A Hundred Sermons on Revelation, Sermons · Sermon 64
¶ An other Angell preacheth, that Babilon ſhall fal: and an other diſwadeth all men from the felloweſhippe of the religion of the beaſte. The .lxiiij. Sermon.
ANd there followed an other Aungel, ſaiyng: ſhe is fallen, ſhe is fallen euen Babylon that greate Citie: for ſhe made all nations drinke of the wine of her whoredome. And the thirde Angell followed them, ſayeng with a loude voyce: yf any man worſhip the beaſt, and his Image, and receiue his marke in his forehead, or on his hand, ye ſame ſhall drinke of the wyne of the wrath of God, which is powred in ye cup of his wrath. And he ſhal be puniſhed in fyre & brimſtone, before the holy Angels and before the Lambe: and the ſmoke of their tourmente aſcendeth vp euermore. And thei hauehave no reſt day nor night, which worſhip the beaſt and his Image, and whoſoeuer receyued the prynte of his name. Here is the patience of Saincts. Here ar thei that kepe the cōmaundements, and the faith of Ieſu.
For the comfort of the faithful flocke of Chriſt,❀ The Romyſh Churche ſhall fal. is brought forth an other Aungell, a type of all godly preachers, which preacheth with great conſtancie, that the kyngdome of Anti-Chriſt ſhall fall, howe ſoeuer it promiſeth to it ſelfe euerlaſtingneſſe. And hereof the Sainctes gather, that perſecutions ſhall with all be finiſſhed, with all other abominations through out the worlde. For where for the continuall perſecutions of the wicked, all the Saincts cannot but be maruelouſelye ſadde: They muſte nedes verely hereof receyue no ſmall ioye and comforte, that they here, howe they ſhall not indure alwayes.
and here it is ſayed that Babilon ſhall fall. And in dede it were foloyſhnes,Babilon. to expounde theſe thinges of the ould Babilon in Aſia, which was fallen long ſins, ſcarcely any token thereof beinge leſte:Rome. we muſte therefore vnderſtande it of an other, which is in her flowres, and euen by a figuratiue ſpeach, we muſt vnderſtande it of Rome.Antonomaſia. For there is a greate Cozinnage as it were, betwixte both Babilon was the firſt Monarchie, Rome is the laſte. Babilon ſore afflicted the people of God, So doeth Rome greuouſelye vexe the church of God. Babylon burthened Iſraell wyth a greueouſe captiuitie: So Rome vexeth the church, wyth more than a long captiuitie. Babilon ouercame the people of God, and burning the Citie of Hieruſalem, and deſtroieng the temple, led away Iſraell captiue: ſo Rome alſo hauing raſed the citie of Hieruſalē, and ſubuerting the temple, triumphed of Iſraell. Babilon planted Idolatrie, ſuperſtition, and all abhomination, auaunced, maintained, and ſet forth the ſame vntounto al men: but at the length when ſhe woulde hauehave thought leeſt of it, the people of God being ſodeynely delyuered, ſhe was vtterly ſubuerted. So is Rome alſo, the mother & nurſe, and reuyuer of all abominations in the church of the laſte tyme, wherein ſhe ſhall periſh at the laſt, all thoſe that beleue truly in Chriſte being delyuered. And eſpeciallie it is called great. For howe greate and mightie the church of Rome is, all we ſee and by experience knowe at this daye. Nother am I the firſte that vnderſtand by Babilon, Rome. For many expoſitours reading the firſt Epiſtle of Saincte Peter, in the end of the epiſtle, do vnderſtand by Babilon, Rome, Certes Oecumenius ſayeth: And here he calleth Babilon Rome, for the excellencie and brightneſſe of the Empire: the which Rome obteined a long tyme ſins. But this the more auncient wryters expound more playnelie, as Turtullian in his boke againſte the Iewes, which ſayeth: ſo Babilon with ſainct Ihon beareth the fygure of the Citie of Rome, therfore alſo great, and proude in her kingdom, and a murtherer of the ſaincts. The