Exposition of Revelation 13, Part 6
Rev. 13. latter part of the 5. verſ.
And power was given him to continue forty and two moneths.
THis is the continuance of the deſcription of the former Beaſt which the Apoſtle John ſaw riſing out of the Sea, to be the inſtrument of the Dragons power (that is, Satans rage) againſt the Woman, and her feed.
Among other parts of the deſcription (which have been opened) this Beaſt is deſcribed by the change that befell him, in his head, wounded, and healed; the effect whereof was,
1. The admiration of the world.
2. The worſhip of the Beaſt, and of the Dragon.
The third effect or event was the authority or power that the Beaſt did receive, and did exerciſe, and that power was,
1. To ſpeake great things and blaſphemies; which accordingly he did exerciſe, in blaſpheming the name of God, and his Tabernacle, and the Saints.
2. There was a power of continuance (as it is here tranſlated) forty and two moneths.
3. There was given to him power to make warre with the Saints, and to overcome them.
Of the firſt part, to ſpeak blaſphemy, we have already ſpoken. Now come we unto the ſecond part of the power given him, which is his continuance; There was power given him to continue forty and two moneths.
The note from thence is ſhortly this;
That power and authority was given to this Beaſt (that is,Doctr. 2. to the Roman Catholicke Church) to continue, that is, to be active and doing, to be buſie fortie and two moneths.
This expreſſeth the ſum and ſence of the words; they are obſcure as any place in the word, and therefore need your more diligent attention, and the power of the Lord Jeſus to clear his counſel and will in this point, who alone openeth the Seales, and none can ſhut them.
To open the words.
Power was given to him.] The word in the Originall is foreign which properly ſignifies the power of Authority or Juriſdiction; a ſoveraign kind of power (as it is here deſcribed in the ſeventh verſe) over all Kindreds, and Tongues, and Nations: Such power that all the world wondered at it, and adored, eſpecially that which they call the Chriſtian world, did exceedingly magnifie the power and authority of this Beaſt, and he ſpeakes here principally of Spirituall Authority, though it grew to Temporall Power in making Warr, in the 7. verſ. for he riſeth by degrees to further power, but authority was given him: Given him, by whom?
1. By God, that put it into the heart of the tenne Horns (that is, the tenne K…gs) to give their Kingdoms with one conſent to the Beaſt, Rev 17. 17. So God by his wiſe and juſt providence gave him authority, ſuch as God hath ordained in his word; but he put it in their hearts by his wiſe and juſt providence.
2. This authority was given by Satan, who aſſiſted Antichriſt in the myſtery of Iniquity, in working ſigns and lying wonders, with all deceivableneſſe of unrighteouſneſſe, till hee lift up himſelfe above all that is called God, 2 Theſ. 2. 9, 10. And indeed Satan wrought mightily, what by the ſophiſtry of the School-men, and by the policy of the Canoniſts, and what by the devotion of Cloyſter-men and Fryers, it was a wonder to ſee how he gained a mighty power againſt Churches all the world over.
3. This power was given him by thoſe States, the ten Horns which gave their Crowns with one accord to the Beaſt, that he ſhould rule in their Dominions. The chiefe Kingdoms in Europe are in theſe ten; our Native Countrey for one, France, and Spaine, and Navarre, Sweden, & Denmarke, and the reſt, they did with one accord give their Kingdomes to the Beaſt, that in point of Religion they ſhould eſtabliſh all Ordinances according to the wiſdome of his ſoveraign power: And in Temporall matters they gave him greater power to depoſe, and diſpoſe of their Kings, then the Roman Emperour had in ſundry reſpects; for his was lim…ed by Laws, but this was without Laws. 2 Theſ. 2. 4. He oppoſeth and exalteth himſelfe above all that is called God. That without all power of Laws he did out-rage out of meaſure. Given it was by their Devotion and Superſtition, God piercing their hearts much in thoſe times by the Miniſtery of their Fryars, that did wound their conſciences with the ſenſe of their murthers and luſts, that they were willing to do any thing for the peace of their Conſciences, and therefore willingly gave up all their power and Kingdomes into his hands; ſo it was given him.
