Prelections Upon Revelation, Chapter 18
The eyghtenth Chapt.
THE Aungell promised to Ihon, that he would shewe not onelyonly the misterie, but also the damnation of the great whore, whiche he doth execute diligently in this chapter, describinge the vnrecouerable ruine of Babylon.
Vers. 1.
And after these thinges I sawe an other Au… gell come downe from Heauen▪ hauing great power. &c.
THis Aungell doth signifie the preachinge of the Gospell, whiche God in these last times hath seat downe from heauen, to reprehende the impudencie of the great whore, and to preache her most certeyne ouerthrowe, whiche should neuer be repayred againe. This Angell is indued with great power, whiche bringeth the vnchaungeable decree of GOD, concerninge the subuersion of Babylon. And wee see withe what great zeale, freedome, and aucthoritie, all the abominations of the Romish Churche are reprehended by the faithfull ministers of the gospell.
And the earth was lightened with his glorie. &c. Whereas before was most thicke darckenesse, which couered ye whole kingdome of Antichrist, there the gloriouse light of the gospell hath shined, which hath driuen away all the mist of errours & ignoraunce from the eyes of the electe.
Vers. 2.
And he cried oute mightelye with a loude voice saying, it is fallen: it is fallen. Babylon the great citie, and is become the habitation of Deuils, and the hold of all fowle spirites, and a cage of euerye vncleane and hatefull byrde. &c.
THere is verie great vehemencie of euerie worde, that hee preached not but cried out, & that strongely, with as great streyninge of voice as he could. For it behoueth the mindes of men to be wakened, to the diligent considering of gods Iudgementes. Suche in time past semed the stablenesse of Babylō to be, when as it was on euerie side holden vp with ye strength of kinges and mightie men, that men thought it should neuer be subiecte to anye fall or ruine. The aungell therefore crieth with a lowde voice, that she is fallen, she is fallen, euen Babylon. althoughe she were neuer so great and trustinge to her owne fortresses. The Churche of Rome therefore may neuer looke for anye repayringe of her ruines, for shee is fallen, she is fallen euen the West Babylō, and shall neuer be restored againe, for those thinges shalbe performed vponupon the Sinagoge of Rome, whiche were Prophecied of olde Babylon, by Esay the thirtenth Chapter, and Ieremie 51. Bycause if there shall remayne any broken peces of the buyldinges amonge the heapes of sherdes and rubbishe, they shall not be left for any hope of restoring, but to the greater horrour: for in those desert and solitarie houses, shall Zijm, and Ohijm dwell, that is spirits and Goblins: Ostriches shall there make there nestes, & the Satyres shall daunce there, Owles shall crie, the Serpentes shall hisse, Dragons shall wallow and tumble there, and horrible indeede shalbe the face of all thinges in that place. Which the Aungell hath expressed in the verie same sense, and almost in the same wordes, when as he sayethe that Babylon shalbe an habitation of Deuils, a holde of all fowle Spirites, and a cage of euerie vncleane and hatefull byrde. When the Gospell therefore is preached cōcerning the ouerthrow of Babilō, whatsoeuer remayneth in it, after the seruantes of god are called out, we ought not to count thē for any other, which reioyce to dwell in such desolate places then for deuils, fowle spirites & all vncleane birdes. Moreouer we may playnlye see before our eyes an Image of Babylon destroyed, in tēples, monasteries ouerthrowen. Who would euer hauehave beleued, yt so great buildinges, so beautifull palaces, so great riches and treasures should be layd wast, & brought into so great desert? but ye voice of the Angell foretolde this, it is no doubt therefore, but yt the same end remayneth for all ye reliques & all rēnants of babylō.
Vers. 3.
For all nations hauehave droncke of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the Kinges of the earth hauehave committed fornication with her, and the marchantes of the earth are waxed riche of the abundaunce of her pleasures. &c.
