PISGAH EVANGELICA .

By the Method of the Reuelation , presenting to publike view those Cananites ouer whom our Lord Iesus Christ and his holie Church shall triumph after seuerall Battailes .

THAT WHICH IS PAST IS SHEWED IN a briefe Ecclesiasticall Historie , containing most of the Mutations which haue befallen the Church , from the yeere of our Lord 97 , vnto the yeere 1603. as they haue been shewed vnto S. Iohn in Patmos , and recorded by such Historiographers as are of least suspected faith .

Gathered by WILLIAM SYMONDS , sometimes Fellow of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford .

Imprinted at London by FELIX KYNGSTON , for Edmund Weauer , and are to be sold at his shop at the great North-doore of S. Pauls Church . 1605.

DEare Christian Reader . As the Prophet Esay in a case not altogether different , so may I iustly exclaime , Esai . 53.1 . Who will beleeue our report ? and to whom is the arme of the Lord reuealed ▪ In the Old Testament the Prophets foretold of MESSIAS , describing the time , place and manner of his birth , life , passion , death , resurrection and ascension , and foreshewing that the Builders or chiefe Rulers of the Church should refuse him being the head corner stone . The learned Priests , Pharisies and Princes of the Iewes read and studied these Prophecies , hauing as good meanes for vnderstanding them ( in all likelihood ) as wit and learning could affoord : and yet , as the Apostle saith , they fulfilled the voyces of the Prophets by putting Christ to death . And why ? they were worldly minded , proud , ambicious , Act. 3.18 . and puffed vp with the opinion of their owne knowledge , they had corrupted the truth with their owne deuices , and in their blinde imagination framed vnto themselues such a Messias , that when the true Christ was come they could not know him : they expected a great Monarch , that should restore vnto them their earthly kingdome and the pleasures of the world ; meane while , they crucified the true Sauiour , and fulfilled all things that were written of him . Onely a few fisher-men , and certaine poore and abiect women followed Christ and beleeued in him : Psal. 25.14 . for the secret of the Lord was reuealed to them that feared him .

In the New Testament in like manner , Christ and his Apostles foreshew the comming of the Great ANTICHRIST , they paint him out in his colours , what manner of one he should be ; declaring the time , place and manner of his birth , life , tyrannie , pride , ruine and condemnation ; and shewing that such as make greatest shew to the contrarie , should be the chiefest actors in this tragedie . The Pope , his Cardinals , his great Prelats and Doctors of all sorts reade and studie these Scriptures , and are ( to a naturall mans conceit ) as likely to attaine the true sense of them , as any other : they talke much of the comming of this Monster , and yet themselues play all the parts in this Tragedie . And why so ? they are as proud as the Pharisies , selfe-louers , ambicious , they haue corrupted the holy Scriptures with the leuen of their owne doctrine , they haue their fabulous inuentions touching Antichrist , so that they cannot know him : They looke for an indiuiduall Tyrant , a Jew borne , of the Tribe of Dan , who shall raigne but three yeeres and a halfe in Ierusalem , and worke I know not what wonders : meane time themselues indeede are that true Antichrist , and haue almost fulfilled whatsoeuer is written of him . O Lord how vnsearchable are thy iudgements , that hast sent them strong delusion , Rom. 11.33 . 2. Thess. 2.11.12 . Reuel. 3.10 . that they should beleeue lies ! That all they might be damned which beleeue not the truth . Onely a few poore and contemned people , which haue kept the word of patience , haue been deliuered from that houre of temptation .

The Papists wonder at our confidence in this point , and thinke the Reuelation to be so mystical , that no certainty can be concluded thence . But we wish them , Reuel. 1.3 . Matth. 24.15 . if euer they will enioy the blessing promised vnto the reader of that Booke , that once againe they would reade and consider ; then happily may they learne that those things are hid from carnall and wicked men , Reuel. 1.1 . Coloss. 1.26.27 . which are shewed vnto the Saints and seruants of God : whereupon they may accuse their owne blindnes , and examine whether themselues be the seruants of God that see not the hidden mysteries reuealed vnto the Saints , and cease to make their grosse vnderstanding the rule and square of other mens knowledge .

