The ruin of Rome, or, An exposition upon the whole Revelation wherein is plainly…The ruine of Rome, or, An exposition upon the whole Revelation wherein is plainly…

let us then diligently search out what may be the true meaning of this place. It must needs be granted, that by the beast which had the wound of a sword and did live, is meant the recovered estate of the Empire, as before, ver. 12. And by the image thereof, I understand the form of government: for an image doth signify a likeness, a similitude, a figure or form of a thing. And as in all civill and ecclesiastical regiments there is both a substance and a form, a matter and a manner; so here, having before set down, that Antichrist had erected the substance and matter of the Roman tyranny; now he showeth, that he would also set up the image and form of the same. For before, ver. 12. it is said, that Antichrist, this second beast, caused the world to worship the first beast, that is, to receive and embrace the laws, worship, and religion of the old heathenish Roman tyrants, as before hath been showed: & now here is added, that he did not content himself with causing the inhabitants of the earth to worship the old beast in the substance of his religion; but also ⟨p. 252⟩he layeth commandments upon them, to make his image, that is, to erect an external form of Ecclesiastical government, after the very pattern and form of the government of the old Empire; yea, so like it, that it is called the very image of the same. For, as the form of government under the old Emperors was cruel and tyrannical, and altogether bent against the Church; so the form of Ecclesiastical government under the Popes was cruel and tyrannical, and altogether bent against the Church; and therefore here it is called the image of it: for it is as like it as it can look. Then it followeth, that Antichrist hath set up that external form of worship, which the idolatrous Romans of old used, and that he hath renewed the persecuting Empire, not only in substance of matter, but also in form of government: and therefore I conclude, that the Popish Church policy and external regiment is the very image of the beast.

let us then diligently search out what may be the true meaning of this place. It must needs be granted, that by the beast which had the wound of a sword and did live, is meant the recovered estate of the Empire, as before, ver. 12. And by the image thereof, I understand the form of government: for an image doth signifie a likenesse, a similitude, a figure or form of a thing. And as in all civill and ecclesiasticall regiments there is both a substance and a form, a matter and a maner; so here, having before set down, that Antichrist had erected the substance and matter of the Roman tyranny; now he sheweth, that he would also set up the image and form of the same. For before, ver. 12. it is said, that Antichrist, this second beast, caused the world to worship the first beast, that is, to receive and imbrace the lawes, worship, and religion of the old heathenish Roman tyrants, as before hath been shewed: & now here is added, that he did not content himself with causing the inhabitants of the earth to worship the old beast in the substance of his religion; but also