The Whole Revelation of John in Two Treatises, Treatise 2 · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
THE ARGVMENT.
Hauing in the former chapter deduced the continuall ſtrife betwixt Chriſts Church and holie Spirit, on the one part, and the Deuill and his inſtruments on the other part: In this chapter he renewth a more ſpeciall deſcription of theſe chiefe inſtruments, whoſe perſon the deuil is to vſe in all times hereafter, to perſecute Gods Church withal: to wit of the whole Latine Empire in generall, and of the Antichriſts kingdom in particular, ſet out reſpectiuelie vnderunder the figure of two beaſts the firſt ten horned, the laſt, two-horned, with all their notes and tokens, agreeing moſt exactlie with the Roman, and Papiſtical kingdomes as followeth.
Hiſtoricall application. 1 ANd among the ambitious tyrāts & tumultuous people of the worlde, aroſe the gret Latin or Romane Empire, whoſe chiefe ſeat and Metropolitane citie Rome, is ſet vp on their ſeuen hils Palatinus, Coelius, Ianiculus (otherwiſe called Capitolinus) Auentinus, Quirinalis, Viminalis & Eſquilinus, & hath bene gouerned by theſe ſeuē princely governmēts, Kings, Conſuls, Dictators, Triumvirs, Tribunes, Emperors, & Pops, Afterward it was deuided into ten chief kingdoms, to wit, Spain, France, Lōbardie, England, Scotlād, Denmark, Sweden, the kingdom of the Goths in Italie, and of the Hunnes in Pannonia or Hungarie; & the Exarchat of Rauenna, and ouer thwart theſe ſeuen hils & notable partes of that Empire, were ſet vp idolatrous tēples, Images, pillers, Piramydes, & monuments of great oſtentation, and blaſphemous ſuperſcriptions & titles, ſuch as Diis Manibus, Minervae, Fortunae▪ Romae fortunatae, Romae victrici Romae aeternae, Plutoni, Veneri, Priapo, & infinit others of old erected, beſide alſo infinit Papiſtical Idols of new.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 1 AND I foreſaw, that out of the waltering a waues & muddie ſeas of Tyrants, ther ſhuld ariſe a great and mightie b Empire, whoſe principall ſeate and chief Citie, is placed vponupon ſeuen chilles, & ſhould be gouerned by ſeuen princelie gouernementes; and d ten ſeuerall parts of the ſame Empire ar to bee devided, whereof there ſhall bee tenne crowned kings, and eueryevery where vponupon theſe ſeuen hilles, ſhall be monuments of oſtentation, with proud and blaſphemous ſuperſcriptions & titles, ſet vp by theſe princelie and royall Gouernours.
The text. 1 AND I ſaw a beaſte riſe out of the ſea, hauing ſeuen heades, and tenne hornes, and vponupon his hornes vvere ten crownes, and vponupon his heades the name of blaſphemie.
Hiſtoricall application. 2 This Empire ſucceeding to the former three Empires and monarchies, was So that at length, by their deuilliſh works of Idolatrie, auguries, ſorceries, oracles of falſe gods, & by blood-ſhed, it pleaſed our God, to ſuffer theſe Emperours to conquer and poſſeſſe the whol world.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 2 And this Empire that I foreſawe, was like the Graecian Monarch, in that it ſwiftlie, as with the ſpeede of a e Leopard, ſhortlie ouer ran the whol worlde, and like the Monarchie of the Medes and Perſians, who mightilie marched forward, as on Beares feete, treading downe all other kingdomes, and like the Monarchie of the Babylonians, who (as with the mouthes of Lyons) devoured vp innocent blood without meaſure: And the deuill gaue him his power & his throne that is, he made him f Prince of the world with full authoritie.
Hiſtoricall application. 3 But afterwarde, the Hunnes, Gotthes and Vandalles, ſubverted that Gouernment of Emperours, and aboliſhed them, wherthrough the Empire vaked & lay deade more than three hundred yeares. Yet, afterward roſe new Emperours againe, intituled of Germanes and Romans, of the which Charle-maigne was the firſt, and in them was the Romane Empire in a maner reviued and reſtored againe. The greate foelicitie of this Empire aſtoniſhed all men, who therefore called it Imperium ſacrum p…rpetuum & ſemper auguſtum, and not onelie became ſubject to it,
Paraphraſt. expoſition 3 And I foreſawe one of his chiefeſt g governments, as it were vtterlie deſtroyed and aboliſhed but that loſſe was mended again, & that government whollie reſtored, and all men marueiled at the power and proſperitie of that Empire, and gaue ouer themſelues as ſlaues and ſervants vntounto it.
