Commentary on Revelation, Lecture 5
LECTURE V.
Vers. 12.
And the ten horns which thou sawest, are ten Kings, which have received no Kingdom as yet: but receive power as Kings one hour with the beast.
13.
These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
14.
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, and they that are with him, are called and chosen, and faithfull.
THe Angle having interpreted the seven heads, he goeth on to expound what is meaned by horns, They are, saith he, ten Kings: described, beside their number ten, in these four, 1. that they were not presently Kingdoms, (as the beast was an Empire) but were to come. 2. That they were to be in the beasts time, that is, in the last state of the beast. 3. That in their practice they would war with the Lamb. 4. In the event he would overcome them: and some reasons are given of his victory, that it was certain, vers. 14.
In generall, remember, 1. that these horns are of, and belong to, the last state of the beast, to wit, under the seventh head, which supporteth the whore: the former sixth head had ten horns, Chap. 12. that is, exerced its strength and malice by so many Provinces, or Pretors, or Proconsuls: but there is a difference here, This seventh head (called the eight King) hath the same Provinces almost, and as many, but now they are Crowned, as Chap. 13. He maketh use of Kings to do his businesse, to persecute the Godly and to fight for him, as the former made use of their Legats and Officers who had no Crowns, Chap. 12. so both have Governours, in which their strength and help consisteth; but the last hath formal Kings to be his instruments. This then is the character, The last state, or head of the beast, shall have as large power as any of the former, but his Vassals shall be formally Kings, over whom he shall command as soveraignly, and of whom he shall make use as absolutely, as the former did of their servants. The term of horns being borrowed from beasts (as the whole Empire is compared to one beast) who by their horns push and hurt in their fightings.
2. Advert, That there is no affinity betwixt the ten horns mentioned here, and the ten horns mentioned, Dan. 7.24. as there is no affinity betwixt these two beasts: For, first, That in Daniel, is an Empire, which is to evanish at, or before Christs first coming in the flesh. Compare Dan. 7.26. with Chap. 2.44, 45. these here get not their power till long after. 2. These in Dan. are successive Kings of the same Kingdom, one coming after another, vers. 24. here they are contemporary, vers. 12, 13. These horns in Dan. are supream Kings of that Kingdom, which is there set out by the beast exercing that same power (the beast describing the Kingdom complexly, and the horns the Kings separately, v. 24.) But here, the beast is different from the horns now, when they are crowned, as it was before they got their Crowns. Hence they give their power to the beast, the beast is another King, in some respect superiour to them, which is not so in Daniel; the beast there comprehendeth all these Kings. 4. There is there one little horn, which is last, peculiarly spoken of, whereof there is no mention here, so that either there are eleven horns, or there is a difference among the ten, which is not here. 5. add, that if that little horn were Antichrist, then the beast here were not Antichrist, seing the beast and the horns differ; for, all the horns give power to the beast the seventh head, and if that little horn be Antichrist, he must do so also. 6. Here the beast Antichrist, is not posterior to the horns, nor any of the horns to it, or to one another: for, they are horns of the beast, and at the same time; there, that little horn cometh last, which sheweth they are not to represent one thing. Neither can it be said, that that little horn there, and the beast here, are one: for, 1. that little horn hath not ten horns; for, he destroyeth three Kings, and seven are past either then he must have but seven Kings under him which are not destroyed, or only three; for, a difference there must be between the three destroyed and the other: and therefore there are not ten together. In a word, these ten horns set forth the Kingdom of Syria, or the Seleucids, (of which stock came Antiochus Epiphanes, by whom the Iews suffered much) which was past before Christs birth. Thus the Papists by mixing these, do but endeavour to darken this Scripture, and obscure the true Antichrist. But it is clear they are not to be confounded: for, these horns here, do well agree with the beast, and for a time unanimously do all give their power to him; but (Dan. 7.24) that little horn destroyeth three before he come to his power. Beside, if that of the little horn were applied to Antichrist, then it would infer, that he destroyed the horns, whereas here the horns destroy him. Again, by that little horn (Chap. 7.23.) is understood that little horn, Chap. 8.9. and therefore by the last beast with the ten horns, our of which that little one ariseth, (Chap. 7.24) must be understood the same beast with the four horns, Chap. 8. seing from it that little horn descendeth, as by comparing it with vers. 23. is clear.
More particularly, concerning these Kings, Observ. 1. That they are not personally or individually to be understood, as if it were so many Kings in one generation only; for, these Kings, thus characterized, take in all the ages since Kingdoms arose out of the Empire, which in Iohns time was subject to it, at least when in a considerable number they assumed dominion, and soveraignty to themselves: for, the Empire in Iohn's time, while these Kingdoms were not, is clearly distinguished from that time and head or supream Governour, when these Kingdoms were to come, as having another face of an Empire on it. Therefore seing these Kingdoms have had their rise long since out of that Empire, and somethings concerning them being yet to be fulfilled. It must take in moe ages than one; for, all that time is but counted one state of that dominion, belonging to that one last head and opposed by these horns to the former.
