A73707:271
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…
A plain explanation of the whole Revelation of Saint John Very necessary and comfortable in these days of trouble and affliction in the church. Penned by a faithful preacher, now with God, for more private use, and now published for the further benefit of the people of God.A plaine explanation of the vvhole Revelation of Saint John Very necessary and comfortable in these dayes of trouble and affliction in the church. Penned by a faithfull preacher, now with God, for more priuate vse, and now published for the further benefit of the people of God.
London: printed by T.S. for Nathaniel Newbery, 1622
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.
The mouth of a Lyon; showing that he was cruel and strong to devour and to destroy.
The mouth of a Lyon; shewing that he was cruell and strong to deuoure and to destroy.
He had the power of the Dragon given him; that is, of the Devil, signifying the greatness of his cruelty, for (as it is in the twentieth Chapter) the Lord that he might save his people, being now in their cradle, from being over-run and devoured of Satan, had first shut up the Devil into the bottomless pit, that he might not practise that he would against the Church, which thing the Devil perceiving, and seeing himself thus shut up, that as it were in his own person, he could not as he desired be employed in the devouring of the Church at his pleasure, he casts as much of his own power as he can upon an other, to wit, upon the Roman Emperor, who was as it were, his deputy, to the end he might do that injury he could, in prosecuting the Christ.
He had the power of the Dragon giuen him; that is, of the Diuell, signifying the greatnesse of his crueltie, for (as it is in the twentieth Chapter) the Lord that he might saue his people, being now in their cradle, from being ouer-runne and deuoured of Sathan, had first shut vp the Diuell into the bottomlesse pit, that hee might not practise that hee would against the Church, which thing the Diuell perceiuing, and seeing himselfe thus shut vp, that as it were in his owne person, hee could not as hee desired be employed in the deuouring of the Church at his pleasure, hee casts as much of his owne power as he can vpon an other, to wit, vpon the Romane Emperour, who was as it were, his deputy, to the end he might doe that iniury he could, in prosecuting the Christ.
Seven heads; signifying his exceeding wisdom and policy to do hurt, which should be very great, according to his authority, whereby he ruled over the whole world. His horns signify his power to do that hurt: And his Crowns signify that great effect which that great wit and power of his should take, in prevailing against men, to wit, that he should vanquish and overcome in his mischiefs: Notwithstanding there is great difference between his Crowns and the Dragons, for the Dragon had them on his heads; that is, the Devil hath this power of himself properly to do hurt, exercising it as from himself: the Beast hath them upon his horns, that is, the Emperor doth not exercise his authority and power against the Church immediately from himself, but doth borrow his power from the Dragon. Which is spoken after the custom and manner of those Kings and Princes, which having absolute authority, wear their Crowns on their bare heads, those that be Viceroys, and have an absolute authority, wear Coronets indeed but on their Caps, as it is used in foreign Countries, and as it was the practise in those days.