A Revelation of the Holy Apocalypse, Part 2 · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
A deſcription of the Church.
AND, a great ſigne was ſeene in the heauen: a woman clothed with the ſun. With the moone vnderunder her feet: and a crowne of 12. ſtarres vponupon her head: and beeing with child, cried in trauaile; and peigned to beare child.
THE woman is the church, through the ſong of ſonges,New Viſions opening the former. and there pure as the ſun, heere, clothed with Chriſt the Sunne of Iuſtice: And the ſtate of the faithfull, is called through this booke, heauen; and they are a great ſigne to the profane world, to wonder at. The Moone, and all vnderunder the Sunne, is contemned of the faithfull: and the doctrine which the 12. Apoſtles, equall in knowled and authoritie, deliuered to the world, is the Crowne, and they be 12 ſtarres: Iudas Iſcariot fell;a ſtarre from heauen; and Matthias became a ſonne of conſolation in his ſtead; to keepe ſtill the number of XII. for the XII tribes: and as S. Paul trauailed of the Galathians, that is; of Chriſt, to be formed in them; that they fruſtrate not the Goſpell, by holding circumciſion, nowe abrogated: So the faithfull trauailed in ſoule, to hauehave Chriſt brought forth to heathens knowledge: that all might knowe, that all this world was made obedient to a man, At the firſt, which man fell from God,Gen. 3. his firſt day,1 Iohn 1. 1. & 3. 8. & 5. 20. and then God opened his Counſell, that the Sonne Eternall would be made man of a woman, to deſtroy the workes of the Angels that fell: who all are collectiuely, ſatan, the enemie. Satan brought Adam to loſe the life of his ſoule: Eph. 2. 1.and his body to death; and duſt: and all this world to corruption; Chriſt kindled light in Adams ſoule; and after 930. yeares heauineſſe, for ſin tooke it to his ioy, and will raiſe vp the body, and make a new world: Rom. 5.that all men who will receiue the abundance of grace, of the gift of iustice, may reigne by Chriſt: and all who will not regard this mercy, ſo cleare as the ſunne: they all by Adams fall dead in ſin; ſhalbe damned for euer with the Diuils; This is the trauaile of the Chriſtian minde. Speach of this is in all books of the Old Teſtament, in Adams tongue; in all the newe, in Greeke; made moſt common for this Goſpell. And Lawe with Goſpell, expounded by groundes of art, which enemies grant; ſhould bee the trauaile of our minde. And if Academies, had brought vp their ſcholars in Ebrew and Greek exerciſes, for the holy eternall Trinitie in Vnitie: and for kiſſing the SON to happineſſe: Pſal. 2. By likely-hood of mans reaſon, the world had benefull of true Chriſtians, where as now our Papes, Archbuyſhopps, and Buyſhopps; know not one letter, prick, accent, of the Law; what authoritie it hath from God. A pitifull matter; that ſuch blinde, ſhould bee leaders. But the blinde will no other leaders: So God cannot pittie them; who will make knowen them that be his: and deſpiſe them that deſpiſe him: that they poore Caytifes ſhall periſh for euer: and feele the aeternall wrath of him, whoſe mercy they hauehave deſpiſed: while they counted the mercies offred in Chriſt, to be but folly.
Of the Prophane Caeſar: and Pope reuiuing of him, both compriſed in the body, and taile, of one Dragon.
Another ſigne was ſeene in the heauen. For beholde, there was a great ruddie Dragon; with 7. heades and ten hornes: and vponupon his heades ſeauen diademes. And his taile draweth a third part of the Starres of heauen, and caſt them vntounto the earth.