2. Obs. That they are Kingdoms of some bounds of the Empire, horns now that are Kings, which before were horns without crowns under the sixth head in Iohn's time, and after yeelded willingly to the seventh.
3. Obs. That it is not necessary we understand it of a succession directly in that same line, so that it must be that same Kings stock, and that same People of a Kingdom, who must hate the whore, that first took to themselves soveraignity, and gave their power to the beast, It is enough that they occupy these same places and bounds, though not in that line, as all Emperours before, how-ever they succeeded, they come in under one King, and are typified by one head, if they came to that seat of Rome▪
Thus then by horns that this last beast hath, understand so many Kings, wherewith, as so many horns, he shall push, as these did in Dan. 8. So here, (vers. 14.) they make war, which is the beasts own war, prosecuted by them, Chap. 13.
The first thing in the horns or Kings, is, their number, ten: for understanding whereof, it is not necessary, that peremptorily that number be stuck to, as if so many and no moe behoved to be (for, they are not so circumstantiated as the seven Governments) it may be so many speciall horns who shall rise, and be especially serviceable to the beast, and instrumentall in his ruine, though there may be moe lesse observable, as Dan. 8.8. the goat had four notable horns, because they were chief, though there was some little petty Governments beside these four of Selucius in Assyria, Ptelemi… in Egypt, Cassander, or Antipater in Macedonia, or Grecia, Antigonus in Asia the lesse, which is called Anatolia, corruptly Natolia. Besides these, there was one of Thracia, whose King was Lysimach… (to passe eight moe that minted at the Kingdom) he continued fourty years. 2. They may signifie this much, that this seventh head should have as many horns as the sixth, and that though Kings should start out from the Emperours Dominion, yet the last Government should not the lesse be strong by them. 3. It may be ten, to shew, that in all tossings of Kingdoms, these divided Kingdoms, once separated from the Empire, should continue, and be almost about that number of te…, as at the first they were. They are thus reckoned out by Med., in Ap…c. 8. under the second trumpet, to wit, 1. of Brittons. 2. of Saxons, both in Britain. 3. of Francks in Gallia Belgica. 4. of Burgundians, in Gallia Celtica. 5. of Vicegoths, in Gallia Aquitania, and part of Spain. 6. Suaevorum and Alanorum, where Portugal is now. 7. Vandals in Africk. 8. Almans in Germany. 9. Ostrogoths in Hungaria. 10. of Greeks in the East. This was Anno 455. or 460. since which time the Empire hath continued divided: and though some Nations have changed their seates, yet the number hath never been lesse: and by this also it appeareth that neither Graecia, nor Germany from this forth (being but parts, as other Provinces, and having no interest in Rome) are to be accounted heads, but horns with the others.
The second character (or first, if we count not the number one) of these ten Kings, is from their present condition in Iohn's time. They had received no power or kingdom as yet; for then they were under the Emperours civil Government, and were not called Kingdoms, but Provinces; they had not gotten their crowns: whereby it appeareth they are to rise of that Empire, implying, 1. that this Empire was to be weakned, and that many were to withdraw their temporall subjection from it. 2. It implyeth that that belonged to the last Government of that Empire (these horns then are to be Kingdoms, which were before Provinces) which is inconsistent with that head that then was. 3. They are described by their attaining Government, set out, 1. in its shortnesse, an hour, that is, during the short time of the seventh head they must continue: for they are contemporary with him. This sheweth, that though there be changes in Governments, none is long. 2. This power is contemporary with the beast, it is one hour with the beast, that is, the beast that was, and is not, which is the last head. The meaning is, they shall be in the time of the seventh head his coming to an height; as he groweth up to be an head, and to heal the former wound, Chap. 13. so shall they grow up to be horns to him, and so continue during his absolute dominion. In a word, they are such Kings, as were not under the sixth head, so that when we see such horns, we may know what head they grow from. They were horns before to the former head, but they are crowned horns to this. 4. They are described by the manner of their becoming horns to the beast, ver. 13. in two, that is, They shall willingly give their power and strength to this beast, which is the eight, vers. 11. They were before keeped under by force unto the sixth head; now, this is the difference, they shall give it, even though they have temporal dependance on none, yet shall they willingly be at the disposal of this last Government, and be devoted to it, as much as to the former 2. They shall do this unanimously, They shall have one mind to it, so that though many provinces shall become kingdoms, yet all of them shall joyn upon another account to further, by their power and strength, the will and greatnesse of this last head, or King, as if they were horns to him: and by this we may see wherefore they are called horns, it is because this beast hath the use and command of their power and force, and they become horns, not as Kings, or when they become Kings, but when they give their power to him, and as they grow, as it were, out of his head.
