C A P.12. 4Rervelat±en ofthe Apocalypre. 397 But is it likely,that they were fo hatedofDecius for a counterfeit pro= feljìon onely ? I will not nowdifpute that point ; this is:certair, that they did little or nothing help the Chriflians. This manchilde was not brought forth before Conftantine. He it was thatdid indeed dc- diver the Church like a man from the tyranny of the enemies, he did likewife defend it valiantly , he did augment ir, and did enlarge the bounds of it marvelloufly, he brought peace unto it that was fo much defìred,and did effablifh it for ever ; All ftories both Holy and pro= phane do tell tss what great pains and pangs theChurchwas put to,be- fore that this Son ofthe Church,the Emperour Confantinewas born. whichfbeuld rule all nations. For Chrift giveth this his owne native power to his fervants, according to that promife ; If any man jball overcome,I Willgivehim poWer over nations,and rule them With an iron rod, Chap. 2. 25. And indeed the truth hereof did Thine forth excee Jingly in Con- fantine ; For he overcame the Sarmarians,the Clothes,and all the na- sion of the Scythians almoff, in many battels. ?"ea God rewarding his piety,did rubdue all kindeof5arbarous people unto him;Hefet upglorious monuments of villoryfor him in every nation, he got him molt famous viîtorics amongf all men,and made him exceedingly to be feared of all his enemies,as Eufebius faith in hisfirf Orat. on the life of Conftantine. Whereupon it was,that Embaf adours came flocking in great number unto his court,out ofall nations almofl,fo that no diflance ofplace did hinder any no not the Indians or Ethiopians, ( who are the fartheft of all men divided afunder fromothers,as the fame Eufebius fpeaks inHomers Words)but that they would come and offer him prefents,to win his favour. For this Emperour ruled themWith an iron rod,that is, he did focurb andkeep down all his enemies withhis martiall power, that no man durfc fo much as fìir a finger againft the Church. Andher childe Was taken up to God. Howwas he takenup ? Whe- ther is it meant, that Conriantine was taken up into heaven, when he was taken away out of the world by death ? Or rather was he thus taken up; by means ofthat high earthly honour,whichGod be- llowed upon him,when he had delivered himout of the fnares, and from the confpiracies of his enemies ? This latter fence feemeth to be made good by the event, rather then the other , efpecially feeing, .i'wagiftrates are called Gods, by proportion whereof', the throne of the higheft dignity upon earth, may by right be called, theThroneof God himfelf. In the former Chapter alfo we heard, how the tWo Prophets that revived, and recovered their former honour, are Fff2 raid jÉ
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