Iohn ſaw with his eyes in Viſion; that which hee and all the Apoſtles: as S. Paul. 2. Theſſ. 2. ſaw in their minde. That from Rome, the Ruler, ſhould rule; till hee were taken away: After, thence man of ſin ſhould ariſe. Both be heere in one dragon: which the profane Caeſares and the Popes can not perceiue. They who be of the heauenly ſtate, they all, do ſee, the Dragon is the Diuill, or accuſar of God: the great is the Diuells power by Rome: the ruddy bloodie perſecution. His ſeauen heades, are ſeauē ſtates of Rome, ouer THE FAITHFVL: as the Iewes knew their ſtory full well: Pompei by Rome was an Emperour in the Eaſt:The ſeauē heads afflicting the Church. But periſhed neere: in the land of Cham. So in Iudah, M. Craſſus was after him, armed ouer Iudah as a King, for Rome, who robbed the Temple of Salem, of Abrahams houſe; but at Abrahams Charan, he and his army had a moſt famous deſtruction. Iulius Caeſar made Cleopatra Lady of Iudah, who periſhed in Capitolio for that. Brutus & Caſsius force, after was a King for Rome: They by Antoni periſh. Antoni hath the Eaſt and marieth Cleopatra, and ruleth Iuda, and both periſh. So fiue diademes of the Dragon periſh. The 6. ſtate is the wholle power which crucified Chriſt; and his members: till our Helenaes ſonne, left Rome:Rome is condemned both in theſe, & the other; of Kinges, Conſuls, Decemvires, Dictatores, Triumuires, &c. and New Troy; to be a pillage to Alaricus, Giezerichus,, Theodoricus, & Totilas for old perſecuting of martyrs. The ſeuenth is the Popes wealth, getting landes by S. Peters forged ſupremacy: and ſetting vp the Empire in the Weſt. Theſe be the ſeauen diademes; ſpoken, to the Iewes plaine vnderſtanding. Heathen ſtories may fitt Romes 7. other ſtates. The more fall out fitt: (as often many do to one ſpeach) the more Rome (that crucified Chriſt) is condemned: when GOD turneth continuall reuolution to hauehave Rome called into minde. Moreouer the alluſion is to Daniels foure beaſtes, which had 7. heades. The Lion, one; the Beare, one; the Leopard foure; the fourth beaſt, one. The Roman ſtate winning all thoſe contreyes of the Eaſt, are fitly noted by their armes: And ſpecially by the then hornes. The Seleucidae by fiue kinges vexed Iudah by warres, againſt Lagidae: and Lagidae by ſo many againe, waſted Iuda: So that Greeke beaſt in one parted Kingdome, had 10. hornes: From that beaſt, the Roman beaſt hath alſo, ten Kingdomes, at the leaſt: and vnderunder Auguſtus, and vnderunder the Pope, rekoned to that number, Strabo 17. Steuch. contra Vallum. Lib. 2. ſo, theſe matters be all, moſt plaine.
Of the tayle.
The prophane Caeſares perſecution, moued few Chriſtians, the ſtarres of heauen, to fall. But the taile of the Empire, the falſe prophet, that ſpeaketh lies, he as Antiochus, Daniel 8. maketh many fall from heauen: praetending religion, with much praetenſe and no ſubſtance.
The combat of the Roman Empire, with the Church.
And the Dragon ſtood before the woman, beeing in trauaile; that when ſhe bore her childe, he might deuour it: And ſhe bare a manly ſonne, which will rule all nations, with a ſceptre of yron. And the child was taken vp to God: and to his throne.
The alluſion is from the dayes of Chriſt, borne in Bethleem: when Satan by Herodes ſwords, would hauehave deuoured him: but his mother fled with him to Egypt: & after that Satā hoped to deuour him in the graue, he was taken vp into heauē: ſo when Chriſtians ſoules trauailed to breed Chriſt: the Emperors ſtormed;pſalm. 2. to deuour that doctrine as Dauid told, Pſ. 2. But they brought forth into the light of the world: the SON would bruſe all nation-with an yron ſceptre; as he did bruſe the image in Daniel. And ſhewed that his throne is in heauen, being taken vp, vntounto the aeternall King. And the Chriſtians fled into the wilderneſſe; as CHRIST did in the tyme of his preaching, or halfe ſeauen, Dan. 9. and often handled in the Goſpell: in Euſebius handled: and of Beda, who cited the Apoc. alluſions. M. Scaliger and others that make mo yeares of our Lordes preaching, ſpent ill, good houres. All tyme of affliction, is ſweetly termed by our Lords affliction, to be as his, of dayes 1260. though it were of 300. yer. vnderunder Caeſares reſiſtance: and 600. vnderunder Popes: enimies to Iohns Apocalyps. The ſpeach is full of comfort: calling vsus vntounto the afflictions of Chriſt himſelfe; who reckoned all his owne dayes: and will hauehave all our teares in his bottle: and pay all dogges and Doegs for Cerberean barking.
