Sermon Preached 12 November 1570

A sermon preached at hampton Court the. 12. of November. 1570.

T Hat I may speak to y ^e glory of God, and the edifying of the Congregatiō here gathered in his name, I shall desire you all, right honorable, worshipful, and well-beloved in our savior Christ, to join with me in faithful and earnest prayer. And in this prayer. &c.

It is written in the 14. chapter of the Revelation of s. John, the 8. verse: She is fallen, she is fallen, even Babylon that great City, for of the wyne of the fury of her fornication, she hath in 〈◊〉 all nations to drink. The holy Euangeli •• s. Luke (right honorable, & well-beloved in Christ) in the. 4. chapter of his Gospel, recordeth that on a time when our savior came into the Sinagoge at Nazareth, to rede as his custom was, there was delivered to him a book, containing the Prophecy of the Prophet Isaiah. Which after he had opened, at the first be found the place where it was written in these words: The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath annointed me, that I should preach the Gospel to the poor: he hath sent me that I should heal the broken in heart, that I should preach deliverance to the Captives, and sight to the blind, that I should set at liberty them that are bruised, & to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Then after he had closed the book, and delivered it to the Minister, he sat down to preach, and the eyes of all them that wer in the Congregation, wer bent upon him. Then he opened his mouth, & spake unto thē these words: This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears, and they all gave him testimony that it was so. In like manner may I say, concerning this place of scripture which I have read unto you: In your eyes and ears is this scripture this day fulfilled; And I pray God you may all likewise bear witness with me, that it is so.

The last time that I spake in this auditory, I entreated of the floorishing & prosperous 〈◊〉 of Jerusalem, which is the Church of 〈◊〉 forth in the. 122. Psalm, and therefore good order now requireth that I should speak of the d • cay & overthrow of the enemy of Jerusalem which is Babylon, the See & church of Antichrist. And for that purpose principally have I chosen this text of scripture to speak of: That by the one we might be enflamed with love of the true church of Christ, & by the other be moved to the hatred of that false church of Antichrist. Now this text of scripture ( She is fallen, she is fallen even Babylon that great City, for of the wine of the fury of her fornication she hath given all Nations to drink ) offereth me three special things to be considered: First, what Babylon is: secondly what is become of her: and thirdly, what is the cause of her heavy decay.

In the first part, by the assistance of God, and your honorable patience, I shall plainly show & prove that Babylon is Rome : In the secend, y ^e Babylon or Rome, by the just judgment of God is fallen, yea she is fallen: In the last, the reason of this so sharp sentence of God against her, because she hath deceived all the world with drunk̄nes and whoredom. Within the c • mpasse of these three propositions, I will keep myself in all my discourse: Sauing that by your favor, forasmuch as this is the myddle voice of three Angels that speak in this chapter, for 〈◊〉 I will use the voice of the first Angel, of whose preaching this my text is a consequent: an • in the steed of a conclusion, I will touch the voice of the third Angel, which is a consequent of this the myddle Angels voice. Concerning the Preface, it shall be this in few words.

After that s. John had described the preservation & unity of the church of god in Christ their head, even in the midst of the fury of Antichrist, under the figure of y ^e Lamb, standing on mount Zion, with. 144000. of his chaste worshippers: Next he declareth, that God would bring the same again into the sight of the world, by preaching of the Gospel, and the overthrow of the kingdom of Antichrist. Wherefore he sendeth an Angel, flying in the midst of heaven, or between heaven & earth, bringing w ^c him an ever lasting Gospel, & preaching that all men should fear God, & give glory to his name, for y ^t time of his judgment was at hand, and that they should worship him that made heaven & earth, and all things that ar in them. A very angelical sermon in deed, & an euerlast • ng Gospel is that (howsoever the enemies charge it with novelty) that teacheth to fear God, to give glory to his name, & to worship him only, that is the creator of heaven & earth. And a consequent of that Gospel is this sermon of the Angel, Sh • is fallen, she is fallen, even Babylō that great 〈◊〉 For wheresoerver men are taught to fear • 〈◊〉 a right, to give all glory to him alone, & to worship none other but him that made heaven and earth, & all things in them contained: there must needs follow a great fall & overthrow of Babylon & Babilonical religion, which teacheth the contrary. Wherefore if we love the peace of Jerusalem, to the overthrow of this her great adversary, let us embrace this everlasting Gospel that we fear God, glorify God, and worship God alone. Again, if we hate Babylon, with a perfect hatred, as we ought to do, and therefore would seek her utter ruyne and decay, let v • procure, that this Gospel may be preached, that men may learn to fear, honor and serve God only, and then undoubtedly Babylon shall fall, she shall fall I say, she can stand no longer. Let this suffice therefore for a Preface.

Now have we to consider, what Babylon is, I have undertaken to prove, that Babylon here spoken of, is Rome. But first I must admonish you, how I understand Rome. And that is not only for a certain place in Italy, compassed about with walls, & furnished with buildings, us other Cities are: but for that authority, government, & preeminence which is challenged by means of that city, or for the Roman Empire, which is claimed by prerogative of y ^e same City: And so is Babylon taken in the scripture, and namely in this prophecy. For in the. 11. chapter of this Revelation, the same great City is called also Sodoma and Aegiptus, where our Lord was crucified. Sodoma, for the great abomination and filthiness therein maintained: and Aegiptus, because it keepeth the people of God in miserable bondage & slavery, as Egypt under Pharaoh did of old. Whereby it is manifest, that the great City is to be taken for that tyranny, government, & preeminence, as I said, which is ch • llenged in the right of that great City: and so is the regiment & governance of the Roman Antichrist depending upon the prerogative of his See, which is Rome. Now if any will contend, that Babylon must be taken in the proper sense for a City in Chaldea only, as though we should look for the See of Antichrist out of the East: As the Papists for. xxx. or. xl. years ago devised a fable, that was renewed also in Queen Mary's days, of a monstrous child which should be borne at Babylon, which they would have men suppose to be Antichrist: He may be flatly convicted of great ignorance, when the Angel in the. 17. chap. of this prophecy testifieth that her name is Babylon in a mystery, as in the. 11. chap. that she is spiritually called Sodoma & Egiptus, not in respect of situation of the place, but in similitude & likeness of conditions.

Wherefore it remaineth, that (according to my promise) I prove Babylon here mentioned, to be Rome. The greatest controversy y ^e this day troubleth the world, is where y ^e true church of God should be, y ^e Papists making great brags that it is on their side, & we affirming that it is on our side. This controversy will soon be cut of, & brought to an end, if it may be shown, that Babilō is Rome. For then cannot Rome be the church of Christ, but the church of Antichrist: & therefore it standeth ure upon, to bring very good and substantial proves, to maintain this my assertion, y ^e Babylon is Rome. But what proves may be counted sufficient? Is not the authority of holy scriptures, & the testimony of ancient Doctors of y ^e church, good & substantial proves? Therefore if authority of scriptures be a good and substantial proof, ye shall have scriptures: if consent of ancient writers in the same sentence be of any value, you shall have plenty.

