The Ruin of Rome, Commentary on Revelation · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
THe principall ſcope and drift of this Chapter, is to paint out both the Pope and his Cleargy, and alſo the kingdome of the Turke, and his cruell armies. For hauing alreadie ſet downe how a way and paſſage was made for the Pope to climbe vp into his curſed chaire by the preuailing of hereſies, the falling away of the Paſtors of the Church, and the great ouerſpreading of darkneſſe & ignorance: now hee commeth to deſcribe the Pope in his full height and greateſt exaltation, being now vniuerſall Biſhop, and in full poſſeſſion of his ſeate and ſea of Rome, which was about ſome ſixe hundred yeares after Chriſt, as formerly hath bene ſhewed. At what time Pope Boniface obtained of the Emperour Phocas that murther, which ſlew his maiſter Mauritius the Emperour, that the Biſhop of Rome ſhould be called the vniuerſall Biſhop, and the church of Rome, the head of all churches.
This ninth Chapter may very fitly be diuided into two partes.In the firſt 12. verſes. The firſt is a liuely deſcription of the Pope himſelfe, his kingdome, and his cleargie. The ſecond, is a deſcription of the kingdome of the Turke, and his moſt ſauage armies:In the laſt 9. verſes. ſo that this chapter is a full opening of the firſt two great woes mentioned before, concerning the Papacie, and Turciſme.
And the fift Angell blew the trumpet, verſ. 1 and I ſawe a ſtarre which fell from heauen, and to him was giuen the key of the bottomeleſſe pit.
Warning was giuen before, that when this 5. Angell ſhould blowe the trumpet, a moſt fearefull woe ſhould come vpō the world, ſurpaſſing all that went before, which is the ſetting vp of Antichriſt in his pride; that man of ſinne, that ſonne of perdition.
The Pope is here compared to a ſtarre, as well as other godly Miniſters in this booke, becauſe the Biſhops of Rome at the firſt were godly and excellent men: for amōgſt the firſt thirtie of them, there were ſome Martyrs. But it is here ſaid, that now this ſtarre was fallen from heauen vntounto the earth; that is, the Biſhops of Rome were greatly degenerated & fallen cleane away from heauenly things to earthly: for they declined from time to time, & grew worſe and worſe, ſo farre as to become the great Antichriſt.
But ſome man may ſay, why may not this ſtarre falling frō heauen vntounto the earth, be vnderſtood of other Paſtors falling from the truth, as well as the Pope, as it is taken in the former chapter, & in the 12. chapter, verſe 4. I anſwere, that the circumſtances will not here beare it. Therefore to perſwade eueryevery honeſt mans conſcience, that this muſt needs be vnderſtood of the Pope in his pride, let vsus giuegive eare to thoſe three reaſons following.
Firſt, wee are to conſider, that the maine drift of the holy Ghoſt in the opening of the ſeuen ſeales, and blowing of the ſeuen trumpets, is to lay out the ſtate of the church in all ages, till the comming of Chriſt. Further, wee are diligently to obſerue, that the things contained vnderunder the opening of the ſeuenth ſeale (wherof the blowing of the ſeuen trumpets are as it were parts, and do all belong vntounto it) do ſtretch euen vntounto the ende of the worlde; ſo as there is no ſtraunge accident, or any wofull condition of the Church in any age, but it is ſet forth vnderunder the opening of theſe ſeales, and blowing of theſe trumpets. But the Papacie was a ſtate of the Church, and that moſt wofull and lamentable, therefore it is deſcribed vnderunder the opening of theſe ſeales, and blowing of theſe trumpets. But it is not deſcribed vnderunder the opening of any other ſeale, or blowing of any other trumpet: therefore of neceſſitie it muſt be referred to this ſeuenth ſeale, and fift trumpet: And this is my firſt reaſon. If any man obiect, that the Pope and his kingdome are moſt liuely deſcribed in the chapters from the 12. to the laſt: I anſwere, that all thoſe chapters belong to a new viſion, wherin ſome things propounded vnderunder the opening of the ſeuen ſeales, are more fully opened & expounded. But this I ſay, that in this 2. viſion, the whole eſtate of the Church in eueryevery age is laid opē, euen vntil the laſt iudgemēt: and therfore when the 7. Angel here doth blow the 7. trumpet, immediatly followeth the laſt iudgemēt; as appeareth, cap. 10. ver. 6.7. & cap. 11. ver. 15.16.
