The Whole Revelation of John in Two Treatises, Treatise 2 · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
THE ARGVMENT.
The Spirit of God hauing hitherto orderlie prophecied the imperiall or ſecular hiſtorie, vntounto this ſeuenth age or trumpet, and in the former chapter hauing ſhewed, that in this ſeuenth age the worlde will end: Therefore now in this chapter, before that end come, hee beginnes againe, and enters to the Eccleſiaſtical hiſtory, of the progreſſe of Gods word and true profeſſors thereof, proceeding briefly therein, vntill that hiſtorie be as far proceeded as the other: And then doth he introduce the trumpet of the latter day, after the very maner and ſtyle of the other ſix trumpets before expreſſed.
The Text.
The Text. 1 Then was giuē me a reed like vntounto a rod, & the Angel ſtood by ſaying, riſe & mete the Temple of God, and the altar, and them that woorſhippe therein.
Paraphraſt. expoſition. ANd there was power and knowledge giuen me ſtraightly, as with a metwand, to meaſure the eſtate of things to come: ſo Chriſt the gret Angel of the couenant aſsiſting me, cōmanded me to ariſe from all earthlie affections, and to prophecie nowe the preciſe meaſure of times, that God hath carefully appointed ouer his true, inward & inviſible Church, his holy religion, and all the true profeſſors thereof.
Hiſtoricall application ANd there was power and knowledge giuen me ſtraightly, as with a metwand, to meaſure the eſtate of things to come: ſo Chriſt the gret Angel of the couenant aſsiſting me, cōmanded me to ariſe from all earthlie affections, and to prophecie nowe the preciſe meaſure of times, that God hath carefully appointed ouer his true, inward & inviſible Church, his holy religion, and all the true profeſſors thereof.
The Text. 2 But the court which is with out the temple caſt out, and mete it not, for it is giuen vntounto the Gentiles, and the holy Citie ſhall they tread vnderunder foote two and fourtie moneths.
Paraphraſt. expoſition. 2 But as for the a outwarde and viſible face of the pretended Church, it muſt be rejected from God, and no care, meſure, nor account had by him thereof, becauſe it muſt be giuen ouer to Antichriſtian and Idolatrous people; who ſhall ſubdue his holy b Church and ſpiritual Ieruſaſalem, and treade it vnderunder foote c 1260. yeares.
Hiſtoricall application 2 But as for the a outwarde and viſible face of the pretended Church, it muſt be rejected from God, and no care, meſure, nor account had by him thereof, becauſe it muſt be giuen ouer to Antichriſtian and Idolatrous people; for after the yeare of God 300, the Emperor Conſtantine ſubdued all Chriſtian Churches to Pope Sylueſter; frō which time, til theſe our daies, euen 1260. yeare, the Pope and his Cleargie, hath poſſeſſed the outward & viſible Church of Chriſtians, treading downe and ſuppreſsing all that truely opponed againſt their abuſes.
Anno Chriſt. Anno Chriſt 300 The Eccleſiaſticall Hiſtorie and eſtate of Gods vvord and Scriptures during the Antichriſt his raigne.
The Text. 3 But I will giuegive povver vntounto my two witneſſes, & they ſhall prophecy a thouſand, two hundreth, and three ſcore daies, clothed in ſakcloth.
Paraphraſt. expoſition. 3 Yet in the mean time ſhall GOD giuegive that grace, that his two Witneſſes, the d olde and newe Teſtamentes ſhall be authoriſed, and ſhall preach & propheſie theſe e thouſande two hundred and three ſcore yeares, thogh not in there due apparell, but diſguiſed with the obſcuritie f of mens traditions.
Hiſtoricall application 3 Seeming to authoriſe the olde and newe Teſtamentes, and to preache thereof theſe 1260. yeares, yet not rightly interpreting them, but obſcuring them with mens traditiōs & coloured gloſſes.
The Text. 4 Theſe are two oliue trees, & two candleſticks, ſtanding before the God of the earth.
Paraphraſt. expoſition. 4 Theſe Teſtamentes be as two g Oliues, to annoint vsus Kinges and Prieſtes to our God, and as two g Lanternes, to illuminate vsus with the true light of his holie Spirite: Theſe abide and ſtande before God with his elect vponupon earth.
