A plain explanation of the whole Revelation of Saint John Very necessary and comfortable…A plaine explanation of the vvhole Revelation of Saint John Very necessary and comfortable…

Apoc. Cap. 13. 1. And I saw a Beast rise out of the Sea, having seven heads, and ten horns, and upon his horns were ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy, &c.

Apoc. Cap. 13. 1. And I saw a Beast rise out of the Sea, hauing seauen heads, and tenne hornes, and vpon his hornes were tenne crownes, and vpon his heads the name of blasphemie, &c.

The Prophet having spoken before, that the seed of the woman, to wit, the Church of the Gentiles was persecuted of the Dragon: he now declares the manner and means of the persecutions and the troubles which befall the Church. The instrumental cause is here set out to be the Beast, which is the Emperor of Rome, who is set forth by him, coming out of the Sea; whereby is meant the great storms, troubles, and tempests that the Beast should raise up: By which tempests, are expressed and meant the great tumults which should arise both between the wicked themselves, as it came to pass in the Empire of Rome, for they had amongst themselves many and long wars, and grievous troubles and dissentions, as appeareth in the histories; as also it noteth the troubles and afflictions, which the Church should receive by them, for the Church must needs be partaker of this misery (though peradventure it be not immediately always tended against them) yet they living under the Empire where these troubles were principally, could not but needs also feel the smart thereof. Afterwards the troubles are also immediately directed against the godly themselves, particularly by the sword, by fire, and by sore persecutions, which are declared to arise and come from the Beast.

THe Prophet hauing spoken before, that the seed of the woman, to wit, the Church of the Gentiles was persecuted of the Dragon: hee now declares the manner and meanes of the persecutions and the troubles which befall the Church. The instrumentall cause is here set out to be the Beast, which is the Emperour of Rome, who is set forth by him, comming out of the Sea; whereby is meant the great stormes, troubles, and tempests that the Beast should raise vp: By which tempests, are expressed and meant the great tumults which should arise both betweene the wicked themselues, as it came to passe in the Empire of Rome, for they had amongst themselues many and long warres, and grieuous troubles and dissentions, as appeareth in the histories; as also it noteth the troubles and afflictions, which the Church should receiue by them, for the Church must needs be partaker of this misery (though peraduenture it be not immediately alwaies tended against them) yet they liuing vnder the Empire where these troubles were principally, could not but needs also feele the smart thereof. Afterwards the troubles are also immediately directed against the godly themselues, particularly by the sword, by fire, and by sore persecutions, which are declared to arise and come from the Beast.