Ecclesiastica interpretatio: or The expositions vpon the difficult and doubtful passages of the seuen Epistles called catholike, and the Reuelation. Collected out of the best esteemed, both old and new writers, together with the authors examinations, determinations, and short annotations. The texts in the seuen Epistles of Iames, Peter, Iohn and Iude are six and forty. The expositions vpon the Reuelation are set forth by way of question and answer. Here is also a briefe commentary vpon euery verse of each chapter, setting forth the coherence and sense, and the authors, and time of writing euery of these bookes. Hereunto is also annexed an antidot against popery. By Iohn Mayer, B. of D. and pastor of the Church of Little Wratting in Suffolke.

CHAP. XVII.

IN this Chapter and that which followeth, the great City before said to bee diuided into three parts is more particularly de∣scribed, together with her vtter ruine and ouerthrow, in respect of the head and fountaine Rome, from whence all the abo∣minations of idolatry and superstition haue flowed. In the exposition of the particulars there is no great difference nor difficulty, so much light hauing beene already giuen, and therefore I will the more briefly, only tou∣ching the diuersity of interpretations, come to open euery passage as it lieth in order.

Quest. 1. Which of the seuen Angels is it that sheweth Iohn these things, who is the great Whore whom he saith he will shew vnto him, what are the waters called also a beast vers. 3. strangely described that she sitteth vpon. And why was hee led into a desart place to behold this? and touching the more particular description of this Whore, and the word Mystery written in her forehead, what is meant hereby?

Answ. The Angell is held by some to bee the fift, who powred out his Viall vpon the throne of the beast. But others more rightly hold him to bee the seuenth Angell, vpon the powring out of whose Viall the great City was diuided into three parts, which is againe more particularly vndertaken here, that by the relation of this Angell it might be more fully vnderstood, both what this City is, and how and by what meanes she commeth to be destroyed.

Others indefinitely take this Angell for one of the seuen.

[ 2] Touching the great Whore, it is agreed almost by all that it is Rome, yea euen by Romanists themselues. Bellarmine saith, Wee may say, and that better in my iudgement, that by the Whore Rome is vnderstood: so likewise Ribera and Viegas the Iesuites vpon this place. Tertullian of old spake to the same effect: Babylon in Saint Iohn doth represent Rome, being as great and as proud of her dominions, and as tyrannizing ouer the Saints as euer Babylon was. And Ierome saith, According to the Reuelation of Saint Iohn, in the sorehead of the queane clad in purple, there was a name of blasphemy written, to wit, Rome the euerlasting. See more touching this before, Chap. 14. vers. 8. and how that shift of heathen Rome being meant here is confuted, whereunto wee may adde, that heathen Rome cannot be meant, because then Rome subdued the Kings of the earth by force, and not by subtill inticements as this Ba∣bylon doth, and because the Rome here spoken against shall bee vtterly destroyed for the sins found then therein when the time of destruction commeth; but heathen Rome was not so destroy∣ed, and if Rome should at the last be destroyed for the idolatries of the Heathen, this destruction must come for idolatries put downe many hundred yeeres agone, which is contrary to the course of the Lords proceedings against sinfull places. As for

their last refuge to an apostasie, yet to bee expected in Rome, in regard of which it is thus spoken of here, see also Chap. 14. vers. 8.

