THis Book is called a Reve­lation, because it makes known to us secret hid­den mysteries, and future events. It is called the Revelation of John the Di­vine, that is John the Apostle or Evange­list; called John the Divine, by way of pe­culiar emphasis, because as an Eagle he soars aloft, writes more sublimely of the Divinity of Christ Jesus, as in his Gospel and First Epistle, so in this Book, [Page 2]where Pareus observes there are forty eight arguments of Christs Divinity. This John the Evangelist and Apostle was Pen­man of this Revelation, who wrote this book after all the books of the New Testa­ment had been penned and published, he surviving after all the rest of the Apostles, and lived (as Sophronius thinks) to the third year of Trajan the Emperor, which was in the one hundred and second year after Christs birth, as Helvicus computes. It compleats and seals up the whole canon of the Old and New Testament, cap. 22. 7, 14, 18, 19.

The time when he wrote this Revelati­on was when he was banished into the Isle of Patmos, for the Word of God and testi­mony of Jesus, by that cruel persecutor Domitian in the fourteenth year of his Reign, saith Hierem. Domitian raigned in all but fifteen years, and his fourteenth year was the 96 year after Christ (as Hel­vicus computes) So that from Johns wri­ting this Revelation, suppose in the 102 year after Christ, to this present year 1662 are 1560 years.

It is also called the Revelation of Jesus Christ, because he is the author of it, even Jesus Christ himself, the faithful and true [Page 3]witness, who sent his Angel to testifie the same to John the Apostle, and by him to the Churches, Rev. 11.22.16.

And though it be called a Revelation, and the Revelation of John, and of Jesus Christ, because it doth make known to us hidden mysteries, and future events, yet its not without mixture of much intricate­ness and obscurity; having as Hierom saith, as many mysteries as words. Sundry Books of Holy Scripture are hard to be under­stood, especially those that are propheti­cal; but among all the prophetical books, chiefly this. It is a book full of obscure and intricate visions, making known abstruse and hidden mysteries, most mysteriously, and that in relation to future times; And therefore the profoundest judgement of interpreters, is here not onely excercised but puzled, so that they must acknowledge here are many knots they cannot unty, and mighty deeps, through which they cannot fully wade.

The opening of the seven seals, the sounding of the seven Trumpets, the pouring out of the seven Viols, who can fully comprehend? Rev. 5.1.6.1.8.6.16.1. The profound Mysteries of the measuring of Gods Temple and Altar; [Page 4]the Gentiles treading under foot the outward Court and holy City, the two Witnesses, and the time of their Prophesie, Rev. 11.1, 2, 3. The battel between Mi­chael and the seven headed Dragon, the womans Travel, bringing forth, flight into the Wilderness, Rev. 12.3, 7. the seven-headed, and ten-horned Beast blas­pheming, and prevailing over the Saints, Rev. 13.11. &c. The two horned beast, repairing the former beast, Rev. 13.14. The beasts Image, Mark, and number of his name, v. 15. and the number of the beast, 666. The Angels flying through the midst of Heaven, with the everlasting Gospel, Cap. 14.6. The casting the beast and false Prophet into the lake. Cap. 19.20.

The first resurrection, and the reign­ing of the revived Martyrs with Christ a thousand years, Rev. 20.4, 5.

The binding of Satan the mean while, and loosing him afterward, Rev. 2 [...].2, 7. The battel and ruine of Gog and Magog, Rev. 20.8. And in a word, the new Je­rusalem comming down from God out of Heaven, and the finishing the mystery of God. Rev. 21.2. These and the like pro­found mysteries, who can compleatly un­derstand?

Yea, I verily beleive no mortal creature on earth, is able fully to understand and penetrate into all the profound depths and mysteries of this book, which hath so exercised and puzled all interpreters. Yet this I think, if some things therein, by help of divine light, may be cleared, though all cannot, he that writes shall be a gainer, and he that reads shall be no loser.

Therefore I write this, that I may by Divine assistance give some light to the understanding of some things in this Di­vine and sacred Prophesie, the mysteries therein being revealed, that they might be understood, the true understanding whereof so much concerns us, and the Church of God in this last hour of the world.

Now that we may fadom and under­stand somewhat of this mysterious Book, I will endeavour two things.

First, To give some light into the main body or substance of this Book.

Secondly, I will endeavour to open and explain some things in the 11. Chapter, in the History of the two Witnesses, because there are many particular and important things, which do relate to our present [Page 4] [...] [Page 5] [...] [Page 6]times, and are set down for the comfort of the Church, which is now afflicted.

To begin with the first, viz. to give some light into the main body of this Pro­phecy; now in order to this, ponder and weigh advisedly two things.

• First, The Scope or Intent of the Book.
• Secondly, The Synchronisms, or the contemporaneousness of the Prophe­sies therein, how the Visions therein run parallel one with another, and what an acurate harmony, and sweet consent there is among them in respect of time.

First, Eye and observe intentively, the scope of the Book, that is, the common time and Period, whereunto all the par­ticular Prophecies and passages in the Re­volation do joyntly run, and wherein they do ultimately determine. For this is the Pole-st [...] and compass we must steer by; the chief mark, or white, which must be aymed and levelled at in interpre­ting this whole book; and all the mysteri­ous visions therein contained: Like an ac­curate Archer therefore, keep the eye of thy judgement fixed stedfastly on the Scope, that so far as possible, thou [Page 7]shoot not wide, not short, nor over.

Now the Scope or intent of the Re­velation 1.Parts of the book. is more generally to make known to the Apostle John, and by John to the Churches, the present things that then were, when the Revelation was given, and the future things that should be after­wards from Johns time to the end of the World, as the title of the Book intimates, Rev. 1.1.1.19.

2. More particularly, Jesus Christ in­tends in this Book to declare the future condition of the Christian Religion, and Churches of the Gentiles, especially the European Churches, the remaines of the Roman Empire, and the Tyrannical dominion of Antichrist (those singular subject matters of this book) extending themselves in Europe peculiarly; or as another learned writer expresseth it, to the same purpose, Christ intends in this book to describe the state of the Church in the New [...]a­ment,The Arocal vp; is a Prophefie of the de­struction of the Ro­man Empire, not on­ly as Heathenish, but as Christian, when as it were, it was paganised again, and persecuting the Church. Mr. Thomas Goodwin in his Ser­mon before the Parliament. 1645. and also the things that shall come to pass in the Ro­man [Page 8]Empire, or the fourth Monarchy, under which the Church of God doth subsist, and that in divers remarkable Pe­riods of events.

Now this description comprehends three Periods, or three sorts of times.

The first Period containes the time of the Dragon; the time in which the seven Crowns stood upon the seven heads of the Dragon, Rev. 12.3. when the Dragon himself under the heathenish Emperors was publiquely adored and worshiped, but the Christians banished, persecuted and put to cruel death: till at last Constantine the great, came to the Imperial Seat, whereby the raign of the Dragon came to an end; for he throws down all both Idol-worship, and Princes that upheld it; So the Dragon was cast out of the Church Hea­ven, the whole Empire turning Chri­stian (though as one well said, the De­vil did not th [...] turn Christian) for he stirred up th [...] [...]rian Christian world, to persecute the Orthodox Christians, as much as Heathen Rome had done, yet notwithstanding the Church pre­vailed, was built up, and triumphed un­til after the death of the good Emperor [Page 9] Theodesins, at which time the Devil left his shape of a Dragon, and resigned his Host, his residence and seat, with his great authority unto the beast with ten horns, that rose out of the Sea, Cap 13.1, 2.

The second period comprehends the time of Antichrists raign,Period 2. or the time in which the Pope of Rome, as the Anti­christ and enstalled Leiutenant of the Dra­gon Blasphemeth God and his name, and persecutes his Saints for the space of 1200 and 60 days, Rev. 13.Which God hath permit­ted as a scourge to Arrian Rome. when the Dragon was overcome, and cast out of the Church Heaven, he did cast out of his mouth Water as a flood after the Woman, Rev. 12.15. i.e. he stirred up the Septentrional Nations to invade the Roman Empire,So Bright­man, Deed. Piscator, I unius. intending thereby to root out and destroy the Church; but the earth swallowed up the flood, in regard these Nations embruned the Christian faith,Some by the flood under­stand He­resies, es­pecially Arrianism, overflowing the Christian world, and so interprers the earth to be the multitude of Christians mer in general Councels, who defending the true faith, overthrew and drank up these heresies, as dry ground drinketh up water. remaining in the Roman Empire, and erected several King­domes in it.

Seeing then the Dragon saw that he could not maintain the Heathenism wherein be was openly worshipped and served, he resigneth to the Beast (which riseth up out of the Sea, Rev. 13.7. and is ridden and governed by the great whore of Babylon, Rev. 133. &c. that is to the Antichrist, who in the time of these wars, doth creep out in the Ro­man Empire) his power and his seat, and great authority, Cap. 13. vers. 2. And so makes him his Vicar and Lieutenant, by giving over to him his Seat and Resi­dence, the City of Rome, and the whole Roman Empire; whence it came to pass, that about the time the Bishops of Rome began to seek to have the pri­macy and preeminence both in Church and State, as Innocentius the first did, in the year say some, 402. others 406.

The Dragon doth resign to his Lieute­nant [...],The Dra­gons de­legate or Inostirute. R [...]. his whole host (for in this sence the seventy Interpreters do use this word [...], as, Exod. 14.14. and 15.4. as Mat. 24.29.30.) The Host of the Dragon, are his Angels or De­vils,So Mede. and the Idols in which the Dragon and the Devils are worshipped and served [Page 11]by the heathen. These (Idols) the Anti-Christian Popedome hath received, and worshipped under the name of Saints, the Dragon and his Vicegerent, as hereof the Text speak's, Cap. 13.3, 4. The whole earth did wonder at the beast, and they worshipped the Dragon, that gave power unto the Beast, and they wor­shipped the beast; The Dragon doth give also to him great authority, and makes him a head over great countries, where­of David did prophecy, Psa. 110.6. The time of his Lieutenantship shall con­tinue forty two Months, i.e. one thousand two hundred and sixty years.

Vpon this follows the third Period which bringeth Statum Ecclesiae tranquil­lum, Period 3. as the pure, so the peaceable and quiet estate of the Church upon earth.

Seeing at the found of the Trumpet of the seventh Angel, the seventh plague or the third we do come upon the Ro­man Empire, and at the same time the seventh Viol of Gods wrath is poured out [...] wherewith the enemies of the Church are wholly cut off and destroyed, yea, even the Devil himself shut up in the bottomless pit, Rev. 20.1, 2, 3. therefore there can nothing but a true and [Page 12]constant peace ensue; whence it is that the Church of God rejoyceth with great joy, with a great voyce saying, as Rev. 11.25. The Kingdomes of this World are become the Kingdomes of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever. and v. 17. She giveth also thanks to the Lord God Almighty, because he hath taken to him his great power and reigneth.

Now unto these three Periods,The scope of the Revella­tion. or times, the whole body of the Revelation of St. John, and the parts of it are di­rected.

For the Son of God describeth in this Revelation, the State of the Christian Church, and the things befalling to the Roman Empire in relation to the Church, in a three fold manner.

• First, By seven Epistles, Cap. 2.3.
• Secondly, by a Book Scaled, Cap. 4.5, 6, 7.
• Thirdly, By a little Book open, Cap. 10. and so following.

He doth also appear to John every time in another shape.

First, In the likeness of a Son of man, who suffereth in the first Period, i. e. in his Members, Rev. 1.12. I saw one [Page 13]like to the Son of man in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks.

Secondly,By his horns and eys which are 7 is noted the absolute perfection of his power & wisdom, & all for his Church a­gainst his enemies. As a beast in the shape of a lamb, having seven horns and leven eyes, chap. 5.6 which doth fight in the second period.

Thirdly, As a mighty strong Angel cloathed with a cloud, cap. 10. who in the third period hath all things put under his feet, and reigneth.

First, In the likeness of a Son of man, in the midst of the seven candlesticks, cap. 1. vers. 12, 13, 14, 15.These E­pistles are by Christ not onely intended to those particular Churches named, but to all the Chur­ches w [...]h then were elsewhere in the world, & which should be in all ages till his 2d. com [...]ing. He declareth the condition of the Church in general by seven Epistles (for though these seven E­pistles seem primarily and immediately to have respect to the state of the Church then present, to the state of the seven A­sian Churches especially: Yet secondarily, mediately and Analogically they have re­spect to other following Churches, as it were adumbrated and resembled by them) Yea Mr. Brightman goes further, and makes them to contain in them Prophesies touching the future state of all the Gentile Churches; and so makes all these E­pistles, as well prophetical in respect of the future Counterpane Churches, as hi­storical in respect of the present Antity [...]e Asian Churches.

