iohn heerein alludeth to the description laid downe thereof by the Proph. Daniel in his seauenth Chapter The fowrth beast saith he meaning the Romain Empire was grimme and horrible and maruelous strong it hath great iron teethe it deuoured and destroyed and stamped the residue vnder his feete it was vnlike the other beasts that were before it for it had tenne hornes Which ten hornes are expounded in the 24. verse of the same chapter to be ten kings which shal grow out of the ruines of this empire And therefore the tenne hornes are heere laide downe to haue vppon them ten crownes of these kings and kingdomes we shal speake heereafter it had also seauen heads which are the seauen hilles whereon Rome standeth Vppon which heades was the name of blasphemye For so much did the Romaines attribute to their prowesse and pollicie their force and foresight that they termed their city Romam aeternam and as it were mating the most mighty vaunted Diuisum imperium cum Ioue Caesar habet Which their wickednesse is well heere expressed by the name of blasphemye Moreouer it is likened to a Leopard in proportion and shew to a Lion for the mouth and for the feete to a beare whereby we vnderstand that it not onelye had the countries and countenances the possessions and proceedings the might and maiestye the conditions and crueltie of the former monarchy but also in al euil and tiranny farre and much exceded them Daniel vnto this place giueth very great light who likening the Babilonian monarchy to a Lion the Persian to a beare the Macedonian to a Leopard teacheth vs that S. Iohn in this Romaine Monarchy foresawe the mouth and foote the pride and pase the state and steppe the rage and rauening of all the former to be expressed contayned and represented Heereunto is added that the Dragon haue him his power and his throne and greate authoritie That is to saye the Deuill assigned him to bee his
to the interpretation of this thirtenth chapter onelye adding this much that Paulus tertius in whose name this accompt and number is contained was a man euen in his owne time charged with extortion sacriledge with adulterie and incest with murther and parricide with negromancie and coniuration The particularities whereof are plainely expressed in the xxi booke of Sleidans commentaries towardes the ende of the yeare 1549. whereby hee seemeth a man not vnmeete in whose name this misticall number and periode of Papall prosperitye should be accomplished As for the meanes of the Popedomes farther fall and finally of the vtter subuersion thereof the next chapter which is the fourtenth will most manifestlye laye it open vnto vs. CHAP. 14. 1 Then I looked and lo a lambe stoode on mount Sion and with him an hundreth fortie and foure thousand hauing his fathers name written on their foreheads 2 And I heard a voyce from heauen as the sounde of manye waters and as the sounde of a great thunder and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harpes 3 And they sung as it were a newe song before the throne and before the foure beastes and the elders and no man could learne that song but the hundreth forty foure thousand which were bought from the earth 4 These are they which are not defiled with women for they are virgins these follow the lambe whether so euer he goeth these are bought from men being the first fruites vnto God and vnto the lambe 5 And in their mouthes was found no guyle for they are without spot before the throne of God 6 Then I saw an other Angell flye in the middest of heauen hauing an euerlasting Gospell to preach vnto them that dwell on the earth and to euery nation and kinred tongue and people 7 Saying with a loude voyce feare God and giue glorie to him for the houre of his iudgements is come and worship him that made heauen and the earth and the sea and the fountaines of waters 8 And there followed an other Angel saying it is fallen it is fallen Babylon the great City for shee made all nations to drinke of the wine of the wrath of her fornication 9 And the third Angell followed them saying with a loude voyce if any man worship the beast and his Image and receaue his marke in his forehead or on his hand 10 The same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God yea of the pure wine which is poured into the cuppe of his wrath and he shall be tormented in fire and brimstone before the holy Angels and before the lambe 11 And the smoke of their torment shall ascend euermore and they shall haue no rest day nor night which worship the beast and his Image and whosoeuer receaueth the print of his name 12 Here is the patience of Sainctes here are they that keepe the Commandements of God and the faith of Iesus 13 Then I heard a voyce from heauen saying vnto me write Blessed are the dead which hereafter dye in the Lord Euen so saith the spirite for they rest from their labours their workes follow them 14 And I looked and behold a white cloud vpon the cloude one sitting like vnto the sonne of man hauing on his head a golden crowne and in his hand a sharpe sickle 15 And another Angell came out of the temple crying with a loud voyce to him that sat on the Cloude thrust in thy sickle and reape for the time is come to reape for the haruest of the earth is ripe 