A09453:16
A Reformed Catholic
A reformed Catholic: or, A declaration showing how near we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundry points of religion: and wherein we must for ever depart from them with an advertisement to all favourers of the Roman religion, showing that the said religion is against the Catholic principles and grounds of the catechism.A reformed Catholike: or, A declaration shewing how neere we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundrie points of religion: and vvherein we must for euer depart from them with an advertisment to all fauourers of the Romane religion, shewing that the said religion is against the Catholike principles and grounds of the catechisme.
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1598Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1598
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
REVELAT. 18. 4. And I heard another voice from heaven say, Go out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and receive not of her plagues.
REVELAT. 18. 4. And I heard another voyce from heauen say, Goe out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sinnes, and receiue not of her plagues.
IN the former chapter S. John sets down a description of the whore of Babylon, and 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 ⟨p. 2⟩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 Nilus, and it is now called Cairo; of that mention is made 1. Pet. 5. v. 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 ⟨p. 3⟩