Commentary on Revelation, Lecture 4
LECTURE IV.
Vers. 9.
And here is the mind which hath wisdome. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
10.
And there are seven Kings, five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
11.
And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
THe Angel proceedeth to a particular interpretation of the parts, to wit, heads and horns, wherein the beast was most singular and remarkable. There is a sentence casten in, before he descend to it, Here is the mind which hath wisdom, which is something like that, Chap. 13.18. and it looketh both to what is past, (putting Readers to consider well of it) and to what is coming, pointing out something that a man of wisdom will not let passe, but take hold of these marks for discerning of the whore. The words imply, 1. a materialnesse in the matter written, as conducing for the understanding of this mystery. 2. a difficulty to get a mind composed to take it up, there will be need of spirituall and true wisdom. 3. that such wisdom will find what is in it, and get so much gripping as to fix them in this, who is this whore and beast: and therefore this Chapter would be the more fully insisted in. 4. It Implieth, that it is a rare thing to apply these marks wisely, and that the generality of Readers will not do it. And by this we may see, that though promises be fulfilled and prophesies also, and the expressions be very obvious and palpable to any that have discerning, yet they are not so to these who have their minds blinded with prejudice and spiritual blindness; such prophesies as are most clearly fulfilled and applied to Christ, to the Iews are dark: and others of Daniel and Ezekiel, which undoubtedly are fulfilled, are also obscure. It is no marvell then that so many Papists, wondering after this beast, cannot wisely discern his marks; It will take wisdom to do that, which every one hath not: and therefore that argument of Bellar. against the fulfilling of this prophesie, because it is so obscure to many, is of no force. He beginneth at the heads, and giveth two interpretations, or two applications of that type; or, he declareth two things to be meaned by it, 1. The seven heads are seven mountains, upon which the woman, or chief city, sitteth. 2. They are seven Kings. We premit this, that all the marks after described, agree to one beast, out of all which put together, the clearing of what is signified, is to be gathered. Therefore that Empire, or city, must have seven hills, which hath seven Kings; and to whom the one is applied, the other must be applied also: otherwayes they do not serve the scope, which is by the parts of one beast to discover the Empire meaned by it in whole.
The first exposition of heads, is by the fixed property and naturall situation of this city or woman, to wit, mountains. The second, is, by what is successive, one to, and after one another. The former of seven mountains are contemporary, this is successive and in diverse forms.
The heads are called mountains, because in this they signifie so, and we are to understand mountains, Kings, and to be set out by heads and horns in a metonymicall speach, the signes getting the name of what is signified by it, not that really they are so. By these then, mountains are properly to be understood; and the number seven is definite also, as appeareth by the exposition which followeth; for, Kings are properly seven, and the number definite, as appeareth by that, that five are past, one is, &c. and this suiteth with the nature of the Angels interpreting the seven Candlesticks, and seven Stars, Chap. 1.20. to be seven Churches, and seven Angels, as is said in the preface. These mountains then, are, 1. described by their number, seven; and if the number were not definite, but put for seven, nine, or eleven, &c. then it could not contribute to designe one place by another, which yet is here the Angels scope, who speaketh of these seven mountains, as of seven mountains famous in respect of others, and some way peculiar to this city. 2. They are described from this, that the woman sitteth on them. By woman we told was understood Rome, it is called a city, Verse ult. and it must be such a city as may serve particularly to discover these mountains from other mountains, they are such, saith he, as the chief city of the world sitteth on. And then this city cannot be the multitude of the wicked; for, that could be no mark for Iohn, or others, to discern on seven mountains from any other seven mountains. Beside, this city is not the world, or complex body of Kings, but that city that ruleth over them, under seven several Governments, as the following words clear. And the mountains are such as this woman sitteth on: now her sitting is two wayes understood in this Chapter, 1. she sitteth on many waters, vers. 1. that is, many peoples and Kingdoms, vers. 15. over whom (vers. 18.) she ruleth. Thus to sit on, is to rule. 