A Commentary vponupon the former viſion.
And there was warre in heauen: MICHAEL and his Angells made warre with the Dragon: and the Dragon and his Angells made warre: but held not ſtrength: neither was there place found any more for them in the heauen. And the great Dragon: the old Serpent, called the Diuell and Satan, who deceiueth the wholle world, he was cast out: againe I ſay, he was cast and his Angels were caſt with him, into the earth.
The ſtate of the faithfull, heere, is ſweetly called hēauen: to ſhew our certeinty of hope, for the propre heauen: as the word of Law and Goſpell is as ſure to vsus, as if we ſaw the third heauen; that, aboue the ayer, and aboue the ſtarres, as S. Paul did, at his firſt calling, to a comfort againſt all his following afflictions: ſo the holy Daniel, that in one image made abridge from the end of the old Teſtament, vntounto the beginning of the new, called the ſtate after abrogation of Moiſes, the Kingome of heauen. Iohn Baptiſt doth begin with his tongue. The kinddome of heauen is come. And the aeternall WORLD, the eſſentiall WORDE, who ſpake and all was made, he confirmeth the ſame ſpeach, to ſhew that Daniels Image was ended: and the GOD of heauen ſetteth vp a kingdome, that cannot be corrupted: The obſeruation of this ſpeach, had kept Daniel in a cleare meaning: and not brought the Weſt Empire of Chriſtians, for Eaſt Greeke, Seleuco-Lagides athean. Nor tymes after Chriſt, for ſtories teaching when he would come. The termes of the Bible be pearles; & ſtill beate vponupon the open ſtory, for nobleſt matters. So Saint Paul Ebrew. XI. ſpeaking of the Maccabees martyrs, famous in the Talmudiques, and after his dayes, hiſtoried by Greeke Iewes, ſaith from Daniels laſt ſpeaches, of double reſurrection; That they would not be deliuered becauſe they looked for the better reſurrection. So he ſheweth that Antiochus perſequutions were the laſt mentioned in Daniel. The Romans hindred not the Iewes holy religion, till by the Phariſees they vexed our Lord himſelfe: when he opened the kingdom of heauen, dayes 1260. They who without knowledge of Daniel, would know the Goſpel, are as men that would goe from one Land to another parted by great waters without a ſhipp. All that care for the kingdome of heauen, will care for him: And my paines in a third commentary, an Engliſh, a Latin, a ſhorter in Engliſh, came forth by my care and charges. By the third milliones of our ſimple might hauehave knowen, the Prophets whole heart. But that Bargulus Illyricus, would caſt him into the Lions den: If Lions rent not his bones; I will commende him to the God of Daniel: and the firy flames ſtreaming from his throne, for his fighting for the dragon againſt MICAEL and his Angells.
Of MICAEL.
Michael and Gabriel, are the only holy ſpirites, which hauehave names in the Law. And they only, in heauenly Daniel, called Son of man: as admitted vntounto Angells company: ſo Ezekiel; and only they two. From Daniel chap. 8. and 9. Gabriel is brought, to Luc. 1. For moſt rare vſe: The wiſe will vnderſtand it: but the wicked will neuer vnderſtand: Dan. 12. Michael is vſed thriſe in Daniel: twice, chap. 10. and one chap. 12. Dan. 10. verſ. 13. Beholde MICHA-EL, the principall, or only of the chiefe Princes, is come to aide me. Daniel ſaw a glorious viſion of Chriſt: before which he fell as dead: then an Angel in the forme of a man, that is, Gabriel ſpeaketh how Chriſt ſhewed his aſſiſtance; againſt Cambiſes inhibition of the Temples building: and giueth him a notation: Hee that is in the forme of God: from Exod. 23. The Angell which hath the name of God in him: The character or forme of Gods perſon. Ebr. 1. 3. That doth MICAEL ſignifie. In our Lords wordes, Ioh. 10. from Dan. 12. The Father, and I, am one. As I hauehave ſhewed vponupon Dan. 12. In Dan. 10. verſ. laſt: the matter is playner: in theſe wordes: there is none ſtrong for you in theſe affaires: but MICHA-EL, YOVR PRINCE. Daniel acknowledged; no creature of ſpirites, his PRINCE: therefore Micha-el muſt bee the Son of GOD. So he is called chap. 12. in the ſame Angells ſpeach: Michael the great Prince, that ſtandeth vp for his people. No created ſpirite dare chalenge, a princehood ouer people: ſo here, in the expoſition of praiſe, MICHAEL is expounded Chriſt.
