C AP.8. ifItevelation o, f the Apocalypfe. 277 ofmatter to feed it with,like the flame of a torch,it fhould goe out.it falleth into the Rivers and Feunraines ; namely upon thofe , from whom as fromFountains the do'crine fiould flow forth unto others, fuch are the Bâibops, difpenfers of the word,whofe fundry refpefts gets them fundry names. Even now they were fbips, tranfporting the tratfick of the word hither and thither; now becaufe they dee feed and preferve that Whole Sea of Doc7rine with their continual) flowing, and increafe that which is adding in the multitude, they arc worthily compared tofouds and Fountains. The Star falleth upon thefe,while perhaps the people remaine more fincere, which cannot conceive of fo great fubtilties. And yet how can the River flow purely, when the Fountain is corrupted ? Vnlefl'e perhaps, as theSea Both not wax fweet by-the flowing of the Rivers, fo neither fhould the multitude get a bitternefs,though the Bilhops were depraved.But here it fais out otherwife,feeing a little leaven leaveneth a Whole lump; and feeing the Fountains fhouldbe molt corrupt,they fhould not goe fcotfree that fhould drink of them,but they alto fhould perifh,afwell as the other. The name of theStar is WormWood, not that it was fo "called commonly , but becaufe it fhould thew it felfe to be fome fuch thing by the effect. Now WormWood fometimes lignifies the bitter- nefs of afflidtion , as behold IWillfeed my people With WormWood,Ier. 9.15. That is, I will afflid them with moff grievous puniihments. Sometimes it fignifieth the deadlypoyfon of herericall wickednefs, as, take heed left therebe in any of you a root bringing forth gall or WormWood, that is,lefl your mind be a feminary of any Idolatry , or of .a curfed life, as the molt" learned men, Tremelius and )unites do interpret the place,Deut. 29. r 8. Both of thefe (at it feemeth) are to be joyned here together ,that fo the bitternefsof calamity fhould be mingled withnaughty and corrupt do nine. Now to come to the application. This third Angel blew his Trumpet about eleven ycers after the former,When as Conftantius,to whole fhare the Eaftern Empire fell, ftraight after the death of his father,was caft down from heaven in- to the Arian herefie, through the fraud--of certaine Prieft, whom he took into his familiar acquaintance. The impiety indeed was be- gotten before by Arius, and had gotten force patrons , as we have inewed before, but e/Iritu did ftraightway diufemble a recantation; by the fame cunning trickEttfebitu and Theoynis recovered their chairs. Neither dr rft any man be any whit troublefome inan open fort while Conftantine was alive; this madding gadbee did indeed O o z vex
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