A Hundred Sermons on Revelation, Sermons · Sermon 75
¶ The godly viſion is yet more playnely declared. The .lxxv. Sermon.
THE ſeuen heads, are ſeuen mountaynes, on which the woman ſitteth: they are alſo ſeuen Kinges. Fyue are fallen, and one is, & the other is not come. Whē he cometh he muſt continue a ſpace. And the beaſte that was, and is not, is euen the eight, and is one of the ſeuen, and ſhal go into deſtructiō. And the .x. hornes which thou ſaweſt, ar .x. kings, which hauehave not yet receyued the Kyngdome, but ſhal receiue power as kings at one houre with the beaſte. Theſe hauehave one mynde, and ſhal geue their power and ſtrength to ye beaſt. Theſe ſhal fight with the lambe, & the lambe ſhall ouercome them. For he is Lorde of all Lords, and King of al Kings: and they that are on his ſide, ar called choſen, and faithful.
The Angell expounder of miſteries, procedeth to declare to ſainct Ihon the miſterie of the beaſte exhibited, and of her iudgement, & that by partes. And at this preſent vttereth thre thinges: what is ſignified by ſeuen heades: Whie he ſayed of the beaſte, he was and is not: and what the ten hornes do betoken.
He expoūdeth ſeuē heads two wayes, firſt by ſeuen mountaynes, vponupon which the woman ſitteth,7. Heades ar .7. hilles whom in the ende of the chapter he calleth the great Citie: to witte great Rome, which all ſurname Septicolle, as ſtanding vponupon ſeuen mountaynes. Moreouer the beaſte hath ſeuen heades, becauſe be had many times ſeuen Kinges. Whereof I ſpake alſo in the 13. chapt. At this preſent he rekeneth ſo the ſeuen Kinges, that there is no doubte, but that it is Rome whereof he ſpeaketh. Which I ſuppoſe be the Lordes chief intent in theſe matters. For he coulde not ſpeake more expreſſelie, vnleſſe he ſhould hauehave expreſſed the name of Rome alſo: but the name of Babilon we hearde expreſſed before. Fyue, ſayeth he, are fallen, to witte ſyns the deadlie wounde was geuen, in the death of Nero, in the ſpace of .14. peares. For immediatlie after Nero, beganne Galba to reygne: who beyng ſlayne, Otto reigned: which after he had kylled himſelfe, Vitellius ſuccedeth, which was alſo kylled of the Flauianes. For after him, Flauius Veſpaſiane was Emperour: after whome Titus, the beſte Prince of all. And theſe fyue fell with in .xiiii. yeares. He addeth, and one of thoſe is, that is to witte, reigneth nowe, verely the ſixt in order, Domitiane, the ſon of Veſpaſiane, and brother to Titus a moſte vngraciouſe man, which perſecuted the faithful, and had cōdemned S. Ihon into exile. An other, ſayeth S. Ihon, is not yet cōmen: namelie Cocceius Nerua. For after he came to the Empire, and lyued moſt vertuouſly, and moſt righteouſlye ordered the Empire, he taried not long. For when he had reigned one yeare, thre monethes, and nine daies, he died. And thus moch hytherto of the ſeuen Kynges, and of the ſeuen heades of the beaſte. Theſe thinges ſo certayne appertaine, not ſo much to the expoſitiō of this place, as to the conſolatiō of the faithful: which here may clerely perceaue how Empires conſiſt in the hand and prouidēce of God almightie, which knoweth his, and hath a care of ye godly, although thei may ſeme, by reaſon of their greuouſe perſicutions, and cruel tourmentes, to be of God neglected.
