feven heads and ten horns,' Rev. xvii. 4. whereby is meant the Roman monarchy, as hath been fhewed before. After this the angel expoundeth unto John, what the heads and horns of the beast mean, and faith, that the ten horns are ten. kings, or kingdoms, which yet have not received a kingdom, but fhall receive power as kings, at an hour with the beast." Rev. xvii. 12.

The fenfe is, that these ten-kingdoms had not received fuch power and authori ty under the emperors, as they fhould under the Popes, for there was great dif ference in thefe kingdoms under the Popes, from that which they had been under the emperors. For they received far greater power, and they carried another mind. toward the papacy, then the nations did before toward the empire: for they did fubmit themselves to the papacy for confcience and love, even as to the holy church, which they never did to the em pire.

And this is the reafon why the Holy Ghoft faith, They had not received a kingdom, but fhould receive power as kings at an hour with the beaft. Which is not to be understood fimply, but after a fort; for they had received kingdoms under the emperors, but not in fuch fort as

afterward they did under the Popes. For the Roman monarchy under the dominion of the Popes was in his greateft height and altitude, and the kings of Europe grew up together with the papacy in power, might, and dominion. And St. John addeth, that thefe ten kings or kingdoms were all of one mind, and did give their power and authority unto the beaft: Rev. xvii. 13. that is, they did with might and main labour to uphold the Babylonical ftrumpet. But the angel telleth John 1:ཀླཔ《n that is. the ten

flatly, that the ten nung aku kingdoms of the empire, which before had given their names, their power, and authority to the beast, to uphold her and defend her, fhould now in these last days all change their minds, and turn against her. For, faith the angel to John, The * ten horns which thou faweft upon the beaft, are they which fhall hate the whore, and make her defolate, and nas ked, and fhall eat up her flesh, and burn her with fire.' Rev. xvii. 36. Here then it doth plainly appear, who they be that fhall overthrow Rome, and by whom it fhall be deftroyed: to wit, by the ten kings of Europe, or kingdoms of Europe, which fome very learned do reckon up to be thefe, England, Scotland, Germany, France, Spain, Denmark, Switzerland,

Poland, Ruffia, and Hungary. *St. John's words are plain, that these kingdoms which took part with the beaft, shall take against her, and pull her down: But we know, that all the kingdoms of Europe did take part with her: Therefore it followeth, that all the kingdoms of Europe fhall take againft her. And therefore it is very probable, that in time + France, Spain, and Italy fhall turn against the beast.

We know that the reft of the kingdoms are already turned against the beast, and the beaft hath loft feven of his horns, the eighth, which is France, beginneth to be fomewhat loofe, and to fhake a little, which if it fall off, the reft will follow after apace. The reason why the kingdoms which were fubject to the Roman empire are compared to horns, is, because that as horns are the ftrength and defence of a beaft, wherewith alfo he pufheth down other creatures; fo the ftrength and defence of the Roman empire and the papacy was in the king doms which were fubject unto them, and

*If the Holy Ghost by the ten horns do not mean a definite number, that is, juft ten: yet affuredly he meaneth all the kingdoms of Europe, and whatsoever elfe did uphold the beast.

It is probable, that France, Spain, and Italy fhall forfake the whore.

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took part with them; whereby alfo they did mightily pufh at other nations and kingdoms.

Moreover, we are to obferve, that whereas St. John faith, the fame horns which did uphold and defend the whore, fhall pull her down; it is not to be understood of the fame men, but of their fucceffors in the fame kingdoms. For the king of England, Scotland, Denmark, Polonia, and other countries, which gave their power and authority unto the beaft, are dead and gone. And if we respect the perfons of men, those which fucceed them now in thefe kingdoms, and pull down the whore, are other perfons; but because they fucceed, and govern in thefe kingdoms, they are faid to be thofe ten horns of the beaft. Then thus it is; thefe ten kings which now hate the harlot, are called the ten horns of the beaft, not because they be any defence and ftrength unto him, but because they fit upon the fame thrones of their ancestors: which did uphold and maintain him. But this one thing is very clear and apparent out of the interpretation of the angel, that the fame kingdoms which have maintained popery, fhall put it down, as we fee already fulfilled in England, Scotland, Denmark and the reft which have embraced the gofpel. And it

is very likely, that the other kingdoms which as yet have not embraced the gospel, fhall in God's good time embrace it. Furthis feemeth unto me to be a very good argument, taken from the words of the interpreting angel: those ten kingdoms which have upheld Rome, fhall pull down Rome: But France, Spain, and Italy have upheld, and do uphold Rome: Therefore France, Spain, and Italy fhall pull down Rome. To this may be added for confirmation, that the everlasting gofpel fhall be preach⚫ed in these last days to every nation, and 'kindred, and tongue, and people.' Rev. xiv. 6. Which I understand of all the nations of Europe which were fubject to the Roman empire and the papacy.

And further, that the Holy Ghost faith, that the preachers of the gospel from Luther's time, fhall publifh God's truth among people, and nations, and tongues, and many kings: which I understand as before.

I am not ignorant that fome good divines make it doubtful whether Rome fhall be overthrown by the kings of Europe only, or by the Turk alfo, and the kings of the eaft. For mine own part, I dare not refolutely determine of it, being a thing to come, but the event fhall declare, and they that live fhall one day fee it. It may be the Turk and the eaftern princes may