Prelections Upon Revelation, Chapter 16
The syxtenth Chapter.
HE sheweth in this Chap. with what plagues and scourges the Lorde would strike the kingdome of antichrist before the last ouerthrow and vtter destruction of the same, leaste they shoulde alwaies please thē selues securely in their delights and pleasures, and deride and scorne the calamities of the Godly.
Vers. 1.
And I heard a great voice out of the temple, sayinge to the seuen Aungels, goe your waies, powre out the seuen vials of the wrath of God vponupon the earth. &c.
THe seuen Aungels stode gyrded about holdinge the vials ful of Gods wrath which were committed vntounto them, yet they dare not powre them out, vntill that beinge admonished by the heauenly oracle, they knew that the ripe time for that busynes was at hand. Therfore the voice of Almighty God is heard thū dringe out… of th… temple of his holines, whiche commaundeth the Aungels with speede to powre forth the vialls full of Gods wrath into ye earth. Let vsus learne here to waite for the voice of God in all thinges before we take any thinge in hande. We do praye continually, thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen. Beholde here an example of aungelicall obedience, to the rule whereof we oughte to frame our obedience. The Aungels are first called forth of ye temple, they appeare straightway, carefully waitinge what the Lord woulde commaunde them: there is giuen into eueryevery of their handes vials, that is power to exercise the iudgements of God againste the Antichristian wickednes, which thinge although they desyre spedely to dispatche, yet they tary the time prefixed and determined by God. Moreouer we may here note the force of that voice, (poure forth) that they are commaunded to send them down not by droppes as it were dew or raine, but to powre forth and emptye there whole vials at once, whervpon we vnderstand that rare and vnwonted plagues were to be cast vponupon the reprobate.
Vers. 2.
And the first angell went and powred oute his viall vponupon the earth: and ther sell a noisome & greuous sore vponupon ye men which had y• marke of ye beast & vponupon thē which worshipped his Image.
The seuen plagues as we noted also before, signifie in generall all the calamities, whiche God woulde sende vponupon the kingedome of Antichrist, before that Christ should flea the man of sinne himselfe with the breath of his mouth. And of those certeine are vsuall scourges of God, with whiche he is accustomed to afflict and punnish the worlde for sinne, as pestilence, warre famine, contagiouse and sharpe diseases, whiche are signified, by pouringe forth the foure first vials, And certeyne are ordeined peculierly to beat downe the tyranny of Antichrist it selfe, which are described in the three other vials. That which concerneth the former, bycause the tyranny of Antichrist may worthylye be compared to the bondage of Egipte, the holy ghost doeth denou…ce the like punnishments by an allegory to the plagues of the Egiptiās. For this city is spiritually called Egipt, as we read before in the 11. chap. The first Aungell therfore powred forth his viall vpō ye earth, and there followed a noisome & greuous sore vponupon y• men which professed y• bon…age of ye beast, & thē which acknowledge his aucthority. And this plague represēteth ye sixt plague, wherwt god stroke y• rebellious Egiptiās by Moses as we read Exo. 9. this plague signified, pestilēce, sores, & specially ye french pockes wt which y• popes cardinals, bishops & all y• dregges of ye popish clergy are chiefly afflicted, whose vngodlines god doth daily reueng wt sundry & vnaccustomable kinds of diseases. And histories do testifie how often ye pestilēce slew & deuoured, at Rome in Italy, in spaine, in france, & somtime thorowout al Europe, as large as ye tirāny of the pope extēded, so yt we neuer read yt they were any where els so greuously afflicted with pestilēces, either before Christ, or after ye gospell reuealed as in ye middest of popery. But peraduēture ye papists wil obiect yt they are not only plagued wt pestilēce, but ye the same doth also take hold vpō our coūtries & cities: we cōfesse ye same to come to passe through our sinnes & iniquities: but here it is spoken of ye rare & vnwonted greatnes of ye punishmēt which is plainly perceiued to hauehave ben poured forth vpō ye kingdōe of antichrist, whē the lord doth only afflict ours gently with fatherly corrections.
Vers. 3.
And the 2. Aungell powred out his viall vponupon the sea & it b…came as ye bloud of a dead man, & euerie liuing thing died in the sea. &c.