And first beginning w ^t scriptures, I will not allege such places as be hard & dark to understand, but such as be plain, evident & manifest, and can receive no other interpretation to satisfy the judgment of any reasonable man. I omit therefore so many figures as in this Revelation do not very obscurely signify, but even directly point & paint out y ^e Antichristian church. For although they do so aptly & fitly agree thereto, as a man might easily judge, they wer made even for the same purpose: yet because they might be wrested to some other meaning, if manifest places did not withstand: I will leave all advantage that I might take of them, & hold me only at this time, to those plain & evident demonstrations, which with no equity nor conscience can admit any other interpretaciō. Only I will here note, y ^e forasmuch as all figures, types and coulors contained in this book, may so conveniently be applied to Rome, as though they had been properly appointed to describe her (as they wer in deed) it is a great prejudice against Rome, although no plainer proves might be brought. But when so plain arguments ar brought forth, that w ^t out to much impudency cannot be avoided, & all other figures & dark speeches agree accordingly, it is a manifest cōuiction y ^e Rome is none other but this Babilō.

But to begin w ^t these plain places as I have promised, the first shall be out of the. 11. chapter of this Revelation, y ^t place before alleged: where it is declared, y ^e God in all times, yea in the greatest persecution, would maintain his Church, & reserve at the least two witnesses which should testify of his truth, in spite of Antichrist & his adherents. Which although the monstrous beast that ariseth out of the bottomless pit, should murder & slay: yet God should restore them to life again, continually stirring up a sufficient number to bear witness of his name & doctrine. In that chapter I say is contained, that when the beast had murdered them, he should envy them the honor of burial, & so their bodies should lie in the street or market place of that great city, which is spiritually called Sodoma & Aegyptus where our Lord was crucified. Declaring thereby, that as Rome had slain & crucified the head, so should Rome persecute the members: and in the same city where their Lord was murdered, the servants also should be persecuted.

But here a man would think, y ^t I were impudent, to affirm that our savior Christ was crucified at Rome, whom all the world knoweth to have suffered death at Jerusalem. But you must call to remembrance, y ^• at the first I gave warning, that I did not understand Rome for y ^e topography of Rome, that is, so much ground only as is compassed within the walls of that city, but for the regiment, governance, & prerogative that is claimed, by reason of that city, or that monarchy, whereof Rome is the head: and then I shall easily prove, that Christ was crucified at Rome. For by whom was he condemned? Was it not by Pilate the Deputy or Liefetenant of y ^e Roman Empire? For what cause or crime was he adjudged to die? Was it not for treason pretended to be committed against the Roman Empire? With what kind of Execution was he put to death? Was it not such as was usual by y ^e laws of the Romans, for such heinous offenses as were unjustly laid to his charge? Finally, was not the place wherein he suffered, within the circute of the Roman Empire? May I not then justly affirm, y ^e he was crucified at Rome, when by the Roman Judge he was condemned for a crime against the Roman state, and executed by a kind of death appointed by the Roman laws, & in a place of the Roman dominion? As for the Jews, they had at that time no authority to put any man to death, as they confess them selves, when Pilate had them take him, and judge him according to their own law, meaning they should decree some light punishment against him, they answered: It is not lawful for us to put any man to death, & he hath deserved to die. As touching the cause, although they accused him of blasphemy, in that he made himself the son of God, yet could he not be condemned for that, because Pilate would admit no accusation, but such as contained a crime against the Roman laws. And as for the death of the cross, it is manifest to be proper to y ^e Romans, for the Jews would have stoned him, if they might have condemned him for blasphemy, according to the law of Moses. And that the Angel in y ^e place by no means can understand Jerusalem, it is manifest by these reasons: First, that he calleth it that great city, which term could never be spokē of Jerusalem : also he calleth it Sodoma and Aegiptus, which was the sea of the monstrous beast Antichrist, which in other places is often called Babylon, whereas no man ever did imagine, that Jerusalem should be called Sodoma, Egypt, or Babilō. Add hereunto, that Jerusalem, the place where Christ suffered, was utterly destroyed in S. John's time, whereby it is evident, that by this great City, spiritually called Babylon, Sodoma, and Aegiptus, is meant none other but the Roman Empire, which crucified the head, and should also bring forth the monstrous beast Antichrist, which should torment and afflict the members which began with murder of the Lord, and should continue, till it were destroyed, in murthering of the servants. And by this plain text, which cannot be wrested to any other sense, this great City Babylon, where Christ was crucified, is proved to be Rome, and the authority, rule, and power of the Roman City.

The second plain and evident proof which I will use at this time, shall be taken out of the 13. chapter of this Revelation, where that evil shapen beast is described, which is the head of the persecuting malignant church: having. vii. heads, & ten horns, and is the same which afterward in the. 17. chapter beareth the great whore Babylon, y ^e mother of all abominations of the earth. Who so therefore that will compare these things that are written in this book, concerning the disposition of that monstrous beast, with those things that the Prophet Daniel in the. 7. chapter of his prophecy describeth of the • 4. beasts, and specially of the fourth, which all men confess to be the Roman Empire, except • e be to much blinded with frowardness & per • ers affection: he must need acknowledge, that • his beast which John painteth out, is the same • hat Daniel setteth out: which containing in it • he cruelty of the Leoparde, the Bear, and the Lyon, which were the former Monarchies, is unlike to them all, & therefore is the fourth Empire, which all y ^e world acknowledgeth to be the Monarchy of Rome. What should I speak of the mumber of the horns, equal in both, & generally of all other partes of their description, which is set forth so like, & almost with the same words both of the one, & of the other, that it were mere madness to imagine that this beast which John describeth, should be any other, then that Daniel had so long before portraited. Then if the Beast in Daniel's description, doth signify the fourth kingdom, as the Angel expoundeth it, which no man will deny to be the Roman Monarchy: The same monstrous Beast, being here painted out in this Revelation, with the same shape, coulors and conditions, must needs signify the Roman Empire, and so Babylon by this reason also is proved to be Rome.

The third argument or proof is taken out of the. 17. chapter of this Revelation, & the. 9. verse Wher the Angel expounding to S. John the mistery of the beast with seven heads, declareth in very plain words, that the seven heads do signify seven hyls, whereon the woman sitteth. Now seeing it is evident, that the woman signifieth a great City, we must see where we can find a great City built upon seven hyls, and that by the interpretation of the Angel is Babylon, the See of Antichrist. And if we seek throughout y ^e whole world, where shall we find a great City built upon seven hyls, but that great City in Italy ? Which all writers, Poets, Historiers, Cosmographers, with one consent do confess to be Rome, which is built upon. vii. hills, whose names are these: Palatinus, Capitolinus, Avētinus, Exquilinus, Viminalis, Quirinalis, and Caelius. This is so plain a notacion of Rome to be Babylon, built on seven hyls, that the Angel could not more plainly have expressed Rome, though he had named her. Nay this is a more evident and certain description of Rome, to be the See of Antichrist, then if in plain words he had said Babylon is Rome. For it might be that some other City then that here was meant, might have the name of Rome, but no other Citye could have this notacion, to be built on seven hyls. For Constantinopolis was afterward called new Rome, but Constātinopolis was not built upon seven hyls like unto old Rome. Therefore this is a plain & manifest circumlocution of Rome, which with no reason can receive any other exposition.

