Prelections Upon Revelation, Chapter 12
¶ The twelfte Chapter.
THis thirde vision conteyneth the ix. Chapters folowing, in which the madnes of the Deuill and Antichrist against the Church is described, in other figures then before, yet the same Church by the defence of Christ doth stand and endure safe against all the inuasiōs of the enemies. And the malignant Churche which seduceth the greatest parte of the world into errour is painted oute in her liuely colours, then folowe the punishmentes, which goe before her falle, at lēgth foloweth here extreame ruine, which shall neuer be restored or repaired againe, after this followeth the condemnation of the deuill and Antichrist, and the eternall felicitie of the Church after the resurrection, all these thinges are described more clearly, & more at large then in the former vision, and the selfe same thing is expounded by sundrye visions, that the trueth thereof might be more certayne and that it might be printed more depelye in our mindes, whiche the prophetes also do vse often times. And in this 12. Chapter the Church is brought in, suffering persecution of the Prince of darkenes, which is the head of all her enemies: & her state and condition is described of what sorte it should be from the first preaching of the Gospell euen to the ende of the world.
Vers. 1.
And there appeared a great wonder in heauen. &c.
GReat & meruailouse thinges were to be shewed by a great and wonderfull signe, for it is aboue the capacitie of oure wit, how the Church, which is described vnderunder the figure of a woman weake, vnapt to warre, and vnarmed, coulde anye while stande in safetie, against so sturdy and armed enemies. But she appeareth in heauen that her birth & countrie mighte be signified, for here in earth she is but a pilgrime and straunger.
A woman clothed with the sunne. &c. The spouse of Christ is shewed vnderunder the forme and shape of a woman, whiche of her selfe is weake and without force and strength, but yet sufficiently furnished against all enemies, with the vertue and strength of hir spouse Christ. She is seene clothed with the sunne, all whose gloriouse apparaill is Christ the sunne of righteousnesse, which spreadeth the beames of his lighte vponupon the whole Churche.
And the moone vnderunder her feete, &c. She treadeth vnderunder her feete all temporall and transitorie thinges, which although they seeme to shew forth there brightnesse as the lighte of the moone, yet they are in no price or estimation with the Curche, in which the gloriouse light of the sunne beinge alwaies present, doth darken all the beames of those thinges.
And vponupon her head a crowne of twelue starres. &c. She hath her head crowned with twelue most bright shinning starres euē as it were with a beautifull crowne, not made of gold or earthly preciouse stones, but of starres, that is of heauenlye matter, whiche is the doctrine of the twelue Apostles whiche they being lightned of the onelyonly sonne the fountayne of Gods wisedome, hauehave preached, & after committed the same to writing. But if any obiect, that not all the writinges of the Apostles are extant, neither that they were all Apostles, which writ Gospels, the aunswere is in a redines, bycause that doctrine, which was deliuered by a few writers, was neuerthelesse the doctrine of all the twelue Apostles, verely euen ye same which being receyued from Christ they preached in the whole world. we shewed before, yt in the nūber of twelue is signified, ye vnity of the Church gathered out of a miserable dispersion, to whiche end Christ chose twelue Apostels, accordinge to the number of so many tribes of Israell, & afterwarde he sent ye same to ye gentils which he wold hauehave to be gathered into one body of Israell.
Verse. 2.
And she was with child and cried trauailing in birth and pained, ready to be delyuered. &c.
ALthough she was barren of her selfe, yet fruitefull by hee spouse, and nowe euen nighe to her trauaile, she is payned with great pensiuenes and carefulnes that she mighte bringe forthe that which she hath conceiued by the seede of Gods word. And this is a true and liuely description of the true Church.
Vers. 3.
And there appeared another wonder in heauen. &c.
