blood: we must not take counfel of human reafon: for God is marvellous in his devices, and when he hath once decreed and determined of any future event, he will compafs it by means far furpaffing all human reach and capacity; yea, by fuch plots and devices, as man's wit could never have once dreamed of. For he hath all means in heaven and earth in his hands, and is admirable in all his proceedings: and therefore we may not afk this question What likelihood, or how can it be, or how can it poffibly come to pafs? What likelihood was there a hundred years paft, when Rome was in her delight, and all the kingdoms of Europe ftood for her, that ever the fhould have been forfaken of fo many of her old friends, as at this day fhe is? What likelihood was there, that when the Pope could command the emperor, and all the kings of Europe, and their kingdoms, that ever he fhould have been brought fo low as at this day he is, God be thanked? What likelihood was there that ever poor Martin Luther fhould ftand out with the everlafting gofpel in his mouth against the Pope, emperor, and as it were, the whole world, and yet die in his bed in a good old age? What likelihood was there that king Henry the VIII. of famous memory, fhould renounce Rome,

oppofe himself against the Pope, and supprefs the abbeys, priories, and monafteries in this kingdom, and take their lands and livings into his own hands? Therefore I conclude, that when God hath decreed the utter overthrow of Rome, we must not ask this queftion, How can it be? or which way fhall it be brought about? For the fcriptures do teach, that God in all ages hath done the greatest exploits, either by himfelf alone without means, alfo by weak means, or contrary to all means. By himself, without means, •he overthrew the Moabites, Ammorites, and them of Mount Seir, which made war against good king Jehofhaphat,' 2 Chron. xx. 1. By himfelf he deftroyed Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,' Exod. xiv. 21, 22, 23-24, &c.

By himself he overthrew Jericho that great city, Jofh. vi. 8, &c.

By himfelf he flew the huge army of the Affyrians that made war again't Hezekiah,' 2 Kings xix. 35, &c.

By himfelf he fmote the great and dreadful army of the Ethiopians before Afa, and before Judah,' 2 Chron. xiv. 9, 10, &c.

By himself he fmote the Afyrians, which befieged Dotham, the city where the prophet Elifha was, 2 Kings vi, 18, 19, 20, 21 22, &c.

By weak, means he overthrew the innumerable army of the Midianites, even by Gideon's three hundred,' 1 Sam. vii. 1, 2, 3, &c.

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By weak means he flew a garrison of the Philistines, even by Jonathan and his armour-bearer,' 1 Sam. xiv. 1, 2, &c. By weak means he overthrew the kings ' of Sodom, and thereabouts, even by Abraham and his family,' Gen. xiv. 14, 15, 16, &c.

He overthrew Goliah by David: Sifera by Jael: Abimelech by a woman,' i Sam. xvii. 4, 5, 6.-Judges iv. 4, 5.-Judges vi. 1, 2, 3, &c.

Contrary to means, he faved the three. children from burning, being in the fire,' Dan. iii. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.

Contrary to means, he faved Jonas from drowning, being caft into the fea,' Jonah ii. 1, 2, 3, &c.

Contrary to means, he preferved Da'niel from devouring, being caft into the lions' den,' Dan. vi. 10, 11, 12, &c. Contrary to means, he kept the Ifraelites from drowning being in the bottom of the fea,' Exod. xiv. 21, 22. &c.

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Contrary to means and all expectation, he caufed the fun to ftand ftill at noon day, whilft he overthrew the five kings of Canaan by Joshua,' Jofh. x. 12, &c.

Therefore I conclude, that forafmuch as God in all ages hath effected the most ftrange and admirable things, either by himfelf without means, or by very weak means, or contrary to all means; therefore it is in vain to ask this queftion, how, or by what means fhall Rome be destroyed? For it is enough for us to know that it fhall be deftroyed, and come to utter defolation.' And in my judgment the Holy Ghoft hath fo often and plainly affirmed this, that no man fhould any more make any doubt of it, or once call it into queftion. For what can be more plain, than to fay, Rome is fallen: Rome fhall fall. Great hail<ftones like talents fhall fall upon it. It 'fhail go perdition. It fhall fall to deftruc

tion. It fhall be caft down like a great • mill-ftone into the bottom of the fea. It • fhall be burnt with fire. It fhall be made ' defolate and naked. It fhall be without • inhabitants.' · All the popish fort, both high and low, shall with great mourning and lamenting bewail the defolation thereof. Their armies fhall come to Armageddon. The beaft and the falfe prophet fhall be taken, and their captains and foldiers flain by infinite heaps, and their carcaffes made meat for the fowls of the air? If all this be not plain enough, I cannot tell what can be plain enough.

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True it is indeed, the Holy Ghost doth not name Rome; but it is apparent by the circumstances, that all thefe places must needs be understood of Rome, of Romish power, and of the Romish armies. For there can no other found sense be given of them, as all divine writers and interpreters do affirm, both new and old. And therefore I conclude, that St. John in this prophecy could not fpeak more plainly, except he fhould have named Rome; for he nameth Babylon; he nameth the great city which then reigned over the kings of the earth;' he nameth the city fituate upon feven hills;' he 'nameththe city which had feven feveral governments: And therefore out of all doubt he meaneth Rome. Well then, fince it is fo, that Rome, and all Romih power and authority shall fall flat down, and come to utter deftruction and defolation in this life, let all men take heed how they join with Rome, how they join with the Romish church, and how they receive the beafts mark': for affuredly. they fhall be deftroyed together, both in this life and that which is to come, as we fhall hear by and by.

Let all the wife men therefore, and all fuch as have any care of their Talvation, follow the wholefome counfel and advice of the Holy Ghoft, which faith, Go.out of her my people, that ye be not partak