So then I say Christ declares the condi­tion of the Church in general by seven Epistles; whereof the first and second be­long to the first period, viz. Ephesus and Sm [...]rna.

The third, fourth, fifth, sixth and se­venth to the second period. And the pro­mises cap. 2, and 3. to the third peri­od. For then those promises made to the Church conflicting with her enemies and overcoming them (as that chap. 2.7. I will give to eat of the tree of life in the midst of the Paradise of God; parallel to that Rev. 22.14. and cap. 2.3. He shall walk with me in white; parallel to that, Rev. 7.9, 13. and 19.8. and that chap. 2.26. To him that overcometh I will give power over the nations, and he shall rule them, &c. and that cap. 3.21. I will grant to sit with me upon my throne; parallel with Rev. 20.4. All which promises relating to the graceful and peaceful estate of the Church after her deliverance from her enemies, by their just ruine and destructi­on) shall be accomplished.

Secondly, Christ appeareth to John as a beast in the shape of a Lamb, with seven horns and seven eyes, and openeth the book sealed (the secret and hidden [Page 15]decree of God) and intimateth thereby the things befalling the Roman Empire,Mede di­vides the Apocalyps from the fourth chapter to the end of the book into two Sy­stemes of prophetical Visions, the one containing the fate of the Empire, from cap. 4.1. to 10. and 8. yea to cap. 12. ver. 1. the other of the Church from cap. 12.1. to 22.6. both begining from one Epocha viz. the second, in such sort as the first, as by comparing c. 4.1. with 10.8. Hence the second prophesie seems nor to be subsequent or s [...] bordinate to the first, but co [...]ordinate thereto. These two series of prophesies seems to be plainly intimated, Rev. 10.11. Thou must prophesie again before many peoples, nations and tongues; q. d. thou hast prophesied once already by vertue of the vision of the seven seals, and seven trumpets; now thou must prophesie again a se­cond time, by vertue of the little book thou hast eaten up. under which the Church is built up and preserved, cap. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. and distinct­ly how things shall be carried both in the Political and Ecclesiastical State; and first in the Political State.

And that both in the first, second and third period.

In the first period, which by opening the first six seals is performed; cap. 6. where in the first five seals, is set forth the condition of the Church under the Heathen Emperors; but in the sixth, the full of Heathenism under the Christian Emperors, from Constantine the great, until the death or after the death of Theo­dosius [Page 16]is prefigured. In brief the meaning of the first six seals is this,

That Prince of unspotted righteous­ness, the rider of the white horse, with his arrow and his bow in his hand aimeth at something of high importance (and it is no less then what he promiseth his fol­lowers at their lowest ebb, Luk. 12.32. Fear not little flock, for it is your fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom) and he hits the mark in the sixth Seal, where the Pagan Empire is shattered to the purpose by Constantine turning Christian. But to adorn the course of time till then by some prophetick Re­marks, the Riders of the Red, Black and Pale Horses are brought in, as also most concerningly the cry of the souls un­der the Altar; whereby is denoted espe­cially the reign of Dieclesian, and that ten years unparalleld persecution then commencing; which fifth Seal, the re­scuing of the Empire into the hands of Christ by the subversion of the Pagan power, doth immediately succeed, and is matter of the sixth Seal, figured out by proper prophetical expressions, as of a great earthquake, the eclipse of the Sun and Moon, and falling of the stars, which [Page 17]Mr. Mede interprets to be when by Con­stantine the Great and his Sucessors, there was such a mighty change and subversion of the Roman Heathenish affairs (signi­fied here by the great earthquake) where­in all the heathenish gods were shaken from their heaven, their Priests rejected, and for ever deprived of their revenue, their Idol Temples broken, pulled down, burnt, demolished, throughout the whole Roman world; and the Emperors, Kings and Potentates endeavouring to succour their indangered gods, themselves subdu­ed, frighted, put to flight, at last none daring to defend their Roman Heathen­ish Religion, so terribly crushed and fallen. This is the first complement of Christs victory over the Roman heathen­ish Empire, the foundation whereof Christ laid in the first Seal. For the particular accommodation of events to the particulars of the Text, I refer the Reader to Mr. Joseph Mede in his Com­mentary upon the Apocalyps, whose ap­plication is very orderly, proper and articulate, in the explication of the four first Seals, where the lion on the east side of the Israelitish camp is applied to Christ the Prince from the East; the nature of [Page 18]the lion being sutable to the thing signified in the vision, viz. victory to him on the white horse; and the like in the rest. For so the Ox on the West side of the camp is applied to Trajan from the west; the man on the South side to Septimius from the South; and the Eagle on the North side to Maximinus from the North; The natures also of the visions, are su­table to the things that came to pass under those Emperors.

The mighty slaughters under Trajan and Adrian his successor, are indigitated by the Oxe: The exactness of admini­string justice, and careful provision of Septimius, and Alexander Severus, by a man to whom numbring, and measu­ring, and administration of justice is so proper.

The extraordinary raging of the Fa­min, Sword, and Pestilence, under Maximinus, by the carnivorous Eagle that feeds upon dead Cakasses. All which applications, as they are easie, natu­ral and distinst, so they are very weighty and worthy the Spirit of God and his holy Prophets to predict.

2. In the second Period, the seventh Seal is opened, and seven Angels, by se­ven [Page 19]Trumpets declare to the Roman Em­pire by seven judgements, its ruine, Cap. 8.

Which plagues have been fulfil­led.

The first Trumpet,Trump. 1. the Vision of it is hail and fire mingled with blood,Rev. 8.7. which Haylstones and fire, are symbols of hostile vengeance executed upon enemies; this was fulfilled in the infestation of the Roman Empire from the year 395. to 406. partly by Alaricus and the Goths, and partly by the Barbarous Nations under Ruduguisus, and partly by the Vandals and Alans; these are the Nor­thern stormes of Hailestones, with blood and fire that fell upon the Empire.

The vision of the second Trumpet,Trump. 2. is the burning mountain cast into the Sea, which was sulfilled by Alaricus his taking and firing of Rome, vers. 8. upon which followed a continual spoyl of the Empire, till it was dilacerated into ten Kingdoms; for the Text saith, the third part of the Sea became blood, i. e. the extent of the Roman Dominion, and the collection of the people therein (which was a third part of the world) was destroyed, the head City being wasted; the Barbarians [Page 20]at their pleasure wasted her Provinces, deviding them into new Kingdomes.

The third part of the Creatures died, i. e. the Armies of the Empire for its defence were irreparably ruined, and the third part of the Ships destroyed, i. e. all helps and means of traffique, of sup­porting the power of the Empire being wofully lost, Rome, being first taken by Alarieus King of Goths, Anno. 410. and after that the Roman Dominion was still miserably dilacerated, till Anno. 445. Rome was taken again, and spoyled by Genserius, King of Vandalls; and next year after the Kingdom, as it were divi­ded into ten Kingdomes, foretold by Daniel and John, viz. 1. Brittons. 2. Saxons. 3. Francks. 4. Burgundians. 5. Wisigoths. 6. Sueves and Alans. 7. Van­dals. 8. Alemuners. 9. Ostrogoths. 10. Gre­cians. Trump. 3. vers. 10.

The third Trumpet Vision is the great Star falling into the third part of the River burning like a Lamp; the Comet Lampadius suppose properly so called; This was fulfilled upon the Roman Em­pire, in the extinction of the Western (aesariate, which was grown very low and obscure, in those inconsiderable Empe­rors, [Page 21] Avitus, Majoranus, Severns, Authemius, Olybrius, Glycirius Nepos, the immediate predecessors of Augustu­lus, but fell quite, and was extinct in this prince of sorrow, bitterness and sad misfortunes, whom Odoacer King of Heruli pulled out of his Throne. 476.

The fourth Trumpet Vision,Trump. 4. vers. 12. is an Eclipse of the third part of the Sun, Moon, and Stars, which proceeds further concerning Rome; for this Trumpet exceeds the former, and signifies that that light she shone with under the Ostrogoth Kings, should be extinct, and she should be dis­poiled of Royal Majesty, yea, of Con­sulship and Authority of Senate, which ill fate is very properly prefigured, by the obscuration of Sun, Moon, and Stars; for by these lumina [...]ies the Scrip­ture sets out the power and Government of Cities or Kingdomes, Esaia. 13.10. 60.20. Jer. 15.9. Ezek. 32.7.

The fift Trumpet Vision is,Trump. 4. Cap. 9.1, 2, 3. the Key­bearer of the bottomless Pit, and the Locusts; this was fulfilled upon the Ro­man Empire by Mahom [...]t and the Sara­cens: In the Application of which Vision, Learned Mede is admirably critical and punctual. The plague therefore of the [Page 22]fifth trumpet is that false light or pseud o­prophet Mahomet sent down upon earth by the vengeance of God,The star fallen from hea­ven, is that false light or pro­phet Ma­homet, sent down upon earth by the vengeance of the God of heaven. By the star here is meant, say the Annotators upon the Bible, Some Apostate Minister that fell from the true religion to Maho­metism; such as Sergius of Constantinople, the Nestorian Monk, and John of Antio [...]h the Arrian, who are said to affist Ma­homet in composing the lying Alcoran. And so this Trumpet is expounded of Mahomet and the Saracens. Vide Ann [...]t on cap. 9. of Apo [...]alyps. whose doctrine is the fume of the bottomless pit, and his followers the Saracens, the locusts here spoken of; as

1. Comming out of Arabia, as the Ae­gyptian locusts did that plagued the lite­ral Aegypt.

2. And then hugely numerous, as the company of locusts use to be.

3. And also making their stay, fo, which you may turn menses quinos, by five moneths; which is an allusion to the usual continuance of locusts, Plin. 11.29. and answers in the prophetical sense to five moneths of years, that is 150 years, that these locusts infested Italy; and to the twice 150 years that the Sara­cenical kingdom continued; so properly are the five moneths applicable to them.

[Page 23] 4. As also their golden crowns, to the multitude of their conquests, they having subdued Palestine, Syria, both the Arme­niaes, the lesser Asia, Persia, India, Aegypt, Numinia, Portugal, Spain, within the space of fourscore years.

5. The Arabians, whence the Saracens, wore their hair tied up like women.

6. The sound of the wings of their lo­custs,Rev 9.9. which was as the sound of chariots and many horses running to battel, doth fitly signifie the mighty and swift victo­ries of the Saracens.

7. As also their poisonous Scorpions tails do the venom of the old Serpent, un­der the false religion of Mahometism. For all those powers that are not under the kingdom of light, are part of the powers of the prince of the dark kingdom the Devil.

8. As is here intimated very clearly, the King over them being the Angel of the bottomless pit,vers. 1 [...]. though they pretend to be such zealous worshippers of that one true God that made Heaven and Earth, which they do mainly in envy and opposition to the Christians pro­fession of the Trinity, while themselves are in the mean time under Abaddon, and [Page 24] Apollyon, which signifieth a destroyer, and are still as truely Pagans as the Assyrians and Greeks, that worship Adad and Apollo.

