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Vers. 3. AND the second Angel poured out his Vial upon the Sea.
By Sea here, we may not (as some) understand Na∣tions, because they are a part of the Subject of the next Vial.
Nor yet (as others) the corrupt Doctrines of Anti∣christ, concluded upon in the Council of Trent, which
(say they) the learned Chemnitius poured out this Vial upon, in his Book called, Examen Concilii Tridentini, because (as hath been said) the former Vial fell on these, to which (the Subject being still the same) it is more proper to refer the labours of those godly men, who after Luther, still continued to lay open these things in their colours, than to account the same, the pouring forth of another Vial.
Nor yet as a later Writer, the Political state of the Roman Empire, which did suffer detriment by the late German War. 1 Because the Effect of that War fell as heavy upon Gods people there as his enemies; whereas the Vials are upon enemies only, as our fourth Proposition proves.
2 Because notwithstanding those shakings, the Empire is yet standing, whereas the shaking of the Vials is such a shaking, as destroyes and removes the thing shaken.
3 Because the German Empire is (as in its place shall appear) the Subject of another Vial.
But by Sea we are to understand the Discipline of Rome, as under the former their Doctrine; or to speak better, the Romish Hierarchy, in whose hands the power of Discipline lyes, made up of a Pope, Cardinals, Arch∣bishops, Bishops, together with the inferior Clergy, who receive their power and standing from these, which is by themselves called, and to us known, by the name of the Sea of Rome, the Popes Sea, the Cardinals Sea, the Bishops Sea, &c.
And truly this monstrous Beast, though his Rise is out of the Earth: Rev. 13.11. yet doth he exercise all the power of the first Beast (vers. 12.) whose Rise was from the Sea, vers. 1. and therefore is not amiss called in this second Vial, where the downfall of his power is spoken of, by the name of the Sea, whence his power is primarily derived.
And indeed, look what neer affinity there is betwixt the Sea and the Earth, they bordering one upon another, the same is betwixt Discipline and Doctrine. And as the Sea girts in the Earth on every side, so that which is as it were the Girdle, holding together all the gross, earthly superstitions, and inventions of Antichrist, is an absolute tyrannical power of Discipline, imposing principles, wayes, and forms upon the consciences of men wheresover the same is set up.
If you ask me, When was this Vial poured forth? I answer, In the yeer of our Lord, 1641. it had its be∣ginning, (though the Effects of it are not wholly over as yet) when the Parliament of England did vote down Arch-bishops, Bishops, with all that crew, root and branch, declaring their office and standing to be Anti∣christian; for although some sprinklings of this Vial fell on them before, yet the pouring of it forth, which gave them their fatal and deadly blow, cannot more fitly be applyed to any time than to this, when by the Law of a Land, yea that Land too, which is by some reckoned the first of the Horns of the Beast, the just judgement and in∣dignation of the most High was poured out upon them, in such maner, as that not only they, but all other ever since, who have gone about to assume to themselves a Lordly power over Christs little flock, have fallen through the powerful Effects of it.
And that which will not weaken this Interpretation in case it be considered, is, that as the two great things of Jesus Christ that Antichrist had invaded, were his Priestly office, and Kingly; The first by his pernicious Doctrine; The second by his absolute tyrannical Discipline: So the first remarkable blow that Antichrist ever suffered, was in detecting and destroying his cursed Doctrine, and gross Idolatries by it maintained, with which he had made an invasion upon the mediation and Priesthood of Christ;
which being done, because yet Christs Kingly office was invaded by an Antichristian Lording Discipline, Christ therefore (that he might fully recover his own, before he invades his enemy) makes it his next attempt to regain into his own hands his Kingly Power and Authority, which to do, the very next remarkable blow that befalls the Man of Sin (after the hot controversies about Christs Mediatorship, and our justification by Christ alone began to cease, the Saints in this having obtained a compleat victory, and given their Adversaries both the rout and ruine) is in his Lordly Tyrannical Discipline, which straitwayes now begins to be questioned; yea not onely questioned, but finally is shaken, yea thrown down as Antichristian, and that by Law.
If it be said, That Arch-bishops, Bishops, &c. are but an inferior and an inconsiderable part of the Romish Hierarchy, and therefore the downfal of these, seems to have too much put upon it, whilst the same is made a principal Effect of that Vial, which is poured out upon the Hierarchy it self.
To that I answer, though inconsiderable and inferior, yet are they a part of the Hierarchy, whose standing is by the same power, and upon the same bottome with the rest: And had it not been for a Vial of wrath poured upon the Hierarchy it self, these as parts of it could not have fallen: Neither is it necessary that the pouring out of the Vial, should sweep away the whole at once, for that were to destroy Antichrist with one Vial, and not with Seven.
If it be further objected, that this hath been done but in our Isle of Great Britain, the Hierarchy even at this day in most of the Kingdoms subjected to the Beast being in as full and absolute power as ever.
My answer is, That so long as the Isle of Brittain is reckoned amongst the Horns of the Beast, it is sufficient,
though but in one Horn this be done; for neither did the former Vial extend it self to all the parts of the Papal King∣dome (for the greater part lye rolling in the very Lees and Dregs of Popery unto this day) nor indeed shall any of the Vials, the last excepted, be poured out upon the Kingdome of the Beast in general, but some fall upon one part of it, some another.
The Sea becomes as the blood of a dead man.
And it became as the blood of a dead man.
That is, That Hierarchy which before went for pure and Apostolical, did now appear through the pouring out of this Vial upon it, to be a Sea of blood, i.e. a wretched Seat of cruelty; yea blood of a dead man, i.e. corrupt, filthy, stinking.
Every living soul in the Sea dyes.
And every living soul dyed in the Sea.
That is, All those who stand by the power of, have their dependance upon, or livelihood from this Hierarchy, are by the Effects of this Vial, despoyled of this their Anti∣christian standing, power, and livelihood, and so dye a civil death.
How visible these Effects, for a great measure, have al∣ready been with us in England, and will be more as yet, before the after-drops of this Vial are over (which if I mistake not, the present National Ministry in England, being but as twigs growing upon the former stock, both must, and shall feel) it is in a manner superfluous here to adde. And although I conceive the Providence of God hath brought us at this day under the next Vial, yet
is there still a relique of this behind; the Effects of one Vial ordinarily running into another (as in our fifth Pro∣position) and a generation of men that have long deserved it, yet for the greater part of them hitherto scaped the blow, shall feel it.
Thus much as touching the second VIAL.