AFter the Church described by a notable and cleare figure, followeth a full description of a foule & cruell monster which is enemie of the same. And so like as ye figure of the womā before painted out, was a wonderfull signe, so likewise the forme and shape of her enemy semed to Iohn a thinge worthy great admiration, whiche was shewed by and by after the most pleasaunt vision of the woman. And it is so much more meruailouse that so horrible a monster appeareth no where els but in Heauen. But we se in th…s figure, how farre of it is from the condition of the Church, to want an enemie, whose assaults & inuasions shee is compelled to suffer, euen in heauen. And we may chiefly here acknowledge the malice of ye deuill, which persecuteth ye Church euen vntounto the heauens, not countinge it not enough to vexe the same with greuous tormentes in earth, vnlesse he maye striue yf he could so plucke downe her eternall saluation, which is in heauen. Let vsus not therfore make anye couenaunt of since with this enemie, for hee seketh by all meanes nothinge els but oure vtter destruction.
Behold a great red Dragō. &c. He vseth an aduerbe of shewinge for to sheere vp greater attention. For the thinge is worthy to be diligently noted and considered, this terrible Dragon is that olde serpent whiche seduced ye first woman to the destruction of the whole worlde, now laboreth diligently, not only by subtilty as in time past, but also by force and cruelty to bringe into destruction, this woman restored to her olde and also a far better s…ate & condition by Christ. And seing all kind of serpēts are both terrible & hatefull to vsus, ye great dragon cānot but raise vp great terrore of himselfe, and also no lesse hatred to all those which hauehave a care to eschew his poisoned and venim b…ringes Add moreouer vntounto these, that shining in his fyery colloure he thretnith nothing els to all those, which he shall enticelinglye draw into his net, but madde fury and rage of destroyinge, and the studiouse care and desire of sheading bloud.
Hauing seuen heades and ten hornes, and vponupon his heads seuen crownes. &c. He is not simple in subtilty or a poisonful spirite of one mouth, but a deformed monster with seuen heads he testifieth by the number of ye same heads that he inuenteth & deuiseth all kindes of craftes and subtilties, like as being armed with seuen hornes he boasteth yt he weareth crownes vponupon euerye one of his heades, it sheweth his innumerable victories by which he hath subdued to his obedienc al the whole worlde.
Vers. 4.
And his tayle drew the third part of the starres of heauen and cast them to the earth. &c.
IT may also be here gathered what strength he had in his hornes, and his heades, seeing that by casting his taile onelyonly, yt is the lust of earthly things yt he drew the thirde part of the starres to the earth that is many of the teachers which for a time semed to shine as starres in heauen, which being addict to the studye of earthly pleasures, hauehave vtterly lost all there heauenly brightnes, by which wicked acte he taketh greater corage, and hope yt he can more easely ouerthrow also the whole church. Moreouer it is heare shewed how great the vnmeasurable hugenes of that monstrouse body is, whose meruailouse longe taile would suffice to cast downe the thirde parte of the starres. Suche and so great is the enemie of the Church.
And the Dragon stode before the woman, which was readye to be deliuered to deuoure her children, when she had brought it forth. &c. It is shadowed vnderunder this figure with how great madnes the deuill would rage against the Church. The Dragon waiteth vponupon the woman, which is in trauaill that he mighte deuoure the infante so soone as it shoulde be horne. How diligently Sathan laboured euen in the first beginning of the Churche to destroye her tender babe, and first issue that there might no posteritie of the same remayne in the world, we knowe by histories. What lefte he vndone by his ministers the Iewes, the pries…es, and the Pharisies, that the doctrine of Christ might not be spread abroade in the worlde, but might be vtterly extinguished with the Apostles them selues. With what violent rage did he stirre vp Nero and other bloudie Emperours that they might vtterly subuert the whole Church, by murdering infinite numbers of hir children, the faithfull confessours & martires of Christ. The deuill therfore would hauehave destroyed the infante of the Churche, euen in the verie birth thereof, if the successe had bene agreable to his will and carefull trauaill.
Vers. 5.
And she brought forth a male Childe. &c.
THe Dragons hope deceyueth him, for although he had assayed euerie way, yt he might destroye the fruite & ofspring of the Church euen in the verie birth, yet the Church brought forth a male child strong and liuely, which in s…ite of Sathan should receyue the inheritaunce of rule, and Dominion appointed and ordeyned for him of God the father.