The sixt Trumpet Vision, as the se­cond wo,Tramp. 6. is the loosing of the four An­gels, that were bound in the River Eu­phrates. This was fulfilled upon the Ro­man Monarchy by the Turks; which four Angels at the River Euprates, Mr. Mede very fitly Interprets to be the four Sul­tans of the Turkish Dominion. Bagdad, Cosarea, Aleppo, Damascus, planted on this side, and that side Eu­phrates, he Calculating the time of a dar, month and year, that is 396 years from the Inauguration of Tog­zulbeck the Prince of the Turks, to the taking of Constantinople, v. 14, 15. which is just 396. years, he applying those Myriads of Myriads of horse,vers. 16. to the known nu­merosity of the Turkish Armies, who being Persians, by their long abode in that Country, are called Persee in the Greek History, [...] Paras, quo nomine in sa [...]r [...]s lite­ris vocatur Persia. so that the foot are in this allusion horsemen too; the Hebrew word signifying Eques as well as Persia, which allusion to names is used also by Daniel, in making the He-goat stand for [Page 25]the Kings of the Aegeades, i. e. of the Macedonians, their brest-plates of Fire, Jacinct and Sulphus he interprets, of that aspect they seem to have, by discharging their Carbines, or Pistols in the fight, which makes all their breasts for a time seem fiery, then of a blew Jacinct co­lour by the smoke; and the most lasting object of sence is the stincking Sulphur, which representation is to be understood of them nearer at hand; this invention of Gunpowder (foreseen by that spirit that inspired John, and not vainly poin­ted at in these visions, but for the better assurance of the time they belong to) is again intimated, in that it is said, the heads of their Horses were as the heads of Lions, because of the terror of their noise, dreadful, like to the roaring of a Lyon, when they discharge against the enemie. For presently follows,vers 17. Out of their mouths came fire, and smoke, and brimstone; all were breathed out toge­ther from their jaws at once; this inter­pretation of Mr. Mede seems very appo­site; before him also Brightman Inter­prets this of guns, peices of Ordinance, and Gunpowder more used by the Turkes then any other men; the greatness of that [Page 26]Gun was almost incredible, which Maho­med used in the beseiging of Constantino­ple, for the drawing whereof, seventy Yoke of Oxen, and 2000. men were used, as Laonicus Chalcocondular in his Eighth Book of Turkish History reports. And those 1200. Jenazaries, which are the ordinary Guard of his body, are all Gunners.

The tayls of the Horses were as if they had been half a Serpent,vers. 19. clapt to, and hanging out with her head. Mede makes in Embleme of that sad after-clap, of their victory over men; the Devil then that Old Serpent, being ready to parley with them,vers. 20. and to seduce them to Mallonatism, to drink in the Sara­zen, Mahometan Religion, whereby they proved very hurtful and pernicious, as the Sarazens before them.

The calamitous effect, wrought by the loosing of these four Angels, and their Euphratean Horsemen and Horses, was the killing of the third part of men, i. e. many of the Roman Empire, which was the third part of the world.

This is amplified by the incorrigible­ness and impenitency of the rest of the Roman Empire, that had escaped the [Page 27]deadly fury of this Euphratean Army of Turks; though these judgements were inflicted before their eyes on their bre­thren, yet they repented not of their sins and abominations.

• 1. Not of their devil-worship; this worshipping of Demons and Idols, Mede interprets in the proper sence, and ap­plies it to the rest of the Roman Empire infected with that we call Papal Supersti­tion and Idolatry: This is very fit and appropriate, none can deny.
• 2. Nor of their murders of the Saints, whose souls cry under the Altar.
• 3. Nor of their Sorceries.
  v. 20, 21.
• 4. Fornications.
• 5. Thefts, procuring upon the Ro­man world the judgements of this Trum­pet.

The Application of these two last Trumpet-visions is so particular and ex­quisite, that it would make one eager to know the meaning of the seventh and last Trumper-Vision, which consists of loud praises to the God of heaven, that all the kingdoms of the world are become the kingdome of the Lord, and his Christ. Cap. 11.15

This we have in the third Period, when the seventh Angel doth found,Period 3. and with­all [Page 28]the seventh Judgement is executed upon the enemies of the Church; which is the third wo.Cap. 10. It being a Trumpet of wo to the wicked and unbeleiving, an­swerable to the seven thunders that filled the space of the seventh Trumpet, whilst that mighty and illustrious Angel roars like a lion, and is justly conceived to re­present our Saviour Christ, the lyon of the Tribe of Judah, who being once stir­ed up, will never cease pursuing the prey till he hath brought all under his feet, death it self not excepted.

And so I come to speak of the Third Appearance of Jesus Christ to John, mention­ed before p. 13. in the likeness of a strong Angel, cap. 10. who in the third period hath all things put under his feet and reigneth.In this 10 cap. accor­ding to Mede be­gins the second Prophesie. Here the judicious Reader may be pleased to consider that the holy Spirit of Christ seems pur­posely here to have suspended the actual sounding of this 7th Trumpet, by interposition of so much of the second prophe­fie, contained in this I trie book, as is parallel with and con­temporary with the first Prophefie, from the very beginning of it, to the end of the fixth Trumpet; that to by linking, and as it were by looping these two prophesies together after this manner he might indigitate unto us the right way of interpreting both these prophesies by parallelling and com­paring them one with another in respect of their visions and mysteries, which are so notably contemporaneous. This Angel is said to be be cloathed with a cloud, having also [Page 29]in his hand a little book, which John swallowed down and thereupon prophe­fies how things shall come to pass, espe­cially

In the Ecclesiastial State.

In the first Period for 400 years and upwards.Period. 1. Where

• 1. The Church is built up under great persecution, chap. 11.1.
• 2. The Church is gloriously beautified and cloathed with the Sun of Righteous­ness, hath the Moon under her feet, de­spiseth all worldly and earthly things, and reigneth over the works of darkness, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars, the Apostles, and the wholesom doctrine of the same, chap. 12.1, 2.
• 3. The red Dragon, the Devil stirreth up many heresies, persecuteth the Church; Constantiue the Great commeth to the Im­perial seat, the Dragon is overcome, and Heathenism extirpated, vers. 4, and fol­lowing.

In the second Period from the 400. years and upward,Period. 2. until the end of the 1200. and 60. years, these seven concur­rent times are described.

1. The holy City is trodden under foot by the Gentiles.

[Page 30] 2. The two Witnesses cloathed with Sack-cloth, Cap. 11. ver. 2, 3. to the 10th. the explaining of which I refer to the 11. Chap.

3. The woman fled into the Wilderness, and is fed there,The pri­mitive Church rescued from hea­thenish bondage, fled into the wil­derness, i. e. into a midle e­state, not wholly hid and invisible, nor yet gloriously visible, but as it were in a middle condition betwixt both. Rob. The two wings of a great Eagle given to the woman to by into the wilderness, Mede refers to the Roman Empire, whose Ensign is an Eagle, and to the two Cesars of the Eastern and Western Empire, divided as two wings, by whose aid and protection the Church fled into her wilderness estate. Cap. 12. verse 6. to 14. As Mary upon the birth of Christ, fled from Herod into Aegypt: So the Woman i. e. the Primitive Church, notwith­standing the persecution of the Dragon, having brought forth a man Child, (who was to rule the Nations with a rod of Iron, which primarily belongs to Christ personal, Psa. 2. Secondarily to Christ mystical his Church and members, which Christ mystical ruled all Nations by a rod of Iron, subjugating the Roman Empire, partly by a spiritual Gospel­victory, promoted by Michael and his Angels, against the Devil and his Angels, rulers in that Empire; partly by a corporeal conquest afterward, when Christians prevailed and obtained such power and success under Constantine the [Page 31]great, and his Successors) fled into the Wilderness, where she hath a place pre­pared by God, that they should feed her there 1200 and 60. days, vers. 6. which is again related, v. 14.

The meaning I conceive is this; the Church, though freed from heathenish tyranny, yet is afresh imbarked in new troubles and persecutions by divers ene­mies; Now during all this time, the Church is in her wilderness condition, as Israel of old was after their delive­rance from Aegypt. Thus take the paral­lel; Israel delivered from Egyptian bon­dage under Pharoah, fled towards the wil­derness, but was persued by Pharoah, had liberty to worship God in the Wil­derness, where their Tabernacle was erected, there Apostatized from God and his pure worship, in the matter of the Calf, Baalpeor, Baalam, &c. and was there exercised with new troubles and afflictions, of hunger, thirst, fiery Ser­pents, and of divers enemies, abode in the Wilderness 40. years, during which space they made 42 journeys and stati­ons from Aegypt to Jordan. And at last all their enemies being subdued,Numb. 33. from 1. to 50. they quiet­ly possessed the promised rest, the Land [Page 32]of Canaan: So the Church being freed from Heathenish Tyranny, under the Red Dragon, fled into the Wilderness, but was persued and persecuted by the Dragon, had liberty granted of wor­shipping God, in the wilderness, by the edicts of Christian Emperors and Kings, who erected for them Temples, or pub­lique places for Christian worship, yet in that her Wilderness estate, she made many idolatrous defections. Apostatizing from God and his pure worship; especi­ally to Antichristianisme;Cap. 12.17. And the Dragon was wroth with the woman, & went to make war with the remnant of her seed, &c. Cap. 13.1. And I stood upon the sand of the Sea. &c. Mede saith, the words are to be read not & steti, but & stetit. Cum Latinis omnibus, & Syre interpr. i. e. The Dragon stood upon the sands, i. to bring up this beast out of the sea to persecute the woman. Further he saith, v. 3. And I saw one of his heads wounded to death. That the word (vidi) is not in some Editions, as the Complutense reading the sen­tence thus, The Dragon gave him his power, seat and great au­thority, and one of his heads wounded to death, that it might be healed: or that had been wounded to death; and the healing of his wounds which is added, this he either saw to be done while he was rising out of the sea, or as soon as he was risen out of it. is there exer­cised with new troubles and persecutions by the Dragon, Beast, and False Pro­phet; abides in this Wilderness seat 42. moneths. At last the Dragon, the Beast, and the false Prophet, with all her ene­mies being vanquished, the Church ob­taines [Page 33]the new Heavens, and new Earth, and reigns with Jesus Christ a thousand years, yea, for ever and ever; the for­mer and following series of this Prophe­cy clears this parallel. This state of the Church seems to last till the seventh Trum­pet; So that to this day the Church is still in this Wilderness-condition, but draw­ing towards the borders of a far happier estate.

4. The beast with ten horns blasphe­meth God, and maketh war with the Saints, cap. 13. v. 5, 6, 7. This ten horned Beast, as was mentioned before, is the Dragons Delegate or Substitute; he is said to rise out of the Sea; by Sea here, understand that multitude of ten King­domes, into which the Barbarians had shredded the whole compass of the Ro­man Territories, out of all which the Dragon now endeavours to extract, and of which to compose one Roman Domini­on, or that conflux of Armies and peo­ple, striving in war like a tempestuous Sea; He is said to have seven heads, and so is the same beast, cap. 17.3. compared with vers. 9, 10. His seven heads, are in­terpreted by the Holy Ghost himself, to be seven Mountains, whereon the [Page 34]Royal Seat of the Empire of Rome was built, and seven Kings or kindes of Go­vernment, by which the Empire should be governed.

The names of blasphemy, notes his blasphemous idolatries, tending to the ex­tream reproach of God, his Religion and Saints; his ten horns, and upon his horns,Voyce out of the Wilder­ness, p. 38. ten crowns, these signifie that he should not come to his crown by the strength of his Sword, his Leaders, and his Legions,But of the crowns upon the hornes, see ano­ther in­terpreta­tion. p. 90. as the Dragon did, but by the base and voluntary submission of all the Caesars, Kings and Princes, as should with one Councel and Vote, deliver up their authority and power secular to the devotion and pleasure of the beast; there­fore he wears his Diadems, not upon his heads, as the Dragon did, but upon his Hornes, and upon his Hornes ten crownes.

Which ten Hornes crowned, say most Writers, denote ten Kings or Kingdomes, into which the Roman Empire of the sixth head, was divived, all which were to be conjoyned,Mede in Cum. Apoc. part. 2. cap. 13. into one for carrying of the whore. These 10. horns thinks Mede, belong not to all the seven heads, but onely to the seventh, because the heads [Page 35]flourishing, the horns flourish; the heads fulling, the horns necessarily fall there­with. Now these ten horns cannot be­long to the first five heads, because in Johns time, these five were fallen al­ready, Rev. 17.10. and consequently their hornes with them; nor can these horns belong to the sixth head, which then was in Johns time raigning; for the Angel tels John plainly, the ten horns are ten Kings, which have received no Kingdom as yet; compare Rev. 17.10. with the 12. verse. Therefore it remaines that these ten horns belong onely to the seventh or last head.

Again, this beast is described by his shape, vers. 2. And the beast that I saw was like a Leopard, i. e. like unto the Grecian Monarchy, resembled by a Leo­pard, and divided into four heads, as this Roman into ten, Dan. 6.7.

The Leopard, is a beast all spotted,Pareus in Apoc. 13.2. very swift, extream cruel, a notable Embleme of this present beast,Voice out of the wilder­ness, p. 37. who for his presumption in extolling himself above the Prince of the Cove­nant, defiling his Sanctuary, desola­ting his Sacrifice, burning his Statutes, and inforcing the humble and meek to [Page 36]the abnegation of the truth, by blood, fire, strapadoes, and such like exquisite torments, the spirit resembles him to his Arch-type, Autiochus, descended from the Monarch of Greece, here (as in Daniel) deciphered by a Leopard, and I saw the beast like a Leopard.