5. They are set out by the particular wherein especially their power shall be exerced, and wherein he shall especially imploy them, They shall make war with the Lamb ▪ all the heads, under whatsoever form, are blasphemous, and so all the horns crowned or uncrowned, are instruments of persecution now as before. There is here, 1. their work, it is Warring, that is, a direct (though not intended) opposing of Jesus Christ, His Truth, Gospel or People, and, upon the matter, a contrarying of Him (whatever they thought) as Paul did, Act. 9. and the Scribes and Pharisees, Act. 5. fought against God, by intention of their work, though not of the workers. 2. Consider the object of it, it is the Lamb; Chap. 11. His Prophets are foughten with; Chap. 12. the woman and her seed, that keeped the Commandments of God; Chap. 13. it's the Saints; and Chap. 16. it's Gods servants. Here the Lamb, to shew how Christ is foughten against, and what it is, it's in His Ministers, Members and Servants, as Paul persecuted Him, Act. 9. for all is one: Michael (Chap. 12.) and the Woman, have common wars and enemies; He with His Ministers, Saints and Servants are one Christ, 1 Cor. 12.3. Consider the actors, it is these, i. e. the horns: Chap. 12.7. it was the devil and his angels; Chap. 11, and 13. it is the beast, that is, the head: and Chap. 18.24. there the bloud is found in the whore, here it is the horns. All concur, and share both in the sin and judgment, but diversly, The devil is the fountain and root that this enimity floweth from, the beast is his special Lieutenant and General; the horns are the more immediate actors, by which the beast pusheth; the whore not only concurreth, but she bloweth the hatred, and pusheth-on by advices, laws and edicts, though the as an ecclesiastick body put none to death herself; yet doth she put the horns to it, who are her immediate executioners, This then is a character of these Kings who shall give their power to the beast, they shall persecute Christ's true Church for a long time in favours of the whore and beast.
The last word added, is, concerning the successe, the victory is on the Lamb's side, and the reasons are subjoyned. He is victor in His Members and Cause, these three wayes, as Chap. 12. 1. When in their sufferings they continue stedfast and overcome, even to the outwearying of the persecutors by their patience, who are more inslaved and overcome in acting than the other in suffering. 2. He overcometh by keeping Truth and a Church in the world in the despight of them, that the Prophets end their testimony in despight of them, and the Church spreadeth and multiplieth, even under them, as under Dioclesian, &c. 3. He overcometh by bringing sad judgments on His persecuters, and bringing His Church through, and setting up the Witnesses, as Chap. 11. when they seemed lowest, and by making the world subject to the Gospel in end, either by moving them to yeeld, or by crushing them, and restraining them from doing any hurt to it, He thus prevaileth.
The reasons added to confirm us of the certainty of the victory, that it cannot be otherwise, are from two grounds, 1. From the excellency of the Captain, He hath no equall: for He (even this Lamb) is Lord of lords, and King of kings, words setting forth especially His Godhead, in three, 1. His soveraignty and absolute dominion over all. 2. His power, being able to command all: none so great a King as He. 3. His right; for, justice is on His side: These titles agree to Christ properly as God, so Chap. 19. and yet as Mediator in some respect: for the behoof of His Church, He is made head over all things, Eph. 1.22. and hath all power over all, not as over the Elect, who are in a peculiar way committed to Him, but in a deputation for their cause and good; He hath a delegated power as Mediator, to restrain, punish, raise up or cast down Kings, or Kingdoms in the world, as He thinketh meet. The first is essentiall to Him as God, the second voluntary, and given to Him as Mediator.
The second reason is from the nature of His Warriours or Army, none such are in the world, they are such Souldiers as are all Saints. 1. Called, that is, effectually so, from the estate of nature to grace, and so sanctified. 2. Chosen; they are both chosen comparatively, and chosen and made use of by Him, to be for the glory of His grace, and therefore cannot be overcome by any power, but be conqueror…. 3. They are faithfull; honest at the heart and reall in His service, which is an effect of the former two, they stick constantly unto Him; which sheweth wherein their victory most consisteth, that is, in their faith, 1 Iob. 5.4. though even in suffering, yet they quit Him not: These are excellent qualifications. Now, if it be asked, If there be none other on Christ's side but such, what shall be accounted of all hypocrites, though formal professours? Ans. 1. They may be for Christ in one thing, as in a point of truth, yet against Him in the end; they are not for His glory, therefore are not on His side; for, he that is not so with Him, is against Him. 2. All unrenewed men are Christ's enemies, and though they sometimes, in some particular, side, or seem to side with Christ, yet it is not done as service to Him, as in Iudas who followed Him for the bag, and those that preached Him out of envie, Philip. 1.15. yet are they but serving themselves and not Christ, and will be ready to do Him an affront when it serveth their purpose, as Iudas did. He hath no followers indeed, but where grace maketh them, nor will He count men by their practice, but by their ends and motives. Neither can one be faithfull to the end, but one that is called and chosen: others are one time or another utterly foyled to the shame of their profession, and He will own none such as Souldiers to Him.