Again further, he is ſaid to continue.] Some Tranſlations doe read it, to make Warre, but War is not in the beſt corrected Copies, but making Warre is ſpoken to in the ſeventh ver. But making War is not ſpoken to expreſly in this fifth verſe; but power was given him to be doing; and as we call it in a generall phraſe, to be (a Factotum) the onelyonly doer of the world forty two moneths: That what he did was done, and what he did not authorize and allow, it was not done. If the Princes choſe an Emperour, if he accepted him, he ſtood; if he did not accept of him, he was not received. If any decrees be made, if the Biſhop of Rome eſtabliſh them (which is the ſeventh head) then they are authenticall; If he do not, then they are Apocrypha. So it is with Scripture; though it be ſuch as God never ratified, as the Apocrypha, but what ſenſe he gives it is Authenticall; He hath power to be active and doing. This word then foreign, which is here tranſlated to continue, doth indeed ſo ſignifie uſually, when it is joyned with words of time; you have many examples of it in Scripture, as in Acts 15. 33. it is ſaid, After they had tarried there a ſpace, the word is the ſame as here, continue. So in Acts 18. 23. it is ſaid, After they had tarried ſome time; about three moneths. So in Acts 20. 3. you have there continuance or tarrying expreſſed by the ſame word: And Paul ſaith, Night and day I was in the deep, 2 Cor. 11. 25. the ſame word; he had his buſineſſe there, there he was duely, he continued ſo long. But ſometimes the word ever uſed with this word of time, ſignifies to be active and buſie: So in James 4. 13. You ſay you will goe into ſuch a Citie, & continue there a yeare, and buy, and ſell, and get gaine; the ſame word here and there; you will be buſie and gaining, &c. This ſame power therefore to continue and be doing, argues that this authority of power, abſolute Soveraign power over Kindreds, Nations, and Tongues, this is here ſaid to continue a matter of 42. moneths.
Now for theſe 42. moneths.] I would not buſie my ſelfe in needleſſe ſpeculations: but I finde not any word of God a needneſſe ſpeculation for the Church to ſearch into, and underſtand. We have had this number three or foure times before: For it is the ſame number, of which it is ſaid, The Gentiles ſhall tread under foot the holy City forty two moneths, Rev. 11. 2. And 42. moneths, if they be diſſolved into dayes, make up juſt the ſum of a thouſand two hundred and threeſcore days, allowing thirty dayes to a monethmonth as the old account was wont to do, which is the ſame time of the two Witneſſes prophecying, cloathed in ſack-cloath, Rev. 11. 3. And the ſame time of a thouſand two hundred and threeſcore dayes, or forty two moneths, is juſt the computation of three years and an halfe; that is, a time, and times, and halfe a time; which time it is ſaid the woman fled into the wilderneſſe, and was nouriſhed there, Rev. 12. 6. So that all theſe are manifeſt to be contemporary (as they call it) to begin together in the ſame period of time, and to end together; The Beaſts riſing and continuing in power 42. moneths: The Gentiles (which is the Roman Catholick Church) treading down the true Church of God forty two moneths: And the two Witneſſes prophecying in ſack-cloath 1260. dayes: And the womans flight into the wilderneſſe, and her continuance and abode there 1260. dayes, where ſhe was nouriſhed by the prophecying of thoſe two Witneſſes: So that expound aright one of theſe, and you cleare the right Interpretation of all. Three queſtions therefore may be enquired into to open the durance or continuance of the authority of this Beaſt.
1. Whether this be a definitive, or indefinitive time?
2. Why it is ſometimes reckoned by moneths, and ſometimes by dayes: And
3. When doth this time take his beginning, and where doth it expire and take his ending. Theſe things ſpoken to, will reach as farre as God hath revealed to me.
For the firſt of theſe Queſtions.Queſt: 1.
1. There be that think this time is not a definite or determinate time,Anſw. but indefinite; forty two moneths ſhewes a good ſpace of time, known, and determined by God, but uncertaine to the Church. Now I muſt confeſſe, that meaning doth not well ſink into my heart, to receive it with any faith in Gods word; for if God would have put a definite time for an indefinite; a certain time for an uncertaine, I thinke he would rather have choſen (as he is wont to do) ſome ſuch phraſe as is wont to expreſſe illimited time, if it had been ſeven moneths, or ten moneths: Thou haſt changed my wages tenne times ſaith Jacob to Laban; that is, many times: How often ſhall I forgive my brother, till ſeven times? I, till ſeventy times ſeven times: He doth not meanee, to limit us, but as oft as he doth offend, forgive, if he repent; or if he profeſſe ſuch repentance as you have no juſt exception againſt, forgive him: But when he ſaith 42. moneths, why not 600. moneths, for that is a definite time for an indefinite: why ſhould hee ſay 1260. dayes, it is not a ſpeech uſed in Greek and Latine to expreſs an indefinite number: no more is the time, and times, and halfe a time, uſuall in Daniel. Therefore I cannot reſt in that Interpretation, though ſundry have gone that way.
