Prelections Upon Revelation, Chapter 9
¶ The nyenth Chapter.
THere is described in this Chapter, the horrible confusion of the kingdome of Antichrist, which was established partly by fraud & de…cite, & partly by violence, vntill it came to the hyest, and then should be discouered by the restoring of the Gospell, and at length vtterly abolished by the comming of Christ.
Vers. 1.
And the first Aungell blew and I saw the starre which fell from heauen vntounto the earth. &c.
WHen as the participle is of the time past, foreign and not foreign I vnderstande that it was the same starre which hadde fallen before into the riuers and founteynes. which had the name of wormewood giuen it, which we sayed before doth signifie the head of this Churche, which is the bisshop of Rome. And if any man cōtend that it were not the same in number, yet I hold that it was the same in office, for although there hauehave bene many popes in number, yet they all make but one head of Antichrist, which hath rule ouer the mō strouse bodie of the Romane Churche. Therefore albeit the Romane prelate shined in time paste in the heauen euen as a starre in the hand of the Lord, yet now being cast downe to the earthe he hath lost all his shininge beautie. It is ridiculouse therefore that the pope doth bragge of the dignitie of his seate, to be such as it was acknowledged to hauehave bene of the old fathers in there time: & that he maketh mentiō of the vertues of his predecessors, which were martyres of ye primitiue Church, all which doe pertayne no more to him which is cast out of the heauenlye seate vntounto the earthe, then if the deuill should boast of his principalitie which in time past he had among the Aungels, out of which he hath long time bene expelled.
And to him was giuē the key of the bottōlesse pit. &c. The pope which is Antichrist boasteth of the keyes of ye kingdom of heauen in time past cōmitted to Peter, & with great sacriledge he snacheth and chalengeth them to him selfe onelye, when as they pertayne and are common to all the ministers of Gods worde. But in verie deed sainct Ihon playnly declareth what kinde of key is giuen vntounto him, that is the keye of the bottomles pit of hell. That as power to open the heauen is giuē to the godly teachers of the Churche, so to Antichrist and his ministers, there is graunted powers to open the pit of hell, We may note here, that the power of the aduersary, obteyneth rule in the world, not by chaunce or against the will of Christ, but by his will and pleasure, to take horrible and dreadfull vengeaunce vponupon the prophane contemners of his woorde.
Vers. 2.
And he opened the botomles pit, and there arose the smoke of the pit as the smoke of a great fornace. &c.
ANtichrist doth not slackly and slowly vse the key committed vntounto him, but the same being receiued, he straytwaye openeth the bottomlesse pit, which before was shut vp & locked. This place doth teach, yt so lōg as the pure doctrine of the gospell doth florish and take force, hell is shut, but after the same hath bene silent, or infected and darckened with the prophane inuentions of men (as we hauehave shewed in the chapter goinge before) the moste depe pit of hell is opened, out of whiche all kinde of euill doth breath forth. We see therefore, that not with out iust cause the Aungell thundred oute woes to the inhabitantes of the earth, when as the pit of hell should be opened to there vtter destruction.
And the sunne and the ayer were darckened by reason of the smoke of the pit. &c. The pit of hell being opened, two most cursed and abominable euils ascend out of it, ignorance & errour. For by the smoke which darckeneth the ayre and the sunne, I vnderstande ignoraunce: by the army of the locusts, the teachers and defenders of errours. For that ignoraunce which before was spread onelyonly ouer the third parte of heauen, now the smoke ascendeth out of the pit of hell, the miste dothe darken the whole Sunne and the ayre. And trulye howe grosse and shamefull the ignoraunce of the former ages hathe bene no man can be ignorant, which hath tasted and knowne the barbarousenes of those times, by there writinges.
Vers. 3.
And there came out of the smoke locustes vponupon the earth. &c.
THey say that locustes are bred of corrupt smoke, whiche if we receiue for trueth, it is found out, that ignoraunce is the mother of errours. Howsoeuer it be, that the locusts go forthe of the smoke, it is manifest that the maisters and teachers of errours tooke occasiō by the ignorance of the people, to spread a broad there deuilish doctrine and wicked opinions. And like as the swarmes of locustes verie often infeste & punish whole regions, euen so the whole routes of these, do infecte, corrupt, and deuoure all thinges. It is verie like that by the locustes is signified all the rablemēt of Romish masse priestes, Monckes, and especially of begging fryers.