My ſecond reaſon is drawne from the courſe and conſideration of times: for the great preuailing of errors and hereſies mentioned before, which made way for Antichriſt, was from the firſt 300. yeares, vntill the 600. yeare, and ſo forwarde. But now, immediately vponupon this great encreaſe of error & darkneſſ, commeth the deſcription of a ſpeciall ſtarre fallen from heauen at this time, which was about 600. yeares after Chriſt, and therfore it muſt needs be vnderſtood of the Pope. And this is my ſecond reaſon.
My third and laſt reaſon is drawne from the deſcription of the Pope and his Cleargie in the firſt eleuen verſes of this chapter. For he is ſo liuely deſcribed & painted out in particulars, that all men that know him, or euer heard of him, muſt needes ſay it is he. For this deſcription here ſet downe by the holy Ghoſt, can fitly agree to none other.
The Papiſts themſelues do cōfeſſe, that this ſtarre here mentioned, muſt needs be vnderſtood of ſome Arch-hereticke. And full wiſely forſoothe they apply it to Luther and Caluin. But wee affirme, that it is to be vnderſtood of the Pope: For was there euer any ſuch Arch-hereticke as he? which oppoſeth and exalteth himſelfe againſt all that is called God, 2. Theſſ. 2.4.and againſt all imperiall powers, as the Apoſtle ſaith. But now let vsus proceed to the deſcription of him.
Firſt, he is ſaid to hauehave the keie of the bottomeleſſe pitte, which agreeth well to the Pope: for hee hath power giuen him to open hell gates, to let in thouſands thither: but no power to open heauen gates, to let in any thither: for he furthereth many to hell, none to heauen. Hee doth indeed falſely challenge vntounto himſelfe the keies of the kingdome of heauen, to let in, and ſhut out at his pleaſure. But here wee ſee the holy Ghoſt doth attribute no ſuch power vntounto him, but onelyonly telleth vsus, that his power and iuriſdiction is in hell, and ouer hell, & as for heauen, he hath nothing to do with it. It were needleſſe to ſhewe how this metaphor of keies is taken for power and iuriſdiction in the ſcriptures, as hath bene proued before, cap. 1. ver. 18. & as needleſſe to proue that by the bottomeleſſe pit, is here meant hell, as appeareth, chap. 11.7. chap. 20.1.
verſ. 2 And hee opened the bottomeleſſe pit, and there aroſe the ſmoake of the pit, as the ſmoake of a great furnace, & the ſunne and the aire were darkned by the ſmoake of the pit.
Here we ſee how the Pope openeth hell gates with his key, & a moſt horrible, groſſe, & ſtinking ſmoake aſcendeth vp into the ayre preſently vponupon it, in ſo much, that both the Sunne & the aire were darkned with it. Which all is to bee vnderſtood of that ſpiritual darkneſſe, ignorance, ſuperſtition, and Idolatry, wherewith the whole church was ouerſpread, after the great Antichriſt came to the poſſeſſion of his curſed chaire, & was in his pride & height, ruling & raigning ouer the kings of the earth. For thē indeed the ſun was darkned and eclipſed; that is, the light of the Goſpell was almoſt cleane put out. For that which is ſpoken here of the darkning of the aire & the Sun, is to be vnderſtood of a greater and more general darkneſſe, then that which was mentioned in the former chapter, wherein but a third part of the worlde was darkened. But now that Antichriſt inuadeth the church, all is ouerſpread with groſſe and palpable darkneſſe, all is as darke as pitch: no man can ſee where he is, or which way hee goeth. For the whole aire is filled with this moſt odious and thick ſmoake, which came out of hell pit.
