WHat things single are usually thought sufficient to determine ones choice of a Patron to any publick Writing , whether it be private Obligation from particular Favours , or the Desire of leaving to Posterity a just and honourable Testimony to the Parts and Vertues of some excellent Person , or the design of obtaining the Patronage and countenance of such a Person , to what we adventure to make publick , as is able by his Learning , Judgement and publick Repute to protect it from Injury ; all these do so happily conspire in your Lordship , that I should have thought it an Omission unpardonable if I had not taken this opportunity of paying your Lordship this due respect , and of doing that right to the Truth I here professe as to put it under the wings of so fit and able a Patron .

Which still ought to be done with the greater alacrity , there being that Providentiall Coincidence of things , that I should have a Book ready in the Presse at that very time that our Gracious Sovereign did think good to conferre upon your Lordship that great Honour and Trust of being Lord Lieutenant of Ireland . Which conjuncture of Circumstances could not but excite me with greater readinesse to make your Lordship this congratulatory Present upon your new Honour . Which all good Christians that know the inflexible uprightnesse of your spirit , and cordiall adherence to the Apostolick Faith and just Interest of Reformed Christendome , cannot but congratulate .

For this it is indeed , My Lord , that has begot in me a more special esteem of your Lordship , that in this instable and uncertain Age you have with that steadinesse of minde and clearnesse of Judgement stuck to the Truth and Purity of the Protestant Religion , as discerning the vast difference betwixt it and Popery , which yet too many now-adays , either because they are removed too great a distance from all Religion , or else because their sight is extremely dim in matters of this nature , can not , or will not , discern . But this is spoke with a more particular regard to the second part of this small Volume I present your Lordship withall .

But the first also has its speciall sutablenesse to the Circumstances your Lordship is placed in . For by how much more power any one is intrusted with by any Protestant Prince , by so much the more he is concerned to understand how sacred a Province he undertakes , and how expresly that Religion and Profession is owned in the Holy Prophecies Christ has delivered to his Church , above and against the barbarous and idolatrous Tyrannie of the Church of Rome . Which things are set out with that plainnesse , evidence and easiness in this Exposition of the Epistles to the Seven Churches that I hope no impartial Reader can fail of being made exceeding sensible of the Sacrednesse of the Protestant Religion and Interest by the perusall thereof . Besides , that there are some notable Hints in these Oracles for the more happy and secure management of the Affairs of Reformed Christendome .

I shall onely name that passage to the Sardian Church , Remember how thou hast received , and heard , and hold fast , &c. The Verse runs out into a dreadfull Commination of heavy Judgements to the Angel of the Church of Sardis for his loosenesse and slipperinesse in those points of Apostolick Doctrine which the Reformers had recovered into the knowledge of so great a part of the world . And amongst the things that they had heard , that voice of the Angel , Apoc. 18. Come out of her , my people , that ye be not partakers of her sins , &c. was not the least articulate . Whereby the Church of Rome was openly declared to be that Babylong the Great , the Mother of Fornications and the Abominations of the Earth ; as also the Pope with his Clergie to be that notorious Antichrist .

This the Sardian Church had received from their Evangelicall Predecessours . And it had been their everlasting establishment never to have for got it , never to have let it die , or smothered it . But what mischief the halting betwixt two Opinions is apt to doe , and the not taking notice how sacred a thing the Protestant Religion is in the sight of God , and how rejectaneous that of the Church of Rome , I believe neither your Lordship nor any one else that has his eyes opened either into History or the Affairs of the world can be ignorant of , or , if he be a good Christian , make the observation without regrett and sorrow .

But the Prospect of what is to come is more pleasing and comfortable ; which is the state of the Church of Philadelphia , into which the Sardian Church , that is to say , Reformed Christendome or the Protestant Churches , are to passe , as being the next successive Intervall . Which therefore cannot but be a Note of main importance for all Reformed States and Kingdomes to stear their Affairs by , namely , to bend their course thitherward whither they are pointed to by the Finger of God himself in his Holy Oracles . For they sail as it were with winde and tide whose carriage of Affairs approaches the nearest to the purpose of Divine Fate . Which is lively pourtray'd all along in this stupendious Book of Prophecies written by S. John .

