The key of the Revelation, searched and demonstrated out of the naturall and proper charecters of the visions.: With a coment thereupon, according to the rule of the same key, / published in Latine by the profoundly learned Master Joseph Mede B.D. late fellow of Christs College in Cambridge, for their use to whom God hath given a love and desire of knowing and searching into that admirable prophecie. Translated into English by Richard More of Linley in the Countie of Salop. Esquire, one of the Bargesses in this present convention of Parliament. With a præface written by Dr Twisse now prolocutor in the present Assembly of Divines.

The fall of Antichrist. * 1.1 OR, The meaning of the seven Phyals as farre forth as is yet given us to understand:

And first, Of the Phyals in generall.

THe holy Ghost propoundeth the history of the Phials, and of * 1.2 the Angels pouring them out two manner of waies. First in generall from the beginning of the 15. Chap. unto the end of the 5. vers. where the vision of the seven Angels having seven Phyals being only briefly rehearsed: before he cometh to the par∣ticular description either of the Angels or Phyals: a narration is framed of another vision exhibited together with them; wherein is figured for the time of the powring them out, the state of the Church cleansed from idolatrous pollutions and filthinesse in that sacred Laver or Sea of the Temple not made of brasse as Solo∣mons, * 1.3 but of Crystall, and singing the * 1.4 tryumphant Song for the victory over the Beast the whole time of the effusion: and that whiles yet she stood upon the brimme of the Laver, as it were scarse gone out of the bath wherein she had cleansed her selfe.

Then he cometh to the cloathing and preparation of the An∣gels, and to describe the Phyals particularly from those words of the 6. vers. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, * 1.5 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. And the seven Angels came out of the Temple ha∣ving the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linnen and having their breasts girded with golden girdles, that is, in their Priestly ha∣bite. For take heed that thou joyne not the words which we * 1.6 have set downe, with those of the precedent vers. for truly that which is there said of the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testi∣monie opened in Heaven, that pertaineth not to the beginning, but to the event of the Phyals. That is to say the Temple, which, in the meane space while the Phyals were poured out, was filled * 1.7 with smoake from the Maiesty of God, and from his power, so that no man was able to enter, vers. 8. (he all••deth to the seven dayes dedication as well of the Tabernacle, Exod. 40. 34. as also of the

Temple, 1 King. 8. 10. 2 Chron. 5. 13.) the Phyals being past it * 1.8 will be so cleere; that the Arke of the Testimony it selfe, (Christ) shall be apparent: even as we have it at the sound of the seventh trumpet (Chap. 11. 19.) with which that the last of the Phyals doth contemporize, hath been shewed, Synch. 3. part. 2.

* 1.9 Suppositions concerning the Phyals particularly.

1. The effusion of the Phyals signifieth the ruine of the Anti∣christian * 1.10 Beast. It appeareth out of the Text: for which see Synch. 7. part. 1. For even as that former and more ancient * 1.11 Po∣litie of the Romane Kingdome was to be overthrowne by the plagues of the Trumpets: so this last by the plagues of the Phy∣als. This is the cause of so great li••••••esse betweene them twain; sith even this last beareth the Image of the former Ro∣mane Politie.

2. The seven Phyals are so many degrees of the ruine thereof. For like as the Beast grew up by degrees: he is also so to be abo∣lished by degrees.

3. Whatsoever then it is, on which every of the Phyals is poured out; that suffereth damage and losse from the Phyall; since the effusion of the Phyals, is the effusion of the wrath of God (Chap. 15. vers. 1.). Therefore no interpretation can stand here, whereby the effusion of a Phyall falleth out to the benefit of that, upon which it is poured out.

4. The Earth, the Sea, the Rivers, the Sunne, are something concerning the Antichristian Beast, answering to the earth, the Sea, and the Sunne. For all the Phyals are poured out upon the Beast: therefore also every of them upon something of the Beast, or at least which is inseparable from the safetie of the Beast, or concerneth his benefit.

5. The whole body of the Beast, or the Antichristian universe, is in like manner as it was done in the Trumpets, tacitly com∣pared by the holy Ghost to the Systeme of the world, whose parts are Earth, Sea, Rivers, Heaven, Lights: So that the earth in the Popedome answereth to the earth in the natural World; Sea, to sea; Rivers, to rivers: Sunne, to sunne.