[ 3] Touching the many waters whereupon this woman sitteth, they are interpreted, vers. 15. to be peoples, and Nations, and tongues, ouer which Rome ruleth by the power residing there. And this circumstance of her sitting is varied euery time that it is spoken of. Vers. 3. She is shewed sitting vpon a beast of a purple colour, full of names of blasphemy, hauing seuen heads and ten hornes: and vers. 9. the seuen heads being spoken of are said to be seuen hills whereupon the woman sitteth. She is shew∣ed sitting thus diuersly for diuers respects; shee sitteth vpon many waters, because she ruleth ouer many peoples and Na∣tions; vpon a purple coloured beast, because the Senators and Rulers of this State vnder the Emperours did weare purple and skarlet clothing, ascribing diuine titles of honor vnto their Emperours in a blasphemous manner, as the Cardinals, by whom the Pope ruleth now doe vnto him, being also like∣wise apparelled; and vpon seuen hils, because the City was anciently seated vpon seuen hills. And this variation ma∣keth it so plaine, as that nothing can bee plainer, than that Rome is meant by this Whore, seeing no City in the world is so seated but Rome onely, neither doth that periphrasis where∣by this City is described, vers. 18. agree to any other, This is the great City that hath rule ouer the Kings of the earth. And this name Whore is chosen to expresse Rome the head of the Antichristian Sect, for continuation of the allegory of a wo∣man, in the similitude of whom the Church appeared, chap. 12. The true Church is a chaste and holy woman, who keepeth her selfe only to the Lord to whom shee is married, refusing to worship any other, or to make any other partaker with him in his diuine titles and attributes. The Antichristian Sect is a whorish woman, together with the Lord worship∣ping Images and Saints departed, and attributing that vnto the Pope which is proper to the Lord only, wherein truly spi∣rituall whoredome doth consist.

Touching the place, the Wildernesse, into which hee was led to see this sight; some take Iohn carried hither for a type

of such as should be able to see Rome to be the beast, and the Pope to be the Whore tiding this beast, they should bee ob∣scure persons, and such as in whom this light should be little expected, euen as in a man liuing and brought vp in the Wil∣dernes there is expected no great matter of learning & know∣ledge. Some expound the Wildernesse of Gentilisme wherein Popery indeed appeareth, for so much as the idolatries and su∣perstitions of the Gentiles barren of good men, as the Wilder∣nesse is without people, are the very attire wherein Popery marcheth. Some hold that reference is had here to the woman before spoken of, Chap. 12. flying into the Wildernesse in the time of heathen persecution, being then chaste and beloued of God, but now become an Whore by her manifold idola∣tries. Lastly, some hold that hee is carried into the Wilder∣nesse as the fittest place for contemplation, and he that will diue into any deepe mysteries must retire himselfe from all worldly incumbrances. I hold with this my last Author, that there is no mystery in this passage, but as vpon other occasions it hath beene vsed, Christ was carried by the Spirit into the Wildernesse to be tempted, so here Iohn is carried into the Wil∣dernesse to see this mystery, onely that in so solitary a place there might be no interruption by the comming in of any man, or any occurrence which vnusually hapneth in places more frequented; whereunto if we adde, that the Wildernesse is in a secret place, [ 4] and so properly chosen to manifest this great secret in, it will not bee impertinent. And hence wee may note, that it is not the case of all men to vnderstand this mystery, but it is a long time shewed but vnto a few taken apart from others.

Touching the aray of this Whore in purple and skarlet co∣lour, and gold, and precious stones, and pearles, and vpon her forehead a name written, Mystery, Babylon the great, &c. We shall not need to seeke farre for the fitting of these things to the Hierarchy of Rome. For the Pope, according to the or∣ders set downe in his Booke of Ceremonies, ought to be cloa∣thed in Skarlet, and his Chaire is to be couered all ouer with cloth of Skarlet, yea, his very stockings and shooes are ap∣pointed to be red, adorned with a golden Crosse. And his