2. she sitteth in a peculiar way in one place of these peoples, whom she commandeth beyond other places, and she sitteth not so on the peoples or waters, but on the seven mountains, that is, she hath her residence, pompe, court, throne and abode there, which reacheth over many people. And this agreeth well with the Angels scope, which being to open the events of the fifth vial, he insisteth on the object of it, which is the seat or throne of the beast, Chap. 16. These seven mountains then will be such as the Imperiall city of the world not only commands over, but is placed upon; and so that city will be found to be the whore, that dwelleth on seven mountains, and this Empire to be the beast that upholdeth, and supporteth these, and governeth them, ut supra. From which it is clear, that Rome is designed by the Angel to be this city: For, 1. Rome is famous for its situation on seven hills, that is a peculiar paraphrase of it both among Greeks and Latins. The seven hilled city, or the city on the seven hills, and Rome, were still taken as one: for, at first by Romulus it comprehended four, he was the first founder of it; after, by the sixth King Servius Tullius, were three more added: hence was that yearly feast, 3. id. Decemb. called festum septimontium: and these sayings of the Poets confirm this. Virg. Septem quae una sibi muro circumdedit arces. And Ovid. trist. Sed quae d… septem totum circumspicit orbem. Montibus Imperii Roma Deūmque locus, &c. which made it to receive these names, septiceps, urbs septicollis & foreign, &c. and they are thus particularly named, 1. Palatinus. 2. Cali…s. 3. Capitolius, or Ianiculus. 4. Aventinus. 5. Qairinali…. 6. Viminalis. 7. Aesqui…inus, which maketh Bellar. (lib. 2. de Pont. cap. 2.) say, notissimum est supra, septem colles urbem Romam …edificatam esse. Corn. à lapide, in locum, citeth many to confirm this: and if Rome be the seat, the Roman Church is the whore, and the Pope Antichrist, who keepeth his Court there in a speciall manner, though he command otherwise all the world at his pleasure; yet his chair is nailed to that seven hilled city, and cannot be removed.
That which is objected, may be answered from what is said. Say some, this city meaneth no particular city, but the company of the wicked in generall, which is clearly contrary to the Angels scope, which is to discover one state and city; and to the Text, which distinguisheth this city from people and Nations, over which it commandeth, and from Kings that gave their power to the beast, yet are they no small part of the wicked in the world. Beside, it is such a city as is situated on seven hills, peculiarly distinguished from others, which cannot be the wicked.
2. Say some, seven are to be taken indefinitely, which is also answered from the scope, that pointeth out seven hills, on which the woman sitteth beside others, to satisfie Iohn in this, as in other interpretations.
3. Say Some (as Bellar.) though Rome then sat on seven mountains, yet it is not so now, but standeth (saith he) in campo martio. Answ. It is granted by Bellarmine, that Rome was then the city signified to Iohn, for it then bare rule, it must then be understood of it also now, or this one type must signifie one city, or place, to Iohn in his time, and another to us, which is absurd. 2. It is enough, that it was built so in Iohns time; for it is the same city, Empire, and series of Dominion still: and though, as he saith, it standeth most in campo martio, yet it is the same Rome, which before that in Iohns time had these seven hills in it, or else the Pope sitteth in some other Rome, than Peter sat on in Iohns time. 3. Though some of these hills be without the walls now, yet they are still linked to the rest by speciall priviledges, all of them being seats of the Popes Pallaces, Abbacies, &c. yet, on an other occasion, Bellar. saith, notissimum est, cam supra septem colles adificatam esse, that is, It is a thing most known, that Rome is builded upon seven hills, as is said.
The Angel, having in the first exposition of these seven heads, discovered Rome in its locall situation, by fixed hills, he goeth on, in a second application, to do it by its fleeting and successive Governments, ver. 10. and 11. In it, 1. he sheweth what further these heads hold forth, to wit, seven Kings; (it may be read, they are, or signifie seven Kings, as before, seven Hills) And although one might think it hard that one type should set forth a Hill and a King: yet the Angels particular explication leaveth no room for that debate. Then 2. he discovereth, or characterizeth these Kings in respect of time and being, that so Iohn and others might the more easily discern what he proponed. Five are fallen, (saith he) one is, and the other is not yet come. 3. Because the shot of all is to discover the beast under the last head; therefore in severall characters here the seventh is described in the end of the 10. and 11. verses.