ſame words in a maner, he repeteth in the thirde booke againſt Marcion. And no leſſe playnely Saincte Hierome calleth Rome Babilon: and that ſame Babilon wherof S. Ihon ſpeaketh in the Apocalipſe. Read the epiſtle of Paula and Euſtochium written to Marcella, by the helpe of ſainct Hierome. Reade himſelf in the .11. queſtiō to Algaſia. Againe in the preface to the boke of Didymus of the holy ghoſte, to Pauliniane. Alſo in the end of ye .2. boke againſt Iouinian. The ſame in the life of S. Marke: Peter, ſaith he, in ye firſt epiſtle, vnderunder ye name of Babilon, doth figuratiuely ſignify Rome. But S. Ihon wil expounde himſelfe in the .17. chapter. And we vnderſtande that the Citie of Rome ſhall fall chiefly, with all her vngodlynes: And with the ſame alſo, the Romiſh ſuperſtition and abomination, through oute the worlde. And the Aungell in dede, ſayeth ſhe is fallen, which is yet to fall: And that by the propheticall maner of ſpeaking,Anadiploſis. wherein that which ſhal aſſuredly come to paſſe is vttered, as though it wer now done. To ſignifie the certentie thereof, that reduplication or iterating of the worde alſo apperteineth, ſhe is fallen, ſhe is fallen.ſhe is fallē, ſhe is fallē. This is alſo repeated in the .18. chap. where it ſhalbe ſhewed howe it is taken out of the Prophetes, &c. Notwithſtanding both a deſyre and Ioye alſo, might ſeme here to be ſignified. For ſuch thinges as we hauehave longe, and with a deſyre loked for, we receiue them nowe cumming and ſaie, thou art come, thou arte come at the laſte longe loked for, and nowe makeſt me glad. For the ſainctes with a great deſyre, loke and long for the diſtruction, of that moſt wicked, moſt vyle, and moſt troubleſome kyngdome of Antichriſte.
The cauſe is ſhewed alſo of the deſtructiō of the commonwelth and church of Rome:Why the Romyſhe Church ſhoulde fal for that ſhe hath cauſed all nations to drinke, and hath made them dronken wyth wyne of wrath of her fornication. And verelye the effecte of wyne in men is greateſte. Therefore doctrine is compared to it in the Prophetes. Therefore Rome with her vncleane and corrupt opinions, hath made all people dronken. And it is called the wyne of the wrath. For loke with whome God is angry, he ſuffereth them to erre in the way of the Romiſh church. For in aſmoch as God hath reuealed the ſincere doctrine of lyfe, by his onelyonly ſonne, and moſte choſen Apoſtles: and men receaue not the ſame: God is iuſtely offended with them, and geueth them ouer into a reprobate mynde, that thei may followe ſhamefull errours: As Saincte Paule alſo prophiſied ſhuld come to paſſe in the .2. to the Theſs. 2. chapt. This wyne is called moreouer, the wyne of her fornication, whereby ſhe her ſelfe hauing firſte played the harlot, is become nowe alſo the Maiſtres of fornicatiō, and as it wer bawde to al others. This maner of ſpeakyng is right well knowen, euen oute of the Prophetes. Rome ded not perſiſte in the doctryne of the Goſpell, and of the Apoſtles, but inuented a newe, and that contarry to the Goſpel, of the vycar of Chriſt in earth,The deuilyſh doctrin of Rome. of the power of keyes, of indulgences and pardons, of iuſtification of works and merits, of ſatiſfactiōs & cōfeſſions, of worſhipping of Images, & prayeng to ſaincts, of celebrating maſſes, and worſhipping of the ſacramēt of ye aulter, as thei terme it, of monkery and vowes, and ſuch other innumerable. This doctrine as Apoſtolicall, auncient, and chreſten, ſhe drinketh of to all people: and ſo plucketh them from Chriſt, withdraweth them from the Goſpell, ſeduceth them from the oulde chriſtianitie, and deſtroyeth innumerable ſoules. Therefore God powreth oute to her alſo of the cuppe of his wrath, and bryngeth her alſo to deſtruction for euer.
