Apocalypsis A brief and learned commentary upon the revelation of Saint John the apostle…Apocalypsis A briefe and learned commentarie vpon the reuelation of Saint Iohn the apostle…

13 ¹⁹And he doth great wonders, so that he maketh fire to come down from heaven on the earth, in the sight of men;

13 ¹⁹And he doth great wonders, so that he maketh fire to come downe from heauen on the earth, in the sight of men;

1. 19The second point of the things done by the beast is the credit of great wonders or miracles, appertaining to the strengthening of this impiety; of which signs some were given from above, as it is said that fire was sent down from heaven by false sorcery, in this verse. Others were showed here below in the sight of the beast, to establish idolatry, and deceive souls: which part S. John setteth forth, beginning (as they say) at that which is last; in this manner: First the effect is declared in these words. He deceiveth the inhabitants of the earth. Secondly, the common manner of working, in two sorts: one of miracles, For the signs which were given him to do in the presence of the beast; the other of the words added unto the signs, and teaching the idolatry confirmed by those signs, Saying unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they should make an image unto that beast which &c. Thirdly, a special manner is declared, That it is given unto him to put life into the image of the beast: and that with such a kind of quickening that the same both speaketh by answer unto those that ask counsell of it, and also pronounceth death against all those that do not obey nor worship it: all which things often times by false miracles through the procurement and inspiration of the devil, have been effected and wrought in images. The histories of the Papists are full of examples of such miracles, the most of them feigned, many also done by the devil in images, as of old in the serpent, Genes. 3. 1. By which examples is confirmed not the authority of the beast, but the truth of God and of these prophesies.The second point of the things done by the beast is the credite of great wonders or miracles, appertaining to the strengthening of this impietie; of which signes some were giuen from aboue, as it is said that fire was sent downe from heauen by false sorcerie, in this verse. Others were shewed here below in the sight of the beast, to establish idolatrie, and deceiue soules: which part S. Iohn setteth forth, beginning (as they say) at that which is last; in this manner: First the effect is declared in these words. He deceiueth the inhabitants of the earth. Secondly, the common maner of working, in two sorts: one of miracles, For the signes which were giuen him to do in the presence of the beast; the other of the words added vnto the signes, and teaching the idolatrie confirmed by those signes, Saying vnto the inhabitants of the earth, that they should make an image vnto that beast which &c. Thirdly, a speciall manner is declared, That it is giuen vnto him to put life into the image of the beast: and that with such a kinde of quickning that the same both speaketh by aunswere vnto those that aske counsell of it, and also pronounceth death against all those that do not obey nor worship it: all which things often times by false miracles through the procurement and inspiration of the diuell, haue bene effected and wrought in images. The histories of the Papists are full of examples of such miracles, the most of them fained, many also done by the deuill in images, as of old in the serpent,