For my owne part , what elsewhere I haue written concerning the certaintie of my knowledge herein , I am so farre from acknowledging to be rashly spoken , as that ( I thanke God ) euery day I am more and more confirmed therein , as by sundrie other meanes , so especially by reading this ensuing-Tractate , and often conference with the Author thereof my louing friend , of whose holy life , graue and moderate cariage , painfulnes in his ministerie , manifold learning and rare vnderstanding of Propheticall Scriptures , I shall not neede to speake any thing here , least I be thought too partiall ; N B. only for thy sake ( Christian Reader ) I willingly acknowledge that I haue profited and learned more by reading one sheere of this GOLDEN-BOOKE , than euer I could by all the Interpreters that I read on the Reuelation ; as thou maist also do , if thou wilt vouchsafe attentiuely to reade ouer but the Authors Preface only with a single eye and docile minde . The Lord direct all thy studies to the glorie of his holy name , and thy owne soules health . Farewell .

HOnorable , and right reuerend Father , as the mercie of God hath alwaies abounded towards his Church , in giuing her Propheticall Scriptures , as a light that shineth in a darke place : so verie seldome haue there been wanting godly Prophets , who by diligent search haue so dressed these lights , that they haue shined to all that were about them , for their directions in the greatest mutations and difficulties . For the most part , vntill the time of the Apostles , this kinde of studie was so frequent and familiar , not onely to the good , but also to the bad ; that many times it seemed Elisha was not dead , 2. King . 6.12 . that tolde the words which the King spake in his priuie chamber . Howbeit , though neuer Church had prophecies so particular and plaine , as this of Christ hath vnder the Gospell ; yet am I perswaded ( I speake at your Lordships correction ) that no age hath been so ignorant in the true vnderstanding of such as concerned their times , as ( for of long after the Apostles ) the Christian Church hath been . For as all the Prophecies of the New Testament , which are many , haue been esteemed difficult : so this booke of the Reuelation hath been held impregnable .

Now it is a part of S. Pauls apologie to the Elders of Ephesus : Act. 20.27 . I haue shewed you all the counsel of God . The diduction from thence , bindeth all the Ministerie to endeuour the like , aswell in Propheticall , as Dogmaticall Scriptures . I haue therefore somewhat laboured in this kinde , but principally in this booke ; and that ( all praise be giuen to the Father of lights ) to mine owne satisfaction in such sort , as that many godly men haue desired to communicate in my contentment herein .

1. Cor. 14.32 . But the Scripture commandeth , that the Spirit of the Prophets be subiect to the Prophets ; forbidding all to beleeue , or teach any thing , that will not endure the censure of the Prophets . The rather ought I to subiect that which I haue done herein , vnto your Lordships godly and learned censure , as a Father among the Prophets , because I haue laboured in this kinde , in a different manner from the rest of the Interpreters . If your Lordship like it , I haue enough . If you correct me , Psal. 141.5 . where I erre , though you smite me I will take it kindly , and when any shall say vnto me , What are these wounds in thy hands ? Zach. 13.6 . I will answere , Thus was I wounded in the house of my friends .

For the better direction of your Lordships graue and learned censure , I will communicate some part of my thoughts herein : for mine affectation of breuitie , and other reasons of consequence , haue caused me to suppresse many things of good importance .

When I first tooke the Booke in hand to studie it , I saw it was generally accused by friend and foe , for inextricable hardnes . But when I read the text , and saw the title to be a a a cap. 1.1 . Reuelation , which is the b b 1. Sam. 2.17 . cleerest and plainest kinde of teaching , the c c cap. 1.2 . Reader to be blessed , and the Booke to be d d cap. 22.10 . vnsealed , I durst not obiect any difficultie to the Booke ; but began to inquire how it came to passe , that it was accompted so hard .

The phrase , though strange in appearance , is meerely propheticall . The method , though closely couched , is very Logicall . Wherefore the fault must be laid elsewhere , and not vpon the Booke , that it seemeth so darke and difficult .

The reasons of the hardnes , vpon diligent consideration , I resolued were these , amongst others .

First , the iudgements of men haue been of long so forestalled with the doctrine , that the signes of the latter day are come , that the Interpreters haue laboured to finde the accomplishment of the Booke in the stories past . But because many things were not yet fulfilled , they knew not where they were when they tooke the booke in hand . They that in this age doe straine their wits , to see who can bring first newes of Christs last comming , besides that they obscure this booke , they would haue vs to breake the commandement of Christ , when many shall say , Luk. 21.8 . The time draweth neere , doth enioyne vs thus : Follow ye not them therefore . As also to violate the rule of the Apostle , which is , not to be troubled by any deceit , 2. Thess. 2.1.2 as if the day of Christ were at hand , till Antichrist haue all things fulfilled vpon him , which are written in this Reuelation . S. Peter seemeth to giue the reason , when he sheweth that the vntimely vrging of the last comming of Christ , 2. Pet. 2.3.4 . would be the mother of Atheisme .