For what Boy going to the Grāmer school, and reading in Virgil's Georgikees this verse: Septem quae vna sibi muro circundedit arces. That City (saith Virgil ) which hath compassed seven hyls within her wall, what Boy I say in the Grammar school, doth not understand this to be meant of the City of Rome, although the Poet in that place, doth not once name Rome? With what face therefore will any man deny, that the Angel here meaneth any other City by this Periphrasis & circumlocution, then Rome? For it any man will be so froward to except, that the word of hyls is not taken in the proper sense, but figuratively and Metaphorically for some other thing, as some would seme to interpret seven hills in this place, for. vii. kingdoms, he shall plainly be convinced by these reasons: First it wer absurd, that the Angel should repeat one thing twice, for in the next clause he showeth, that the seven heads do signify kyngdoms also. But specially we must remember, that this is an interpretaciō of the Angel, which must either be plain & easy to be understood, or else it deserveth not y ^e name of an interpretaciō. Therefore if the Angel, offering to expound the mystery of the seven heads, giveth this exposition, that they signify seven hyls: if hyls be not taken in their proper sense, to what purpose serveth this exposition? For if the name of hyls hath need of another exposition, he had been as good to have left the name of heads vnexpounded. And as for the interpretaciō of hyls to signify Kings, is more obscure, dark, & far fet, then that heads should represent Kings, for it is more apt by Metaphor, to call a King an head, then to call him an hyl. Therefore except we will say, that the interpretation of the Angel is in vain, yea more dark, then the thing that is expounded by him, we must needs confess, that hyls ar taken in their proper sense for hyls, and then the Citye built upon seven hyls, without all controversy is the City of Rome.

The fourth & last proof that I will take out of the holy scripture, is y ^e last verse of the same 17. chapter, which is yet a more plain descriptiō of Rome, if anything can be more plain, then that hath been already spoken of. For there the Angel in plain words expoundeth, that y ^e woman which S. John saw, which was the great whore Babylon, is that great City which hath do • inion over the Kings of the earth. What brazen face is so impudent, to deny that Rome was that great city, which had dominion over the Kings of the earth at that time, when this was spoken? Or what other city had dominion over the Kings of the earth in s. John's time, but Rome? Who is therefore so froward and untoward, y ^e he will not acknowledge Babylon here to be plainly called Rome? If I should name the chief City of England, who would not understand London ? If I should speak of y ^e chief city of Eraunce, who would not conceive Paris ? And when the Angel named the chief city of y ^e world, who could be ignorant, living in that time, or knowing the history of that time, that he understood it of the city of Rome, which was the See of the Empire, and from whence we should look that Antichrist should come, according to the former prophecies. For it is a shame in this place to slee unto Allegories, and further expositions of this Angelical interpretation, which as I said before, if it be not clear, plain, and easy to be understood, deserveth not y ^t name of an exposition: as when one known thing is expounded by another, as much or more unknown, it is vain, superfluous, and ridiculous. Wherefore, whom any bands of reason will hold in, they must be satisfied with the expositiō of the Angel, that Babylon is Rome. For seeing it was necessary for the church of God, to know as well the place where Antichrist should sit, as to be instructed of his craft and cruelty: our savior Christ, the Author of this Revelation, would not suffer his congregation to be ignorant thereof, but sent his Angel plainly to interpret and expound the vision of the great whore, that the Church being thoroughly admonished of her wickedness, & instructed perfectly to know her, might more easily take heed of her, flee from her, and abhor her. So that according to my promise I have sufficiently proved by authority of holy Scripture, this first proposition which I took in hand, that Babylon is Rome.

But because some ar of such obstinate & willful frowardness, that nothing will satisfy them, but they will still grudge and repine, • arpe and object against my interpretacions of the holy scriptures (for the text they cannot deny) I wish them that are such, if they like not these expositions which I have brought to the defacing of Antichrist & his religion, then that they admit and reverence those expositions, which their own Authors bring for the maintenance of the Popes authority, & his religion. Of which sort are these: God (saith Moses in Genesis) made two great lights, the Sun to rule the day, and the Moon to govern the night : That is, saith the famous Interpreter, God ordained y ^e Pope and the Emperor to rule the world. By the Sun is meant the Pope, & by the Moon the Emperor. And look how much greater, and more glorious the Sun is then the Moon, so much greater and more glorious is the Pope, then the Emperor. And not content with this he counteth by Arithmatike how much greater the Sun is in quantity, then the Moon, by proportion that it hath to the earth, & so by many parts be concludeth that the Pope is greater then the Emperor. But here a mā might help him, what by Geometry, & what by Arithmatike, for where as the Sun is. 166 times greater then the earth, & the earth. 39. times greater then the Moon (as is proved by Mathematical demonstration) the Pope should be 6474. times greater then the Emperor. This is one noble exposition that is set forth to advance the dignity of the Pope, and his kingdom.

Another like to this, is upon the words of the Apostles, which answered unto our Savior Christ, when he commanded him that had no sword, to sell his coat & bye one, signifying the great danger y ^e was at hand: Lord (say they) here are two swords. These words (saith the Glosar) are the Civil & Ecclesiastical power, which rem • ined in Peter, & therefore his successor the Pope hath preeminence of both. No doubt a worthy interpretation, & that agreeth well w ^e the text, & doth the Pope great worship.

Again S. Paul saith to the Corinthians. 1. Cor 2. The spiritual man judgeth all things, and he himself is judged of none. This spiritual man, saith the Interpreter, is y ^e Pope, which is Judge of all the world, & may not be controlled of any man, no though he draw with him innumerable souls into hell fire, there to be tormented with the Devil & him forever more, yet no man must be so bold as to find fault with him, or to say: Domine quid ita facis ? Lord, why do you so? Is not this an handsome exposition? Yes I promise you, even like unto this other: Statuimus vt Clerici nec ceruam nutriant, nec barbam radant : We decree (saith the Canon of an ancient Counsel) that the Clergy shall neither wear long here, nor shave their beards The Glosar finding this Canon to be so clean contrary unto the custom of the popish Clergy, who use to wear long here, and to shave their beardes, thought he would draw it at the least, if it would not come by fair means, to maintain the laudable custom of the popish Clergy: and by exposition of one word, he maketh y ^e whole Canon to serve his turn. Therefore Statuimus (saith he) which is we decree, is to be expounded for Abrogamus, which is, we disannul or abrogate, and so the sense afterward falleth out very plain for the popish Priests thus: We disannul that Priests should go without long here, or vnshauen beards. A right cunning interpretation, and proper for the place, & such in effect are all those y ^t serve for the maintenance of the Popes authority & the religion of popery. Therefore, he y ^t is of so sharp judgment, that he will mislyke & refuse those plain expositions, which I have brought of the places before alleged, & except against them, as enfor • ed, constrained, and far fetched: let him like of, praise, magnify, and admire these interpretations, which are sought out to uphold & establish the Popes throne, & his religion, as rightly, faithfully, & truly collected. At{que} idem iungat Vulpes, & mulgeat Hircos, and by as good reason let him join for his plough not Oxes, but Foxes, and milk for his payle, not she Goats, but he Goats, as the Poet saith.

