Prelections Upon Revelation, Chapter 17
¶ The seuententh Chapter.
HEtherto he hathe withe sundrie colours painted oute Antichrist him selfe nowe also vnderunder the figure of the great whore, he describeth his Churche, or the aldulterouse religion, afterwarde he expoundeth the misterie as well of the whore as of the beast yt beareth her: and lastlye he foretelleth the destruction of them both.
Vers. 1.
Then there came one of the seuen Aungels whiche had the seuē vials, & talked with me, saying vntounto me.
THe selfe same Aungels whiche are the Ministers of Gods wrathe and seueritie vponupon the wicked, do serue the godlye to these comforte, and consolation, and to the buyldinge vp of the Churche. Whiche thinge truelye is neither vnproffitable nor vnpleasant to thinke yt we hauehave those appointed of god to defend oure health & wellfare, which as often as it seemeth good to god, can easely ouerthrowe and subuert, all the engins and subtilties of the aduersaries. We may note also how familiarly the Aungels speake to the Apostle: whome for the benefite of Christ they acknowledge to be there brother and felowe seruaunt.
Come I will shew thee the damnation of the great whore that sitteth vponupon many waters. &c. When diuers times before he had made mention of the great citye, now the holy ghost that he might make manifest of what citye he had vnderstoode or ment, doth describe it vnderunder the image or figure of the great whore. For the great whore as the Aungell afterwarde doth expound it, signifieth a greate city, like as manye waters, wherevpon she sitteth, doe signifie many people, ouer which she ruleth and worthely is the Church or Romishe religion, whose whole aucthority dependeth vppon that city of seuen hilles, compared to a famouse and noble harlot, which enticed the mindes of mē to her filthy louelove withe whorishe deceipts, and false coloures as it were with harlotlyke enticementes. For it is vsuall in the scriptures, to compare all false and idolatrouse worshipping, to most filthy adultries. But the sinagoge of Rome, whiche aboue all other herisies hathe inuented false and idolatrouse worshippinge of God, may as it were by her owne proper righte chalenge to her selfe the name of a greate whore. Which although she doeth please and flatter her selfe and her louers, as thoughe she were a bewtifull wife, yet neuerthelesse by the iuste iudgement of God, she is condemned to eternall shame, and dishonor as a most filthy harlot.
Vers. 2.
With whom hauehave committed fornication the kings of ye earth.
THis was not the least part of the whorishe art, that she enticed and alured kinges and mightye men, with fained flatteringes, and practices of bawdry, into fornication, for by this meanes she did hope that she shoulde hauehave the commune people there subiects, euen vowed to her louelove. Therefore she flattereth princes and graunteth them licence of all wickednes, in pardoninge all thinges as murders, adultries, and incestes, so that they stand stedfast in the obedience of the sea of Rome.
And the inhabitantes of the earthe are droncke with the wine of her fornication &c. She hath played the harlot not with kinges onelyonly, but generally with all the inhabitantes of the earth, as a most impudente whore, and with the furiouse wine of her fornication hath made them droncken in suche abominable maner, that they are euen like swine inflamed to fill and satisfie there lust with her. And this is that zeale of the papistes wherewith they are in mad dotage vppon masses, to Munckerie, Pilgrimages, Pardons, so that they cared not to bestowe all there substaunce vponupon the same baggage, bycause reason being ouercome with luste, they are made droncken with the wine of her fornication.
Vers. 3.
So he caried me awaye into the wildernesse. in the spirite. &c.
SEeinge the time of manifestinge this whore in the worlde was not yet come, although euen then the misterie of iniquitie did worke, this harlotte is placed in the deserte, whiche after certeyne hundred yeares should by the Iust Iudgemente of God be broughte forthe into the worlde, to bewitche the wicked inhabitantes of the earth: therefore Ihon is lead into the wildernesse by the Aungell to beholde this whore.
And I sawe a woman sit vponupon a scarlat coloured beast. &c.
WHen Ihon was come in to the wildernesse, the Image of the woman sittinge vppon a scarlat coloured beast, was shewed and set before him, by the description it appeareth that it is the verie same beast whiche is liuely described in the thirtenth Chap. For the Church or religiō of Rome is stayed vpō the aucthoritie of the pope and his clergie, which beare hir vp euen as beastes carie a burden, & with praises extoll her beautie aboue the heauens The colour also of the beast is paynted out to be like scarlet, which colour we knowe dothe please the court of Rome aboue all coloures, for withe this coloure the pope him selfe, with this the Cardinales & there horses, with this the prelates & Bysshopes being aparailed and decked, do walke in there statelinesse. Which thing, I suppose, is not done rashly or at auenture, but that they mighte be aunswerable to this figure. And this red coloure doth signifie there bloudy desire in persecuting the true mēbers of Christ and the Church, euen vntounto death.