And there came out of the ſmoake Locuſts vponupon the earth, verſ. 3 and vntounto them was giuen power, as the ſcorpions of the earth hauehave power.
By theſe Locuſts, is meant the Popes Cleargie, as Abbots, Monkes, Friers, Prieſts, Shauelings, & ſuch like vermine; which are therefore compared to Locuſts, becauſe they waſte and deſtroy the Church, euen as Locuſts deſtroy the fruites of the earth. For both Hiſtoriographers & trauellers do affirme, that whole fieldes of greene corne new come vp, hauehave bene waſted and eaten vp in one night as bare as the earth, by ſwarmes of Locuſts in the Eaſt-countries. For in thoſe parts of the world,Ioel. 2. multitudes of this litle vermine are to be found: euen ſo the Popiſh Cleargie cōſumeth and deuoureth all greene things in the Church.
Moreouer, it is to bee noted, that theſe Locuſts came out of the ſmoake of the pit; that is, they were bred out of it: for Monkes, Friers, Prieſts, & ſuch like caterpillers, were bred of ignorance, error, hereſie, ſuperſtition, & the very ſmoake of hell: for from hell they came, & to hell they wil. They are diſcended of the black houſe of hell, & thither they will returne.
Moreouer, it is ſaid, that power was giuen them to ſting like ſcorpions. For whom hauehave they not ſtung with their moſt venemous ſtings? I mean their damnable errors, and diueliſh deuices. Whom hauehave they not wounded with their corrupt doctrine, & diuelliſh authority? They are the ſoreſt ſoule-ſtingers that euer the world had, who hauehave left their venimous ſtings in the ſoules of thouſand thouſands, wherewith they hauehave bene poiſoned and ſtung to death.
verſ. 4 And it was commaunded them, that they ſhould not hurt the graſſe of the earth, neither any greene thing, neither any tree, but onelyonly thoſe which hauehave not the ſeale of God in their foreheads.
It may be demanded, what became of the church when as the whole earth was full of theſe crawling and ſtinging Locuſts. This queſtion is now here anſwered; to wit, that theſe Locuſts are charged and commaunded, that they ſhould not hurt any of the elect: for this woe and this plague, extendeth no further then to the inhabitants of the earth, as wee hauehave heard before. Their power is limited only to the reprobate, they hauehave nothing to do with Gods choſen people. And here againe we ſee what great care God hath for his in the midſt of the greateſt dangers, as hath bene twiſe noted before, chap. 7. chap. 8. For now Antichriſt raigning in his ful pride, yet his elect are preſerued in the midſt of theſe ſcorpion Locuſts, flying about their eares like ſwarmes of Hornets, not one of them is ſtung to death. Chriſts litle flocke is alwaies defended, and ſet in ſafetie.
And to them was commaunded, that they ſhould not hurt them, but that they ſhould be vexed fiue monethes, verſ. 5 and that their paine ſhould be as the paine that commeth of a ſcorpion when he hath ſtung a man.
Some write, that ſuch as are ſtung of a ſcorpion, do not die forthwith, but hauehave a lingring paine, wherewith they are miſerably vexed three or foure dayes before they die of it. Now, vntounto this lingring paine is this ſpiritual ſtinging compared: for theſe Locuſts are commanded of God, that they ſhould not kil the very reprobates outright, & at once, but torment thē with a lingring death for the ſpace of fiue moneths, that is, 500. yeares: for ſo long did the Papacie continue in his height & pride, full ſtrength and vertue: and ſo long did the Pope & his Cleargie ſting men with lingring and ſcorpion-like paine.
Therefore in thoſe daies ſhall men ſeeke death, and ſhall not finde it, and ſhall deſire to die, and death ſhal flie frō thē. verſ. 6
This verſe doth ſhewe, that all Papiſts being thus ſtung and tormented in their conſciences with this lingring paine of Popiſh doctrine, ſhall wiſh themſelues out of the world, and buried quicke, that they might be ridde of their ſpirituall ſtinging, and helliſh torments which they had in their cōſcience. For the Popiſh doctrine hath no ſound comfort in it, it leaueth men in deſperation in ſickneſſe, and vponupon their death-beds.