16 And he that sate on the Cloude thrust in his sickle on the earth and the earth was reaped 17 Then another Angell came out of the Temple which is in heauen hauing also a sharpe sickle 18 And another angel came out frō the altar which had power ouer fire cryed with a loude crie to him that had the sharpe sickle said thrust in thy sharpe sickle gather the clusters of the vineyarde of the earth for her grapes are ripe 19 And the angel thrust in his sharpe sickle on the earth cut downe the vines of the vineyard of earth and cast them into the great winepresse of the wrath of God 20 And the winepresse was troden without the citie and bloud came out of the winepresse vnto the horse bridles by the space of a thousand sixe hundred furlonges O Thou lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world thou lamb that standest on mount Sion in the heauenly Ierusalem the Church triumphant with an hundred forty and foure thousand twelue times twelue thousand hauing thy fathers name written in their foreheads euen with all thy faithfull and elect whom thou hast taken out of the miserie of this world out of error and ignorance and especiallye those whom thou hast deliuered out of the thraldome and oppression of the olde Romaine empire and the Image thereof the new Romaine Church and hast blessed with thy Fathers name with eternall glorye and felicitye whom with thy precious bloud thou hast bought from the earth from sinne and corruption and hast so endued with thy spirite and grace that they were not defiled with women with the errors and superstitions of particular churches but kept the virginitye of their doctryne and fayth within thy catholycke church pure and sincere and haste aduaunced to euerlastyng blisse and made the fyrste fruites vnto GOD faythfull and spotlesse before the throne of his Maiestye wee yeelde thee moste humble hartye and duetifull thankes that it hath pleased thee to send thy messengers ministers and preachers into the militant church to preach publish thy euerlasting Gospell which the might mistes of Babylon had longe Concealed and obscured vnto them that dwell on the earth and to euery nation and kinred and tongue and people teaching vs to feare God and geue glory vnto him and not to feare the power and might of Antichrist nor his fyerce and furious thunderboltes of curses and excommunications nor to glorify and magnifie that man of sinne and childe of perdition but to glorifye God the honour of whose iudgement is come to consume the kingdome of Antichrist with the spirit of his mouth and to worship thy heauenly father and thee his eternall worde and wisedome which hast made heauen and earth and the sea and the fountaynes of waters and not to worshippe stockes and stones Images and Idols the babes and abhominations of Babylon We yeeld the also most humble and feruent thankes that with this thy heauenlye doctrine and spirite of thy mouth thou hast ouerthrowne the towres of Babell the might and maiestye of the Romish Sinagoge that wee maye truelye and reioycinglye say It is fallen it is fallen Babylon the great Cittie that made all nations drunken with Idolatrye and superstition euen with the name of her false doctrine wherin God in his wrath suffered her to solace her selfe and to commit idolatrie which is spirituall fornication We beseech thee
A LETTER WRITTEN BY A TRVE CHRISTIAN Catholike to a Romaine pretended Catholike Wherein vppon occasion of controuersie touching the Catholike Church the 12.13 and 14. Chap. of the Reuelations are breifly and trulie expounded Which conteine the true estate thereof from the birth of Christ to the end of the world REVEL CAP. 6. 7 Veni vide Lege perlege intellige crede viue Veni vt videas Vide vt legas Lege vt perlegas perlege vt intelligat Jntellige vt credas Crede vt viuas IESVS CHRISTVS ERO MOâ—SVS INFERNI TVVS OSE 13 CONFINTE VICI MVÌ„DVÌ„ IOA. 1â— VEâ—Tâ—â—â—ORS VICTORIA 1 COR. â—â— Imprinted at London by Iohn Windet dwelling in Adling streete at the signe of the white Beare neere Baynards Castle 1586 FORTITVDINE ET PRVDENTIA A LETTER WRITten by a true Christian Catholicke to a Romane pretended Catholike AS it hath pleased Almightie God in these latter daies with the spirite of his mouthe to waste and consume the Kingdome of Antichrist and to erect and reestablishe the Church and Kingdome of Christ deliuering both to the Magistracie the sworde and to the Ministery the worde for that purpose so hath the Diuell and his adhaerents in no age beene more forward or furious either to sustaine the tottring towers of the one or to hinder and suppresse the increase and augmentation of the other to which end he now most carefullie armeth as it were for the last conflict with malice fraude and force his Liuetenant generall the Bishop of Rome with his freindes and confederates the fauorites of that Babilonian strumpet who seing her self forsaken her painted shewes her deceitfull toyes and trash both desciphered and despised by al sounde iudgements stormeth like another Iuno enraged with malice and madnesse carying alta mente repostum Iudicium Paridis spretaeque iniuriae formae Layd vp in deepest thought The doome of Paris and the wrong of bewty set at nought This her malice that she may