Revelation 18

AND after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven It is a matter of no great moment, whether by this Angel we understand Christ, or a Created Angel; the description agreeth to Christ, and may agree to a created Angel,, having great power To whom God had given Power and Authority to declare the Ruine of Bablyon,, and the earth was lightned with his glory and had communicated to him a great Glory suted to his Splendor and Greatness, whose Messenger he was..

And he cried mightily, with a strong voice, saying Whoever was meant by the Angel, v. 1. whom Iohn saw his Business was to give warning to the whole World (therefore he crieth with a strong voice), Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen That Rome the great Cit Mother of spiritual Harlots, should fall. This Angel was a Prophet, and the Messenger of him who calls the things that are not, as if they were; and therefore he speaks in a Divine Prophetick stile: the Prophets (ordinarily) speaking of things to come, as past, or present, to denote the certain futurity of them, and doubling their words to assure us of it; for this, is fallen, v. 21. is expounded by shall be thrown down. We read of this Angel, ch. 14.8. but it is ordinary with Prophets to repeat the same things, and it is done as to the Chaldean Babylon, the Type to this Antitype. Both Isaiah and Ieremiah declared in more than one Sermon its certain approaching ruine. These words are taken from Isa. 21.9. where the word fallen is doubled, as here. They are found also, Ier. 51.8. God here explaineth what he had said before, ch. 14.8., and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a The words are such as might signifie a sinfull Fall, or Apostacy; and what is here, is true of it in that sense; Idols in Scripture being ordinarily called Devils: but they seem rather to be understood of a Penal Fall, for such is that spoken of, Isa. 21.9. after which it should become an Habitation of Devils, and a Cage of unclean Birds. See the like spoken of literal Babylon, Isa. 13.19, 20, 21. wild Beasts, and hateful Birds usually frequenting desolate places. cage of every unclean and hateful bird That Rome the great Cit Mother of spiritual Harlots, should fall. This Angel was a Prophet, and the Messenger of him who calls the things that are not, as if they were; and therefore he speaks in a Divine Prophetick stile: the Prophets (ordinarily) speaking of things to come, as past, or present, to denote the certain futurity of them, and doubling their words to assure us of it; for this, is fallen, v. 21. is expounded by shall be thrown down. We read of this Angel, ch. 14.8. but it is ordinary with Prophets to repeat the same things, and it is done as to the Chaldean Babylon, the Type to this Antitype. Both Isaiah and Ieremiah declared in more than one Sermon its certain approaching ruine. These words are taken from Isa. 21.9. where the word fallen is doubled, as here. They are found also, Ier. 51.8. God here explaineth what he had said before, ch. 14.8..

For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication That is, her Fornications which have brought this Wrath upon her., and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies She has not only her self committed Idolatry, but allured others to it, teaching them to break the Commandments of God, and has influenced Princes to establish, and propagate, and to uphold, and maintain it; and all sorts of Men have been bewitched by her, growing rich by her Abundance, and being drench'd in her Luxury..

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, A Command from God. Come out of her, my people They are the words of God by his Prophet, Jer. 50.8. and 51.6. calling to his People, that the years of their Captivity being now expired, and they having a Liberty to go back to Hierusalem, they would not linger longer in Babylon,, that ye be not partakers of her sins nor partake of her Sins;, and that ye receive not of her plagues or God was about to destroy that place; and if they were found in it, they would be in danger of being destroyed with it, especially if they were found Partakers of its Sins. But they are also a general Warning to all to take heed of any Fellowship with Idolaters; and so the Apostle applieth part of these words, 2 Cor. 6.17. Here they are applied to mystical Babylon, which is Rome Antichristian. God calls to all that either love him, or their own Souls, to forsake the Communion of it; for while they continue in it, they must partake of its Sins, worshipping the Beast, by paying, at his Command, a Divine Homage to Saints and Angels, to the Virgin Mary, to Images and Statues; nay, to piece of Bakers-Bread; and doing so, they will be involved in her Plagues. This Text looks terribly upon those who apostatize to that Idolatry; and instead of coming out (in obedience to the Command of God) being come out, go in again, and that not by Compulsion, but out of choice, and voluntarily.:

For her sins have reached unto heaven That is, the cry of her Sins; according to what is said of Sodom (one of the Types of Antichrist) Gen. 18.20, 21., and God has remembred her iniquities The time is come when God will punish her for her Idolatry, and Persecution, and all the abominable things done, and committed by her..

Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double, according to her works: in the cup which she has filled, fill to her double This Verse soundeth in mine Ears, as if God had reserved the Ruine of the Papacy to be effected by some Protestant Hands, some of those whom they had persecuted; if not some of their Persons, yet some of the same Faith..

How much she has glorified her self, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her This speaketh thus much; That when ever God's time cometh for the Ruine of the Papacy, the Condition of all that Party shall appear as miserable, as it appears now splendid and happy.: for she says in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow And one great reason of this so great Affliction, will be the Pride, Presumption, and Security of that Faction, much after the rate of old Babylon, Isa. 47.8. Old Babylon thought it self impregnable; and new mystical Babylon thinks her self Infallible and impregnable too; the only Church (if we will believe her) against whom the Gates of Hell shall not prevail..

Therefore shall her plagues come in one day As was threatned to old Babylon, Isa. 47.9. In one day, that is, in a short time., death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burnt with fire All manner of Judgments, till she be fully consumed.; For strong is the Lord God who judgeth her For she has to do with a strong Lord: she thinks she has secured her self from Man, by interesting Kings and Princes in her Quarrel; but it is the Lord that judgeth her, and she will find him strong enough to accomplish his Word upon her..

And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication, and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning Not all of them, for some of them shall help to burn her, ch. 17.1, 2, 6. but such as God had left to their Hardness of Heart, that they still live in her Fellowship and Communion: Or, if others also, it must proceed from their Humanity, not being able to see so splendid a City as that of Rome, ruined, and so many ruined as will perish by her Fall, without the moving of their Bowels by some Pity and Commiseration.:

Standing afar off for fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, the great city of Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come As well as they loved her, they will not come nigh he in the time of her Torments: the Fire will be too hot for them, they will only stand aloof off, and pity her, That so great, and brave a City should be so suddenly ruined; such a gay and splendid Church, so politickly founded and put together, should be in a sudden so broke to pieces..

And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her, for no man buyeth her merchandise any more As the Merchants, Ezek. 27.27. lamented for Tyrus that they could barter and truck no more there, because all the Trade thereof was destroyed: So those Ecclesiastical Merchants, that were wont to trade with Rome for Indulgences, and Pardons, and Dispensations, and Faculties, for Cardinals Caps, and Bishopricks, and Prebendaries, and other Church-Preferments, shall lament when the Papacy falls; that there will be no more such Merchandize to be bought or sold there.:

The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stone, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivo y, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and of iron, and marble,

Ane cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oyl, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

And the fruits that thy soul lusted after, are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly, are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all Here is a large Enumeration of several sorts of Wares, such as were most precious, Gold, Silver, precious Stones; such as were most useful for Ornament, fine Linen, Purple, Silk, Scarlet; most gratifying the exterior Senses, Thyine wood, Odors, Ointments, &c. most necessary, Beasts, Sheep, Horses, Chariots; all which, as is prophesied, shall depart from Rome 3 that is, whatsoever she had, which allured Men into her idolatrous Communion: All their Idols and Images, Cardinals Caps, Priests Copes, all their Preferments and Dignities, whatsoever served the Lusts of the Eye, the Lust of the Flesh, or the Pride of Life; whatsoever their own carnal and ambitious Minds, or the carnal and ambitious Minds of others that courted this Whore, thirsted after, which brought them to seek her Communion, they should all perish, and she be despoiled of them. It is very remarkable, that here is one piece of Merchandise to be had no where but at Rome, viz. The Souls of Men; which lets us know they are no earthly Merchants that are here understood: As Souls are to be sold a thousand ways, so they are to be bought by paying for Pardons, Indulgences, Dispensations; so the silly Chapmen think they buy their own Souls, by purchasing of Cardinals Caps, Bishopricks, great Li ings, all manner of Ecclesiastical Dignities and Preferments (so they really buy the Souls of others) but when the Papacy shall be wholly destroyed, none of these things shall any more be found..

The merchants of these things which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off, for the fear of her torment Not knowing how to help her, and fearing lest the Buyers and Sellers should be punished both alike;, weeping and wailing yet bewailing themselves that their Trading is destroyed, and they are like to buy such Penniworths no more.,

And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls The Church of Rome that was so gay, and splendid, and rich, and glorious.; For in one our That is, suddenly. The term denotes rather the surprisal of this Judgment, that the short space of time within which it should be effected. so great riches is come to nought.