Full of names of blasphemie. &c. If thou shouldest weigh and examine the names and callinges of all degrees, or orders in poperie, thou shouldest finde nothing but horrible blasphemies, as the holines, the highnesse, & fatherhoode of the pope, & prelats, & infinite blasphemies of the same sorte, with which base & vnlearned verlets, are extolled aboue Christ, and the Aungels.
Which had seuen heades and ten hornes. &c. These are his badges or armes whereby hee is knowen, for they shewe that he is the selfe same beast, which he sawe before in the 13. Chapter: Whose misticall interpretacion also hee afterwarde receyued.
Vers. 4.
And the woman which I saw was araide in purple and crimsin, and girded with gold, preciouse stones, and pearles. &c.
THis verse conteyneth 2. thinges, the apparell & decking of this whore and her wicked fornication. As concerning her apparaill she shineth all ouer with purple, crimsin, gold, pearles and preciouse stones that she may seeme beautifull to her louers. Far other is the apparail of the true Church, of which we reade before in the twelfe Chapter, whiche is garnished altogether withe heauenlye ornamentes, but this stinckinge harlotte with the glitteringe shewe of earthlye thinges hawkethe for the praise, and commendation of beautie, for wee see how that the Church of Rome, & popish religion, in altars copes, vestumēts, miters, crosses, chalisses, bookes, censers, patines, in gilding & decking images doth shew nothing els, but a certen pompe of great riches, of purple, crimsin, silke, syluer, gold, preciouse stones & pearles, of which thinges, Christiā religion hath no neede of at all, but a popish religiō cannot stand wtout these thinges: for take from the pope, frō the bysshopes, temples, & priests, those player like apparials of purple, crimsin, gold, & preciouse stones which are so beautifull to behold, with whiche ye eies of the blockish and rude multitud are daseled, and thou shalte finde nothing in the Churche of Rome that any man will meruaile a… or esteme. For as common harlates, when there preciouse apparaill is pulled of are, often times seene to be deformed, so also the popishe religion if thou take from it those tragicall attires, shall seeme altogether naked and deformed, euen to the verie Papistes them selues. Which thing truely is an euidente profe, that there is no spirituall beautie at all in her, when as she is wholly giuen to bodely ornamentes, sought out euerie where.
She had a golden cup in her hand full of abominations & filthinesse of her fornication. &c. I agree with those whiche by the golden cup doe vnderstand the outwarde profession of Christian religion, and a certeyn shew of the truethe, whiles that she boasteth that she doth beleue the worde of God, and vse the sacramentes, all which, notwithstanding, she hath defiled with so vnpure doctrines of deuils, yt vnderunder an outwarde visor of trueth she comprehendeth nothing, but detestable abominations and the vncleanes of her fornication. The cup therefore which she holdeth forthe with her hande is of golde, but the wine which is conteyned in it, is most deadly poison. But in that she reacheth forthe with her hand, and offereth the cup of these filthy abominations to all men, her impudencie is noted that she is not ashamed to obtrude and thrust such stinking lies and filthie monstrouse errours: yea to be credited euen of wise men, he doeth also together there with shewe, that none other are drawne into so great destruction of filthinesse, and abominations, but those whome she maketh so mad with this bewitching cup, that they hauehave lost all sparke of true iudgement. The Emphasis also of these woordes is to be noted, foreign, that is abominatiōs, & the filthinesse of her fornication, bycause aboue all other nations, this sinagoge hath abounded euen wonderfully, in vncleane lustes, whoredomes and adulteries as well spirituall, as carnall.
Vers. 5.
And in her forehead was a name written. &c.
THat her filthinesse and impudēce, might be hidde from no man excepte hee burne in so great louelove towardes her that he be altogether blinde: she wereth a name writen openly in-that her whorish forehead, which fully & liuely expresseth her qualities. For there is no man which hath but euen a sparke, or crome of true vnderstandinge, but that euen in the verye face, and so in the forehead of this purple whore, he may reade her name. For God hath set this marke of infamye vponupon her, that she might easely be knowne of the electe, least they should be inticed and drawne into her filthy embracinges. Of whiche it foloweth that the eyes of the papistes are vtterlye blinded, which can not beholde this name princed and grauen vppon the forehead of the whore in suche sorte that by no cunning she can hide the same, whereby at lenght they might repente and turne from the vnhonest companie of her.