Hiſtoricall application 4 Theſe Teſtamentes be as two g Oliues, to annoint vsus Kinges and Prieſtes to our God, and as two g Lanternes, to illuminate vsus with the true light of his holie Spirite: Theſe abide and ſtande before God with his elect vponupon earth.
The Text. 5 And if any man will hurte them, fire proceedeth out of their mouthes, and deuoureth their enemies: for if any man would hurt thē, thus muſt he bee killed.
Paraphraſt. expoſition. 5 If any Heretick would peruert theſe, the h fire of godly zeale, proceeding from the mouthes of their profeſſors, ſhal cōfound theſe hereticks. And if any Atheiſt would vtterlie ſubvert theſe Teſtaments, they ſhal be deſtroyed and die eternally.
Hiſtoricall application 5 If any Heretick would peruert theſe, the h fire of godly zeale, proceeding from the mouthes of their profeſſors, ſhal cōfound theſe hereticks. And if any Atheiſt would vtterlie ſubvert theſe Teſtaments, they ſhal be deſtroyed and die eternally.
The Text. 6 Theſe hauehave power to ſhutte heauen, that it rayne not in the daies of their prophecying, & hauehave power ouer waters, to turne them into blud, & to ſmite the earth with all manner of plagues, as often as they will.
Paraphraſt. expoſition. 6 Theſe hauehave ſuch authoritie, that the heauen ſhal be cloſed & no rain ſhal deſcend from thence, and tyrannie & bloodſhed ſhal be among the people of the earth, and the worlde ſcourged with al kinde of plagues, during all the daies that theſe teſtaments and profeſſors thereof do ſo prophecie and threaten vsus for our iniquities: yea euen ſo oft, as they liſt to pronounce Gods wrath againſt vsus for that cauſe.
Hiſtoricall application 6 Theſe hauehave ſuch authoritie, that the heauen ſhal be cloſed & no rain ſhal deſcend from thence, and tyrannie & bloodſhed ſhal be among the people of the earth, and the worlde ſcourged with al kinde of plagues, during all the daies that theſe teſtaments and profeſſors thereof do ſo prophecie and threaten vsus for our iniquities: yea euen ſo oft, as they liſt to pronounce Gods wrath againſt vsus for that cauſe.
The Text. 7 And when they hauehave finiſhed their teſtimonie, the beaſte that commeth out of the bottomleſſe pit, ſhal make warre againſt them, & kill them.
Paraphraſt. expoſition. 7 And when theſe two Teſtaments are compleitly written out, and their teſtimonie authoriſed, the i Antichriſtian Monarch, riſing frō the deuil, ſhal ſtriue againſt them, and ſhall ouercome thē, & ſhall depriue thē of their ſpirituall meaning and liuelie ſenſe.
Hiſtoricall application 7 Now after the primitiue Church had receiued and admitted theſe teſtaments, & cō firmed the ſame in the counſell of Nice, anno Chriſti. 322. euen from thēce forth the Roman and Papiſticall empire hath trobled thoſe ſcriptures of God, with humane traditions & ſuperſtitions, and ſo hath preuailed, that the true ſence & meaning there of, was as deade out of the world.
The Text. 8 And their corpes ſhall lie in the ſtreets of the greate citie, which ſpirituallie is called Sodom and Egypt, where our Lord alſo was crucified.
Paraphraſt. expoſition. 8 And their dead letter ſhal ly as dead carkeiſes patentlie, throughout all the kjuriſdiction of that great Antichriſtian citie, which ſpirituallie is l as Sodom, in all ſtinking and vnnaturall lecherie, & as l Aegipt in tyrannie & oppreſsion over the ſants of god, for euē there, Chriſt our Lord, in manie reſpects is continuallie mcrucified, and put to death.
Hiſtoricall application 8 And this dead letter did lie obſcured in Latine, throughout al the Empire of Rome, that great citie, that is more vile in al ſtinking Sodomie than Sodom it ſelf, & a more tyrannicall Empire ouer Gods Church than Aegipt was: for in it Chriſt is daylie crucified in his mēbers, yea, euē in Rome was Chriſt himſelfe crucified, in that he ſuffred death vnderunder that Empire, & vnderunder Pontius Pilat, one of the magiſtrates therof.
