Chapter 17 of 22

5Babylon. In the end of St. Peter's first Epistle, where the Apostle dateth it at Babylon, which the ancient writers (as we there noted) affirm to be meant of Rome: the Protestants will not in any wise have it so, because they would not be driven to confess that Peter ever was at Rome. but here for that they think it maketh for their opinion, that the Pope is Antichrist, and Rome the seat and city of Antichrist, they will needs have Rome to be this Babylon, this great whore, and this purple harlot: such fellows, in the exposition of holy Scripture, be led only by their prejudicate opinions and heresies, to which they draw all things without all indifference and sincerity. But St. Augustine, Aretas, and other writers, most commonly expound it, neither of Babylon itself a city of Chaldea or Egypt, nor of Rome, or any one city, which may be so called spiritually, as it meaneth before chap. 11 a mean spiritual Sodom and Egypt: but of the general society of the impious, & of those that prefer the terrene kingdom and commodity of the world, before God & eternal felicity. The author of the Commentaries upon the Apocalypse set forth in St. Ambrose name, writeth thus: This great whore sometime signifieth Rome, specially which at that time when the Apostle wrote this, did persecute the Church of God. but otherwise it signifieth the whole city of the Devil, that is, the universal corps of the reprobate. Tertullian also taketh it to Rome, lib. adv. Marcion. Babylon (saith he) in St. John is a figure of the city of Rome, being so great, so proud of the Empire, Judaical, and the destroyer of the saints. Which is plainly spoken of that city, when it was heathen, the head of the terrene dominion of the world, the persecutor of the Apostles and their successors, the seat of Nero, Domitian, and the like, Christ's special enemies, the sink of idolatry, sin, and false worship of the Pagan gods. Then was it Babylon, when St. John wrote this, and then was Nero and the rest figures of Antichrist, and that city the resemblance of the principal place (wheresoever it be) that Antichrist shall reign in, about the later end of the world. Now to apply that to the Romans' church and Apostolic See, either now or then, which was spoken only of the terrene state of that city, as it was the seat of the Emperor, and not of Peter, when it did sit as above 30 Popes Christ's Vicars, one after an other, & endeavoured to destroy the whole Church: that is most blasphemous and foolish. The Church in Rome was one thing, & Babylon in Rome an other thing. Peter sat in Rome, and Nero sat in Rome. but Peter, as in the Church of Rome: Nero, as in the Babylon of Rome. Which distinction the Heretics might have learned by St. Peter himself ep. 1. chap. 5. writing thus, The Church saluteth you, that is in Babylon, coelect. So that the Church and the very chosen Church was in Rome, when Rome was Babylon. whereby it is plain that, whether Babylon or the great whore do here signify Rome or no, yet it cannot signify the Church of Rome: which is now, and ever was, differing from the terrene Empire of the same. And if, as in the beginning of the Church, Nero and the rest of the persecuting Emperors (which were figures of Antichrist) did principally sit in Rome, & so that great Antichrist shall have his seat there, as it may well be (though others think that Jerusalem rather shall be his principal city) yet even then shall neither the Church of Rome, nor the Pope of Rome be Antichrist, but shall be persecuted by Antichrist, and driven out of Rome, if it be possible. for, to Christ's Vicar and the Roman Church he will have as much good will as the Protestants now do, and he shall have more power to persecute him and the Church, then they have. St. Jerome epist. 17. c. 7. to Marcella, to draw her out of the city of Rome to the country, warning her of the manifold allurements to sin and ill life, that be in so great and populous a city, alludeth at length to these words of the Apocalypse, and maketh it to be Babylon, the purple whore. but straightway, lest some naughty person might think he meant that Church of Rome, which he spake of the society of the wicked only, he addeth: There indeed the holy Church, there are the triumphant monuments of the Apostles and Martyrs, there is the true confession of Christ, there is the faith praised of the Apostle, and Gentility trodden under the name of Christian daily advancing itself on