the more furiouslye execute against this realme of England sometime her darling but now her infest she putteth all meanes in proofe practise that either fraude or force may minister vnto her She frameth vnto her selfe instruments of our owne nation to wreak her wrath vppon their natiue countrie she bewitcheth them with the sleights and sorceries of error and superstition and so sendeth them to allure seduce others she maketh them brokers of her bewtie extollers of her power publishers of her praises and ministers of her practises They tearme her the Sea of holines the Catholike Church the spouse of Christ the mother of the faithfull Quisquis amat ranam ranam putat esse Dianam Who so a frog doth loue loe he That frog Diana thinks to be Whereas in truth shee is the chaire of pestilence the seate of Antichrist the forge of treasons the receptacle of traitors the cage of euery filthie and vncleane bird the hell of the liuing and a seconde Babylon as it was well noted by Petrarch comparing her with the former in an epistle writteÌ„ vnto a frend Fuit illa omnium pessima eaque tempestate foedissima haec vero iam non ciuitas sed laruarum a clemurum domus est vt breuiter dicam scelerum atque omnium dedecorum sentina Viuentium etiam infernus tanto ante dauidico ore notatus quam fundalus aut cognitus Quicquid de Assiria vel Aegiptia Babilone quicquid de quatuor Labyrinthis quicquid de Averno limine deque Tartareis siluis sulphureisque paludibus legisti huic Tartaro admodum fabula est Hic Turrificus simul terrificus Nimrhod hic pharetrata Semiramis hic inexorabilis Minos hic Rhadaman thus hic Cerberus vniuersa consumens hic Tauro suppositae Pasiphae mixtumque genus quod Maro ait prolesque biformis Minotaurus inest Veneris monimenta nephandae Hic postremo quicquid confusum quicquid atrum quicquid horribile vsquam est aut fingitur aspicias c. That was of al other the worse and in that age the most filthy This nowe is not a cittie but the house of terrefiing spirits and deuils and that I may speake breiflie the sinke of all wickednesse and shameful dishonesty the hell of the liuing noted by the mouthe of Dauid so long before it was either knowne or the foundations thereof were laid Whatsoeuer thou hast reade of the Assirian or Egiptian Babylon whatsoeuer of the foure Laberinths whatsoeuer of the fal of Auernus of the hellie woods and Brimstonie marishes is vnto this Hell but as it were a fable Heere that toureformer and terrifier Nimrhod Here is the warlike harlot Semiramis Here is the vntreatable Minos here is Rhadamanthus here is Cerberus deuouring all things here is the beastlie bullouer Pasiphae and the mixed kinde that Maro speaketh of and the biformed issue Minotaurus the moniment of a wicked lust finally here thou maist behold what thing soeuer is lothsome and what horrible thing soeuer is either found or feyned But this will they not see that blinded with affection and banded into faction labor and indeuour to blinde and bewitche others seducing the ambitious with promises of honor the simple and ignorant with ostentation of learning who conceaue their hipocrisie to be pietie their superstition to bee religion their falsehoode to be faithfulnesse their reconcilement to the Romain Church and Prelat to be neither treacherie to their prince nor treason to their countrie but a safetie to their soules quietnes to their consciences and an vniting of themselues to the misticall bodie of Christ But in this Viridi latet anguis in herba Within the grasse that showes so greene An adder lurks that is not seene For in truth this their reconciliation which they perceaue not cutteth them off from the Church of Christ and maketh them the limmes and members of Antichrist vnfaithfull to God disloyall to theyr prince treacherous to their countrie as hauing vowed their obedience to the mortall enimie of all three It is a misterie replenished with mischiefe a clowd couering many cruell intentes a Troian horse full of Greekish or rather Romish Reamish wiles and wickednesse a diuelish and Popish practise a Massesecreate prouided for the Massacring of England By these meanes treasons are conspired forces are prepared monies collected euill minds vnited fires kindled within our owne bowels to the whiche forraine flames will soone bee added to coÌ„sume vs the ministers of these mischiefes are crept vnto our Dioces they haue peruerted manye they haue reconciled many and now of late in this countrie they haue trauelled much I knowe they are not vnknowne to you and that either their woordes or writings or both haue very much preuailed with you As a gentleman I do fauour you as a seduced man I doe pitty you as a reconciled man if suche a one you be I must detest you sith thereby you haue abandoned the misticall body of Christe and haue ioyned your selfe to the mischieuous body of Antichrist In