THe Lord will beate downe there pride not with and kinde of punishment as we said before, but with sundrie plagues and o…ten repeated. And this figure resembleth the firste plague of yt Egiptians Exod. 7. Whē all the waters were turned into bloud. Here also the waters of ye sea are tourned into corrupted bloud, he signifieth (I thinke) yt with warres, seditions as well ciuill, as foren, there should be made such a great slaughter of men, that the verie sea should drawe into it a bloudy colour. And the amplification is hyperbolicall, of which sorte there are verie many foūd in the scriptures, to expresse ye grieuousnes of this punishment, wherwith god will afflicte ye reprobate. Whole Europe almost is cōpassed about wt sea, which whē it is sayd to be tourned into bloud, signifieth yt all should redound, & as it were ouerflow with warres, tumults, & bloudie battels. Here also histories do witnesse, & dayly experience also doth teach, what great slaughters the pride of the Romane bysshopes hath caused, whiles it set princes together by the eares with most grieuouse battailes to flea thē selues on either parte: whose force & strengthes being weakened, he abuseth to the confirmation of his tyrannie. Who can nūber, how many thousandes of men hee hath slayne? whiles hee caste downe some Emperours from the Empire, and placed others in there rowmes, whiles he absolued the common people from the faithe geuen to there Princes, when hee againste couenauntes inuaded the Turckes, and Saracenes, whiles hee maketh warre for the crosse, and the citie of Ierusalem & whiles he soweth discordes & priuie hatreds dayly among Princes, and nowe before oure eyes, what tragedies hath he raysed vp in Germany, France, Scotland, and Spaine? and from whiche oure countrie of England is not altogether free. But howsoeuer he applieth his busines, god in the meane time turneth the calamitie vponupon his owne head & maketh the sea bloudie with the slayne carkases of the Papistes. That he sayeth euerie liuinge thinge dyed in the Sea, it is a conueniente hyperbole for the Allegorie, and also together therewith hee alludeth to the fishes of the Egiptians that were slayne, when the waters were tourned into bloud. But of these thinges, whiche we hauehave saied it is not harde to vnderstande what he meaneth.
Vers. 4.
And the thirde Aungell powred forth his viall vponupon the riuers and fountaynes of waters and they tourned to bloude, &c.
THat nothing might remayne pure and holsome to the wicked, first the earth and the sea, nowe the riuers and fountaynes, afterwarde the sunne it selfe, are stroken with sundrye plagues. And this calamitie doth represente that firste plague of Egipte, by which the waters of the floud Nylus, and generally all lakes and fountayns were turned into corrupt bloud. But in that in the powring forth of two vials the waters are tourned into bloud, I thinke it is to bee referred to the more large settinge forthe of the slaughter done vppon the wicked, which thing also the two Aungels do afterwarde confesse: that bycause the thirste of bloude is insatiable in the kingedome of Antichrist, therefore by the lawe of equalitie, all thinges with them are tourned into s…aughter, and bloud.
Vers. 5.
And I herde the Aungell of the waters saye, &c.
I thinke the same concerning ye Aungell of the waters which I saw before of the Angell, which had power ouer fire. Verely that he is a certen power to whome God hath committed the gouernement of the waters. For by this name, (power) the Apostle Paule calleth a certeyne order of the Aungels, Ephes. Chap. 1. Colloss. Chap. 1. And fitly is the Aungel of the waters brought in here, acknowledging that this punishment hath worthely happened vntounto them, that they shoulde drincke bloud insteade of water, which with so great heat of crueltie thristed after bloud. For although this Aungell be set ouer the waters that he might preserue and kepe them from destructiō, and corruption, notwithstanding in that, beinge tourned into bloud they were corrupted, he confesseth that it came to passe, by the iust iudgement of God, for a punishment vponupon the wicked for there monstrouse and horrible crueltie.
Lord thou art iust, which art, and wast holy, bycause thou hast iudged these thinges. &c. He magnifieth the moste iust Iudgements of God, which fulfilleth the office of a righteous and vncorrupt Iudge. And such as he sheweth him self in sending this plague, such hath he bene in all ages, euen from the beginning of the world. Which although according to the sense of the flesh may seeme sometime to be to litle, yet notwithstanding at length when we shalbe indued with Aungelicall wisedome, we shall vnderstand that all his Iudgmentes do consist in most beautifull equitie.