He diſſwadeth all frō the fellowſhip of the Romyſſhe church.And vponupon this occaſion he diſſwadeth all men from the felowſhip of the Romiſh church or papiſtrie, that we hauehave nothing to do with the Romiſh religion, vnleſſe we will be part takers alſo of the euerlaſting pūniſhmēt. He reaſoneth therfore of the loſſe and punniſhments, and deſcrybeth greuouſe and horrible paines, yf happlie men might ſo be feared from that vngodlines. The Angell therfore crieth, and that with a loude voice. Wherefore let al eccleſiaſticall preachers learne, that they muſt earneſtly, and tirribblie crye oute in this caſe, that all flee the communion of the Romiſh or popiſh church. I know doubtles what the common people beleue and ſaie, that all ſhall be ſaued at the laſte daye, what religion ſo euer they be of: and namelie yf any remaine an open papiſt. But we can nother condemne nor abſolue any man, ſette them in Heauen, or caſt them to Hell. God liueth a rightouſe iudge. He alone knoweth, who ſhal be ſaued or damned. We ought therfore of right, to credit his iudgements. But where as he pronoūceth openly, that the fauourers of the Romiſh church ſhall be damned, who am I to ſay the cōtrary: or what men will pronoūce otherwyſe? Let vsus heare therfore the ſentence of the iuſte iudge, and let vsus beleue the worde of the ſonne of God, and let vsus beware of the popyſh religion.
What it is to worſhip the beaſte & his Image, and what it is to receiue the marke in the forehead and on the right hand, I hauehave ſufficiently declared before in the .13. chapt. Brieflye they worſhip, and receyue the marke of the beaſte, which do participate with the Popiſh church or religiō: finally which obey the wycked decrees of the Empire, and perſeuer in the obedience of the See without repentaunce. Aretas expounding this place: to worſhip the beaſt, ſaieth he, and to receaue his ſeale, is, to eſteme Antichriſt to be God, and in word and wo…ke, to ſet forth ſuch thinges as he coueteth.
And here in an horrible wiſe, & with propheticall wordes,The deſcriptiō of eternall damnatiō. is deſcribed euerlaſting damnation, prepared for them, who forſaking Chriſt the ſauiour, cleaue vntounto Antichriſt ye diſtroier. Like as they hauehave dronkē of the corrupte doctrine infuſed of the Pope: ſo againe ſhal they drinke, that the iuſt lord ſhal powre out of ye cuppe of wrath. And the wine that is powred in the cuppe of Gods wrath, is the ſtrayte, exquiſite, & moſte greuouſe iudgement of God, wherin beyng angrie, he inflicteth to the Antichriſtians horrible & vnſpeakeable punniſhement. A like maner of ſpeach is red in Ieremie the .25. chapt. And like as pure wine, not delayed, is of moſt efficacitie, and pearſeth: ſo the iudgement of God, wherein he will procede againſt the Antichriſtians, ſhal be moſt greuouſe, ſuch as no tongue be it neuer ſo eloquent can expreſſe.
And for a further declaratiō ſhortely after followeth, what they muſte drinke of: verely fire and brimſtone. Perauenture the Lorde alluded to theſe wordes of Dauid in the .11. Pſalm. Vpō the vngodly he ſhal rayne ſnares fyre brimſtone ſtorme and tempeſte, this rewarde ſhall they hauehave to drinke. He ſemeth moreouer to hauehave alluded to the burnyng of Sodome, and to the .30. chapt. of Eſaye, in the ende whereof is ſhewed, that hell ſhall be wide enough to receyue all the vngodly, and that matter ſhal neuer waunte to nurriſhe the fire neuer to be quenched. He expreſſeth moreouer a greuouſe payne, where he ſayeth, that they ſhall be tourmented: and that in the ſight of the lambe, and holy Angelles, that ſo they maye receyue condigne punniſhement for euer of their contempte, wherby they hauehave deſpiſed the lambe, and meſſages of Angels. Likewiſe in the .13. of Luke the Lord ſayeth: there ſhal be wepyng and gnaſhing of teth, when ye ſhal ſee Abraham, Iſaac, and Iacob and all the prophetes in the kingedome of God, and you to be ſhutte out, &c.