The most pleasing and enravishing part whereof is that which is typify'd or prefigured by the Church of Philadelphia , the Church of Brotherly love . Which is the next Scene Divine Providence has designed to introduce . And which all those do most grosly oppose who for difference in matters not revealed in holy Scripture , nor necessary to Salvation , think they have pretense enough with all unchristian keennesse and bitternesse of spirit to reproach and inveigh one against another , to nourish the highest Animosities , and to watch all opportunities of persecuting , ruining , and trampling one another into the Dirt.

As this is extremely unchristian in it self , so is it also diametrically opposite to that Dispensation that God intends to introduce into his Church as the chiefest Blessing he has in store for her , and is as it were knocking at the door to enter , if the lovd noise of hot and quarrelsome Brawls about matters of smaller moment ( as indeed all things are exceeding small , unlesse of Apostolicall Institution , if they stand in competition with that Royal Law of Love , ) did not drown the voice thereof , that it cannot so easily be heard .

But assuredly , my Lord , the letting this Philadelphian Dispensation in , or the approaching as near unto it as we can , will prove the most effectuall healing and consolidating the Interest of Reformed Christendome , as well in the whole as in the parts thereof , as we can desire or expect . Which therefore I humbly conceive , that all persons the more Power they are intrusted with in any of the Protestant Dominions , are the more obliged to consider by how much more they are obliged to endeavour to promote the Interest of their Prince and Countrey whose Affairs they administer . And therefore the right understanding of the Vision of the Seven Churches so manifestly giving this aim for the prosperous steering of Affairs , I thought this my Exposition of the said Churches no unsutable Present in these Circumstances to be made unto your Lordship . Of the Usefulnesse whereof I having spoken more particularly in my Preface , I leave the whole to your Lordship's judicious and favourable perusall , and wishing you all good Successe in the great Charge his Majesty has intrusted you with , I cease to give you any farther trouble then in subscribing my self ,

Indeed , upon my endeavouring to frame out the same , and my searching into Commentatours , I found that P. Galatinus interprets these Seven Churches of seven Intervalls of the Church from the beginning to the end thereof . This Cornelius à Lapide notes , but not a word of the Limits of these Intervalls . And since my compleating this Exposition , a learned Friend of mine shew'd me a passage in Mr. Mede , Lib. 5. c. 10. where he argues for a mysticall sense of these Seven Churches , and seems to insinuate that they should Prophetically sample unto us a seven-fold successive Temper and Condition of the whole visible Church , according to the severall Ages thereof , answering to the Pattern of the Seven Churches here , and that à principio ad finem , and takes notice of the fitly placing of PHILADELPHIA partly about the time the Beast is falling , and partly after his Destruction , accordingly as we had already set down in our Exposition . But the bounds of these successive Intervalls he has not attempted to define . That Advantage therefore I had onely from the party I above mentioned , as well as the first Invitation to undertake this present Design .

3. But now as to the Solidity of the Performance , although I must confess the clearnesse of the matter appeared so great to me at last , as that it infinitely exceeded my first expectations of it , and proved satisfactory to my self beyond what I thought possible ; yet I will not here pre-ingage thy judgement or belief , but freely remit thee to the Exposition it self , the Preparations to it in the first and second Chapters , and the brief Recapitulation of the strength of it in the last . Onely , that thou maist have nothing to stumble at , I will endeavour to prevent thee in some Exceptions , the greatest I am aware of , and yet in my own judgement not considerable .

4. As first , I would not have thee , according to the manner of some , let thy minde dwell upon any thing that may seem less strong alone . As that Chap. 2. Sect. 11. where I intimate , that because , in the * * Apoc. 1. 20. interpreting the Seven golden Candlesticks , they are not apply'd nominatim to the seven particular Churches in Asia that are said to be writ to , it is an Invitation to the thinking of a more released sense , and that some other seven Churches in another kinde of meaning ( as well as they , if not rather then they , ) may be aimed at ; this ought to be no prejudice to the other Arguments in the same Chapter that are so cogent , but rather those other to afford strength to this , which is added as an easy Probability , not a convictive Demonstration , and therefore is not considerable but in conjunction with the rest , as is intimated in the very place . And I will onely adde here , That if there were no other sense then the Literal to be look'd after , that in all likelihood , for sureness to keep men from Errour , and from doing wrong to any Church by a false Interpretation , the Spirit of God would have expresly said , that the seven Candlesticks were the seven Churches of Asia that were there writ to , and that the seven Stars were the seven Bishops of those very Churches .