Which should rule all nations with a rod of Iron. &c This prophecie is of Christ in the 2. psalm. Therefore Christ is formed in the hartes o… yt faythfull by the ministrie of the Gospell as Paule witnesseth to the Galath. 4. chap. And Christ doth compell all natiōs to his obedience although they obstinately resist, breaking them with a rod of Iron. And the members of Christ which are the faithfull through him are made partakers of the same kingdome. The deuill lieth craftilye in waise for these that he might deuoure them, so soone as they he brought forth into the light of yt Gospell. But he doth not obteyne his desire, for howsoeuer he shall conspire with the whole army of hell to bring them to destruction, yet the lord will not giuegive thē for a praye vntounto his teeth. It foloweth therefore.
And her sonne was taken vp to God and to his throne. &c. VnderUnder the protection and defence of God, he is in safetie, so that he whome the Dragon desired to be drowned in the bottomeles pit of hell, is taken vp to god, and to the throne of his maiestie, & drawne out of the Iawes of the deuill. For Christ whome the deuill wished so much to be destroyed, fitteth at the right hand of the diuine glorie, to the whiche dignitie also of heauenly glorie, by his benefite are exalted, as manye as are made the Children of God and of the Churche by faithe. In vaine therefore Sathan seketh there destruction, whome God hath drawne vp to him selfe, and hath so receyued them to the throne of his glorie. How greedely the deuill assayed to blotte out the name of Christianitie in the first spreading abroade of the same, we hauehave before touched, but what proffited he in the ende in bestowing so great labour? For how much more his ministers raged in there madnes with sword and fire, and all kinde of tormentes against, the child of the Churche, that they might destroy him yet being but an infante & not able to make battell, so much the more godlines increased exceadingly, and the Churche dayly receyued such increasings, as were not to be ashamed of. And Christ whose glorie the Deuill so greatly enuied, sitting in the throne of gods maiestie defendeth yt godly from heauen, taketh vengeaunce vponupon his enemies, and bestoweth all kinde of good giftes vponupon his Churche. We nede not feare therefore, least that the whole Church should euer be subiecte to the tirannie of the Dragon.
Vers. 6.
And yt woman fled into wildernes where she hath a place prepared of god, yt they should fede her there, a 1000.200. & threscore dayes.
AFter that he had declared how yt the sonne of the womā was takē vp into a place of safetie, now he teacheth how prouision is made also for ye womā hir self. God could at his wil binde & restraine the deuill that he should not hurte the Church at all. But this is the most wise dispensation of his holye will, that when she hath bene proued, & tried by sundrie afflictions in the worlde, he will at length, take her to himselfe into heauen: yet in the meane time he doth not fayle her euen in the mooste desperate matters, but sendeth ayed from heauen in due season. Therefore he openeth a way for the woman to flye, that the mighte for a time eschewe the violence of ye Dragon. Christ him selfe also permitted this maner of auoydinge haunger to his apostels Mathew the 10. But when and who ought to sly when persecution approchethe it is not so easye to expresse in wordes, as that the holy… ghost shall inwardly instruct eueryevery one when time shalbe. But that we should not thinke, that the woman shoulde perishe in the desert, where there is the scarsity of all thinges. S. Iohn doth expresse, that there was also in the desert a seat prepared for her of God, whereas she might safely for a time appoincted by God, breath and refreshe her selfe from ye persecutiō of the Dragon. And least we might suppose that she shoulde in the meane time want any thinge, he sheweth that she shalbe nourished and fed there for a thousande two hundreth and sixty daies, that is, by the space of two and forty monthes, which make three yeares and an halfe, which short time, when as it is the halfe of a propheticall weeke, is sayed to be graunted to sathan and Antichrist, that they cannot any longer oppresse or afflict the Churche. Moreouer this place doth plainely shew, that the church shall not alwaies be visible to the world, which thing the papistes doe vrge most of all, for if it should be alway in the fighte of all men, how may she be sayed to fly into ye wildernes? Yea it is certeine by this place, that the Church of Rome is not signified by this woman, which was neuer banished and driuen into the wildernes, from ye eies of men. And lastlye we are here also taught that we must aunswere to oure aduersaries whiche aske vsus where oure Church was before these two or three hundred yeares. Verely if we know yt the true worship of God, was to be found in no region of Europe or Asia, it is inough that it was in ye desert, that is in places not commonly knowen, that it lay hid by the decree of god, euen vntounto the time by him appointed. For ye number of ye elect, whiche is ye church shall neuer faile duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page but God doth preserue & kepe to himselfe 7. thousande men, which hauehave neither bowed the knee to Baal nor kissed his Image with the mouth, & that, when as Elias beleued that hee remayned alone in the people of Israell. How much more is it like that there remayned many elect of God, throughoute the large regions of Asia, & Europe, & also some parts of Africa, in which the name of Christ is spoken of, which although they were vnknowen to Antichrist & his adherentes, yet they offered and yelded to god his due honour? The papistes therefore to there owne hurt do boast of there visible Church, and rashly do condemne oures, bycause it was some time inuisible to the Romanistes. For in this it is more like to this true Churche, that it sometime laye hidde: and there synagoge alwaies visible, doth sufficiently bewray it self not to be this womā, which fled into the desert.