For alas, what comfort can a poore diſtreſſed conſcience hauehave in Popes pardons, Indulgences, Maſſes, Dirges, Merits, Workes, Pilgrimages, Purgatory, Croſſes, Crucifixes, Agnus deis, & ſuch like traſh and trumpery? theſe alas are too weake remedies for any ſpirituall diſeaſes: they are not ſufficient to procure pardon at Gods hand for any ſinne. Alas, the poore blinde Papiſts did know & feele that they were vile ſinners: they knew they muſt come to iudgement: they knew that the reward of ſinne was death, euen the ſecond death: they knew all this full wel, & therfore had horrible convulſions in their conſciences, and knew no way nor meanes how to winde out of them. For the doctrine of free iuſtification in the bloud of Chriſt, was hid frō them, they knew it not: and therefore all aſſurance of Gods fauour, all peace of conſcience, & all ioy in the holy Ghoſt, was vtterly taken from them, & therefore many of them died in moſt deſperate & vncomfortable maner. And for this cauſe it is here ſaid, that they ſought death, and deſired to be rid out of the worlde one way or an other: for a tormented conſcience who can beare it, it is a kinde of he… torment.
verſ. 7 And the forme of the Locuſts was like vntounto horſes prepared vntounto battel, & on their heads were as it were crownes like vntounto gold, & their faces was like the faces of men.
verſ. 8 And they had haire as the haire of women: and their teeth were as the teeth of Lyons.
Hitherto we hauehave heard of the petigrew & poiſoned ſtings of theſe vile Locuſts, and how they vexed the inhabitants of the earth all the time of the great Antichriſt. Now we are to vnderſtand of their form and likeneſſe: for the ſpirit of God dooth here paint them out in their colours, that all men may diſcerne them, and beware of them. Firſt, it is ſaid that they were like vntounto horſes prepared vntounto battell: that is, they were as ſtrong and fierce as barred horſes, to ruſh and run vponupon all ſuch as ſhould but once mute or mutter againſt them, or their authoritie. Moreouer, they hauehave crownes of golde vponupon their heads, which ſheweth and ſignifieth, that they were the conquerors of the earth, & Lords of the world, and who but they? for in thoſe daies no man, nay, no Lord or King, durſt quitch againſt a Monke, a Frier, or a pild Prieſt: for if any did, they were ſure to ſmart for it. They had alſo faces like the faces of men; that is, they ſet faire faces vponupon matters, and pretended great deuotion in religion, flattering the people, and making them beleeue that they could giuegive them pardon of all their ſinnes, and bring them to heauen; when as in very truth, for their bellies, and for their gaine, they did cunningly ſmoothe with the nobles, the rich, & the mightie, ſetting faire faces vpō al their proceedings; and as S. Peter ſaith, Through couetouſnes with fained words, they made merchandiſe of mens ſoules, 2 Pet. 2.3.and did cloſely winde themſelues into the hearts of the ſimple people, by their fawning inſinuations, being in very deede moſt notable flatterers and hypocrites. They had haire, as the haire of women; that is, they were altogether effeminate, being giuen to delicacie, luſt, and wantonneſſe; they were drowned in whoredome & al kind of beaſtlineſſe, being a ſhoale of moſt filthy villaines. Their teeth were as the teeth of Lyons, to catch & ſnatch all that they could come by. They deuoured all the fat morſels eueryevery where: they got the church-liuings into their hands: they firſt made impropriations: they incroached vponupon temporall mens lands: they ſwallowed vp all euerie where. If we looke vponupon the Abbeys, Priories, and Nunneries, wee may eaſily iudge what teeth they had. Moreouer, it is ſaid they had Habbergions, like to Habbergions of Irō; that is, they were ſo ſtrongly armed with the defence & countenāce of the Pope, that no ſecular power durſt once quitch againſt thē. Their wings were like the ſounde of chariots, when many horſes runne vntounto battell: that is, with fluttering noiſe, & terrible threatnings, they ſtroue to vpholde their kingdome. Alſo in Churches and Pulpits, they make a roaring noiſe, and take on terribly to maintaine their abhominable Idolatry. They had tailes like vntounto ſcorpions, and there were ſtings in their tailes. verſ. 10 For with their poiſoned doctrine & ſtinging authoritie, like adders & ſnakes they ſtung many to death. Moreouer, power was giuen them to hurt men fiue moneths, that is, all the time of Antichriſts raigne, as before hath bene ſhewed.