The beaſt was, and is not.Conſequently he expoundeth, wherfore he ſaied of the beaſt he was, and is not: verely for the eight king of Romanes, Vlpius Traiane. For he is the eight from the Empire wounded in Nero: Traiane was of the ſeuen, that is to ſay, was adopted of Nerua the ſeuenth Emperour. And hytherto the Romane Empire was gouerned, firſte in dede of Caeſars, after of the nobleſt Citizens of Rome. But of this Traiane, which ſucceded Nerua, the writers of Hiſtories ſay, yt he was the firſt ſtraūger that ruled the Empire. For he was a Spanyarde. The Empire therfore was or hath ben in the handes of the Romanes, nowe it is ſo nomore. For a Spanyard ſuccedeth, ſo that the Empire nowe ſemeth, that it might be called Romiſh Spaniſh. And for as moch as Traiane perſecuted Chriſt and his membres, he alſo went into perdition. And let no man thinke that this was the only and ſole cawſe, wherfore S. Ihon ſayed, howe for Traiane it was ſayed: he was, and is not. For he hath pronounced expreſſely, and he is the eight: as though he ſhoulde ſignifie, that there be other cauſes alſo, for the which it was ſaied, that the Romane Empire was, and nowe is not, whereof is ſpoken before.
Ten hornes, are ten Kinges.Hereafter foloweth alſo the expoſition of the ten hornes. And the ſame hornes are here reſited, which are ſpoken of in the ſeuenth of Daniel, and in the .13. of the Apocalipſe. Nother is there any cauſe, whie ye ſhulde ſuperſtitiouſly ſticke to the tenth numbre. For in the .14. of Num. the Lorde ſayeth, how he hath bene nowe tempted ten tymes of the Iſraelites: for many tymes. Here is ſignified therefore, how the Romane Empire ſhall be diſperſed into many Kingdomes. For whether you ſaye kynges, or kyngdomes, the matter is all one. Doubteleſſe the Romane Empire beginning to fal to decay, there ſprang vp kynges in the Eaſt and Weſte, which inuaded ye Romane Empire, Perſians, Gothes, Vandalles, Lumbardes, and I wote not what others: at the laſt in Spayne, Fraunce, Hongarie, I ſpeake not of Affricke and Aſia, were founde diuerſe kinges, & the Romane monarchie ceaſed. Of theſe kinges the Angel warneth vsus for diuerſe cauſes. Theſe, ſayeth he, hauehave not yet receyued the kingdome. For whileſt S. Iohn wrote the Apocalipſe, Domitiane ruled, and the Romane Empire was yet mightie and ſtronge, and ſo remayned ſtille certen ages. When therfore dyd they receaue their kyngedome? They receaue, ſayeth he, power as kynges at one houre with the beaſte, namely the ſeconde. For theſe thinges can not be vnderſtande of the firſt and olde Romane Empire. And Primaſius, expoūding this place, admoniſheth,The kings receyne power wt the beaſt. that an houre here is taken for a time preſent. Therfore at the ſame time, the beaſt, that newe Empire groweth vp and increaſeth, and the kynges receyue might and power. For the decaye of the olde Empire, was the ſtrength of kinges, and of the newe Popiſhe Empire. And in dede themperour Phocas commaunded the church of Rome, and the Biſſhop therof to be head of churches. Whiche gaue a certen beginnyng to the Popes dominion, as alſo in the .13. chapter. I hauehave recited: which he obteyned at the lēgth more fully vnderunder king Pipine, and other Princes of Fraunce and Germany, but Nauclerus ſpeakyng of the Empire of Phocas in the .21. Generation. The enemies, ſayeth he, of the Romane Empire, by the ſlougthfulnes and cowardiſe of Emperours, made ſtronger, had taken awaye in the Weſte countrie with the Ilandes Germany, Fraunce, Spayne, Hungary, Slauonie, and a good parte of Italy, and thereto a greate parte of Affricke: and in the Eaſt partes, Cacannus of Thracia, King of Hunnes inuaded the Iberians, Armenians, Arabians, Dardanes, and the middle partes of Macedonie and Grece. And the Perſians in a maner poſſeſſed all Aſſiria, the Sarracens deſtroyed Egipt, fye for ſhame, our ſtrength hath ſo fayled vsus through riot, couetouſenes, and voluptuouſenes, that the Romane Empire ſtode than only in name. Hitherto he. The ſame thinges hauehave we diſcourſed more at large in the 13. chapter of this worke.2. Theſſ. 2. And verely Daniel ſheweth howe emonges thoſe ten hornes, one other little horne ſhould grow vp, whiche ſhoulde ſtrike of three, and take their place, and reigne wantonly, crwelly, and wickedly. Wherefore the Popes Empire, and thoſe ſondry kingdomes grewe vp in a maner aboute one and the ſame time.