And vntounto them was giuen power as the scorpions of the earth hauehave power. &c. Heretiques and mainteyners of wicked opinions can not sow and spread abroad there poison, but so farre as power is graunted vntounto them, which is vponupon those that perish. And this power of theirs, which they hauehave to hurt is compared to the venimouse poison of Scorpions, whiche though it be of it selfe but a verie litle vermin, yet it hath power enough to kill a man. They pricke and sling also secretly like scorpions, for they wind in them selues by priuie deceits, vntill they shall geue a deadlye stroke. To these the Popishe clergie is like in all thinges, but specially the begging fryers, which through a coloured shew & visore of humilitie, do seme litle, yet secretly they thrust in the poisoned stings of there abhominable errours, and so they sley men.
Vers. 4.
And it was commaunded them that they should not hurt the grasse of the earth: neither anye greene thing, neither any tree; but onelyonly those men which had not the scale in there foreheades.
WE herd before, that the four Aungells were forbidden and stayed that they should, neither hurt the earth, the sea, nor the treese, before the seruauntes of God were sealed in there foreheades, so likewise these locustes are forbidden to hurt the grasse, nor the greene herbes, nor the trees, but onelyonly those men which were not signed with the seale of god in there foreheades. Whereby we are admonished, that neither the illusions of Sathā nor the subtill sleyghtes of Antichrist hauehave any force to seduce the elect, which like greene plantes being watred with the dewe of the heauenly doctrine, are preserued frō the locustes which burne vp all thinges, Psalm. 1. There are rehersed diuers kindes of plantes, as grasse, herbes, & trees that we may know, that all and euerie one of the elect are drawen out and deliuered from this plague: in which althoughe God worke diuersly, as in diuers kindes of plantes, yet there is one onelyonly foundation, that God knoweth who are his.
Verse. 5.
And to them was cōmaunded, that they should not kill them but that they shold be vexed fiue mounthes, and that their poison shold be as the paine that cōmeth of a scorpion when he hath strong a man.
PLinie in the 28. Chapter of the eleuenth booke of the naturall historie writeth, that the pestilence of the venim of scorpions is importunate, but that with greater punishmēt, they sley with slow & lingering death, in thre daies space. Not wt out great cause therefore, the peruerse doctrine of the Popes gard, is compared to the stinging of scorpions, which doth not by and by sley men by violent death, but tormenteth them a certeyn space with cruell torments, and at length taketh away eternall life. Of such sort are the persuasions of the merites of workes, of satisfactions and the peynes of Purgatorie, and of other such like trumporie, wherwith these locusts torment the miserable consciences, & which alone were heed in pulpits, in lectures, & in there shifts. When as in the meane while there was no mention, cōcerning the merits of Christ free iustification by faith, eternall election, & other pointes of holsome doctrine which are taught in so many places of yt holy scripture. There is limited vntounto them a certeyne space of time in which there is, power to hurt, graunted thē, for fiue mounths, which is added for the comfort of the godly. that they may not feare that this plague shall alwayes increase, but the force thereof shalbe brokē, before halfe a yeares space be finished. But if we will more narowly interpret this place, this infection shall abound in fiue hundred yeares, but in the sixt age, which goeth before ye latter end of ye world, it shal decay, which we see hath come to pas in our age yt almost euerie where ye popish clergie is contēned, yea euen with ye verie papists, & at length without doubt it shalbe vtterly confounded & brought to nothing.
Vers. 6.
Therefore in those dayes shall men seeke death, and shall not find it, & shall desire to die, and death shall flye from them. &c.
WHen as we hearde before that those scorpions doe sley with slow death, it is no meruaill if those yt be stricken of them & tormented with cruell tormentes, desire to dye sooner then it is graunted to them by the strength of the poison. By which sentence is expressed the greatnes of the tormentes, by which the papistes do sley the miserable consciences of mē, duplicate page duplicate page with there poisoned opinions, as it were with the singes of scorpions: which when as they altogether leade from Christ in whome alone all consolation of the godly minde doth consiste: there remayneth nothing vntounto them besides the feare of hell fire, and desperation full of horrour.