Now y ^t I have proved Babylon to be Rome by authority of scripture, it followeth that I must show for the same, the consent of ancient Doctors. And as in my former probatiō I touched only such places as did plainly, directly, & manifestly set forth my purpose: so in this behalf I will deal with the Doctors. Not such as they are wont to allege against us, names in deed of great and reverent antiquity, but works of mere falsehood and forgery, bewraying their Authors not to be such as they are fathered upon, but such as out of the body of blindness and superstition of much latter time, have begotten them. Such are the decretal Epistels of the old Bishops of Rome, Linus, Clemēs, Anacletus. &c Of which Clemens writing to s. James, forsooth in his second Epistle chargeth him very earnestly, that y ^e Pixe be cleanly kept, so y ^t there appere no Myse doong, or any other filthiness among the fragments of the body of Christ, with many other apostolical commandments. The impudence of whose Authors appeareth notably in this, that whereas they were ignorant Buzards that could not write true latin, they would ascribe their coūterfet Epistles to so learned fathers, as though at that time when womē and children spake latin, naturally as their mother tongue, the bishops were so unlearned, that they did write so barbarously, and were not able to utter their mind in true latin. But leaving those delicates for such as long after them, I will use no authority for this purpose, but such as they cannot refuse, but that it is ancient, catholic, & authentical. I will begin therefore with Irenaeus, one of the most ancient and authentical writers that the Church hath: Who in the fifth book of his treatise against all heresies, speaking of the See of Antichrist, upon the last verse upon the 13. chapter of this Revelation, where it is said, that the number of the Beasts name is six hundred, sixtye and six, showeth that the opinion of many in his time was, that seeing this name 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , which is in English The Latineman, or Roman, in the numeral Greek letters, containeth this number, y ^t Antichrist must be sought at Rome. His words are these: Sed & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 no men sexcentorum sexaginta sex numerorum. &c. et valde veresimile est, quoniam verissimam regnum hoc habet vocabulum Latini enim sunt qui nunc regnant. Also (saith he) this name Latemos, containing the number of 666, is thought to be the name of Antichrist, and it is very like so to be, for that which most undoubtedly is a kingdom hath that name, for they be Latins which now do reign. You see by this testimony of Iraeneus, that this prophecy of old time was understood of Rome, and therefore it is no new interpretaciō that Babylon is Rome, and that the number of the Beasts name is to be found in one that beareth rule at Rome. If this exposition or explication of y ^t Beasts name had been devised by Luther, Zwynglius, or Calvin, it might have been suspected, as a thing imagined of spite and envy against the church of Rome, but whē it is brought forth by so ancient a Doctor, which lived not many years after this Revelation was given, as he himself saith, it was but a little before his time, under Domitiane the Emperor, which died 13. hundred years before Luther was borne: we must needs judge it both to be very ancient, & void of all partiality. Wherefore I will pass over diverse other applications of that number to other names, which nevertheless hyt Babylon home, because they have been sought out of late by such as bear ill will unto Rome. For I think this is sufficient with all reasonable men of equal judgment, to prove that this is no new opinion to seek the See of Antichrist at Rome. They them selves to prove their doctrine catholic, allege authority of a 11. or 12. hundred years antiquity: behold this opinion is 13. or 14 hundred years old, y ^t Antichrist should be a Roman, & that the See of his tyranny is at Rome.

The second witness of this assertion, that Babylon is Rome, is Tertullianus, a very ancient writer also: Who in plain words affirmeth that Babylon signifieth Rome, in y ^t third book against Martion, which denied y ^t Christ had a true body. Wherefore Tertulliane useth this reasō against him: That thing which hath a figure of it, must be a thing of truth, & so discoursing of many things figured, & the figures of them, cometh to these words: Sie et Babylon apud Iohannem nostrum, Romanae vrbis figuram portat, perinde & magnae, & regno superbae, & sanctorum debellatricis. That is to say: Even so doth Babylon (in the Apocalypse ) of our s. John, bear the figure of the city of Rome, which is altogether as great, and as proud in reign, & as great a persecutor of the Saints, as Babylon was. You see therefore most clearly and plainly, that Tertulliane w ^c all his learning could not interpret these things y ^t be written in this Revelation, concerning Babylon to be applied to any other city then Rome. And he is also a witness void of all partiality or affection to either part, of them that strive in our days. For he departed nere about, xiii. hundred years before our time: why should we not then be credited in this case?

Well next unto him I will join Chrysostom, in his Cōmentary upon the second Epistle to the Thessalonians the second chapter, in his fourth Homely. Whereas s. Paul speaking of the manifestation of Antichrist, saith, they knew what was the stay, that he was not presently revealed: But when that stay is taken away, he should be revealed in his due time. Chrysostom expoundeth this stay, to be the Roman Empire, which must give place unto Antichrist. That like as the Persians came in place of the Chaldeans, the Grecians in place of the Percians, and the Romans in place of the Grecians, even so Antichrist should invade the Empire of the Romans: Vacantem imperij principatum inuadet, & tentabit ad se capere hominum & Dei imperium. Antichrist (saith he) shall invade the vacant principallity of the Empire, & shall assay to draw unto himself the Empires both of God & men. And is it not manifest that the Papacie grew & took increase by the decay of the Empire, & at the fall of the Monarchy challenged full possession of all dominion, both spiritual and temporal?

Of the same judgment is s. Jerome, writing upon the same place of Paul unto Algasia, in the eleventh question, whose words are these: Nec vult aperte dicere Romanum imperium de struendum, quod ipsi qui imperant aeternum putant, vnde secundum Apocalypsim Johannnis in front purpuratae meretricis scriptum est nomen blasphemy, id est Romae aeternae, &c. that is: Neither will he openly say, that the Roman Empire should be destroyed, which they that govern it think to be everlasting, wherefor • according to the Revelation of s. John, in the forehead of the purple whore there is written a name of blasphemi, which is, Rome everlasting Loe here another witness of good antiquity, and sufficient credit, which not only agreeth plainly with Chrysostom, that Antichrist should take possession of the Roman Empire, when it should be decayed in the Emperors: but also most plainly agreeing with Tertulliane, calleth that Babylonicall strumpet, which is described in the 17. chapter of this Apocalypse, that purple whore of Rome, & the name of the blasphemy to be, Rome everlasting : As though he had heard the Pope brag of the eternity of his See, which he saith is the Rock, against which the gates of hell cannot prevail. But he is foully be giled, for Rome the See of his Popedom, is by s. Jerome's judgment, that Babylon of whō the Angel preacheth, y ^e howsoever the boast of her eternity: She is fallen, she is fallen, even Babylon that great city, & never shall rise again.