The kings hauehave one minde.He ſheweth moreouer, what maner of kingdomes thoſe ſhal be, and how they ſhal demeane thēſelues towardes that latter beaſt, namely towarde the church of Rome: thei, ſaieth he, hauehave al foreign, one opinion: they beleue al one thing, & be of the ſame religion. He ſpeaketh chiefly of the weſterne kynges. For they al receyue the decrees of the Biſhoppe of Rome, and honor them, as moſt obedient childrē of the moſt ſacred & holy church of Rome. They ſhal deliuer to the beaſte foreign, their power, foreign their authoritie, or kyngedome. For they ſubmitte themſelues to the See of Rome. Yf the church of Rome hauehave nede of an Armie or force of armes, the kinges ſende their power gladly to hym: which the moſt noble kingdome of Boheme felte about an hondreth yeres ſins, though it were to no great commoditie, and beautifull triumphes of the inuaders. Yea morouer they acknowledge thēſelues to owe homage and feaultie to the moſte holy and ſupreme Biſhop in al the world. Hereunto chieſly apperteyneth that which Auguſtin. Stewchus in his boke againſt Laurence valla, concernyng the donation of Conſtantine, in the .94. Section, hath written on this wiſe: Gregory the .7. vntounto Geuſa king of Hungarie: we ſuppoſe it is not vnknowen to thee, ſayeth he, that the kingdome of Hungarie, like as other moſt noble realmes alſo, ought to be in the ſtate of his owne libertie, nother that it ought to be ſubiecte to any kyng of an other realme, ſaue to the holy and vniuerſall mother church of Rome, which hath her ſubiectes, not as ſeruauntes, but as children. Hereunto addeth Steuchus: thou heareſt with what gouernement the church ruleth, that ſhe maye interteyne her ſubiectes, not as ſeruauntes, but as childrē. She putteth not kinges out of their poſſeſſion, but permitteth them to reigne as her ſonnes: who reignyng, ſhe reigneth her ſelfe alſo. Neuertheleſſe ſhe will be knowen for Quene and Lady.Quene & Lady. Thou heareſt how al the moſte noble realmes be ſubiecte to the Apoſtolical See. Euen there he ſheweth that the moſte noble kingdomes of Spaine, Fraūce, England, Denmarke, Ruſſelande, Croatie, Dalmatia, Arragonie, Sardinia, Portugalle, Bohemia, Sweuia, and Norwaye, be ſubiecte & tributaries to the church of Rome. In the Section .97. He addeth moreouer: although the kinges reigned, and continued in poſſeſſion: yet are they wonte to acknowledge her as Quene, and trewe Lady and gyuer of their kingdomes. And in the Sect. 105. The old monumentes of all Popes are full of highe authoritie,A mouth verely ſpeaking great thinges. whereby they hauehave with their Empires gouerned the whole worlde, hauing the rule and order of al landes, which power and authoritie that impudente praiſer of the Romiſhe See is not aſſhamed to call omnipotent or almightie.
And doubtles we ſee at this daye, great Ambaſſades ſent to Rome by the weſterne kinges newely elected & crowned, to the intent to kiſſe the Popes fete or too of Antichriſt, and to offer dewe obedience, as they cal it. Therefore did he calle them before not kinges abſolutely, but as kinges. For they acknowledge a ſuperiour, and be euen as it were ſeruauntes or wardes of the ſeruaunt of ſeruauntes. Of whome he hath made proper verſes:
The vulgare people brought from farre ende of the worlde,
The ſeruaunt of ſeruauntes O Rome is now thy Lorde.