Vers. 7.
And the forme of the locustes was like vntounto horsses prep…red to battail, & on there heades were as it were crownes, like vntounto gold. &c.
HEtherto he hath spoken of there poisoned strength & …orce, now yt we may know them the better, he notably painteth thē forth in their coloures. The forme (saieth he) of there bodies is like to horses prepared to battell, wherby ye maners of the popish clergie are clearly described, y• like horses they tune with swifte course thorow all thinges, & are alwaies most readie to battailles & strifes, if any man say against them by anye maner of meanes. They hauehave crownes vponupon there heades, as it were of gold, bycause all of them, although they be most obiecte verletes, do chalenge vntounto them selues a certeyn kinglye dignitie, & they would be had in price and estimation, neither would they be subiect to the ciuill magistrate, whē as notwithstanding they are but vile locusts, whiche are noble neither by any vertue, learning or godlinesse, and proffitable for nothing but to hurte. Yet at the will and pleasure of these men all thinges were gouerned in time p…st, when as the world honored them as kinges, and kinges them selues feared them, as those whith by shrifte and confession knew all there secreates.
And there faces were as it had bene the faces of men &c. They are not terrible to behold, but locke inside & smoth with the countenaunces of men, & allure men into there owne destruction, for they are meruailouse great flatterers, whiche for there lucre and bellies sake, & that they may winne the fauour of mightie men, are not ashamed most filthily to flatter.
Vers. 8.
And they had heare as the heare of women. &c.
THe delicate wantonnes & vnbridled lust of monckes & other of ye popish clergie is noted, which can be conteyned to no bounds of shamefastnes or laws of nature, but that it will breake them all. Afterwarde there more then womanly attyre is reproued, and other whorish trickes, by which they would draw men to there vnhonest louelove. For the worlde was neuer so blinde that it would greatly esteme them, but that they bewitched the mindes of men with there whorish inticementes as it were with charmed drinckes of louelove.
And there teeth were as the teeth of Lyons. &c. Although they looke smothly with gentle and womanly contenaunce, yet they hauehave teethe like mermaydes. Which for there hardnes and rauening are compared to the teeth of lions. For witnesses hereof let be the townes, howses, fieldes and Lordships, and moreouer whatsoeuer the world hath which is gainfull, & seruing to pleasure, all which these locustes hauehave grounde with there teeth, to serue for their meate. And to cōclud there is nothing more rauenouse then they, which although they be verie small in body, yet with the hardnes of there teeth, they deuoure whatsoeuer cōmeth next to their hand. In our coūtrie of England, they did posses the halfe almost, of all lands, and when it was ordeyned by the law, that there should no more landes of inheritaunce be deliuered into there handes, without the licens of y• Prince, the popish clergie cast there lionish teeth vpō there owne possessiōs. And the Monckes as the greatest Cormarantes drew all the fattest benefices vntounto them selues, the hurt of woose deuouring griedinesse, the Church feeleth vntounto this day, being depriued of good pastores for lacke of liuing.
Vers. 9.
And they had habbergions like to habbergions of Iron. &c.
THey are defended with so great fauour and succour, as well of Princes, bothe ecclesiasticall, and ciuill, that they seeme to hauehave breastes so harde that no weapon can pearce throughe them, and they dare boldly prouoke all men to battail.
And the sound of there wings was like the sound of charets when many horses runne vntounto battail. &c. Althoughe they hauehave the face of a man, yet they vtter not a mans voice, but like locustes whōe they chiefly resemble, they make a horrible noise with there winges, euen like the sound of chariots, which with many horses are drawne into ye battail. For they bellowe in there temples, with a terrible sound, crying out but without vnderstandinge. Sometime they vtter great soundes in pulpets, but with out all reason, that worthely they maye be saide not to speake with the mouthes of men, but to make a terrible noise with there winges.
Vers. 10.
And they had tayles like vntounto scorpions, & ther were stings in there tayles, and ther power was to hurt men fyue monethes. &c.