verſ. 11 They hauehave a king ouer them, which is the angell of the bottomeleſſe pit, whoſe name in Hebrew, is Abaddon, and in Greeke he is named Apollyon, that is, deſtroying.
As the foules hauehave a king ouer them, which is the Eagle; & the beaſtes, the Lyon; & mortall men ſome chiefe gouernour, vnderunder whoſe protection and ſubiectiō they liue: ſo here theſe helliſh Locuſts are ſaid to hauehave a king ouer them, which is the Angell of the bottomleſſe pit; that is, the diuell or the Pope, which you will, vnderunder whoſe enſigne they fight, and vnderunder whoſe defence they liue. Their kings name in Hebrew is called Abaddon, and in Greeke Apollyon. The words are both of one ſignification, that is, deſtroying: for both the diuell himſelf, & his vicar the Pope, are deſtroiers and waſters of the Church of God.
One woe is past, And beholde yet two woes come after this. verſ. 2
Wee hauehave heard at large what this firſt woe is, namely, the plague of the worlde, by the Pope and his Cleargie. Now wee are to heare of the ſeconde woe, which is the moſt huge and murthering army of the Turkes, wherein the third part of men were ſlaine.
Some do expound this ſecond woe of the kingdome of Antichriſt, and his armies: but that it is not ſo, may appeare by theſe reaſons following.
Firſt, the Angell denouncing woe, woe, woe, denounceth three ſeueral woes, and therefore it is ſaid; One woe is past, and behold yet two woes come after this. It followeth then, that this is a diſtinct and ſeueral woe from the former, and therfore cannot be the ſame.
Secondly, this woe containeth ſpecially a bodily ſlaughter of the third part of the world, and of the wicked reprobates: but the firſt woe was ſpecially a plague of mens ſoules, as we hauehave heard, and therefore this cannot be the ſame with the firſt.
Thirdly, we are to vnderſtand, that this booke deſcribeth all the greateſt calamities and plagues that ſhould come vpō the world in any age after Chriſt: and therfore we may iuſtly think that the kingdome of the Turkes is not left out, ſeeing it was one of the greateſt plagues that euer came vponupon the world. But the kingdome of the Turkes is deſcribed in no other part of this Reuelation, and therefore muſt of neceſſitie be here deſcribed.
verſ. 13 Then the ſixt Angel blew the trumpet, and I heard a voice from the foure corners of the golden Aultar which is before God:
verſ. 14 Saying to the ſixt Angell which had the trumpet, looſe the foure Angels which are bound in the great riuer Euphrates.
Now we are come to the deſcription of the ſecond woe, which followeth vponupon the blowing of the ſixt trumpet, by the ſixt Angell. And firſt of all hee ſaith; He heard a voice frō the foure corners of the goldē Aultar.
chapter 8.3. By the golden Aultar, is meant Chriſt, as before hath bene ſhewed, with the reaſons thereof. Frō this Aultar the voice commeth to the angel which blew the ſixt trumpet, that wee might knowe it is the voice of the mighty God, & the cōmandemēt of our Lord Ieſus.
