The Dragon, who is that? You heard, the Dragon is the old Serpent called the Devil, and Satan: but the Dragon considered, as he sometimes swayed the Roman Pagan Empire, as in Rev. 12. 3. There appeared a wonder in heaven, a great red Dragon, having seven heads and ten horns; they are interpreted by the Angel, Rev. 17. 3, 4. 9, 10. 12. 18. The seven heads to be the seven hills of Rome, and the ten horns, so many Kings that arose with the last head of the Beast; Therefore he means the Dragon, as he sometimes swayed the City of Rome, and so the Seat and State of the Pagan Roman Empire: And being now cast out, and seeing he cannot maintain his State and divine honour, as before, to whom doth he give his honour? what, to the Roman Christian Empire? No, his rage is against them, and the Church amongst them: Neither did he give them his Seat; they sate not at Rome, but at Constantinople: Neither can he easily fasten upon the civill State such delusions, as to cause the Christian Emperors to take to themselves divine honour, though the Pagan Roman Emperors had so done: But now he doth choose to fasten them upon the Ecclesiastical State, and thinks he shall more prevail with Church-men (as I may speak) to drink in an inundation of Heresies in Doctrine, and Tyranny in Government, and Superstition in Worship, he thinks he shall sooner prevail with the Ecclesiastical State, then with the Civill; Therefore upon this Beast (which can neither be Roman, Heathen, nor Christian Empire, but the Roman Church) doth he fasten his power, and seat, and great authority.
The Dragon, who is that? You heard, the Dragon is the old Serpent called the Devill, and Satan: but the Dragon considered, as he sometimes swayed the Roman Pagan Empire, as in Rev. 12. 3. There appeared a wonder in heaven, a great red Dragon, having seven heads and ten horns; they are interpreted by the Angell, Rev. 17. 3, 4. 9, 10. 12. 18. The seven heads to be the seven hills of Rome, and the ten horns, so many Kings that arose with the last head of the Beast; Therefore he means the Dragon, as he sometimes swayed the City of Rome, and so the Seate and State of the Pagan Roman Empire: And being now cast out, and seeing he cannot maintaine his State and divine honour, as before, to whom doth he give his honour? what, to the Roman Christian Empire? No, his rage is against them, and the Church amongst them: Neither did he give them his Seate; they sate not at Rome, but at Constantinople: Neither can he easily fasten upon the civill State such delusions, as to cause the Christian Emperours to take to themselves divine honour, though the Pagan Roman Emperours had so done: But now hee doth choose to fasten them upon the Ecclesiasticall State, and thinks he shall more prevaile with Church-men (as I may speak) to drinke in an inundation of Heresies in Doctrine, and Tyranny in Government, and Superstition in Worship, he thinks he shall sooner prevaile with the Ecclesiasticall State, then with the Civill; Therefore upon this Beast (which can neither be Roman, Heathen, nor Christian Empire, but the Roman Church) doth he fasten his power, and seate, and great authority.