Before we come to the application, two things would be cleared, 1. If this prophesie be fulfilled? 2. how it is fulfilled? or, when? and much businesse is here made by Papists, who make their main demonstrations from this, that Antichrist is not yet come, because, say they, this is not fulfilled.
1. That this is fulfilled may be evidenced thus. Arg. 1. If these Provinces that were in Iohns time without Kings, be now Kingdoms, having their own Governments, without any dependence on the Roman Empire, Then this prophesie is fulfilled; But the first in experience, is truth: look through all the Nations that were Provinces then, not one of them is subject to the Roman Emperour now (save it be Germany alone, which yet indeed is not so) but all have their severall independent Kings now of a long time.
The connexion of the Major may be made out, thus, That change that hath since come upon the Roman Empire, and the up-setting of these many new Kingdoms and Kings, which had no Kingdom then, is neither no change at all, but consistent with the head that then was; or, it is some other change than is held forth in this prophesie; or, thirdly, it is the very same spoken of here; But neither of the first two can be said: not the first, that the Empire is the same now that it was then, for, the spirit putteth a clear difference betwixt this last state, (Chap. 13.) and the first under Emperours, That in the first the heads were Crowned, here, the horns; and if there be not difference betwixt Provinces subject to one Empire that ruleth over them all, and Provinces made Kingdoms ruling within themselves without any dependance on that head, there is difference in nothing, (for, Kings cannot be horns to the Emperours, seing they act not for him, but for another: thus the Civill head hath the crown on the head, not on the horns; the Ecclesiastick head hath them on the horns, it is consistent with it to have Soveraignes for his vassals, which cannot be in a civil state: for so either the Kings were not free in civilibus, or the Governour that were the head, should have no power over them) and so one Empire in one bodie, and many Kingdoms in distinct bodies, cannot be one. Neither can the second be said, that that change on the Provinces or Kingdoms (here called horns) is an other beside this: for, there are but two states of these Nations, one then present, while they were subject to that temporall head, the other to come, in which they are to have Dominion of themselves. There is not, again, two states of their becoming Kings, but one, and the denying of the one inferreth the other. Thus the horns are either uncrowned, that is, subject to the Roman Empire; or, they are crowned, that is, have gotten a Kingdom, according to this prophesie; But they are not now in the first state, Therefore they must be taken in the last consideration. And as there is no head or Government interveening among the supream Governments, set our by heads, So must there be no interveening state of these Kingdoms admitted betwixt what then was, and the fulfilling of this, whereby their future state is set out.
Arg. 2. If the Kings now in being have the very characters mentioned here, Then they must be the fulfilling of this prophesie; But in event they answer it in all things. Ergo.
1. There are now many Kings, which were not in Iohns time. 2. They are arisen out of the old Provinces of the Roman Empire. 3. They are under another head and Governour than was then in Iohns time, and so contemporary with that which was to come. 4. They have all joyntly given their strength to be serviceable to the power, that is, the seventh head, which was then to come. 5. They have been making, for a long time, in all their Dominions, war with the Saints, Therefore this must be fulfilled, seing all things prophesied have directly come to passe.
Arg. 3. It may be made out, thus, If the last Government of Rome be come, which is called the eight or seventh, Then this prophesie is fulfilled; for they (that is, the last Government of Rome) and these ten Kings, are contemporary together, They receive power one hour with the beast and give it to him; and therefore the making out, that any of them is come, is the making out that both are come: But it is cleared before, and is clear also in it self, that he is come, thus, If that Government or Governour of Rome be come, to whom the separate Kings, that refuse temporall subjection to the Emperour, shall give joyntly their power and strength upon another account, Then the seventh and last Governour of Rome is come: for, that beast which they give their power unto, is the beast which Iohn saw in the vision (which, vers. 11. was then, is not, but was to come.) But truth and experience telleth us, that another Governour sitteth now at Rome than sat in Iohn's time, unto whom these Kings have given their power, Therefore the last Governour must be come; and so this pophesie, which is contemporary with it, must be fulfilled.