Secondly for his strength, cruelty, and devouring nature, the spirit likeneth him to a Bear, and his feet were like the feet of a Bear, strong, cruel, and of a devouring nature, the embleme of the Persian Monarcy; It had saith Daniel, Cap. 7.5. three ribs in the teeth of it, and they said thus unto it, Arise and devour much flesh.

Thirdly, the Holy Ghost likeneth him to the Lyons mouth. The Lion was an Embleme of the first Monarcy, the Ba­by lonians; the Lions mouth notes strength and cruetly in tearing, crushing, and swallowing up his prey; yea, herein the Holy Ghost ascribeth unto him the pro­phane and cursed mouth of the Monarch of Babylon, in commanding the dwellers upon earth,Dan. 7.4 upon pain of fire and fur­nance, to adore his golden Idol that he had set up.

How notably sets this our the Character of this beast, his parts being framed of the most notable persecutors that ever were, being a confection or compound, made up of the terribleness, strength and cruelty of all the three foregoing Mo­narchies! hence Daniel admirably descri­beth this fourth Beast, Dan 7.7. as dread­ful, and terrible, and strong exceeding­ly, And it had great Iron teeth.

Further, the Holy Ghost describes him as by his shape, so by his State and constitution; he was vested with great power, and Royal Dominion; and here­in the holy Ghost sets down the efficient cause, the manner of acquiring it, and the event of it.

1. The efficient cause of it, we have in the latter end of the second Verse. viz. The Dragon; the Dragon gave him his power and his seat, and great authority; by power Scripture notes, not onely strength, but bands, armies and mul­titudes of persons; The Dragons Bands or Army, are his Angels or Devils with Idols their receptacles (saith Mede) these he gives to this beast, together with his Seat and great authority, viz. all that authority which he had in the [Page 38]heathenish Roman Empire, from which Michael and the Martyrs cast him down, overcoming him; this he gives to the beast his Substitute, to recover it for him.

How cunningly now Satan acts, not now as a red Dragon, but as masked in a new manyformed beast, to draw the Church to Idolatry under the Christian Empire!

2. The manner of his acquiring this Dominion, by healing of his mortal wound, received in his sixth head, by the barbarous Nations,Or rather according to Mede, by Michaels Victory over the Dra­gon. but now cured by this substituted power of the Beast, in the course of his seventh and last head,See these two opinions reconciled after­wards. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed, v. 3.

3. The event of this his great Domini­on upon the World, generally all admi­ring and adoring this beast, thus healed and now termed as the Dragons De­puty, viz. highly approving of him, and subjecting themselves to him and his power, as incomparable and irre­sistible. Adoring in Scripture, is put [Page 39]for yeilding subjection,Gen. 27.29.37.7. and 49.8. Esa. 45. In obeying the Empe­rors, or the Popes Idolatrous, decrees, they not onely Wor­shipped them, but the Devil in them; for the Dragon gave them that power, and his work they did. And all the World wondred after the beast, and they wor­shipped the Dragon, who gave power unto the beast, i. e. they subjected themselves to the Dragon in the Beast, and they worshipped the beast, saying, who is like unto the Beast, who is able to make War with him! v. 3.

Again, this beast is described by these acts which are ascribed to him, viz. his Acts of Idolatrous blasphemy; and cruel Tyranny.

First, His acts of Idolatrous blasphe­my; for the Scripture is wont to set forth Idolatry as Blasphemous, opprobrious, and contu­melious;See Deut. 31.2. Jer. 23.25. Isai. 65.7. This whole descripti­on is taken out of Daniel, Cap. 7.25. where he speaks of the same Roman beast; but what the Angel declares to Da­niel more briefly. John explains more largely. this is generally mentioned. And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things, and blasphemies; and then the continuance of this blasphemous beast is com­puted, And power was given to him to continue 42. months, vers. 5. The objects of his blas­phemies, or Idolatries, are particulari­zed, [Page 40]And he opened his mouth in blas­phemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his Tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven, v. 6. thinks Mede, Gods name by Image-worship, his Ta­bernacle Christs body,Here note saith Mede, the beasts 42. months are not to be recko­ned from the begin­ning of his euelty and war against the Saints, but from the beginning of his blasphemy, i. e. His Idolatry or spiritual whoredom, which is, when that is attributed to the crea­ture, which properly belongs to God. Or when any thing beside God is worshipped with Divine Honour, or when Saints or Angels are invocated, which is to blaspheme them that dwell in Heaven, v. 5, 6. which invocation of Saints begun saith Perkins, to be brought into the Church, Anno. 3080. and in 20. years and upward, no doubt it grew up to some height. (wherein the God-head dwelt personally) by transub­stantiation; them that dwell in heaven, viz. Saints and Angels; by Angel wor­ship, Saint-worship, or rather Devil-worship under their names.

Secondly, His acts of cruel Ty­ranny.

1. Partly persecuting the Saints, And it was given to him to make was with the Saints, and to overcome them, i. e. with the remnant of the womans seed in the wilderness; now this War against the Saints he did not wage from his begin­ning [Page 41]but when he came to his strength, 1200. years after Christ; his first expedi­tion was against the Waldenses and Albi­genses, i. e. true worshippers of Christ, cal­led by that name, whereby multitudes of those people, and other true Christians were destroyed for seventy years toge­ther; first intended against the Saracens, after turned against the Christians that would not worship and submit to the beast, besides the destroying of ten hun­dred thousand of them in France, if Peronius may be beleived, many thou­sands since slain by the Popes Champions in Germany, where Charles the fifth made woful slaughter, especially at Magdeburge by the Popes appointment; and what bloody work hath been made in Germany, since, for forty years together, by the Emperor, I need not relate; Not to speak of the many thousands slain in France, Ireland, and England, besides those many more that have died for Re­ligion, by the bloody inquisition, by the hands of the Hangman; 3 [...]o. in the Low-Countries, by the command of the Duke De Alva; 800. here in Queen Maries days, &c. hence the beast is said to make himself drunk with the blood of the Saints.

Note here with Master Mede, that this killing by this war of the Beast, is of another kind, and differs from that against the Witnesses, Cap. 11. his words are these, The War which the beast wageth against the Saints universally, is one; and the war which he shall wage against the Witnesses towards his end, when the Wit­nesses shall finish their testimony, is another; and this is manifest from the different issue and event of both these Wars; the first war of the beast is very prosperous, for by it he obtaines power over kindreds, tongue and Nations, Cap. 13.7. but the other is fatal to him, and precedes his ruine and downfall.

2. And as his cruelty and tyranny is partly seen in persecuting the Saints, so partly also by subduing all to his power, except the elect; And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life, vers. 7, 8. This is amplified by a conclusi­on dr [...]n from hence, which is both monitor and consolatory. Monitory to atte [...]nd consider well, who adore the beast. If any have an ear to hear, let him hear, vers. 9. Consolatory to the faithful, not worshipping the [Page 43]Idolatrous Beast notwithstanding all his cruelties inflicted to this end; they are comforted from Gods just revenge, and retaliation of their Imprisonment, and butcheries upon the beast; He that leadeth into captivity, shall go into captivity; and he that killeth with the Sword, must be killed with the Sword; they are also comforted from the eminency which will appear in their faith and patience, waiting on God till he thus avenge them of the beast; here is the patience and faith of the Saints vers. 10.

I come now to the fift concurrent time, under this second period.

That is, the beast with two hornes, at the same time,The false Prophet, beasts or the Pope of [...] and his Clergy, was the Author of nothing for the Na­tion that ten horned beath, whereby the power of the Dragon was revived; by a new Idolatry and Ty­ranny, brought in af­ter the likeness of the former. Mede. And the Pope and his Clergy together, do Institute this false Prophet Beast, or false Church Beast, [...]. drives a trade with his pedling wares, v. 11. to the 18. This is the second beast, viz. the two horned beast, or false Prophet, the reviver and restorer of the ten horned beast, which seems evidently to be the Roman Antichrist, viz. the Papacy or the Pope and his Clergy; so all [Page 44]interpreters do most unanimously inter­pret this beast; Pareus, Mede, Piscator, Diodate, Forbes. Now in the Vision of this beast, note his rise, his character, his power and acts.

First, his Rise, not so noble as the former beast out of the Sea of Worldly Dominions, but more base out of the earth, a low and mean condition of things; or not out of the Sea of Armies and people striving in wars as formerly; but out of the earth silently, without all noyse, as the grais or Plants silently rise; And I saw another beast come out of the earth.

2. His Character: The Character of the beast, is laid down in this three-fold resemblance.

1. He resembles the Lamb in his horns, i. e. his power; And he had two hornes like the Lamb; the Lamb had seven hornes, denoting his perfect power, Rev. [...] 6. This Beast had two hornes like him, though not equal to him. Some think hereby the beast Hypocri­tically imitates Christ in his meek Lamb-like power, as Diodate. Some by the two horns understand the double power of binding and loosing. So Mede; or the secular and Ecclesiastical power or sword [Page 45]Usurped by the Pope. Some by the two hornes like the Lamh, understand the Law and the Gospel,Voice out of the wilder­ness. wherewith the Lamb doth save and kill; but as concerning the use and force of the hornes, the spirit saith they were therein so contrary to the Lamb, that when they did open, either to touch the Law, or preach the Gos­pel, they spake and taught like the Dra­gons Doctors, and like the Priests of Ju­piter, Teaching and Preaching to the Children of the World, that they ought to Worship the God of Heaven, as the Dragons Priests had taught their Fathers to worship the Gods of the Hea­then.The power of the first beast did consist in Idola­trous worship, saith Mede, which power was given him by the Dra­gon. Voyce out of the wil­derness.

Therefore in the second place he is said to resemble the Dragon in her voyce, And he spake as the dragon, vers. 11. i. e. by his doctrine and decrees he patroni­zeth Idolatry, and persecuteth the Saints, as the Dragon did in the former beast.

Thirdly, He resembles the first beast in the exercise of his power; And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast be­fore him i.e. he causeth his new Christen­ed Cesars to set up a race of sycophan­tical, high and princely priests who un­der a colour of practising the affairs of the [Page 46]Lamb, should cunningly clap Jupiters coat upon the Lambs back, and bestow all the rites add ceremonies of Jupiter and his Idols upon Christ; and so by turn­ing Jupiters worship into Christianism, he might turn the worship of God into Paganism and Idolatry, and that so he might at least prophane and desolate the true worship of the true God, whose Majesty and truth of Deity they could no way blemish.

And for the better success in this their project, should cause to be erected throughout all Kingdomes and Nations, certain Covents and swarms of ungodly and prostituted Clarks, by avouch­ing and maintaining against all commers, that the Pope in Peters Successor, and that the Supremacy his Caesars and his Kings gave him, is the very Keys of Heaven and Hell; that his Throne and Seat is Peters Chayr, and Sea Apostolick; and that the ex­ecrable forme of Jupiters Worship, wherein his Bride and Caesars de­lighted, is the very true Worship of God, which the Lamb and Apo­stles delivered.

Should I say, by these mists, leger-de­mains and new editions of old Idolatry, established in the fight of the Beast,V. 12. Conspectu ejus, rendred before him; is as much as to say, for his sake, or in fa­vour of him. the self same propha­nation and devout impiety, which his predecessors, the Ce­sars so ardently imbraced? for so much the spirit rippeth up in saying,The Pope of Rome who is the head of this beast, doth exer­cise also the supreme rule or government of the for esaid beast. Mede. And all the power of the first beast he did in the i.e. before him, or unto him; accord­ing to that 1 Sam. 2.18 compared with 1 Sam. 3.1. sight of the beast; and thereby so strongly deluded and seduced the children of disobedience, as followeth in the third place.

Tirdly, The description of his power and acts.

1. He causeth the inhabi­tants of the earth to loath the sacrifices of the God of hea­ven,In the presence of the beast, is the same as with him, or in his behalf, as if he should have said, This two horned beast is Chaplain to the ren horned beast, so that it ought not to be wondred at if he speak like the Dragon. Mede Comment. part. 2. cap. 12. vers 12. and to refuse to worship as the Lord commanded, but to chuse rather, as the Spirit saith, to worship and submit to the first beast, i.e. to wor­ship the God of their fathers, as the Dragon commanded them, just after the prescripti­on of his Cesars, and manner of the heathen.

