Lastly, The caufes of the utter ruin and overthrow thereof.

But before I go about to prove that Babylon is Rome, and how Rome is to be taken, I would have it carefully obferved what is meant by Rome, viz. not the topography of Rome, that is, fo much ground only as is compaffed within the walls of that city, but the regiment, government, and prerogative that is claimed by virtue of the monarchy whereof Rome is the head. By Rome is meant the power and authority of Rome: or to fpeak plainly, by Rome is meant the Roman monarchy. Further, we are here to obferve the reason why the Holy Ghost calleth Rome Babylon; for Rome literally and properly taken, is not Babylon; in as much as they were two divers cities, one in Italy, the other in Chaldea: but Rome is called Babylon myftically, figuratively, and, as the Holy Ghost fpeaketh, fpiritually, and by a kind of allufion: for as the old eaftern Babylon did a long time opprefs the church of the Jews; fo Rome this western Babylon, hath long oppreffed the church of the Chriftians: as the eastern Babylon did many years hold down the people of God in miferable bondage and fervitude; fo the weftern Babylon did a long time keep the Christian church in fpiritual thraldom and mifery. In which

refpects Rome is fpiritually compared to Sodom and Egypt: to Sodom for filthinefs, and to Egypt for idolatry, and keeping God's church in fpiritual bondage and slavery. And thus we fee the reafon why Rome is called Babylon, which is not fimpiy and properly, but after a fort, that is, by a phrafe of speech, or trope, which they call a metonyme, or changing of names, when that is given to one thing which is proper to another, for the likenefs of quality that it hath with it, or adjoined

unto it.

Now, having fhewed the reafon why Rome is called Babylon, and what is meant by Rome, we are to proceed to the first point; which is to prove, that Babylon in this place fignifieth Rome; which, altho' it be granted of all found divines, and avouched in the writings of the best learned, both new and old, fo as it fhall need no great proof; yet will I add three or four reasons out of this book, to make it more plain and apparent.

First, Therefore, I do thus reafon out of the seventeenth chapter and last verse, Babylon is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth:' but there was no other city which did reign over the kings of the earth when John wrote this book, but only Rome: therefore Rome is

Babylon. For, as for Jerufalem, it was at that time made a heap of ftones. The first propofition is avouched by the angel of God, expounding unto John what is meant by the great whore, whofe damnation he had fhewed him before; and by the woman which fat upon a fcarlet coloured beaft. The woman which thou fawelt (faith the angel to St. John) is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth;' Rev. xvii. 18. that is to fay, Rome, or the Romish fynagogue and, malignant church. For the angel could not fpeak more plainly, except he fhould have named Rome, then to fay thus;

The

woman, the great whore of Babylon is the great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth.' For if one should fay, The great city of England; every man knoweth that thereby is meant London: if one fhould fay, The great city of France, every one knoweth that thereby is meant Paris: fo when the angel faith, The great city which reigneth over the kings of 'the earth:' all that lived in thofe times knew that thereby was meant Rome: for Rome was the chief city of the monarchy, and is, put in this book for the whole monarchy, and the religion thereof, as hath been faid before.

My fecond reafon is this: Babylon is

the mother of whoredoms, and abominations of the earth. Babylon is that great whore, with whom have committed fornication the kings of the earth, and the inhabitants of the earth made drunk with the wine of her fornication:' Rev. xvii.

But Rome, and none but Rome is fuch a one, therefore Rome is Babylon.

My third argument is this: Babylon is that city which hath had seven several governments: but only Rome hath had feven feveral kinds of government: there fore Rome is Babylon.

The prepofition is proved from the words of the angel, expounding unto John what is meant by the feven heads of the fcarlet coloured beaft whereupon the woman fat. The feven heads (faith he) are feven kings;' Rev. xvii. 9. that is, feven orders or states of kingly government; for feven kings in this place are not put for feven feveral men which were kings, as fome do take it: but for feven feveral governments, as it is taken in Daniel vii. 17. The four great beasts,' faith the angel there, are four kings,' that is, four kingdoms, governments, or monarchies, as all men know. So here, by feven kings is meant the feven feveral regiments of Rome; that is to fay, by kings, confuls, Decemviri, Dictators, Tumviri, emperors, and Popes, whereof the first

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five were then fallen' when John wrote, one was,' that is, the empire, was to come, that is the papacy.

and one

My laft argument is this: Babylon is that city which is fituate upon feven hills: but only Rome of all cities in the world is fituated upon feven hills, therefore Rome is Babylon.

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The prepofition is avouched by the angel, which faith in the feventeenth chapter, that the feven heads of the fcarlet coloured beaft are feven mountains' whereon the woman fitteth,' that is, feven hills whereon the city of Rome is fituated, whose names are thefe: Capitolinus, Palatinus, Aventinus, Exquilinus, Celius, Viminalis, and Quirinalis, as all poets and hiftoriographers do teftify. One faith thus of Rome. Septem quæ una fibi muro circumdedit arces. Another thus:

Septem urbs alta jugis toti quæ præfidet orbi. Another called Rome [eptakephalos,] the city with feven heads,' that is, feven hills. It is clear then by thefe reafons, that Babylon in this place fignifieth Rome. As for the expofition of the papists, which affirmeth that Babylon here fignifieth the univerfal fociety of the wicked, it is fond and ridiculous: for the Holy Ghoft faith, Babylon is that city which reigneth over the kings of the earth.' Rev. xviii. 7.