Arg. 4. This prophesie must either be fulfilled, or it is to be fulfilled; But, not the last, Therefore the former. If these Kings or Kingdoms be to arise, they must either rise out of the Kingdoms that now are separate, or out of that which is called the Empire; But neither of these can be. Not the first, beside that there is no warrand to expect a second revolution of those Kingdoms after the first, which this would infer. I say, secondly, they must arise to be in this consideration horns (to the beast) and Kings, which were not Kings before: Now all these Provinces, having had this long time Kings, cannot then be looked on as the subject out of which these to come must arise. Beside, if there were a twofold arising of Kings out of the Empire, and the one not distinguished from the other, the arising of these ten Kings would not be a distinguishing character to discern this beast, and so to make him known by his horns, which yet is the scope here. And therefore this character of ten Kings, can agree to no other state or head, but this last.
No…, 2. can it be out of the bounds of that now called the Empire: for, 1. there is not that extent of dominion, as to furnish ten Kings, especially to make such a great dominion, as Antichrists is supposed to be, of all People, Tongues and Nations. 2. If it were no broader, then Antichrists might and power by his horns would be no greater than what is now the Empire.
2. It appeareth, that such must be Kingdoms in this state as were Provinces before; (the horns are the same, or near the same, uncrowned and crowned) But Germany was never moe Provinces than one, or at most two, (as was France and Spain) Therefore there is no proportionablnesse here to make ten crowned horns out of that which was but one, or at most two before. Beside, our reasoning is not only, that there are now so many Kings, but so many who act as horns to an other power, as the Provinces were wont to do, and they are not horns to these called Emperours, They must therefore be so to another head; and if so, then this prophesie is fulfilled.
The manner of fulfilling must be looked in these steps. 1. Constantine, after the heathens are cast down, removeth from Rome and leaveth that seat void, so after that he is not to be accounted an head, as is said on Chap. 13. 2. After that, anno 412. and 455. the barbarous Nations, Goths and Vandals, did over-run the western Empire and seven times take Rome; by this the Empire is distracted, and severall Provinces are either now become Kingdoms by the continuance of these Nations in them, or by others assuming supream power over them without dependance on the Emperour. 3. During which time, this last head driveth his design of exalting himself and making an image of that Empire which was fallen. 4. By the means mentioned, Chap. 13.12, &c. all these Kings are brought to worship that beast, and receive his mark, more or lesse, as he arose, till he came to that height, to dispose of Kingdoms, ratifie elections under the title of foreign (as Carion observeth) unto which in time they came generally to submit, and accordingly possesse many of their Kingdoms. 5. When God had discovered him to be the Antichrist, some of these, who once had given their power to him, have withdrawn it, and we are to wait and pray for the fulfilling of this more, as the former of giving their power to him hath been already fulfilled.
Out of what is said, we would draw three sorts of uses. 1. From this, lay down some conclusions: and the first is, if this prophesie be fulfilled, then Antichrist is come, and not to be looked-for to come; for, if the horns be, there is the head, and if the head be, then is the beast, the one is not without the rest; But that is verified, ut supra. Ergo.
Bellarmine de Roman. Pont. lib. 3. cap. 4, 5. alleageth, that this is not yet fulfilled, because, saith he, the arising of these ten Kings supposeth a dividing among them of the Roman Empire wholly to its annihilating, which, saith he, is not yet done, seing there is one who is called and acknowledged Roman Emperour. Ergo, Antichrist is not come, seing he is not removed out of the way, who then did let, 2 Thess. 2. as he expounds that place. Answ. There is a twofold removing of the Roman Emperour to be considered, 1. Wholly, in deed and in name, so as not to have so much as a shadow. 2. In deed, though not in name, yet full as to the removing of him from being head to that Empire which was, and so from being the sixth head, this far is necessary, for, two heads cannot be together, and so long as he stood as a head, he stood in the way, and was a let of the coming of the seventh; but that there shall be no name, that is not necessary: for, when the Emperours the sixth head came, Consuls were in name at Rome, but were not heads, because they wanted the former power, and were someway subject to another head, and therefore though the name of Emperour be, yet if he be not now head to that Empire, if the horns act not for him now, but acknowledge an other head, then he is not head, if he have not that seat Rome, nor command not that seven hilled city, he is not head, nor can he be who wanteth the horns. But that there be not the name of an Emperour (if he be not an head, but rather a horn, giving his power to this head or beast with the rest, and as usefull to him as any) this far, the removing of the Empire out of the way is not necessary; But the former is: and that this is fulfilled, appeareth in three steps concurring to it. 1. that the blasphemy of the Roman Emperours, as such, is ceased. 2. That the seat of the Roman Empire is passed from Rome. 3. That the command of the Provinces (as it were his horns) is plucked from him: for, these three qualifications, (to wit, to have a name of blasphemies, to sit at Rome and to act the Provinces as horns) are necessary to a head of this beast. And that all these are removed from the Roman Emperour, is clear in experience, and granted by Bellar. as lib. 3. de Pont. Rom. cap. 5. and elsewhere. 