BEfore he compared there pestilent power of hurtinge to scorpions, but now when he doeth diligently recite all the partes of them, he sheweth that the locustes are armed also to the tayles of scorpions, whereby they closely send forth there secreat poison, and sodeynly when thou art not aware they thrust in there venomed stinges. Afterward he repeateth that power is graunted them to hurt for shorter time then they them selues woulde wishe, for they shall not infest or hurt the worlde about fyue monethes.
Vers. 11.
And they hauehave a kinge ouer them which is the angell of the bottomlesse pit, whose name in hebrew is Abaddo and in greeke he is named Apollyon. &c.
THat we may vnderstande vnderunder what kinge this huge army of locustes doeth warre, he saieth that the Angell of the bottomelesse pit is there kinge, which is sathan him selfe, and the pope is his vicare, whose name is geuen him in hebrewe and in greke of the great desire and study he hath to destroy, for he is called in hebrew Abaddon, and in greeke Apollyon, which word in englishe signifieth a destroyer:
Verse. 12.
Our wo is past, and behold two woes com after this &c.
S. Iohn sheweth that this pestilence of the locustes is ye first of those thre horrible iudgmēts of god, which ye angell sayed to remayne, & it is in dede a terrible iudgment of God that he suffereth so vile vermin by there venemouse and poisoned subtilties, to rule mē as they list, euen to ther eternall destruction and yet ther follow two heuier iudgements of God thē this.
Vers. 13.
Then the sixt angell blew the trumpet, and I heard a voice from ye foure hornes of the golden aulter wt is before God, &c.
HOw much more greuous daungers were at hand, so much more greater attention, it was conuenient shoulde be moued, that ye faithfull being admonished, might arme & prepare thē selues against most bitter temptations, whē ye sixte angell therfore soūded ye trūpet which did foretel ye most bitter & sharp persecutiō of al which shold come before ye ende & cōsumatiō of the worlde, Iohn herd a voice from the foure hornes of ye golden altar which is before God. We spake before of the golden altar which signifieth Christ, which is offered vp to God for a swete smelling sacrifice, the force and effect of which sacrifice, bycause it remayneth for euer, an altar is alwaies placed in the presence of God. And the voice is vttered from the foure hornes of the altar, that is from the highest parte of the altar, that it might be knowen to be the voice of Christ which gouerneth the altar.
Vers. 14.
Saying to the sixte Aungell which had the trumpet, loose the foure Aungels, which are bound in the great riuer Euphrates. &c.
THat voice soundeth to the sixte Aungell whiche had sounded the trumpet, that like as he had bene a messenger to declare so great a plague, so he shold be a minister of the furtheraunce of the same. Loose sayeth he the foure Aungels which are bound in the great riuer Euphrates. The foure Aungels signifie yt whole power of the deuill, which he vttereth in Antichrist and his tyrannie, which should be spread into the foure quarters of the world. Which neuertheles hath hether to bene restrained, that it should not brust forth into extreame cruelty, but now the bridle is losed to the same for a certayne time. A place no doubt, full of exceding great consolation, by which we are taught, that Christ which is oure patrone and defendour, holdeth the deuils bounde bothe hand and foote, that they can not hurt the Church or moue persecution, but vponupon his sufferrance. But it semeth obscure and darke, that he sayeth yt these wicked Aungels are bound at the fludde Euphrates, of which there are sundry interpretations. But I whileste I wey all thinges, thinke that the place is assigned somewhat darckely, whiche shalbe afterwarde described more pleynlye, oute of which this pestilence is powred in to the whole worlde. For Euphrates being takē without figure, is a riuer flowing roūd about Babylō, by which is ment Rome by a metapher in this booke as shalbe shewed more playnly afterwarde. This sence therefore I gather, that there was at Rome, which is the seate of Antichriste a great desire of wastinge and destroyinge the Churche with fire and sworde, neither were subtilties wanting, by which they might attempt there cursed worke: & more ouer that there were prepared all instruments of warre. But that this made rage was restrained and bridled from heauē, by Christ, that it should not shew forth it selfe to the world, before the time appointed of God.
