A Christian Dictionary, Dictionary 2 · Part 13
B. E.
four Beasts sig:
The Angels of God, those heauenly spirites, the chiefe and principall Ministers of Gods power, alwaies attending about the Throne of God, being most vigilant seruants, full ready with all expedition, to serue God in the Gouernment of the world, and of all creatures: which are heere expressed, by foure most noble amongest others; to wit, Lyon, Calfe, Man, Eagle: to shew, that ouer these and all other creatures (euen to the least) God ruleth by the ministry of his Angels. Or els, as some wil hauehave it, the Lyon, resembleth the noble courage of Angellicall Spirites; a Calfe, their strength; an Oxe being the strongest of beasts, as a Lyon is most coragious; a Man representeth their Wisedome and great vnderstanding, wherein man excelleth al inferiour creatures, and an Eagle which soareth aloft, signifyeth their knowledge of high & great secrets. Howbeit, some there bee, which thinke these foure beasts to be all such seruants of God, as hauehave employd their labour faithfully, in deliuering vntounto the church the truth of Doctrine, & in administring other holy things. The first signification, is most commonly embraced. Reu. 6, 7. Round about the Throne were foure Beasts, ful of eyes before & behind; the first Beast was like a Lyon. They doo erre, which apply these foure Beastes to the foure Euangelists.
that Beast. sig:
All the Heathen Emperors of Rome, with al them that ioyned with them in the persecution and murther of Gods seruaunts. Reuel. 20, 10. Where that Beast and that false Prophet are. Heere note, that false Prophet, being distinguished from the Beast, signifies the Pope with his Cleargy. All these shall suffer eternall paine, together with the Turke, for corrupting the world with lyes, errours, superstitions, and destroying the Saints.
a Beast rising out of the Sea. sig:
The Roman Empire or ciuil monarchy of Rome, which should be a main Instrument of the Dragon to make war against the Church. This Empyre, is likened to a beast, because it should (without al humanity or sence of reason) in a furious brutish maner persecute Gods people. It is sayde to come vp out of the Sea; to signifie, that at first, it did arise out of the contentions and diuisions of other Nations (which are as a raging Sea) & that the Rule & kingdome of the Emperors, should bee turbulent, tempestuous, variable, and vnconstant. Of this Empire, the estate, acts, effects, and vse, for instruction of the Godly, are described in the 10. verse of this 13. Chapter, where beginneth the History of another Beast, the Ecclesiasticall and Prophetical body, or corporation; to wit, the Pope of Rome, and his Cleargy. Others, expound this Beast of that Anti-christ, and apply to him the things heere spoken, but the former is plainest and soundest: for hauing in the 12. Chapter, described the Archenemy to the Christian Church; to wit, the diuell, good order required the two principall instruments; to wit, the ciuill and ecclesiastical estate of Rome should be opened, which is done in this 13. Chapter. Reuel. 13, 1. And I saw a Beast arise out of the Sea, hauing seauen heads, and ten hornes.
a Beast comming out of the bottomlesse pit. sig:
Antichristian kingdome and power, which in the spirituall combate, shalbe inferiour to the witnesses or seruants of Christ, but not so in the bodily and carnall warre, wherein Antichrist shall preuaile. Hee is said to come out of the bottomlesse pit, not to signifie (as some thinke) that the great Antichrist should be a diuel, but because the beastly power of Antichrist should be giuen him of the Diuell. As Chap. 13, …. and exercised for the diuell, to establish his kingdome of darknesse, by fighting (against the true Doctrine and Religion) with the faithfull followers of it, for the vpholding of Haeresie and Idolatry. Reuel. 11, 7. And the Beast that commeth out of the bottomlesse pit, shall warre against them, and kill them. In Chap, 9. hee is there called the Angell of the bottomlesse pit.
Bed. sig:
Not pleasure and delicacy, but affliction & calamity, as punishment of adulterous Doctrine. Reuel. 2, 22.
Beginning sig:
Christ, the eternall sonne of God, (in respect of his aeternity) who himselfe is before all thinges created, and of whom all things which bee made, had their beginning, and without whose sustaining Vertue, they all should quickly come to nothing. Sée Iohn 1, 1, 2. also Col. 1, 15, 16. Therefore such as couet to bee blessed, must resolue to cleaue to him, out of whom there is nothing saue corruption and destruction, Ren. 1, 8. I am Alpha, duplicate page duplicate page the beginning and the end.
2 Christ, in respect (not so much of aeternitie) as of his preheminence and principality which hee holdeth ouer all things, euen as Mediator, God & man, hauing all things subiect vntounto him. Sée Ephe. 1, 22. And hath made all thinges subiect vntounto him, &c. Therefore all Creatures, reasonable and vnreasonable, owe to him their whole entyre obedience, as Phil. 2, 10. That at the name of Iesus euerie knee should bow. Reuel. 3, 14. That beginning of the Creatures of God.
Behold.
See the word [Behold] in the common Dictionary.
Be with you all. sig:
The continuall presence of all spirituall blessings, euen vntounto the saluation of the Church, and eueryevery member of it. Reuel. 22, 20. The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you all.
bitter Belly sig:
The indignation and greefe of godly ministers, to see the Doctrine of the word despised, & errors preferred. Also, the molestations which they are put to suffer, for the publishing of it. Reuel. 10, 9. It shall make thy Belly bitter.