The text. 3 And I ſaw one of his heades, as it vvere wounded to death, but his deadly woūd was healed, and al the world wōdred and followed the beaſt.
Hiſtoricall application. 4 But alſo for louelove of it, they worſhipped the devill, in the idolles of Mars, Minerva, Ladie Fortune, and others, and did beare ſuch reuerence to that Empire, that by protection of falſe gods, they thought the ſame without al compare, & for euer invincible.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 4 And they worſhipped the h devil that gaue ſuch preheminence to that Empire, and they honoured that empire, eſteeming none like therunto or able to make warre againſt it.
The text. 4 And they worſhiped the dragon which gaue power vntounto the beaſt & th…y worſhiped the beaſt, ſaying, Who is like vntounto the beaſt who is able to warre with him?
Hiſtoricall application. 5 In this Empire ariſeth the Pope, who proudlie alleadgeth himſelfe to be God his Vicar, and that he can remitte ſinnes, and exeeme from hell, and ſuch other blaſphemies againſt God: & he begā his mightie power and kingdom, by Pope Sylveſter the firſt, about the year of Chriſt three hundreth and ſixteene, and hath raigned a thouſand, two hundreth and three ſcore yeares.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 5 Then was ther adjoined to that Empire, a i falſe mouth, euen an Antichriſtiā prophet, that ſpake foorth proudly things of gret oſtentation, & blaſphemies againſt God, & he received a mightie power of doing, for the ſpace of k 1260. yeares.
The text. 5 And there was giuē vntounto him a mouth, that ſpak gret things, & blaſphemies, and power was given vntounto him to doe two & fourtie moneths.
Hiſtoricall application. 6 Not onelie blaſpheming God and his name, but alſo boaſting that hee hath heauen to ſell for money, and can make Saintes in heauen of his owne canonizing, to whom we muſt praie, as our mediators.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 6 During the which time, the Empire opened this his Antichriſtiā mouth, wherby he taught blaſphemous doctrin againſt God, and againſt his holie name & heauenlie Tabernacle, and againſt all the Saintes that dwell in heauen.
The text. 6 And he opened his mouth vntounto blaſphemie againſte God, to blaſpheme his Name, and his Tabernacle, & thē that dwell in heauen.
Hiſtoricall application. 7 And whoſoeuer woulde not imbrace theſe and other his errours, but meaned to ſerue God trulie, of theſe did he perſecute, and put to death manie a thouſand, extending his tyrannical power, ouer al chriſtian kindreds and people.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 7 And God ſuffred him to make war aganſt his elect ſervāts & to ſubdue thē vnderunder his tyrannie, ſo that his power extended ouer euerie kinred, tongue, & natiō.
The text. 7 And it was giuē vntounto him to make warre with the ſaints and to ouercome them, & power was given him ouer eueryevery kindred, tongue, & nation.
Hiſtoricall application. 8 Whereby worldlie men, addicted to earthlie pleaſures, reuerēced him as God (Diſtinct. 96. Can. Satis euidenter) kiſsing his feet, and adoring him, ſo that in him the name of Rome and whole Romane Empire, is eſteemed famous, and holden in great eſtimation and reuerence of all
Paraphraſt. expoſition 8 Therefore, all worldlie men, dwelling in earthlie pleaſures, ſhall giuegive ſuch homage and reuerence as appertaineth to God, vntounto that Empire, euen all theſe, whoſe names are not regiſtred among the elect number of Chriſt Ieſus our Sauiour, who was …redeſtinat to l ſuffer death for vsus, before the foundations of the world were laid:
The text. 8 Therefore all that dwell vponupon the erth, ſhal worhippe him, whoſe names are not written in the booke of life of the Lamb whiche was ſlaine from the beginning of the world.
