A Hundred Sermons on Revelation, Sermons · Sermon 40
¶ The Locuſtes are deſcribed by a maruelouſe Hypotipoſis, the Popiſh clergie: and is ſhewed, of what ſorte the Antichriſtian warre ſhalbe. The .xl. Sermon.
ANd the ſimilitude of Locuſtes was like vntounto Horſes prepared to battel, and on theyr heades were as it were crownes, like vntounto golde: and theyr faces were as it had ben the faces of mē. And they had heere, as the heere of wemen. And their teth were as the teth of Liōs. And they had habergions, as it were habergiōs of yrō. And the ſounde of their winges was as the ſounde of chariotes when many horſes rūne together in battell. And they had tailes like vntounto Scorpions, and there were ſtinges in theyr tailes. And theyr power was to hurte mē fiue monethes. And they had a king ouer them, which is the Aungel of the botomleſſe pitte, whoſe name in the Hebrewe tongue is Abadon, but in the Greke Apollion.
We hauehave ſpokē already of thoriginal & power of the locuſtes:To vnderſtande and beware of ye locuſtes. neuertheleſſe leeſt any mā ſhould be impeched with any obſcuritie, ſo yt he could not know the locuſtes: & beware (for this is thende of ye whole prophecie to vnderſtād ye miſteries of Antichriſt, & beware) now alſo he deſcribeth the locuſtes wt a wonderful ſuffiguration, & theyr fight agaynſt Chriſt, and againſt the doctrine of godlines of al other moſt perillouſe.
And there is no doubte but that the whole Armie of the Pope is here deſcribed,The ſpiritual hooſte of ye Pope is deſcribed. eſpecially the ſpiritualtie as they terme it. For the ſoldiours of the Emperour, kinges, and all princes ſerue him, whom they call ſeculare. But in the popes tentes of the ſpirituall Armie be Cardinalles, Patriarches, Archebiſhoppes, Biſſhoppes, Abbottes, Prelates, nother is there any nōbre of Prieſtes, and religiouſe perſones of both ſexes. Hereunto appertaine many vniuerſities, Doctours, and Maiſters, great Champions of the Pope: theſe be verely thoſe Locuſtes, of whome the Lorde Ieſus ſpeaketh of here. I knowe howe diſpleaſantly many will take this my expoſition. And I would gladly (God is my witnes) hauehave ſpared them: but all the blame is in them, whiche in wordes and workes bewraye, and declare themſelues to be locuſtes. For except ye thing it ſelf crie out, that thoſe things are done of them, whiche by the expoſition are now brought to light: I will not deſire that credit ſhould be geuen to me. I ſpeake nothing here in the fauour of any manne, nother for hatred. Let God him ſelfe be iudge betwixt vsus, let the veritie it ſelfe iudge. Certenly al expoſitours with one conſent vnderſtand by locuſtes falſe teachers.
But lette vsus ſee the deſcription of the Apoſtle S. Iohn by the reuelation of Ieſus Chriſt, which doeth iniurie to nomā, which ſlaundereth no man.Al thinges are made playne by parables. And he ſheweth the Homoiomata, that is to ſaye, the ſimilitudes of locuſtes, by the which they maye be figured, and as it were ſet before our eyes, to be like the things which he bringeth forth. For vntounto eueryevery part he applieth a parable or ſimilitude, wherby he expreſſeth moſte aptly the diſpoſition and maners of the locuſtes.