Of Tobies fable.
The Iewes, as I hauehave written; in Ieruſalemi, vponupon Dan. 8. ſay▪ their Fathers brought with them Angells names from Babilon, Michael, and Gabriel. Then if Angells had no names before: Tobie, that bringeth Aſmodaeus for a ſpirite, muſt bee a late fable. Neither Thalmud Ieruſalemy, nor Babilonian hath that name: Only late Rabbines. Yet the fable of Tobie, cited by Clemens of Alexandria is elder, then the compiled Talmudes. But they are made from Writers, all, Elder then Tobies fable. Thargum, Eccl. is a late worke: and eldeſt Iew for record of Aſmodai, the Prince of Diuells: The Phariſees had, Beelzebub Prince of Diuells: And later Iewes made Prince of Diuells, Ben Tzirgha, ſonne of Leproſie. To diſgrace our faith of the SON; Prince, among the holy Angells. The wicked Rabbines, feigne a Prince among wicked ſpirites. But wee make no created, Angell, Prince: the Eternall Sonne Creator of all, is the only Angell, Prince: And hee is the Arch-angell, that could not ſuffer Satan, to ſpeake bad ſpeach of Moſes, the firſt King in Iſrael. But Iehouah, before Iehouah: ſaid, The Eternall rebuke thee, Satan. The Iewes in Midras Rabba. Deut. chap. 33. feigne, pleading from Satan, before God, for Moſes: and in Abboth Rabbi Nathan. S. Iude telling Rabbins that they would deſtroy the Nation by reſiſting rule: bringeth their owne commentary, how Michael the Archangel checked Satan, for contempt of Moſes King of Iſrael: and giueth him the high checke from Zach. chap. 3. The Eternall rebuke thee Satan So the Eternall Sonne before the Father, ſpake in Zacharie: what in Iudes Rabbins in a like cauſe Michael the Arch-angell ſpeaketh: and Zohar, Gen. col. 46. ſaith, Where Michael is head of the holy Angells, there Gods maieſtie is meant. This hath Zohar. And we ſhould not fauor Arias more, then our enemies would. Tobies fable diſturbing Scriptures glory, where euen Rabbins ſpeake for it, ſhould no more come among holy workes: then a worke of Beelzebub, Aſmodaus, or Ben Tzirgha: being a leprous wicked worke; from the principall miſchiefe of the Diuel.
Of Michaels Angells.
All the true Chriſtians are called Michaels Angells, they fight by the two edged ſword of Gods word: which originally, in the Ebrew and Greeke new Teſtament; is pure in writ: cleare in meaning: and perfect to diſcuſſe all ſage matters. Caeſares Diui were ſoone confuted: becauſe all knew their profaneſſe: they were ſoone by all ſides excluded, from all mens regard: for any hope of happy ſtate: But the great fight here is with the King of Locuſtes: and his garriſons, Satans Angells: that they may be knowen, not to be the People of God. Here is a ſore combate: that of the two Prophets, ch. XI.
Of the wicked ſpirites names.
Dragon, old Serpent, Diuel, Satan, bee the names of the wicked ſpirites companie. King Pharaoh, Eſa. 27. is a Dragon, as old Pharaoh; who, for all Moſes Rod, would bee but a Serpent: So the king of Madai and Paras worſhipped in Babel, that for a monethmonth none ſhould pray but vntounto him, is in the Apocrypha fable, a Dragon, worſhipped in Babilon: So the Roman Diui Caeſares, and the Pope, ſhewing himſelf, in the Temple of God, as if he were God, make a Dragon: as the old enimie worketh in them.
