IN the former chapter S. John sets down a description of the whore of Babylon, & that at large as he saw her in a vision described unto him. In the sixteenth verse of the same chapter, he foretells her destruction: and in the three first verses of this 18. chapter, he goeth on to propound the said destruction yet more directly and plainly: withal alleging arguments to prove the same, in all the verses following. Now in this fourth verse is set down a caveat serving to forewarn all the people of God, that they may escape the judgement which shall befall the whore: and the words contain two parts: a commandment, and a reason. The commandment, Come out of her my people, that is, from Babylon. The reason, taken from the event, least ye be partakers, &c. Touching the commandment, first I will search the right meaning of it, and then set down the use thereof and doctrine flowing thence. In history therefore are three Babylons mentioned: one is, Babylon of Assyria standing on the river Euphrates, where was the confusion of Languages, and where the Jews were in captivity: which Babylon is in Scripture reproached for Idolatry and other iniquities. The second Babylon is in Egypt standing on the river Nylus, and it is now called Cairo; of that mention is made, 1. Pet. 5.13. (as some think) though indeed it is as likely and more commonly thought, that there is meant Babylon of Assyria. The third Babylon is mystical, whereof Babylon of Assyria was a type and figure; and that is Rome, which is without question here to be understood. And the whore of Babylon, as by all circumstances may be gathered, is the state or regiment of a people that are the inhabitants of Rome and appertain thereto. This may be proved by the interpretation of the holy ghost: for in the last verse of the 17. chapter the woman that is the whore of Babylon is said to be a city which reigneth over the kings of the earth: now in the days when S. John penned this book of Revelation, there was no city in the world that ruled over the kings of the earth but Rome; it then being the seat where the Emperor put in execution his Imperial authority. Again in the seventh verse she is said to sit on a beast having seven heads & ten horns: which 7. heads be seven hills, v. 9. whereon the woman sitteth, & also they be seven kings.
IN the former chapter S. Iohn sets downe a description of the whore of Babylon, & that at large as he saw her in a vision described vnto him. In the sixteenth verse of the same chapter, he foretels her destruction: and in the three first verses of this 18. chapter, hee goeth on to propound the said destruction yet more directly and plainely: withall alleadging arguments to prooue the same, in all the verses following. Nowe in this fourth verse is set downe a caueat seruing to forewarne all the people of God, that they may escape the iudgement which shal befall the whore: and the words containe two parts: a commandement, and a reason. The commandement, Come out of her my people, that is, from Babylon. The reason, taken from the euent, least ye be partakers, &c. Touching the cō mandement, first I will search the right meaning of it, and then set downe the vse thereof and doctrine flowing thence. In historie therefore are three Babylons mentioned: one is, Babylon of Assyria standing on the riuer Euphrates, where was the confusion of Languages, and where the Iewes were in captiuitie: which Babylon is in Scripture reproched for Idolatrie and other iniquities. The second Babylon is in Egypt standing on the riuer Nylus, and it is now called Cayr; of that mention is made, 1. Pet. 5.13. (as some thinke) though indeede it is as likely and more commonly thought, thas there is meant Babylon of Assyria. The third Babylon is mysticall, whereof Babylon of Assyria was a type and figure; and that is Rome, which is without question here to be vnderstood. And the whore of Babylon, as by all circumstances may be gagathered, is the state or regiment of a people that are the inhabitāts of Rome and appertaine thereto. This may bee prooued by the interpretation of the holy ghost: for in the last verse of the 17. chapter the woman that is the whore of Babylon is said to be a citie which raigneth ouer the kings of the earth: nowe in the daies when S. Iohn penned this booke of Reuelation, there was no cittie in the world that ruled ouer the kings of the earth but Rome; it then being the seate where the Emperour put in execution his Imperiall authoritie. Againe in the seuenth verse shee is said to sit on a beast hauing seauen heads & ten horns: which 7. heads be seuen hills, v. 9. whereon the woman sitteth, & also they be seuen kings.