They cry out against us, that we rail, and speak cōtumeliously of the holy See of y ^e Pope, when we call Rome the whore of Babylon : but when the old Doctors (to whose judgment they themselves appeal from the authority of the scripture) fear not so plainly in their writings, to paint out the Babylonycall strumpet in her right coulors, & in flat words to say she is Rome the mother of all abominacions, & the See of Antichrist: why should we be blamed for saying as we are taught by them? And especially of those men that make so great vauntes, that the judgment is altogether on their side: by whom they offer to be tried, when they dare not abide the judgment of the Scriptures. Again, consider I pray you of the old Doctors, before Antichrist were openly revealed, did understand by the scriptures, that he should • yt at Rome : what think you would they have said and written, if they had lived in these days, & known and seen all that was prophesied to be fulfilled in him, with what confidence suppose ye, they would have inueyed against him? With how open mouths would they have cried out upon him? At least wise do you not think in your conscience, that when they had considered the authority of the Pope, & his wholesome doctrine, they would have changed their minds, and recanted their writings against Rome, and repented that ever they had called her y ^e purple whore of Babylon, seeing she is the holy mother church of Rome, the See of the most holy father the Pope, the head of the same church? I must needs say thus much in your behalf (O ye Papists) as ill as I love you, that if Jerome, Tertulliane, and the rest of the Doctors did so account of Rome as you affirm of them, they were much to blame to defame her with such odious names, as to call her the purple whore of Babylon, which must needs make her vehemently suspected to be the church of Antichrist, and not of Christ. For what Papist in these days dare say, that which Jerome said, that Rome is that purple harlot Babylon which S. John speaketh of in the Apocalypse ? The same Jerome in his 13. book of Cōmentaries of the prophecy of Isaiah, upon the 47 chap. writeth in this manner: Licet ex co quod iuxta 70 scriptū est 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , id est filia Babylonis, nō ipsum Babylonem quidam, sed Romanam vrbem interpretantur, quae in Apocalypsi Johannes & Epistola Petri Babylon specialliter appellatur, &c. That is: For as much as the seventy Interpreters write, not the daughter Babylon, but the Daughter of Babylon, some do interpret thereof, not Babylon in Chaldea, but the City of Rome, which in the Revelation of saint John, & the Epistle of Peter, is specially called Babylon. Note that Jerome in this place, accōpted Rome to be Babylon the younger, daughter of Babylon y ^e elder. And secondly, that this was not his opinion only, but the consent of many other in his time, and namely of such as used to interpret the Prophet Isaiah. Thirdly, and especially consider, that he affirmeth Rome in the Apocalypse, to be specially called Babylon. So that Babylon in the Apocalypse, by his judgment, cannot be understood for nothing else but Rome, because Rome is there specially figured by Babylon. What meaneth Jerome so often to beat in this nail, that Babylon is Rome ? If it had slipped out of his pen but once, he might have been pardoned for his oversight: but whē he hath never done writing, that Rome is Babylon, and in the Revelation specially called Babylon, why should we accompt him any longer for a Catholic? For in his Preface unto the book of Didimus, De spiritu sancto, which he translated out of Greek into Latin, writing to Pauinianus, he uttereth these words: Cum in Babylon versarer, & purpuratae meretricis essem Colonus, & iure Quiritum viuerem, &c. Of late (saith he) when I was in Babylon, and was an inhabitant of the purple harlot, & lived after the laws of the Romans, I thought to entreat somewhat of the holy Ghost. What needed Jerome in this place, so odiously & contumeliously to call Rome by the name of Babylon, but y ^t he could never consider Rome otherwise, but to be y ^t See appointed for Antichrist? for in other places, where he interpreteth y ^t scriptures & Prophecies, concerning Antichrist, we may less marvel if he interpret Babylon for Rome, because no reason could lead him to expound it otherwise: But here talking pleasātly with his friend, what necessitys compelled him to use such descriptions of Rome, but that this persuasion was so deeply graven in his mind, that Babylon is Rome, that neither in earnest noriest he could forget it, but is always harping upon it, as though he thought scorn to call Rome by any other name, then that he had learned in the scriptures, to be Babylon, & the purple Harlot. For in like manner, writing to Marcella a virtuous Gentlewoman of Rome, whom he allured to forsake Rome, & to dwell nere unto him in Bethlehem, one especial reasō that he useth to persuade her, is this: That as Bethlehē whether he would have her to repair, is situate in the holy land, & the place consecrated to the birth of Christ : So Rome where she desired to remain, was the Babylonical harlot according to the Revelation of s. John, appointed for the birth of Antichrist, which there should arise, & exercise tyranny, & from thence should deceive y ^t whole world with his wicked wyles.

But who so will read the works of Jerome, may find yet more places, in which he is bold to cal Rome Babylon, y ^t very See of Antichrist. Whereby it is apparent, that it is no new or strange matter to seek Antichrist at Rome, when such old Doctors of the church so commonly in Commentaries, Epistles, and other writings, do teach us that Rome is Babylon, & the scripture affirmeth that Babylon is the See of Antichrist. But let us leave s. Jerome, and see what other say of the same matter.

Saint Ambrose, writing a Cōmentary upon the Revelation of s. John, is of the same judgment. Of the authority of the work, I will move no question at this time, seeing it is commended to us by Cuthbert Tonstal, late bishop of Duresme, who found it in an old Library, & first set it in print, under the name of that great s. Ambrose, and is willing that men should so think of it. It is good authority I say, against the Papists, being commended by so Catholic a Prelate, & because they are wont to receive whatsoever cometh under the name of an old Doctor, though it be never so unlike his writing, and cry out upon us for rejecting at our pleasure the works of ancient Doctors that make against our doctrine, as though we rejected any without cause, or they refused none for any cause: whereas Pighius their great Patron blusheth not to reject the report of two general Counsels, the fifth & sixth of Constantinople, which are commended to us by public faith of y ^t church of Constantinople, because in y ^e one Pope Honorius is condemned & accursed for an heretic, & in neither of both y ^e Popes Legates could have the highest place, according to y ^t request of their ambitious Master. But as for this Ambrose, if he wer not Ambrose of Milan, yet is it apparent by the style, that he was some ancient writer of the Latin church, & he throughout this prophecy interpreteth Babylon to be Rome: & Antichrist to be sought nowhere but at Rome.

Primasius also, a very ancient writer, who likewise cōmenteth upon the Apocalypse, expoundeth these prophecies of Antichrist to be fulfilled in y ^t Roman empire, & of the city of Rome.

S. Augustine in his work De Ciuitate Dei, not once or twice, but oftentimes is bold to cal Rome Babylon, & Babylon Rome, as in his 16. book, and 17. chapter, he calleth Rome another Babylon in the West. And in his 18. book, & 2. chapter he calleth Babylon of Chaldea the first Rome, & Rome of Italy the second Babylon, willing men to consider, that in the beginning of the city of God, which was the church in Abraham's time, y ^e first Rome that was Eastern Babylon her enemy was built in Chaldea, and about the same time that the first Babylon was destroyed, least the city of God should lack her enemy, the second Babylon which is Rome in Italy was erected. It is a strange matter, y ^t the same city which is y ^t professed enemy of the city of God, should be the mother of all religion, & the very city of God it selfs. O Augustine, thou wast not well advised to make the city of Rome enemy to the city of God, that Rome should be the same to the church of God, that Babylon of old was at Jerusalem. The same Augustine in the 22. chap. of the 18. book, calleth Rome another Babylon, & daughter of the first Babylon. And in the 27. chap. he calleth Rome Western Babylon. By these & other testimonies of old • writers that might be brought, but for tediousness I suppose it is sufficiently proved that Babylon in this my text spoken of, is Rome, and that we should not seek Antichrist to proceed from any other place then from Rome. But what need I trouble myself to seek further testimonial, for confirmation of this matter, that Babylon is Rome, then of the Papists them selves? For it is the common catholic opinion of all Papists, that s. Peter in his Epistle where he sendeth salutacions frō the Church gathered in Babylon, by Babylon understandeth Rome. And they learn it of Ieronime, which in the life of s. Mark doth so expound it. So greedy they are to find a place in Scripture where Peter should be said to have been at Rome, that they are content to acknowledge Babylon in the scripture to be understood of Rome. And thus I have performed I trust sufficiently, y ^t which I took in hand to prove, both by the authority of holy scripture in plain & manifest texts, & by consent of many ancient writers, yea by the confession of the Papists them selves, that Babylon in the scripture is taken for Rome. And thus much for the first part, in which because I have been over long, I will be shorter in that which remaineth.

In the second part I promised to declare how Babylon which is Rome is fallen, according to the prophecy of this Angel: She is fallen (saith the Angel) she is fallen. He repeateth y ^• word of falling for two causes: First, to declare the certainty of her decay, y ^t howsoever she seemed to floorish and triumph, as though she should never have fall̄ or come to ruin: yet God for her wickedness most righteously, & for the comfort of his church most mercifully, had decreeed undoubtedly that she should fall, when that time was once come, which in his most wise & well ordered council was appointed for her destruction. Secondly, he repeateth twice that she is fallen, to show that she should have an irrecoverable fall: she should not fall as other cities, which have risen again, but she should fall without all hope of recovery, never to be restored again. Therefore in the 18. chap. a mighty Angel taketh up a great mylstone, & throweth it into the sea saying: With such violence s • all Babylon that great city, be thrown down, & never be seen anymore. So that as it is impossible for a great millstone, thrown with great forc • by a mighty Angel into the bottom of the sea, to rise up again, & swym above the water: so impossible is it that Babylon, when she is at the lowest of her fall, should ever be set up again. And in the 19. chap. it is said: That the smoke of her burning ascended up forever and ever. Also of her utter desolation descriptions ar made in the 18. chapter, where it is said, that Babylon is made a dwelling place of devils, a cage of unclean birds, according to the prophecy of Isaiah, concerning old Babylon, that Zyim and Ohyi • which be Sprights & Goblins shall walk in he • palaces, Scrichowles & Ostriges shall cry in he • houses, Apes & Satires shall dance in her beutiful buildings. No voice of men shall be heard in her, no sound of a myl shall be heard, no light of a candle shall be seen, but perpetual solitude & sorrow shall dwell there for evermore. Therefore saith the Angel, She is fallen, she is fallen, that is she is destroyed, and never shall be repaired.