For understanding this, we shall, 1. clear the words. 2. Then apply them. 3. Remove some doubts, or objections.
1. By Kings is not strictly to be understood Governours under that name only, but, in Scripture, all Governours ordinarily passe under that name; So Moses is called, Deut. 33.5. And when Israel wanted all Government, Iudg. 17. ult. it is said, In these dayes they had no King in Israel, signifying no Governour or order, every one did what he listed. And here in Iohns time, that Governour of the Empire bare not this name of King, though he be called the sixth. 2. Neither by Kings are understood Governours personally, or individuall men, but a series or succession under one forme of Government in a line, as Dan. 7.17. the four Monarchies, which were not any of them (save it be the third) in an individuall person, yet they are called four Kings: and it must meane so here; for, Kings here, are as ver. 12. where they are called ten Kings; and shall it be thought that by these are meaned ten men, who are like, and do all that is spoken of them in their own time? Experience will say the contrary, That since the Roman Empire decayed, and Kings arose out of the ruines thereof, many ages are past; yet, what they have to fulfill on the Whore, is not yet come. And, 3. these Kings (as is clear) are successive one to another, and that immediatly; the fifth succeedeth the fourth; the sixth, the fifth, &c. and there are not two at once. 4. And that line or succession of the seven together, is to go from the rising of this Empire to its ruine, while this beast is an Empire, it is under some one of these heads, except we imagine a beast without an head: and consequently this succession taketh in so long a series, that five individuall persons could not fill up the time before Iohn, nor can one make it up after him; for, many dayes have continued since, yet the beast is not gone fully to perdition, though it then was in his time. It must then be either under the head it had then, which is false; or, it must be under the seventh, which succeeded: and however it be, it cannot be one person, who so long could continue head to that beast. 5. They must be Kings or Governments that are heads to one and the same body, and sit at Rome: fo…, the heads are Kings to that same City to which the Hills belong, seing they describe one Beast or Empire; and they must be over many Nations, ver. 15. yea, the same Nations; for, there is one body of this beast under all the heads, and all the heads are Governours to one beast or body, and so are Roman Governours, and that of a great extent. Otherwayes one head, were but half an head, or head to half the beast; and the setting out of both by one type confirmeth this, that they are Kings and Hills of one City. 6. These Governours, or sorts of Governments, are precisly Seven, having one Empire for their dominion, and continuing from its rise to its close; so the first Government beginneth equally with the first head, and it endeth together with the seventh, and there are neither moe nor fewer: for, if the Hills be seven, and not moe nor fewer, and if just five be past and no moe, then the seven in whole must be so, and not moe nor fewer, and the one to come must be properly one also. And to say there might be an other Government distinct from the seven, it would also say, it behoved to be an other beast or dominion: for, saith the Angel, This hath but seven, the last whereof goeth to perdition and hath no successor.
1. From what is said, it is clear, 1. that the naming of an eight, ver. 11. is not to be understood as of a distinct head: For, 1. Then the beast would have eight Kings, and so would not be well represented by seven heads, or exponed by seven Kings, if there were moe. 2. Then this beast (to wit, the eight) would not be one of the seven, which it is expresly said to be, ver. 11. and if one of seven, it must be one of the seven formerly mentioned, and that none of the first sixth: therefore it must be the seventh it self, which was to come. 3. The same called the eight, vers. 11. is all one with that, vers. 8. But that holdeth out the Roman Empire under its seven heads, or at least under one of them, and it is the same beast that was, and is not, which Iohn saw, and which the Angel is discovering: and if he were not under any of these heads, this would contribute little to that end. Nor would it be a discovery of the same beast. 4. The head which was to come is all one with that state of the beast, vers. 8. that was to arise; for, there is but one state to come, and but one head to come. Now, were there eight heads, there would be two to come in Iohns time, neither could one state have comprehended the whole future form of that beast, as vers. 8. if it had been to be diverse, and various and under different heads. 5. If the seventh head be last, then there is not an eight; But it is said of the seventh, it must continue but a short space, as agreeing with what is said, (vers. 8.) of the beast, that it must go into perdition under that form which was to come: therefore it is not said the seventh, but the other (and that in the singular number) is not yet come, to shew there is but one to come. How this is called the eight, we shall clear afterward.