2. There be that take it indeed for a definite time, but they would confine it to three years and an halfe, for forty two moneths, or 1260. dayes, is juſt three yeares and an halfe, and that is true: But I cannot accept that Interpretation; and though it be common, yet our Divines do with one accord reject it: For this Antichriſt which they ſay is their Beaſt (in which they ſay true) that he ſhould come out of Hieruſalem three years and an halfe before the great Judgment day, and prevaile againſt Rome: But that it cannot be taken for three years and an halfe, may appeare from the great authority he ſhall gaine in this time, and the power that he ſhall exerciſe over all Kindreds, and Tongues, and Nations; now for any one in three yeares and an halfe to overcome all Nations, and to rule them by an Eccleſiaſticall and Civill power, it is incredible. The Leopard of Greece, which was a ſwift Beaſt, and had wings, yet he did not conquer the world but in twelve yeares, and it was a great matter to overcome it then: But this Beaſt is deſcribed to be a Leopard, but not with wings: now that he ſhould do as much in three yeares and an halfe without wings, as Alexander did in twelve years with wings, is not credible.
3. There is a third Interpretation that make indeed the dayes, and time, and moneths definite; that is, determined and …et, and do limit them according to the account of the Prophets that take a day for a yeare: A like proportion of 42. moneths, of a time, times, and halfe a time, and of 1260. dayes; taking a day for a yeare, they will all come to the ſame period, to the ſame computation of 1260. yeares. Now that the Prophets do ſometimes ſo reckon them, appears from Ezek. 4. 5, 6. where the Lord did direct the Prophet to lye upon his ſide 390 dayes, according to the defection of Iſrael from the houſe of David, in all which time the Prophet did beare the burden of the defection of the People; and to repreſent that: Son of man (ſaith he) I have given thee to lye ſo long, I have appointed each day for a yeare; thou ſhalt lye ſo many dayes, as their apoſtacy hath continued in yeares: For from the defection of Jeroboam, to the captivity of the Land, they continued 390. years. And after that (ſaith he) thou ſhalt turne thee, and lye upon thy other ſide forty dayes, and that was the time of the renewing of the Covenant by Joſiah, in which the Lord was reconciled with his people: but the people falling into apoſtacy againe, it proved forty dayes more.
And ſo when the twelve Spyes had gone forty dayes, and ſearched out the Land, the Lord ſaith, They ſhall beare the provocation of their Fathers forty yeares, after the number of the dayes in which yee ſearched the Land, even forty dayes, each day for a yeare, &c. Numb. 14. 34. So that this is a Propheticall phraſe in myſticall Scriptures; when Ezekiel is to ſet out a viſion for God to expreſſe his Juſtice, he ſets it down dayes for years: Then it is not uncouth, but very agreeable to Scripture, to ſay 1260. dayes is ſo many yeares, and forty two moneths being ſo many dayes is all one, and thoſe dayes being three yeares and an halfe, if you reckon every day for a yeare, they will be juſt 1260. yeares; that therefore I take to be moſt agreeable to Scripture phraſe, and the ſenſe of the words.
But then here grows a ſecond Queſtion.
Why doth he reckon ſome of theſe times by dayes,Queſt: 2. and ſome by moneths?
There may be a double reaſon of that.Anſw.
1. When he deſcribes what the Children of God doe, he ſums up their actions by dayes. Children of light, it is meet that their actions ſhould be meaſured out by the period of dayes: The Witneſſes prophecying, and the womans flight into the wilderneſſe is ſaid to be 1260. dayes: But as God gave the Sunne to rule the day, ſo the Moon to rule the night, Pſal. 136. 8, 9. Now therefore when you are to ſpeak of ſuperſtitious devotions, they are works indeed of darkneſſe, and therefore are beſt reckoned by moneths, by that Creature in Heaven which meaſures out Night, the Moon: And therefore it may be, and ſo the holy Ghoſt uſeth it, if he ſpeak of the Gentiles treading under foot the holy City, though it be by day-light, yet it is a work of darkneſs; They tread under foot the holy City forty two moneths, Rev. 11. 2. And if Antichriſt be to continue long, all his continuance is but a work of darkneſſe, and therefore he is ſaid to continue 42. moneths: But what the Church do, and what the Witneſſes do, is reckoned by dayes, but it is the ſame time, the one makes day-work of it, and the other night-work.