I must confess , in my own judgement , I think there is some such thing hinted at as I have declared , which made me not omit it . But I am also as sensible that it can signifie little to those that are averse , and are given to cavill , who are prone to dwell on what seems weak , that they may ease their minds of what is more strong and stringent . Which is a fault that is punishment enough to him that commits it , he usually losing Truth by thus indulging to his own ill humour .

5. I know not whether thou mayst mistake me also in the Allusion I memtion of Ephesus to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as if it sounded like Aphesus , which I would warrant from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( one of the Matres lectionis before the use of Points ) standing for both A and E ; whence I would argue the affinity of those two sounds : when as thou maist object , that Martinius expresly speaking of these three Matres lectionis , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , saith , that the first stands for A , the second for E and I , and the third for O and U. But in Hebrew Writings without Points there is nothing more familiar then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 standing for E , as in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and the like . And in the Greek tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are frequently changed into one another , according to diversity of Dialect : so that there can be no difficulty touching this thing .

6. Thirdly , It may haply be objected against our interpreting the Ten days of Affliction predicted to the Church in Smyrna , of the Ten famous Persecutions , that some reckon more then ten , adding an eleventh under Constantius the Arian , a twelfth under Julian the Apostate , and a thirteenth under the Arian Emperour Valens . But Prophecy being an anticipatorie History , it is sufficient that it speak according to the usual language of Historians , whose reports run up on these Ten so famously and distinctly taken notice of . And there are no more then ten in the Intervall we set for the Church of Smyrna . After which conspicuously comes in the Scene of Pergamus , Christianity having got the conquest over the old persecuting Paganism . And Julian reigned not two years , and his Attempts were most-what of another kinde , and none considerable so as to break this number . Besides that it happened in an Intervall notoriously of another nature and denomination , and therefore is not to be taken notice of , it bearing no proportion at all to the contrary Affairs of that Period .

Indeed the Arrian Persecutions are very considerable , but they are of another nature from these Ten. The Church being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 became proud , as well as exalted out of the dust , and contentious , as well as proud , according to that of the wise man , Prov. 13. 10. Onely by pride cometh contention , but with the well-advised is wisedome . Christ was therefore faithfull in his promise to the Church in Smyrna , and procured them the Crown of life , and Safety from the Pagan Cruelty and Persecution . But that the Church afterwards in Pergamus fell out amongst themselves , was their own fault , none of his , that taught them expresly , That by this shall all men know ye are my Disciples , if ye love John 13 , 35. one another .

7. Fourthly , It may perhaps seem hard to thee , that I interpret the eating of things offered to Idols of communicating with the Church of Rome in Apoc. 2. 14 , 20. their Idolatrous Masse . For how can that consecrated Bread be said to be offered to an Idol ?

It is true , he that they pretend to offer it to is no Idol , but the true God . But by their Idolatrous practices , communicating Divine Worship to what is not God , they debase the nature of the true God so far , as that they seem to lose the true Notion of him , and in stead of him to worship an Idol of their own brain .

For the true God is not so mean a Being that any others can partake in his Worship . And therefore , according to the cutting and searching strain of the Prophetick style , those that mingle Idolatry with the Worship of the true God are represented as having no true Knowledge of him ; and therefore whatever religious Worship they doe , they being devoid of the knowledge of the true God , they must necessarily be conceived to doe it to some Idol . According to which sense is that of Amos , O ye house of Israel , have ye offered Chap. 5. 25. to me victimes and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wildernesse ? yea , ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch , &c. Where the true God , by reason of their Idolatry in worshipping other Objects , denies they at any time worshipped him , though questionless they thought they did offer Victimes and Sacrifices unto him . This is express and direct to the Scruple propounded .

