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down from heaven, and openeth the little book, which had been long fhut up under the darkness of popery, and the fmoak which came out of the bottomless pit: fo here Chrift Jefus raised up his faithful ministers and preachers to publifh and proclaim the doctrine of the gofpel, which had long lain hidden under outragious perfecu tions of the two monftrous and moft hideous beafts. To this also agreeth that which is written in the eighteenth chapter of this book, where St. John feeth an angel come down from heaven, having great power, fo that the earth was lightened with his glory. By which angel is meant all the preachers of this age. And the angel is faid to have great power: for what is more powerful than the ministry of the word? And moreover it is faid, that the earth was lightened with his glory, that is, with the brightnefs of the preaching of the gofpel, whereby the darkness of popery was difperfed and driven away, and Babylon falleth upon it, as there you may read, and as here we fhall fee the like effect by and by.

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Moreover, it is here said, that this gel flyeth in the midft of heaven:' that is, very fwiftly carryeth this everlasting gospel through all the church. For when God's appointed time was come, wherein he would go about the overthrow of popery,

he caused his everlasting gospel to be fet. abroad, and to fpread over many kingdoms and nations, as we see this day. Now because those kingdoms where God would have the knowledge of his gospel divulged were many and great, therefore here is expedition required: and this angel doth carry it not standing but flying. And all this we fee perfectly fulfilled with our eyes. when God raifed up Luther, Zuinglius, Melancthon, Peter Viret, Calvin, Bucer, Bullinger, Peter Martyr, and all their worthy fucceffors unto this day, which have fpread the everlasting gospel very far, and carried it very fwiftly over England, Scotland, Germany, Denmark, Polonia, Suevia, Ruffia, and many parts of France and Flanders. Another reafon why this angel is faid to fly in the midft of heaven, is, becaufe no power of man fhall ever be able to ftay the courfe of this everlasting gofpel which this angel carrieth abroad, no more than men are able to ftop the courfe of the fun in the heavens, or a cloud in the fky. For this angel flyeth in the midft of heaven, far above the reach of the beaft, and all kings and potentates that ftand for kingdom of the beaft, Therefore let them do all that they can, they fhall never be able to ftop the course of the gofpel for it is called the arm of God, and his very arm

holdeth it forth to the world; and who is able to bend it in, or to turn it backward? There are three reafons why the gospel is called everlasting.

First, Because it is his own nature everlafting, as it is written, The word of the Lord endureth for ever,' 1 Pet. i. 25. Secondly, Becaufe it putteth us in poffeffion of everlafting things; as it is written, Thy word, O Lord, endureth for ever in 'heaven,' Pfalm cxix.

Thirdly, And principally, becaufe as it was long before antichrift was hatched, fo it fhall continue when he and his kingdom is dead and rotten.

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory unto him,' &c. Rev. xiii.7. Here is fet down the doctrine which this angel preacheth with a loud voice, that is, with great zeal. The fum whereof is this, Fear God, and give glory unto him, and worthip him that made heaven and earth,' &c. The fenfe is, that the true and everliving God fhould only be feared and worfhipped, and all glory fhould be given unto him alone through Chrift, and none to antichrift, none to cardinals and legats, none to angels, none to faints, none to images, roods, croffes and crucifixes. Here then is fet down an abridgment of the doctrine of this everlasting gofpel; namely, that men

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fhould only fear God, and worship him, and give all glory to him alone; and not to any creature. And the reafon is yielded, because the hour of his judgment is come, that is, the time of the manifeftation of the gospel, or laws of the most high God: for fo the word judgment is often taken in the fcriptures. Here are we to obferve one special thing, to wit, that the gofpel which this angel flieth withal, containeth the brief fum of all the doctrine which Luther, Calvin, Peter Martyr, and the rest have taught out of God's word, and agreeth in all points with it. For what other thing did they all preach, teach, and write, but that men fhould turn from idols to the living God? from fearing, glorifying and worshipping creatures, to fear, worthip, and glorify God alone which hath made all things? What other thing do all the preachers of this age publish and proclaim in all their fermons, but this, Fear God, and give glory only to him? Is not this the epitome and fhort fum of all the doctrine of the preachers of England, Scotland, Germany, France, Denmark, and all the reft? and therefore I conclude, that this angel must needs be understood of the preachers of this laft age, which now these fourfcore years have founded the trumpet of the gofpel against all the inventions of Numb. II. Bb

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popery. And, bleffed be God, we fee thefe things fall out in our days, and are eye-witneffes of the fulfilling of them.

And there followed another angel, faying, It is fallen, it is fallen, Babylon that great city: for fhe gave to all nations to 6 drink the wine of the wrath of her fornication,' Rev. xiv. 8.

Here is fet down the bleffed effect of the preaching of this everlasting gofpel, which is the downfall of Babylon. For as when the clear fun arifeth upon the earth, the thick mifts and clouds are difperfed: even fo when the bright beams of the gospel do fhine forth unto the world, Babylon, that dark kingdom vanifheth away incontinently. And as it is written in the eighteenth chap ter: fo foon as the earth was lightened' with the glory of this everlafting gofpel, Babylon immediately falleth. Therefore now before I go any further, my purpose, through the affiftance of God, is to prove thefe five main points out of this verse, and that which followeth unto the twentieth chapter, to wit,

First, That Babylon here fignifieth Rome. Secondly, That Rome fhall fall, and how. Thirdly, That Rome fhall fall finally, and come to utter defolation in this life. Fourthly, By whom, and when it fhall be overthrown.

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