There may be alſo this Reaſon; That the Apoſtle in theſe Prophecyes in the New Teſtament, might allude to the like in the old Teſtament, as to Antiochus whoſe diſpenſation was only a time, and times, and halfe a time.
Now for the third Queſt: Queſt: 3.when this may be ſaid to begin, and when it may be ſaid to end?
There I confeſſe lyes the greateſt difficulty.Anſw.
1. Some of our beſt interpreters pitch the beginning from the beginning of the Reign of Conſtantine, when the Man-child was brought forth, that is, advanced to Imperiall dignity, which ſome make in the yeare 304 after Chriſt; though it be true, of later times, they will by no meanes grant his Reigne began then, but two or three years after, and an eaſie miſtake grows there; for when they come to meaſure out a Princes Reign, they begin in ſuch a time, and a whole yeare is allowed to it, and it may be the next begins in that year, and ſo they bring a variation in Chronologies; but you may not wonder in ſuch miſtakes, if there be foure or five years variation, that makes no great difference; God knows certainly; but through reckoning the laſt yeare of one, and the firſt of another, applying the ſame to both, may ſometimes make a yeares difference: But holy Brightman makes the beginning of that time to be in Conſtantines coming to the Crown, and thence expires the authority of this Beaſt in the yeare 1546. Now though his paines have been moſt ſerviceable to the Church of all that have written of this Book, and God is to be exceedingly magnified for him, and his Learning eſteemed; that having ſuch a Prophetical ſpirit, he ſpake ſo homely and plainly, that without pregnant reaſon I would not pervericate his judgment: Yet as it falls out ordinarily, there is ſomething amiſſe in the beſt humane Writers that ever wrote; Therefore let me tell you what doth not ſatisfie me: The firſt is this, that neither in the beginning nor end doth it punctually jump and ſuite with all events deſcribed.
Firſt, for the beginning, it is ſayd, the woman fled into the wilderneſſe, and continued a time, and times, and halfe a time, after the Dragon was caſt out of heaven, and there was place found for him in heaven; And it is true, Conſtantine made warre againſt the Dragon, but I cannot ſay there was no place for him in heaven, for this was the failing of the good Emperor, that he ſtill allowed the Heathens Idols Temples to continue, though he ſhut the doors; and his Succeſſor Julian the Apoſtate opened them againe, and reſtored the Dragon to ſpiritual authority, ſtated him in heaven as before with a great part of the Empire.
And beſides this, certaine it is till Gracians time, they all kept the title of Pontifex maximus which was an honour belonging to the great Prieſt of Jupiter, or to the Devill; OnelyOnly Gracian, and Theodoſius after him, being tender in conſcience, refuſed it, then the Senate of Rome ſayd if he will not be Pontifex maximus yet they will have him to Rome, and call him to Rome, and had it not been by a marvelous providence, they had wonderfully prevailed; for at the ſame time they did reſtore all the Temples as Julian had done, and eſtabliſhed all the Revenues belonging to them, reſtored them all to the Prieſts, and the Devill had the place of worſhip as before; but the Lord putting them down by a mighty providence of his, through the proſperity of Theadoſius, he utterly overthrew that title, and through the zeal of his ſpirit caſt down the Temples, would ſuffer none of them to ſtand, rooted them out from Eaſt to Weſt; Wherever there was any famous Temples, down he throws them; he utterly renounceth the Pontifex maximus, and will have no Temples; he doth confiſcate the revenues to the Emperors treaſury; and from that time forward indeed, they never recovered, there was no more place found in Heaven: It is true, Conſtantine began that war in the Empire: but war, it is not a Skirmiſh or a Battell, it is not ſoon done, but many times continues long, as between the houſe of David, and the houſe of Saul, and that for ſome ſcores of yeares: So in this caſe, the war began with Conſtantine, there holy Brightman takes it moſt right; but for the accompliſhment of it, for the Devill to be wholly caſt out, and no more place found in Heaven, that was not till Theodoſius time; now from that time the Emperors renouncing the title of Pontifex maximus, the Popiſh ſort thought it was a marvellous providence for the advancing of the Roman Catholick Church, that