Vers. 15.
And the foure Aungels were losed which were prepared at an hower, at a day, and at a mounth, and at a yeare. &c.
CHrist commaundeth when they are losed, whatsoeuer therfore the Aungels that were losed do, so farre forth as they execute the iust iudgement of God, is to be ascribed to Christ. They are sayed to be prepared, at an hower, at a daye. &c. Whereby is expressed not onelyonly the promptnes of there mind, by which they are inclined to hurt, but much rather ye certayne time and euen the verie momentes thereof determined of God, in which they may rage after this manner. And he noteth a verie shorte space to be graunted vntounto them, that hee calleth it an hower, a day, a monethmonth and a yeare at the most.
To sley the thirde parte of men. &c. Before, at the sounding the trumpet of the fyfte Aungell, the locustes with there king Abaddon, by priuie practices and subtill deceites, slewe a great part of men with the venim of there poisoned doctrine, by tormentes that endured long: but now with open violence and crueltie, to the wasting and destroying of mankinde, these wicked and malignante spirites are sent forthe with fire and sword to slea the third part of men. But how farre they were from necligence in exercising this power committed vntounto thē and what slaughters they hauehave made, all Europe oppressed with the tyrannie of the Byshop of Rome, hath felte to much in these latter times, and as yet is compelled to feele. And we know this tragedie was taken in hand & begon by the ayed and helpe of these wicked Aungels, and as yet is continued by the same, although we now hope that the matter draweth near to an ende.
Vers. 16.
And the number of horsmen of warre wer twentie thousand times ten thousand. For I herd the number of them. &c.
NOw he teacheth with what meanes & instrumentes these destroyinge Aungels are furnished, and also with what preparation to battaill, that they may make suche a slaughter of men in the world. Verely that the whole army is all of horsmen, wherby the strength and …orce of the preparatiō is signified to be the greater: That is to say, by so muche as an host of horsemen is more terrible, and more violent in warre, then an host of fotemen. Lastly commeth the number of there armye, which is almost infinite, twentie thousand times ten thousand which number S. Ihon playnly expresseth that hee herde bycause it semeth vncredible, that suche an army could be gathered out of the whole world, but by this huge armye are signifiede, not the host of one age, but of many. And this is ye multitude of the Churche of Rome, whiche is so often boasted of, whiche multitude is manifeste to be mustred into battaile against Christ & his church. But this great army shal easely be driuen backe and discomfited by him, whiche losed out of prison and sent forth. these Aungels, whiche are the leaders of it, which he can call backe againe into prison, when it pleasethe him, and that wee trust he will doe now shortlye after Antichrist hath bene so long reuealed.
Vers. 17.
Thus I saw the horses in a vision and them that sat on them, hauinge fyery habergions, and of hiacinth and of brymstone. &c.
SAincte Ihon proceadeth in describinge the furniture of the horsemen such as they were shewed to him in ye vision. And the whole description of them is full of horrour and feare. For lest they might be thoughte to be naturall horses, or the horsemen after the common sorte, hee declarethe, that there was a farre other forme and shape both of the horses and also of thē that sat vponupon them shewed vntounto him in a vision. For the horsemen had fiery habbergions, and of hyacinth and of brymestone, by which is ment that there breastes were so armed & fortifyed, against all violent force of weapons, yt they nede not to feare any thing at all, yea whether soeuer they …ourned thē selues, they might shew forth before them nothing els, but fire smooke and brimstone, for so I interpret the hyacinth or yelow collour, for that which followeth in the next clause. For as the horsemē which ride on barded horses, are wont to were collours or signes in there breasts or there shield which might make thē terrible to ther enemies, so these soldiers of Antichrist shewing forth in there brest flammie, smoky, & brimstone like coloures they plainly make manifest to all mē, what they thretten to the world in eueryevery deed fyre & flame, that is extreme destruction.