A second thing from what is said, is also clear, to wit, that we cannot put any Government between the sixth head, which was in Iohns time, and the seventh or last, whatever it shall be found to be. And therefore we cannot (as some Interpreters do) put in either the King of Goths in Italy, who for a time commanded Rome, nor Christian Caesars. For, 1. there are but seven in all, and none of these is the last, for there is one since. 2. All these seven heads, head and rule the Roman Empire, which is broader than that Kingdom of Goths, which wanted a great part of Italy, and were never Emperours. 3. The papacy was breeding then, after the wound which was given to heathenish Emperours by Constantine, and never was healed, till by it, as was cleared, Chap. 13. But there cannot be two heads together, Therefore. All heads have names of blasphemy, which cannot be said of Christian Emperours, as such. Then fourthly beside, if Christian Emperours were an head, when ceased they to be a head? seing they keeped some name long after they went from Rome, and were weakened in their power piece and piece.
The second thing whereby these Kings are set out, is clear, that is, they are such seven forms of Government, as five thereof must preceed Iohns time; That is meaned by this, five are away, or fallen, one is, (to wit, the sixth) that is, one different from any of the former; the other is not, yet come. He saith the other and not the seventh, 1. to shew there was but one to come. 2. To shew that it was to be as different from the rest, or more than any that had gone before, and according to his manner, he pointeth out this last especially, because it is the scope of all to clear what concerneth him. It is said of him in this vers. He must continue a short space when he cometh: which I take to imply two things, 1. the certainty of this others coming, or of his continuing a time when he shall come. Thus, when he cometh, he shall continue, &c. holdeth forth the necessity of his continuance for a time, till he have his time of it, as well as any of the former, and that people would not think he shall evanish instantly when he appeareth. 2. It implieth, that that continuance shall not be long, but a short space: So difficulties use to be expressed, because of the fainting of Gods people, that they may be encouraged to bear them. Hence we say, it is not short simply, as if it were a little time, a year or two, &c. but short comparatively to Eternity, he will have but a little time: And the reasons why we expound it thus comparatively, are these, 1. It is usuall to the Scripture to set out long times by short, when it speaketh of the godly their affliction; it is a moment, Isa. 54. 1 Corinth. 4. an hour of tentation, Chap. 3. Chap. 22. vers. 7. and 10. That the consideration of the transitorinesse of these afflictions may be comfortable to Gods people under them. 2. When the Scripture speaketh of Antichrists tyrannie, and the Churches affliction under him in any definit expression, as Chap. 11.12.13. it speaketh of it as short; and therefore when it speaketh in indefinit tearms, it is suitable it should be so also; yet, as the former inferreth not such a short time in it self, neither can the latter. Hence it is ordinarily said in the present time, he goeth to perdition, yet it was not begun, to shew it hastened. 3. The time equivalent to this (if not longer than this) of Antichrist, is expressed in this same Chapter by an hour: for, these ten Kings arise with the beast, when the Empire decreaseth; and they give their power to him, when they get crowns, as followeth: yea, they outlive him, yet it is said, vers. 12. They get power one hour with the beast: which denoteth not only a contemporarinesse of powers, but the short time that they both shal… have, and yet not simply so, but figuratively expressed, for the comfort of Gods people who will suffer much from both; and this hour is the same short space mentioned before and yet is it a long time in it self, so it is a short time, Chap. 12. after the devils downcasting, which is long in it self: and, on the contrary, mercy useth to be set out in long tearms.