Hereunto the Apoſtle addeth a thing yet more greuouſe.The fight with the lambe. Theſe Kinges, I meane the confederates of the Pope, and obedient children of the Church of Rome, indewed with the ſpirite of the beaſte, ſhall fight with the Lambe. Whereby is ſignified the tiranny, which kinges, and princes, and certen other ſtates of the Romane Empire do practiſe, & long hauehave practiſed agaynſt Chriſt & his goſpel. Concerning the lambe we hauehave already ſpokē enough before. Iohn Baptiſt, poinctyng with his fingar to Chriſt, ſayeth: beholde the lambe of God, which taketh awaye the ſinnes of the world. Therfore ſhal the Romiſh princes fight, not agaynſte Chriſt himſelfe, for they will be chriſtians, but agaynſt the Lambe, that is, the ſanctification, iuſtification and ſatiſfaction of Chriſt. For yf any man ſaye at this daye, that the ſonne of God is moſt holy, by whome alone ſinnes are forgeuen, and we are ſanctified: and ſaye not alſo, that the Biſſhop of Rome is moſte holy alſo, whiche purgeth by pardons graunted, but ſhall ſaye rather, that perdons are playne diſceiptfulnes, and the Pope moſt vncleane of all: he ſhal doubtles nother be takē for right catholicke, nother ſhal he be ſpared for confeſſyng the lambe of God. Yf any man ſhal confeſſe that iuſtification is only in the ſonne of God alone, and that men are iuſtified by fayth only, and not alſo by our workes and merites, he ſhal be caried to death or to priſon, nother ſhal the confeſſion of the lambe of God preuayle him any thing. Yf any man ſhal ſay, that he is fully purged through the only oblation of Chriſte on the croſſe, as of a lambe without ſpotte, and ſacrificed frō the beginnyng, neyther that he nedeth any popiſh Maſſes, wherby the ſhauelynges boaſte that they make a dayly offering for the ſinnes of the quicke and dead, whiche in dede is both falſe, and blaſphemouſe, he is ſtreight wayes hurried to priſon, and from thence drawen to the ſtake and brente. We can not denye but that this is true, ſeyng there be at this daie innumerable exāples of Romiſhe kinges and princes in this behalfe. We ſhall not nede therefore to fetche our expoſition farre of, how theſe kinges, which wholy depēde of the Pope ſhal fight with the lambe. I ſpeake here nothinge of others, which cleaue whole vntounto Chriſt.
And therefore for a comforte is conſequently annexed, and the Lambe ſhall ouer come them.The lābe ſhall ouercome thē. For albeit that Popiſh kinges and Princes ſeme to ouercome the Sainctes, whom they burne, murther, and diſtroye, yet Chriſt liueth for euer, the redemption of Chriſte floriſſheth. As moſte godly that good poete hath ſonge:
Chriſt liueth yet, and ſhal do ſtill,
His trewth eke ſhall remayne,
Whilſt al that doeth this world fulfill.
Shall periſh and be vayne.
Kinges periſh, kingdomes periſh or be chaunged: but the trewth is neuer chaunged, Chriſt periſheth neuer. He adioyneth a moſt ſtrong reaſon: for he is Lord of Lordes, and king of kinges. Therfore ſhal they be made a fote ſtole for the fete of the Lambe, as many as ſhall ſtriue agaynſt him. You ſee agayne, whie S. Iohn ſayed before: they receiue power as kinges. For all kinges are vnderunder Chriſt, whiche excelleth all lordes in the worlde. For to him is geuen power in Heauen and in earth. Let vsus therfore be of bold courage. For the lord is Emperour, and our king almightie, immortall, and inuincible. He wil come ſhortely in the clowdes of thayre, to iudge the quicke and the dead, &c.
Moreouer victory is promiſed aſſuredly to vsus that be ſeruauntes of Chriſte.Called, choſen, faythfull. And they that be with him or on his ſide called, choſen and faithful. We be choſen in Chriſt before the foundations of the world were layde, that we ſhould beleue in him, & be ſaued, the firſt, to the Epheſ. Hereunto we be called by the preachyng of the goſpel. Reade the .2. to the Theſſ. the .2. chapt. And we ought to geue thankes vntounto God for euer, &c, Let vsus holde faſte theſe thinges, & be in the troubles of this world conſtant, and without feare. To God be glory.