nō negabit Therefore it is not of vs that we doe vnderstande but of him which maketh vs to comprehende those thinges which would not be knowen Therefore of him knowledge is to be hoped which will open to them which knocke will shewe to them that seeke and will not denie to them that craue Hereof Saint Bernarde writeth right well Quo spiritu scripturae factae sunt eo spiritu legi desiderant ipsae etiam intelligendae sunt Nunquam ingredieris in sensum Pauli donec vsu bonae intentionis in lectione eius studio assiduae meditationis spiritum eius imbiberis sicque de reliquis By the same spirite whereby the scriptures are reuealed do they require also to be reade by the same also they are to bee vnderstoode Thou shalt neuer enter into the vnderstanding of Paule vntill with a good intent thou mayest sucke out his spirit by continuall reading and daily meditation and so of the rest And we may well say that both the roote and frute of prayer and meditation in the worde of God is the spirite of God which openeth our vnderstanding and leadeth vs vnto all truth For from Gods grace these godly exercises doe proceede and by the continuall vse of them his grace is increased augmented in vs to the outwarde hearing of the word of God and meditation thereof the inward working and operation of the holie Ghost being ioyned and vnited which is both promised and performed to all the faithfull euen to all the children of God We reade in the 59. of Esay Spiritus meus qui in te est verba quae posui in ore tuo seminis tui in perpetuum non deficient My spirite which is in thee and my words which I haue put in thy mouth and of thy seede shal not depart for euer Christ saith in the 14. of Iohn Spiritus sanctus docebit vos omnia suggeret vobis omnia quae dixi vobis The holie Ghost shall teach you all thinges and minister all things which I haue spoken vnto you S. Iohn saith Vnctionem habetis a sancto nostis omnia vnctio docet vos de omnibus You haue your annoynting of the holy and knowe all thinges the annoynting teacheth you all thinges Saint Paul saith Animalis homo non percipit ea quae sunt spiritus Dei at spiritualis diiudicat omnia Spiritus enim omnia scrutatur etiam profunditates Dei The carnall man perceaueth not the thinges which are of the spirit of God but the spirituall discerneth all thinges euen the depth of God To conclude we learne of S. Paul that faith commeth of hearing and hearing of the worde of God for the study and obseruation thereof hath the working of the holy ghost ioyned therewith which produceth faith which is not of our selues but is the gift of God as the same Apostle teacheth vs in the 2. Chapter of his Epistle to the Ephesians so that by the outwarde hearing of the worde and the inwarde operation of the holie ghost faith is in vs kindled Christ thereby apprehended his iustice and righteousnesse to vs deriued God reconciled our sinnes pardoned his mercie obteined we in Christ Iesus adopted to be the children of God and inheritors of euerlasting saluation Therfore the Diuell our mortall enemie that euermore laboureth our confusion by his chiefe instrument Antichrist his adherents and by his owne false and slie suggestions woorketh all he may to stay men from reading and hearing the worde of God and from comming to those places where it is read and taught that is from publike seruice and sermons whereby such as are skilfull in the tongues and haue trauelled in the study of the scripture the circumstances of places are laide open the sence made manifest the proportion of the doctrine taught and declared conference collation of places vsed and applied the vse fruite thereof signified the breade of life deuided and destributed for the nourishment of our soules our faith thereby kyndled and confirmed lastly the holy Ghost therewith powred and bestowed vpon vs for our further comfort and enstruction Thus haue I briefly answered your two propositions whereby you may somewhat be induced to the consideration of your estate of the corruption of the church that you follow of the weakenes of the grounds that you stand vpon of the daunger that thereby you are in and of the meanes whereby you may escape it And that I may yet more amplie satisfie you in the question of the Church the mistaking whereof is the roote of your error I haue herewith sent you a historie of the Church of Christ from the natiuity of our Sauiour to the end of the world laid downe by the holy Ghost by the pen of S. Iohn in the twelfth thirtenth fourtenth of the Reuelation where unto I haue added such light of interpretation as my small talent hath enabled me vnto wherein I fore see I shalbe assayled by the maleuolent with two bitter obiections the one of curiosity the other of presumption it shall suffice me to shield my selfe against both with that notable sentence and censure of Iesus the sonne of Sirach in the 39. of Ecclesiasticus 1 He onely that applieth his mind to the Law of the most high and is occupied in the meditation thereof seeketh out the wisedome of all the auncient and exerciseth himselfe in the prophesies 2 He keepeth the sayings of famous men and entreth in also to the secrets of darke sentences 3 He seeketh out the misterie of graue sentences and exerciseth himselfe in darke parables 4 He shall serue among great men and appeare before the Prince he shal trauell through straunge countries for he hath tried the good and the euil among men 5 He will giue his hart to resort early vnto the Lorde that made him and to pray before the most high and will open his mouth in prayer and pray for his sinnes 6 VVhen the great Lord wil he shal be filled with the spirit of vnderstanding that he may powre out wise sentences and giue thankes vnto the Lord in his prayer 7 He shall direct his counsell and knowledge so shall he meditate in his secrets 8 He shall shew forth his science and learning and reioice in the Law and couenant of the Lord. 9 Many shall commend his vnderstanding and his memorie shall neuer be put out nor depart awaie but his name shall continue from generation to generation 10 The congregation shall declare his wisedome and show it 11 Though he be dead he shall leaue a greater fame then a thousand if he liue still he shall get the same The exposition vpon the 12. 