Vers. 6.
For they shed the bloud of Sainctes and Prophetes: and therefore hast thou geuen them bloud to drincke: for they are worthie. &c.
THe raging crueltie of Antichrist which he exerciseth dayly vponupon the holy martyres of God, shall not escape vnpunished, but he which is neuer satisfied in drincking the bloud of the righteouse, at lengthe when the waters are tourned into bloud shall drinke his fill of bloud. For the lawe of repaying is most equall and righte, that they which seeke nothing, but the bloud of the Sainctes, and of the Prophetes should them selues with bloudie warres, and cruell slaughters be satisfied euen till they be wearie.
Vers. 7.
And I herde an other aungell out of the alter saying. &c.
WHen as before hee had placed the soules of those that were slayne for Christ vnderunder the altar Chapt. 6. Requiring vengeaunce vponupon there persecutours: I agree with those which referre this voice, whiche came from the altare to the same soules, now at length acknowledginge it to be true, which was sayed to them before, that if they should rest a litle while vntill the number of there brethren which should likewise be slayne for the testimonie of the gospell, were fulfilled, that by & by after god would grieuousely punishe the wicked reprobate.
Euen so Lord God almighty, true and righteouse are thy Iudgements, &c. First this voice subscribeth to the Aungel… of the waters, which had sayed that the waters were worthely tourned into bloud, that they mighte bee giuen for drinke, to bloud thirsty men, afterwarde it doth magnifie the almightie power, trueth & righteousnes of god. For God hath declareth his power, whē as to beat down ye proude, he hath ouerthrowē them with so great slaughters, he hath cōmēded his trueth seeing he hath cast vpō ye wicked ye punishmēts which he hath often threatned so sore. And he hath shewed his righteousnesse, whē as he hath not only brought vponupon thē the due paynes for there heynouse offences, but also by the Iust lawe of repaying like for like, hath found out a conuenient kinde of torment for there wickednesse, that they which were so greately delighted with the deinties of cruell & bloudie bankettes, should drincke one of an others bloud, whiles to there owne destructiō, they rage dayly with ciuill warres, slaughters and tumultes. True therefore and iust are his Iudgementes.
Vers. 8.
And the fourth aungell powred forth his viall on the sunne, and it was geuen vntounto him to torment men with heate of fire.
GOd will hauehave nothing remayne sound vntounto them, which by no benefites can be drawne to worship him. We all knowe sufficiently how acceptable and amiable the light of the sunne is, how healthfull the influēce of that starre is, the learned do acknowledge, how necessarie the vse of the same is to all men, the learned together with the vnlearned also doe confesse. But to the reprobate ministers of Antichrist, whiche darckened the onelyonly sunne of righteousnesse with there owne deuises, & inuentiōs, and by there bloudy decrees hauehave assayed to take him out of the world, God will make the naturall, and refreshing heat of the sunne, pestiferouse and deadly, so that in burninge all thinges, and also afflicting and tormenting men them selues with intollerable heate, he bringeth in hunger and thirst, and most pestilent diseases which rise and spring of the same. Moreouer so large as the vertue of the sunne doth extende, all thinges shall burne with immoderate heat, who can deny, but y• they were afflicted with verie great famine in the papisme? so that many also perished for want of foode. Moreouer who knoweth not of the feuers, languishing diseases, & pestilences springing of vnpure victuals, which sometime also light vponupon the popes them selues, if he hauehave read the historie of the times deduced from boniface the thirde, in whome the papacie begunne, vntounto these our times.
Vers. 9.
And men boyled in great heat, & blasphemed the name of God.