The Text. 9 And they of the people and kindreds, and tongues, & Gentiles, ſhall ſee their corps three daies and a half, and ſhal not ſuffer their carkeiſes to bee put in graues.
Paraphraſt. expoſition. 9 And they of all tribes, people, tōgs, and nations, ſhal ſee this dead letter, lying as deade carkeiſes, the ſaid ſpace of n 1260 yeares, and ſhall not ſuffer the ſame to be duly buried, ſetled, and ingraued within their breaſts.
Hiſtoricall application 9 And al the Roman & Papiſtical empire, had of thoſe Latine & il gloſed Bibles patent in their Churches & houſes, during the ſaid 1260 years of their raigne: all the which time their Legendarie, and other fables were more ingraued in their harts, thā theſe Teſtamēts of Gods truth.
The Text. 10 And they that dwell vponupon the earth, ſhall rejoice ouer thē and be glad, and ſhal ſende giftes one to another, for theſe two Prophets vexed them that dwelt on the earth.
Paraphraſt. expoſition. 10 For all that dwel in earthly pleſures, ſhall be merie to ſee Gods worde ſo ſmothered, & ſhal rejoice together, & ſend gifts and propines euerie one to another: For theſe two teſtamēts wold hauehave preached againſt ſinnes, & prophecied their deſtruction, and hauehave troubled the glad eſtate of theſe that dwelt in earthlie pleaſures.
Hiſtoricall application 10 Yea, they rejoiced when the fearful threatnings of Gods worde were hid, and the Popes plauſible Pardons opened vp, and offered to them, and made merie in their Chriſtmas and Eaſter feaſtes, ſending for gladnes their propines and gifts at new-yeares-day and hanſell Mōday: Wheras if they had known the fearfull ſentence of the Scriptures, they had not ſo rejoiced in mens traditiōs & earthly pleſures.
The Text. 11 But after three daies and an halfe, the ſpirit of life comming frō God, ſhal enter into them, and they ſhall ſtande vp vponupon their feet, and great feare ſhall come vp… them which ſaw them.
Paraphraſt. expoſition. 11 But after the ſaid 1260 years, the liuely Spirite or interpretation from God ſhall quicken them vp, and they ſhal bee authoriſed and ſet vp in aeſtimation, and the feare of God ſhall com vponupon the harts of al men that ſhall then rightlie ſee & conſider them.
Hiſtoricall application 11 But now are theſe 1260 yeares expired in an. Chriſti 1560 or therabout, & the Scriptures of God are liuely and quicklie interpreted & reſtored to the true eſtimation and honour: & thouſandes converted daylie from their former Papiſtry to the true feare of God,
The Text. 12 And they ſhall heare a great voice frō heauen ſaying vntounto thē, Come vp hither. And they ſhal aſcend vp to heaven in a cloude, and their enemies ſhall ſee them.
Paraphraſt. expoſition. 12 For by the voice and preaching of Gods heauenly & true Church, they were choſen & called vponupon, to aſcend vp to them, and bee promoted aboue al humain traditions, & they aroſe vp, & were promoted to their due honour & authoritie, among thē of that heavenlie & true Church, while as yet they were but cloudy, dark, and vnknown to the world: then ſhal their enemies the Antichriſtians, now begin to ſee & perceiue their authoritie.
Hiſtoricall application 12 Hearing it openlie preched by the moſt true profeſſors of God, that theſe his holy Teſtaments hauehave authoritie and authentikenes aboue al decrees, writs, and traditions of men, and therfore (how dark & deſpiſed ſoeuer they ſeemed before) ar onlie to be brought in as witneſſes of Gods holie truth: and now this authoritie of theſe holy Teſtamentes is become ſo c… & euident, that the verie Papiſts do ſee and perceiue the ſame, and muſt needes admit their Teſtimonie.
The Text. 13 And the ſame houre ſhal there be a great earthquake, & the tenth parte of the citie ſhall fall, and in the earthquake ſhal be ſlain in number ſeuen thouſande: and the remnant ſhal be afraid, and giuegive glorie to the God of heauen.