Hiſtoricall application. 9 But who hath vnderſtanding, let him conſider Gods juſt judgment.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 9 But who hath vnderſtanding, let him conſider Gods juſt judgment.
The text. 9 If any man hauehave an eare, let him heare,
Hiſtoricall application. 10 Whereby theſe tyrants ſhall goe at length into captiuitie, becauſe they hauehave led others captiue: and ſhal be killed with the ſword, becauſe they hauehave killed others with the ſword, and this yeeldeth occaſion of comfort, patience, and perſeverance in faith to Gods ſervants.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 10 Whereby theſe tyrants ſhall goe at length into captiuitie, becauſe they hauehave led others captiue: and ſhal be killed with the ſword, becauſe they hauehave killed others with the ſword, and this yeeldeth occaſion of comfort, patience, and perſeverance in faith to Gods ſervants.
The text. 10 If anie lead into captiuitie, he ſhall goe into captiuitie: if anie kill with a ſword, he muſt be killed by a ſword: here is the patience, and the faith of the Saints.
Hiſtoricall application. 11 And to returne againe to the particulare deſcription of the Popes kingdome, it aroſe of the ſaid greate Empire, and contained a two folde power, ſpirituall & temporall: ſignified by their two horned Miter, and by the two ſwordes, that Pope Boniface the eight cauſed to bee caried before him, ſaying, Ecce duo gladii hîc, while as he was …lad the one day in the Pōtificall of a Biſhop, the next day in armour like an Emperor, vſurping ſo double power, but teaching ſuch deuilliſh doctrine, as before is ſaid.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 11 And I conſidered m by it ſelfe, and aparte, the deſcriptiō of this Antichriſt; euen howe his kingdome was in a manner, another kingdō comming vp out of the former great and ſtabliſhed Empire of the earth, & that hee had double power, ſpiritual and temporall, euen n Prieſthood & kingdom as Chriſt hath, yet in his doctrine teacheth hee diveliſh errours.
The text. 11 And I behelde another beaſt cō ming vp out of the erth, which had two horns like the Lamb, but hee ſpake like the dragon.
Hiſtoricall application. 12 And hee wrought what hee liſte (the Emperours yet ſtanding) with no leſſe authoritie & power than the Emperour himſelfe; yea, he eſtabliſhed and inaugurated againe of newe, that decayed eſtate of Emperours, that nowe ſtarted vppe againe by Charlemaigne.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 12 And hee did al that hee liſte, in preſence of the greate Empire, with no leſſe power than that firſt greate Empire was woont to do: and he compelled al men to doe homage, reverence, and be ſubject to that gret Empire, whoſe gouernment newlie o was ſtart vp againe, and his former decaies and loſſes amended.
The text. 12 And he did al that the firſte beaſte could doe before him, and he cauſed the earth & them vvhichwhich dwell therin, to worſhip the firſte beaſte, whoſe deadly wound was healed.
Hiſtoricall application. 13 And hee wrought manie wōders, partly fals as theſe of the legendary, partly by ſorcery, throwing fire out of his ſleues, as ſent from heauen, partly by his ordinarie ceremonies of curſing, vſed with the ſetting vp on hie of light torches and burning candles, and then throwing them downe headlong to the ground, extinguiſhing them before al the people,
Paraphraſt. expoſition 13 And this Antichriſt, wroght many devilliſh and p deceitfull wonders, ſo that he made q ſires of diuers kindes to bee thrown downe from on high to the groūd in preſence of the whole people, as if the fire of God his wrath were at his commaund, to bee brought down from heauen.
The text. 13 And he did great wonders, ſo that he made fire to come down from heauen on the earth, in the ſight of men.
Hiſtoricall application. 14 Terrifying ſimple men to obey him, who thoughte their ſoules were vndone for euer, by theſe lying terrours and deceites, which he vſed againſt both the people, and Princes of the Roman Empire: Alſo, it was the Pope that cauſed Charlemaigne and his ſucceſſors new Emperours, to bee confirmed and eſtabliſhed, after that that eſtate of Emperours had vaked more than three hūdred yeares, by the warres of the Hunnes, Gothes & Vandalles: & ordained Princes Electours, who ſhoulde chooſe the King of Romans.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 14 And hee deceived, and terrified thē that dwelled on the earth, by theſe lying ſignes and terrours, which God ſuffered him to vſe, in preſence of all thoſe of the great Empire: & hee r cauſed all thoſe that dwell on the earth, to renewe and make vp again, a new forme of Emperours or rather images of the former gret Empire, whoſe imperiall government had bin deſtroyed and aboliſhed before by the ſword, but now is repaired, and reſtored againe.