And the heades of the horses were as the heades of lyons & out of there mouthes went forth fire & smoke and brimstone. &c. The forme of the horses was monstrouse & horrible, as which besids the swiftnes of horses, had also y• heads & strēgth of lions, and yt whiche is aboue yt fearcenes of lions, which teare onelyonly with there teeth and clawes, out of there mouth saith S. Iohn, went fire and smoke & brimstone, and vnderunder these figures is described, yt mōstrouse and barbarous tyranny of Antichrist, which with open violence defendeth the cursed seat of his pride, and cruelty warreth againste all those, whiche shall but moue a finger against his presumtuouse arrogancy.
Vers. 18.
Of these three was the third part of men killed, that is of the fyre of the smoke and of the brimstone, which came out of there mouthes. &c.
HE signifieth that they shal be destroyed with most certeyn & present death, which by any meanes oppose thēselues to his tyranny. For the fire spedely deuoureth, the smoke strangleth, & choketh, ye brimston both miserably torment those yt it burneth neither can it be quēched if it shall once burne. Such shalbe the rage & cruelty of antichrist, yt he is not wont to woūd wt ye sword but vtterly to cōsume wt fyre, to blind y• eyes wt smooke, to take away ye spirite, & to burne cruelly wt fiery flaming brimstone, & wt these three euils he slew ye third part of men, by his warriors, horsemē of brimston, and lions like horses, that is by y• princes which are subiect vntounto him, & the furious cōmon people whiche lyke horses cary vpō them ye bondage and slauery of Antichrist and at the will and pleasure of there Lordes, do fill all thinges with smoke brimston and fyery flames.
Vers. 19.
For there power is in ther mouthes and in there tailes: for there tailes were lyke vntounto serpentes, and had heades wherwith they hurte. &c.
ALthough certeyn copies hauehave not these words (and in ther tailes (yet they seme to me by other examplars in whiche they are found, yt they shold be added, or at the least vnderstood: For ye sense is this, that this army doth hurt there aduersaries with manifest violence, and as it were wt open warre, and yet not vnexpert or wanting fraude & deceipte, which was not perceiued in ye locusts, which seduced onelyonly by subtilty & craft. But these out of their bloudy & cruel mouths breath out, smoke, fyre, and brimstone. But yet they want not their enginnes & snares, because they hauehave tailes also like serpēts, which tailes also hauehave heads, which after ye maner of serpēts, priuily byte, those which are vncircumspect, yet they hurt more wt there heads then with there tailes, wt violēce thē with deceipt, because many do know there subtilties, but they cānot beare there cruelty, therfore eyther they are like wretches slaine, or els reuolt as cowards.
Vers. 20.
And the remnant of the men which were not killed by these plagues repented not of the workes of there hands, that they should not worship deuills and Idols of golde and of siluer, and of brasse, and of stone and of wood wt neither cā see, neither heare nor goe. &c.
HE teacheth that ye world being corrected with these plagues yet wold not be brought to a better mind, for those yt remained vnkilled by these calamities, were stricken with no repentaunce, for there heynouse offences that they might departe frō there wicked workes. They fained some sorow peraduenture so longe as euill oppressed them on eueryevery side, but it was mere hypocrisy which they boasted. For so soone as the affliction ceased, they returned to there kinde, and gaue them selues wholly to there accustomed impieties. They honored deuils, they worshipped idols, made of all kinde of matter and substance, and although they were blinde, deaf and coulde not moue themselues, yet they sought & hoped for health of them. And it is worthy to be noted, that the Apostle rehearseth all kinde of matter or substance whereof idols were made: both that he mighte shewe the vanitie of men that they woulde séeke diuine nature in euerye creature, rather then in God, and also that hee mighte declare that no kind of Idols are to be estemed.
Vers. 21.
Also they repented not of there murther, and of there …orcerye neither of there fornication, nor of there thefte, &c.
THey can not keepe the commaundements of the seconde table, which dishonour God after such a sorte, as S. Paule sayeth to the Rom. 1. Chapter, therefore hee reprehendeth not onelyonly there Idolatrie, but also there murtherers, sorceries, theftes, and other such like abominable wickednes. And wee see by this prophecie that men tooke neuer the more heed for the plagues wherewith God afflicted the world chiefelye for the tyrannie of Antichrist, which although manye of the Papistes them selues detest and abhorre, yet they forsake not his Idolatrouse religion, neither departe from there wicked wayes.