Paraphraſt. expoſition. 13 And the gret Empire of the earth ſhall quake and bee commoned: & the o tenth parte of the Antichriſtian Synagogues, and buildinges ſhal bee ruined, & in that commotion pſeuē thouſand of thoſe men ſhal be depriued of their rents wheron they liued, and the reſt of theſe ſhal repent, and feare the Lord, and ſhall giuegive glorie to the God of heauen.
Hiſtoricall application 13 At this time this Romane and Papiſticall Empire, is greatlie ſhaken, for the tenth part thereof, euen all their Temples, Abbaies Frieries, Nunries, and other their cities and civill pollicies through all England, Scotland, and diuers parts of Germany are pulled downe and deſtroyed. And of their Biſhops, Abbots, Priors Channons, Monks, Friers, and Prieſtes, a great number depriued of their rents, and liuings, and the reſt repenting their idolatrous Papiſtrie, become true profeſſours of God.
The Text. 14 The ſecōd woe is paſt, and behold the third woe will come anone.
Paraphraſt. expoſition. 14 The ſecond of the greate wofull plagues, that that Empire ſhuld ſuffer is paſt, & this is the third & laſt, that approcheth at hand.
Hiſtoricall application 14 This Papiſticall kingdōe ſuffered great troble by Turkiſh dominatours, and far greater by the Mahometane Emperours: and theſe troubles are paſſed, but now thirdlie, and greateſt of all, theſe Miniſters of Gods trueth, ariſing in this age, ſince the yeare of God, 1541. ſhall bringe it to vtter wracke.
The Text. 15 And the ſeuenth Angell blewe the trumpet, and there were great voyces in heauen, ſaying, The kingdomes of this worlde are our Lordes, and his Chriſts, and hee ſhall raigne for euermore.
Paraphraſt. expoſition. 15 And the Angels of the ſeuenth & laſt age, blew out the plagues of God his wrath, and then wer there great voices of gladneſſe, ſolēnlie heard throgh out al the church of God, rejoycing, & ſaying, Now all the kingdōs of the erth qar thrown down, & that holy kingdom of God, and his ſon Chriſte Ieſus (who raigneth for euer & euer) onlie ſet vp.
Anno Chriſt. 1541 Here beginneth the ſeuenth trumpet, in which the world endeth.
Hiſtoricall application 15 For, that yeare began the ſeventh age, wherein, the laſt dayes approching, al the Empires and kingdomes of the worlde muſt bee trodden downe, and Gods, and his Sonne Chriſtes aeternall kingdome, only erected.
The Text. 16 Then the four and twenty Elders, which ſate before God on their ſeates fell vponupon their faces, and worſhipped God.
Paraphraſt. expoſition. 16 And the 24. bookes of the olde Teſtament (dead, & vnmentioned ſince the daies of the primitiue church) now apears before God in their due & acoſtomed place and eſtate proſtrating thē ſelues, yeild by the mouths of their profeſſors, praiſe & worſhip to God, ſaying.
Hiſtoricall application 16 And Gods holie Scriptures, which lay as deade the time of the Antichriſtian raigne, now beeing reſtored to their former authoritie and honour, doe ſtir vp the harts & mouths of all true profeſſours, to humble themſelues, and to yeelde their due praiſe and honour to God almightie, ſaying.
The Text. 17 Saying, we giuegive thee thankes, Lord GOD almightie, Which art, and Which waſt, and Which art to come: for thou haſt received thy gret might, and haſt obtained thy kingdome.
Paraphraſt. expoſition. 17 O our Lord God almighty, who was, who is, and who now ſhall returne to judgment, wee yeeld thee moſt harty thanks, for that now thou haſt taken vponupon thee thy great and mighty power and ſtrength, & doeſt now only raign ouer al.
Hiſtoricall application 17 O our Lord God almighty, who was, who is, and who now ſhall returne to judgment, wee yeeld thee moſt harty thanks, for that now thou haſt taken vponupon thee thy great and mighty power and ſtrength, & doeſt now only raign ouer al.