But if we will better understand how she i • fallen, we must consider more distinctly wherein the is fallen. First, in wealth and riches. she hath sustained a great fall. Consider how many kingdoms and states of the world have renounced her obedience, & all these have withdrawn great ren • s, revenues, & commodities, that in times past were addict to the maintenance of Babylon the church of Rome. A great fall without peradventure, & that will never be recovered. Remēber so many Abbeys, Monasteries, Nunneries, Frieries, Hospitals, Chauntries, Churches & Chapels, now • uerthrowne and made even with the ground: Al lands, is wels, ornaments & great treasures that belonged unto them, clean taken away from them: & you will confess with me, that Rome in riches hath a great fall. Yea, if you would see with your eyes • manifest example of God's judgment against Babylon, behold that evil favored mynes and • ea •• es of Monasteries, that wer sometime gor • eous & sumptuous buildings. The same end • emaineth all that pomp & pride of Babylon, • or yet altogether beaten down, but even now • falling: For the mouth of the Lord hath spo • en it, & his immutable counsel hath decreeed 〈◊〉 , and he hath sent an Angel to proclaim it.

Some wish perchance, y ^t Monasteries had • ood still, & been converted to better uses: But • ndoubtedly the providence of God so ordered all •• ings y ^t his curse which was vpō them might • e executed, & the prophecies that were concer • ing them, might be fulfilled, that they might be a monument of h • s wrath unto all the posterity, the beginning of the fall of Babylon, and an example of the destruction of all the rest that should follow soon after. Who would ever have thought that so great riches, treasures, & revenues should so sodaynly be overthrown destroyed, and come to nothing? Therefore it is manifest, that in wealth and worldly substance, whereby the pride, voluptuousness, and intemperaunce of riotous Rome was maintained, and grew to an intolerable exces, is greatly diminished, sore decayed, and hath a foul fall, and shortly shall have a final fall.

Well, Babylon is not fallen only in wealth and riches, but also in power and authority. For the Kings of the earth, which sometimes were subject to that monstrous Beast, have now shaken of the yoke of her servitude; & wythdrawen the obedience of all their subjects from her. Yea▪ the most part of the. x. horns, which sometime gave over their power and authority unto th • Beast, which were all the Kings & Potentate • that acknowledged the Pope for their suprem • head, & sovereign Lord, do now hate and abhor the Harlot of Rome, and shall make he • desolate, by withdrawing their subjects from her obedience, and nakedly spoiling her of he • treasures, & shall eat her flesh for pure hatre • and burn her with fire: For great is the Lor • which judgeth her. So that she which before at her pleasure might command all Princes to begin war, to cease from war, to defend her quarrels, to annoy her enemies: now is glad to flatter a few seduced Princes to take her part, that she be not utterly forsaken of all men: Or else to practice by treasō & treachery, suborning Roges and Vacabonds to stir up tumults among y ^e rude people, to trouble godly estates & common wealths, that despise her dominion, but w ^t out all hope ever to recover her ancient tyranny.

Her thunderboits of Excōmunication, which were sometime terrible to all men, are now feared of no man. What though she retain her proud & presumptuous stomach, and will do while her breath lasteth, to pronounce sentence of depriuatiō against Princes that abhor her wickedness? Her impudent arrogancy is not so much detested of many, as laughed to scorn of all. Her Proctors and privy practicers, though they change them selves like Proteus, into never so unlikely shapes, are espied in every corner. For God himself revealeth their pretences, & will not suffer her to prevail any longer. So that in power & authority Babylon is fallen and falleth daily more and more into utter contempt with all men, until she be utterly consumed, & brought to nothing, which will not be long before it come to pas. For this sentence y ^t God hath thrown against her, & begun also to execute, cannot be changed, or much longer deferred.

But especially & chiefly Babylon is fallen in credit of her doctrine. For besides so many princes and states of Christendom, that by public authority have received the Gospel, & utterly abolished all Babilonicall doctrine: Even in the midst of her tyranny & persecution, great multitudes daily are lyghtened with the bright beams of the Gospel, that for all Inquisitions, imprisonments, exquisite torments, & cruel burnings, they never a whit diminish, but rather increase, as God hath provided, that the blood of the Martyrs should be the seed of the Church. And they ar more then obstinate, if they do not acknowledge that this matter is governed frō God above. For if it had been of men, it must needs have decayed before this time, and have come to naught, as Gamaliel said of y ^• doctrine of the Apostles. Therefore in fighting against it, they show them selves but after the manner of the old Giants, to make war against God. Or as it is contained in this prophecy, y ^e Antichrist should gather together the Princes of the earth to make battle against him that sitteth upon y ^e white Horse, whose name is the word of God, but all to their own utter confusion & destructiō. For the word of God must conquer and prevail in the last age, & Antichrist must be consumed by the spirit of y ^e mouth of Christ, which is his holy word, & utterly abolished by the glorious brightness of his coming to judgment, as s. Paul testifieth in the second chap. of the second Epistle to y ^e Thessalonians. Therefore it is in vain that they seek to underprop the doctrine of Babylon by cruelty & tyranny, for all will not serve, seeing the time of her final fall approacheth, and now already our savior Christ with the spirit of his mouth, hath wasted & consumed a great part of that credit & estimation, in which y ^e doctrine of Babylon of long time hath triumphed. And it is our parts to pray, that her credit may daily more & more decrease, y ^t the kingdom of Christ may be perfectly established amongst us, & the kingdom of Antichrist may be overthrow̄ even from the foundacions. That no superfluous relics of Babylonical religion may remain where the church of Christ is in building: but y ^t the doctrine of Babylon may fall altogether.

Thus have I declared that Babylon in wealth and substance, in power & authority, in credit & estimation of her doctrine, is fallen, & that without hope of recovery. For her credit is cracked not only among her enemies the Protestants, but even among her best friends, and greatest Archpapists. For I suppose there is none in the world so blind, so superstitious, so devoutly addict in all points of popish idolatry and superstition, as they were. xxx. or. xl. years past. Although they close their eyes never so obstinately against the light of God's word, yet some effect of the beams of force will pierce even through their eye lids. And that they them selves cannot dissemble, although they would never so fain, but that they have been deceived with gross errors, & shameful superstitions. Their Pardons, their Pilgrimages, their Legends: who is now so blind, that seeth not how the world hath been seduced by them? And the simplicity of the people abused to satisfy their insatiable covetousness. As for the greatest Patrones of Popery that be learned, they cannot deny, but that great errors have been received & taught for truths: yea y ^e Pope himself hath acknowledged, that many errors have crept into the church, yea even into the Mass, but the reformation of them pertaineth to him alone, & the general council. But what hope of reformatiō is to be looked for at their hands, let it be seen in the decrees of the last council of Trent. What little Mise those great mountains in so many years travel have brought forth. In fortye or fifty years consultacion, two great matters reformed: One for Pardoners not to be common Pedlers, another for the Communion in both kinds, to those that desire it: so they confess it were as good in one kind, and agree with them in all other pointes of Popery. Yet all was not well, they confess by their correction. And as for the greatest pillars and Proctors they have, if they be pressed nere, acknowledge a great deal more. As one that landed lately at Yarmouth, before witness of good credit restified, that if he might be satisfised in two pointes, concerning y ^• Popes supremacy, & the real presence, for other matters he would not greatly strive. So that I will conclude that Babylon is fallen in riches, in power, in credit of doctrine, not only w ^t protestants, but even with Papists them selves.