The voice commandeth the ſixt Angell to looſe the foure Angels which are bound in the great riuer Euphrates. By theſe foure Angels which are thus bound at Euphrates, is meant many diuels, or angels of darkeneſſe, as we heard before, chap. 7. verſe 1. Their binding ſignifieth their reſtraint, by which they were helde backe from doing that miſchiefe which they deſired to do. Their looſing, ſignifieth that power was giuen them to performe that which they wiſhed. They are ſaide to bee foure in number, becauſe they ſhould raiſe an horrible plague in the foure corners of the earth, both Eaſt, Weſt, North, and South. The ſenſe is, that the diuels hauehave yet further and greater ſcope giuen them to plague and deſtroy the inhabitants of the earth. Theſe diuels had exceeding great power in the kingdome of Antichriſt, but they are vnſatiable in miſchiefe, and ſo after a ſorte lie ſtill bound till they hauehave their deſire. The place where they lie bounde, is Euphrates, wherein is a myſterie: for Euphrates literally taken, is a great Riuer, which ranne ſo nigh the citie Babylon in Chaldea, that it was a mightie defence vntounto it, ſo that the citie could not be taken, vntill they that laide ſiege vntounto it, cut out trenches, and deriued the waters an other way. Now for the myſterie, it is this: Rome in this booke is called Babylon. By a metaphor, and after the ſame manner, the great Riuer Euphrates, as wee ſhall ſee afterward, chap. 16. ſignifieth the power, wealth, and authoritie, which that citie Rome, euen this weſterne Babel, hath to defend it ſelfe. Then it followeth, that in this power, authoritie, and ſtrength of Rome, the diuels lie bounde: for they waited through the power of Rome, to worke yet farre greater miſchiefe, and therefore are ſaide to bee bounde, ſo long as they were reſtrained. The miſchiefe which they plotted, and purpoſed to bring to paſſe by the authoritie and power of Rome, was the hatching and bringing forth of the Mahometiſh religion, which in very deed did ſpring from the darkneſſe of Rome, as from his proper roote and originall cauſe.
The diuels did foreſee, that out of the ſuperſtitions and Idolatries of Rome, defended by their great power and authoritie, Mahometiſh religion, might very well bee framed, and therefore not being content to plague the Weſt part of the worlde with Poperie and Idolatrie, they do greedily deſire alſo to plague the Eaſt part of the worlde with the falſe religion of Mahomet. They are not ſatiſfied with plaguing and poiſoning all Europe with abhominable Idolatries, except alſo they plague and infect all Aſia & Affrica with the Turkes moſt execrable religiō: ſo inſatiable are the diuels in working miſchiefe. Now in the meane time they think thēſelues too much ſtraightned, bound and tied vp in Rome, & Romiſh religion, except they may be looſed, and proceede further to ouerſpread the whole world with all impieties, and moſt horrible abhominations. A man would thinke that when the diuels had preuailed ſo far, as to place Antichriſt in his curſed chaire, and to breede the ſwarmes of Locuſts out of the ſmoake of hell, they might hauehave bene ſatiſfied: for then, as wee ſay, hell ſeemed to be broken looſe. But yet all this cannot ſatisfie the vnſatiable diuels, but they will hauehave the religion of Mahomet eſtabliſhed, to poiſon and plague all the Eaſt parts of the world in their ſoules: and alſo they will hauehave the moſt huge, cruell, and ſauage armies of the Turkes raiſed vp, to murder and maſſacre milliōs of men in their bodies, in the weſt parts of the world, as preſently we ſhall heare.
Now till all this bee effected, they are ſaide to lie bound at Rome. But here we ſee, that this ſixt Angell hath a preciſe commaundement from Ieſus Chriſt, to looſe theſe diuels which lay bound at the great riuer Euphrates, that they might plague the whole world farre and neare, at their pleaſure: ſo now all the diuels of hell are let looſe, and let vsus heare what followeth.
And the foure Angels were looſed, which were prepared at an houre, at a day, at a monethmonth, and at a yeare, verſ. 15 to ſlay the third part of men.