13. and 14. Chapters of the Reuel CHAP. 12. Verse 1. And there appeared a great wonder in heauen A woman clothed with the sunne and the Moone was vnder her feete and vpon her head a crowne of twelue starres 2. And she was with child and cried traueling in birth and was pained ready to be
deliuered HEERE is first laid downe vnto vs by the holye Apostle a description of the true Church of God the true spouse of Christ the true mother of all the faithful which hath bene one and the very same euen from the beginning of the world vnto this day she is described in the forme of a woman clothed with the Sunne this sunne is the sunne of righteousnesse Christ Iesus the whiche the church his spouse hath put on with whom only she thinketh her selfe adorned beautified in so much that she nether seeketh nor coueteth any other mans righteousnesse to clothe her or deck her withall but accompteth her self in him and by him to haue sufficient beauty and purity the which she knoweth acknowledgeth to haue altogether of his mercy and goodnesse and not by her desart or merit And the Moone was vnder her feete By the moone may be vnderstood al worldly earthly things which are subiecte to changes and alterations whiche haue their diminishinges and increasings their waxines and wanings as honor riches power authoritie dignitie and suche like with all the vaine pleasures and delightes of this world all the which this true church and spouse of Christ doth despise contemne and treade vnder her feete The Moone also may put vs in remembrance of the chāges and alterations which the church is subiect vnto in this world some times being in quiet sometimes in prosperity sometime in aduersity sometime consisting in many sometime in few Further it geueth vs to vnderstand that as the Moone receaueth all her lighte and beautye from the Sunne so the churche receaueth all her puritie righteousnesse and glorye from Christ Thus the Moone was vnder her feete and vppon her head a crown of twelue starres This number of twelue is the number of perfection or fulnesse and by the starres shynings in the church are ment the Patriarches the Prophets the Apostles the Martirs the godly ministers of al ages which shine in the church both in life and doctrine which all doe receaue their lighte of the sunne of righteousnesse wherewith the church is clothed 2 And shee was with childe and cried trauelling in birthe and was pained ready to be deliuered This place is to bee referred to those times of the church that were before the incarnation of Christ When as the congregation of the faithful that is to say the church did maruelously longue and as it were trauailed in minde to haue that promised seed borne and brought to light that should repaire the miserable ruine of mankinde and treade downe the serpents head the which seed was our Lorde and Sauiour Christ Iesus who was born within the church and of a blessed member of the church 3 And there appeared another wonder in heauen and behold a great red dragon hauing seuen heads and tenne hornes and seuen crownes vpon his heads 4 And his taile drew the third part of the starres of heauen and cast them to the earth Hauing described the church now he falleth to the description of the principall enemie of the church which is Sathan he is described in the forme of a dragon that is to say full of venome full of poyson wherewith he infecteth corrupteth the world of a red colour to declare his bloudines his cruelty his spite and malice hauing seauen headdes that is to saye being full of deuises subtilties craftes and deceipts to entrappe and destroy men withall He hath also ten hornes seuē crownes his hornes signify his mighty force power and violence his crownes his dignity honor and authority in this wicked world wherof he is called Prince and chiefe potentate of this darkenes 4 And his taile drew the third part of the stars of heauen and cast them to the earth The dragons taile are false prophets hypocrites and such as by a shew of holines deceaue men teaching false doctrine drawing men from heauen to earth from worshipping God in Spirite and trueth to earthlye adorations Imaginations and conceiptes Of this tayle were the Scribes and Pharisyes and other religious folke of the Iewes of the same also are all such as by false doctrine haue drawen any out of the firmament of Christes church that were once there placed as stars by baptisme and regeneration Hereunto the Prophet Esay doth allude saying the false prophet is a verye tayle but such starres were not fixed in the firmament therefore the dragons tayle had power