And every ship-master, and all the company in ships, and sailers, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city?

And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea, by reason of her costliness We all know Ship-masters and Sailers are Persons that live by carrying Merchants Goods; and therefore properly the terms signifie all such Persons (of what Rank and Order soever) who get their Livings by serving this mystical Babylon, whether Silver- smiths that make Shrines for Diana, or Clarks, or Notaries, or any Officers in that Church, imployed in gathering its Revenues, of Annats and first-Fruits, setling of Officers, gathering of Peter-pence, drawing of Pardons and Indulgences, or Dispensations, or such as in that Synagogue hold any Offices of Profit. All who will be highly concerned in the Ruine of the Papacy, as that by the upholding of which they live by reason of the great Riches thus coming in: the whole Rabble of their Ecclesiastical Hierarchy, with all their petty Officers, seem to be here meant.: for in one hour is she made desolate.

Rejoice over her That is, over her Ruine, which is not a more proper Object for the Sorrow and Mourning of all her Adherents and Dependents, than of the Joy, thou heaven of all spiritual, heavenly Persons, which are the true Church, who oppose this Antichristian Synagogue., and ye holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her You also that were Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, and such as have been exercised as Prophets in revealing to Men God's Mind and Will, do you rejoice, for God has revenged you upon her, for your Doctrine corrupted by her, your Rules of Worship violated, and some of your Blood that has been spilt, and for all the Indignities you have suffered from her..

And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great milstone For a Sign or Symbol, and cast it into the sea, saying of the irreparable Ruine of Rome signified by that great Milstone which had ground to Powder so many of God's Holy Ones., Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all By this Sign God shows his Prophet, 1. That Rome shall be ruined. 2. That is shall be done with violence. 3. That it shall be a total, utter Ruine, from whence it shall never recover..

And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee: and the sound of a milstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom, and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee All these seem to me but the Expression of an utter Ruine and Desolation, by various Phrases and Expressions; they should have no more Occasion of Mirth, nor any more Business done in their City. If any will understand these Expressions, of their Organs, and other musical Instruments used in Worship, and of Spiritual Craftsmen, I shall not contradict it; but I think it more proper to understand the words more largely.: For thy merchants were the great men of the earth Tho thou hast had a Trade with great Men, and: for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived by thy inchanted Cups of Wine of thy Fornication hast intoxicated many in all Nations, yet thou shalt use that Trade no more; the Nations shall be deceived no more by thee; here shall be an end of thee. And one thing that brings thee to thy ruine, shall be thy seducing others to Idolatry, so as they have seemed to reasonable Men, to be bewitched by thee.:

And in her In the Rubbish of Rome, when destroyed, was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth will be found the Blood of all those holy Servants of God, whether Ministers of the Gospel, or Professors of it, who ever since the year 606, when the Pope came first to his Power, have been put to death for the Testimony of Christ, and a faithful Adherence to the Purity of Doctrine by him delivered, the Purity of Worship by him prescribed and directed, or the Purity of Discipline by his Direction set up. As it is storied, That upon the Dissolution of Abbeys, and Monastries, and Nunneries here in England, there were found in Holes of Walls, and Ponds, the Sculls and Bones of many Infants, the supposed Bastards of those Fathers: So tho Men cannot, or will not see it now, yet when the Papacy shall have its Period, Men shall understand, that no Prophet, nor righteous Man has violently been put to death for the truth out of Rome, that is, out of the Jurisdiction & Influence of Rome; but tho it may be they have been no professed Papists that have been the cause or Instruments of their Death, yet they have done it as influenced from that bloody City; and the Principles have been perfectly Popish and Antichristian, which madly hurried them on to such Cruelties. It was one of Luther's reasons why he would have none put to death for Heresy (as they call it) because he would have this particular Character reserved for that Antichristian Synagogue.—But ah, Lord Jesus! when shall th se things be? Or who shall live when the wise Providence of God shall effect them, to joyn with the whole Church, both Triumphant and Militant, in the Song which we have prophesied of upon this Occasion in the next Chapter. Acts 1.7. It is not for us to know the times, or the seasons, which the Father has put in his own Power..