And that we may the better discern from whom those Procters of Anti­christ borrowed their Church service, the Spirit remembers he repaired the wound of the first beast mentioned vers. 3. whose deadly wound was healed.

2.Mede. Hoc fac [...]um est in prel a cum Mi­chacle & sanctis martyri­bus. He seduceth and causeth men to make an mage to the first beast who was wounded; the first Beast being the sixth head (as was formerly shew'd) of the Roman Empire, which was hea­thenish when wounded.

The Roman beast of the seventh head is his image, becomming like him not onely in his kingdom, power and foveraignty,Bestia Bicornu, lo­quitur ut draco & i­maginem gestit Bestiae prioris: viz. Romani Im­perii Idololatrici, eam­que in vitam invocat. Zanch. 2 Thess. 1. T. L. but also in his new Idolatry or Idol-wor­ship, not of Pagan-worship, but of Saints and Angels, &c. like thereunto. The image of the Beast, saith a learned wri­ter, is the image of the beasts religion, i.e. such a Christianism as doth counterfeit and represent the Paganism of the Dragon, attiring and decking Ju­piters prophanation with the holy and honorable names of God, Jesus, Spirit, Scriptures, Church, Sacraments, Saints, &c. like excellent Comedians, who deck them­selves [Page 49]with Crowns, Scepters, Purples, representations of Kings, when indeed they are the Idlest and basest of the peo­ple. And as the Lord commanded his servant Moses, to erect such a Taber­nacle of witness here on earth, as should in all points, be after the Idea, model, and platform of that divine and eternal Tabernacle, which he saw in the mount: So Antichrist (Lord of misrule) commands his propudious Clergy, to cause all People, Nations, and King­domes, to set up such a Christianity, as should in all points answer the Idea and model of that prophane and execrable Heathenisme, wherewith he saw the Gentiles enamored; and thereby so strong­ly seduced the inhabitants of the earth, that they verily thought the mystery of iniquity to be pure and undefiled Christi­anity, and the abomination of desola­tion, spoken of in Daniel the Prophet, to be the onely true ancient and aposto­lick Religion, teaching them that perish by consenting to lies, that they ought to worship God, as the Gentiles did worship Jupiter:

That as the Gentiles had their Arae, so Christians must have their Altars; And [Page 50]as Heathens had their bloody Sacrifices, so Christians must have their unbloody Sacrifices; most Offer Bread and Wine to God, as the Heathens did to Ceres and Bacchus; And as the Pagans had their Pontifex Maximus, so Christians must have their Pope; And as Ethnicks had their Sacerdotes, so Christians must have their Priests; And as the Dragon, had his Pantheon, so Antichrist must have his All-Saints; And as the Ethnicks had their Supplications, so Christians must have their Processions;Lustratio, A purging by Sacrifice. As Gentiles had their Lustrations, so Christians must have their Holy Water; As the Dragon in his Church-Service had his Cerei,Novendiale Sacrum Liv. A Solemnity or Sa­crifice at Burials, used nine days after the party was dead. so Antichrist in his Church-Service must have his candles; As the Dragon had his Novendial Sacrifices, so Antichrist must have his Masses of Requiem;Hecatombs were Sacrifices, wherein was killed a hundred Beasts. As the Dragon had his Hecatombs, so Anti­christ must have his Trentalls; As the Dragon had his Col­ledges Sodalium and Arvalium fratrum, i. e. Priests of Bacchus and Ceres, Or­dained by Romulus; so must Antichrist [Page 51]have his Cloysters of Monks and Friers; And as the Dragon had his Vestals, so Antichrist must have his Nuns and Sancti­monials; And as the Dragon did cele­brate the birth-days of his Caesars, so Antichrist must solemnize the Nativity of his Saints; And as the Dragon had his Annals, so Antichrist must have his Legends; And as the Dragon had his Sreularia Spectacula, so Antichrist must have his Jubilees; And as the Dragon had his Bacchanals, So Antichrist must have his Carnivals; And as the Dragon had his Lupanaries,Lupanor a Brothel­house or Srewes. so Antichrist must have his Stews; and as the Dragon had his Enchanters, so Antichrist must have his Exorcists; And as the Dragon had his Asyla, so Antichrist must have his Sanctuaries; And as the Dragon had his Exequies and Parentals, so Antichrist must have his Dirige, and de Profundis. And as the Dragon did deifie his Caesars, so Antichrist must Canonize his Saints; And as the Dragon had his civil Laws, so Antichrist must have his Canon Laws; And as the Dragon had his Imperial Re­scripts, so Antichrist must have his decre­tal Epistles; And as the Dragon had his Tribunitial Intercessions, so Antichrist [Page 52]must have his ancontroulable Interdicti­ons; And as the Dragon had and used his Proscriptions, so Antichrist must have and use his Excommunications; And as that Beast commanded his Heathens to please their Goddess June with Cane votalibeas, so this beast commands Chri­stians to please their God with Vows; And as the Deagon had his Triceps He­cate, so Antichrist must have his Triple Tiara, to signifie his triple pretended Jurisdiction;Hexapho­rum, A Litter or Chayr to be car­tied up and down by 6. men And as the Dragon had his Hexaphorum, so must Antichrist be carried up and down; Briefly as the Dragons Priests did teach the Heathen to Worship Jupiters God, so Antichrist must teach his Christians to Worship God as Jupiter is. And look what form of Religion the Dragon had, and what manner of life he led; the same must Antichrist in his person parallel and maintain; This is the Image of the Beast, which he causeth men to make; and this he effecteth two ways,He per­swad's them by signes and wonders, that with him they consent to make an Image of the Beast wounded in his sixth head; which at length be­ing made, at his bidding, that wound received in v. 13, 14. 2 Thes. [...]. the state of the Dragon is healed, and the Dra­gon Deast seems to be revived, Mede.

• 1. By deceiving them with lying wonders, and counterfeit miracles.
• [Page 53]2. By frighting men, and terrifying them with formidable Edicts, Anathe­maes, Thunderbolts of Excommunicati­on, debarring men even of civil commerce while excommunicated.

Now it follows vers. 15.Vers. 4. He had power to give life to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should speak, and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

By which image of the beast is meant not onely (as was shewed before) that Religion which the first beast (viz. the Roman heathenish Empire had) and the second beast (viz. Ecclesiastical Rome) sought to revive, vers. 14. But also a live­ly portraiture or representation of that power, and authority, and soveraignty which the Roman heathenish Empire had.

Now it is said in this 15. verse, Datum est ei dare spiritum, &c. He had power to give life to the image of the beast; i.e. It is given to the false Propher, viz. the Pope and his Clergy to give life to the Popish secular power to speak, i. e. with power and authority to speak, to command and forbid in all Kingdoms, as well to [Page 54]command by his Edicts those things that were needful for the defending of his ho­nour and dignity; as also to forbid any other Religion but the Religion of the Beast; and to punish, and that with death, all those that would not obey and wor­ship the Beast.

And indeed, all that power that the Image of the Beast, viz. the Popish Se­cular power hath to rage against the Saints, is given him by the false Pro­phet Beast, viz. the Pope and his Clergy. Hence the Pope and the Papacy affirm, that even Kings and Emperors have from them whatever they have: So that the German Cesar was not Roman Emperor till he was confirmed by the Pope.

And an Emperor, saith Aretius, is but an image of him, chosen indeed by the seven Electors of Germany, but confir­med by the Pope; for if the Pope con­firm not the new elect, he is no Empe­ror.

And the matter is so carried in the exercise of this power against the Saints, that whom the Pope and his Clergy do condemn for Herefie, as they call it, they forthwith deliver them over to the Se­cular [Page 55]power to be killed; as ye may of­ten read in the Book of Martyrs.

In these three last verses,Ver. 16.17, 18. I will en­deavour to explain some things by shew­ing what is probable to be the sence and meaning of these four things in these three verses. 1. The mark of the Beast. 2. The name of the Beast. 3. The num­ber of his Name. 4. The number of the Beast, 666.

And that no man might buy resell, save he that had the Mark, or the Name, or the Number of his Name.

Now these are three distinct badges,Bright man, Pareus, Forbes. or characteristical notes of the Beasts Vassals or worshippers. I like well Forb's his expression of himself in this point, All that follow Antichrist, have his Name, but in diverse manner.

1. Some have the character thereof, i e. the name imprinted, and are his proper goods, as having his burning iron and mark; a familiar phrase from the manner of men; these are Priests and Jesuites, Po­pish Peers and Prelates.

2. Some have his Name, yet so as they have not his Mark, who have not learn­ed the deepness of Satan, nor are Anti­christs [Page 56]sworn bondmen; these are the com­mon sort of Papists.

3. Yet some have but the Number of hie Name, i.e. they are so far from being his sworn and marked slaves, as they are no otherwise his, then so far as they are counted to be so, and numbered among his: So the Annotators upon the Bible; The number of his name, i. e. such as are esteemed so to be, and numbered among such.

And a late learned Writer hath fur­ther improved this sence. His words are these.

They that have the number of his name, are a company of men taking part with An­tichrist, in a more remore kinde of subjection; such as do hold and bring in such doctrines, opinions and practices in worship, as men shall reckon and account them Papists in heart and affection. Such Numerantur Papistae, they aim at Popery. And though their pro­fessions deny it, yet their actions and cor­ruptions in Doctrine and Worship shall speak it in all mens consciences, especially of all Orthodox and reformed Protestants, who cannot but so judge that it is the Pope they fear and worship. Further he saith, They shall profess the Protestant Religion, but in [Page 57]their practices and underhand dealings and polic [...]es depress it, and advance the Popish Religion and party, like those, Tit. 1.16. They profess they know God, but in their works deny him, being abominable, dis­obedient, &c. These are justly to be ac­counted Papists, and have received the number of his name, which imports a secret cleaving to Antichrist, and to be of his com­pany, as truly as they that receive his name; for though in profession they go not so far as to take that name, or openly to own the Church of Rome, yet really they do that which shall cause all men so to reckon them. That of the Apostle, 2 Tim 3. is a prophesie of this generation of men. ominus, constituit duos Duces, Mosem & Aaron; to­tedem Pha­ro magos orponi illis volu­it. Calv. on Tim cap. 3. For besides plain Popery, which is prophesied of 1 Tim. 4. to arise in the latter days, you have in 2 Tim. 3.1. another prophesie of a sort of men that shall arise in the last days (Popery is prophesied of to be in the latter days) who have a form of godliness; and shall be despisers of those that are good; Yea he compares them to Jan­nes and Jambres, the cheif of the Egypti­an Sorcerers, who by their lying miracles did resist Moses, yea and Aaron too, which is to be understood, though not named in the Text, as Calvin notes, to which two the witnesses are resembled, Rev. 11. These, [Page 58]saith my learned Author,This was written a­bove 20 years ago. are the last Champious of the Beast before his fall; ergo, said to be in the last times, who shall pro­ceed so far as to slay the Witnesses in that Kingdom which is the tenth part of the City; then this their folly or madness shall appear to all men, which being discovered shall, be their ruin; for they shall priceed no further. Amen.

Now touching the number of the beasts name,Vers. 18. 666. how hath it puzled and tor­tured all writers to satisfie themselves a­bout the true mystery in the particular in­tended thereby; I finde four opinions about it, two of them more consider­able.

1.Opinion 2 Of those that labour to finde out such names especial in Greek or Hebrew (in which tongues all the letters are numerals, and fignifie some number or other) as may agree to this Roman beast; the numeral let­ters of which name or names may exactly amount to 666. and they especially pitch upon the name Latinos, the numeral let­ters whereof come to 666. and multi­tudes of other names are found out to like purpose, not only by modern but ancient writers; but this opinion about [...], Forbs saith is so childish an E­gyptical [Page 59]toy that he marvels much how ever any solid mind could propound it for a rare point of wisdom. And tis the say­ing of a learned English Writer,Voice out of the wil­derne s. long before Forbs (if I mistake not) They that have thought to calculate and find out the mystery of Antichrists number 666. in a word, at a word, he saith, they are deceivd, not knowing the power and construction of the Scripture.