Vers. 7.8.
And there was a battell in heauen, Michaell and his Aungels fought against the Dragon, and the Dragon and his Aungels fought, but they preuayled not, neither was there place any more founde in heauen. &c.
THe first attempt or enterprise of Sathan was most daungerouse, namely that he might steale away, and deuoure the infant of the Church, so soone as it were borne, & that he might depriue the Church for euer, of her eternall happenes. But Christ the defendour of his spouse setteth himselfe against the wicked enterprises and practises of the Deuill, & so the scarse battell arose in heauen, whilest Sathan studieth vtterly to destroy the Churche, and Christ to saue, and defend the same for euer. Therefore I expound this battelle, which was toughte in heauen, of the studie and enterprise of the Deuill, whereby he chiefely laboureth with all diligence to assalte ye eternall saluation of the Church, which is founded in Christ, & his madnesse and impudēcie is noted, that he dare fight with God him selfe. (Michaell and his Aungels) Michaell that great prince of the army of God doth signifie Christ, which is the generall c…ntayne of our oste, which thing is also taughte in the 9.10, & 12. chap. of Daniell, That he ioyneth to him selfe the Aungells, it doth not argue that there is weaknes or want of strēght in him, but he doth it to encrease oure confidence and trust. For the Dragon mustreth his armye on eueryevery side of the Angels of darkenes, and putteth forth all his strength to oppresse Christ. But what was the ende of the battell? They preuailed not neither was there place founde any more in heauen. The terrible Dragon garded with the infinite thousandes of his soldiers can do nothinge against Christ, whiche defendeth the health of his Church. Sathan therefore beinge ouercome with all his whole armye, is compelled to leaue of the battell, and not that onelyonly, but also beinge depriued of all hope of renuinge the warre, he with all his soldiers is cast downe vntounto ye earth. Now therfore is the saluation of the elect certen, when as the deuill himselfe hauinge assaied and proued all his strength to breake and ouerthrow the same, beinge put to shamefull slighte, is ouerthrowen by the vertue and power of the most mighty Michaell.
Vers. 9.
And the great Dragon that olde serpent called the deuill and Sathan was cast out, which deceiueth al the worlde, and he was cast into the earthe and his Aungels were cast out with him. &c.