But in our Exposition it is onely insinuated , that there is a Propheticall Diorism , or a Synecdoche , whereby Idolatry in the general is signify'd by that particular species thereof , the eating things offered unto Idols . Which is used here with the greater fitness and elegancy , because that the Idolatry is committed in that part of their Religion that is performed in the eating of what is consecrated . And if we do but consider that the Lord's Supper is a Feast upon a Sacrifice , according to that of S. Paul , Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for 1 Cor. 5. 7. us ; therefore let us keep the Feast , ( which Notion is made out with abundant evidence by a late learned and judicious See Dr. Cudworth's Discourse of the Lord's Supper . Writer on that Subject , ) we once supposing the eating of this Sacrifice contaminated with Idolatry , what can be a more natural and apposite reproach to it , then to parallel it to the Feasts upon the Pagan Idolothyta , the eating of things offered unto Idols ? Wherefore there is not the least harshnesse imaginable in this Interpretation .

8. Fifthly , That it may be no prejudice to thy judgement touching the Interpretation of Antipas , and its signifying as much as one against the Pope , because that learned and reverend Expositour Dr. Hammond has styled it a wanton and vain phancy in Mr. Brightman , who presumed so to interpret it , thou art to consider , that this Censure of that Passage was not so much built upon any weakness in the Passage it self , as that it was found in a farrago of Conceits that were not so well managed as to support and countenance one another . And therefore for the general Mr. Brightman's Exposition of these Seven Epistles being not so convictive , that judicious Doctour was the more bold to speak so slightly of this passage thereof . Which if it had been accompanied with other parts of his Exposition of these Epistles that had had the like unexceptionablenesse , it would never have been found fault with by so judicious a Writer , as indeed there is no reason it should .

For no name can be so fit and significant for this purpose as this of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , signifie one and the same thing , as Eustathius and others from him usually do affirm . And it is most certainly true that they are both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as Hesychius speaks . And therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , have exquisitely the same signification . But to have found 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this supposed Prophecy had been quite against the laws of the Apocalyptick style , that is as regardfull of due Concealment as of certainty of Revealment . So that so plain a Passage would have stood out very coursly and harshly above the rest of that smooth and delicate Contexture of these Visions , and occasioned a too-early intelligence of the meaning of these Prophecies . Besides that Antipapas is no proper name of any man , and that the very literal Story requires it should be Antipas . Wherefore the Indication both for sense and for sound in this word Antipas is as exquisite as , considering the nature of the Apocalyptick style , it either could or ought to have been . So that he that would cavill at this interpretation must of necessity deny the Hypothesis , and say there is no Propheticall sense at all of these Seven Epistles .

9. Nor needest thou scruple at my applying that Passage of the Martyr Antipas to the Albigenses and Waldenses , that were slain in the field , as if they were not rightly termed Martyrs . For he that can save his Life by renouncing the Truth , and yet parts with it , ( though it be in the field , ) is rightly deemed a Martyr . Which was the case of these men . And that is remarkable for this purpose which Mr. Mede takes notice of , That when Simon , Earl of Monfort , had routed them , and made a great slaughter of them , and that the Bishop of Tolouse there present took thereupon the opportunity of exhorting them to return to the Roman Church , they seeing so plainly that the wrath of God was kindled against them for their Separation from the Church ; they answered in plain terms , that they were the people of God overcome by the Beast , ( Apoc. 13. 7. ) and knowing this to be their fate , yet would not flinch from the Truth : and therefore the Army returning upon them , they had all their throats cut in the field . Whence it is manifest that they were Martyrs properly so called , according to our Definition thereof : As there were also severall Antipas's in this Intervall that suffered Martyrdome in that way that thou canst not except against , that is to say , such as were merely passive , and made no resistence . Some of them are named by Mr. Brightman , who if he had done as well on the other five Churches as he has on this of Pergamus and that of Thyatira , his Exposition of the Seven Churches had been considerable .

10. And lastly , to arm thee against the authority of the above-named Venerable person touching the reason of the name of Thyatira , as if it were as much as Thygatira , a young Daughter ; for which he perstringes Mr. Brightman , condemning the Conceit for a mere groundless Phancy ; I say , it is not evident that he so much reprehends him for the Notation of the word , as for the application of it to such a sense as he there expresses : which is much different from that sense we have proposed , and far more dilute .