Others hold,Opin 2d. that Antichrists power should begin Anno Dom. 666. so a late learned Writer hath referred the num­ber 666. to the time of Anti­christs revealing,Mr Stevens upon the four metall King­doms. So Ball and Bul­linger; which opini­on is rejected by Pa­reus, Comment. Apo­calyp. and year of rising and coming to his full power and supremacy, which was in Phocas his time; and so would make the 1200 and 60 days to begin then. Which (saving my respect to such a learned man) I judge cannot be the meaning of the mystery; because the 1200 and 60. days, and the Witnesses prophecying in sackcloth begin toge­ther. Now the treading down of the holy City (the time when the Witnesses began to prophesie in sackcloth) and the womans flight into the wilderness, where [Page 60]she was fed 1200 and 60 days, is judged by the best Writers upon the Revelation to be after the death of Theodosius. when the Roman Empire was overrun by the barbarous Nations, which was long be­fore Phocas his time.

A third third Opinion is al­so of a learned Writer,Opinion 3d. To this way of In­terpretation of the number 666. learned Marlorat agrees; his words are these, Losi hujus tot fere sunt ex­positiones qout exposi [...]o­res. And then reckons up, and rejects some common opinions a­bout it, and then con­cludes thus, Rectius er­go ad tempus Regni An­tichristi nonnulli hunc numerum referunt. —Vt ad Regem Babyloni­cum dicebatur Numera­vit Deus Rignum Tuum & perfectissime numeravit illud, Dan. 5.26. Nam completis 70 annis captivitatis populi ei, per Jeremiam prae­dictus finis Regni illins aderat, perendeigiture est ac si diecret Jo­annes, quemadmodum humana regna dauturnae esse non possunt, sed certum habent annorum numerum diviaitus, constitatem; ita & Antichristi Regnum; quod ad piorum consolutionem dictum est, ne putent Antichristi regnum eternum fore. Nam finem habi­turum est, & regum Christi relique amnia cessara. Felixagi­tur est qui numerum hune bestia intelligit, cui a Deo datum cog­noscere, &c. Ma, lorat on Rev. 13.1. who queres for this Mey. who wrote a Treatise many years ago, Anno 1592 called Babylen is fallen; to which he only sets two letters of his name, T. L. and he interprets 666. to reveal Rev. 13.18. the secret counsel & purpose of God concerning the period and final end of Anti­christ and his Church domini­on. Where rejecting all opi­nions but this about it, he saith,

[Page 61] 1. The word Number is never used in Scripture for the begining and rising of any term of time limited and predicted by the Prophets, but onely for the end, period and determination thereof.

2. He calls it the number of a man; by man saith he is meant, the total sum of that succession of beastly men, which make and constitute the existence and person of one Antichrist; and by the word number is meant the fatal end, and fual determination of their raign: and government, for so the Finger of God speaketh to Belshazer, God hath num­bred thy Kingdom i. e. God hath ended and finished the days of thy Kingdom.

So that by the number of the beast, is nothing else but the Period and Final determination of the usurped tyranny and damnation of Antichrist, which the Lamb, the Lord and preserver of Israel, for the glory of his name, conso­lation of his Church, and confusion of her foes, shall bring to pass in the year which shall be 666.

3. He saith, for as much as the Egge of Antichristianisme, was laid in the days of Innocent tha first, successor to Ana­stasins, the first also of that name, in [Page 62] Anno. 406. And that by express Com­mission, there was furthermore granted to the beast, his heirs and successors, 1260. years, for the hatching, fostring and per­fecting this child of perdition and myste­ry of iniquity, which being added to 406. by rule of true audit, must needs verifie this admirable judgen ent, which the Spirit of God hath here denonnced and determined to make good upon him in the year which shall be 1666. In which account and discovery of his end, the Holy Ghost of purpose leaves out the millenary number, as not onely known perfect and immutable, but as respect­ing also the common use of all Nations, as well Hebrews. as Gentiles, who in their stiles (for brevity sake) do no less often speak and write by the imperfect number, omitting the millenary, then after the perfect, adding the millenary, as Munster well observes.

4.Vide Ca­lindarium Hebraicum Sebastiani Munsteri. This learned Author triumphantly concludes this his interpretation, in these words to the Church of Rome.

And in that year shall my Lord of Rome lay down his proud waves; and although he fortifie never so strong, and lay his foun­dation as low as Hell, and build his Turrets [Page 63]as high as Heaven, and place his Mitre above the Stars, yet in that day he shall die the death of the uncircumcised, and perish like the Amorite, whose fruit is destroyed from above, and root from beneath, Amos 2.9. and the multitude of his offences shall consume the multitude of his Forces; And it shall be more possible for him, and easie to him to weigh the fire, or measure the wind, or call again the day that is past, or recover the virdure of the withered grass (as a holy one saith) then to avoia this counsel and decree of his downfal, here determined by the spirit a gainst him, saying, And the number of him is 666.

This interpretation is very pleasing;Qui nu­merum hunc besti a intelligit, ae Deo datum est cognos­cere, &c. Ibid. Marlorat. and would be less questioned then the former, if it did agree with the beginning of the verse, which the Author calls a little short Preface of the Holy Ghost, to prepare his Reader to attention.

Here is wisdom,

That is (saith he) here is the discovery of a mystery, a point of high under­standing, and the spirit saith, not he that will, but he that can, he that hath understanding, let him count the num­ber of the beast; but I rather incline to this opinion then the Former.

The 4 opinion is of those that parallel and compare the number of the beast,Opinion 4 666, with the number of the Lambs com­pany, and the new Jerusalem, 144. which are set as opposites one against ano­ther, and as opposites may serve to explain one another. To this end, by computation they find that the Lambs number, 144. is onely builded by multiplication of 12. upon 12. and can no otherwise be multi­plied, shewing that the true Church of Christ is built onely upon the 12. Apostles doctrine, and still holds the foundation in all that is built thereon.

But on the contrary the beasts number though it seems more compact, accurate, and uniforme, cannot be raised nor builded upon 12. take what multiplyer ye will, no, can it be divided or quar­tered by 12 shewing that Antichrists Apostatical Church riseth not on the foundation, much less keepeth the foun­dation of the twelve Apostles Doctrine, nor can endure to be tried thereby?

Thus far Forbes in his Comment, Rev. 13.18. After him Mr. Potter hath further improved this Opinion. He saith tis called the number of the Beast, with­out mentioning any name,Iotter. also the num­ber [Page 65]of a man, without intimating any thing to do with his name. Now the meaning of Numerus Humanus is such a number as men usually deal with, and may be numbred by humane art, but it seems there is some skill to be used herein; for he saith (here is wisdom) and let him that hath understanding, calculate the number of the beast. And the Holy Ghost sets down the very number that is to be numbred 666. which number yet cannot be numbred after the manner of men (which way notwithstanding is intimated) but by extraction of the roots of these two numbers, the root upon which the Lambs number and true Church is raised, 144. being twelve, the Apostolical basis; the Root upon which the beasts number, 666. the character of the Antichristian Apo­statical Church is raised, being that fatal number twenty five, both which he de­scribes and amplifies at large.

This Interpretation lights so pat upon the Romish Hierarchy, that a man can­not but be amazed at so exact a provi­dence; for this learned Writer hath out of History made it even over clear, that 25. is a Character as essentially interwo­ven into the Hierarchy of Rome, as 12. [Page 66]is into the State of the new Jerusalem; and these

• First, Twelve Gates,
• Secondly, Twelve Angels at the Gates.
• Thirdly, Twelve Tribes writteni on the Gates.
• Fourthly, Twelve Foundations, with names written on them.
• Fifthly, Twelve thousand furlongs, the solid measure of the City.
• Sixthly, Twelve manner of fruits of the tree of life.

• First, Twenty five G [...]es, whether taken literally or mystically for Churches to baptize in.
• Secondly, Twenty five Angels, i. e. Pastors.
• Thirdly, Twenty five Titles or Pa­rishes.
• Fourthly, Twenty five Cardinals.
• Fifthly, Twenty five thousand fur­longs, the perimeter of which Cube, is [Page 67]the circuit of Rome, as the perimiter of the Cube twelve thousand Furlongs, the circuit of Jerusalem.
• Sixthly, Twenty five Articles of the Creed, which should be the food of the tree of life to all beleivers.

In these essentiall matters, and in many other things besides, hath he evi­dently shown how exactly the Root 666. is applicable to the Roman Hierarchy, the two horned beast; to whose Treatise I refer the Reader for further satisfaction, also to Dr. More, who approves this opinion, and answers the most materi­al objection against it, in his Book of The Mystery of Godliness, Book fifth,There is another opinion I have met with of the num­ber 666. since the funishing this Treatise, which though new, and different from all the former, yet is worthy of consideration; I refer the Reader to the Treat se Entituled, Christ and Antichrist, or 666. multiplied by 2½ whereby the true number of Antichrists raign is discovered. Page 196. I confess I like this opinion far better then the first, as being in my judgment, 1. More grave and ponderous. 2. More certain and determinate. 3. More conforme and sutable to other mysteries revealed in this book. 4. More accurately [Page 68]discriminating between Antichrists false Apostatical Synagogue, and Christs true A­postolical Church. 5. And in the right com­puting whereof, more true Theological, spiritual, and heavenly wisdome will be found.

Thus much of the fifth concurrent time under the second Period, and therein a description of the Beast with two hornes, Cap. 13. wherein I have been more large then I intended; I come now to

A sixt concurrent time, under this second Period.

That is, at the same time (viz. of the holy City being trod under foot, and the two witnesses prophecying in Sack-cloth,The State of the Church, and virgin company during these distresses and persecu­tions. and the woman fled into the Wilderness, and of the ten-horned and two horned beast, Cap. 13.) the hundred and forty four thousand sing a new song,Meretrix a Ioanne conspr [...]itur in desert [...]. Cap. 17.3, 4. Ergo tempus bestigest tempus deserti Mede. and live without blame, Cap. 14. v. 1, to the 6. In which Verse is set down, the true hurches, or Virgin companies constant and pure adhering unto Christ in the midst of An­ti [...]bristian Idolatries and persecutions, [Page 69]described in a vision of the Lamb, and his company standing on Mount Zion; when the world wondred after the beast, and worshipped him, then the true Church did adhere to, and attend upon the Lamb. I looked, and loe a Lamb stood on Mount Zion, and with him 144000. having the name of him and of his fa­ther, written in their foreheads, vers. 1.

1. Their standing with the Lamb on mount Sion, intimates the notable stabi­lity of the Church against all Antichristi­an Machinations. 1. The Lamb stood as in his Watch-tower, vigilant over his Church for her protection, and they stood as his Servants and souldiers atten­ding upon him.

2. Their number 144000. is the same number before mentioned in the prepara­tories to the seventh seal, Rev. 7.4. the number of the true Church, which is built upon the Doctrine of the 12. Apo­stles; as this number is built onely on twelve (as was before observed) this number is here opposed to the number of the Beast 666. in the close of the former Chapter, which can by no means be built upon twelve.

[Page 70] 3. They are said to have his fathers name on their foreheads, or rather the name of him, and the name of his father, &c. which more fully expresseth their Character as opposite to the name of the beast; hereby they are distinguished from the beasts worshippers; this notes their true profession of, and subjection to the Father and the Lamb.

4.vers. 2. The voyce from Heaven, as the voyce of many waters, and as the voice of a great Thunder, and the voyce of Harpers harping with their Harps, ver 2. signifies their pure Gospel-worship, de­scribed by the numerous multitude of the Heavenly singers (whereunto these 144000. conforme themselves) resem­bled to waters, thunders, harpers.

5.vers 3. The new song they sing] is either a new Gospel song since Christs coming, oppo­site to the old before Christs comming, or new in respect of new conferred bene­fits under the Gospel, among which this preservation of his 144000. from Antichristian defilements was no small one; the Scripture is wont to call for new songs for new mercies; Here by song we may understand all Gospel-worship, by a Synecdoche, the part for the whole, [Page 71]And during the Beast, Dominion none could worship the Lamb purely without Idolatry upon earth, but those that were redeemed from the earth; that is, bought by the blood of Christ, and brought out of Popery from Antichrists earthly Church, Cap. 12.12.

6. And where it is said They are not defiled with women, vers. 4.vers. 4. and to fol­low the lamb, &c. is signified their spiri­tual chastity, not being guilty of spiritu­al whoredome and Idolatry; and their constant attendance upon the Lamb, in all states and places, and their peculiar relation to God and the Lamb, (they being peculiar fruits to him, redeemed out of the prophane mass of the Idolatrous world) is expressed in the latter end of this fourth verse.