AFter that he had sayed that hee was driuen oute of Heauen that his place could there no lenger be found, neither coulde hee frustrate, or make voyde the euerlastinge saluation of the Churche, hee sheweth whither hee was thruste oute into Banishement withe his whole army, that is to saye into tho earthe, that he mighte exercise his madde rage onelye vppon the reprobate, and that hee mighte afflicte the Churche with temporall euils onelyonly, and yet that he mighte not obteyne that he woulde: that is, that throughe the terrour, and fearce of tormentes, hee myghte driue her oute of the earthe. Moreouer wée muste obserue with what sundrie names and titles the holy ghost setteth him out, that all his malice and subtill deceytes mighte bee perceyued. Firste he is called, that great Dragon, whiche is described before in the thirde Verse of this Chapter. Secondly, that olde serpent which seduced oure first parentes to disobedience, now so much more subtile, as he is more ancient by long vse and experience. Thirdly he is called in greeke euen as it were by his propre name, Diabolos, which in english is deuill, yt is a false accuser, which with false crimes, and secreat accusations neuer ceased to accuse the godly before the Lord God, that if he could by any meanes, he mighte bring them into Gods hatred. Fourthly he is called in Hebrew Sathan, that is an aduersarie, the sworne enemie of Christ and all godly men, at whose handes we oughte to loke for nothing, but enmitie, whom, it behoueth vsus chiefly both to hate and take heed of. Fyftlye hee is called the deceyuer of the whole worlde, of whome how great the deceites are, and with what diligent care of vsus to be eschewed, we may knowe sufficiently euen by this place, yt he hath seduced the whole world, that is the greatest parte of the world, into errours, and false worshipping of God, whereby we vnderstande, that, that is not the verie catholique Church in dede, which boasteth in the greatest multitude of men, neither therfore to be called catholique or vniuersall, bycause all giuegive there cōsent into the same, seeing the Deuill here deceyueth the whole worlde: but that which all ye godly do acknowledge for there mother, although the reprobate in respecte of number, by infinite partes do excede them.
Vers. 10.
And I herde a lowde voice saying &c.
AFter so gloriouse a victorie ouer Sathan and his army, the heauenly spirites do sing a triumphant song to God and his Christ. By whiche we are taught that the glorie of god is alwaies to be celebrated of vsus in the Church for so vnspeakeable a benefite. That he sayeth a lowde voice, he sheweth both the multitude and also the feruent zeale of the singers, for we ought all earnestly to brust forthe to the singing and celebrating of gods praises.
In heauen nowe is saluation, and strength, and the kingdome of our God, and the power of his Christ. &c. There is vttered in this song, what fruite and commoditie there is of so notable a victorie. For in sayinge that there is saluation in heauē, they vnderstand that the euerlasting health of ye Church doth now remayne vnshaken after yt the deuill which assayed to oppresse the same with warre, is vanquisshed & cast downe prostrate vntounto the earth. The vertue and power of god hathe shewed forth it selfe, to beate downe the violence of Sathan. And now the kingdome of God ouer the sainctes, whiche the proude Dragon desired, remayneth vnuiolate, when the Dragon is thrust out. And especially the dignitie of Christ doth excell ouer all the power of the aduersarie, by whose gouernement the battaill is fought, and likewise by his inuincible vertue and power all the whole army with there captayne are ouerthrowne.
Bycause the accuser of our brethren is cast downe, which accused them before our God day and night. &c. He which weried continually the eares of god with dayly false accusations layed to the charge of the godly, that he might spoile thē of eternall blisse, and as if they were guiltie of eternall deathe might make them bond slaues to the tormentes of hell. But god will now no longer abide to heare any accusatiōs against his sainctes, which are wasshed with the bloude of his sonne. Who shall say any thing to the charge of gods chosen: it is god which iustifieth, who is he that shall condemne? Rom. 8.
Vers. 11.
And they ouercame him by the bloud of the lambe and by the worde of his testimonie: and they loued not there liues vntounto the death. &c.
WOnderfull is the clemencie of Christ that he taketh his sainctes into the praise of this victorie, but yet in such sorte as redoūdeth to his owne glorie. The heauenly spiritess therefore reioyce with the faithfull for there victorie, but yet obteyned not by there owne bloud, but by the bloud of Christ, althoughe they them selues also powred forth there liues in battaill. And this Aungelicall song doth clearely reache with what armour and weapons the faithfull maye ouercome the deuill, that is with the shield of faith, which is in the bloud of the lābe, which offered vp him selfe a sacrifice for there sinnes, and with the sworde of Gods worde and the confession of the name of Christ, which they were neuer ashamed of before mē, although for witnessing the same they should suffer most bitter death. After the same maner oughte all the godly to be prepared to whome the glory of God & his Gospell is preciouse, that they may not louelove there liues vntounto death, as oft as necessitie of confessing his name doth require ye same. And although the daunger of death be absent, yet the same affection ought alwaies to be with vsus, that we may not louelove our liues euen to the death, in cōparison of holding the incomparable treasure of the trueth of Gods gospell.