IF any peraduenture mighte thinke yt Babylon deserued not grieuouse punishmentes, that she shoulde bee stroken with destruction which should neuer be restored, he rendereth a reason of the most iust iudgement, because with her poisoned art. and bewitchinge cup she hath seduced the people of all nations to idolatry, and also she hath procured all the kings of the earth to fornication and hath inticed them into spirituall whoredome beinge smothely handled by her worishe trickes, and to conclud she is so giuen to her prodigall pleasures and intemperaunce, that all the merchantes of the earth are made riche by her excessiue pleasure. Who is so blinde that he seeth not all these vices to ouer flowe in the Churche of Rome? where is there suche excesse, where is there such insatiable couetousnes▪ where are there so greate deceiptes and iudglinge castes? and to bee shorte where is there more filthier & more abominable defiling of diuine religion, then in poperye? Worthelye therefore she falleth into that destruction, apoynted her of God?
Vers. 4.
And I herde an other voice from heauen saying, come awaye from her my people, that ye be not partaker of her sinnes, and that ye receiue not of her plagues. &c.
IT maye be demaunded, what there shoulde neede any other voice, when as that Angell that a litle before descended from heauen might hauehave pronounced the same thinges. Yea verelye the exhortation followinge is of so greate weeght, and worthye so diligent attention, that it behoueth to be published withe a new voice sent from heauen, and we must obserue, as well in this booke, as in other prophecies as in Esaye the 40. Chapter that as ofte a voice is saied to be hearde withoute anye aucthore seen, a matter of greate weighte, and whiche is to be recoined with deepe consideration, is signified suche as this most weightye admonitions, that the faithfull shoulde departe from the felowshippe of the malignant Churche, least if they be made partakers of her sinnes, they shoulde also be wrapped in her tormentes, and verely this heauenly voice requireth three thinges of the true worshippers of God, of whiche the firste is, that they shoulde departe sacre awaye from her felowshippe, the seconde that they should take due vengeaunce vponupon her, the thirde that they should reioyce with the whole affection of harte, and magnifye the name of God for her vnrecouerable fall. But as concerninge that which perteyneth to the first admonition, the holy ghost alludeth to the exhortation of the Prophete Ieremie in the Chapter. 51. Verse. 45. Whiche with the same woordes, speaketh to the people of God, that they would departe out of the middest of east Babylon, if they would prouide for there life and safetie. But here the heauenlye voice cō maundeth not only to flie the place, but especially to take heed of her sinnes: least if they should fauour and flatter them selues in her wickednesse, it might come to passe, that they should be also punished with her tormentes.
Vers. 5.
For her sinnes are come vp to heauen, and God hath remembred her iniquities. &c.
HE sheweth that the time is not nowe to be differed, bycause without delaye God will take most grieuouse punishementes vponupon her. For her sinnes are gone vp euen vntounto heauen, as the enormities of the Sodomites, and her vnrighteousnesse, hath put God in remembraunce of his righteousnes, that he can no longer suffer so great and cruell iniuries vnreuenged. We are here admonished, that grieuouse trāsgressiōs, and great sinnes, do require a swifte vengeaunce from heauē. Moreouer howe dangerouse a thinge it is to hauehave felowship with the wicked, whose heynouse sinnes drawe the vengeance of God vponupon there heades. Let vsus therefore as the prophete Ieremie warneth vsus, flie farre withoute the circuite of Gods wrath, which hangeth ouer the whole region of Babilon.
Vers. 6,
Reward her euen as she hath rewarded you, and geue her duble according to her workes: & in the cup that she hath filled to you, fille her the duble. &c.
THe next thing which god requireth of his seruants, is, that after the abomination of the whore is disclosed, that they would show thēselues ministers of the most Iust vengeance of God, in tormenting her in miserable maner, rewarde her, sayeth he, euen as she hath rewarded you. And the Psalm. 137 pronounceth them blessed, which shall render to Babylon the same thinges which she cruelly committed against the people of God. We must not therefore spare her, but rather her vengeaunce is to be dubled, according to y• measure of her sinnes, and the crueltie, which she exercised vponupon the holy martyres of God, she is to be punished with duble tormentes. Princes therefore and Magistrates shall see, which through two much gentlenes do not punish her wickednesse, what they will aunswere to god, when they shalbe accused of the neclecte of this commaundement.
Vers. 7.
In as muche as she glorified her selfe, and liued in pleasure, so much geue ye to her torment & sorow.