A misterie. &c. Although it be writen in the forehead, yet it can not be knowen of all without exception, but of those onelyonly to whome it is geuen to vnderstand misteries. For this name is misticall, bycause that vnderunder a figure it counteyneth▪ a true and naturall description of her.
Great Babylon. &c. This is her name, whiche verie fitly expresseth her maners. Not that this is the proper name of the citie, as the papistes are wont now of late to expounde it, with a feyned lye of a certeyn childe borne at Babylon, whom they would hauehave men beleue to be Antichrist, but as he sayed before, this name is misticall and figuratiue, the interpretation whereof he will afterwarde ioyne, which should be altogether superfluouse, if Babylon should signifie litterally that citie of the Chaldeans. But bycause that citie in time past being most mightie and most proude, first was a rebell against God, whē as that tower was buylded after which folowed the confusion of tongues, afterwarde it was the firste citie, whiche exercised tyrannie vponupon men, which being begunne by Nymrod, continued euen vntounto Nabuchadnezar, whiche lead the people of the Iewes capture, and helde thē in miserable bondage, therefore the tyrannie, Idolatrie, pride and vngodlinesse of the citie of Rome, is signified vnderunder the figure of Babylon.
The mother of whoredomes, and abominations of the earth. &c. The east Babylon was a sincke of all abomination and vngodlines, and not that alone, but also a mistres of wickednes, yea a mother and nourse of all euill: all which are most fitlye referred to the Sinagoge of Rome, whiche althoughe she boaste her selfe to be the Catholique and Apostolicall Churche the mother of all the faithfull, yet by her true and righte name she is called greate Babylon, the mother of all Whoredomes and abominations of the earth: For what mischiefe, what vngodlines, what vncleanes, and lewd lust, was not cherished by the support and defence of that city? and where are there worse examples of all kinde of deuilishe wickednes, then at Rome? whiche are so greate pestilences and corruptions, as the verye Popes, Cardinals and prelats themselues? of whome, besides there blasphemouse errours, and prophane contemptes of God there life also abounded and ouerflowed with so great mischiefe that often times they exceded, Nero, Domitian, Elagabulus, in pride, in murders, in poisoninges, treasons, whoredomes, adultries, incestes, and preposterouse lustes. Let their lyues be examined as they are set forth in histories, writen euen by the papists them selues and let iudgement be geuen by conferringe together.
Vers. 6.
And I saw the woman droncken with the bloud of sainctes and with the bloud of the martirs of Iesus. &c.
HEtherto her pride, excesse and filthy abomination are described vntounto these now commeth so great cruelty, that Sainct Iohn affirmeth that he saw the whore dronken with the bloude of the sainctes, and martirs of Iesus Christ, whiche she sucked and dronke, very gredilye, as moste delicate wine, when it was shed by the most cruell beast. This is a horrible and a barbarouse cruelty, that a woman otherwise wanton and lasciuiouse shoulde gorge in and deuoure bloude insteade of drinke. And moreouer that euen vntounto drunckenes she should poure in the bloude of the godly into her bellie the goulfe of all intemperaunce, what shoulde I here rehearse the murders, burnings, & tormentes, of the holye martyres of God, whiche the Romane beast like a butcher flewe, that the continuall thirstie harlot mighte not want drincke euen to make her droncken. What a miserable slaughter of the seruauntes of Christ hath our countrie of England seene in the fiue yeares persecution of Quene Mary? and what other thing at all doth the most cruell whore thirste for? whiles she raiseth vp ciuill tumultes, in France, Flaunders, Scotland, & Britanie, but the bloud of Gods sainctes? whiles the inquisitours in Spaine, & Italie doe drawe great companies of martires dayly, euen as shepe to the slaughter, they do there diligence that the intemperaunce of there mistris the great whore, should not fayle.
And when I saw her I wondered with great meruaill. &c. When as S. Ihon had seene before so great monsters armed against the Churche of God, he lesse wondered at them, bycause there terrible forme and shape it selfe sufficientelye bewrayed of what sorte they were. But here when he had seene the woman, shining in so bewtiefull and gorgiouse apparail, and with suche whorishe trickes enticinge the mindes of men vntounto her, and the same also droncken withe the bloude of the Sainctes, he wondereth vehementlye what she shoulde be, concerninge whome as yet he had hearde nothing.
Vers. 7.