But as for my self , I must confesse I could not but conceit that the Notation of the word Thyatira was alluded to , after I had read that Passage in Cornelius à Lapide on the Text : which , for thy fuller satisfaction , I shall transcribe . Verùm Strabo , lib. 13. Plinius , lib. 5. cap. 9. & alii , passim tradunt eam ( that is , the City Thyatira ) primitùs nuncupatam à Seleuco , filio Nicanoris , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ob laetum nuncium natae sibi filiae , unde nomen Thyatirae . Thyatira ergò Graecè significat filiam ; quod aptè competit Jezebeli illici , quae hîc arguitur . This of Cornelius made me secure of the Authentickness of this Notation , he so precisely qùoting Strabo and Pliny for the same . And therefore I could not but persuade my self that the Church of Rome was here called Thyatira with some Allusion to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Had it not been for this , I should have contented my self with the Allusion to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 onely .

But these Authorities made me search into the State of the Church of Rome in this Intervall : and I found many things abundantly answerable to the Title in the sense of this Notation . Amongst which if thou chance to think my Reflexion upon the multitude of Monks or Friers in those days to bear the least strength with it , consider but what Polydore Virgil writes of that one Order of Franciscans , who , as some De rerum Invent. lib. 17. cap. 4. others , were the peculiarly-devoted to the blessed Virgin : Totum terrarum orbem , saith he , una haec implevit Familia , ut vulgus jam tum stupefactum suspicaretur non tam Pietatem , quàm Otium & Ignaviam interdum multis cordi esse . And to have such swarms of men that had renounced their Virility , and led an idle life , and went gadding and gossipping up and down , telling odd Stories to the people , as old Wives and Nurses do to Children , having most of them Chins as smooth as Womens , and their Faces mob'd in Hoods , and long Coats like Petticoats , as if they had a greater ambition to appear the Pedissequae or Handmaids of the Virgin Mary , ( whom the Doctours of that Church love to call the Daughter of God , ) then the Men-servants and Souldiers of Jesus Christ , who in this Epistle to the Church in Thyatira , on purpose , one would think to reproach the Roman Church for this Idolatrous Corrivalry , or rather Prelation , of the Virgin in religious Worship before Christ , expresly calls himself the Son of God ; This , I say , Ap●c . 2. 18. must assuredly be a consider able accession to the Womanishnesse or Daughterlinesse , if I may so speak , of the Church of Rome , which is here perstringed in this Period by an Allusion to Thygatira , which signifies a Daughter .

11. And although upon search after those places cited out of Strabo and Pliny I could not find what I sought for , yet I found no reason to recede from this part of my Interpretation . First , Because this passage Cornelius cites may haply be found in some other place in those Authours , though it be not in these . Secondly , because there need be no such account of the Notation of the word , sith paronomasticall Allusion is sufficient , and Thyatira of it self sounds near enough to Thygatira , as must be generally allowed by all those that give their suffrage for the derivation therefrom . And it is not hard to prove it from the easie Elision is made of the letter G out of sundry words . Those in the English Tongue are obvious . It is more pertinent to instance in the Greek , where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 amongst the Poets is srequently for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . And also in the middle of words , the Boeotians pronouncing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Andfrom the Latine magis is the French word mais , and from Magister Maister . And Caninius in general pronounces , Alia sunt innumerabilia quae deperdunt G : which implies it to be but a weak melting Consonant , and such as easily degenerates into Y , and , as it may be placed , is easily quite lost . Which argues that the sound of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are near enough for paronomasticall Allusion in any indifferent man's judgement whatsoever .

And that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the same that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , besides that common Analogie of making nomina parasyllaba ( as they are called ) from the fifth Declension , as from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , there is an example exquisitely answering this of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , namely , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . So that the word is unexceptionable .

And lastly , though we should give it for granted that neither Pliny nor Strabo has any such Passage as Cornelius pretends , yet Stephanus Byzantius expresly has in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , whose very words I will transcribe for thy better satisfaction . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say , THYATIRA , a City of LYDIA , was first called PELOPEA and SEMIRAMIS ; but SELEUCUS the son of Nicanor waging war with Lysimachus , and hearing that he had a Daughter born to him , called the City THYGATIRA . And it ought to be spoken in the feminine gender , though now they make it of the neuter . All this surely will abundantly warrant and secure a paronomasticall Allusion in Thygatira , which signifies a Daughter .