high. Whereby you see that whatsoever may be now or interpreted of Rome, out of this word Babylon, it is not meant of the Church of Rome, but the terrene state, in so much that the said holy Doctor (lib. 2. adv. Jovinian. c. 19.) signifieth, that the holiness of the Church there, hath wiped away the blasphemy written in the forehead of her inner iniquity. But of the difference of the old state and dominion of the Heathen there, from whence it is resembled to Antichrist, and the Priestly state which now it hath, read a notable place in St. Leo serm. 1 in natali Petri & Pauli.Babylon. In the end of S. Peters first Epistle, vvhere the Apostle dateth it at Babylon, vvhich the auncient vvriters (as vve there noted) affirme to be meant of Rome: the Protestants vvil not in any vvise haue it so, because they vvould not be driuen to confesse that Peter euer vvas at Rome. but here for that they thinke it maketh for their opinion, that the Pope is Antichrist, and Rome the seate and citie of Antichrist, they vvil needes haue Rome to be this Babylon, this great vvhore, and this purple harlot: such felovves, in the exposition of holy Scripture, be ledde onely by their preiudicate opinions and heresies, to vvhich they dravv al things vvithout al indifference and sinceritie. But S. Augustine, Aretas, and other vvriters, most commonly expound it, neither of Babylon it self a citie of Chaldæa or Ægypt, nor of Rome, or any one citie, vvhich may be so called spiritually, as it meaneth before chap. 11 a meane spiritual Sodom and Ægypt: but of the general societie of the impious, & of those that preferre the terrene kingdō and commoditie of the vvorld, before God & eternal felicitie. The author of the Commentaries vpon the Apocalypse set forth in S. Ambrose name, vvriteth thus: This great vvhore sometime signifieth Rome, specially vvhich at that time vvhen the Apostle vvrote this, did persecute the Church of God. but othervvise it signifieth the vvhole citie of the Diuel, that is, the vniuersal corps of the reprobate. Tertullian also taketh it to Rome, li. aduerf. Marcion. Babylon (saith he) in S. Iohn is a figure of the citie of Rome, being so great, so proud of the Empire, Iudaical, and the destroyer of the sainctes. Vvhich is plainely spoken of that citie, vvhen it vvas heathen, the head of the terrene dominion of the vvorld, the persecuter of the Apostles and their successors, the seate of Nero, Domitian, and the like, Christs special enemies, the sinke of idolatrie, sinne, and false vvorship of the Pagan gods. Then vvas it Babylon, vvhen S. Iohn vvrote this, and then vvas Nero and the rest figures of Antichrist, and that citie the resemblance of the principal place (vvheresoeuer it be) that Antichrist shal reigne in, about the later end of the vvorld. Novv to apply that to the Romanes church and Apostolike See, either novv or then, vvhich vvas spoken only of the terrene state of that citie, as it vvas the seate of the Emperour, and not of Peter, vvhen it did sit as aboue 30 Popes Christs Vicars, one after an other, & endeuoured to destroy the vvhole Church: that is most blasphemous and foolish. The Church in Rome vvas one thing, & Babylon in Rome an other thing. Peter sate in Rome, and Nero sate in Rome. but Peter, as in the Church of Rome: Nero, as in the Babylon of Rome. Vvhich distinction the Heretikes might haue learned by S. Peter him self ep. 1. chap. 5. vvriting thus, The Church saluteth you, that is in Babylon, coelect. So that the Church and the very chosen Church vvas in Rome, vvhen Rome vvas Babylon. vvhereby it is plaine that, vvhether Babylon or the great vvhore do here signifie Rome or no, yet it can not signifie the Church of Rome: vvhich is novv, and euer vvas, differing from the terrene Empire of the same. And if, as in the beginning of the Church, Nero and the rest of the persecuting Emperours (vvhich vvere figures of Antichrist) did principally sit in Rome, & so that great Antichrist shal haue his seate there, as it may vvel be (though others thinke that Hierusalem rather shal be his principal citie) yet euen then shal neither the Church of Rome, nor the Pope of Rome be Antichrist, but shal be persecuted by Antichrist, and driuen out of Rome, if it be possible. for, to Christs Vicar and the Romane Church he vvil haue as much good vvil as the Protestants novv doe, and he shal haue more povver to persecute him and the Church, then they haue. S. Hierom epist. 