C A P.11. eveiation oft1 e Apocalypfe. 393 creeping upon theearth , not having the Stars gl;ffering on their head, but golden broches. A CroWn of Stars. This is a marvellous Crown that was made of Stars ; Among mortali men Gold is wont to ferve for this pur- pofe, but why fhould the wear gold on her head, under whole feet, whatfoever is precious in this world, lay as nought fet by ? The glo- ry therefore of the Church,is the integrity , and faithfulneffe of the Minifters , not any worldly dignity. This is the ornament of the Church, which doth indeed lie in an ugly and pitiful/ cafe, when there lofe their light. 2. And whenJhie War With childe, /he cryed , travelling in birth. Tilt fourth property of the Church, is her Childe-birth ; the words are, having in her Womb, as Match. r. i S. Aretas and the vulgar read the next words thus, She crycth,travelling,being pained to brimforth. That is, in bringing forth,or that themight bring forth; whichkinde of Compofition is not unlike that which the Grecians ufe elfewhere, fair tofee to, valiant tofight, for in fheW, and infight. The Church had an exceedinggreat torment for a long time, as it were the pains ofa Woman in travel/. Now the defired with all her heart, to be deli- vered at length from that molt diffreffed efface, wherein the lay un- der the moll cruel( heathenilh Emperours. And the knew the fhould enjoy the thing fhedefired,if the could at length bring forth forcecertainman, that might take the govern- ment upon him, and have the rule of all things in his power. For the woman was not barren and unfruitful/ before this time, but prof - perous, in having great fore of Children ; yet was there one Son wanting , who might defend her from the injuries of her enemies, whomwhile fhe travelleth with,and feeketh for a Champion to fight in her quarrel /, the endured grievous paines,behorefhe could obtain that which thewifhed after. 3. And there appeared another Wonder. So muchfor the defcrip- ti©n of the Woman, that that remaineth ofher efface, is to be teen by the defcriptionofher enemy,namelv,the Dragon;which confifls part- ly of fuch things as are inherent in him in thisverfe,partlyof efeUt' in the next. Thofe things are his redcolour, his horns, heads, diadems, before all which the place is let wherein the Dragonwas feen,name- ly in heaven, but not that that is properly fo called. For what fhould the `Dragon, that is the Devil, do in that heavenly pall_lce from whence he is for ever banithed ? It is in that heaven then which is on earth. Now this DxaSan is not onely the Devilin his own perfon, but
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