6. To conclude (as already I have once or twise shewed) be∣cause God useth Angels as ministers of his providence, for mo∣ving

and governing of the motions and changes of humane af∣faires: * 1.12 therefore those things that are brought to passe by the the hands of many, are notwithstanding attributed to an Angel as it were the ruler and guide of the thing to be done, after the common manner of speaking.

The Exposition of the Phyals according to the rule of the suppositions.

The first Phyall powred upon the whole body of the Beast.

The Earth in the Antichristian universe doth signifie the peo∣ple, * 1.13 or the common sort of Christians, the footstoole (the more shame) of Antichrist; upon which as the Basis that vastnesse of Papall Hierarchie being 〈◊〉〈◊〉, like the Tower of Babel—* 1.14 reach∣eth to the very skies.

The Phyall being powred out upon this Earth pertaining to the Beast, it drew that disposition from the effusion, that it filled the followers of the Beast, with furie and madnesse, as it were with ulcers, and those so foule and malignant, that they could not be healed; nor be closed up by any Cicatrice, but they would breake forth againe.

This was fulfilled when the Christian common people, called the Waldenses, Albigenses, Wiclifists, Hussites, and by other names, began every where to renounce the authoritie of the Beast, calling Rome Apocaliptique Babylon, and the Pope An∣tichrist: with which blasting of its earth burning with the * 1.15 zeale of God, the followers of the Beast being stricken, they were wholly enflamed, with the ulcers of griefe and indignation; by which being enraged they for very many yeers wonderfully ty∣rannized with fire and Sword; but in vaine; for they were smit∣ten with an evill and uncurable ulcer, which the more they bestir∣red themselves, the more it grew worse and worse with them. * 1.16 So in times past the Land of Egypt being sprinkled from Hea∣ven with dust like ashes, it filled all the Egyptians and their cat∣tell with ulcers. Now the world of the Beast is called * 1.17 spirituall Egypt, Chap. 11. 8. and thereupon the ulcerous sore here is to be interpreted * 1.18 spiritually, that is, mystically, and by analogie: which is diligently to be observed in the figures of the two fol∣lowing plagues also, taken from the same history.

The second Phyall upon the Sea of the World * 1.19 of the Beast.

The Sea in the Antichristian world is the whole compasse of * 1.20 the Papall Society, wherein not onely severall Christians, but whole Nations, People, Kingdomes, Provinces, Diocesses, o∣therwise among themselves dis-joyned and severed, are ga∣thered together in one: or thus: the Antichristian Sea is the compasse of the Popes jurisdiction or dominion compassing and enfolding (as the Sea doth the Land) men and Nations worship∣ping Christ.

The second Phyall being powred out upon this Sea, presently it became as the blood of a dead body, or cold and congealed blood, such as is wont to be of those that are dead and slaine, or of a member cut off; seeing it is destitute of the influence of spirit and heat, the entercourse with the fountaine of life being dissol∣ved. The sense is. The Pontificiall Sea was slaine as it were with death, beheading, or slaughter.

Now this was fulfilled, when by the labour of Luther and o∣ther famous reformers of the Church of that Age, God wonder∣fully blessing their undertakings, not now some single persons onely of the common people of Christendome, but even whole Provinces, Diocesses, Kingdomes, Nations, and Cities renoun∣ced communion with those of the Beast, and there being made a great dismembring of the dominion which was so large in times past, they departed from the body of the Beast. By which event the Sea of the Popes Dominion became dead for a great part of it, like the blood of a dead body; in which the Popes crea∣tures could no longer breathe and live.

The third Phyall upon the Rivers and Fountaines of the world of the Beast.

The Rivers and Fountaines of waters of the Bestian world, are * 1.21 the ministers and defenders of the Antichristian jurisdiction, whether Ecclesiasticall, as Iesuites, and other Emissary Priests; or even Secular and Lay, as the Spanish champions, to both of which as from that jurisdiction is committed a charge of sol∣liciting

and advancing the cause, which they call Catholique, in * 1.22 like manner as the rivers derive their originall out of the Sea: so also they bestow their labour and cost, to the enlarging and pre∣serving of it; even as also the rivers returne to the Sea.