1. That the Emperour hath no command over Rome, but that the Pope exerciseth there both Swords, Civil and Ecclesiastick, of a long time. 2. That the force of his power, or of that Empire, is also broken, he asserteth, lib. 2. cap. 2. de Pontif. (Praedicit enim Iohannes hanc Babylonem ruituram, quia Romanum Imperium delendum erat, id quod jam fere factum esse cernimus: an non enim Gothi, Vandali, Longobardi Romanae urbis Imperium fere ad nibilum redegerunt?) proving Babylon here spoken of to be Rome, he giveth that for one reason, that it was brought down as is prophesied in this Chapter. If then by him the Goths invasion was the fulfilling of this prophesie in that part, Then an utter abolishing of the name of Emperour is not necessary; for then it was: and if that be the fulfilling of this prophesie and ruine which was to come, Then it is not now to come; and if that ruine be not the thing prophesied here, Then doth not that event contribute to prove this Babylon to be Rome, on whom that event fell, which yet is Bellarmins scope. But indeed, upon the matter, we will find this Emperour but an horn, what ever his name be, thus, 1. If he command but a Province of the Roman Empire, which was before subject to the Governours of Rome, and have no command at, or, over Rome, or any other Province, Then he is not an head, but an horn; But that is truth. 2. If he himself be acted by a power that now resideth at Rome, as other Kings are, Then he is but an horn to that head, and not an head himself; But that is clearly true in many experiments, whereby the Emperours have been commanded by Popes. See Platina, in vit. Greg. 9. He commandeth Frederick the Emperour to go to War under pain of Excommunication; and this is after done: yea, in providence we will find no Province have more dependance on the Popes now of a long time. 1. They have deposed them, and transferred their Crowns. See in the life of Greg. 7. called Hildebrand. 2. They have wasted their Lands; and the order of Election by Electors is attributed to them. 3. Particularly, their Election dependeth on their ratification, and he is not Emperour, but King of the Romans till he approve it. Hence, in the Decretals it is said, Papa habet potestatem à Christo, Imperator vero à Papa. 4. They have imployed their strength for the Popes, and for persecuting the Church, (as Sigismund in burning Iohn Husse, Hieronymus of Prague) Therefore if they be horns, they are not heads, if an other be head and acknowledged by these Kings the horns, then the Emperour is cast off, and hath cast himself off from the dignity of being head and supream Governour of that Empire, which only was necessary. In a word, then the removing of the Roman Emperours from being head to these Kings, is necessary; for they cannot be horns to him and another beast also, and thus far it is fulfilled: But the burying altogether the name, which hath not, nor pretendeth to absolute power over these Kings as the former did, that is not necessary. And thus far the Emperours weaknesse and inability to head the beast, and the Popes Authority and Dominion to do it, is confirmed by what Bellarmin asserteth, de Concil. lib. 1. cap. 12. where (having laid it down as necessary, that the Popes must call generall Councels, because only his Dominion is of that large extent) he addeth this last, non potest hic, i.e. Imperator, vix cogere Episcopos unius provincia venire ad Concilium: nam neque Itali, Hispani aut Galli, Imperatori subjiciuntur, sed suos habent Reges aut Principes: which is enough to clear what we assert: And in his 3. lib. De translatione Imperii, It is his work to prove the Emperour to be the Popes vassal, as holding all his Authority from him: and indeed that this keepeth the name of an Empire, and which now is, it is meerly from the bulls and constitutions, If their stories be true.
A second conclusion we may draw from it, is this; that the Pope is Antichrist, thus, That supream power of Rome which shall govern it after the temporall Empire is broken, and the Provinces become Kingdoms, and to which these Kings shall give their power, and act in persecution of the Saints for his behove, That is Antichrist; But the Pope or Papacy is that power, that now since the fulfilling of this prophesie hath born rule over Rome, and to whom these Kings have given their power. Ergo, he is Antichrist: and this far it is fulfilled in him.
A third conclusion, is, that Rome under the Pope is the whorish Church here meaned and set out, thus, That Rome which is supported by the beast with the ten horns crowned, or to whom ten Kings that arise out of the Roman Empire give their power, after the Emperours cease to be an head to them, That Rome, or Rome so considered, is the whore (for, the beast and the horns are contemporary, as the head out of which they grow, and the beast and the whore are contemporary, as the ryder and beast which carrieth her: if therefore the horns and beast be contemporary, so must the whore be with them also: for, quae conveniunt uni tertio conveniunt inter se: But Rome, or the Romish Church, for these thousand years past, is the Rome governed and supported by that power, or beast, to whom these Kings have given, and, for a great part, do yet give their power. Therefore this Romish Church is the whorish antichristian Church described here. And that which Bellar. saith, de pontif. lib. 3. cap. 5. confirmeth this, That these ten Kings (which to him are yet to arise) shall hate Rome and burn her, &c. for, what Rome shall they burn? Is it not Rome the whore, called so, vers. 17? Therefore it is not heathen Rome, but Popish Rome that is the whore, for, she is the whore whom they shall destroy; and when they shall destroy her, to wit, her, to whom for a time they have given their power, after they have withdrawn it from the Emperour who formerly had it.