HE teachethe that it is most equall and right, that by howe much greater pride, & presumptiō she hath extolled her self, with so much greater infamy she should be reproched, & loke how much more the abominable whore hath applied her selfe to riote and intemperaunce, by so muche more grieuouse tormentes and punishments, her wantonnesse should be restrayned. Therefore here is no place of mercy, but her sinnes are to be weighed in the equall balance of Iustice, with her tormēts, and loke whatsoeuer she hathe deserued, she oughte to suffer, withoute any fauour shewed at all. For it becommeth not vsus to be liberall of that which is none of our owne. God the eternall Iudge, hath geuen this sentence vponupon her, whose sharpenes no mortall creature can mittigate or aswage. Let vsus therefore hate Babylon as we oughte, with the greatest hatred, and with vehement and earnest prayers let vsus desire her extreme destruction, whiche so long as she remayneth safe the Churche of Christ whose felicitie wee oughte by all meanes to procure, can neuer florish.
For she sayethe in her harte, I sit beinge a Queene, and am no widowe and shall see no mourninge. &c. He paynteth oute her arrogauncie, pride, and securitie, that shee sayed withe her selfe, I sit beinge a Queene, that is, I rule ouer all men as the Ladie of the worlde, and I am no wedowe, which am garded and compassed about with so great a multitude of louers, I am touched with no feare of desolatiō, which am the spouse of Christ, the Catholique & Apostolike Church, against which the gates of hell shall not preuaile and therfore I shall neuer be partaker of mourning and sorow. After this maner glorieth the malipart whore, but all these thinges shall vanish into smoke, when God shall require at her handes the bloud of his holy martires.
Vers. 8.
Therefore shall her plagues come at one daye, death and sorowe, and famine, and she shall be burnte with fire. &c.
HE alludeth to the prophecie of Esay concerning the old babylon in the 47. Chapt. signifying that God will sodaynly beate downe her pride, bridle her riote, and shake of her securitie. Bycause she shalbe oppressed with diuers calamities, and those comming vponupon her at once as with death, famine, & sorow, and at length euen as it were appointed to extreme & vtter destruction, she shall burne with fire.
For strong is the Lord God which will condemne her. &c. If any mā at the beholding of her present estate should thinke that it could not come to passe that so great strength, riches & dignitie, could vanish away to naught: he setteth the strength of God against them all which seeing he hath condemned her to suche destruction, he will throwe downe all her loftinesse, breake all her strength, and treade all riches vnderunder foote, that the sentence which he hath pronounced …gainst her maye take place.
Vers. 9.
And the kinges of the earth shall bewayle her, and lament for her, which hauehave committed fornication and liued in pleasure with her, when they shall see the smooke of her burning. &c.
THat the horrible fall of Babylon, mighte bee set as it were before our eyes, there are brought in kinges, marchantes, and mariners bewayling her, & as many as vnderunder her defen…e hauehave liued a voluptuouse and carelesse life. In the first place kinges and noble men, which vnderunder her protection gaue them selues to wanton pleasures and delightes, do take it grieuousely that they are called by the voice of the Gospell, to imbrace righteousnesse and temperance, when they shall see the smoke of her burninge, they wepe, and after a womanlye maner b… wayle her fall.
Vers, 10.
And shall stand a farre of for feare of her torment, saying alas, alas, t…e great citie Babylon the mightie citie, for in one hower is thy Iudgement come. &c.
ALthough they loued her, & wished that she might remayne safe for euer yet throughe the feare of her tormentes they shall stande a farre of and shall acknowledge the Iust Iudgement of God vponupon her, saying, alas that notable citie Babylon, that most mightie citie, howe soone hast thou fallen from so hyghest degree of happinesse? this verely is euen the Iudgement of God bycause thou wast sufficientlye furnished against all the force and strength of man. We are taughte here that verie tyrantes and hypocrites do acknowledge the hande of God in subuerting Babylon, and yet are not conuerted to God, but being in despayer, do bewayle the ruine of that citie which they confesse to be ouerthrowen by the Iust Iudgemēt of God for her wickednesse.
Vers. 11.
And the merchauntes of the earthe shall wepe and wayle ouer her, for no man byeth there ware any more. &c.