And the Aungell sayed vntounto me wherefore meruailest thou▪ I will shewe thee, the misterie of the woman and of the beast that beareth her, which hath seuen heades and ten hornes. &c.
WHen as the Angell perceyued yt Ihon meruailed so greatlye at the beholding of the whore, the misterie of whome he knew not, he speaketh vntounto him familierly, asking him why he wondered so muche at her? for I sayed he will open, and declare vntounto the all this whole mysterie of what sorte it is, as well of that woman, whiche rideth vppon the scarlet coloured beast, as of the Beast him selfe, whiche beareth her, whiche if thou hast well remembred is the same, whiche thou sawest before furnished with seuen heades and tenne hornes. We are here muche bounde to the merciemercy of God, that he doth vouchsafe to open this misterie vntounto vsus, yt we should beware and take hede of the bewitchinges of this most filthy harlot.
Vers. 8.
The beast which thou hast seene, was and is not, and shall ascende out of the bottomles pit and shall goe into destruction. &c.
THat beast by markes that are euident enough, doth signifye the Empire of Rome, whiche was most ample & large vnderunder Iulius, Augustus, Tyberius, and Claudius, but it had fayled much of that auncient maiestie, in Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Domitian, so that nowe it deserued not to be called a monarchie, but was to be raised vp againe from hell by the popes and popish clergie, whiche vsurpe and chalenge to them selues the Empire ouer the whole world, but his tyrannie shall not indure for euer, bycause at length he shalbe apprehended by Christ and throwen headlong in to the lake that burneth with fire and brymstone, where he shalbe tormented with perpetuall flames, as we are afterwarde taughte in the 19. Chapter.
And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names are not writen in the booke of lyfe from the foundatiō of the worlde, when they beholde the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. &c. Althoughe the falshoodes of Antichrist shalbe great, yet they shall not be able to seduce the electe into destruction, but to deceyue those onelyonly which were not predestinate to eternall life, from the foundation of the world, but the reprobate when as they shall see a newe monarchie of the bysshop of Rome raised by (which is the beast that was vnderunder the firste Emperours (but he is not) at that time when Ihon write vnderunder Domitiā, (although he was after a certeyn maner) they will receyue him reuerently, & as it were a newe God they will worshippe the sonne of perdition, which extolleth him selfe aboue all that is called God, or that is worshipped. For God by his Iust Iudgement shall sende vponupon them the efficacie of errour, that they may beleue lies which refused to geue credite to the trueth. But here for the better vnderstanding we must note, that the beast, that is the monarchie of Rome, is sayed to hauehave bene, when as it florished most of all whiche was Nero, it is sayed not to be, when as the strengthes and mighte thereof were weakned, so that at length they were brought almost to nothinge, which was the state of the Empire when Domitian reigned, when Iohn wrote these things, from which time it was neuer restored to her auncient dignity, but failed and decreased by litle and litle, vntill it was altogether decaied whiche wee know came to pas manye hundred yeares agoe, this clause (and yet is) sheweth that the empire was not then vtterly abolished, although euen then the power and dignitye thereof began to be deminished. Last of all, that ascending of the beaste oute of the bottomeles pit, is the monarchye of the Pope, which alwaies increased by the decay of the Emperours vntill at length when they were quite cast downe, he drewe vntounto him selfe the aucthority of both the swordes.
Vers. 9.
Here is the minde that hathe wisedome. &c.
THe Aungell maketh his preface, to stirre vp attention, that this is the most wise interpretation of this mistery, that the faithfull might diligently weigh the same, least they should be catched vnwares, by the fraudes and deceipts of this beaste.
¶ The seuen heads are seuen mountaines whereon the woman sitteth. &c.
WHen as afterwarde in the eyghtenth verse the Aungell by the woman interpreteth the Citie, it is manifeste, that this whiche he sayeth of the woman sittinge vppon seuen hilles is to be vnderstoode of a Citie buylded vppon so manye hilles. Nowe what Citie is there in the whole worlde, that is buylded vponupon seuen hilles, besides Rome? whiche Poetes Historians, and Describers of places, doe all with one consent affirme to be buylded vppon seuen Mountaynes, the names whereof be these, Capitolinus, Paletinus, Anentinus, Celius, Exquilinus, Viminalis, and Nuirinalis. Moreouer this is no darcke Description of the Citie of Rome, when as the Poete Virgill, also dyd Describe it withe the same Periphrase in his Georgikes, where hee sayeth, the citie which within one wall doth compasse seuen hilles. And it is verie euidente that by the citie of Rome hee signifiethe, the Church or popishe religion, for all the excellencie thereof, as they them selues witnesse dependeth on the aucthoritie of the citie of Rome, which is the sea of the pope.