A fourth conclusion, is, that Antichrist is no singular person, and is to continue longer than three years and an half, thus, If that beast or power, to which the Kings that have received power and Kingdoms out of these Provinces, which were once subject to the Roman Empire, shall give their power, be Antichrist, Then he is no single person, or of short continuance (the connexion is clear from this, because that Power or Government, which hath these Kings for horns, hath already descended for many ages, and through many generations, and there remaineth yet some things to be fulfilled before the finall overthrow thereof; ) But the former is truth, that beast is Antichrist. Ergo. Or thus, If the seventh head that succeeded to that Government of the Roman Empire (which was in Io…n's time, and acteth the Kings that have since gotten power) be for moe generations than one or two, Then Antichrist is not of so short continuance▪ Neither is that defection, whereof he is head, so soon to passe, (for, Antichrist is that last Government) But experience telleth the former is true, that another power than what was in Iohn's time hath sitten at Rome, and ruleth it and acteth these Kings that once were of it for moe ages than one. Ergo, &c.
A second sort of uses, are, to retort or wipe away some objections of Bellar. against this, whereby he would prove that Antichrist is not yet come, and therefore that the Pope is not to be accounted this head, for, this is the surest way for them to guard him; for no other can be imagined to be here understood but he, if he be come. 1. He doth therefore lay down six demonstrations (as he calleth them) to make out this, that Antichrist is not yet come. The first (lib. 3. de pontif. cap. 4, 5, &c.) is this, The Gospel hath not as yet been preached through all the world, which (saith he) must be, before Antichrist come. Therefore he is not come, the place cited, is, Matth. 24.14. Answ. This goeth upon a twofold wrong supposition. 1. That all the world is to be taken there collectively, i.e. for every Nation, and not distributively, i.e. for many, or most of Nations, as is usuall. So, Rom. 11. their sound is gone out to the ends of the earth. The second is, that it supponeth that (whatever it be) to be spoken in reference to Antichrists coming, which is expresly spoken of in reference to Christs second coming (which is long after Antichrists) or before the end of Ierusalem; which two ends are only spoken of there.
His second demonstration, which is the main, is taken from that, that the Roman Empire by Antichrist or before him is utterly to be abolished, 2 Thess. 2. so he that letteth must be taken out of the way; but, saith he, this is not done. Ans. ut supra, conclusion 1. The Roman Emperour must be taken from sitting at Rome, and from governing over the Provinces as an head of that Empire; that is granted: that is, the sixth head must be removed out of the way, before Antichrist the seventh come; But that is done long since, There is no Emperour at Rome, nor that hath any dominion there, nor hath any horns or Kingdoms now under him: he is therefore no head to this beast, Therefore this will not prove that he is not come: for, it is one thing to be called a Roman Emperour, another to be indeed a head to this Empire, as it is represented by this beast; this must head the seven hilled city, govern over the Provinces, as having so many horns to serve him, and have names of blasphemy upon them; whoever sitteth at Rome thus qualified, whatever his name be, he is head: for, we try the changes of these heads, neither by name only, nor by the seat only, but by the thing, that is, by power and dominion over these Provinces, exerced from Rome as the principall seat of that Government: and although the want of Rome will not prove one not to be an Emperour (which is Bellarmin's argument,) yet the want of it, will prove him to be none of the heads here represented, even as the having of Rome, will not infer it, except there be also Dominion over the Provinces, (for which cause we did formerly deny the application of this to the Gothish Kings) Now, it being clear in it self, that the Emperours power extendeth neither to Rome the head, nor to the Provinces the body of that Empire; and it being clear also, that both these agree to the Pope (though upon a different account, as the place formerly cited from Bellar. de. Con. lib. 1. cap. 12. confirmeth) It must therefore follow, that the Emperour, notwithstanding of the name, is not to be accounted head, but the Pope, who possesseth the thing.
His third demonstration, is, that the two witnesses, Enoch and Elias, are not come, who must prophesie under Antichrist and be killed by him, as Chap. 11. Ans. Beside what is said there to that fable, it is confuted here, thus, These are the witnesses that restifie against Antichrist and suffer by him all the time of his reigne (as vers. 6. they are Martyres, &c.) But many since his appearing have testified against him, and suffered under him, Therefore they, and not Enoch and Elias, are the witnesses intended; and so they are not to be looked for.
His fourth demonstration, is refuted by this also, Antichrist, saith he, shall raise great persecution, but that great persecution hath not come as yet; for these that suffer by the Pope are but few, and by one punishment, to wit, fire. Answ. If this of the Kings making of war against the Saints be fulfilled, Then that persecution is fulfilled; But that is cleared to be fulfilled, Chap. 13. by the Pope and his horns.