ouer them And the dragon stoode before the woman which was ready to be deliuered to deuoure her childe when she had brought it forth So she brought a man childe which shoulde rule all nations with a rodde of yron and her sonne was taken vp vnto God and to his throne This childe that the church brought foorth whom the Dragon sought to deuoure was Christ our Sauiour against whom the Dragon stirred first Herode then the chiefe of the Iewes the Scribes the Pharesies the highe Priestes lastlye the whole multitude to the ende to deuour this man childe that the church had brought foorth to her euerlasting comforte and to the Dragons eternall ruine 5 She brought forth a man childe which should rule all nations with a rodde of yron This was that childe whom Dauid by the spirite of prophesie speaketh of in the second Psalme I will preach the law whereof the Lord hath sayde vnto me thou art my Sonne this day haue I begotten thee desire of me and I shall giue thee the heathen for thine inheritaunce and the vttermost partes of the earth for thy possession thou shalt bruse them with a rodde of yron and breake them in peeces like a potters vessell And her Sonne was taken vp vnto God and to his throne Thus when the Dragon had spitte all his venome had vsed all the deuises and subtilties of his seauen heads al the force and violence of his ten hornes all the authority dignity of his seuen crownes finally when he had shewed al his spite crueltye malice he preuailed no whit at all for the childe whiche hee persecuted Christ Iesus ascended into heauen was taken vp vnto God and to his throne and there sitteth at the right hand of the father in most glorious and eternal maiestie 6 And the woman fled into the wildernes where she hath a place prepared of God that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and three score daies And the woman that is to say the church the cōgregation of the faithfull fledde and was dispearsed into the wildernes of the world among the Gentils in that huge and waste forrest wherof the Romaine Emperour was chiefe Foster who is the beast that in the beginning of the next chapter is described there remained the church in this wildernes subiect to the iniuries of the Emperours and other his vnder officers yet notwithstanding fedde by Gods especiall prouidence in myddest of all persecution with heauenly and spiritual foode by godly and sincere ministers And this state did she continue in a
cheefe instrument in persecuting the members of the church those that haue the testimony of Iesus And to that end aduanceth his power throne and authoritie in this wicked world 3 And I sawe one of his heades as it were wounded to death and his deadly wounde was healed and all the world wondred at the beast These heades seeme vnto me to haue three significations two of them are laide downe by the Angell in the seauentienth chapter where they are expounded to bee mountaynes or hilles as heretofore we haue taken them and also kings or gouernors as hereafter we shall shewe them But in this place it semeth to bee taken neither for the one nor for the other but for a chiefe and principal parte of the estat euen for Roome and Italy it selfe Which aswell by the ciuill warres of Caesar and Pompey Augustus and Anthony as by the loose and execrable gouernments of Claudius Tiberius Caius Caligula Claudius the brother of Germanicus Nero the sonne of Domitius and Aulus Vitellius was as it were wounded and that most greeuously Which in the time of Flauius Vespasianus Titus Nerua Traiane and the Emperours succeding it recouered whereby the deadlye wound was healed And all the world wondred at the beast Such was the might and maiestie the force and fortune of the Romaine Empire that all men wondred and maruailed at it had it in admiration regarde and reuerence as an estate most happye sacred and in a manner diuine 4 And they worshipped the Dragon which gaue power vnto the beast and they worshipped the beast saying VVho is like vnto the beaste VVho is able to make warre with him By reason of the false religions and Idolatries of the Romaine Empire the Dragon that is to saye the Deuill was worshipped And by reason of the might and puissance of the forsaid estate it was of al nations feared and honored insomuch as they thought that none other was like vnto it nor any able to make warre against it 5 And there was giuen vnto him a mouthe that spake great things and blasphemies and power was giuen vnto him to doe 42. moneths The pride and blasphemye of the Romaine Emperors wee haue somewhat declared before The time of their persecuting power heere expressed by two and forty months is the same that in the former chapter is resolued and a thousand two hundred threescore daies which gathered into sabbaoths of yeares after the account of Daniell contayneth the whole time of the primitiue persecution from the first of Herod to the last of Licinius the particularities of their pride and blasphemies as to be called Gods to haue their images placed in temples and to haue diuine rites ceremonies done there in their honor The histories of their times doe disclose the sundry persecutions in great crueltye by them and their authority executed against the professors of the