The text. 14 And deceiued them which dwel on the earth, by the ſignes, whiche were permitted to him to doe in the ſight of the beaſt, ſaying to them that dwell on the erth, that they ſhoulde make the image of the beaſte, which had the wounde of a ſword, and did liue.
Hiſtoricall application. 15 Who yet was not Emperour, but as a dead figure, Image, or ſhew of the Empire, til he ſolēnlie receiued the Popes injunctions, and did ſweare to maintaine his profeſſion, and then did the Pope crowne, inaugurat and confirme him Emperour of Germanes and Romans: And when the Emperour is ſo ſworne, and cōfederat with the Pope, then whoeuer do not reverence thē, & obey their comō decrees wil be purſued of thē both, & of all their cōfederats, to deth, by fire & ſword, as rebels apoſtats, and heretiks.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 15 And God ſuffered this Antichriſt to ſ inſpire thoſe Emperours (or rather images and formes of the greate Empire) with the ſpirit of his errours, ſo that they ſhould ſpeak and profeſſe his doctrin, and then ſhould hee confirme, crown and inaugurate theſe counterfeit Emperours with ſuch power, that now al men muſt honour and reuerence them, & yeelde them worſhip and obedience, vnderunder paine of their liues.
The text. 15 And it was permitted vntounto him to giuegive a ſpirite vntounto the image of the beaſte, ſo that the image of the beaſt ſhuld ſpeake, and ſhould cauſe, that as manie as woulde not worſhippe the image of the beaſt ſhoulde be killed.
Hiſtoricall application. 16 Moreouer, the Pope cauſed all his ſubjects of Chriſtendom, to receiue, and beare in their hands and foreheads, markes & tokens, repreſenting the name of the Latin Empire; ſuch as the marks of foreign & croſſes of ſundry ſorts.
Paraphraſt. expoſition 16 And he cauſed all men of all degrees and qualities, to receiue, and beare viſible t marks or liveries of the Empire, ſometimes in their handes, ſomtimes on their foreheads.
The text. 16 And hee made al, both ſma and gret, rich & poore, free and bond to recei e a marke in their right …ands, or in their foreheads,
Hiſtoricall application. 17 Els were they not thought to be Chriſtians but excommunicate, and by the Bul of Pope Martin the fift, theſe were not permitted to vſe any traffique or trade of merchā dize, that would not ſubject thēſelues to the ſeate of Rome, by marking thē ſelues thereto, in bearing croſſes on their foreheds on Aſh-wedneſday, and palme croſſes in their handes on Palm-ſunday, or by profeſsing their name, that is to ſay, to beleeue, as the Latin church beleeues, or to reverence magicallie the croſſes or naked figure of foreign,
Paraphraſt. expoſition 17 And he diſcharged all men of doing their lawfull affaires, or vſing their trade of merchandize, except thoſe, that doe beare and profeſſe the marke or name of the Empire, or the figure of the number of his name.
The text. 17 And that no man might buy or ſel, ſaue hee th t h…d the marke or the na…e of the beaſt, or the number of his name.
Hiſtoricall application. 18 Which who wil wiſelie cōſider, ſhal find more like to foreign (which is the nūber of the name foreign,) than to the name of chriſt; for this foreign is the name of that king, frō whom that Empire is called the Latin Empire, & the nūber of that name foreign is 666. expreſſed in Greek by theſe numerall letters foreign
Paraphraſt. expoſition 18 This is a matter, which requireth wiſedome: let him therefore, that hath skill and knowledge reckon the literall number of the name of this Empire, for ſame number is alſo the number of one of the chief u headſmen, and firſte Princes thereof, and the letters of that name make the number of ſixe hundred, three ſcore and ſixe.