AFter the bitter complaintes of the Kinges, and Princes, nowe follow the dolefull songes of the marchantes, which bewayle Babylon not so muche for any louelove they hauehave towardes her, as for the losse of there owne gaine. Bycause no man here after will bye there most precious wares, after the destruction of this riche Citie. And by these marchauntes are vnderstoode not onelyonly the petie marchauntes which were wont to sell suche kinde of pedlinge marchaundize to the Prelates, to maintaine the riote and in temperaunce of the Church of Rome: but also the great Bysshopes, Prelates, and priestes thē selues, whiche had all the cerimonies of there Churche set to sayle, wherevppon they heauen vp to them selues infinite riches. But after yt vnproffitablenesse of there wares was made manifest by the preaching of the Gospell there fayres & markets waxe colde and at length they shall finde no man, whiche wlli bestow vponupon suche baggage and triflinge toyes, so muche as a dodkine, or a rotten nut. Not without iust cause therefore they wepe and lament, because the hope of such sweete gaine is now all taken from them.
Vers. 12.
The ware of gold, and siluer, and of precious stone, and of pearls, and of fine linen, and of purple, and of silke, and of scarlet and of all manner of thine wode, and of vessels of yuerye, and all vessels of most precious wode, and of brasse & of iron, and of marble. &c.
IT is maruaile that they shoulde complaine that these wares shold be no more saleable, seing they were neuer had in greater price, then after the fall of Babylō. But the meaning is, that all these thinges are estemed no more as they were the marchandise of the church of Rome, that is in masses, in images, in the theatricall or player like shewes of there temples, and in other papisticall ceremonies, for otherwise, gold, precious stones and purple are estemed in there olde price. But chalices, crosses images, miters of goulde, siluer, and pearles, are not imbraced with there wonted reuerēce. Copes, vestiments, and other tragicall garmentes wrought of fine linen, silke, purple, and scarlet are despised, neither do they dasill the eyes of men as in time past. The other ornaments, and instrumentes of temples monasteries, and idols of yuerye, ceder, cypresse, of brasse, iron and marble, are troden downe, despised and broke in peces.
Vers. 13.
And of sinauion, and odours, and oyntments, & frankinsence and wine and oyle, and fine flower, and wheat, and beasts, and shepe, and horses, & chariots, and bodies and soules of men.
NO man doth now desire the perfume, of Frankensence, cinomon, & other spices, with which they did perfume the temples and idols. No man requireth the oynetments and oyle to baptize, to confirme, to ordeyne, and to bury men. No man requesteth of them wine to washe altares, to howsell laye people, and to heale the chincough and other infirmities of the throte. All men despise there God made of fine flower, no man prepareth wheat, oxen, or shepe to fede ther slouthfull belies; yea verely to be breife they might sterue, except they shoulde prouide for themselues. The horses the chariots, and the slaues, seruing either to the necessarie vse or intemperance of the prelats, they thē selues seeing they are spoiled of all there goodes will not buy, neither will other men buy thē to geue vntounto thē after the maner of flatterers. Lastly, no mā will buy of them, by indulgences, masses, merites, and workes of superarogatiō, the soules of men which are the best cheape marchaundize amonge thē, which neuertheles Christ purchased with his bloud. Here of are those teares, hereof come mourninges & bewaylings of the papistes, hereof springeth that fretting & fuming against the doctrine of the gospell, which if it would bring thē the like gaine they would not be altogether so sorie to change it for popish religion. More ouer that he numbreth the soules of men also among the wares, we easely vnderstande of what Church he speaketh. For neuer any other heresie hath set the soules of men to sale, besides poperie. And also all other marchandize which hauehave place in popish religion, do sufficiently shewe the condition of the same.
Vers. 14.
And the apples which thy soule lusted after, are departed from thee, and all thinges which were fat and excellent, are departed from thee, and thou shall finde them no more. &c.
NOw he tourneth his tale to babylon her self, for more vehemēcie sake, as if he should say, not onelyonly those preciouse wares shall cease to be in price among men, but also the swete apples which thou hast lusted after with thy whole harte are departed frō thee, & all thinges which were fat, & excellent are departed from thee, and thou shalt neuer finde them any more. Nothing could happen more grieuouse or sorowfull to a harlotte that is drowned in riote and excesse, then that all her dilicate delightes & pleasures, in which she so greatly sported her selfe are shaken of frō her. This is therefore the greatest torment to the Babilonicall whore, that she whiche a litle before flowed in such abundance of all thinges whiche she abused to intemperance, that in riote she could compare with Cleopatra Quene of Egipt, now being naked and deserte should be oppressed with the scarcitie of all thinges that are good.