is this Beaſt; ſo the next year the Pope took up that name, and holds it to this day: what ever the Popes name be, it is Pontifex maximus, that is his ordinary ſtyle, not Biſhop, or Arch Biſhop, or Primate, or Metropolitan, theſe are but Images of the Beaſt, but the head of this Beaſt is Pontifex maximus, the chiefe Biſhop of Rome: Now this was to the beſt obſervation that I can finde, in the year 395. about 90. years after Conſtantines time, or wanting one or two of that: Now that is therefore one Reaſon why I doe not conceive that theſe 42. months are only at leaſt to be reckoned from Conſtautines beginning of his reigne, for they are reckoned from the time when there was no place found for the Dragon in Heaven, which was afterwards accompliſhed about 90 years after. Another Reaſon why I cannot goe ſo fully with that holy man of God, is, becauſe of the end of it, when he comes to 1546. It is evident that in that year the Councell of Trent did condemn the Scriptures, and advance the vulgar Latine to be the authenticall word of God: And Charles the fifth did prevail againſt the Lant-grave of Heſſe, & Proſteſtant Princes of Germany in the year 1547. So by that reaſon it cannot end aright, for the Beaſt hath power given him to continue to make war for 42 moneths; now he continued longer then ſo, though it is true, his time was limited ſoon after; and therefore I cannot with ſo full aſſurance go ſo clearly with him in that, as uſually I do in his Interpretation, yet ſtill reſerving this liberty, according to the gift of the ſpirit of Prophecy he had, you may many times read the context of the word of God, it may be ſometimes ſomewhat more exactly according to the true meaning then allwayes is expreſt; which I ſpeak not to impeach the faithfulneſſe and learning of the holy man of God, but would give every man the honour that God hath put upon them, make uſe of their gifts, and leave them where they may at any time miſtake, the like liberty God forbid but may be left to others that come after us.
2. Therefore if you doe a little more narrowly ſearch the Text, and weigh every circumſtance in it, you may obſerve (as I take it) a double computation of this time in reſpect of the beginning and ending of it; for you ſhall read which Mr. Brightman rightly obſerves; that the woman fled into the wilderneſſe at Conſtantines coming to the Crown, it is true, for ſo it is expreſly ſayd, Revel. 12. 6. She fled into the wilderneſſe, where ſhe had a place prepared of God: and this was before the battell was ſought; and then he tells you of the battell that was fought in verſ. 7, 8, 9.; The end of which was, there was no place for the Dragon in Heaven; and now there is given two wings of an Eagle unto the woman, that ſhe might flee into the wilderneſſe into her place, where ſhe is nouriſhed for a time, and times, and half a time from the face of the Serpent, which is juſt 42 moneths. So that take both theſe places, and it will appear there is a double beginning of this time; the one from Conſtantines Reigne, the other 96 or 97 years after, there abouts it was, there is the beginning of it. Now if you take it by moneths, and take it not as holy Brightman doth, the Aegyptian yeare, but the Roman yeare; methinks it is moſt probable to take the account of the Roman Affaires to be regiſtred by Roman computation, not Aegyptian, though it is true, Rome is ſpiritually called Egypt, but that's in another ſence, they did not follow them in computation; and though the Aegyptians count 30 dayes to a monethmonth, which ſutes well with this, yet it is not uſuall in Scripture; for roundneſſe of number ſake, they pitch a certain time of the monethmonth, 30 dayes for a monethmonth; and therfore if you count ſo may years in the Roman Kallender, you ſhall come ſomewhat neere the account of the continuance of the Power, and tranſcendant Authority of this Beaſt; and if you ſo reckon 1260. years, if you adde them to 300. and the odde four years after before Conſtantines beginning, there-abouts it was; and computations are not clear, the expiration will fall ſomewhat after the beginning of the reigne of Queen Elizabeth; And eſpecially if you take the account from more exact Chronologies, it will come in the year wherein the Pope ſent a Bull, that is, an excommunication agaiſt Queen Elizabeth to deliver her to Satan, which brought forth new treaſons againſt her that followed every year, and brought her at length the Spaniſh invaſion, hoſtile