The text. 18 Here is wiſedome. Let him that hath wit, count the number of the beaſte: for it is the number of a man, and l… number is ſixe hundred, thre ſcore and ſixe
Notes, Reaſons and Amplifications.
a Seeing (Apoc. 17.15.) waters generally are interpreted to mean al people and nations: the ſea whereout this kingdome, & the foure kingdomes in Dan. 7. ariſeth, muſt needs be the tumultuous people and tyrants of the world, amongſt the which, and of whome, the monarchies ſtart vp, conforme to Eſay 57.20. the vvicked are like the raging ſea that cannot reſt, &c. and Ezech. 26.3. I wil bring vp many nations againſt thee as the ſea, &c.
b That beaſts be interpreted Kings, kingdomes, empires, and monarchies, read Daniel. 7.17. and Dan. 8.20.21. and that this beaſt is the Romane kingdome and empire in particular, is prooued by our 24. propoſition.
c That theſe ſeuen heades, are interpreted ſeauen hilles of the great citie, and ſeuen ſorts of Kings or gouernors thereof, reade Apoc. 17.9.18. and howe Rome is that ſeuen hilled citie, gouerned by ſeuen royall and princely gouernments, is prooued by the 23. propoſition, and in our foreſaid 24. propoſition.
d How this empire of Rome became deuided into ten King… or kingdomes, compared to hornes, read Apoc. 17.12. and the ſaid 24. propoſition.
c Daniel (cap. 7.) deſcribing the foure monarchies, compares the firſt (which was of the Babylonians) to a Lyon. The ſecōd (which was of the Medes and Perſians) to a Bear. The thirde (which was of the Grecians) to a Leopard: but becauſe to al theſe, fourthly ſucceeded the greate Latin empire: Therefore Sanct Iohn compoſeth here the fourth beaſt, which repreſents the ſame of all the former three, ſignifying thereby, that this empire lacked no inſtrument of crueltie, that any of the former had.
f What throne & ſeat can this be els, that the Deuil giues to the Romans, but that which he promiſeth to giuegive to Chriſt (Mat. 4.29) to wit, euen the Empire of the worlde, as being the Prince of this world (Ioh 12.31. & Eph. 6.12. & Col. 2.15.) & ſo indeede it pleaſed God to permit the Romans by their deuiliſh auguries, oracles, ſorceries & bloodſhed, to obtain the whol monarchie of the earth, to the wrack of other godles people, and at length of them ſelues.
g The heades (Apoc. 7.19.) being two waies interpreted; to wit, for ſeauen mountaines, and for ſeuen kings or royal gouernmēts. The wounding of one of theſe ſeuen heades, muſt neceſſarily, rather meane the decay of one of the ſeuen princely gouernmēts, thā any thing concerning any of the hils, ſpecially, ſeeing experience of the event hath declared, that the moſt ſpecial of theſe ſeuen gouermēts, to wit, the Emperors, wer aboliſhed by the warfare of the Hunnes, Gothes, & Ʋandalles, & vaked from the daies of Auguſtulus, in the year of Chriſt 475. vntil the cōming of Charlemaign in the 806. year, in whoſe perſon and ſucceſſors, that deadly woud of the empire was healed, & the eſtat of Emperors renued.
h Who can deny but theſe Romanes, adorers of theſe Idols, in whome the deuil actually ſpake by oracle, in that doing, worſhipped the Deuil, ſeeing the moſt ſimple ſorte of Idolatrie, is nothing els, but the worſhipping of deuils, & are adjunct. Apoc. 9.20.
i This mouth of the Empire, euen the Pope, that Antichriſtian prophet, here receiues his beginning of the Latin empire, as a mē ber therof, but afterward (ver. 11.) he becomes a ſeueral king, & is particularly deſcribed: hereof read the 24. 25. & 26. Propoſitiōs.
k That 42. moneths be 1260 yeares, and begin about the 300. or 316. yeare of God, read our 1.16. and 36. propoſitions.
l This ſlaying of the Lambe from the beginning, meaneth the certaintie of Gods predeſtination, in that the decree of God, preordinate from the beginning, ſhal as ſurelie take effect, as if it had bene alreadie performed from the beginning. Arethas, reads this wiſe, Whoſe names were not written from the beginning of the vvorld in the booke of life of the Lamb, who was ſlain. Agreeable with the like, contained Apoc. 17.8. Alwaies, ſeeing both the ſaued number, as alſo the form of redemption are from the beginning appointed and preordinate by God, therefore both theſe readings may ſtand.