Of old Serpent.
The old Rabbins as Zohar: and Aben Ezra, and many moo, confeſſe, that the Angells which fell, ſpake in the old Serpent. And that company is called the old Serpent or Tempter: as Adam gaue the Serpent from his nature, the name, Tempter: The Rabbins whom I hauehave cited, (in an Hebrew treatiſe of fitting Iubilees to the yeare of our Lordes death;) ſo terme the Tempter: & later Aben Ezra; though late wicked Iewes turne all to fables of a naturall Serpent: who may be muſſelled by their owne ancient.
Of Diuell.
Diabolos, in Greeke is the commune name of any ſlanderer; but applied by Iobs tranſlater, chap. 1. to the Ebrew Satan, enimie; where our enimie the falſe accuſer, goeth about like a roaring Lion, ſeeking whom hee may deuour. There Diabolos expreſſeth enimie, by occaſion taken from Satan ſlandering of Iob. Saint Pet. 1. 5. taketh both names. The Zohar telleth vponupon Gen. 3. howe the Diuell accuſeth each one, from his comming into the world, all his life. So by the Iewes, hee accuſed Chriſt as an enemie to Caeſar; and made him pay for robbery. Pſal. 69. though it was not robbery for him, to ſay, hee was the Sonne of GOD. Chriſt held it no robbery to bee eaquall to God; but the Diuell the Slanderer made Caiphas vrge this as a deadly matter: ſo the Chriſtians, were ſlandered to the Caeſares, as athean; and the reformed now are haeretiques to Papiſtes; ſome trapps we lay in their way: wherby Gods iuſtice doth whipp vsus by their tongues.
Of trapps laid by our ſelues.
Whereas, Catelthein eis haidon, in the godly: is all one as to remoue hence to the father: Geneua denying Chriſt a paſſe, Catelthein eis haidon: denieth in tongue, that he went to the Father: And ſo denieth all religion. Likewiſe Lutherans by Vbiquity, for the humanity of Chriſt, wound all the doctrine of incarnation: wherein the humanity is according to our kinde, ſin onelyonly excepted: Beſides, we grant to the Papiſts, that text of both Teſtaments is corrupt: and ſo wee weaken the auctority of ſcripture; and make no end of checking the holy Greek Teſtam. that the Ieſuits binde not it, but Ieromes Latin with Ebrew in octauo. Alſo where the Apoſtles ſpeake plainly to all learned Iewes: wee expound them as if they had coined Phraſes, to new vexation of our ſpirits: and make the word ſeeme a noſe of wax. Thus, we hinder our owne fight, but ſome ſtill hold the truth, that the accuſation cannot be generall. The reſt ſhould be wiſe with them.
The Diuell and his Angels,The Angell of his praeſence ſaued thē Iſai 63. by MICAEL that ſtandeth vp for his people, who be his Angels; are baniſhed from the Church: and knowen to be vnclean ſpirits.
A ſecond and playner expoſition, of the Dragons warre.
And I heard a great voice ſaying in the heauen, now is come the ſaluation, and power, and Kingdome of our GOD, and the auctority of his CHRIST, becauſe the accuſar of our brethren, who accuſeth them before GOD day and night, is cast downe; And they hauehave ouercome by the blood of the Lambe, and by the word of his Teſtimony; and deſpiſed their liues vntounto death. Therefore reioyce yee heauens, and they who dwell in them: wo be vntounto them which dwell in the Land and the Sea: becauſe the Diuell is come to you, hauing great wrath, knowing that he hath but a litle while.