Vers. 12.
Therefore reioyce ye heauens and ye that dwell in them. &c.
A benefite is bestowed vpō those in vaine, whereof they that are partakers, hauehave no fruition in the same. And often times it commeth to pas through our peruerse crokednesse, that being adorned with great benefites of God, we feele no fruite of the same. Therefore they exhorted the heauen, and all the heauenly spirites that they would bee touched with the moste ioyfull sense and fealinge of so great a good, and for the same would reioyce with ioye vnspeakeable, that to Christ, glorie, and to the Churche, eternall saluation, is obteyned by this so gloriouse a victorie.
Wo be to the Inhabitantes of the earthe and the sea, for the Deuill is come downe vntounto you, which hath great wrath knowing that he hath but a shorte time. &c. They doe not so muche curse the wicked, as that they expresse there most grieuouse daungers, to the seducing of whom, the deuil descended into the earth full of furie and wrath. (Of the earth and ye sea) according to the literall sense is vnderstoode the inhabitants of the mayne lande, and Islandes, but figu…atiuely he vnderstādeth all the reprobate, which are so much addicted to earthly and fraill pleasures, that they neuer looke vp into heauē, to make whome blinde and that worthely, the Deuill descended, not more moued by his owne furie, then sente downe by the iudgement of god. Whose madnes, they shewe, shoulde be so much the more fearce and cruell, bycause he knew for certentie that a verie short time was graunted him to stirre vp his tragedies in. He will therefore pretermite nothing in the meane time, whereby he maye drawe a large and fatte praye into his nettes. What doth he therefore.
Vers. 13.
And when the Dragon sawe that he was cast vntounto the earth, he persecuted the woman which had brought forthe the man childe. &c.
WHen he sawe that he was driuen oute of heauen, that he could not by charging and false accusing hinder the eternall saluation of the churche, perceyuinge the same to be yet warring in earthe, he raiseth vp horrible persecutions against her by his ministers the tyrantes. And whē as he could not deuoure the childe which the woman broughte forthe, for whiche he had long time lien subtillye in waite, he persecuteth the woman which brought forth, with beastly crueltie. Being ouercome of the head, he setteth vponupon the bodie. We may note here the deuilishe crueltie of some men, whiche if they can not bring the greatest hurtes vponupon the godly, as death it selfe, that they do not leaue of to hurte by suche meanes as they be able, they violently spoile them of there goodes, they d…fame them with reproches and sclaunders, & hate also euen there friendes, for there sakes.
Vers. 14.
But to the woman were geuen two winges of a great Eagle.
BEfore he sayed that the woman beinge deliuered of her child fled into ye wildernes: nowe he sheweth by what meanes she coulde eschew or flye the meruailous swiftnes of the dragon in pursuinge. Two winges, saieth he were geuen vntounto her, with whiche she be came swifter then the deuill, and he addeth moreouer (of a great Egle that we shoulde vnderstand, that the woman might safely trust vntounto them. By the winges we may acknowledge the sundry & vnaccustomable waies and meanes of flying whiche the Lord openeth to the Church as ofte as he hath decreed to deliuer the same by slight from the hands of tyrants.
That she might fly into the wildernes, into her place where she is nourished for a time, times, and halfe a time, from the presence of the serpent. &c. We hauehave spoken before in the 6. verse, of the flight into the desert, and of the wonderfull prouidence of God, whiche euen in the scarcitie and want of all thinges prouideth not only lodging but also meate for nourishment. And the space which is here darckly called, a time, times, & halfe a time, I enterprete to be ye same, whiche he sayed a thousand two hundreth and sixtie daies, that is, three yeares and an halfe, so that one time maye agree to a yeare, two times, to two yeares, and halfe a time, to halfe a yeare, for in Daniell to whome he alludeth, times are read in the duall nū ber, that they might signifie two times. And these appellatiōs of time, seme to be applied to the sense & affection of ye Church which was banished. For she thinketh the time of her calamitie long, and afterward follow two times, which increase the wearinesse, but at length the halfe time, when as the matters seme almost desperate, doth manifestly shewe that accordinge to the promise of our sauiour, the dayes of affliction are shortned.