They are also seuen Kinges. &c. By the number of the heades he sheweth, that not one note or marke onelyonly to decerne her may be taken, but diuers, for the seuen heades do signifye seuen kinges. And verely the citie of Rome, in the beginning had kinges in number seuen, but the verse folowing sheweth that, that which he sayeth here is not to be vnderstood of them, and others some doe expound it to be the seuen electors of the Empire, which seemeth to me not to agree to yt matter. Others also number the Emperours from Nero, which were these, Balba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Titus, Domitian, and Nerua, which was the last of the Romane Emperours, seing Traianus was a spaniard borne. But whiles I weigh and consider all things, nothing semeth more probable to me, then that the seuen heades should signifie so many degrees, or orders of the monarchie of Rome succeding one an other, for there hauehave bene so manye heades of that Empire, the firste of kinges, the seconde of consuls, the thirde of decēuiri, the fourth of dictators, the fifte of triumuiri, the sixt of Emperours, and the seuenth of popes. (Fiue are fallen, one is and the other is not yet come) of those heades, or kingly powers, fyue are fallē that is are abolished. That is, kinges, consuls, decēuiri, triumuiri, and dictators. The sixte, that is that Emperours, doe now beare the rule, the seuenth that is the Pope, which hath not as yet inuaded the tyrannie. And when he commethe hee must tary a litle while, this is added to the consolation of the godly that they might know yt the Romane Antichrist, should not alwaies exercise his cruell tyrannie in the Churche, but for a shorte time onelye, as it is shewed before, in the 11.12. and 13. Chapter.
Vers. 10.
And the beast that was, and is not, is euen the eyghte and is one of the seuen. &c.
VErely that is the newe monarchie of Rome, whiche shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pitte, that is the whole body of Antichrist which shall make vp the eyght kingdomes, that is, shall exercise a spirituall tyrannie vnlike to the rest, and yet neuerthelesse he is of the number of the seuen heades, bycause he will also arrogate to him selfe ciuill gouernemente, and after the maner of kinges, of dictatours, & Emperours, he will gouerne with the glorie of outwarde pompe. We see here that the beast vsurpeth to him selfe two powers, and both of them the beyghest, when the selfesame is numbered for both the seuenth and eyghte of the kinges.
And shall goe into destruction. &c. When as he so often maketh mention of his destruction, he admonishethe vsus, that he is the same sonne of perdition, of whom S. Paule speaketh in the second epistle to the Thessalonians Chapter 2. Whiche although being puffed vp with a deuilish pride, he boastethe, that his kingdome shalbe eternall, yet shortely he shall go into destruction.
Vers. 11.
And the ten hornes which thou sawest are ten kinges, which hauehave receyued no kingdome as per, but shall receyue power as kinges at one hower with the beast. &c.
THe ten hornes like as also in Daniell, do signifye ten kinges, that is all the proconsuls and presidentes of the prouinces, whiche in the Empire of Rome gouerneth ye common wealth, yet they were not indued with kingly power, bycause they serued vnderunder the emperour, & at his pleasure, were either set vp in aucthoritie or deposed. This is it that he sayeth, that they hauehave not yet receyued a kingedome, but so soone as the beast should ascende out of the bottomelesse pit, together with him they should receyue power as kinges. For the monarchie of the pope, encreased by the damages of the rule of the Emperours, and when as the prouinces departed from the Empire, creating and setting vp to them selues newe kinges, the bysshoprike of the Pope sprong vp, which receyued them into his Dominion and made them tributaries vntounto him. Moreouer it is to be noted that he sayeth not simplie they shall obteyne a kingdome, but they shall receyue power as kinges. For as longe as they were subiect to the aucthoritye of the byshope of Rome, they were not kinges indeede, but onelyonly exercised as it were kingly power vnderunder him, because they alwaies depended vponupon his pleasure, whom also as oft as it pleased him he woulde thruste out of the kingdome, and place other in there roumes, at his owne will.
Vers. 12.
These hauehave one minde and shall geue there power and strength vntounto the beast. &c.
THese kinges with one consent and agrement of minde, euen as seruants rather thē kings, shall resigne all there strength and power to the beast, that is they shall warre vnderunder the Pope pay tribute vntounto him, execute his commandements, as vassals shall acknowledg him for there Lord in all things. Who knoweth not that this was the state of the kinges of all Europe not many yeares agon?.