Where a company by Martyrdome ſhew that ſaluation commeth onelyonly by the death of CHRIST, and are conſtant in that Teſtimony: then troupes that make the heauens kingdom heere, proteſt they know how ſaluation cōmeth: & know Gods power, that falleth the mighty ſtate of the Pope, and know wherein the Kingdome of God ſtandeth: And the auctority of Chriſt: where the Pope had a Kingdome of Satan in his policy, through all partes, of all common weales: euen from ruling Emperours, to the pooreſt that had but a chimney, to pay a Peter-peny. The holy Teſtament playnelie ſhewing our Creatores: And how the ſpirit of CHRIST flootereth vponupon all the waters of both Teſtaments, and cleared the holy ſtory: And cleareth our hearts, to call vponupon GOD, with a good heart, this ſheweth in this plaine ſum, what the Kingdome of God and auctority of CHRIST is. Gouernement ſtandeth vponupon plaine rules. The wealthy that know CHRIST, Kinges, Dukes, Earles, Barons, Knights, will ſtudy to excell in Diuinity, to be true Biſhopps and Elders, to eate vp the Booke of the Goſpell, and to ſee all miſcariage ſagely reſtreined: being thoſe that Saint Paul and the Talmudiques meant by Paſtors. And will ſee how by Church lands an infinite company may be made cunning in tongues, and ſenſe of both Teſtaments. That the Angelos Eccleſiae, and daylie Seniores, may be ſo taught in Diuinity, as men are in liberall artes: to know the wholle facultie, and the propre vſe, of eueryevery holy booke. And what concent all the ſcripture hath; and where one error putteth all out of tune, but may ſoone be remoued: ſo a faithfull minde, will often in a day runne ouer all the Bible: and ſee all ages faithfull, as trees planted by waters: and all wicked as duſt ſcattred by the winde. And ſuch will be true Biſhopps; as, Cucullus non facit monachum: ſo a courtiers fauor, and title; maketh not a Biſhopp for ſaluation, and power, and kingdome of God, and authority of Chriſt. Buy-ſhopps mocke with GOD: but all Mordecaies will vſe them as Agagites: and as leprous to the Church. So when all Gouerners in ſtate; be learned Biſhopps, ioy will be in the Church; that the Diuell muſt goe to Land, or quiet ſtate of the Pope, or ſea warres of Emperors bad: to ſeeke whom he can deuour. The learned dealers for the Church, will finde for it, meanes in perſequution to be protected: Yea and to make the Land or Papiſticall ſtate, as King H. VIII. did, drie vp the riuers of the Popes perſequution. In the middle of Papiſtry he ouerthrew the Pope by Papiſtes. Who were content to buy the Abbeies that fed Idolatrous Locuſts, & could not for ſtarke ſhame denie, a common prayer booke made from the maſſe booke, turned to Engliſh: ſo, ſo much was choſen from the maſſe booke, to be in Engliſh, as ſeemed not directly to fight with Gods trueth, and ſubſcription for allowance to that, was no further meant, but that the Papiſts could finde no fault with it: VnderUnder K. E. 6. and Q. E. the beſt Biſhopps allowed the communion booke, no further; and gaue others leaue to expreſſe that, how they bare with it, vntill fitt tyme of amendement.
Of the Dragons ſhort tyme.
This ſpeach ſheweth the tyme, neere the ſeauenth trumpet for the worlds end, by the Dragons tayle; the Pope heere meant: in his perſecution: that the Diuell is fierce, knowing that he ſhall not be long the God of this world. And the Pope feareth leaſt his Kingdome ſhall ſoone fall. And our Buyſhopps that vrge his canons damned by our common Lawes, are now in rumores, that they incenſe ſome to begge all Buyſhopps lands. Leiceſter went farre: to chaing 40000. lib. for rack rent: but more harme is bred by Buyſhopps tyranny now. Biſhopps vnderunder King Edw. hauehave beene ſuch, as none (but of Satans ſpirite) would deny them to bee lawfull Biſhops. And ſuch as agreed well with Nobles, Gentry, and all. The name troubleth none but the Barbarous. They who hold the place without teaching the people the trueth; and with tyranny: breake the cōmon lawes of the realme: which ſtand with reaſon: that is, the Law of God: ſuch ſhould chainge their minde: and obey the Goſpell, leſt their ſhort tyme be for Sarans ſeruice and for euer.
And when the Dragon ſaw that he was cast into the earth, he perſequuted the woman, which brought forth the male child.
This common place toucheth all the Popes perſequutions, though it be vttered as at one tyme. The Pope had ſtill ready cruell torment: for all of his that deſcried wickedneſſe, in his religion.