And that ſame apperteyneth alſo vntounto euidence,Hipotipoſis. & to ſtire vp a terrour in the mindes of all men, where he addeth by a figuratiue ſpeach: and the ſmoke of their tourmēt aſcendeth vp euermore. Therfore ſhal the burning and punniſſhement of the vngodly be euerlaſting, and neuer to be finiſhed world without ende. And we ſeme here at this deſcription, as it were before our eyes to ſee the flames of eternall damnation caried vp on highe: and caſte vp with them greate heapes of ſmoke, to rolle vp, and diſperſe them farre and wide. I remē bre here that of Virgill.
The waſtefull fire gan crepe and cracke a pace
Til to the toppe through helpe of winde it came
Out burſt the blaſe, brake downe and did deface
The ſkie flieth full of ſparkes of ſmoke and flame.
Euerlaſtyng punniſſhment.And that no kinde of terrour might waunte, moſte aptely and moſt aboundantly he expreſſeth the perpetuitie of euerlaſting punniſhment, ſaiyng: nother hauehave they reſte daie nor night. So ſayeth the Lord in the .9. of Marke. Their fire is neuer quēched, and their worme ſhal neuer die. They erre therfore, which promiſe to the damned after many worldes deliueraunce from their tourmentes.
And not in vayne he repeteth, that which he had ſayed before, how thei that worſhip the beaſt ſhal ſuffer theſe thinges. And therfore he repeteth it, leſte, as it happened, we ſhould eſteme it as a light matter. They ſhal be damneth, ſayeth the veritie, which receyue the Popiſh culte and religiō, and perſeuere in the ſame.Epiphonema. To all this is annexed an acclamation, or double ſentence, notable and holeſome. For in as much as the wiſedome of God did foreſee, what aduerſitie remayned for the godly in this world, which they might ſurely loke for at Antichriſtes hande, whiche profeſſed the trewth, therefore for a comforte and conſolation he addeth: here is the patiēce of Sainctes, which is aſmuch as if he had ſaied: and here ſhal patience take place, wherby the Sainctes maye ouercome al euilles. Here had we nede to hauehave a ſtoute courage, & a ſure and cōſtaunt minde. In the .12. of Luke the Lord likewiſe requireth patience in perſecutions. Here therfore is counſel geuen, howe the ſainctes ſhould behaue themſelues, to wit that they ſhould ſuffer patiently thoſe euilles, that Antichriſt ſhall worke agaynſt them. And there followeth an other ſentence, which lighteth this: here are they that kepe the commaundementes of God, and faith of Ieſus. Thei ſhal ouercome thorowe patience in ſo great euilles and daungers, whiche kepe the cōmaundementes of God, the foundation wherof is the faith of Ieſus Chriſt: which verely put al their truſt in chriſt, heare the worde of the goſpell, and kepe the cōmaundemētes of God, not of men. The like vntounto theſe are red in the .24. of Matth. and the .10. to the Hebrew. Aretas: in this ſame time of Antichriſt, ſaieth he, the patience of Sainctes is ſhewed. Thā is the ſpeache figured, as it were by a queſtion moued. And who be they whome he calleth patient? After, as though he ſhould aunſwere: they that kepe the commaundementes of God, and faith of Ieſu. For thei when perilles approche wil ſet more by God, than by death and temporall euilles. This ſayeth he. I praye God theſe things be as faithfully perfourmed of vsus, as they are eaſely vnderſtande. The Lorde graunt vsus his ſpirite.