Vers. 13.
These shall fyght with the lambe and the lambe shall ouer come them, for he is lord of lords, and king of kinges. &c.
THese shall after so slauish a maner serue the Pope, that he shall bring them forth into battaill against Christ, that they may studie by all meanes to restraine the light of the Gospell brusting forthe, but yet beinge ouercome of the Lambe, they shalbe brought vnderunder. Whiche although in the humble shape of a seruaunte he be despised of the worlde, yet in the ende of the warre he will playnly shew that he is Lord of Lordes and kinge of kinges, whome no strengthe of man can resist.
And they that are on his side, are called, and chosen and faythfull. &c. Those whome they condemne for heritiques, Schismatiques, & wicked men, are called of God, bycause they were elected of him and they stande constantlye in his faithe, these shall warre vnderunder the banner of there capitayne, against tyrantes, and in spirituall battaill shall ouercome them. But of this famouse battaill and victorie of Christ, we shall heare shortely after in the 19. Chapter. In which after that the beast hathe powred forthe all his poison he shalbe at length apprehended and throwen headlonge into the lake whiche burneth with brymstone.
Verse. 14.
And he sayed vntounto me, the waters which thou sawest where the whore sitteth, are people, and folke, and nations, and tongues. &c.
THe Aungell saied in the beginnge of this Chapter, that the whore sac vponupon many waters, now he expoundeth them to signifie diuers people, greate multitudes, sundrye nations and tongues, for this whore shall hauehave a large dominion almost ouer all Europe. And this is that vniuersall consent of nations, people and tongues, of whiche the papistes bragge so muche. I confesse that many nations conspire together into the louelove and delightes of this whore. But shall it therefore he thought to be a Catholique Church?
Vers. 15.
And the ten hornes which thou sawest vponupon the beast are they which shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked. &c.
THose ten kinges which were sometime subiect to the beast at length beinge instructed and taught by the gospell shall shake of her most filthy yoke. And they which before committed fornication withe the Churche of Rome and her abhominable religiō, after that the light of the gospell is spronge vp, they shal clearely see and perceiue her deformitie, they will hate her with deadly hatred. So that the which before was inuironed and garded with so greate a bande of her louers, shall be forsaken of all and shall remaine desolate and solitary, then whiche nothinge can happen more greuous or sorowfull to a harlot. For kinges shall bothe withdrawe themselues, and also the people of there dominions, from her most abominable company. And also they shall spoyle her of hir riches, substance, ornamentes, farer buildinges, large possessions, and all the rest of her goodes, and shall driue her naked forth of the dores.
And shall eat her fleshe and burne her with fier. &c. That is, they shall be enflamed withe so greate hatred and lothinge of her filthynes, that they woulde euen rente and teare her withe there teethe, and will curse her to extreme destruction. And at the length they will wast & destroy with fier and sworde, the city of Rome it selfe whiche is the sincke of all mischiefes.
Vers. 17.
For God hath put it in there hartes to fulfill his will, and to do with one consent for to giuegive there kingedome vntounto the beast, vntill the wordes of God be fulfilled. &c.
THat we may knowe that this whole matter is gouerned by God, he sheweth that it was done by the counsaile of God, that those kinges for a time shoulde applye themselues to the beast. and shoulde permit there kingedome to his will and pleasure. For as by the iust iudgement of God, Antichrist came into the worlde to seduce into destruction, the reprobate contemners of Christ and his gospell, so all the increase of his tyranny shall depend vponupon Goddes will. Otherwise it semeth vncredible that kinges shoulde after so slauishe a manner submitte there neckes to the Popes yoke, but that God had blinded there mindes for there heynouse offences. But he teacheth that this subiection shall not bee perpetuall, but that it shall indure to that time onelyonly whiche is appointed by the decree and purpose of God.
Vers. 18.
And the woman which thou sawest is the great citye which reigneth ouer the kinges of the earth. &c.
SEinge that all writers of the auncient primitiue Churche as many as hauehave weighed this sentence could vnderstand no other but the city of Rome, I greatly merueile with what face the papistes dare refuse this exposition. Yea verely when as no man can bringe anye other interpretation whiche hathe at the least anye likely hode of truth what shoulde we sticke any longer in it. To whome I pray ye, is this vnknowen, that the city of Rome euen then when Iohn writte, had the dominion ouer the princes of the worlde? he coulde not therefore more clerely euen by name hauehave sayed, Rome, then this periphrasis doethe signifie.