Vers. 15.
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water after the woman as it had bene a riuer, bycause she should hauehave bene caught of the sloude. &c.
THe deuill being vanquished an hundreth times yet repareth the battaill againe, and thoughe violence hauehave small successe, yet he absteyneth not from craftes and subtilties. He foloweth the woman therefore flying into the wildernes, whō he cānot catche and teare with his teeth, with reproches, lies, and sclaunders framed by heritiques, and hypocrites, whereby if he could he coueteth to bring her into an euill reporte. And we see what a great s…oude of lies and reproches hee hath cast after her by the Arrians, Pelagians, Papistes, and other such like hypocrites, by which he studied, and also now studieth to draw her in to the hatred of Princes, mightie men, & moreouer of all those which gaue any credite vntounto them. But Sathā shall neuer hauehave successe or preuaile by his subtilties, for it foloweth.
Vers. 16.
But ye earth holpe the womā, & the earth opened her mouth & swalowed vp ye riuer which the dragon cast out of his mouth. &c.
HE which deliuered his Church from the greatest violence. and crueltie of the enemies, will not suffer her to be taken with the subtill sleyghtes of Sathan, but the earth shall rather open her mouth as it did in time past to swalow vp the whole faction of Cho…e, Dathan, and Abyrame, then that at the will and pleasure of the Deuill a heare should fall from her head. And we see that all the deuises of heretiques against the Catholique Church, by which the dragon hoped that the woman should be destroyed, hauehave vanished away, as though they were droncke vp of the earth, and yet the Church her selfe, nowe at length drawen out of secreat places, standeth immouable, and shall stand for euer, euen vntounto the ende of the world, We may here note that the heauen the earth, and all thinges, which are in them, do helpe the godly, as ofte as the Lorde will deliuer them out of the handes of the enemies. And also that wee be not to much moued and troubled, for the reproches and sclaū ders of the enemies of the Church, heritiques and hypocrites, (which are the instruments of the deuill) by which they indeuour, euen like a most swift flood to draw her, and her mēbers into hatred and enuie. For all there lies shall shortly be swalowed vp by ye earth, & there deuilish enterprises shalbe brought to naught.
Vers. 17.
Then the Dragon was wroth with the woman: and went & made warie with the remnant of her seed, which kepe the commaundemēts of god, & hauehave the testimonie of Iesus Christ.
THe deuill hauing set vpō her so often with so great violēce, and being so often so shamefully repelled, it is no meruaile thoughe hee be driuen into wrath and furie, yet notwithstandinge he leauethe not of from his purpose, whiche hee tooke in hand. But although he can not oppresse the whole Church with the sundry sleyghtes which he hath inuented, yet he persecuteth euerie one of her mēbers with a meruailouse study and care of destroyinge. He make the warre therefore with the remnante of her seede, wheresoeuer they be dispersed through the whole Earthe, and hee neuer leauethe of, to assaulte them partly by force, and partly by deceites, whom we ought to resiste strong in faith, putting on the whole armour of God which the Apostle describeth in the 6. Chap. to the Ephe. And in that he calleth the sonnes of ye Church the seede of the woman, he alludeth to that, which the Lorde pronounced of the seede of the woman, which should breake the serpentes head, that we should not feare the inuasion of him, whose head being broken by Christ, is deliuered also vntounto vsus, which are the seede of the woman, to be troden vponupon. Furthermore he briefely expresseth, whome he nūbreth among the lawfull sonnes of the Church, that is they which kept the commaundements of God, and also do openly confesse the faith of Christ, whiche they embrace.
Vers. 18.
And I stoode on the sea sande. &c.
THis verse pertayneth to the vision of the Chapter folowing, Ihon therefore thoughte in a vision that he stoode vponupon the shoore, that he mighte beholde the beast ascendinge out of the sea.