Vers. 15.16.
The marchāts of these thinges which were wared riche shall stand a far of frō her, for feare of her torment weping & wayling, & say alas, alas, ye great citie, that was clothed in fine linnē, & purple. &c.
WHo will blame there sorowe, which by her fall also are depriued of so fat gaine? for they which by her abundaunce are made riche, by her fall also are broughte to neede and powertie. Therefore they crie, they yell, they howell, yet neuerthelesse they departe farre from her burninge, least they should bee made partakers of her tormentes. But they shall not escape the hande of God which at length will catche them. Here is described the nature of the papistes, which althoughe they dearely louelove there mother the Churche, for gaine, & pleasures sake, yet they flie from her torment as much as they cā, denying her forswearinge, and cursinge her from the mouthe forwarde, yet they are sorowfull within, bewaylinge her fall, & sayinge, alas, alas, that great Citie, whiche was beautiefullye clothed in fine linnen, and purple, and skarlat, gold, preciouse, stones. and pearles, how soone so great riches are brought into desolation. If any man heare the Monkes, the Priestes, or other Papistes of the same rabblement, bewayling the ruines of there monastries, or temples: they do almost with the same voices testifie there sorow. They recken vp with great bitternesse of sorowe the riches, the ornamentes and there beautie, and chiefely they do not forget there owne commoditie, which they miserablye complayne to be taken from them, nowe that these things are destroyed. But they are wretched men, which no man doth pitie bycause when Babylon stoode in her iolity, they filled the whole world with pride, couetousnesse, lecherie, crueltie, and Idolatrie. Worthely therefore they suffer the punishmentes of so great enormities, if they walke destitute and and needie of all thinges, and also if they them selues feele the tormentes which they prepared for others.
Vers. 17.18.
For in one hower so great riches are come to desolation, and euerie shipmaister: and all the people that occupie shippes: & shipmen & whosoeuer trauaill on the sea, shall stande a farre of and crie when they see the smooke of her burning: saying: what citie was like vntounto this great Citie. &c.
THe destruction of Babylon is not knowne vponupon the earth onelyonly, but it is so great that it is beholden also frō the sea. The gouernours of shippes therefore and all the multitude of people that occupie shippes, whiche were wonte to carie one… wares by whole nauies, when they shall beholde a farre of our of the sea, the smoke of her burninge: they shall acknowledge that her vtter destruction is come, & therefore they shall crie out for sorowe, bewayling her fall and saying, what citie was like to this great Citie, or deserued to be compared with it? O miserable destruction of so great and so riche a Citie.
Vers. 19.
And they shall cast dust on there heades, and crye wepinge and wayling and say, alas, alas, the great Citie, wherein were made riche all that had shippes on the sea, by her costlinesse, for in one hower she is made desolate. &c.
THis was a signe of the greatest mourning among the Hebrewes, when they cast dust and ashes vponupon there heades. The holy ghost would expresse vnderunder this figure, the sorowe of those, whiche in the fall of Babylon complayne that there gaine is also fallen awaye. Therefore here are broughte in shipmen cryinge, wepinge, and mourninge, for the hope of gaine whiche is taken away: after that Babylon, by whose costlinesse were all made riche, as manye as did carye wares with shippes, is broughte into dust and ashes. And the complaintes of all those that mourne are to this ende, that the horrible destruction of the fall of Babylon might be set before oure eies.
Vers. 20.
O heauen reioyce of her, and ye holye Apostles, and Prophetes: for God hath geuen your Iudgement on her. &c.
VVE sayed before that the holy ghost required 3. thinges of the faithfull in the fall of Babylon, whereof this is the last, yt they should reioyce, for her destructiō, & giuegive thankes to god, that he is reuenged vpō her vngodlines, & chiefely vpō her crueltie against the sainctes, he exhorteth therefore the heauen it selfe, that is all those, which are in heauen for ye greater vehemencie of speache, and the holy Apostles of Christ and the prophetes, that is the preachers of his holy Gospell, that they should reioyce, be glad, and triumphe, for ye vengeaunce, which is taken vppon babylon. Bycause that altogether for a time God seemeth to forget his seruantes, whiles the whore being made druncken withe the bloude of the godlye, dyd sit like a Quene in her seate, and shoulde make the holye martyres of God subiecte to all kindes of tormentes: nowe at length god hath taken vengeaunce on her wickednesse, for the reuenge of the sainctes. Worthely therefore ought the sainctes to reioyce, as many as do either abhorre her crueltie, or that do acknowledge and reuerence the Iustice of God, in her iust tormentes. For we ought not to be moued with anye pitie of there calamitie, whome we confesse to be condemned by the sentence of the most righteous God.
