Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John, Commentary 22 · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. Verſe 1. And there appeared]
THis and the two next following Chapters are an Expoſition of the former viſion.
A great wonder] As ſhadowing out and ſhewing great wonders.
In heaven] That is, in the Church, or (according to ſome) in the viſible heaven, where Sunne, Moon and Starres are.
A woman] Alma mater Eccleſia. The Church is called a woman, for her 1. Weakneſſe. 2. Fruit…ulnes. 3. Lovingnes, 2 Sam. 1.26.
Clothed with the Sun] With Chriſts own comlines, Eze. 16.14. She is alſo conſpicuous, Mat. 5.14. and ſcorched with perſecution, Cant. 1.6. All which notwithſtanding, ſhe is comely, Ʋxor fulges radijs mariti, ſaith the Civilian.
And the Moon under his feet] She treads upon the worlds traſh, bears patiently all changes and chances, and though the curs of the world bark at her, ſhe ſhines ſtill.
En peragit curſus ſurda Diana ſuos.
A crown of twelve stars] A crown in token of victory.
And of twelve ſtars] Thoſe white horſes, chap. 6 2. the twelve Apoſtles and their ſucceſſours, in and by whom myſticall Chriſt goeth forth conquering and to conquer.
Verſe 2.Bodin Theatr. Nat. pag 350. And ſhe being with childe] And ſo ſoon ſmelt out by the Bears of the world. Ʋrſa praegnantem mulierem non ſolùm teri gravitate notam, ſed ea… etiam quae pridiè conceperit, ſolam ex omni turba conſectatur.
Cried, travelling] Being hard beſet with cruell perſecutours, ſhe longs to be delivered of a Chriſtian Emperour, that might put her out of her pain and miſery.
Verſe 3. A great red Dragon] A Dragon the devil is called for his ſharp-ſightedneſſe (the Dragon hath a very quick eye,foreign. S…a…g. and is ſaid to ſleep with open eyes) as alſo for his miſchievouſneſſe to man-kinde; and laſtly, for his ſerpentine ſubtilty, Gen. 3. The comfort is, That as the devil is a Lion, ſo is Chriſt, there's courage for courage. And as the devil is a ſerpent, ſo Chriſt compares himſelf to the brazen ſerpent: there's wiſdome for wiſdome. A great Dragon the devil is, as being God of the world; and red all over with the bloud of ſouls, which he hath ſwallowed down, as S. Peter hath it, 1 ep. 5.8.
Seven heads] To plot, and ten horns to puſh men into the pit of hell.
Seven crowns upon his heads] Pretenſed authority for what he did againſt the Church. It paſſed in France in manner of a proverb, That the modern Councel (of Trent) had more authority then that of the Apoſtles, becauſe their own pleaſure was a ſufficient ground for the decrees, without admitting the holy Ghoſt.Hiſt. of the Coun. of Trent fol. 820. That Popiſh Councel was carried with ſuch infinite guile and craft, that the Papiſts themſelves will even ſmile in the triumphs of their own wits (when they hear it but mentioned) as at a maſter-ſtratagem.
Verſe 4. And his tail drew] A monſtrous tail for length and ſtrength. One interprets it of his dog-like flattering tail,Eraſ. Chil. foreign. whence the proverb grew, Caudâ blandiri. Iulian the apoſtate drew many from the faith by flatteries and fair promiſes. Luther was offered a Cardinalſhip to be quiet. The Pope offered Q.B. Carltons thankſ. remem. p. 12. Iac Revius de vit. Pontiſ. Elizabeth to confirm the Engliſh Liturgy by his authority, granting alſo the uſe of the Sacraments under both kindes, ſo that ſhe would joyn her ſelf to the Roman Church. And how the Pope clawed our King, when he was in Spain, an. 1623. is better known, then that I need here to relate.
For to devour her childe] As that Dragon Pharaoh (ſo he is called, Iſa. 51.9.) ſought to make away for the new-born babes of Iſrael, Exod. 1. Thus the Dragon Maximinus devoured Alexander the ſonne of Mammaea: and thus Decius devoured the two Philips, becauſe they ſeemed ſomewhat to favour the Chriſtians. Thus Philip King of Spain ſuffered his eldeſt Sonne Charles to be murdered by the cruell inquiſition, becauſe he was any whit inclinable to the reformed Religion. Constantine the great had like to have loſt his life for the like cauſe, but that God ſtrangely preſerved him for a better purpoſe.
Verſe 5. And ſhe brought forth a man-childe] Conſtantine, the Chriſtian Churches firſt and chief Champion.
Who was to rule all Nations] The whole Roman Empire, but eſpecially to over-rule and ſubdue the Churches many and mighty enemies: as Conſtantine did moſt notably.