Now these Rivers whilest they at randome runne through their Channels, wherein now there was no more safety for them; by Gods just judgment, by the effusion of the third Phyall, are turned into blood, in like manner as even they had heretofore im∣brued the Saints of God, and his Prophets with blood. For from this Phyall the state of the Beast, came to that passe, that the mini∣sters and defenders thereof, now changing course, are compelled to suffer the same slaughters, wherewith they had beene accu∣stomed to slay the Saints and Prophets of God, while their govern∣ment flourished, as it is plainly set sorth, vers. 5, 6. as it were a Key for the opening of the parable.

Which thing concerning the Ecclesiasticall Emissaries with their attendants I thinke was fulfilled, when in our ENGLAND, in the reigne of ELIZABETH of famous memory, and also afterwards, those bloody Proctors for the authoritie of the Beast, were according to the lawes made for that purpose punished with death (which had never before sobefallen them) for solli∣citing the Papall cause. And not they alone, but the Spanish champions for the cause of the Beast, who were much more to be feared then they, going about to recover by force of armes, the dominion of the Church of Rome, thirsting for blood, drank blood by full draughts, especially in that memorable overthrow of the yeere 1588. and some yeers following; the English and the Dutch, by Sea and Land, abundantly powring out the Cup of the mightie hand of God. So that wonderfull great praise was given to God for his just and true judgements upon them both, not onely of the Islanders themselves, revenging their blood now long since shed: but also of the neighbouring French groning yet under the Crosse and the Altar, yea even then the Massacre of the yeere 1572. being fresh. And thus far the Phyals seeme to have gonne on: the rest remaine to be powred out yet.

The fourth Phyall upon the Sunne of the Beastian heaven.

What the Sunne is in the world of the Beast, that we may * 1.23

search out; first it is throughly to be looked into, what the hea∣ven * 1.24 may be, lest otherwise wanting the line of Analogie, we wan∣der farre from the scope. For the Sunne is not to be placed or conceived to be any where but in an heaven fit for it. The Hea∣ven therefore of the Antichristian world, is either that supreme and universall authoritie of the Pope; or any other excellent, and regall Authoritie whatsoever in that world of the Beast, that is, in the whole universality of the Provinces acknowledging the Pope of Rome for their head. For so in the physicall world, all that which is upward, and above the earth and waters is called Heaven, in the notion of the Hebrewes and the holy Ghost. Now in that Antichristian heaven (according to the type of naturall Heaven) there are very many Starres, and of a divers magnitude, Princes, Dukes, Prelates, Lords of Countries, and Kings. There are also great lights, like Sunne and Moone. All which are carried about with the motion of the Heaven, and by direction thereof keepe their courses. Now of these, the most glorious, and by far the greatest light of all, which shine in the Papall Firmament, is the Germane Empire, the proper inheritance of the House of Austria now for these two hundred yeers or there abouts. Is not this therefore the Sunne of that Heaven? Now upon this Sunne the fourth Phyall is even now to be powred out; that it being pulled away from the heaven of the Beast, and shining to another purpose, may burne and torment the inhabitants of the Antichri∣stian world, even to blasphemy, whom before it was wont to re∣fresh with its heat and beames.

And behold, whiles I bring to light, these things which before I had written, a fame hath filled the whole Christian world, the godly rejoycing at it, that there is now at length come from the North Gods revenger of wrongs, to succour afflicted and distres∣sed Germany; a godly King, happy, and which way soever he cometh, a conquerour, whose prosperous progresse is wonderfull speedy. Is not this he, whom the Lord of Hosts hath destinated to execute the worke of this Phyall? So I hope and heartily pray. Gird thee with thy sword therefore, O great King, go•• on prosperously and beare rule; because of truth, meeknesse and righ∣teousnesse: and thy right hand shall teach thee marvellous things, Psalm. 45. 3, 4.

The fift phyall upon the Throne * 1.25 of the Beast.