invaſion; but from that time it was, that the blaſt of his power was then broken; that whereas before if he had excommunicated a Prince, it was fatall, he could never have ſtood out, he had been everlaſtingly blaſted with his hopes, but from that time forward, it hath been truly ſaid by ſome, that have ſpoken of this time, that from that time all the Popes Bulls were but baubles; they could not prevaile againſt her, though they brought the Excommunication, and faſtned it upon the Cathedrall Church as they call it, and afterwards read it; ſhe going to prayer, uſed the words of the Prophet, Pſal. Though they curſe, bleſſe thou, let them be confounded that riſe up againſt me, but let thy ſervant rejoyce: God heard her prayer, and marvellouſly broke his power, he had not the power that the great Biſhop of Rome had, who by his power ſhould rend rocks in peices, and blaſt all before him, he never had that power after: God delighting by weak means to bring mighty things to paſſe: By her hand the Lord did maintain the low Countries, that this beaſt had great power over, his arme was broken there; and ſo againſt the King of Navar by her aſſiſting him; and ſo in Scotland, ſhe mightily prevailed to break his power there; and ſo in Ireland, where ſhe ſet her hand, ſhe brake mightily his power, and the power of Catholick Prin… though mightier then ſhe. She renounced the Catholick Church, that is this great beaſt, and cut off his head to her beſt underſtanding, which was about the ſounding of the ſeventh Trumpet, Rev. 11. 15. When the Kingdomes of this world became the Kingdomes of our Lord, and of his Chriſt: For then did begin the ſeventh Trumpet to ſound, which brought the converſion of Kingdomes and States; that though the beaſt ſtill continued, yet he ſtill loſt his Authority which he had before; what he did approve before, that ſtood, and what he did not, that fell to the ground. Now he hath ſo much power, that if France be more pravalent, or Spaine, he will take with them, as he thinks he may with his Catholick Sons for his own ſecurity: but his power is ſo blaſted, that though he doth continue ſtill, and will continue, yet a great Beaſt that rules all the world; that power the Catholick Roman Church hath loſt, though he prevail with his ſuperſtitious inventions with thoſe that are his in a carnall way, or from an opinion of their fathers honeſty, &c. But yet the power is not left to the Biſhop of Rome to doe all things, as in thoſe former times he might; his word is not a law, nor his decrees ſo Authenticall, they are now conſidered of, even among Catholicke Princes; It is not now in his power to take up Controverſies between France and Spain, if they will make war: Time was, they durſt as well have eaten a Bears foot, as have ventured upon any war without his likeing; but that was the time when the armes of his power, and his jawes were not broken.
Thus if you take this Scripture as Brightman takes it, from Conſtantines coming to the Crown, it will expire then about the time when the Bull came forth againſt Q…: Eliz. and as they thought would be ſufficient to blaſt her, and all the Huguenots with her: But yet that makes but one beginning and ending of this account, whereas the Text makes two; for in Chap. 12. 6. when the child was caught up to God, and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderneſſe, then there was a great battle; that battle laſted 90 years, and then was the Devill caſt out of Heaven, and his Flamins, and Arch-flamins were blaſted with him, they had no power in Theodoſius time: from that time the Dragon was caſt out of Heaven, and perſecuted the woman which brought forth the man child, and there was given to her two wings of a great Eagle, that ſhe might flee into the wilderneſſe: Now I ſay according to this, there is another computation of this time, there was no more place found for him in heaven wch was in the year 395. for two or three years, we muſt not pinch much; it is hard to keep exact account by reaſon of taking up one year from the Predeceſſor, which in ſo many years come to ſometimes more, ſometimes leſſe: Now if you ſhall take the Computation from that time, (tis true from Conſtantines time, the Church might fly into the wilderneſſe; for it is true, the Church is made a wilderneſſe if you ſet the doores of the Church ſo wide and pull down the walls, that whereas before, it was a Garden incloſed, Cant. 4. 