Caught up to God and to his throne] To rule in the Church next under God himſelf. And to this height of honour he was caught, when the Empire was caſt upon him, not once thinking of it.De. civ. Dei, l. 5. cap 25. Bonus Deus Conſtantinum magnum tantis terrenis implevit muneribus, quanta optare nullus auderet, ſaith Auguſtine.
Verſe 6. And the woman fled] viz. After the battle mentioned in the next verſe was fought and finiſhed. See Verſe 13.14.
Where ſhe hath a place] To wit, that Temple that was ſo exactly meaſured, Chap. 11.1, 2. called here a wilderneſſe, as was that of Iudaea, Mat. 3. becauſe but thinly inhabited. The elect are but a handfull to a houſefull of Atheiſts and Papiſts. Or elſe, in alluſion to the wildernes of Arabia; thorow which the Iſraelites fled from that Dragon Pharaoh.
That they ſhould feed her there] Thoſe two Prophets, Chap. 11. were appointed to feed theſe hidden ones, Pſalme 83.3. with the hidden Mannah, Revel. 2. Their time and hers agree.
Verſe 7. And there was warre] viz. Whileſt the woman was bringing forth: and after that her ſonne was advanced to the Empire.
Michael and his Angels] Conſtantine and his Armies.
Against the Dragon] Maximinus, Maxantius, Licinius, and other …yrants, acted and agitated by the devil.
Verſe 8, And prevailed not] They were ſo totally routed and ruined,S…u…tet. …. to. …. p. 118. that they could never rally or rage any more. Iucundum Christiano homini spectaculum eſt, quaſi coràm cernere certantem Chriſtum cu… Antichriſto, ſaith one, concerning Luthers Reformation. It was a pleaſant ſight to ſee Chriſt and Antichriſt ſtriving for the better. For whatſoever the Pope with his Buls, or the Emperour with his light-bolts did to hinder it, ſtill the Goſpel ran and was glorified: And as then, ſo ever ſince, ma…gre the malice of Rome and of hell. Their late utmoſt endeavours, and ſome ſucceſſes for a ſeaſon, were but as the laſt ſpruntings, or bitter-bites of dying beaſts.
Verſe 9. Was cast out] Full ſore againſt his will. If the enemies had but as much power as malice, the Church ſhould never reſt. But they ſhall be utterly routed and outed: as at this day they are here to our great comfort.
That old ſerpent] When he was young, he out witted our firſt parents, 2 Cor. 11.3. then when their reaſon was not depraved. Now that he is old, and we but children, E…h. 4.34. had we not need look to him, and not be ignorant of his wil…s?
Which deceiveth the whole world] Having for that purpoſe his ſet and compoſed machinations, 2 Cor. 2.11. his methods artificially moulded, Epheſ. 6.11. his depths, ſleights, coggings of a die, &c.
Verſe 10. And I heard a loud voice] Great joy was thorowout the Churches of Chriſt, as great cauſe there was, when Conſtantine came to the Empire. That was very remarkable, that Conſtantine being now a Conquerour, ſhould cauſe a table to be hanged up on high before the doors of his palace,Euſeb. in vita Conſtan. wherein was painted a Dragon that lay thruſt thorow with a dart under his own and his ſubjects feet.
For the accuſer of our brethren.] So the devil is called (ſaith one) in direct and full oppoſition to that ſpeciall name and office of the holy Ghoſt. The comforter or pleader for us.foreign The Ruſſians are ſo malicious one towards another, that you ſhall have a man hide ſome of his own goods in the houſe of him whom he hateth; and then accuſe him for the ſtealth of them: Juſt ſo deals the devil many times by Gods deareſt ſervants.
Which accuſed them] And upon ſome ſuch articles too, as h… is able to prove againſt them. Hence he is ſaid to ſtand at I…hoſhua's right-hand; at the upper hand, becauſe his accuſation was as true as vehement. But here's the comfort,Zach 7 38 Heb.…. Chriſt appear… in heaven for his (as a Lawyer appears for his client) to non-ſuit all the devils accuſations. The Spirit alſo (as an Advocate) makes requeſt in our hearts to God for us,foreign. and helpeth us to make apologies for our ſelves, 2 Cor. 7.11. But may not the Saints ſay to Satan (firſt drawing them to ſin, and then accuſing them) as he did to Joab, Lib. 2. c. 2…2 Sam. 18.12, 13.
Verſe 11. By the bloud of the lamb] By his merit and ſpirit. Chriſts bloud (as Pliny ſaith of Polium) is a preſervative againſt ſerpents.