For application then, as the first exposition of seven hills proveth it Rome, this of seven Kings confirmeth it, for it is notour, that Rome, as such an idolatrous Empire, hath been under seven Governments; five were past before this time of Iohns writing, to wit, 1. Kings, 2. Consuls, 3. Decem-viri, 4. Tribuni militum. 5. Dictators. The sixth, Emperours or Caesars, were then when the Angel interpreted this; the other, to wit, Papacy, was not then come, but hath since sitten on that seven hilled city, ruling amply (ut supra) in his dominion, as the palpable successour of him who then was.
For more full satisfaction in this application, these things are to be made out, 1. That Rome hath been under seven sorts of Governments, whereof five preceeded Iohn, the sixth was in his time, and the seventh not then come. 2. That the Papacy is this seventh who was then to come.
The first must be made out from the Roman story, where it is clear, 1. That when Rome was builded, it was governed by Kings. Romulus was the first, from whom were in all seven, untill Tarquinius Superbus, who was last (according to Livius) in his time, for his son Sextus Tarquinius his violating of Lucretia, the Romans did cast off that Government, and erected two Consuls, and a Senat to govern, who were to be changed yearly by election. This is the second form, and continued long, till the Romans became desirous to have all the best Laws that could be found out, gathered into one body and settled for the rule of their Government: for which cause, they choosed ten men to collect these and put them together, These were called Decem-viri, or that Government Decem-viratus. This is marked by Livius, dec. primae, lib. 3. to be for the third time that Rome: had changed its Government. But these ten men degenerating to tyrannie, seeking to continue themselves in perpetuall power, and one of them, Appius Claudius, going about to defile one Virginia, a maid espoused to a Souldier. By this means they drew both the People and Senat against them, and were put out when they had continued but two years. The Government again returned to the Consuls, till by the miscarriages of some in that place, they also became odious to the people, who thereupon contested with the Senat to have equal power in Government, (for, before no Plebeians had been Consul) This made the Senat choose Tribuns, who were called Tribuni militum. They had consulary power, but were five, six, eight, or ten in number, as the people pleased who choosed them; and it was lawfull to choose them indifferently, decad. pri. lib. 4. pag. 99. This was the fourth Government: after them there were diverse contests about the Government, (which again returned to the Consuls) whereupon (as sometimes before in difficult cases) they choosed Dictators, who, for a time limited unto them, had supream power, and ruled all with much reverence: and, in a strait, that was ordinarily fled unto, yea, sometimes there would be Dictators for a year, and no other Government for that time, as Papyrius Cursor, Quintus Fabius, Dictator, &c. This is accounted the fifth Government, which Iulius Caesar often before his becoming Emperour possessed, to keep the Authority in himself, till afterward he was stiled Dictator in perpetuum. These five were all fallen before Iohns time, and then Rome was governed by none of them; for Caesar had gottten the supream Authority after his defeating Pompey at Pharsalia, under the title of Imperator and Pontifex Maximus, by which, the Consuls power was confined within the city, and the Emperour sent unto the Provinces whom he pleased. This form succeeded by birth, adoption, or election, afterward, one after another, for a long time and in Iohns time was existing in Domitian the Emperour, who succeeded to his father Vespasian, and his brother Titus, in the Empire: this then is the sixth which then was.