12. now you let in vaſt territories, bring in the whole world, now you make it Catholick; now though it had no Catholick power; a Garden is made a wilderneſſe if you pull down the pales, take down the narrow watch of Officers, and let in all men that will thruſt in ambitiouſly to gratifie them; The Church was full of covetouſneſſe, whoredomes, adulteries, deceivers, haters of God, and the true power of Godlineſſe, even in his time, and ſo forward, was almoſt worn out, and never was ſo in all the time of perſecution; but after that the Biſhop of Rome had taken the ſtile of Pontifex maximus, and Theodoſius ſlept with his Fathers, then the Church grew more tranſcendantly Catholick, and that they thought he would be Lord Paramount; but yet his tranſcendant power did ſpring as he was cheif Biſhop, then he was univerſall Biſhop, for his power grew by degrees;) Now I ſay, if you take this latter computation, which alſo the Text doth, then if you reckon from 395. years, and adde to that 1260. years, putting theſe two together, they will expire in the yeare, that ſhall be according to the Roman account 1655. I will not be two confident, becauſe I am not a Prophet, nor the Son of a Prophet to foretell things to come, but ſo far as God helps by Scripture light, about the time 1655. there will be then ſuch a blow given to this beaſt, and to the head of this beaſt, which is Pontifex maximus, as that we ſhall ſee a further gradual accompliſhment and fulfilling of this Prophecy here. You muſt not think it ſtrange that ſome Prophecies receive a graduall accompliſhment; Sometimes you have a Prophecy of the 70. yeares captivity, which is accompliſhed by the redemption of the Church out of Babell; yet a more full accompliſhment ſhall be when the Church ſhall be delivered from this whore of Rome, and the Church of the Jewes ſhall be called againe. So it is here, according to the different computation of time, the wiſe God hath all ſeaſons in his hand, he doth foreſee, and foretell to his people when they ſhall come to paſſe: So that though the arme of his glorious power be broken, and his bones broken, that he is nothing that beaſt in power that he was, and hath not been ſince the ſending of that dreadfull excommunication, which was thought to be ſo dangerous to the famous Princeſſe I ſpake of; yet a power he hath over many Churches, and the power given him by the ten horns, they are not all broken; as in Chap. 11. 13. The tenth part of the City fell by reaſon of the earthquake: There was ſuch a fall, that a tenth part fell, but yet a great part ſtands ſtill to this day in ſome meaſure, that will take their Religion from him as they ſee cauſe, but not all in Religion neither, for the King of France will not yield to the Councell of Trent to this day; it falling out that his Ambaſſadors did not ſit in the cheife place, he will not authorize that Councell: Thus is his power broken, but yet it continues in ſome meaſure till a further accompliſhment of it, but for two or three years I cannot limit that, for there may be ſome uncertainty by reaſon of the variation of Chronicles that have ſometimes more, ſometimes leſſe in the beginning and ending of the Reign of Princes: But otherwiſe, about that time will be the expiration of the power and great authority of this Beaſt: But already we ſee, by the bleſſing of God, his power weakned, but we look for a further accompliſhment.
The matter hath required ſome-what large opening, but it is a counſell of God, and given of him for this end, that it may be expounded and explained: And the Lord hath promiſed bleſſedneſſe, Chap. 1. to thoſe that read and ſearch this Booke; and therefore he would encourage all to ſearch diligently the meaning of it, eſpecially as God gives opportunity: It was that which John mourned for, that he found none worthy to open this book, and to looſe the ſeals thereof, only the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah: I think there is no man ſhall be diligently ſtudious on this Book, depending upon the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah for helpe, but he ſhall find ſomething more then he did expect. It is true, if a man go in confidence of his own gifts and knowledge, he may foole himſelf; but if in modeſty of Chriſtian wiſdome, and in the feare of God; the ſpirit of any Chriſtian Miniſter, or other that layes hold of this Book, he ſhall not be ſent empty away: What light God hath given me in this particular, you have heard opened.
The uſe in a word is thus much.