7. And Lastly, it is said of them,vers. 5. In their mouth was no guile, and that they are without fault before the Throne of God, which notes both their integrity and innocency; their integrity, In their mouth was found no guile: Some Greek Copies read, no lye; Idols in Scripture are called lyes, and Idolaters Lyers;Isa. 28.15. Ier. 16.19. it seems to note their freedom from Ido­latry, and they did not Hypocritically [Page 72]profess and pretend to be Christians, and yet Idolatrously adore the beast. Final­ly, their innocency in Gods account is annexed as a reason of the former, And they are without fault before the throne of God, vers. 5.

The Seventh and last concurring time, in the Angels prophesie of things that shall come to pass in the Ecclesiastical State,Cap. 10. See be­fore. relating to the second Period, Is

The Whore of Babylon, i the Popish Hi­erarchy ruling and riding the Beast with ten horns, i.e. the Princes and Potentates which adhere to the Papacy at their own chusing and liking;Cap. 17. Cap. 17. ver. 3. I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-coloured beast, full of the names of blasphemy, having se­ven beads and ten borns.

And the woman was arrayed in purple, and scarlet colour, and decked with gold, &c. vers. 4. where the Whore of Baby­lon is described.

1. By the monstrous beast whereon she sits, cruel and bloody, noted in her colour; full of Antichristian Idolatries, most opprobrious and reproachful to God, noted in her names of blasphemy. [Page 73]and besides seven-headed and ten-horned; so that it is the very same beast formerly described, cap. 13.

2. By her luxurious and meretricious array and ornaments; And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour (like the beast she sate on) and deeked with gold and precious stones, and pearls. By her whoredoms she had obtained all these costly deckings; and for winning the greater credit and custom to her whore­doms she was thus gaudily and thus glit­teringly attired. Popery is a sumptuous, gaudy and glittering Religion.

3. By her intoxicating cup whereby she amorously allures and enchants her lo­vers to spiritual lewdness with her, having a golden cup in her hand, full of abomina­tion, and filthiness of her fornication. vers. 4. An allution to the custom of Whores,Joseph. Mede. who in golden cups are wont to give amorous draughts to their Lovers, to provoke and to enflame their love and lust. Now what Religion in the world hath out­wardly more specious, curious, golden pretences, but inwardly more abomina­ble cursed Heresies, Blasphemies, Super­stitions, Idolatries, shewing gold without, deadly poison within!

[Page 74] 4. Her whores name. Touching which note.

1. Where it was wrtten, viz. on her forehead, intimating she was an eminent notorious whore indeed; And upon her forehead was a name written; Tertullian De pudicit. Sen. Cont. 2. Lib. 1. vers. 8. An allusion to the ancient custom of Stews and Bro­thel-houses, that on or over the doors of their Cells and Chambers, were wont to write the names of the Whores, as Ter­tullian, Seneca and others intimate. But if the Whore was famous indeed, her name and praise was written, not only on her cell, but on her forehead.

2. Her name it self, describing in great part her nature, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots, or Fornicati­ons, and Abominations of the earth, v. 5.

This name shows 1. that this Whore is Babylon, not proper, but mystical Ba­bylon. 2. That this, mystical Babylon is the Mother and most notorious au­thour of all the abominable Idolatries, those spiritual whoredoms in the whole world. This can intend no other but Rome.

5. Her extreme cruelty, & bloody tyran­ny against the Saints, emphatically expres­sed, being drunk therewith, she had swal­lowed [Page 75]so much, vers. 6. This Metaphor from drunkenness denotes the height and extremity of her bloodiness; witness An­christs butcheries of the Saints under the names of Waldenses, Albigenses, Leonists, Wicklivists, Hussites, Lutherans, Hugo­nites, &c. condemned and destroyed by Antichrist, because they would not drink of Romes whorish cup. All Ecclesiastical Histories and Martyrologies since Anti­christs rise and reign, fully declare this Whores bloodiness, especially in her Spa­nish Inquisition. See Foxes Acts and Monuments. Especially consider the late Irish massacres designed and acted by bloodthirsty Papists, to the utmost of cruelty in Ireland, 1641. as may be seen in Doctor Jones his Remonstrance of the state of the Rebellion in Ireland; And in the Declaration of the Com­mons of England assembled in Parliament, touching the rise and progress of that Rebellion, ordered to be published July, 25. 1643.

This causeth in John great adminati­on at the strangeness of the Vision of the Whore, in the latter end of vers. 6. And when I saw her, I wondred with great admiration.

Which gave occasion to the Interpre­tation of this Vision more clearly; And the Angel said, Wherefore didst thou mar­vail? Rev. 17.7. The City or Whore of Rome is said to sit upon a Beast, viz. the fourth Beast mentioned in Daniel, which is the Roman Monarchy. And what City or people hath so ridden the Roman Empire, as Rome hath done? They that suffer themselves to be thus ridden by her, are Abettors and Supporters; they are Peoples, Multitudes, Nations and Tongues over whom this proud City reigns. The Catholick Roman Church they are commonly called by themselves; but by the holy Ghost, The Beast on which the woman sit. Vsher Rev. 17.18. in his Sermon before King Charls, on Ephes. 4.13. I will tell thee the mystery of the woman and of the Beast that carries her, whichha th seven heads, and ten horns, ver. 7.

Hereupon the Angel doth more clearly interpret and explain the Vision.

• 1. The mystery of the Beast carrying the Whore.
• 2. The mystery of the Whore her self.

First, The Angel explains the mystery of the Beast in the Whole, and in the Parts.

First, in the whole, the Beast is inter­preted,

1. Partly, According to his Many-form State, or fourfold form and condition [Page 77]of this one and the same Beast. The Beast that thou sawest, was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition. The beast thou sawest, 1. was. And 2. Is not. And 2. shall as­cend out of the bottomless pit. And 4. Go into perdition. This very Interpretation it self seems to be a riddle and a para­dox, that needs a further interpretation. To omit variety of mens opinions, sun­dry whereof rather obscure then clear this present Description; This seems plain to be the sence.

As the whore is after interpreted to be the great City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth; viz. Roms; for what other City in Johns time did so reign? So the Beast that carrieth this Whore, what can it be but theTo this agrees I­renaus, Lactanti­us, Jerom, which re­stimony of the An­tients Cor­nelius a Lapide considering, professeth that he will not tergiversari but granteth, that by Babylon is meant Rome. Roman Empire? which though for substance it was one, One Beast, yet for States, con­ditions and manner of Government, was multifarous or many form, as here descri­bed, viz.

This Beast the Roman Empire Was, that is, before Johns time, when this Reve­lation [Page 78]was given, it was but in another form and state then in Johns time, i governed by Kings, Consuls, Dictators, Decemviri and Tribunes, all which were past in Johns time.

And is not, i.e. this beast the Roman Empire is not in Johns time, under those or any of those five manners of Govern­ments; but under a sixth, viz. of Cesars, and those both Heathenish and Christian. This sixth head of this beast, that ruled in Johns days, viz, the Heathenish Cesars, they became no Christians till Constantine. Yet the whore sits not upon this beast, as under any of those forms or states of Go­vernment; but on the Beast under ano­ther form, which should rise up after them six, as then not in being. And is not, viz. the beast under the Pontificial or Papal Government.

And shall asc [...]nd out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition; that is, saith Mede, that form of the beast in which he shall carry the Whore, shall be the last form of the beast, beyond which he should not p [...]long his life. Now what form of this Beast shall ascend out of the bot­tom [...]ss pit? or the abyss (as tis in Greek) this word abyss may be taken either for the Abyss of the sea, or the Abyss of hell: [Page 79]Now take it either way,The sixt head the Ceasars heathen and Chri­stian, was deadly wounded. The Hea­then Ce­sars re­ceived a deadly wound by Constan­tine and his Suc­cessors, who overcome the hea­then Em­perors, and root­ed, our their hear [...] [...] Idolatry, &c. The Christian Cesars received by the bath [...] Nations a deadly wound, who di­laterated the Empire into ten Kingdoms; And the deadly wound of the heath [...] Cesars was bea [...]ed by the substitu­ted [...] Be [...], [...] course of his seventh head, and by his how Idolatry, or Idol-worship, not of Pagar­worship, but of Saints and Angels, The deadly wound of the Christian Cesars was healed, when the Roman Empire divided into ten Kingdomes, was again made up into one for the [...] of the Whore, by the subtilty of the Dragon and false Prophet. it agrees to that form of beast that carries the Whore. For that Beast that ariseth out of the Abyss of the Sea, having seven heads and ten horns, as also out of the Abyss of Hell, for the Dragon Satan gives him his power and seat, and great authority, Rev. 13.2. The Cesars hea­then and Christian were the beasts sixt head or form: The beast at last under the Christian Cesars, received by the barba­rous Nations a deadly wound, the Em­pire beginning to be divided about Anno. 456. into ten parts, or Kingdomes, viz. of Britons, Saxons, Franks, Burgun­di [...], Wisigoths, Sweves and Alans, [...], Almanes, Ostrogoths, Gre­cians, as Mr. Mede hath observed out of Sigonius.

This distracted state or form of the beast, under these ten Kingdoms, at least, though really, and in substance the same with that under the Cesars, yet seems to be another distinct power, and as it were the seventh King, Rev. 17.10. which was to continue but a short space, but is indeed the same with the 6. viz. the Cesars.

The Roman Empire thus torn into ten, at last by the subtilty of the Dragon, and the false Prophet (the two horned beast Antichrist) is recollected, and all the ten united as in one Empire under the Pope,Rev. 13.3, 12, 13, 14. as head and Monarch thereof, and so his deadly wound was healed; And this is the Pontifician or Papal head, the onely forme of the Beasts State and Government (which seventh bears the Whore) this Pontifician head, or forme of the Emperors Government (in respect of that changed and miserably dilacerated Cesarship,Re. 17.12. which was as the seventh) seems to be as it were the eighth head or King, but really, and indeed is but the seventh and last head of the Roman beast, and this Papal head goeth into perdition, and in him the Roman Empire shall be utterly abolished.

[Page 81] 2. As the Beast in the whole is inter­preted partly by his many forme state, or a fourfold forme, so partly according to the Worlds wonderment after this beast (whereby it is evident that this is the self-same seven headed beast, and ten horned which was formerly described, Cap. 13.)Rev. 13.1, 3, 4. And they that dwell on the Earth shall wonder (whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the World) when they behold that beast which was and is not, and yet is, [...]. or rather as some read it (and yet is at hand) for so it notably agrees with the former description in the begin­ning of the verse. The beast was and is not, and shall asound out of the bot­tomless pit; or it [...]ay thus be explained, retaining the ordinary reading. The Beast that was, i. e. the Roman Empire that was under five former sorts of Go­vernment. And is not, i. e. is not as yet under the seventh or last form or sort of Government, viz. Pontificial or Papal. And yet is, that is, under the sixt form of Casars at present in Johns time, vers. 8.

Thus the beast in whole is interpreted.

Secondly, The Beast is interpreted in his [Page 82]Parts, viz. his seven heads and ten hornes what they are; An Emphatical intimation of the singular wisdom required to the true discerning of these misteries, being first pre­mised, And here is the mind that hath wisdom

First, The seven heads of the beast, are interpreted to be seven Mountains and seven Kings, that by this double ac­commodation, this interpretation might be more sure, Partly to seven mountains; the seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth; vers. 9. That is, these seven heads are seven hills upon which Rome is built, viz. the Capit [...]line, Palatine, Calian, Aventine, Aesqui [...], Viminal, and Quirinal Mount. For the honour of which seven mountains (saith Parens) an Annual [...] was observed on the third of the I [...]s of December, either in memory of Romulus the builder of the seven mountained City, or of Servins Tullus, who to Romnlus four Moun­tains added three more, seven in all; Partly to be seven Kings, i. e. seven orders, formes or kinds of Governors or Governments of this Roman, Kingdome or Empire, whereof Rome is the Imperial seat.