Horſes prepared to battell.Firſt he ſayeth that locuſtes are like vntounto horſes prepared to battel. By the whiche parable he ſignifieth many thinges at ones: that the clergie ſhoulde not only be ambitiouſe and prowde (for an horſe is an Image of pride) but moreouer rebelliouſe and bolde, and euē cruelly, fierſe, and in their incredulitie, and in all their errours moſt obſtinate. Beyng vtterly ignoraūt of reuerſion, that is of repentaūce. For S. Iohn ſemeth here to hauehave alluded vntounto theſe wordes of Ieremie: howe chaunceth it that this people is not tourned away frō ſo frowarde an auerſion: They cleaue ſtiffely to diſceipt, they refuſe to retourne. I marked and hearde, and they ſpake not right: there was none that was ſory for his euil, & that would ſaye, what hauehave I done? eueryevery one of them did runne his courſe, as it were an horſe diſlodged into battel, certes with this kinde of men there is none amendement. They thinke rather all, howe they maye allure others into errours with them. He ſignifieth morouer that the clergie ſhal be warlike, and the Authours of warres, and ſhal moue warres againſt the Sainctes and true worſhippers of God. For they hauehave the ſecular power, as they cal it, ready. Of longe time nowe there hauehave ben in maner no warres, which hauehave not ben reyſed by this kinde of men. Stories beare witnes hereof. Yea and in this our time cardinals and Biſſhoppes hauehave had the leadyng of Armies, &c. Finally there is ſignified herby that the clergie ſhal continually vexe & wery with ſpiritual warre alſo, the trewe church of Chriſt. Wherefore in the .11. chapter. we ſhal heare howe the beaſte commeth out of the botomles pitte, and maketh warre with the excellēt prophetes of God. They mixe therfore and practiſe aſwell ſpiritual as corporal warres. Laſte of all is ſignified, that the popes clergie ſhal be wel fed, faire and wellikyng, and geuen to voluptuouſenes, luſtes and pleaſures of the body. For this kinde of people repreſente not horſes that be gaunte or leane, ſuche as goe to plowe and carte: but ſuch as are wel kept and fed euē to ſerue vponupon in the warres. For beholde with me and conſider, of what ſorte the clergie is (for the moſt parte) and you wil ſay, that they are here ſet forth in theyr coulours.
Secōdly vpō theyr heades, ſayeth he, as it were crownes,Crownes. like vntounto golde. Rabanus Maurus in the .3. chapt. of the firſte boke of the inſtitution of Clerkes calleth the ſhauinge of the prieſtes crowne, a kingedome, a token verely of the dignitie of a king and prieſte. For Prieſtes and Monkes or Freres boaſte themſelues to be kinges and prieſtes, and yet in dede are neyther of both. For the trewe faythfull before God are kinges and prieſtes .1. Peter .2. But by the ordeyning or ſhauing of the Pope, they receiue nothing either of kingdom or prieſthood. Full well therfore S. Iohn, vponupon theyr heades, ſayeth he, as it were crownes like vntounto golde: for he ſayeth not, they were crownes, but like as they were crownes of golde. They were not crownes in dede, neyther were they dewe vntounto them. And yet notwithſtanding in the ende of the world now they hauehave taken vpō them diademes, or miters, and crownes of golde alſo, and the ſame moſt preciouſe. Yet hauehave they done this by no right. In times paſt Biſſhoppes of Rome did were white miters, in token of puretie and ſincerenes, finally of the knowledge of both Teſtamentes: but none of the Apoſtles nor Apoſtolicke men ware them. Therfore they bewraye themſelues like a Ratte with their owne vtteraunce, the which I ſuppoſe to be done by Gods prouidence, that they might be knowen, and eſchewed of Chriſtes ſhepe as crowned wolues.
Theyr faces were as the faces of men,Faces of men. not as the faces of Locuſtes. So likewiſe in Daniel to Antichriſt are attributed ye eyes of a man. To wit induſtrie and policie. Theſe mē pretende a great humanitie, thei be furniſhed with fayre ſpeach, you woulde thinke if humanitie were lofte, it mightie befounde in them: but they fayne theſe thinges, to the intente that in creping thus into mens boſomes, they maye bring theyr matters to paſſe, and diſceiue. In craftes, diſceipte, wilines and practiſe, as they terme it, the Popes Legates, Ambaſſadours, Prieſtes, and Religiouſe perſones, excell all other wiſemen of the worlde. They preaſe into al aſſemblees of all menne, they will be made priuie to all thinges, they take all thinges for the bringyng of theyr matters to paſſe, they ſemble and diſſemble all thinges, they can eaſely ſupplant and begyle, euen ſuche as be moſte wittie. Moreouer they are learned, witty, eloquent, and wonderfull craftie in all thinges. The thing it ſelfe ſpeaketh and teſtifieth, that I write the trueth.
Wemens lockes or heere.And they had heere, like the heere of wemen: by the which ſimilitude he noteth theyr wantonneſſe, Idlenes, whoriſſhe apparell, and effeminate mindes. For they be commed and piked, and very finely apparelled, delightyng in wemens Iewels, wearing coſtely garmētes, eſpecially in the church, where they ought moſte of all to ſhewe humilitie and frugalitie. Whiche of the Apoſtles went euer ſo decked (or rather diſguiſed) in the Temple or without the temple? The exceſſe and coſtelines of apparell of Prieſtes and Monkes geueth no place to the coſtely arraye of the Perſian Kinges. Againe the thing it ſelfe ſpeaketh. S. Auſten in an homelie vponupon the ſeuenth of the Apocalipſe, in the heere, ſayeth he, he wold vnderſtād and ſhewe, not only an effeminate or womanly ſexe, but alſo eyther or both ſexes. This ſayeth he. Which I leaue to be conſtrued and ſcanned of others.
