3. If this last Babylon was wholly to terminate in Rome Heathen, then there was no Cause of Wonderment and great Admiration for a wise Man, to see in a Vision an Heathenish State, under a Diabolical Influence, to perform Actions suitable to their State, and not contrary to their Professions: For what matter of Wonderment can it be to feel the Wind blow, to see the Sea foam, and hear the Waves rage and roar, when the Winds oppose its Effluxion? And what Cause of great Wonderment and Admiration for a wise Man, to see wicked Heathens oppose and persecute Christianity, when it is so suitable to their Spirit, and agreeable to their Profession so to do, we cannot yet understand, and we will diligently listen to them who will undertake to inform us: For the thing is true, that a wise Man did wonder at the Sight he saw with great Admiration, Rev. 17.6. I saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus, and I wondered with great admiration. Wondered! O strange! At what? To see that which was common to all Ages, the Seed of the Serpent, that profest Heathenism, the Wicked, even the worst of the Wicked, by Principle and Profession, to plot against the Righteous, and to gnash upon him with their Teeth; Idolaters, profest Idolaters, to persecute the Servants and Worshippers of the true God; those that were born after the Flesh, and lived after the Flesh, to persecute them that were born of the Spirit, and lived after the Spirit. Surely, if our Adversaries Opinion was true in this Case, that Babylon is only Rome Heathen, St. John had forgot that Cain killed Abel, and Ishmael persecuted Isaac; and took not so much notice of the Course of the World, common to every Age, as Paul did, who said, But as he that was born after the Flesh, persecuted him that was born after the Spirit; as it was then, so it is now: And what strange Wonder is in all this?
3. If this last Babylon was wholly to terminate in Rome Heathen, then there was no Cause of Wonderment and great Admiration for a wise Man, to see in a Vision an Heathenish State, under a Diabolical Influence, to perform Actions sutable to their State, and not contrary to their Professions: For what matter of Wonderment can it be to feel the Wind blow, to see the Sea foam, and hear the Waves rage and roar, when the Winds oppose its Effluxion? And what Cause of great Wonderment and Admiration for a wise Man, to see wicked Heathens oppose and persecute Christianity, when it is so sutable to their Spirit, and agreeable to their Profession so to do, we cannot yet understand, and we will diligently listen to them who will undertake to inform us: For the thing is true, that a wise Man did wonder at the Sight he saw with great Admiration,