The fift phyall is to be powred out upon the Throne or Seat * 1.26 of the Beast; that is, Rome it selfe. Where the holy Ghost hideth not the matter any more with any vaile of Figures or Allegories; haply because of the great light which shall then arise to these Prophesies by this most evident signe, whereby it shall be cleere what phyals are past what to come.

Now by this destruction of the Citi•• of Rome (which I thinke to be the very same, which is said shall immediately follow the resurrection and ascension of the witnesses, Chap. 11. vers. 12. 13.) the name of the Pope shall not indeed utterly perish, but from thence forth he shall be deprived of his glory and splendor, so that for griefe they shall bite their tongues: in the meane time notwithstanding persevering as yet in their impenitency their hearts being hardened, they will abuse their griefs unto further blasphemy.

The sixt phyall upon Euphrates.

The sixt phyall shall be powred out upon that great River Eu∣phrates, * 1.27 that being dryed up, a passage may be prepared for new enemies of the Beast to come from the East; that is, for the Is∣raelites to be wonderfully converted to the pure faith and wor∣ship of Christ, and now seekers for the kingdome promised so many ages since. Whom the worshippers of the Beast haply shall esteeme for the army of their seigned Antichrist to arise out of the Iews, God so revenging the obstinacy of their errour: of whom that we are the forerunners, they doubt not at this day to affirme.

But that I may take these Kings to come, as it is said, from the Sunne rising, to be the Iews, two things serve for it. First, that this is the last phyall save one; at which therefore except the lews should be converted, it should necessarily come to passe, that they should be destroyed (with the rest of the enemies of Christ amongst whom they yet remaine) in that great Day of univer∣sall revenge and judgement, which the next and last phyall shall

bring upon them. Then the place of Esay tending to that pur∣pose * 1.28 perswadeth me to this, whence this of the Revelation is borrowed, as it is very likely. And the Lord, (saith he, Chap. 11. 15, 16.) will destroy (I had rather turne it. Like as the Lord hath destroyed) the tongue of the Egyptian Sea, and (rather [so]) he shall lift up his hand upon the River (Targum the River Euphrates) in the strength of his spirit, and shall smite it in the seven streames, so that m••n may passe over it dry shod. 16. And there shall be a way for the remnant of my people which shall be left by the Assyrians (there∣fore Euphrates is understood) as it was in that day, wherein he ascended from the land of Egypt. Let the Reader looke upon Zach. 10. 10, 11. and there the Chalde Paraphrast.

But what at length shall we say this Euphrates is, whose wa∣ters shall be dryed up? For I something doubt whether it be to be taken literally or no, especially in the place of Esay. In the meane while to this of the Revelation I would have something of a parable and allegory interlaced, and yet not very much; that the Analogie of the other phyals, concerning the object of the powring out, may also here remaine safe. For mysticall Babylon it seemeth shall have her Euphrates also, even as that ancient Ba∣bylon; to wit, the Turkish Empire as I conceive, which shall be the onely obstacle to those new enemies from the East, and on that part the only defence of the Beast. Neither will such under∣standing of Euphrates be without example of Esay himself, who Chap. 8. 7. by the like parable of Euphrates hath expressed the Army of the Assyrians bordering upon the same River. The Lord, * 1.29 saith he, shall cause to come against them (the Syrians and the Is∣raelites) the waters of that River (so Euphrates 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is wont to be called) strong and many, the King of Assyria and all his glory (Targum his Army) &c. why should not now this Eu∣phrates of the phyals by the same reason be understood of the Turks? being no lesse borderers upon Euphrates before their o∣verflowing then the Assyrians, yea inhabitants of the same tract. To this it maketh not alittle, that the loosing of that great Army of Horsemen long stayed at that great River Euphrates, at th•• sound of the sixt trumpet, Chap. 9. 15. we interpreted to be meant of the Turks thence to overrun the Romane Empire, ha∣ving followed the series of the trumpets and the apt truth of the matter.