Secondly , when many doe vndertake to interpret the booke , they misse in the first foundation of their labour . For whereas it is most euident , that the booke is meerely propheticall , foreshewing the particulars of things present and to come ; some of the Writers haue fled from this ground , vpon which onely there can be a safe building set vp , and haue laboured to make it Dogmaticall , containing certaine points of doctrine , handled before more largely and more plainly in the rest of the Scriptures : which cannot be affirmed without some aduantage to the enemies of the truth ; nor without some misbeseeming imputations to the holie Ghost , by whose direction the booke is written .

Thirdly , many doe labour to make the booke an Ecclesiasticall Historie , from the birth , or preaching , or ascension of Christ : but mistaking the time when to begin , they put the whole storie cleane out of ioynt . Besides , by that proiect , they commit this absurditie , to say , that the things which were spoken and done in the eares and eyes of all men in the time of Christ and his Apostles , were in the time of S. Iohn so closely sealed , Cap. 5.3 . as that none in heauen , nor in earth , nor vnder the earth was able to open them , nor looke thereon .

Fourthly , some of the Interpreters haue laboured to reduce the Seales , Trumpets and Phials to certaine numbers of yeeres : but seeing the text in many places doth giue vs the knowledge of the visions , by the onely diuersitie of the mutations which befall the Church ; wee may not tie our selues to numbers , but onely where the text doth bound the mutations with numbers .

Fiftly , when as godly men had truly found , that the tyrannie and corruptions of the Church of Rome , are liuely described in some parts of the booke , they haue also laboured to applie all the texts to Rome , which doe containe the description and properties of the enemies of the Church . But because in the booke is also handled of other enemies ; besides that the booke is obscured by this course , the enemie is aduantaged that espieth our weaknes , and the propheticall spirit is very much preiudiced ; which being more generall , is wronged by restraint .

Sixtly , the Historians , who in the iudgements of all men are to be best helpes , first haue bin carelesse in setting downe the exact times of the occurrences , which they write of ; so that somtimes it is worke more than enough to agree them . And then they haue rather consulted with their friends , than with S. Iohn for the heads of their obseruations . For the most of them doe labour rather to magnifie their Patrones , and to set a glasse vpon a faction , than to deliuer the truth . Hereby it commeth to passe , that hee that readeth most of them , shall be sure to finde much wearines to the flesh ; howsoeuer he may happily here and there finde a wise and vpright sentence .

Seuenthly , there hath been found no age , till of late , so free from ostentation and selfe-loue , but that the leaders of the times haue made it as good as mortall , to reprooue the monstrous conditions of the time , which are liuely described here by the true interpretation of this booke : so that vpon paine of death it must be made to speake nothing at all , or any thing , rather than against the time , whatsoeuer be the truth .

Eightly , some also haue not let to blaspheme this kinde of studie as phantasticall and curious ; containing either verie little , or that which God hath put in his owne and onely power ; and that no doctrine can be enforced out of Scriptures of this kinde .

Lastly , these things , together with the multitude of bookes to be read , ( which neither pouertie can prouide , nor weaknes studie ) and the want of due conference of this booke with the former prophecies , to whom it sendeth his reader , I take to be some of the effectuall reasons , which haue impeached the labours of many herein .

It remaineth now that I giue an accompt how I am perswaded that the proiect , which I haue laid , is the onely true and easie meanes of vnderstanding the booke .

First , the text doth say , that it serueth to shew the things , cap. 1.1 . which must shortly be done . Whereupon I conclude , THE THINGS DONE ARE THE BOOKE . Wherefore of force it doth follow , that the visions may , and onely must , be enlightened , by the carefull application of ALL the Ecclesiasticall histories vnto them .

Secondly , the things are shewed to the seruants of God . Then must the seruants of God tell vs what they haue seene , if we meane to know them . And so we despise the iudgements of them in this booke , which persecute the seruants of God , be they otherwise for learning as profound as the diuell .

Thirdly , the time was at hand of the prophecie . For S. Iohn was to write the things which were in action , cap. 1.9 . cap. 1.19 . at the time of his writing , and the things which were to come afterwards . Wherefore , without all question , the booke was to begin when it was first published .