For the greatnesse of a persecution, we may consider it in these four, 1. In the cause wherefore, when not only the full omitting of truth, but the least opposition to errour or abstaining from their idolatry, or countenancing or performing any allowed duty, is a ground of persecution, that is a great persecution, but never were there lesse causes laid hold on than have been by the Papists and Popish Kings, as the having of a New Testament in a known tongue, questioning any of their ceremonies, eating flesh in Lent, yea, not answering clearly to their questions, witnesse the rules of inquisition of Charles the fifth, his Edict, and Frances the first his, with all their proceeding in Germany, England, France, &c. 2. We may consider a great persecution in the effects of it, that is, the number and kind of these persecuted. Hath there been moe than in the Wars of Bohemia, against the Waldenses; in Holland, England, France, &c. against old and young, women and sucking children, sick, Ministers, Judges, &c? Bellar. himself, de notis Ecclesiae, lib. 4. cap. 18. reckoneth 100000. Waldenses slain at one time, and many battels wherein alway (saith he) Papists prevailed. 3. If we consider persecution in respect of the cruel acts of it, can there be moe and greater than the bloudy massacre in France, the fifty thousand that were put to death in Holland, cities burned? &c. Read that sentence of the Parliament at Aix in France, executed by the lord Oped against Merindoll and others in Province, as Sleidan hath it, lib. 13. & 16. what hath the Inquisition done? the King of Spain to cut off his own Son, and Philip the second the Confessor of his Father Charles the fifth, and burning him when he was dead (as is usuall to them) breaking faith, from thirsting after their bloud, as at Constance in the case of Ierome of Prague and Iohn Husse? when the Emperour had given them a safe conduct, what horrible cruelties and villanies have been used, casting their dead bodies on the ground, abusing women, spoiling, banishing, starving, and tormenting, is known to these who have read that history of the Persecutions? 4. It is great in respect of the heat and malice it cometh from, and is to be reckoned by that: if they put few to death, it is either because they know them not, or were by God and externall causes restrained: but their attempts and laws (as that of Alphonse his making of it treason to deny the Pope or converse with … Lollard) buls, incitements and promises to engage others to destroy Protestants, do hold out their humour. Now, laying all these together, we will find no persecution hath been longer, sorer, or more cruel than this. This demonstration therefore is full, and proveth him come, as all the rest, and may be retorted, If this persecution be fulfilled, then he is come. More may be seen on Chap. 13.
The fifth and sixth demonstrations are also found faulty by this; the fifth, asserting that Antichrist is but to continue such a short time, three years and an half, and the sixth, that the end of the world is to come, fourty five dayes after his ruine: both which are false, not only from what is said, but from this, that this prophesie holdeth forth sundry things to be done after his ruine, which in such a time cannot be done; yea, all these thousand years, Chap. 20. are after his begun height. See, Chap. 20. vers. 4. and therefore his time is not to be of so short continuance. And if that reckoning were true, then at that time any that could count Antichrists rise or end (which to them is palpable) might know the precise end of the world before it came, which is false: and whereas he, lib. 3. cap. 8. de Pontif. maketh the continuance of Antichrist longer than the preaching of the two witnesses, to reconcile that of Dan. 12. of 1290. dayes, (which ignorantly he applyeth to Antichrist); it is manifestly false: for, the term of fourty two months, is (Chap. 13.) set to the beast, as 1260. dayes are to the Prophets, the one is bounded with the other: therefore that place belongeth not to this. Beside, if he continue a month longer, (as that compt maketh him) then it should not be just three years and an half; and so themselves add a month more, and break the time which they call definite.
Thus these demonstrations rightly followed, will not only make out, that the Antichrist is come, but that the Pope is he.
A third sort of uses are practical. And, 1. see here the changes of Kingdoms and the shortnesse of them, and Gods soveraignity in timing them and stinting them, even those who are most opposit to Him. 2. Our Lord, the Lamb (ver. 14.) is an excellent and glorious person: it becometh us to have high thoughts of Him, to tremble before Him, and to be comforted in Him. 3. It is comfortable that this person owneth His People, so that they have common causes, friends and adversaries, He and the Chosen are on one side. 4. Our Lord Jesus getteth alwayes the victory, the side He is on loseth never in the end; and as to His end, what ever it seem to be before men, it is good to be on the lamb's side, the victory there only is sure. 5. The weight of the victory lyeth on Christ's concurrence, because He is on that side: He is the great Captain, by whose conduct the victory is allanerly attained; His Souldiers need not fight, but stand and behold His salvation, is Chap. 19. they follow in white, not fighting but triumphing; It is the Lamb that overcometh all enemies, and therefore only is armed.