Therefore by the sixt phyall this Euphrataean deluge shall be * 1.30 dryed up. Plainly according to that which is said, Chap. 11. that next after that overthrow of the Citie which shall come to passe in a great earthquake (which there we ••itted to the former phy∣all) the second woe shall be past, that is, the plague of the sixt trum∣pet. But by what means, that is, to come to passe, and by what authors; whether by the Iews themselves (which happily Ez••∣chiel intimateth, Chap. 38. and 39.) who shall possesse the holy land again; or by some intestine discord fitly to goe before the re∣turne of these; or happily both, but in order and one after ano∣ther; or by some other cause; we shall labour in vain in guessing, as at a matter wholly yet to come. Whatsoever it be, this let be∣ing removed, it is said a way of going to some place is prepared, for these new Christians from the East; and that as it seemeth to make an expedition against the Beast; to the ruine of whom all the phyals serve. For whence otherwise, or wherefore from this drying up should so great a trembling and feare at an instant a••∣••aile the worshippers of the Beast, yea even the Devils them∣selves as it seemeth, that it should minister occasion for so horrible and unheard of a preparation for warre, as is here described; un∣lesse they with their whole diabolicall band should feare all extre∣mitie by the coming of these new Kings of the East?

The seventh phyall upon the Aire.

The seventh and last phyall is powred out upon the Aire, that * 1.31 is, on the power of the Aire, or of Satan; embracing and fostering in his bosome the dominions, not of the Beast onely, but of all the enemies of our Lord Christ in what countrey soever. Now as the Beast fetcht his spirit and life from the beginning out of him; so upon his power and conduct especially the last fortunes of the worshippers of the Beast shall depend: which may appeare as well by the preparation of so many allyances and aydes for the warre of this last phyall, to be procured, as it is said by diabolicall devices: as also from that, that the Dragon Satan, now not only by his Vicars the Beast and the false Prophet, bestirreth himself to bring his matters to passe by raising this universall army; but he by himselfe, in this last danger of his Kingdome it may seeme shall have his proper and peculiar parts to act also, vers. 13. espe∣cially

in calling them forth to joyne in this warre, with whom * 1.32 otherwise the Beast and false Prophet, as they had at no hand pre∣vailed by their authoritie, so neither by favour, or representation happily of the common danger.

Therefore upon so many enemies gathered together in one by the conduct of the power of the Aire, and shut up as it were in a Cave in Armageddon, the seventh Phyall shall thunder, not * 1.33 with a humane arme now any more, but with a heavenly and thunder striking revenge (for it is the battell of that great day, and * 1.34 of God Almightie.) By this the overthrow of the Beast shall be throughly consummate; neither shall there be an utter overthrow of a Cell only, or of so much as is within the wals of Babylon, as before under the fift Trumpet, but of the Citie it selfe, that is, of the Senate and people of Babylon, wheresoever they shall be af∣ter the destruction of the Towne: Moreover of all Kings, and Ci∣ties till then committing fornication with Idols and false gods, and of other Tyrants joyning together in opposition against the holy Church of Christ.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chap. 15.
• * 1.2

  At Chap. 15.
• * 1.3

  Vers. 2, 3.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.5

  Vers. 6.
• * 1.6

  Ezek. 44.17. 18. Maie∣mon de vasis sanctuarii, c. 10. sect. 1.
• * 1.7

  Vers 5.
• * 1.8

  Chap. 16.
• * 1.9

  Hypotheses.
• * 1.10

  At Chap. 16.
• * 1.11

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.12

  Chap. 16.
• * 1.13

  Vers. 2.
• * 1.14

  Vertice ad auras aetheri∣as tendit.
• * 1.15

  Rom. 10.2.
• * 1.16

  Exod. 9.8, 9.
• * 1.17

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.18

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.19

  Chap. 16.
• * 1.20

  Vers. 3.
• * 1.21

  Vers. 4, 5, 6, 7
• * 1.22

  Chap. 16.
• * 1.23

  Vers. 8, 9.
• * 1.24

  Chap. 16.
• * 1.25

  Chap. 16.
• * 1.26

  Vers. 10, 11.
• * 1.27

  Vers. 12.
• * 1.28

  Chap. 16.
• * 1.29

  See Ierem. 47.2, &c.
• * 1.30

  Chap. 16.
• * 1.31

  Vers. 17.
• * 1.32

  Chap. 20.
• * 1.33

  Vers. 16.
• * 1.34

  Vers. 14.