17. c. 7. to Marcella, to dravv her out of the citie of Rome to the countrie, vvarning her of the manifold allurements to sinne and il life, that be in so great and populous a citie, alludeth at length to these vvordes of the Apocalypse, and maketh it to be Babylon, the purple vvhore. but straight vvay, lest some naughtie person might thinke he meant that Church of Rome, vvhich he spake of the societie of the vvicked only, he addeth: There in deede the holy Church, there are the triumphant monuments of the Apostles and Martyrs, there is the true confession of Christ, there is the faith praised of the Apostle, and Gentilitie troden vnder the name of Christian daily aduancing it self on high. Vvhereby you see that vvhatsoeuer may be novv or interpreted of Rome, out of this vvord Babylō, it is not meant of the Church of Rome, but the terrene state, in so much that the said holy Doctor (li. 2. aduer. Iouinian. c. 19.) signifieth, that the holines of the Church there, hath vviped avvay the blasphemie vvritten in the forehead of her inner iniquitie. But of the difference of the old state and dominion of the Heathen there, fro vvhence it is resembled to Antichrist, and the Priestly state vvhich novv it hath, reade a notable place in S. Leo serm. 1 in natali Petri & Pauli.

5Mystery. St. Paul calleth this secret and close working of abomination, the mystery of iniquity 2. Thessal. 2. and it is called a little after in this chapter ver. 7. the Sacrament (or mystery) of the woman, and it is also the mark of reprobation and damnation.Mysterie. S. Paul calleth this secrete and close vvorking of abomination, the mysterie of iniquitie 2. Thessal. 2. and it is called a litle after in this chapter ver. 7. the Sacrament (or mysterie) of the vvoman, and it is also the marke of reprobation and damnation.

6Drunken of the blood. It is plain that this woman signifieth the whole corps of all the persons that have and shall shed so much blood of the just of the Prophets, Apostles, and other Martyrs from the beginning of the world to the end. The Protestants foolishly expound it of Rome, for that there they put Heretics to death, and allow of their punishment in other countries: but their blood is not called the blood of saints, no more then the blood of thieves, manquellers and other malefactors: for the shedding of which by order of justice, no Commonwealth answereth.Drunken of the bloud. It is plaine that this vvoman signifieth the vvhole corps of al the persons that haue and shal shede so much bloud of the iust of the Prophets, Apostles, and other Martyrs from the beginning of the vvorld to the end. The Protestants folisly expound it of Rome, for that there they put Heretikes to death, and allovv of their punishment in other countries: but their bloud is not called the bloud of sainctes, no more then the bloud of theeues, manquellers and other malefactors: for the sheding of vvhich by order of iustice, no Commonvvealth ansvvereth.

9Seven hills. The Angel himself here expoundeth these 7 hills to be all one with the 7 and the 7 kings: & yet the Heretics blinded exceedingly with malice against the Church of Rome, are so mad to take them for the seven hills literally, upon which in old time Rome did stand, that so they might make the unlearned believe that Rome is the seat of Antichrist. But if they had any consideration, they might mark that the Prophets' visions here are most often by spirit, whether he talk of heads, horns, candlesticks, Churches, kings, hills, or other things: that he alluded not to the hills, because they were just seven, but that Seven is a mystical number, as sometime Ten is, signifying universally all that sort whereof he speaketh, as, that seven heads, hills, or kingdoms (which are here all one) should be all the kingdoms of the world that persecute the Christians: being heads and mountains for their height in dignity over others. And some take it, that there were seven special Empires, kingdoms, or States, that have or shall be the greatest persecutors of God's people. as of Egypt, Chanaan, Babylon, the Assyrians, and Greeks, which be five. sixthly of the Roman Empire which once persecuted most bitterly, and which (as the Apostle here saith) yet is, or standeth. but the seventh, then when St. John wrote this, was not come, neither is yet come in our days: which is Antichrist's state, who shall not come so long as the Empire of Rome standeth, as St. Paul did prophesy. 2. Thessal. 