very Mule by the ordinance of Paul the second is to be cloa∣thed with Skarlet, as Platina reporteth. He is also apparelled with a long Albe, a Girdle, and a Stole hanging about his necke all imbost with Pearle. She hath in her hand a golden Cup full of abominations to set forth the Pope of her state, and secretly to intimate the very name of him that is here meant, the first letters of these words in Latine, Poculum au∣reum plenum abominationibus, put together making Papa. As for the word Mystery in her forehead, this doth most notably agree, for in the Castle of Saint Angelo in Rome, are certaine old plaine Miters, which haue the name M••sterium ingrauen vpon them, as both Brocard affirmeth vpon this place, and Ioseph Scaliger, that being at Rome with Mounseur de Abin, the French Kings Embassadour, amongst other things they were shewed vnto him. Moreouer, a mystery in the forehead doth argue a profession of mysteries: for all things in their Sacraments and seruice, they say, are full of mysteries. But chiefly it is thus written, because being so abominable a strumpet, it should be hidden from the eyes of most men, honouring in stead of loathing her. Babylon the great, the mother of harlots. Rome is called Babylon, because so like to old Babylon in tyranny, pride, power, and dominion ouer the world. The mother of harlots, because they that seeke to draw the world to spirituall whordome by idolatries haue their au∣thority from thence. These things being so plaine, let vs be ashamed still to continue so blinde as that wee should not see them; the Pope of Rome could not more plainly haue beene described than he is in this place: for what would one haue more to know the party meant by, than a description by his apparell and manner of going, and his very name?

Quest. 2. How are these words to be vnderstood, The beast which thou sawest was and is not, and shall ascend out of the bot∣tomlesse pit, by and by rendred thus againe, The beast that was and is not, and yet is.

Answ. The words immediatly following, vers. 10, 11. serue to explaine this Riddle. There are seuen Kings, fiue are fallen, one is, and the other is not yet come. And againe, The beast that was and is not, euen hee is the eighth, and is of the se∣uenth.

All this then is spoken of the Pope with his imperiall power, declaring the order and manner of the comming on thereof. This highest power vpon earth which hee doth ex∣ercise, was in the old Rulers of the Roman state, during the time of Kings, Consuls, Tribunes, Decemuirs, and Dicta∣tors; but is not, when the sixt head of Emperours was deadly wounded by the Goths and Ʋandals, Heruls and Longobards: for then the beast as quite destroyed ceased to bee for many yeeres, as hath beene already shewed, Chap. 9. vnder the soun∣ding of the fifth Angell. And in speaking of this in the pre∣sent tense, when as it was to come long after, he doth but pro∣ceed in a propheticall stile, as he plainly speaketh also of that which was to be long after this, of which he had immediatly before spoken in the future tense, for comming to repeat was, and is not, and yet shall ascend, he rendreth it thus, was, and is not, and yet is. Whereas in regard of this sixt it is by and by said, one is, but here, is not, the reason is, because that being explanatory is but an historicall narration, and so reporteth things so farre as they had beene and at that time of Saint Iohn were, but here seeming to speake of a thing present, he pro∣phetically setteth forth that which should be afterwards. So that in respect of the same head of Emperours it might bee truly said one is not, and one is now; to speake historically, one is now, prophetically, one is not: and so for the time, the beast is not, because put downe by a forreigne power. That which is added, but shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit, or but yet is, setteth forth the rise of the Pope in Rome after this by a diabo∣licall inuention, as if he had beene plainly seene rising out of Hell. He is the seuenth, but yet is the eighth, for he is a like powerfull with his predecessors, the rulers of that state, and hath another kinde of singular gouernment by the spirituall sword different from them all. And hereby it is plaine, that the tearme beast, and head or King, are coincident one with another, because he which is called the beast, vers. 11. is said to bee one of the seuen heads, which are expounded to bee Kings. Almost to this effect speake some of my most iudici∣ous Authors, and Brightman not much different will haue this saying, the beast is, expounded of the Pope vnder Constan∣tine,

is not, of him in the daies of the Goths, and shall be of him restored to his dignity by Iustinian and Phocas after him. But some hold that the vanancy of the Empire in Saint Iohns time by the decease of Domitian is here meant: for thus it might be said that it was before, but is not, and yet is, be∣cause Nerua Cocceius of base linage succeeded, and departed shortly againe, for he died at the end of a yeere, three moneths and nine daies. But being thus taken, that which followeth cannot bee applyed as explaining this, nay, it cannot be re∣conciled how it should be said one is not, and yet of the same, is now.

Quest. 3. Who are the ten Kings which are said not to haue receiued any Kingdome as yet, but receiue power as Kings at one houre with the beast: and afterwards againe grow to hate the whore, and make her desolate and naked, and eat her flesh, and burns her with fire?