HE signifieth yt they parched not onelyonly with cōmon heate of y• sunne, as they be in hotte countries, but scorched with far greuouser boyling heate of the bright starre: that they were almost turned into madnes through ye tormentes. But at length what proffitte toke the wicked by these chasticemēts? they blasphemed the name of god, ascribing these plagues not to there owne abominable wickednes, but to ye vnrighteousnes of the lord. To the Italians, & also to the chiefe bysshopes, & popes thē selues, how familier & accustumable a thing it is to teare y• sacred & holy name of god with horrible blasphemies, yea euen for ye lightest damages or hurtes, those know which hauehave sene & vewed there maners, & cities. With what fury & rage thinke ye, would they barke against god as it were mad dogges? whē these grieuouse tormētes apprehēded & toke hold of thē. Moreouer which is the common blasphemie to all the papistes, that they teare the holy gospell of Christ, which god of his infinite clemencie & merciemercy hath vouchesafed to open, & reueale vntounto vsus in these last daies, with most filthie reproches, & attribute all the euils wherewith they are afficted, to the preaching and spreading abroad of the same.
Which hath powre ouer these plagues. &c. He amplifieth there deuilish wickednesse, that directlye they touche him with there blasphemies, which hath powre ouer these plagues either to increase or to deminish them, neither do they feare, least being prouoked to anger by there horrible blasphemies, he shold throwe vponupon them more heauier and sorer tormentes. Here we may obserue and note the nature and propertie of the reprobate, whiche beinge subdued with no chastismentes of god do yeld or geue place, but with howe manie more scourges of God they are chasticed, so much ye more obstinatly and proudelye they swell against God.
And they repented not to geue him glorie. &c. Wee are taught here what fruite god loketh for of our chastisement verely that we should repent for our sinnes, and ascribe ye glorie to god, which hath worthely chastised vsus, confessinge that we hauehave deserued by our heynouse offences, that he should punish vsus more grieuousely, and may acknowledge that he tempereth this iustice with clemēcie euen then whē he punisheth. The wicked do not this, but they alwaies complaine of the seueritie & sharpenesse of god, when as in verie deede the thousande parte of there wickednesse deserueth not these temporall afflictions, but eternall tormentes.
Vers. 10.
And the fifte aungell powred out his viall vponupon the throne of the beast, and his kingdome waxed darke. &c.
ALthough god hath hetherto with most grieuouse plagues taken vengeaunce vponupon the vngodlinesse of the members of Antichrist, yet neuerthelesse the euils scarce came neare to the head him selfe. For in warre famine and pestilence, ye common people are rather afflicted thou the prelates & noble personages. Now therefore the Lord doth beginne to punish the verie head of the beaste, and his chiefe members, when as the first Aungell powreth forth the viall of gods wrath, vponupon the throne of the beast, which I interprete to be done, when as through the preachers of the gospell the controuersie concerning the power of Rome was firste moued, whiche at length being discussed by the aucthoritie of the scriptures, the Antichristian pride & arrogancie of the beast was made manifest to the worlde. For then his kingedome waxed darcke. And that glorie of the popish kingdome, by which through mad pride he had exalted himselfe aboue all Churches, yea aboue ye scriptures, is altogether darckened in the whole world, so that euerie where, verie manie men doe renounce the aucthoritie of the Bysshop of Rome, princes do expell and driue his aucthoritie oute of there Dominions, and to conclude the common people, yea euen of the verie papistes, do contemne his bulles, and pardons, and deride and mocke his curses, violate & breke his lawes and decrees without any conscience of them.
And they gnewe there tongues for sorow. &c. The Romanistes take moste heauily this contempte of their dignitie, but they finde not how they maye restore them selues to their olde glory and aucthority. They indeuour indeed with all diligence and omitte nothinge, if by anye meanes they mighte recouer there lost dignitye, but the matter is past recouerye, therefore beinge in dispaire for the greate anguishe of minde, like as it were mad men, they bite and gnaw there owne toungues. The holy ghost doth signifie by this metaphor, that nothinge coulde hauehave happened vntounto them more greuouse, then that the throne and kingdome of the beast should be darkened with the thicke cloude of reproche and contempt.
Vers. 11.
And blasphemed the god of heauen, for their paines and for there sores, and repented not of their workes. &c.