Vpon these three grounds I am bold to conclude , that The booke is a perfect Ecclesiasticall historie , NB. The argument of the Reuelation . shewed to the seruants of God , containing whatsoeuer is materiall in the Church , from the time of the being of S. Iohn in Patmos , to the end of the world . So that nothing of importance can bee found in the Christian world , which may not be referred to some part of this booke , as to his proper head ; from whence it is to receiue testimonie whether it be true or false ; and also such due consideration and censure , that it must be esteemed to be good or bad , according as the booke doth iudge .

Of which my assertion , I find not any of the Interpreters greatly to doubt ; yet none of them ( that I know ) hath attempted to see , how he can make the text , and all stories of importance so to agree , that the collection of the mutations , with their causes and effects , may seeme worthie the holy Ghost . Wherefore , though I doe acknowledge my selfe euery way the most vnfit of all others ; yet rather than it should be vndone , I haue thought good to gesse at it , as well as God hath enabled me , with the small Librarie , and other meane helpes , which my poore estate would affoord me .

Your Lordship may not looke here for a perfect Analysis and interpretation of the whole booke ; for that is a worke for a iust and full Commentarie , which here I promise not : but haue onely minded a generall disposing of the text for the storie : and therefore was not to be diligent , either in the preparations to the visions , or in the Scriptures not yet accomplished . What I thinke of the rest not greatly touched here , ( as of the first fiue Chapters , containing the things which were in hand in the time of S. Iohn , and a preparation to that which was to follow ; what of the sixt and seuenth Phials , &c. which import the confederacie of both religions , against the incursions of the Turkes ; the great incredible and fearfull stirres that are yet to be betweene the Romanists and the godly ; and of the diuision of the Papists among themselues ; and what of the rest of the prophecie , which containeth the golden and happie daies of the Church , and the new troubles which shall arise when Antichrist is cast into hell ; of the precise computation of the time , of as many of these things as is to be made by the power of the text : ) I hope it will not be looked for here , because the nature of this Treatise doth not require it : yet happily , by the blessing of God , may hereafter appeare , if none doe better preuent me ; which I much desire . That which I say my selfe , is , that by this proiect I haue bin able readily to reduce all stories of importance , to their certaine heads of the Reuelation : and to see the drifts and deuices of many writers , and some other persons , before I saw the particulars in themselues . And also to gesse trulie before hand of the future effects of some things , which , for any thing I could perceiue , were in mans reason to fall out otherwise .

That which I haue done , I submit in the feare of God , not onely vnto your Lordship , but also vnto all such godlie Fathers and brethren of the Ministerie , who in the feare of God doe handle or regard his word . For the ignorant , as I doe much desire their edification ; so I neglect their censures . The scornefull reiections of the malicious and enemie that neglecteth , and with scoffing cauils and railings maligneth whatsoeuer doth not make for his phantasie and partialitie , I esteeme as such reproofes , as I will weare for a garland . As for the harsh phrase and haste in translations , seeing I seeke matter , whether digested , or congested , the godly will excuse .

That which I would first admonish the diligent Reader of , is this . The booke hath a double method . First is set down the drift of God , in disposing the things of the Church , in the manner which he hath done ; and this reacheth from the beginning , to the end of the eleuenth chapter . Secondly is shewed the drift of the Diuell in his proceedings against the Church , in the twelfth and thirteenth chapters , and part of the twentith chapter . The rest , to the end , is an interpretation of such things , as were briefly touched in some former chapters . In my Treatise I haue for shortnes and cleerenes ioyned both the methods in one , and put the interpretations into the places for which they serue .

The next thing I would admonish , is , that I haue diuided this Treatise into seuerall periods and chapters ; not according to the chapters of the booke , but according to the diuersitie of the mutations . Thirdly , that in gathering of the stories , I haue not tied my selfe to the whole discourse word for word , for it would haue growne to too great a volume , but haue briefed them for case . And where I thinke the Authors censure of the times doth agree with the text , I keepe it . Where the writer , by ignorance or partialitie , doth misse in his discerning , I take the briefe of the storie , and passe by his opinion , excepting in some very few places plain enough to be discerned . Furthermore , where the Historians in their bookes doe follow the succession of yeeres and persons , I hold it sufficient to name the author , committing the reader to the easie direction of the yeere and person : but where any thing might seeme combersome to finde , I haue bin more plaine , giuing readie helpe to such as haue bookes of the same edition which I followed . Thus leauing my labour not onely to the touchstone , but also to the test , I pray for your Lordships happines , and the edification of the Church of God .