This which is more sparsly gathered out of Livius, is more compendiously set down by that famous Historiographer Cornelius Tacitus, in the first words of his story Vrbem Romam à principio Reges habuere. Libertatem, & Consulatum L. Brutus instituit. Dictaturae ad tempus sumebantur: neque Decemviralis potestas ultra biennium, neque Tribunorum militum consulare jus diu valuit. Non Cinnae, non Sullae longa dominatio, & Pompeii Crassique potentia, cito in Caesarem: Lepidi atque Antonii arma, in Augustum cessere, qui cuncta discordiis civilibus fessa, nomine Principis sub imperium accepit. He seemeth to point out Augustus as the first Emperour, because after him there was no essay to recover their former liberty, and he got it with the Senats good will. If any should say, there are more numbred than six by Tacitus, as that of Sulla, Cinna, Pompey, and Lepidiu with Antonius. Answ. 1. Some of these men whom he nameth, do not infer diverse Governments, but the exorbitant domination of some Governours, who ruled under the old and ordinary titles, as Sulla, and Cinna, and Pompey were Consuls, and had still that name; Caesar, Antonius and Lepidus (if we account Augustus the first, as it seemeth Tacitus doth) they were but by violence in such places, without any such consent as Augustus had afterward obtained. Therefore he designeth them by their names and not their offices, as he had done the former, or as he doth to Augustus after, by calling him Princeps: So this increaseth not the number. If we reckon again Iulius Caesar the first Emperour, (as it seemeth just) Lepidus, Antonius, Octavius or Augustus, will be Emperours, and to be reckoned under the sixth head: for, all of them had imperiall power, and governed, as Supream, such and such parts of the Empire, even as often there were sundry Emperours joyned, as Dioclesian, Maximianus, Herculeus, &c. at the same time, Constantine and Licinius agreed betwixt themselves to divide the Empire, so it was here, and it was still the same power: and this division or agreement also was only amongst themselves, without any act of the People, or consent of the Senat, and was a piece of tyranny as Sue…nius and Augustus observe, and from that of Tacitus; as also it is clear, that though there were some intervals in some of these forms, as that Dictators were now and then, yet when they were, they were supream, and had a sort of sacrednesse beyond any other Governour or Governments, and therefore justly accounted distinct. The Consuls were both before the Decemviri and after them, and the Tribuni militum also; yet all of them make up one form, which was passed before Iohn's dayes, who wrote in the time of the Caesars, and so had not seen the seventh head, which was after to come.
This truth, in the matter of fact, is acknowledged by Bellar. lib. 1. de Pontif. cap. 2. (though elsewhere he would question it) for there he being to reckon the changes of the Roman Government, he reckoneth, 1. Kings, 2. Consuls, 3. Decemviri: for, when he speaketh of Tribuni plebis, they were but superadded to the former Governours, and were not supream: therefore without respect to them, Livius reckoneth the Decemviri to be the third. 4. He nameth Dictators. 5. Tribuni militum cum consulari potestate: after which he addeth the Emperours or Monarchy. And certainly if there had been any moe changes, he would not have omitted them, it being his scope to shew the changeablnesse of all Governments, till they resolve in Monarchy.
I know also that the same Author Bellar. understandeth by seven heads indefinitely all the Emperours, past, and to come in Iohn's time: but that will not consist with the Angels dividing of them in live, to have been before, one present and but one to come: for, according to that reckoning many moe were to come than had preceeded that time.
The second assertion to be made out, is, That the Papacy is the seventh Government of Rome, succeeding to that which was in Iohn's time, and so is the last: which is holden forth under that type of the seventh head, which was then to come, and this being a main point, we must insist a little to confirm it. And 1. its clear that the sixth Government which was then in Iohns time, is now also fallen and away. 2. Its clear then also, that the seventh must be come: what cleareth the one, confirmeth the other; for, if the seventh be come, the sixth is fallen; (because two cannot be together) and if the sixth be gone, the seventh must be come, for there is no intermission, or interval of such length betwixt their successions.