THey are saieth he oppressed on eueryevery side with so greate sorow, for the disclosing of there fraudes, errors, pride & shamefull life, that beinge but wicked inhabitants of the earth, they prouoke the very God of heauen withe horrible blasphemies. For there sores. Rotten and festred sores cannot suffer the least touchinge. But now when as they are not lightly touched onelye, but lanched and seared with kniues and hot irons, it is not to be meruailed at, though the miserable men be driuen into a furious madnes. But yet in the mean time they hauehave no care of repentaunce, which is the onelyonly medicine and salue for ther pestred wounds. For although of what sort there workes are they may be of all men, yet neuer the latter they geue themselues to there olde accustomed wicked and deuilishe vices, as couetousnes cruelty and filthy lust. Moreouer this place doth teach that true repentaunce is to absteine from wicked workes. For if we shall say a thousande times yt our wickednes doth displease vsus, except we bring forth fruits worthy of repentaunce, we are nothinge els but hipocrites. Here also we see and perceiue the nature of the reprobate, whiche loke how much neerer they are to extreme and vtter destruction, so muche more malipertly they despise the maiestie of God.
Vers. 12.
And the sixt Aungell powred forth his viall vponupon the greate riuer Euphrates, and the waters therof drie… vp that the waye of the kinges of the east should be prepared. &c.
AFter that ye kingdome is obscured, so that there is nothing in the whole worlde darkee then the papacie: the sixte Angell now powreth forth the sixt viall of Gods wrath vponupon the great riuer Euphrates. The citie of Rome in this prophecie is allegorically painted forth vnderunder the figure of Babylon, and the riuer Euphrates was so great a defence to the olde Babylon, that when Cyrus woulde hauehave taken that Citie, hee could not by anie other meanes, thē by deriuing the riuer Euphrates from his Chanell, and tourning away the course and streame of the waters, he made the floude it selfe passable: And by this meanes he opened an entraunce and passage to himselfe, into the most strong defenced citie, to the whiche Historie no doubt, the holy ghost here alludeth, when he sayeth that the waters of Euphrates were dried vp, that a way should be prepared to the kinges of the East, to take and possese the citie. He signifieth therefore that all the defences and munitions of the Romane Empire should by the Iust iudgemēt of God be destroyed, that the Romanistes being spoiled and made naked of all there ayed, may be a pray to all there enemies that shall inuade them. Which thinge whether it shalbe by the Turcke, and other tyrantes of the East, or by the Princes of Europe, which hauehave imbraced the Gospell, and shall occupy, & possesse Babylon it selfe, I cā not for certentie define any thing thereof, but the ende shall once most plainely shewe. Truely there is no man whiche seeth not, that the West Babilon is spoiled almost of all strength wherewith in time past she was furnished, (which is that the waters of Euphrates are dryed vp) so that the assalte thereof is nowe verie easie and shalbe to those to whome God shall sometime committe this busines.
Vers. 13.
And I saw three vncleane spirites like frogges, come out of the mouth of the Dragon and out of the mouth of the beast. and out of the mouth of the false Prophetes. &c.
AFter that Sathan perceyued that great daunger hanged ouer his kingdome, which he gouerneth by the handes of Antichrist the Romane byshop, that diligēt watchfull Dragon, stirreth vp the beast, that is the pope pricked with the furies of his consciēce, that by the consent and counsaill of the false prophete the two horned beast, that is, of the popish clergie of Cardinales, and bysshopes, messingers, and Legates a Latere are sente forth to all Princes o… the earthe, as manye as acknowledge his aucthoritie, that they may stirre them vp with there croking cries, like the furies of hell, and may arme them to exercise crueltie against the godly professours of the Gospell, by the inquisitours o… hereticall prauitie as they call them, and by other maisters of mischiefe. We are here admonished that there is one and the selfe same purpose to the Dragon, the beast and the false prophete, that is, to the deuill, the pope, and the popish clergie, that when they feare that the ruine and ouerthrowe of his tyrannie hangeth ouer them, through the Gospell, they labour and endeuour by all meanes to hinder & stoppe ye course thereof. For all things are gouerned in the papacie, by the aucthoritie and inspiration of the deuill. Moreouer he sayeth that the Legates, or messingers of the pope, are vncleane spirites, like vntounto frogges or todes. Bycause that like as vncleane spirites driue those into madnesse in whome they dwell: so these inflame with iurie & mad rage, the princes and mightie men, to whome they are sent, against all the godly, and against them selues, that to there owne vtter destruction they maye rage against Christ, and his sacred Gospell. And they are sayed to be like frogges, either bycause they are delighted with mier and mearish places, that is the filth puddles of errours, or els that without any reason they alwaies croke and crie out with making bubles like frogges, vntill they shall compell kinges to conspire against god, and against his sacred trueth.