truth the Ecclesiasticall histories doe mention at large Whereby the interpretation of this place and of the verses following is very cleare and manifest 6 And he opened his mouth vnto blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them that dwell in heauen The blasphemous speeches and actions of the Romaine Empire being corrupted with all kinde of Idolatry and impietie was bent first against the name of God secondly against his tabernacle thirdly against them that dwell in heauen Against the name of God that is to say against the essence maiestye worde and wisedome of God Whereas in steade of the creator they honored creatures in steade of one true God they serued many false Idols and adored them in corporall rites and ceremonies in steade of him that was to be worshipped in spirit and truth against his tabernacle that is to say his church for of the church it is spoken beholde the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwel with them and they shalle his people and God himself shalbe their God with them Against them that dwell in heauen that is to say against the members of the Church for that wee are no more forrenners and strangers but citizens wtih the Saintes and of the houshould of God And therefore may be well termed dwellers in heauen For that as the Apostle saieth in the Epistle to the Hebrewes In that we are members of the misticall bodie of Christ we are come to the mount Sion and to the Citie of the liuing God the caelestiall Hierusalem and to the companie of innumerable Angels and to the congregation of the first borne which are written in heauen And to God the iudge of all and to the Spirites of iust and perfect men and to Iesus the Mediatour of the new Testament to the bloud of sprinkling that speaketh better thinges then that of Abel Wherefore as in the former chapter the Dragon that is to saye the Diuell persecuted first the man childe that is Christ Iesus Then the woman clothed with the Sunne which is the Church And lastlie the remnant of her seede which keepe the commaundementes of God and haue the testimonie of Iesus that is to saye the members of the church So this principall instrument of the Deuill the Romaine Idolatrous Empire blasphemeth gainsayeth and persecuteth first the name of God that is his worde and wisedome Christ Iesus Secondlie his tabernacle that is his church Thirdly those that dwell in heauen that is to say the faithfull that are the members and seede of the church 7 And it was giuē vnto him to make war with the saints and to ouercome them and power was giuen him ouer euerie kindred and tongue and nation They that before were tearmed dwellers in heauen are heere tearmed sainctes against whome this Romaine Empire hath made warre raysed persecution and preuailed in all cruell tormentes and rigorous kindes of death that not in one contrie or prouince alone but throughout all the worlde for the authoritie therof and power did reach in effect ouer euery kindred and tongue and nation 8 Therefore all that dwell vppon the earth shall woorshippe him whose names are not written in the booke of life of the lambe which was slaine from the beginning of the worlde Such therefore as are not the elect of God whose eyes are not illumined with his heauenly light and whose mindes are not sanctified with his holy spirit whereby they may discerne trueth from falsehoode but are whollie led with earthly conceites worldly considerations and terrestriall appetites and therin doe as it were dwel and inhabite vnwilling any way to be weaned from it They shall worshippe obey reuerence and followe in all Idolatrie and naughtinesse this Romaine Empire iudging it to bee the best way for their saftie benefit and aduauncement although in truth it worke their ruyne ouerthrowe and euerlasting destruction 9 If any man haue an eare let him heare if any leade into captiuitie he shall goe into captiuitie if any kill with a sworde he must be killed by a sworde Here is the patience and
Lesson DIC LVX let him learne this withall it is 666. The later writers doe note the same number in sundrie other woordes both in Hebrewe greek In Hebrew in the wordes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the Greeke in the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wee will consider of euery of these as wee did of the former that we may see how they accorde both in number and in sense תרומהיה In the Hebrewe tongue signifieth a sacrafice and eleuation vnto God Sanctus Pagninus in his dictionarye called Thesaurus linguae sanctae vnder the verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 expoundeth it thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Est oblatio sic appellata quod sur sum deorsum moueatur eleuetur ת 400 ר 200 ו 6 מ 40 ה 5 י 10 ה 5 666 It is a sacrifice so called because of the eleuation and motion of it vpp and downe And this it seameth he obserued out of Dauid Kimchi one of the most learned Rabbins of the Hebrewes This interpretation layeth downe before our eyes the very action of the sacrifice of the Masse For there is a sacrifice vnto God For they say their oblation and sacrifice consisteth of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ whom they offer vnto God There is