But now I know what will be objected against me, that I have traueled all in vain, to prove that Babylon is fallen, & that Babylon is Rome : And y ^t I have abused the texts of scripture, and sentences of old Doctors to prove the • ame. For whatsoever is contained, either in • he scripture, or in the writing of the ancient Doctors, to prove that Babylon is Rome, is to • e understood of Rome under the heathen Em • erours, & not under the Popes: And that all • his while I have wrested the scriptures, & en • orced the Doctors to affirm that which they • ever thought of. In deed I will confess, y ^e some • rophecies contained in this Revelation, were • ulfilled in the heathen Emperors, & that the • eathen Empire was an introduction unto An • ichrist: but that Antichrist the great enemy of the church of Christ, & which is principally called Antichrist, could not be any of the heathen Emperors, neither the state of the heathen Monarchy, I will make it manifest by plain demonstrations. And first I will retain this principle, sufficiently proved before, that Rome is the See of Antichrist, and that by authority of scriptures and consent of ancient writers, we can seek him no where, but in the Roman Empire. And now the controversy resteth in this, whether y ^t heathen Emperors or the Pope us them.

First s. Paul in the second chap. of the second Epistle to the Thessaloniās, speaking purposely of Antichrist, saith expressly that he shall sit in the temple of God, which is y ^• church of Christ▪ But it is manifest, that the heathen Emperor • did not sit in the church of God, therefore y ^t heathen Emperor is not this Antichrist. And by y ^t same reasō it is manifest, that Mahomet is not that especial Antichrist, because he sitteth without the temple of God, as there be diverse that would have these things to be understood of Mahomet or Ottomanus : but it is as clear as the Sun at noon days, for as much as neither the heathen Emperors, nor Mahomet, nor Ottomanus sitteth in y ^e temple or church of God, that none of them is that great Antichrist, o • whom the prophecies of the scripture are to be expounded. And where as some of them interpret the abominacion of desolation, whereof Christ speaketh, to be meant of Antichrist, or at least wise to be a figure of him, that cannot be understood of the heathen Emperors, or any other y ^t is without the Church, for that standeth in the holy place, which is the temple, and signifieth the church. Now the Pope sitteth in the midst of the temple of God, & boasteth himself to be God, challenging to him self such authority, as is proper only to God, & usurping such honor as is peculiar only to God. Therefore not in the heathen Emperors, but in y ^e Popes, is this prophecy accomplished.

Another reason to prove y ^• Antichrist, which in this Revelation is foreshowed to come into the world, cannot be understood to be the heathē Emperors, is taken out of the. 17. chap. of the same book. For there the Angel interpreting unto s. John the mistery of the Beast that beareth the Harlot, which hath seven heads: after he hath shown that the seven heads signify. vii. hyls, he declareth that they signify also seven Kings, or principal estates, or forms of regiment, for so the name of King is often taken in the Prophets, and specially in Daniel, at which prophecy s. John borroweth many phrases. Of • hese seven heads five (he saith) were fallen, the sixth was then presently in authority, and the • euenth was not yet come, which seventh was the monstrous beast Antichrist, that was both the seventh and the eight. Now it is evident, that this could not be understood of the heathen Emperors, for Nero the first persecuting Paynim, was come and gone, & Domitian another persecutor, by whose tyranny s. John was banished into the Isle of Patmos, where he saw & received this Revelation, was then in authority: So that of the Monarchy or tyranny of heathen Emperors, this could not be understood, & of the Christian Emperors no man will expound it, so that it must needs be turned over to the Pope, for it can rest in no place else. And being referred unto him, all the rest hath a very ap • exposition of the city of Rome, & the dominions thereof hath had seven principal states or forms of regiment. The first state of Kings, the secō • of Consuls, the third of Decemuiri, the fourt • of Dictatores, the fifth of Triumuiri, the sixth o • Caesar's or Emperors, & the seventh of Popes Now five of these states or forms of regimen • were fallen and abolished in s. John's time: th • sixth which was the Emperors, in his time wa • in place: and the seventh which is the Popes was not yet come, which was the very beast i • self: the Roman Empire revived, and raise up from the bottomless pit of hell, into the usurped tyranny of the Pope. And this is y ^t Beas • that sometimes was of wonderful great powe • and glory, in the days of Augustus, and some other of his successors, but then much decayed, as if it had not been, although in some sort it wer, but should be restored in the usurped authority of the Pope, that claimeth all the world to be his Diocese: Which power cometh not from God, but from the Prince of pride, out of the bottomless pyt. But chiefly let us consider, that the beast, although he be but one, yet in the accompt he standeth for two, for he is y ^t seventh head, & the sight also: And remember that the Pope challengeth double authority, namely the power of both swords, the spiritual & the temporal. So that in this exposition, all things agree most aptly. Again, it is manifest in the scriptures, that Antichrist should deceive the world with false doctrine, under pretence & coullor of true religion, & therefore so often times the scripture warneth men, that they be not seduced by him, which were needeles, if any open professed enemy of Christ should be that Antichrist. For there is no likelihood, y ^t an heathen man, a Jew or a Turk, should deceive any multitude of true Christians, but he that under the pretence of the name of Christ, seeketh most of all to deface the honor of Christ: he is a subtle adversary, & the very spirit of Antichrist, as S. John also in his Epistle doth testify. For in y ^e second chap. speaking of those Antichrists which were the forerunners of y ^t great Antichrist, be showeth that they went out from the church: & in the fourth chap. he calleth them false Prophets, and teacheth them how to know y ^t spirit of Antichrist, He that denieth JESUS to be Christ, he that denieth that JESUS Christ is come in the flesh. That is, he that derogateth any thing from the honor of Jesus to be Christ, and in his flesh to have performed the full work of man's redemption, as y ^t Pope doth most blasphemously, he is Antichrist: and who so teacheth any such doctrine, speaketh by y ^t spirit of Antichrist: For the testimony of JESUS, is the spirit of prophecy. Seeing therefore that S. John accounteth Antichrist for one that is gone from the Church, & for a false Prophet, it is clear that Antichrist is no heathen Emperor, which was never of the Church, nor any false Prophet, that took upon him to teach in the church. The same may be said of Mahomet, who never professed him self to be a Christian, nor yet a Prophet in the Church of C • rist, pretending to uphold the religion of Christ, but an open enemy or the Gospel, and of our Savior Christ, altogether without the Church. By these arguments I doubt not, but all men may see, that see • ng Babylo • is Rome, and that the head of Babylon is Antichrist, that he cannot be any of the heathen Emperors, but even the Pope him self. And therefore I conclude, according to my text, y ^t Rome is fallen, if Babylon by fallen.