Now the diuels being looſed and vnbounde by ſpeciall commandement from Chriſt, were in a readineſſe to execute their miſchiefe. This aſcending by degrees from a ſhort time vntounto longer & longer; From an houre to a day, &c. dooth ſignifie, that as the diuels were preſt, & at hand at an houres warning, as we ſay, to put in practiſe whatſoeuer they had plotted: ſo they were as forwarde to continue the ſame, From an houre to a day, from a day to a monethmonth, & from a monethmonth to a yeare, that is frō time to time, vntil the date of their commiſſiō was out: for their time was limited, and their commiſſion bounded, as afterward we ſhall ſee. And this is our comfort, that both the Papacie is limited to fiue monethes, and the Turciſme to houres, daies, monethes, and yeares. The diuels power is limited, though it grieueth them full ſore. They cannot doo what they liſt: they cannot continue as long as they would.
After the number of horſemen of warre were twentie thouſand times ten thouſand, for I heard the number of thē. verſ. 16
Now, vponupon the looſing of theſe diuels, here followeth the deſcription of a moſt horrible plague which they raiſed vp; and it is a huge army, a murthering army, an army in number exceeding great: for he ſaith, They were twentie thouſand times ten thouſand; that is, two hundred millions, or two hundred thouſand thouſands. But we may not think that this army was euer all at one time, or in any one age, but here are the armies of many ages reckened vp, and the full plague of many yeares ſet forth. How could Saint Iohn number ſuch an army, may ſome man ſay? He anſwereth this doubt, and ſaith, Hee heard the number of them. Hee did not number them: but the number was tolde him.
Moreouer, it is to be noted, that as this army did exceed in number, ſo alſo in terror and ſtrength: and therefore they are ſaid to be all horſemen. For an army of horſemen are both more ſtrong and more terrible, then any arm of footemen.
verſ. 17 And thus I ſawe the horſes in a viſion, and them that ſate on them hauing firy Habbergeons, and of Iacinth, and of brimſtone, and the heads of the horſes were as the heads of Lyons, and out of their mouths went forth fire, and ſmoake, and brimſtone.
Heere is the deſcription of theſe horſemen and horſes, as they appeared to Iohn in a viſion. Firſt, touching the horſemen, it is ſaide that they were very well armed with Habbergions; that is, coates of Maile, Corſelets, or Curets, and that of a fiery colour, and of the colour of Iacinth; that is, of ſmoake, as appeareth in the laſt clauſe of this verſe, and alſo of the colour of Brimſtone. For as horſemen in compleate armour were wont to weare in their breaſt-plates and targets certaine enſignes and colours, whereby they might be made terrible to their enemies: So theſe Turkiſh warriours and horſemen do holde out their colours of fire, ſmoake, and brimſtone, as it were flagges of defiance againſt the whole world, threatning preſent death to al that ſhould withſtand them; or as if they meant to ſpet fire and flame▪ them, or to choake them with ſmoake and brimſtone, & then burne them vp with fire & brimſtone. All this their colours and enſignes in their breaſt-plates and Habbergions did portend. Now, as concerning their horſes, no doubt they were as fierce as the horſmen. They were great Launces, they had heads like Lyons; that is, they were full of ſtomack & fiercenes, and out of their mouthes went forth fire, & ſmoake, and brimſtone; that is, they had the ſame colours and enſignes vponupon them that their riders had.
Of theſe three was the third part of mē killed, that is, verſ. 18 of the fire, & of the ſmoake, and of the brimſtone which came out of their mouthes.
Here is ſet downe the great ſlaughters and maſſacres which theſe martiall horſmen & Turkiſh armies made throughout the moſt part of Europe. For hee ſaith: the third part of men, that is, great numbers in Europe were ſlaine by the fire, the ſmoake, and the brimſtone, which came out of their mouthes: that is, by their bloudy crueltie, & barbarous immanitie; ſome being murthered in their bodies by cruell death, & others violently drawne to the wicked religiō of Mahomet. For partly by externall violence, and partly by a ſubtill ſhewe of religion and deuotion, they deſtroied thouſands both in their ſoules & bodies. And therefore it is ſaid, verſ. 19 Their power is in their mouthes, and in their tailes. For their tailes were like vntounto ſerpents, and had heads wherewith they hurt. But for the better vnderſtanding of theſe things, I thinke it not amiſſe a little to open and lay forth the riſing vp, and encreaſing of the power of the Turke.