Vers. 21.
Then a mightie aungell, toke vp a stone like a great milston, & cast it into the sea, saying, with such violence shall the great citie Babylon be cast, and shalbe found no more. &c.
IN the fiftie and one Chapter of Ieremie the Prophete doth seale vp the prophecie concerning the destruction of old Babylon with the like signe. He commaunded Sheraiah a certen godly Prince which should go to Babylō, that he should bind a stone to the booke of that prophecie, and should caste it into the middest of Euphrates sayinge, after this maner shall Babylon he drowned and shall not rise from the euill that I will bring vponupon her. To which place without doubt the holy ghost alludeth in this vision, sauinge that in all the circumstaunces there is a greater Emphasis. For here not a man, but a mightie Aungell, whose force doth farre exceade the strength of man, toke vp a stone, not a litle one, but a verie great one like as it were a milstone, and cast it not into a riuer, but into the sea, speaking these woordes before, with suche violence shall the great citie Babylon bee cast downe and shalbe founde no more. And this is put for the euerlastinge comforte of the godlye, that they mighte quietly triumphe of her destruction bycause all hope of restoringe Papisterie is vtterly taken away.
Vers. 22.
And the voice of harpers and musicians and of …ypers and trumpetters shalbe heard no more in thee, and no crafts man of whatsoeuer craft he be, shalbe found any more in thee. & the sound of a mylston shalbe heard no more in thee. &c.
THat he may teache that a perpetuall desolation should be broughte vponupon Babylon, he reckeneth vp all those thinges which are wont to serue for an ornament and vse to wealthie, and riche cities. Neuer, sayeth he, shall the voice of singers be heard, or of them whiche handle Instrumentes of musike, so that whatsoeuer thinges serue for there pleasure are taken awaye. Neither shall there euer be found in her, the artificer of any arte: By this meanes whatsoeuer perteyne to the vse of a ciuill honest life, are taken awaye: Lastly the sound of a milstone shalbe heard no more in her, so all the aydes of necessarie sustenaunce are wanting, what remaynethe therefore, but horrible solitarinesse.
Vers. 23.24.
And the lighte of a candle shall shine no more in thee, and the voice of the bridegrome and of the the bride shalbe heard no more. &c.
NO man shall dwell there whiche maye lighte a candle by nighte, neither shall the voice of the bridegrome and of the bride be heard, there shalbe no familie which shall euer go thither to dwell, there shall neuer be any mariages celebrated there, that for the hope of posteritie the citie mighte loke for some renewing, but sorow, solitude, silence, horrour and confusion, shall for euer occupie and posses her.
Bycause thy marchauntes were the great men of the earth and with thy inchantements were deceyued all nations. And in her was found the bloud of the Prophetes and of the sainctes and of all that were slayne vponupon the earth. &c. The reasons are rendred wherefore God punished her so sharply. The first cause therefore is assigned to be couetousnes ioyned with pride, bycause her marchauntes seeking vnhonest gaine, hauehave heaped together infinite riches with whiche beinge puffed vp they would be counted for kinges, and Princes in the world. Who knoweth not howe great were the riches of Cardinals, Bysshopes, Abbotes, and of other prelates? and howe great dignitie hauehave they chalenged to them selues? the second reason is giuen that with the witcheries and inchauntementes or peruerse doctrine, they seduced all nations into errour. And duplicate page duplicate page who is ignorant? with what lyes they bewitched the mindes of men, that they might make all obediente, and addicte vntounto them. Lastlye to whome is it not manifest, howe great a slaughter the synagog of Rome hath made of the prophetes, and sainctes? so that it doth worthely agree vntounto her which Christ sayd vponupon Ierusalem, that all the righteouse bloud which was shed, frō the bloud of Iust habell, euē to the ende of the world, ought to be required at her handes.