And to the woman were giuen two winges of an eagle, to flee into the wilderneſſe; into her owne place: to bee nouriſhed there a tyme, and tymes, and halue a tyme, from the praeſenſe of the Serpent.
The Pope driueth the Church into the Wilderneſſe, as Pharaoh droue Iſrael: Saul, Dauid: Antiochus, the holy Iewes: the Phariſees, he Lord of glory for a tyme, two tymes and halfe a tyme: three yeeres and an halfe: and, as I ſhewed; all tyme of perſecution, is called in remembrance of our Lordes: a perſecution of dayes 1260. as chap. XI. or of a tyme, two tymes, and halfe a tyme: As Beda, and Carthuſianus, well noted. In Exo. 19. God ſaith, hee brought Iſrael from Egypt, as with eagles winges: ſo the perſecutor heere is a newe Pharaoh: and Rome is Egypt ſpiritually, as in chap. XI. And the Dragon Pharaoh; is heere, a new Dragon. And the Pope; which will bee worſhipped, for a God: is as Darius, Dan. 6. and in the fable vponupon that: as the Dragon, which the Chaldeans worſhipped. The Phraſe of the fable, folowed a true ſtorie.
Of the tyme of theſe perſequutions.
And the Dragon did cast after the woman out of his mouth, water, like a riuer: to make her riuer-caried: But the earth holpe the woman; and the earth opened her mouth, and dranke vp the riuer, which the Dracon caſt out of his mouth. And the Dracon was angry with the woman, and went to make warre with the reſt or her ſeede: which keepe the Commaundement of God: and holde the testimonie of IESVS CHRIST.
The Popes power (when Satan was let looſe, to deceiue; that Kinges gaue their ſtrength to Pſeudo-Petre) driueth the Church not to be ſeene: for certaine hundreths of yeres; before Martyr, Zuinglius at Zuricke, in the Church which Charles the Great built, ſhewed that he was the taile of the great Dracon, which drew the ſtarres of heauen from their place. And now they comment beſt vponupon this place: aſking where was our Church; before M. Lutheres tyme? I will aſke where was it not? Milliones in England opened themſelues praeſent: when valiant K. Henry the VIII. ſhooke off the Pope: and the beſt learned of the Popes pay: were leaſt enimies to vsus: as Cuthbert Tonstall; who at London and Dureſme, ſtill bare with the Proteſtants workes: and would ſweare by his Fathers ſoule (therein faulty) that neither the accuſares, nor he could amend them: full many moo were of that vein: as they who gaue harbor cloſely to the teachers of the holy Goſpell: and what learned hauehave the papiſtes bred; till our ſide forced them to ſtudie. And at this houre their beſt grant, that wee ouer-reach them in the teſtaments tongues; and clearneſſ; & defenſe of the pureneſſe of the text. Our greateſt hinderance commeth by our Buyſhops, that are voide of loyalty, & full of cruelty: I ſpeake not againſt Biſhops, ſage and learned: but Buyſhops ſauage & vnlearned. Waters of trouble, they helpe the Dragon to caſt from the mouth of his canons: that no praemunire will ſerue their turne: and if any would keepe them from hell, will burne ſuch papers. And when common Lawes of earth policie, drinke vp and drie the K. of Locuſts waters: yet if the reſt of vnaduiſed zeale giuegive them aduantage; Cerberus ſhall barke ſo: that they may bee forth comming, but not comming forth. The maine of the Church in Albion, Almany, France, & Zuitzerland, the confederate prouinces, and Denmarke, hauehave made the earth to drie the Popes Riuers of Belial, (as 2. Sam. 22. ſpeaketh.) But yet in Spaine holy Martyrs dayly finde the 42. monethmonth like affliction: to bee conformed to the ſufferings of Chriſt, becauſe they worſhip God only: That is, as all Iewes expound the phraſe, pray only vntounto him: and reſt in the abundance of grace of the guift of iuſtice, to reigne by Chriſt. What authoritie on earth maketh this Dragon; the chap. 13. following will tell plainely: and the 14. how for Idolatry reiected, the taile of the Dragon maketh Martyrs.