And there are seven Kings,vers. 10. viz. seven orders or sorts of Rulers; Kings Consuls, [Page 83]Tribunes, Decemvirs, Dictators, Ce­sars, Pon [...]ficrans, or Popes; Five are fall (i. e. in Johns time the first five, viz. Kings, Consuls, Tribunes, Decem­vies, Dictators) And one is (i. e. Cesars, then in being in Johns time;) and the other is not yee come; (i. e. the dilacerated state of the Cesarship or, Cesartan Em­pire into ten Kingdomes at the least, by the Barbarians, as was before intimated,) this was as it were a seventh head, but was indeed but of the sixth, being the same in substance with the Cesars, but was not come in Johns time, and was but to continue a short space, till the Dragon and falle Prophet had reunited, and so healed this wounded and dilacerated state of the Empire. Therefore in the Text it is added, And when he commeth, Rev. 13.2. he must continue a short space, vers. 10. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seventh; and goes to perdition, v. 11. That is, the Roman Empire that was under five heads or formes of Government, before Johns time, and under the sixth head of Cesars in Johns time (which Cesars were changed as it were into another and seventh form in its dilacera­ted [Page 84]state of the ten Kingdoms) yet is not, i.e. In Johns time, is not yet brought under the last head or forme, viz. the Papal, which is the eighth (i.e. in respect of the change of the Cesarship into ten Kingdomes, which seemed to be as a seventh, but was indeed onely part of the sixth head) and the Papal head is of the seventh i.e. he is indeed the last and seventh head, or form of this beast (in the course of which seventh head he car­ries the whore) and in this state or form the beast shall be utterly destroyed. Thus of the seven heads and their Interpre­tations.

2. The ten hornes of the Beast are Interpreted to be ten Kings,Bestia de­cemcor­nupeta seu secula­ris, est unia versitas illa decem plu [...]m nus Regnorum (in quae Caesarum post extur­batum [...]raconem, Imperium Barbarica plaga dissilierat) in unam denuo Rempull cam Romanam, redintegratà Draconu impierate, coalescentium. Mede. Cap. 13. page. 181. or ten Kingdomes, viz. those ten before men­tioned Kingdomes, into which the Em­pire of the Cesars was divided by that deadly wound of the Barbaman Nations, which ten Kings or Kingdoms were not yet sprung up in Johns time, but into which afterwards, the body of the Ro­man [Page 85]beast, in the course of his last head should be dilacerated, by the deadly wound of the Cesarean head: And which ten Kings should unanimously give all their power to the beast, for his resti­tution and reparation, under the Go­vernment of his seventh and last head (For unto this seventh head onely, and not to any of the six aforegoing these ten horns belong) Now these ten hornes are inter­preted and described,

First, Partly by their constitution, as hath been now explained, v. 12.13.

Secondly, Partly by their hostile per­secution against the Lamb in his Mem­bers.

These shall make war with the Lamb, viz. by making War with the Saints, and overcoming them 42. months, as was be­fore declared.

Thirdly, Partly by their overthrow by the Lamb, Christ Jesus and his Saints, at last; which overthrow is confirmed both by the Lambs Regal power, and by the Saints three victorial properties. And the Lamb shall overcome them; for he is Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, and they that are with him are called and chosen, and faithful, v. 14.

Hitherto of the interpretation of the Mystery of the beast carrying the Whore.

2. Now of the Mystery of the Whore her self, carried by this beast, which is here also interpreted. Herein note,

• 1. Her Ample Dominion.
• 2. Her utter destruction, and
• 3. Topical Denomination.

1. Her ample Dominion, over peoples of many Nations and Languages, signi­fied by the waters where the Whore sit­teth; And he said unto me. The waters which thou sawest where the Whore sitteth, are Peoples, and Multitudes, and Nations, and Tongues, 1.15.

2. Her utter destruction and judgement which the Angel promiseth to tell Johns is described.

First, By the Instrumental means of her destruction, the ten hornes upon the beast.

Secondly, by the degrees of her de­struction from these ten horns.

And the ten hornes which thou fawest upon the beast, shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, [Page 87]and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.vers. 16.

These degrees of their destroying her shall be,

• 1. Their hatred of the Whore, with whom they have committed fornica­tion.
• 2. Deserting of her, betaking them­selves to Christs pure worship.
• 3. Denuding of her, or making her naked, both by words, laying open her filthy and abominable whoredomes and Idolatries, &c. and also by deeds, with­drawing her respective revenues from her, which were wont to be given her.
• 4. Eating her flesh, not onely by re­taining to their own use, her rich incomes,
  Carnes nostras illi mandu­cant qui nos perse­quuntur, Aug. in Locum Tom. 8.
  but also by opposing and persecuting her, which in Scripture language is as eating of ones flesh, Job 19.22. Psa. 27.2.
• 5. Burning of her with fire; When? the punctual time cannot particularly be determined, but it hastens apace, and cannot be far off, if the fift viol be now running, which shall be poured out up­on the forme of the beast, which is now the judgement of many learned Divines; Let the Saints strive mightily [Page 88]with God, and pray the Whore into flames, for her ruine approacheth; And some of those Kingdomes that helped to raise up the Whore, shall be as ready to pull her down.

Thirdly, Her utter destruction is also described, by the principal cause thereof. Gods providential dispensation according to his Word, who can as easily make these ten hornes unanimous to her ruine, as they were to her rise and raign; For God hath put into their hearts to fulfil his Will, and to agree, and to give their Kingdome to the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled, v. 17.

3. We have thirdly and lastly her To­pical Denomination. The Holy Ghost so clearly indigitates, and as it were names her, that he that runs may read and not mistake. That this Whore is Rome, the known Motropolis and Royal Seat of the Roman Empire,Ribera in Cap. 17. Bellarmin. l. 2. de pont. Rom. Cap. 2. Papists themselves confess. And the Wo­man which thou sawest, is that great City that reigneth over the Kings of the Earth.

This is that beast that goeth to per­dition or Destruction.

Of which Destruction God causeth her to be

First, Forewarned, cap. 14. vers. 6. and following verses. Which premonition is described in the Vision of three Angels,It is call­ed the e­verlasting Gospel in oppositi­on to those innovations and traditions of men, under which the Churches of Christ had laboured a long time. Vide Mr. Bridge his Sermon on Rev. 14.8. i.e. Evangelical Ministers preaching the everlasting Gospel against the Beast and Beast-worshippers.

1. The first Angel exhorts all that had given their names to Christ by profession, to consider how Gods judgements were now inflicted upon the Heathenish Idols and Idolaters, and therefore to wor­ship God the Creator onely and purely, ver. 6, 7.

This Angel, learned Mede interprets of the Council of Constantinople in the East, consisting of Three hundred thirty seven Bishops, wherein the worship of the Virgin Mary, and invocation of Saints was opposed, 720. And of Frank­ford Synod in the West under Charls the Great consisting of about 300 Bishops, [Page 90]790th. year of our Lord, which damned both the worshipping of Images; and al­so the second Council of Nice that esta­blished it. Others interpret it of divers in England, Pareus, Brightm. as Killington, Langland, especially Wicklife, about Anno 1371. and of divers in Bohemia, John Husse, Hierom of Prague.

2. The second Angel (the first Angels doctrine being despised) denounceth Ba­bylons irrevocable ruine from that time forward, till it be consummated for their obstinacy and impenitency in Idolatries: The substance of the Angels doctrine is a commination of Babylons fall, with the reason of it, vers. 8. Babylon is fallen, it is fallen, i.e. she is now fallen initially, and shall fall totally and finally. This An­gel, Mede interprets of the Waldenses and Albigenses, who first of all other renoun­ced Romish Idolatries, and many follow­ed them, which falling off from Rome was the laying of a foundation from Ba­bylons fall, till it should be utterly ruin­ed.

3. The third Angel, going beyond the former, warneth all the Worshippers of the Beast what horrible vengeance hangs over their heads, and would fall upon [Page 91]them if they persist still in following and worshipping the Beast, and not renounce him. And the third Angel followed him, saying with a loud voyce, If any man wor­ship the beast and his Image, and receive his mark, &c. the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, &c. vers. 9, 10, 11, This Angel, thinks Brightman and Mede, was M. Luther, with his associates and Successors, who so vehemently opposed Pa­pal doctrine and superstition; whereupon followed the eminent Reformation of the German and other Churches. Luther (saith Pareus) left this Fatidical verse be­hind him, ‘Pestis eram Vivens, moriens er mors tua, Papa.’ O Pope, I was thy plague while I had breath; And though I dye, yet I will be thy death.

Parens thinks this Angel to be under­stood of Luthers succession to the end of the world, from Anno 1546. because no fourth Angel follows, but Christ sitting on his white throne of judgement.

Secondly, As Babylon is forewarned, so her punishments and plagues are not [Page 92]onely threatned,As the seals brought in judgements upon the Pagan world, Trumpets on the Christian world, as ruled by Christian Emperors; so the seven last vials are poured out upon the Antichristian world: Cotton on the Vials. These seven plagues are compared to the plagues of Egypt, as Sores, Blood, Dark­ness, Frogs, Thunder and Lightning. And in the pouring out of these vials understand nothing but meer divine wrath, no mercy runs out of the vials. Further note, As the seven Trumpets were sounded to the ruine of the Roman Empire, so the seven Vials are poured out to the ruine of the Beast, and to the gradual ruine of the Beast they all tend: For every Vial is a degree to the Beasts destruction, who as he rose, so he shall rall by degrees. but gradu­ally inflicted; which dreadful judgements and the actual in­flicting of them are represent­ed under vials, and the pour­ing forth of these vials, which vials are full of the wine of that wrath of God poured out without mixture, Rev. 14.10.

This we have in Chap. 15, and 16.

Thirdly, When no reformation doth follow (as did not; for in pouring out of the Vials, it is said, cap. 16. vers. 9. They blasphemed the name of God, &c. but repent­ed not to give him glory, so vers. 11. they blasphemed God because of their plagues, but repented not of their deeds) God pas­seth sentence upon her, and destroy­eth her; which destruction is briefly [Page 93]touched upon, chap. 17. but is largely and pathetically described cap. 18.

Whereupon in the third Period fol­lows the description of the great joy and triumph of the Church over the total ruine and destruction of her ene­mies,Period. 3. chap. 19. and the desired peace and tranquillity of the Church. In this 19. Chapter is set down the victorious tri­umphs and gratulations of them in hea­ven, i.e. the Church, Saying Hallelujah, Salvation, and honor, and glory, and power un­to the Lord our God, ver. 1. And that

• 1. For the judgement of the great whore justly executed upon her,
  vers. 1.
  for her wicked Idolatries, and persecuting cruelties a­gainst the Saints.
  vers. 2.
• 2. For the Dominion of Christ; Hallelu­jah, for the Lord God omnipotent reighneth.
  vers. 6.
  Parallel to that in Rev. 11. to 18.
• 3. For the marriage of the Lamb,
  vers. 7.
  ver. 7. Let us be glad and give honour unto him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, &c. whose marriage garments are freely given her by Christ, verse 8. And all the marriage guests which are called to the mar­riage Supper of the Lamb,
  vers. 8.
  are pronounced blessed, vers. 9.

And because this victorious Triumph, and gratulation of the Church is for the total ruine and destruction of her ene­mies; therefore as in the former part of the Chap. John speaks of the judge­ment of the whore, so in the latter part of the Chap. he speaks of the judgement of the beast, and false prophet, toge­ther with their Armies of Adherents, warring against the Lamb and his Army. These Adversaries are all mustred together under the sixt Viol in Armageddon; Rev. 16. 13, 14, 16. now the seventh Viol (the exposition whereof is yet continued) describes the event of the battel in Armageddon, Cap. 19.11. to the end. viz. the beast and his adherents are entrapped and ensnared easily, and suddenly royled by Christ; the Beast and the false Prophet are both taken, as wild beasts, in Nets and Gins, and are joyntly executed in a most dreadful manner, being both cast alive into a Lake of fire burning with Brim­stone; Their whole Army put to the Sword; and the Fowls invited and filled with their flesh, and enriched with their prey.

This is to be understood of Chricts final victory, not onely spiritually but corpo­rally, over the beast and false Prophet [Page 95](now vexed and enraged at the iudge­ment of the Whore,) and this by some remarkable and dreadful demonstration of his providence.

In the 20. Cap. is set down the judge­ment of the Dragon, that old Serpent the Devil and Satan, that had incited and used as his instruments, the whore, beast, and false Prophet, and their followers, to oppose and persecute the Lamb and his Saints; and the 21. and 22. Chap. containe the Churches happy estate, upon her enemies destruction, and the glory of the new Jerusalem.

These things we may see and learn by observing intentively the scope of the boon of the Revelation of Saint John, that is, the common term and period whereunto all the particular prophesies and passages in the Revelation do joyntly run, and wherein they do ultimately de­termine.

Now having done with the scope or Intone of the Book, I am next accor­ding to the method I propounded in the beginning, to speak of the