also an eleuation and a motion sursum deorsum vp and downe So that this in the hebrewe expresseth that in the Greeke which we last noted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Popish masse So that the one may very well stand for the interpretation of the other and both as we may see the one after the numerall letters of the hebrewe the other of the Greeke make vp the iust number of sixe hundred sixtie and sixe Η 8 Μ 40 Ι 10 Σ 200 Σ 200 Α 1 Η 8 Π80 Α 1 Π80 Ι 10 Κ 20 Η 8 666 The other Hebrew words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are to receaue their accompt according to the numerall letters of the Greek as the former Gothick words of Haymo likewise did And as the Latine words Ecclesia Italica also do Β 2 Ε 5 Π50 Η 8 Σ 200 Α 1 Υ 400 666 These hebrew wordes signifie the sonne of Esau who otherwise was called Aedom of whome came the Aedomyts so that the soone of Esau is as muche to say as a chiefe of the Edomits Iacob also was called Israell and of him it is that God often calleth his faithfull and chosen Iacob his inheritaunce and his people Israel As then Edom hated Israel so shall the Edomits the Israelits that is the reprobate shall abhor the godly The limbes of Antichrist shall afflict the members of Christ The Papists which are the Aedomites shall persecute the true Christians which are the Israelits Now he that is the chiefe of the Edomits he is this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whose name containeth the number of 666 Whom together with his whole faction he shal destroy and abolish that is called faithfull true and iudgeth fighteth righteously whose eyes are as a flame of fire and vppon whose head there are many crownes who is clothed with a garment dipt in blood and whose name is the worde of God Out of whose mouth goeth out a sharpe sworde that with it he may smite the heathen for he shal rule them with a rod of iron For he is that treadeth the winpresse of the fiercenes of the wrathe of God and vppon his garment and vppon his thigh a name written the King of Kings and L. of Lords If wee will knowe howe his garment is dipt in blood the Prophet Esay will tell vs in his threescore and sixt chap. that it is sprinckled with the blood of the Edomits VVho is this that commeth from Edom VVith redde garmentes from Bosra He is glorious in his apparell and walketh in his great strength I speake in righteousnesse and am mightie to saue Wherefore is thine apparell redde and thy garmentes like him that treadeth in the winepresse I haue troden the wine presse alone and of all people there was none with me For I will tread them in mine anger and tread them vnder foote in my wrath and their bloud shall be sprinckled on my garmentes and I will staine all my rayment for the day of vengeance is in my heart and the yeere of my Redeemer is come Thus the Prophet intimateth the glorious comming of our Lorde Sauiour to the last iudgement to the confusion of Edom and comfort of Israel But hereof we shall note more vppon the two last verses of the next chapter The other wordes that containe this number of 666. as Ecclesia Italica the Italian or Romaine Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an euill priestly or Ecclesiasticall gouernment or power and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am God vpon the earth accomplish that account in this sort     Θ 9 Ε 5 Ι 10 Ε 5 Κ 20 Ε 5 Ο 70 Κ 20 Π100 Σ 200 Λ 30 Ο 70 Ε 5 Η 8 Κ 20 Ι 10 Σ 200 Ρ 100 Μ 40 Ι 10 Α 1 Ι 10 Α 1 Τ 300 Ε 5 Ι 10 Ι 10 Π80 Τ 300 Α 1 Ι 10 Α 1 Κ 20 Γ 3 Λ 30 Α 1 Α 1 Ι 10 Κ 20 Ι 10 Κ 20 Η 8 Η 8 Α 1   Σ 200 666 666 666 The interpretation hereof is nothing difficult The first which is Ecclesia Italica seu Romana signifieth the Italian or Romaine church The seconde expresseth his gouernement that is Pontifex maximus the cheife Byshoppe Summus Sacerdos and highest priest qui plenitudinem obtinet potestatis who hath obtayned the fulnesse of power cui in ijs quae vult est pro ratione voluntas vnto whom in what him list his will standeth for reason as his Canonistes deliuer And the thirde is a mysterie by them also in these wordes layde open Dominus Deus Papa the Lorde God the Pope Thus in this charecter of 666. wee see contayned the countrie the language the pryde the tyrannie the doctrine the gouernment the function the impiety and the blasphemie of Antichrist which are euerie of them speciallie and all of them onely appliable to the Byshops of Rome It resteth that we further consider in what sort it is tearmed the number of a man for so it is layde downe in the text It is the number of a man and his number is sixe hundred sixtie sixe For the better vnderstanding hereof we are to obserue two thinges First the matter handled in these three chapters the 12. 13. and 14. Secondly the methode vsed and obserued therein the matter is the estate of the church of God from the byrth of Christ to the end of the world the byrth of Christ the comfort that the church thereby had Christes conquestes by his passion his glorious ascention the malice and endeuour of Sathan first against Christ himselfe secondly against his church thirdly against the members thereof the persecutions and afflictions of the faithfull the restauration of the trueth