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…

The effects of Satan's loosing follow; as namely, that he went about every corner of the earth, to deceive, and to do mischief; according as Saint Peter saith, that Satan goeth about like a roaring enemy, seeking whom he may devour. And he called together, Gog and Magog, and infinite numbers, as many as the sands of the Sea, which filled the face of the earth, to battle against the Church of God. Here by Gog and Magog, he alludeth only to a place in Ezekiel, not interpreting¹ it; Gog was a Country in Asia the less, whose ⟨p. 125⟩first King was called Gog, whereupon the Country took that name; in heathen writers he is called Giges, not differing from the letters in Hebrew. Magog was a name given to the Syrians: both these were near unto the Jews, whose enmity (as Daniel recordeth) was most vehement against the people of God: whereupon the Jews called their most bitter & spiteful enemies, by the names of Gog, and Magog. So that here is not meant (as some do imagine) any particular Country of Germany, England, &c. saying, that as the Gospel came out of the East into the West, so it shall return out of the West into the East, and then (say they) these West Countries falling from the truth, shall set themselves against the Church, which thing can have no allowance at all from hence: But here only is meant, those most bitter enemies of the Church, which being stirred up by Satan, shall come with all might and malice that can be, and shall fight against the Church, compassing about it to destroy it.

The effects of Sathans loosing follow; as namely, that he went about euery corner of the earth, to deceiue, and to doe mischiefe; according as Saint Peter saith, that Sathan goeth about like a roaring enemy, seeking whom he may deuoure. And he called together, Gog and Magog, and infinite numbers, as many as the sands of the Sea, which filled the face of the earth, to battell against the Church of God. Here by Gog and Magog, he alludeth onely to a place in Ezechiel, not interpreting¹ it; Gog was a Country in Asia the lesse, whose ⟨p. 125⟩first King was called Gog, whereupon the Country tooke that name; in heathen writers hee is called Giges, not differing from the letters in Hebrew. Magog was a name giuen to the Syrians: both these were neere vnto the Iewes, whose enmitie (as Daniel recordeth) was most vehement against the people of God: wherupon the Iewes called their most bitter & spightfull enemies, by the names of Gog, and Magog. So that here is not meant (as some doe imagine) any particular Country of Germany, England, &c. saying, that as the Gospell came out of the East into the West, so it shall returne out of the West into the East, and then (say they) these West Countries falling from the truth, shall set themselues against the Church, which thing can haue no allowance at all from hence: But here onely is meant, those most bitter enemies of the Church, which being stirred vp by Sathan, shall come with all might and malice that can be, and shall fight against the Church, compassing about it to destroy it.