Vers. 14.
For they are the spirites of deuils working myracles, to go out vntounto the kinges of the earth, and the whole world. &c.
WHen as before he had said that they were vncleane spirits, nowe he repeateth that they are the spirites of deuils, that is euen the verie members and Instrumentes of the deuill, that all may knowe that the counsell wherewith they inspire kinges, is vngodly and diuilish. (Working myracles) bewitching the eyes of men with illusions and fayned miracles, as though they were the ministers of god, when as in verie deede they are the slaues of Sathan. For so they colour there lies to Princes, that they may tourne there eyes from the light of the gospell. For vnlesse they were altogether blinde, they would neuer applie there eares to suche brablers: that they should suffer them selues at the will and becke of Antichrist to be mustred into that warre which is taken in hande against the almightie god him selfe.
To gather them to the battaill of that great daye of God almightie. &c. In which day a famouse and suche a slaughter as was neuer herde of before shalbe made vponupon all the proude contemners of god, whiche would suffer them selues to be set in battell aray against god, & against his Christ: in whiche daie also the perpetuall praise of victorie, and eternall triumphe shalbe obteyned vntounto Christ, When all the army of Antichrist being slayne, ouerthrowne, and vanquished, the excellent glorie of his vertue and power shall alwayes hauehave the renowme.
Vers. 15.
Beholde I come as a thefe. &c.
I Confesse that this verse is interlaced altogether withoute any hanging together of the texte, but not withoute reason. For seeing mention was made in the ende of the verse going nexte before, of that great and fearefull daye of the Lorde god almighty, which should catche and oppresse the reprobate, like a snare: this admon…tion is not out of season intermedled, that the godly may learne alwaies to watche, least the remēbrance of that day should at any time slippe out of there mindes. Beholde I come as a thefe, it is ye voice of Christ Math. 24. Luke 12. Threatning that his second comming shalbe sodayne and vnloked for to the worlde, as the floud of waters in the dayes of Noah, and the fire in the dayes of Lot.
Blessed is he that watcheth, and kepeth his garmentes lest he walke naked and men see his filthinesse. &c When as the cōming of the lord is so vncerteyne, it behoueth vsus alwaies to watche, neither at any time to sleape in the bedde of securitie. That therefore which they that watche do, for they do not put of there garmentes, as they doe whiche goe to bedde: that same is to be followed of vsus in these Spirituall watches that we maye alwaies keepe, and holde fast the garment of faith & and innocencie least if the light of that great day springing vp sodaynly, should driue awaye all the darckenesse of dissimulation, wee be founde to walke naked, and so the de…ormitie of oure nakednesse be visible, or seene bothe to GOD and men. This garmente Christ doeth frely geue vntounto vsus, in that wee will receyue and gyrde the same diligentlye aboute vsus.
Vers. 16.
And he gathered them into a place called in the Hebrewe tongue Armagedd…n. &c.
THe order of his narration beinge a litle interrupted, to bringe in and place betwene a most proffitable admonition, he returneth againe to his purpose namelye that the Deuill, & Antichrist by those Legates sente forthe gathered together Kinges & there armes into a place apointed for there owne killinge and slaughter, to which the name Armageddon in the Hebrewe tongue is giuen, for that which came to passe there whiche is worthie to be remembred. Concerning the signification whereof, it is not agreed of among the learned, for some do expounde it Charmageddon, that is an army appointed to destruction, but others doe more rightly (in my Iudgemente) read this woorde in Hebrewe Guarmagedgnon, that is the subtiltie of destruction, so that the sense is, that by the deceypt or fraude of the Deuils, the Princes are brought into that place, where they should perishe by a slaughter in battaill, like as it is expounded more at large in the last verse of the 19. chap. And we know that it was vsuall among the Hebrewes of the like thinges ye happened to geue names to places: as Kibroth, Hataauah, the graues of concupiscence, Numb. 11. And Hamongog, that is the multitude Gog. Ezek. 39.