That the sixth is gone then, and the seventh come, these things will clear, 1. It is clear from the truth of story, and matter of fact, that the Government which then ruled Rome and that Empire, was the Emperours or Caesars; but from many ages the Emperours have had no command or seat at Rome, nor any considerable command over the Territories of that Empire (there being other Princes since arisen, as France, Spain, &c. who command as broadly as he) therefore he cannot now be accounted a head. 2. It is clear that that City hath been a seat of a long time to another Government, which hath governed it, and (though under another pretext and on another account) hath ruled since as broad almost as the former. Neither in any reasonable way can that which is now called the Empire (being very inconsiderable in respect of what it then was) be accounted the same, or the now Emperour, the successor of these Emperours, seing their rise is so different, as was shown, Chap. 13. And if it be alleaged to continue in the Emperours, Then it must either be in the Emperours of the East, (who in a more direct …e succeeded them who then were) who now are fallen; or, in the Emperours of the West: But neither of these can be said: for, 1. the east is gone, neither sat he at Rome; nor, 2. the west, for he doth not sit at Rome, nor did since Papacie came to its height, yea, nor many years before that: and if the Emperour in the east was a head, he must continue so till his decay; and if the Emperour in the west be a head, he must have been so from his rise: And so these Empires (or rather parts of one Empire) being contemporarie, there behoved to have been two heads at once, but then the Empire was broken, it was no more one. And it is to be Observed, that the first division of the Empire in severall Kingdoms, or parts, not subordinate one to another, or combined one with another, fell out by Constantinus leaving it divided in three to his three Sons: for though there were at one time sundrie Emperours ruling at once before that, yet the Empire was not divided, except for particular inspection, as the Consuls used to do: and every one of them was Augustus, and it was still one Empire; and therefore it seemeth, from that time, Emperours cannot be accounted as to continue as heads: which on Chap. 13. is further cleared.
2. It is clear by this Chapter, if that which is prophesied to succeed the time of the sixth head, and to belong to the last Government, be fulfilled, then the sixth is gone, and the seventh is come; But that is fulfilled, 1. Many Kings that then had gotten no Kingdom have now obtained it long since. 2. These Kings having withdrawn from the Emperours Government, have since willingly given their power to another, to wit, the Pope, and foughten for him against the Lamb: which things, as they are clearly fulfilled, so are they expresly holden forth as contemporary with the last state of this Empire which was then to come, vers. 12. and 13. for he is the head that hath the horns, and he is the seventh head that hath Crowned horns or Kings; now these who bear the name of Emperours, have long since lost these horns; therefore they are not a head, but he must be this head, whom these horns acknowledge; and seing they acknowledge another now, which they did not in Iohns time, Therefore this must be fulfilled.
And therefore we conclude that the sixth Government, which then was, is past, and that the seventh hath succeeded … except we say the beast for many years hath had no head, and its before cleared also, that neither Christian Emperour nor Gothish King, can properly be called the seventh head of this beast; yea, or a head at all.
A third thing clear, is, that the Pope or Papacy may well be called a head or Government of this Empire: for, 1. that it is a Government cannot be denied, and of a distinct kind from any of the former. 2. It hath its seat at Rome, and is a King of that seven hilled city, as is also clear. 3. That it extendeth its Dominion not only over Rome, or that part, called now the Empire, but over at least all that was the western Empire, and further, for many years; and if the same body that is commanded or governed be the beast, the Government that commandeth it, being thus circumstantiated, must be the head; or, we must say, that that Empire hath not been under a head for a long time, which cannot be.
4. Therefore we may further argue, If Papacy be a Government of that Empire, it must be the seventh and last; which we take to be one, as is said: for, 1. that was not in Iohns time, it is not that which then was; but that being the sixth, and this having succeeded to it in its seat and Dominion, must therefore be the seventh, that was not then come. 2. If all the characters agreeing to the seventh head be verified in it, Then it must be the seventh; But the first is true. Ergo, &c. These characters agree to the seventh: 1. to have ten Kings out of the ruine of the Roman Empire contemporary with it, that Government contemporary with them is the seventh; Papacy is so. 2. that these Kings give their power to it willingly. 3. that they persecute at its direction. 4. that some of them hate her again: all which are verified in the Papacy.