Answ. Most Expositors consent, that these Kings are the Kings that arose out of the ruines of the Roman Empire: for whilst this stood, all Kingdomes about were subiect vnto it and made tributary, except Scotland; but this Empire falling by the inuasion of the Barbarians, Goths, Vandals, Heruls in the west, and of the Turkes, Saracens and Tartarians in the east, there was an opportunity offered vnto them to resume their ancient state which they did, and so became absolute Kingdomes of themselues, without dependance vpon any higher power vpon earth. But whether these Kings be iust ten, or said to be ten, that is, many, it is dissented. Some stand for an vncertaine number, as the word ten is vsed in some other places, as in that of Iaacob challenging Laban for chan∣ging his wages ten times; and of the Lord, affirming that the people had tempted him ten times, that is, many times. Some hold, that these ten are such a iust number, and reckon them to be either 1. France. 2. England. 3. Spaine, held by the Ʋisigoths. 4. Lumbardy, held by the Longobards in Italy. 5. Selauonia. 6. Hungary, held by the Huns and Auarians. 7. Bulgaria and Seruia, held by the Bulgarians. 8. Denmarke. 9. Poland. 10. the Kingdome of Naples and Sicely. Or else thus; France, England, Spaine, Lumbardy, Denmarke, Hungary,

Sweden, Scotland, the Exarchate of Rauenna, and the King∣dome of the Goths in Italy. As for the Kingdomes of Arra∣gon, Granado, Portugall, Castile, Leon, Toledo, Galicia, Na∣uarre, they are inferiour Kingdomes, and appendices either of the Empire, Spaine, or France. Sicily, Bohemia, and Na∣ples are of the Empire, Burgundy of France, Norway of Denmarke, Ireland of England, Cyprus a late Kingdome and not in Christians hands. Some different from all o∣thers will haue ten Emperours to be meant, in whose time the Pope flourished, but after their Empire expired he suffe∣red much: 1. Contantinus magnus. 2. Constantinus silius, & Constans, ac Constantius. 3. Iulianus. 4. Iouinianus. 5. Ʋalen∣tinianus. 6. Gratianus. 7. Ʋalentinianus secundus. 8. Arca∣dius. 9. Honorius. 10. Theodosius. These are said not to be in Saint Iohns time, because heathen Emperours ruled then, but receiued their Kingdome the same houre, that is, about the same time with the beast. This exposition of all others see∣meth to me to disagree most with the Text: First, because the hornes of the beast are of the beast, and certainly limbs of An∣tichrist, such as God forbid that we should count these godly Emperours. Secondly, because these Emperours did neither receiue their Kingdome, which argueth a thing newly ere∣cted, and that was not before, neither were they all at one houre, for they succeded one another in sundry yeeres. Thirdly, because the same ten which giue honour to the beast shall at the last destroy her, which cannot possibly be applied vnto them who did euer onely stand to her and defend her, if the Pope be counted the beast in their times. Neither can I ap∣proue of a certaine number put here for an vncertaine, because howsoeuer ten may be thus put elsewhere, yet here about the heads and hornes of the beast the spirit is more punctuall, for the seuen heads it is agreed, and why should another kinde of exposition then be giuen of the ten hornes? Precisely ten there∣fore are doubtlesse meant, and not so much Kings as King∣domes, being taken with the succession of the Kings reigning therein, and of these Kingdomes I doe not thinke Lumbardy to be any, or any Kingdome springing vp at the dissolution of the Empire to endure a short time onely, but such King∣domes