And they loved not their lives] When one ſaid to a certain Martyr,Act. and Mon. Take heed, tis an hard matter to burn: Indeed, ſaid he, it is for him that hath his ſoul linked to his body, as a thiefs foot is in a pair of fetters. In the daies of that bloudy perſecutour Diocletian, Certatim glorioſa in certamina …uebatur (ſaith Sulpitius) multo que avidiùs tum martyria glorioſis mortibus quarebantur, quàm nunc Epiſcopatus pravis ambitionibus appetuntur, &c. Thoſe ancient Chriſtians ſhewed as glorious power in the faith of Martyrdome,Non majori unquam triumpho vi…imus quam … decem annorum ſtragibus vinci non pot… … Sulpit. as in the faith of miracles: the valour of the patients, and the ſavagenes of the perſecutours ſtriving together, till both, exceeding nature and belief, bred wonder and aſtoniſhment in beholders and readers.
Verſe 12. Rejoyce ye heavens] Ye that have your converſation in heaven, and ſhall ſhortly remove your tents thither.
Woe to the inhabiters of the earth] Earth-worms that load themſelves with thick clay, and ſtrive with the toads, who ſhall die with moſt earth in their mouths.
And of the ſea] Seamen are, for moſt part, very profane and godleſſe. See Jude 13. Iſa. 57.20. Mr Brightman by theſe inhabitants of the ſea underſtandeth the Clergy-men, as they call them, who ſet abroach groſſe, troubled, brackiſ…, and ſowriſh doctrine, which doth rather bring barrennes of godlines to their hearers, and doth gnaw their entrals, then quench their thirſt, or yeeld any other good fruit.
For the devil is come down] Indeed he was caſt down: but that the devil diſſembles, and makes as if he came for his pleaſure ſake, and ſo makes the beſt of an ill matter.
Having great wrath] Indignation, commotion of minde, perturbation of ſpirit,foreign. inflammation or heaving of the bloud, by apprehenſion of an injury. Satans malevolence was a motive to his diligence. Naturall motion is more ſwift and violent toward the end of it.
Becauſe he knoweth] By the ſigns of the laſt judgement, which cannot be far off, and by conjectures, wherein he hath a ſingular ſagacity.
That he hath but a ſhort time] He therefore makes all haſte he can to out-work the children of light, in a quick diſpatch of deeds of darknes.
Verſe 13. He perſecuted the woman] As the matter of his calamity. The devil infinitely hates Chriſt, and ſins that ſin againſt the holy Ghoſt every moment. His inſtruments alſo, carried with helliſh malice, ceaſe not to maligne and moleſt the Church, to their own utter ruine: for Chriſt muſt raign when all's done.
Verſe 14. Two wings of a great Eagle] That is, ſufficient means of ſafety and protection from petill, Exod. 19.4. By this great Eagle, ſome mighty perſonage ſeems to be deſigned, Ezek. 17.3, 7. And this may very well be Conſtantine, whoſe peculiar ſirname was Great: but yet ſo (ſaith an Interpreter) as that the great honour and riches, wherewith, as with wings,M Forbes. he upon good intention endowed the Church, is an occaſion to make her flee to the wildernes, all true and ſincere Religion by degrees decaying in the viſible Church.
Verſe 15. Caſt out of his mouth water] Thoſe barbarous Nations Goths, Hunnes, Vandals, Lombards, others, ſtirred up by the devil to over-run the Empire, and afflict the Church. Or elſe, it may mean thoſe peſtilent and poiſonfull hereſies, Arrianiſme, and the reſt, wherewith the Church was infeſted, according to that of Solomon, The mouth of the wicked belcheth out evil things, Prov. 14.28.
Verſe 16. And the earth helped the woman] That is, the multitude of Chriſtians meeting in the generall Councels, thoſe four firſt eſpecially, held at Nice againſt Arrius, at Conſtantinople againſt Macedonius and Eunomius, at Epheſus againſt Neſtorius, and at Chalcedon againſt Eutychus. Theſe helped the Church exceedingly againſt inundations of hereſies; and were therefore by Gregory the great received and embraced as the four Goſpels.
And the earth opened her mouth] An alluſion to Num. 16.22. Look how the earth ſwallowed up thoſe malecontents, ſo did God root out pernicious hereſies with their authours and abettours, by the power of the Scripture, and the zeal of the orthodox Doctours, ſo that they ſuddenly vaniſhed out of ſight, after a marvellous manner.
Verſe 17. Was wroth with the woman] Who yet had done him no wrong: but he and his are mad with malice (when their deſigns miſcarry eſpecially) and are ready to ſue the Church, as he in Tully did another,Oral. pro C. R…b. Poſ…h. Quod totum telum corpore non recepiſſet, becauſe he had not taken into his body the whole dagger, wherewith he had ſtabbed him.
To make war] That war which is mentioned, Chap. 13.7.
Which keep the Commandments] A juſt deſeription of a godly Chriſtian.Aug. Boni catholici ſunt qui & fidem integram ſequuntur & bonos mores. To be ſound in faith, and holy in life, this is the kernel of Chriſtianity.