Now remaineth the last part that I promised to entreat of, namely the cause of God's so severe judgment against Babylon, that he hath decreeed her utter overthrow and destruction, which the Angel comprehēdeath in these words: Because she hath made all Nations drunk with the wyne of the fury of her fornication. That is: She hath deceived all the world with false doctrine, which he compareth unto two kinds of vices, whereby men are so deceived, that they leese all right judgment: Dronkennes and Fornication. For as these two vices do allure men to commit them, by coveting of vain de • ectacion that is in them: even so Babylon hath enticed all men like another Circe, to drink of the cup of her delectable errors, and to commit most filthy fornication with her idolatrous religion. For of all other religions to the carnal man, none is so pleasant as Popery is, in which be so many kinds of satisfaction to be obtained, both in this life, & after men be dead, that there is no greater security of an hipocri • e to sleep in, then in the fair promises of Po{per}erye. And that causeth so many willingly to embrace it, & so loath to depart from it, because they would still continue without check of true doctrine, which calleth men to repentance, and amendment of life, or else threateneth eternal damnation. For howsoever it pleaseth them to charge the doctrine of the Gospel with cause of security, it may easily be seen by comparison of it, with the doctrine of Popery, whether because of security: that which teacheth no satisfaction but one, for them that be penitent in this life: or theirs that hath so many ways to merit rewards, & to satisfy for sins, not only while men live in the world, but also for them that are already gone out of it. And there is no wine so sweet to the taste of a carnal man, as that which maketh him droonke with opinion of his own righteousness, as it is the nature of strong wyne, to make very Cowardes think them selves to be valiant Champions: and such is the cup of popish doctrine, containing merits and satisfactions.

Agayne, when we consider that Antichrist should make men droonke with his erroneous doctrine, we marvel less how men could be so blinded and infatuate, that they could not see and perceive such gross errors, and manifest untruths as are in Popery. For as they that are overcome with the strength of wyne, have lost the right use, both of their wit, and of their senses: even so they that are droonke with the heretical doctrine of Papistry, do grope in the clear light of the Sun, and see not their own deformity, though all the world beside cry out of them. In like manner, they that be overcome with the dishonest love of Harlots, have their reason so imprisoned in corrupt affection and foolish fantasy, that they are at liberty neither to see their own folly, nor admit any wise and godly counsel. So it fareth with those that the Babylonicall Circe the church of Rome hath all • ured by her enchauntments, to commit spiritual fornication with her, they cannot abide to hear the voice of them that calleth them out of that damnable estate, so highly they please them selves in their own misery, as if they were in case of perfect felicity. This is chiefest of their • rokēnes, this is chiefest of their fornication, and this is the just judgment of God, that they which have shut up their ears from hearing the truth, should be deceived with strong delusions, that they might believe lies. Furthermore, by the names of these vices, the Angel comprehendeth all other vices that follow of them, as intemperancy, arrogancy, impudency, and such like as are wont to follow drunkenness and incontinence. For these crimes go not vnaccompanied, for where either of them is, commonly both will be, & they have either of them, and both together, their trayne to wait upon them. And all these we see to have overflowed in Rome the Western Babylon, as she her self, though she have a brazen forehead, and be past all shame, cannot deny altogether. And because of these so great and heinous enormities the just sentence of God, pronounced here by the Angel, is come upon her, that she is now in her fall and decay, as she was once in her ruffe and glory. But this especially is to be noted, that the Angel here saith, that She should deceive all nations with the fury of her fornicatiō. For this is the great vniuersallity that they make so great brags of, and would have it to be a certain Note and Marcke of the catholic church to be universal: Behold the Angel here saith in plain words, that all nations should drink of the wyne of the fury of her fornication. Wher is then the universal consent and unity of all nations in religion, that maketh a true religion? And yet vniuersallity and unity be two great pillars of the Church of Rome. And for my part I do not enui her those marks which she challengeth of vniuersallity and unity, (although we might stand in law with her for them) but let her peaceably enjoy them: for they may help to prove her to be y ^t false church of Antichrist, but they cannot make her to be the true church of Christ. We see plainly that Babylon hath here vniuersallity and unity, for she maketh all nations to drink of the furious wine of her fornication: but y ^e church of Christ, as he himself saith, is a small flock, and himself by Simeon is said to be a sign of contradictiō, a mark that is gaynsaid of most men.

And here also is answered one great mighty objection, wherewith they think to chekers: That seeing the church of Christ, is the Spouse of Christ, how could it be that Christ should forsake his Spouse, and suffer her to continue in damnable errors, so many hundred years? Why, Christ him self declareth, that the deceits and errors of false Prophets should be so great, that if it were possible, the very Elect should be deceived. Yea, there should be such a miserable dispersion, that scarce two true Professors of his name should remain together in one plac • , and yet the holy hand of unity should be in the head, which is our savior Christ: for where soever the carc • sse is, thither the Eagles would be gathered. And S. Paul in manifest words declareth, that the second coming of Christ should not be, before there were a general Apostasy, that is: a departure from the true faith & religion of Christ, and that the son of perdition Antichrist were openly shown. And • n this Revelation how often is it said, that • ntichrist should deceive all the world, all na • ions, people, and tongues, and that the Church of Christ should be driven into the wilderness, • ut of the sight of the world, and there remains a space, until she should be brought again to light and open knowledge of all men? As it is come to pass this day, God's name be therefore everlastingly praised.

But because I have occupied long time, I will draw to an end: For by that I have said, I trust it doth sufficiently appear, that God according to his righteous judgment, hath determined utterly to overthrow Babylon, because she hath deceived all nations with the wyne of the fury of her fornication. And now it resteth only, that I speak a word or two of the voice of the third Angel, which is a consequent of this my text, and serveth very aptly for the conclusion of my Sermon.

The third Angel followed, crying with a loud voice, and saying: If any man shall worship the Beast or his Image, or receive hy • mark on his forehead, or in his hand, or shall • acknowledge any obedience or reverence to him, as willing to drink of the cup of Babylon • fornication, the same shall drink of the wyn • of the fury of God's wrath, which is pour • forth vnmingled, into the great cup of God anger, and they shall be tormented with si • & brimstone, before the Lamb and his holy Angels, and the smoke of their torments shall • ascend for evermore, and they shall have n • rest d • y nor night from extreme torments that worship the Beast, or show any reverence unto Antichrist. The effect is in few words: That horirible, intolerable, and eternal torments remain for all them, that now especially, when Babylon is now discovered, will have anything to do with her damnable errors and pernicious doctrine. For howsoever ignorance before her fall, though it were inexcusable, yet seemed to diminish the greatnest of the crime: Now that her wickedness is openly displayed, no pretence can save men from the extremity of God's wrath, if they will still obstinately continue in her heresies.

Let us therefore pray unto almighty God instantly, that all men in their vocation may seek the utter overthrow and destruction of Babylon : that Princes and Magistrates may, according to the prophecies of them, hate her with a perfect hatred, and utterly abolysh whatsoever belongeth to her: that they may reward her, as she hath rewarded us, and give her double punishment, according to her works: and in the cup of affliction that she hath poured forth for us, they may pour forth double as much to her. And look how much she hath glorified her self, and lived in wattonnes (which was without measure) so much they may bestow upon her of sorrow and torments. That Preachers and Ministers of God's word, may plainly and without dissimulation or halting, discover her wickedness: & earnestly to urge whatsoever hath yet need of perfect reformation. That all Subiectes may continue in holy obedience, first to GOD, and then to their Prince, to the aduauncyng of the honor and glory of GOD, through JESUS CHRIST. To whom with the holy Ghost be all honor, glory, power, and dominion, both now and ever.

Imprinted at London by John Awdely, dwelling in little Bryttayne street, without Aldersgate. 1571.