12. And this may suffice for the making good the Solidity of our Exposition . And I say Solidity , rather then Perfection , affirming onely all to be right so far as we have gone , but not denying but that others better versed in History may more fully verifie what we have attempted . Nor did all things occurr that my self had read , and should have noted if they had come to my minde . As those notorious ten years of the most bloudy Persecution of all under Diocletian , which , I think , may in special be alluded to by the ten days mentioned in the Church of Smyrna , as well as the ten Persecutions in general , by a Propheticall Henopoeia .

The Notation also of the names of Balaam and Balac are very accommodate to Pergamus ; Pergamus signifying what is high , and Balaam the Lord of the People . Which Balaam being also the false Prophet , and set here for the Pope and his Clergy , agrees excellently well with the Lordlinesse of him in this Pergamenian Period , wherein he trode upon the Necks of Emperours , and kicked their Crowns off with his feet . And Balac , which is here the Secular Sovereignty , whether it signifie Destruction or Emptinesse , sutes very well with the state of that time , when the power of the Pope had so overmastered all , that the Secular Magistrate was either but the bloudy Executioner of his Edicts , or else stood for a mere Cypher , the Temporal Power being quite in a manner evacuated by the Rampancy of the Spiritual .

And seeing all the names in this Prophecy are so significant , I leave to the enquiry of the learned whether there may not be some proper significancy in the name of Jezebel also ; for it seems not uncapable of a fitting Etymologie , and that according to the Pattern of a severe Critick in the Hebrew Tongue ; Greg●r . ●ranc . ●xic . ●anct. t●t. 07. who in his account of the name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( which is just such another Composition as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ) says , that it may be compounded of either 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ubi , or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vae , or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gloria . So therefore say I may 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be compounded of either 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which signifies Habitaculum ; or else of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which in the Chaldee ( which is but a Dialect of the Hebrew ) signifies Stercus ; or of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Insula , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stercus . Which last is lesse accommodate to our purpose , unlesse Insula here signifie symbolically , as Mr. Mede sometimes interprets it of a Church as a place separate , as Islands are by the Sea , and holy , in that it is separate . And then the Reproach will be upon the holy Church of Rome in this Thyatirian Intervall , as if it had become an Island of Filth and Dung . Which was too true of them , for all their outward Gildings and Paintings .

But the other Notations methinks are more simple and easie , and fitly accord with both the History of Jezebel and the Fate of the Roman Church at the end of the Thyatirian Intervall . For if we derive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ubi , or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 habitaculum , it will plainly glance at Jezebel's being slung out at the window from her habitation ; but most fitly prefigure the dispossession of the Roman Priests and Friers at the beginning of the Reformation , that they would be cast out of their Habitations , and that their places should know them no more . So that the very Name of Jezebel bears in it the Fate of that Church at the close of that time .

But if we derive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vae or heu , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stercus , both the Fault and the Punishment of the Roman Church will be found written in this Name ; her Filth and Corruptions being compared to Dung , and her Punishment intimated not unlike that of Jezebel's , as it is written , And the carcasse 2 Kings 9. 37. of Jezebel shall be as the dung on the face of the earth . So that the Notation of the name denotes with what foul Reproach the Papal Power and Superstition would be put down in those places out of which it was to be exterminated ; that it should be troden down into the very Dirt. So that upon him that was in the Pergamenian Intervall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lord of the People , ( the Papal Hierarchy domineering over all , ) at the close of this Thyatirian Intervall this insulting Lamentation might be taken up with a paronomasticall Allusion , not much unlike the foregoing Etymologie in the sense thereof , and near enough to the sound of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , namely , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Alas the Dung or Dirt of the Papal Lordlinesse ! How is it troden down as the Mire in the streets ! Which was notoriously performed in the actings of Martin Luther against the Pope and Roman Clergy .

But whether this or what else may be alluded to by the sound of the Name , I am not very solicitous , the Story of the Person being sufficient to warrant the meaning I have given of the Text , as any one may see by perusing the Expolition . And our Performance ; I hope , will appear solid enough without descending to such curious Niceties . We will therefore now onely adde something briefly touching the Usesulnesse thereof , and so conclude .