The teeth of Lions.In attributing to them alſo the tethe of Lions, he ſignifieth their crueltie agaynſt the poore and faithfull profeſſours of Chriſt. They are moſt cruell in perſecutions, and of bloud moſte thirſtie, neyther are they moued herin with any compaſſion. They deſtroye alſo with the ſworde all thinges: many deuiſe ſondry tourmentes. They excelle in tiranny Buſirides and Phalarides: the thinge it ſelfe ſpeaketh agayne. For yf Kinges, Princes or Magiſtrates, would ſpare the ſely wretches, the prieſtes and Freres crie out that it is not lawfull: finally they incenſe the mindes of all Princes and Magiſtrates agaynſt Goſpellers, in preſcribyng fourmes of inquiſitions and oppreſſions. Hereto is added ſome of them are ſtorers, hourdyng vp with vnſatiable couetouſenes, and religiouſe robberies, Kinges treaſures. Agayne ſome other waſters ſuccede, whiche ſette abroade euill gotten good, and waſte it prodigally in riotte, diſyng, whoryng, in practiſe or warres. Therefore are the teeth of Lions attributed to them rightely: In like caſe as Amos is red to hauehave attributed to the falſe Prophetes. They had alſo HabergionsHabergiōs (Thoracas) whiche is a defence for the breſte, called a breſte plate, or a vauntgarde. Others expounde it, cureties, but they couer all the body, Habergions doe properly couer the breſte. And hereby is ſignified, that their harte ſhould be obſtinate and inflexible. They are ſtiffe necked and ſtraite laſed, nother departe one heere breadth from theyr errours, but euen forge that the ſame Sea can not erre: yea and that the Pope can not erre. For nother can they abyde to be taught and admoniſſhed, but playnely the Churche of Rome, ſaye they hath neuer erred: therefore there remayneth none other thinge, but that thou muſte ſubſcribe to it, or els be condemned for an heretike, and ſuffer death. It is ſignified moreouer that theſe ſhall be through an other mans protection moſte ſafe. For they hauehave theyr immunities, they hauehave theyr pryuileges, they hauehave the ſecular power alwayes ready to fight at theyr requeſt, they hauehave theyr fraternities, felloweſhippes, leages and affinities. What ſhould we ſaye that Biſſhoppes and Abbottes be the ſonnes, bretherne and Coſins of Princes? who ſo euer therefore toucheth them, he hath touched the apple of the Princes eye. For euen for the maynteinyng of them and their ſtate, all men fight as it were for lyfe and landes.
To the Locuſtes moreouer are aſcribed winges.Winges Locuſtes. For they are exalted aboue the common ſtate of menne, whileſt they are taken and accompted for the moſte fortunate and moſte excellent in the world, &c. Yea and impudently they bragge, that herein they are worthier and greater than the Virgin Mary, for that ſhe bare ones in her wombe the Sonne of God, but they can calle him dayly vntounto the Aultar? &c. And whileſt they flie, they make ſuch an noyſe, as horſes do, drawyng warlicke chariottes,Warlicke charettes. and nowe ready to inuade the rankes of enemies: that is to ſaye, al theyr doynges are moſt vehement, moſt warlicke, to men horrible, and deadly. Herunto apperteyne the clamorouſe diſputations of Sorbone and other ſcholes, excommunications, ſentences geuen at Rome, the popes bulles and wrytinges, the boaſtinges of decrees, and they be in obſtinacie inuincible. All theſe thinges make a noyſe together, and thonder terribly.
Hereunto is added, that by theyr decrees and counſelles they breake a ſunder, or inuade. Wherupon Daniel attributeth alſo to Antichriſtians, proſperitie: he ſhal doe, ſayeth he, and ſhal proſper. And they inuade in ſuche ſorte, as we hauehave ſayed alſo before, men wil deſire to die, ſuppoſing that there is no deliueraunce.