The Text. 18 And the Gentiles were angrie, & thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they ſhould be judged, & that thou ſhouldeſt giuegive rewarde vntounto thy ſervantes the Prophetes, and to the Saints, and to them that feare thy Name, to ſmall and great, and ſhouldeſt deſtroie thē, which deſtroy the earth.
Paraphraſt. expoſition. 18 And the wicked nations are angrie thereat, but thy wrath is come vponupon thē; & the time of the general judgmēt is com, that the dead muſt riſe, and thy holie ſeruants, the Prophetes, and Saints, and all men both great and ſmall, that hauehave feared thy name, muſt receiue the reward of aeternall life: but cōtrarilie, thoſe muſt be rooted out, and caſt into aeternall damnation, who hauehave ſeduced the world, and polluted the earth with their abhominations.
Hiſtoricall application 18 And the wicked nations are angrie thereat, but thy wrath is come vponupon thē; & the time of the general judgmēt is com, that the dead muſt riſe, and thy holie ſeruants, the Prophetes, and Saints, and all men both great and ſmall, that hauehave feared thy name, muſt receiue the reward of aeternall life: but cōtrarilie, thoſe muſt be rooted out, and caſt into aeternall damnation, who hauehave ſeduced the world, and polluted the earth with their abhominations.
The Text. 19 Then the tē ple of God was opened in heauen, and there was ſeen in his Temple the Arke of his couenant: and there were lighteninges, and voyces, and thunderings, and earthquake, and much haile.
Paraphraſt. expoſition. 19 And vntill that day (nowe ſhortly approching) the true Temple and Church of God ſhal be made r patent, vouchable, viſible, and open to all his heauenlie and true elect, and among theſe of that true Church and heauenlie elect, ſhall Chriſt, the true Ark of our couenant, and atonement with God the Father be ſeene, knowne, & vnderſtood, preached out, and conſtantlie advouched. In that time ſhall there be great ſhewings forth of tempeſtuous troubles, great noiſe, rumours and threatnings of warres, and great trouble and commotions vponupon the Empire of the earth. And the colde and tempeſtuous ſ hail of partialitie, ſelf-louelove, and lack of charitie, ſhal extinguiſh and quench out that ardent zeale, that we owe towards God, and the fervent louelove and charitie, that we owe to our neighbour.
Hiſtoricall application 19 And vntill that day (nowe ſhortly approching) the true Temple and Church of God ſhal be made r patent, vouchable, viſible, and open to all his heauenlie and true elect, and among theſe of that true Church and heauenlie elect, ſhall Chriſt, the true Ark of our couenant, and atonement with God the Father be ſeene, knowne, & vnderſtood, preached out, and conſtantlie advouched. In that time ſhall there be great ſhewings forth of tempeſtuous troubles, great noiſe, rumours and threatnings of warres, and great trouble and commotions vponupon the Empire of the earth. And the colde and tempeſtuous ſ hail of partialitie, ſelf-louelove, and lack of charitie, ſhal extinguiſh and quench out that ardent zeale, that we owe towards God, and the fervent louelove and charitie, that we owe to our neighbour.
Notes, Reaſons, and Amplifications.
a The temple of Ieruſalem contained three partes, to wit, the vtter part, where al men reſorted, the inner place, called the holy place, and the innermoſt part, called the holieſt of al. Theſe two holy and holieſt parts that are within, repreſents here the true latent and inviſible Church, and the vttermoſt & moſt patent parte, repreſents the outward and viſible pretended Church, this vtter court is without the temple, if yee call onelyonly the holy and holieſt places to be the temple: but if yee call the whole worke to be the temple, then is this vtter court within the temple as a parte of the whole: and therefore ſome reade, atrium quod eſt intra templum, and ſome reade, atrium quod eſt extra templum, &c. Alwaies in this viſible and outwarde face of the Church, repreſented here by this outward court, Paul doth mean, that the Antichriſt muſt ſit. 2. Theſ. 2.4. and therefore, it is commaunded here to be caſt out, and no care, meaſure, nor account thereof to be taken of God.
b The holy citie is not one only citie, but is ſpirituall Ieruſalem, euen the true Church and Spouſe of Chriſt Ieſus, generally throgh the whole world, as Reuel. 21. appeareth.