There are two objections against this, the last whereof will lead us to open the 11. verse, Object. 1. The seventh head is but to continue a short space; but that agreeth not to the Pope. Answ. It is not a short space simply, as is before cleared; but comparatively short with a sure destruction, for which cause, it is said also of the eight, vers. 11. that he goeth, even from his beginning, to perdition. The second Objection, is seemingly stronger. If the Pope be the seventh, Then who is the eight? it seemeth that would agree better to him, and therefore their must be some moe Governments understood, seing there is an eight particularly mentioned. Answ. 1. The Papacy is both the seventh and the eight, but in different respects, and on diverse considerations; for, that there are but seven, and that this eight is so the eight, as he must be of the seven; therefore the very seventh, (six being before his rise, fallen) is cleared before: and therefore Papacy if it be the seventh that succeedeth the sixth which then was, it must also be the eight: But I say differently considered, 1. Papacy considered as a Princedome, and the Pope as a Prince, he is the seventh head, in that same series with the other that went before. But, 2. Papacy being considered as an Ecclesiastick power (and so much different in nature and kind from the former) and as having a twofold relation, as a Prince and as a Pastor (or Prince of Pastors) so he is the eighth, as being so various from the former, that one of these relations setteth out but one half of him, yet is he even under this consideration indeed one of the former seven, though by himself or others he shall be thought so different from them, as to be accounted both the seventh and eight: for which reasons, he is, (Chap. 13.) set out by two beasts, one holding forth his temporall power, the other his Ecclesiastick. Again, consider this beast which Iohn saw complexly, as with his body whereby he carrieth the whore, he doth so differ from any head, even from the seventh, and may be called also an eight, as a seventh. Thus being considered, he is a totum, and the head a part; but again, considered as he governeth that body, he is of the seventh, (foreign) he is one of that reckoning, by a Synecdoche, the beast, for that head of the beast, and so he is a seventh and eight, as he is not, and yet is, in diverse respects: and therefore is it observed, that though he called it foreign, which is in the neuter genet in the Greek, yet the relative even be, foreign, is of the masculine, that looketh to foreign, or King, represented by that beast, that is, the King understood by this beast in its last head, he is both the eight and seventh, that is, of a twofold respect, and so differeth from any that went before him, which is added as a distinguishing mark to difference this last head or state of that Empire from any preceeding. It is to come, and when it cometh it will look like a seventh, and an eight also, yet really is the seventh, under which form the beast shall go to destruction, and not overlive that form. Therefore (Chap. 19.) the beast, that is the body, and the false prophet, that is the head, go into destruction together. Hence this argument may be formed, If the seventh head here be that Government over Rome, succeeding to that which governed it in Iohns time, to wit, the Roman Emperours, Then the Pope is this seventh head (for he succeeded;) But the former is true, Ergo. Or, if the Pope be the seventh Government succeeding to that which was then over Rome in Iohns time, Then is Rome under him, the whore, and he is the Antichrist; But the former is truth, us supra, Ergo. That which Bellar. asserteth, lib. 3. de Pontis. cap. 15. pag. 294. that Antichrist shall be ultimus Rex Romani Imperii, non tamen sub nomine Romani Imperatoris, and that he is supremum & ultimum caput impiorum, &c. as he asserted immediately before, alluding to this, that by this last head is understood Antichrist, doth confirm this. And it may then from this be gathered, that the Pope is Antichrist, thus, If the Pope be the last Governour of the Roman Empire, yet not under the title of Roman Emperour, Then he is Antichrist, that is granted: But that he is the last King of the Roman Empire, &c. appeareth, thus, If the Pope or papacy be the seventh Government which succeeded to that over the Roman Empire which was in Iohn's time, yet under another name, Then it is the last; for, the seventh is last, ut supra; and under it the beast goeth to perdition: But the Pope is the seventh, which succeeded unto the sixth that then was, and he hath keeped the Government of a long time since, under another title than the Roman Emperour. Ergo he is Antichrist.
What is alleaged by some, that seven ages of the world are to be understood here, or the seven oppressing Monarchies where Gods people suffered, as Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, Grecia, &c. That may be confuted by this argument. Such Kings are understood by these seven heads as are Governments or Governours of one City, yea, of that seven hilled city, and commanded one Empire, and do head one and the same beast; But none of these forenamed, are such. Therefore are not understood here.