2.Seuen hilles. The Angel him self here expoundeth these 7 hilles to be al one vvith the 7 and the 7 kings: & yet the Heretikes blinded exceedingly vvith malice against the Church of Rome, are so madde to take them for the seuen hilles literally, vpon vvhich in old time Rome did stand, that so they might make the vnlearned beleeue that Rome is the seate of Antichrist. But if they had any consideration, they might marke that the Prophets visions here are most often by spirit, vvhether he talke of heads, hornes, candlestickes, Churches, kings, hilles, or other things: that he alluded not to the hilles, because they vvere iust seuen, but that Seuen is a mystical number, as somtime Ten is, signifying vniuersally al that sort vvherof he speaketh, as, that seuen heads, hilles, or kingdoms ( vvhich are here al one ) should be al the kingdoms of the vvorld that persecute the Christians: being heads and mountaines for their height in dignitie ouer others. And some take it, that there vvere seuen special Empires, kingdoms, or States, that haue or shal be the greatest persecutors of Gods people. as of Ægypt, Chanaan, Babylon, the Assyrians, and Greekes, vvhich be fiue. sixtly of the Romane Empire vvhich once persecuted most bitterly, and vvhich (as the Apostle here saith) yet is, or standeth. but the seuenth, then vvhen S. Iohn vvrote this, vvas not come, neither is yet come in our daies: vvhich is Antichrists state, vvho shal not come so long as the Empire of Rome standeth, as S. Paul did Prophecie. 2. Thessal. 2.

11The same is the eight. The beast itself being the congregation of all these wicked persecutors, although it consist of the foresaid seven, yet for that the malice of all is complete in it, may be called the eight. Or, Antichrist himself, though he be one of the seven, yet for his extraordinary wickedness shall be counted the odd persecutor, or the accomplishment of all other, & therefore is named the eight. Some take this beast called the eight, to be the Devil.The same is the eight. The beast it self being the congregation of al these vvicked persecuters, although it consist of the foresaid seuen, yet for that the malice of al is complete in it, may be called the eight. Or, Antichrist him self, though he be one of the seuen, yet for his extraordinarie vvickednes shal be counted the odde persecuter, or the accomplishment of al other, & therefore is named the eight. Some take this beast called the eight, to be the Diuel.

18The great city. If it be meant of any one city, and not of the universal society of the reprobate (which is the city of the Devil) as the Church & the universal fellowship of the faithful is called the city of God) it is most like to be old Rome, as some of the Greeks expound it, from the time of the first Emperors, till Constantine's days, who made an end of the persecution. for by the authority of the old Roman Empire, Christ was put to death first, and afterward the two chief Apostles, & the Popes their successors, and infinite Catholic men throughout the world, by lesser kings which then were subject to Rome. All which Antichristian persecutions ceased, when Constantine reigned, and yielded up the city to the Pope, who holdeth not the kingdom or Empire over the world, as the Heathen did, but the fatherhood and spiritual rule of the Church. Howbeit the more probable sense is the other, of the city of the Devil, as the author of the homilies upon the Apocalypse in St. Augustine, declareth.The great citie. If it be meant of any one citie, and not of the vniuersal societie of the reprobate (vvhich is the citie of the Diuel) as the Church & the vniuersal felovvship of the faithful is called the citie of God) it is most like to be old Rome, as some of the Greekes expound it, from the time of the first Emperours, til Constantines daies, vvho made an end of the persecution. for by the authoritie of the old Romane Empire, Christ vvas put to death first, and aftervvard the tvvo cheefe Apostles, & the Popes their successors, and infinite Catholikes men through out the vvorld, by lesser kings vvhich then vvere subiect to Rome. Al vvhich Antichristian persecutions ceased, vvhen Constantine reigned, and yelded vp the citie to the Pope, vvho holdeth not the kingdom or Empire ouer the vvorld, as the Heathen did, but the fatherhod and spiritual rule of the Church. Hovvbeit the more probable sense is the other, of the citie of the Diuel, as the author of the homilies vpon the Apocalypse in S. Augustine, declareth.