A Christian Dictionary, Dictionary 2 · Part 12
B. A.
Babilon. sig:
THE Citty of Rome, and the Romain power, exercised there by the Pope and his Cleargy. For Rome the Wester ne Mysticall Babylon, was to the Christians, in respect of tyranny and cruell persecution, what the Easterne Babylon was to the Iewes: beeing also like vntounto that Babylon in Assiria, for Idolatry, superstition, and worship of diuils, as it must at last be like it for fearefull euents, in a grieuous ruine and downfall, and for this likenesse sake, Popish Rome beares the Name of Babylon. (athe kingdom of Antichrist, worthily called Babilon, because it is a Kingdome of confusion.) Reuel. 14, 8. Babylon that great Citty is fallen. Also Chapter 17, 5, 9, 18. Where it is plain to him that will vnderstand, that by Babylon is meant Rome; this beeing the onelyonly Citty in the Worlde, which in Saint Iohns time, seated on seauen Hils, and which raigned ouer the Kings of the earth, and by a strong hand, or cunning entisements, compelled Kings and nations to admyt her Idolatries & Haeresies; which is, to commit fornication with her, as it is sayde in verse 2. of the 17. Chapter of this Booke.
Balaams Doctrine. sig:
The Doctrine taught by the Nicholaitans, touching the lawfulnesse of fornication, and of eating things offered to Idols: which Doctrine, to make it more odious, is heer called the Doctrine of Balaam, who gaue counsell to Balaac, to entice the Israelites to fornicatiō, so as afterwards they might more freely commit Idolatry. Reuel. 2, 14. Thou hast them which maintaine the Doctrine of Balaam. Other Diuines, do distinguish betweene the Doctrine of ye Nicholaitanes, which was touching bodily fornication, in the promiscuous vse of women and the Doctrine of Balaam, which beside the defiling of the body, tended to the polluting of the mind, by Idolatry. And thus it seemeth to me, the Holy-Ghost doth distinguish them in this Epistle, to the Church at Pergamus, speaking of them seuerally; of the one, verse 14. of the other, verse 15. The Church of Ephesus was troubled with the error of the Nicholaitans. Chap. 2, 6. This Church of Pergamus, with the Doctrine of Balaam that cursed Charmer.
Ballance. sig:
The tongue, stalke, or handle of the Ballance, and by Sinecdoche of the part, the whole Ballance: an instrument apt for waighing of Victuals, as it vseth to be done, in time of great famine & derth, represented heere by the Blacke horse, and the Rider with, Ballances in his hand. Reuel, 6, 5. He that sat on him, had Ballances in his hand.
Battell in heauen. sig:
That great strife and combate, either with Christ in his owne person, fought with the great Dragon the diuell, when Iesus spoyled him, and triumphed ouer him on the Crosse. Col. 2, 15. whereof the Psalmist prophesied. Ps. 60, 8, 9. or that, which is in the militant Church, fought continually between the godly and vngodly; elect and reprobate; vnderunder the conduct of those two great Captaines, Christ, and the Dragon. Or finally, that warre, which Constantine the Great, as Christes Champ…on, armed with his Vertue, did make first vponupon Maxentius, the wicked Emperor; and after, vppon two other Tyrants, persecutours of the Christian Church, Maximius and Licinius. And some Diuines, will hauehave this battell in heauen, to be that most dangerous endeuour and attempt of Satan, when hee first (in the very Spring of the Church) laboured to destroy the aeternall saluation thereof, being founded in Christ. Reu. 12, 7. And there was a Battell in heauen. Let the learned Iudge of these seuerall significations; whereof the two first (in mine Opinion) cannot be meant, because this part of the Reuelation, it is of thinges to come, and of particular euents.