Vers. 17.
And the seuenthe Aungell powres …orth his viall into the ayre. &c.
THis last plague seemeth the most grieuouse of all, bycause the other tauched a parte onelyonly, but this striketh the whole body of Antichrist with extreme destruction. For now the lord God himselfe furnished with his owne vertue and power, will set vppon the beaste and his city Babylon, for now Antichrist shall not hauehave so muche as the ayre, whiche he may breath, but beinge armed for his destruction.
¶ And there came a great voice out of the temple of heauen from the throne, sayinge it is donne. &c.
THis sentence proceded or came forthe from the maiesty of God it selfe, and from his certaine determinate counsell, which is so suerly ratified and confirmed, that it can by no meaanes be called backe againe. This voice signifieth that the last ruine of Antichrist doth hange ouer his heade whiche he can by no meanes auoide or eschew.
Verse. 18.
And there followed voices thundringes and lighteninges, and there was a great earthquake, suche as was not since men were vponupon the earth, so mighty an earthquake I meane. &c.
THis is, that all thinges shall be tossed vp and downe withe horrible terrors that they whose iron breastes coulde not be pearced through with any strookes of the plagues that went before, that they might repent: shal now be stricken with so great horrore, that withe fearefulnes of minde they shall downe as deade. Moreouer those turmoles of the ayre, and chiefly the earthquake so wonderfull, doe fore shew the most greuouse and great chaunges in the worlde, of which as we see the beginninges, so verely the end will be tragicall and horrible.
Verse. 19.
And the great citye was deuided into three partes, and the cities of the gentils fell, &c.
NOW followeth, the effect of this earthquake the greatest of all others, that greate city, which is the sea of Antichrist, the whole multitude of those which were subiectes to the pride of Rome, clone into three partes throughe the violence of this earthquake, whiche manye do thus interpret, and in my iudgemente rightely. They which in time paste with one consent… hauehave worshipped the beast, are nowe deuided into three sectes. For some of them doe from there verie harte abhorre and detest his tyrannie, others doe remayne in the same slauerye still, and the thirde kinde of men doe sticke to neither parte. But hathe fallen either into Epicurisme, or Atheisme. They expounde the Cities of the Gentiles, to bee all the forren and false religions, as of the Turckes, and Iewes and Barbarouse people, all whiche Religions it is certeyne shalbe destroyed at the comming of Christ or else a litle before, but it becōmeth vsus with sobrietie to coniecture of those thinges which are not yet come to passe.
And great Babylon came in remembraunce before God to geue vntounto her the cuppe of the wine of the fearcenesse of his wrathe. &c. Not that God had at anye time forgot her, whiche hath also sent vponupon her those former plagues. But he signifieth that his whole wrath was nowe to be powred forth at once vponupon her, that he mighte vtterlye subuerte and ouerthrowe her, as it shalbe taught more playnlye in the Chapter 18. We hauehave spoken before of the cuppe of the wine of Gods wrathe Chap. 14. But that here also is added an other worde signifying wrathe to the greater Emphasis, for he sayeth not onelyonly wrathe, but also the anger or fercenesse of his wrath.
Vers. 20.
Euerye yle fled awaye and the mountaynes were not founde. &c.
SO great shall the earthquake be that it doth swalow vp and deuoure the Mountaynes and Iles. Some doe referre this to the ende of the worlde, but I thinke it signifieth that all place of refuge is taken awaye, for men are wont in the greatest calamities, to flie for ayde or safegarde to the mounteynes and yles.
Vers. 21.
And there fell a great haylle as it had bene talentes▪ out of heauen vponupon the men, and men blasphemed God, bycause of the plague of the hayle, for the plague thereof was exceading great. &c.
LIke as God oppressed the men of Hierecho with hayle frō heauen, so likewise will he beate downe & grinde in peces his aduersaries the Antichristians, with great stones as it were talentes, from heauen. All these are a Periphrasis and as it were a description of the horrible ende, which remayneth for the reprobate, which we are taughte can by no plagues be reformed, or broughte to repentaunce, but alwaies they blaspheme God, so that they shew them selues worthy that God should make them perpetuall monumentes of his wrath, and should adiudge them to eternall tormentes.