About the yeare of our Lord, 591. was Mahomet borne in a certaine village of Arabia, called Itrarix, for ſo Hiſtories do report. This Mahomet by fraude and couſenage, grew into great credit and fame among the ſeditious Arabians and Egyptians, in ſo much that they made him a captaine ouer them, to warre againſt the Perſians.
After this, hee married a rich wife, and by that meanes he wonne the hearts of many with gifts. In the daies of Heraclius the Emperour, which was in the yeare of our Lord, 623. he grew to be very mightie. After this, he faigned himſelfe to be a Prophet, and ſaid, that he had viſions and reuelations, and talked with Angels. And ſo by the helpe of Sergius a Monke, hee framed a new worſhip and religion, patched partly out of the olde Teſtament, partly from the Papiſts, and partly from the Heathen. Hee raigned nine yeares, and ſo died.
After him, ſucceeded in the kingdome of the Saracens Ebubezer, who raigned two yeares. Haumar, who raigned twelue yeares. Muhauias who raigned 24. yeares. All theſe made great warres againſt the Perſians, and ſundrie other nations, and ouercame them, and ſet vp the religion of Mahomet amongſt them, and ſo the kingdome of the Saracens grew mightie: but in proceſſe of time the kingdome of the Turkes grew great, and the kingdome of the Saracens diminiſhed. Within a ſhort time after this, the Tartarians, a barbarous people, waxed ſtrong, and made warre againſt the Turkes, and preuailed greatly for a time. But about the yeare of our Lord 1300. the Empire of the Tartarians was ouerthrowne, and the Empire of the Turkes did flouriſh more then euer before: For now come the greateſt monſters, and moſt ſauage and cruell tyrants of all. The firſt of them was Ottomanus. The ſecond Baiazethes. The third, Amurathes. Theſe made bloudie warres againſt the Chriſtians; I meane the Papiſts in Europe, and enlarged the Turkes dominions very farre.
They did from time to time ſo cruelly murther and maſſacre the inhabitants of the Weſt, with their huge and bloudie armies, that at laſt both the Pope, the Emperour, the King of Hungary, the King of Polonia, the King of Fraunce, the Duke of Burgundie, and the Duke of Venice, and almoſt all the Potentates in Europe, did ioyne together to make warre againſt the Turkes, and did leuie huge armies, but yet could not preuaile: ſo ſtrong were the Turkes: ſo huge and dreadfull were their armies. Then wee ſee that verified which here was foretolde, to wit, that the monſtrous armies of the Turkes, with their horſes and horſemen, should ſlay the third parte of men: that is, the Idolaters in Europe by heapes and infinit numbers. To ſet downe the particular battailes betwixt the Turkes and the Chriſtians in Europe, and their horrible bloudſheaddings, would require a volume: but this which I hauehave briefly ſet downe, may ſerue to giuegive ſome light vntounto it, & may ſuffice for the vnderſtanding of this text. verſ. 20 Now, it is ſaid in the next verſe, that notwithſtanding this heauie hande of God which was vponupon the Papiſts in Europe, and theſe fearefull iudgements and maſſacres, they repented not of their Idolatries, but waxed worſe and worſe: for no iudgements, no plagues can make the wicked any whit the better, as wee ſee in the examples of Pharaoh and Saul. verſ. 20 And here it is ſaide, that the remnant of men which were not killed by theſe plagues, repented not of the workes of their handes, that they ſhould not worſhip diuels and Idols of gold, and of ſiluer, & of braſſe, and of ſtone, and of wood, which neither can ſee, nor heare, nor goe. verſ. 21 Alſo they repented not of their murther, and of their ſorcery, neither of their fornicatiō, nor of their theft. And thus we ſee how the diuels which were bound at Euphrates, being let looſe vponupon the world, in the wrath and iuſt iudgement of God, did fearefully plague both the Turkes in their ſoules, and the Papiſts in their bodies. The one with falſe religion, the other with bloudie ſwordes: and ſo was the deſire of the diuels fully ſatisfied.