as then deliuering themselues from the Imperiall yoke, haue stood and shall stand free till the ruine of the Pope. And these I take to be 1. England. 2. France. 3. Spaine. 4. Poland. 5. Denmarke. 6. Sueuia. 7. Hungary 8. The whole Kingdome of Germany both higher and lower. 9. Bohemia. 10. The free States of Italy, Ʋenice, Genoa, &c. Ireland is not reckoned, because an inferiour Kingdome and vnder the Crowne of England, Nauarre of France, Portugall and the Kingdomes of Naples and Sicilies of Spaine, Norway of Den∣marke. Germany, which hath beene since gouerned by Em∣perours, is also a new kinde of Kingdome diuersly ruled, and not as in times past; and the other free States may well be set forth by the name of a Kingdome, and of one, because all in one Nation. To Bohemia belongeth Morauia and Silesia, and although it be in Germany, and commonly is vnder the Em∣perour, yet for so much as it hath the liberty of Election and is an absolute Kingdome in it selfe, I thinke that we may well reckon it for one. As for Solauonia, together with Dacia and Seruia ioyning to it, and Bulgaria, or any other Kingdomes which sprung vp also at the dissolution of the Empire, howso∣euer they were popish in times past, and had a hand in giuing honour to and setting vp of the Pope, yet now they are Mahu∣metan, and therefore the Lord foreseeing this, left them out of the number, as not being likely to haue an hand with the rest in destroying the Pope at the last. Their receiuing of power at one houre with the beast is not so strictly to be taken as it soundeth, for by an houre in Scripture, somtime a compasse of times consisting of many yeeres is to be vnderstood; thus the time of the Gospell is called the last houre, and the same houre here is much about the same time 100. yeeres before or after or somewhat more; and if it be thus taken, the euent doth notably agree, the springing vp of these Kingdomes being out of the ruines of the Empire, about ann. Dom. 500. &c. till 700.

These Kings with one consent haue made warre with the Lambe, by taking the Popes part against the professors of the truth, when any haue shewed themselues, persecuting them with sword and fire, as wofull experience hath proued many yeeres, but the Lambe hath ouercome them by planting his

truth in their dominions, notwithstanding all their hot oppo∣sitions, and by subiecting some of them to himselfe, by bring∣ing them to the acknowledgement and profession of the same truth, as England, Denmarke, Sweuia, Bohemia, and sundry free states of Germany, to whom we hope more shall bee ioy∣ned, though not all, (for some must take the Popes part vnto the end, till the greatest fatall blow that shall be giuen to him and them in Harmageddon, as hath beene already shewed vp∣on Chap. 16.) and these together shall hate the Pope, and de∣uest him of all the honour which formerly in their ignorance they or their predecessors gaue vnto him, and destroy him, ouerthrowing and burning Rome downe to the ground. And to put it out of all doubt that Rome is meant here, he addeth, that it is the great City that ruleth ouer the Kings of the earth. Let all these things be considered together, and there is no∣thing in this kinde that can be plainer, than that the Pope of Rome is the subiect of all this description, and whatsoeuer can be said here-against, will easily appeare to bee but a deuised euasion.

Notes

• Vers. 1, 2, &c.
• Brightman.
• Pareus. Napier.
• Bullinger, &c.
• Bellar. lib. 3. de Rom. pont fice cap. 13.
• Tertul. contra Iudae••s.
• Ieronim. 11. qu. ad Algasiam.
• Vers. 3.
• Vers. 9.
• Vers. 3. Brightman.
• Bullinger.
• Pareus.
• Forbs.
• Mat 4.
• Vers. 4. Pet. du Moulin. Lib. 3. Sanct. Ce∣remon. c. 5. sect. 3. Ruber color pro∣prie ad papā per∣tinet. lib. 1. cap. 1. sect. 9. Planum totū cum magno scabello coopertū erit panno coeci∣neo, Caligis rube∣••s, sanda leis rube∣is, aurea cruceor∣natis. lib. 1. cap. 6. sect. 1.
• Brocard. Scaliger.
• Vers. 8.
• P. du Moulin. Pareus, &c.
• Brightman.
• Nopier. Bullinger.
• Vers. 12.
• Vers. 16.
• Bullinger. Pareus. Grass••rus. Gen. 31.7.
• Numb. 14.22.
• P. du Moulin.
• Napier.
• Brightman.
• Vers. 18.