c That theſe 42. moneths, are 1260. yeares, is prooued by our 1. 15. & 16. Propoſitions, and that this account of 1260. years beginnes about the yeares of Chriſt 300. or 316. is prooued by our 36. propoſition, and that this time, the Antichriſt muſt ſitte ouer the Church of God, read 2. Theſ. 2. and that ſo doth the Pope profeſsing himſelfe the heade of the Church, read lib. 5. Sexti, Canone foelicis: in gloſſa, and lib. 3. Sexti Tit. 16. can periculoſo, hereof read alſo the 2. ſyntheſis of our 26. propoſition.
d That the old and new Teſtaments be theſe two witneſſes that here teſtifies of God, is prooued by our 21. propoſition.
e That 1260. daies meanes here 1260. yeares, is prooued by our 1. 15. and 16. propoſitions: and that they begin anno Chriſti. 300. or 316. or thereby, is declared in our 36. propoſition.
f Call to minde, how in the daies of Papiſtrie, none durſt vnderunder the paine of their liues hauehave the Bible in vulgar language, but all the ſcriptures wer hidden vp from the vulgar people in Latin language, and wer hidden vp from ſimple ſchollers, by wrong gloſſes and falſe interpretations, as who would hide vppe and diſguiſe a prince in ſackcloth. Of theſe wicked gloſſes and falſe tranſlations, wreſted by the original Hebrue and Greeke, there is diuers to be ſeene in that age, ſuch as euen now, and lateſt of all the Rhemiſh Teſtament.
g There is mention made of theſe in Zach. 4. where the Prophet ſpeking of Zerubbabel, & of Iehoſhua the ſon of Iehozadak, their repairing vp of the materiall Temple, introduceth in that viſion a figure of theſe two Candleſtickes, and of theſe two Oliues or Teſtaments, that yeeld ſpirituall oyle, both to the Lampes of the ſeven primitiue Churches, as alſo now to vsus, to kindle our Lampes againe anew, againſt our bridegroomes comming to judgement. Matth. 25.1.
h How the enemies of God and his word, are confounded with the fire of godlie zeale, is teſtified Pſal. 20.9.10. and Pſal. 78.5.6. Alſo, how manie blaſphemous heretikes hauehave bene confounded by the mouthes of Gods miniſters, and afterward died moſt horrible deaths, in hiſtories may be ſeene.
i That this beaſt is the Romane and Papiſticall Empire, by the whole indices and tokens thereof, is moſt clearlie declared Apoc. 12. and 13. and 17. & euidently prooued by our 24. propoſition.
k This great citie and ſtreets thereof (though chieflie it meaneth the Antichriſtian citie, which, God willing, both hereafter ſhall be, and is heretofore, propoſition 23. prooved to be Rome) meaneth no one citie, but all the landes, cities, and places of the world, ſubject to the Antichriſtian Empire: Euen like as contrarilie, ſpiritual Ieruſalem, meaned al thoſe through the worlde, that were of the true Chriſtian Empire, as is before ſaide in the note b hereof.
l This citie being called here, not ſimplie Sodome nor Aegypt, but ſpirituallie, like as hereafter (Apoc. 17.5) the ſame is called not ſimplie Babylon, but myſticallie Babylon: meaneth thereby, that that citie is not named literallie Sodom, Aegypt: or Babylon, but that becauſe it is polluted with their vices; and like to them it is: therefore, ſpirituallie compared to them.
m Chriſt is ſaide to bee crucified in this Antichriſtian citie of Rome, for four cauſes: Firſt, for that as the Iewes did put Chriſt to death, who is Gods true incarnate Worde, and depriued him of this earthlie life: So the Antichriſt here, hath ſlaine Gods holie Word and Scriptures, by depriuing thē of their true ſenſe, which is their ſpirituall life, and the execution of this ſlaughter proceedeth from Rome. Secondlie, whereſoeuer Chriſt is truelie preached and afterward deſpiſed (as in Rome) he is ſaid there to be crucified Gal. 3.1. Thirdlie, whereſoeuer Chriſts members ar crucified and afflicted, there Chriſt eſteemeth himſelfe to be crucified and afflicted (Mat. 25.40.45) But in Rome manie martyres hauehave ſuffred death: Therefore, &c. Fourthlie, becauſe (by the note k preceeding) the whol Antichriſtian and Roman Empire, is comprehended vnderunder the name of this chief metropolitan city therof, which is Rome; But vnderunder the Romane Empire. and by Pontius Pilate, one of the magiſtrates thereof, was Chriſt crucified: Therefore, in this citie, (which ſpecially meaneth Rome) is Chriſt figuratiuelie ſaid to bee crucified.