m After he hath deſcribed the Pope as a member, euen the mouth of the great Roman Empire: now deſcribeth he him more particularlie & apart, as hauing obtained a particular kingdom of his own: Hereof read note l with the 24. 25 and 26. propoſitions.
n Hornes, to ſignifie, powers, & kingdoms, read the note d Apoc. 5
o This deadlie wound, note g is declared to be the decay of the Imperial eſtat, which now being ſtart vp again in Charlemaigne, the Pope proclames him Emperor, & willeth al men to reuerēce him.
p Of theſe miracles and wonders, wrought partlie by ſorcerie, partlie by jugling, & partlie but falſlie alledged, ye ſhal find divers hiſtories: Hereof read the tenth ſyntheſis of our 26. propoſition.
q Of theſe fiery ſignes, we read two ſorts, the one is by inchantmēt, ſuch as Pope Gregory the 7. did practiſe, who firſt was a Monk, & was called Hilde-brand, which is to ſay, a helth-brand, or rather a hel-brand, & being aſhamed of that name, did change the ſame, but not the meaning therof, for (as Cardinal Benno writes in vita Hildebrādi) Cùm vellet manicas ſuas diſcutiebat, &c, that is, Whē he liſt, he did ſhake down his ſleeues & fire did flie out, in maner of ſparks, and by theſe miracles, as by a ſign of holines he deluded the eies of the ſimple people: And becauſe the deuil might not perſecute Chriſt openly by Pagans, therfore by this falſe Monk vnderunder a Monks habit, & ſhew of religiō, he fraudfully preaſſed to ſubuert Chriſts name. The other ſort, is by ceremonies of terrour, as when the Pope or his Cleargie doe caſt downe fierie Torches, and Candels from on high, at the time of their curſing, as though they would meane, that the fire of Gods wrath wer likewiſe ready at their command, to bee ſhaken out of heauen (as out of Hildebrands ſleeue) againſt thē whom they curſe. And by theſe horrible ſigns & terrours, they hauehave ſo terrified Princes, that they made thē to loſe their kingdoms, & due obedience of their ſubjects, till they behoued to ſtoup vnderunder their feet, & craue pardon & abſolution. What kingdomes thereby the Pope hath cowped, and what rents and dignities he hath conquered, is to be ſeene in hiſtories.
r The Pope politikelie for his eaſe, cauſeth theſe newe counterfet Emperors to be made by princes Electors; that theſe Emperors of his own making, may not onlie augment his Eccleſiaſtial rents: but alſo, may be readie, as his ſlaues, to fight his battelles, and revenge all his quarrels, as is to be ſeene in manie and diuerſe hiſtories, els ſhall the the Pope depriue them, and create other Emperours in their place: And ſo hath he puiſſance indeede to doe, for that hee hath hitherto ſo pinched the empire, that hee hath the ſubſtance thereof; and they litle more than the bare name, image, or ſhadow thereof: and therefore, are they called images of the beaſt, as being in a maner but counterfeit Emperours: Reade hereupon our 28. propoſition.
ſ The king of Romanes and apparant Emperour, choſen by the Princes Electors, is neuer the more Emperour, vnleſſe, being ſworn to maintaine the Papiſticall ſeat, he be afterward inaugurate and crowned by the Pope: for manifeſtatiō of which ſupremacie, Pope Coeleſtine, crowning the Emperour Henrie with his hand, hee afterward with his foote threw down the crown from his head, ſaying, he had authoritie both to make Emperours, and to depoſe them at his pleaſure.
t That theſe viſible marks are the abuſed characters of χρ̄ς, & croſſes of all kindes, ſuch as ✝ ✚ ☓ … … & ſuch other, & how theſe be rather derived from the beaſts name, λατεινος, than from the name of Chriſt, read the 31. propoſition.
u That the name of the beaſt is χξς, or Latin Empire, & how that name reſulteth of the number 666 or foreign, read the 29 propoſition, and how the beaſts viſible markes are deriued there-from, read the 31 propoſition.