The ſtinging tailes of Scorpions.Of the tayles of Scorpions, and of fiue monethes I hauehave ſpoken before in the fourmer Sermon. Theyr venemouſe doctrine is noted, which neuertheleſſe at certen times ſhalbe reproued, that godly men maye beware therof. And whoſeeth not, yea who feleth not alſo, howe greuouſe or harde is this fight or battell, that is made of ſuch Locuſtes? Therefore hath the lords mouth ioyned rightly an wo with ye locuſtes. Men wiſheful rightly to dye, to the ende they might be deliuered from ſo great daungers. Lette vsus waye and conſider theſe thinges at this daye, and let vsus praye that we maye ouercome and eſcape the moſte peſtilent poyſon of Antichriſt.
A king of Locuſtes.For nowe alſo is broughte forth the kinge of theſe locuſtes, and is pointed as it were with the fingar of Chriſt. He ſetteth him out by three titles, that he maye the better be knowen. The locuſtes, ſayeth he, hauehave ouer them a kynge. This king is not lawefully geuen them, but they themſelues hauehave that kinge ouer them. For who knoweth not, that by the policie of the ſpirituall fathers, the Pope exempted from the iuriſdiction of princes, ſhould rule ouer all the ſpiritualtie? For thei acknowledge none other Magiſtrate, than the pope of Rome: and rayle vponupon ſecular princes (for ſo they cal them) and wil not obeye them. Al they binde and ſweare thē ſelues to the ſee of Rome, which to hauehave ſaue and ſoūde, they care not, though al other mē periſh. The fourme of ſwearing is knowen, which is made of Biſſhops, Abbottes and doctours to the Pope. And if kinges and princes do but touche with their litle fingar one that is annoincted with the Biſſhoppes oyle, although he be a church robber, a murtherer, a thiefe, and paracide, they are holden accurſed and they and theyr realmes excomunicated. Thus I ſay the locuſtes hauehave the pope king ouer them.
The ſame is called alſo the Aungel of the botomles pitte?The angel of ye botō les pitte. and ſtreightwaies in the .11. chapt. he ſhal be called the beeſte which aſcendeth out of the botomles pitte. Chriſt deſcended to vsus from heauen, the Aungell of the Teſtament and great counſel. Whome who ſo euer diſdaigne to heare, they heare worthely the angel of the botomles pitte, that is to witte Antichriſt ſent of Sathan him ſelf from hel. For he is the aduerſarie and enemie of Chriſt, in whom corporally dwelleth the Deuil: As alſo thought S. Hierome, that the Deuill ſhould wholy inhabite that great Antichriſt.
Therfore alſo a trewe name,Abbadon & Apollyon. and a trewe title moſt agreable is geuen him. For thei lie, which ſalute, and cal him, moſt bleſſed father, moſte holy Pope, &c. Chriſt ſetteth forth with an other ſtile, and geueth him other titles. His name, ſayeth he, was Abbadon in Hebrewe, and in Greke Apollyon. He publiſſheth his name in eyther tounge, for none other cauſe, than for that in eyther Teſtament, wherof the one is written in Hebrew, the other in greke, this title is attributed to him. Abbadon or Abbaddon, or Apollyon ſignifieth a waſter or deſtroyer. But Daniel in the .7.8. and .11.The childe of perditiō chapt. And Zachar. in the .11. doe attribute to Antichriſt this vertue and propertie. S. Paul calleth him the ſonne of perdition, to wit moſt loſt, moſt damnable, and the greateſt Authour of perdition and damnation: whiche finally ſhall be vntounto many Authour of ſlaughter, by ſondry warres. For through falſe doctrine he diſtroyeth ſoules, and with tiranny by fire and ſworde he waſteth the lande, and thoſe that refuſe to obeye him, moſte cruelly. Let the Popes actes be conſidered, and the practiſes of ſpirituall fathers: lette them be applied to theſe oracles of God, and than let a cōpariſon and iudgement be made. And this is as it were the keye, openyng to vsus the ſenſe of this place, and that it ſhould be expounded of Antichriſt, whome S. Paull called the ſonne of perdition. Habad in Hebrewe ſignifieth, is loſte or diſtroied. And therof cometh Habbaedon, perdition or deſtruction. So in Greke Apoleo and Apollyme ſignifieth to loſe and diſtroy, herof is Apollyon. The Lord Ieſus ſlaye this deſtroyer with the breath of his mouth, & take him away vtterly by his gloriouſe commyng.