n That theſe three daies and an halfe, are 1260 years, is prooved by our 15. and 16. propoſitions: and that theſe yeares began betwixt the years of Chriſt 300. and 316. is declared in our 36. propoſition.
o In conſideration of the ten dominions that were vnderunder the Romane and Papiſticall Empire, it may wel be eſteemed, that the Abbeyes, Monaſteries, and Papiſtical places of England, and Scotland, with the addition of manie in Germanie, and ſome in France, that were ruined and pulled down, about the time of the yeare of Chriſt 1560. were no leſſe than the tenth part of al the Antichriſtian citie or Papiſticall policie.
p At this time, the tenth part of the Papiſtical Empire being refourmed, and the idolatrous policies deſtroyed, it is ſpecified here that ſeuen thouſand wer ſlain, that is, they wer degraded of their dignities & honors, and ſpoyled of their rents, wheron they liued: for (as hereafter, Apoc. 13.15) to giuegive life to the image of the beaſt, is nothing els but to confirme, authorize, & inaugurate it, wherby it may enjoy office, honor, and rent: So here, to ſlaie, is as much as to degrade and depriue them of their offices, honours, and rentes, whereon they did liue. As to the preciſe number of ſeuen thouſande, the like, and like number yee ſhall finde 3. Reg. 19.18. and Roman. 11.4. which wee muſt not thinke to bee ſo preciſelie ſpoken, as if there were no oddes: for ſuch reaſons, as you ſhall reade Apoc. 7. note f thereof, and Apoc. 9. note hthereof.
q That in this age (which began in the yeare of Chriſt, a thouſand, fiue hundred, fourtie and one, and endeth, at the fartheſt, in the yeare of Chriſt, a thouſande, ſeuen hundred, foure ſcore and ſixe,) the Romane and Papiſtical Empire, and al tyrannicall kingdomes ſhall bee ſuppreſſed, and Chriſts kingdome onlie erected: and the laſt judgment, ending all prophecies ſhall come, is manifeſted by the oath and vowe, made Apoc. 10.6. of which, reade the notes e and f thereof.
r How this true temple of God, was patent in the daies of the true primitiue Church, and then cloſed vp againe, to theſe dayes is ſaid in the diſcourſe of the 20. propoſition, and ſhalbe confirmed hereafter, Reuel. 15.8. & note h thereof: Wherby they notablie erre, that think the Church of God euer to be patent, publik, and viſible, ſeeing by the former verſes 2.3.7. and 8. it muſt bee trod downe by the Antichriſt. 1260. yeares, til at length here ver. 19. a little before the latter day, it be made publike, patent, and open to all men.
ſ This cold haile of partialitie, iniquitie, ſelfe-louelove, and lack of charitie, is not onelyonly here the laſt token, that preceeds the day of judgment, but alſo it is the very cauſe why the day of judgement ſhalbe haſtened before the ſaid 1786 year come, as Matth. 24.12.22. teſtifieth. Of this ſelfe-louelove and partialitie of the latter day teſtifies Paul 2. Tim. 3.2. The remanent and perfect hiſtorie of the latter day is here omitted, and remitted to the 14. chapter, as ſhal be diſcuſſed there at length, and was already noted Reuel. 10. note d thereof, and in our progreſſe vppon the 11. propoſition is mentioned. And ſo endeth the orderlie parte of this Reuelation, beginning at Chriſtes baptiſme, and continuing vntill the latter day.
Here follovveth the amplificatiue part of the Reuelation of the Euangeliſt S. Iohn, containing a repetition, amplification, and expoſition of ſuch notable thinges, as before are but ſummarlie intreated of in the former part.