Firſt,Ʋſe 1. it is a word of ſtay to the ſoules of Gods people: It ſerves to ſtrengthen our faith, that the Lord is exact in his Propheticall expreſſions: Look what he ſpeaks, though it be many a yeare or day before, he will not faile to bring it to accompliſhment in his time. It is truly obſerved, if God tarry long, a thouſand years with God is but as one day, till the appointed time come: But when his time is come, then one day with God is as a thouſand yeares: God will as ſoon faile a thouſand yeares, as one day: Indeed till his time be come, he thinks it not long, though it tarry 1260. yeares; but when it is come, then he will not faile one day. It is a memorable ſpeech that in Exod. 12. 40, 41, 42. The ſojourning of the children of Aegypt was foure hundred and thirty yeares: And it came to paſſe at the end of the foure hundred and thirty yeares, even the ſelfſame day it came to paſſe, that all the hoſt of the Lord went out from the Land of Aegypt: It is a night much to be obſerved, &c. Hee doth not ſay they dwelt there ſo long, but were ſojourners there: And it came to paſſe at the end of the foure hundred and thirty yeares, even the ſelfe ſame day, it came to paſſe that all the beſt of the Lord went out from the Land of Aegypt; as if God would put ſome Emphaſis upon it: The word in the Originall is, in the bones of the day: It is an uſuall Hebraiſm, the ſtrength of a thing they call the bones of it; that is, in the face of all the people, in the ſtrength of the day, even when it was full day: God kept reckoning to a day; he will as well faile a thouſand yeares as one day when his time is come; and till his time be come, we muſt think it long if he ſtay a thouſand yeares: It muſt therefore ſtrengthen our Faith, that God is the ſame God in the New Teſtament, as in the Old; that if we could know times as exactly as God knows them, we might write, in the bones of ſuch a yeare and day, the bones of the Roman Catholick Church is broken, and lyes bedrid; as it is foretold, Jezebel ſhall be caſt into the bed of affliction, and all that commit adultery with her into great tribulation. Let it ſtrengthen the faith of Gods people in every time; for if God be ſo exact in every circumſtance, what time he ſets, he will keep, then it may more ſtrengthen us in ſubſtantiall promiſes and threatnings: and what ever the Lord hath ſpoken, be not diſcouraged, the Lord will make good what hee hath ſpoken, he will not faile of a minute of time when his period is come.
Secondly,Ʋſe 2. it may ſerve to encourage us the more to pray to God for a ſpeedy accompliſhment of the power of this great Beaſt (the Roman Catholick viſible Church) that hath bewitched the world for ſo many ages together, and to grow this way in our prayers for the deſtruction of him from yeare to yeare: and the neerer the time of the accompliſhment grows, the more earneſt ſhould our expectations be to ſee the accompliſhment, and the more earneſt our prayers ſhould be.
You read of holy Daniel, that when hee underſtood by books, that the Lord had ſet the captivity for 70. years, then he ſet himſelfe by prayer and ſupplication to ſeek the Lord, in Dan. 9. 1, 2, 3. He takes this very occaſion; he found it was written that thereabouts it would be, and he found that time was at hand, therefore he wreſtles with God in faſting and prayer for the accompliſhment of that deliverance: And ſo ought we to do; and indeed about that time it is, that in the Expoſition of other Scriptures, that holy man of God that hath given light to this Booke; ſome-what after he encourageth to look for no ſmall changes that may befall the State: So that it may encourage us to look for ſuch a great mercy: It is a great mercy that the Lord hath diſcovered the vanity of ſubjection to the Roman Catholick Church, from day to day the Lord diſcovers it more and more to this country, and hath given us to ſee the true platform of a true Church, from which the Roman Catholick Church is ſo far diſproportionable (to be governed by a ſupream head, inſtead of a particular Church ordered by Paſtors and Teachers, there is ſuch a vaſt diſtance) that well doth the holy Ghoſt call it a great Beaſt, a lewd Strumpet, to undertake ſuch an Inſtitution. Therefore as the thing hath been odious in Gods ſight long, ſo let us pray that he will go on to break the power of this Beaſt: It hath not been in vain, what a blow he hath given to the Image of this Beaſt, by the late ſtirs in Scotland: True it is, before great deliverances, there will be great afflictions, whether here, or elſe-where: It is an uſuall providence to the moſt faithfull ones of God: But what ever bitter cup the Lord may give us to drink of, yet the day of this great Beaſt is coming, wherein he is to go to perdition: He hath begun to fall before the Lamb; and if he begin to fall before him, ſay the Magicians to the Kings Favourite Haman, Eſth. 6. 13. If Mordecai be of the ſeed of the Jewes before whom thou haſt begun to fall, thou ſhalt not prevaile againſt him, but ſhalt ſurely in falling fall; that is, fall more and more: It's true, there may be ſome pangs, as a Beaſt when he is going to his laſt gaſpe, he will fling with his tayle, and with his horns; but he is falling, and leaves not falling till he finally fall; though there be pangs, as dying creatures, to win the horſe, or loſe the ſaddle, but otherwiſe he will never ſtand, that there may be a Factotum at that time, and will grow more and more after that time.