402 A revelation oftbe Apocalypse. C A P. a. roffewas not known,neither was this fign given for this end,that it ght be worfhipped Religioufly,orhaveany Religious matter made of it,but that it might be (as it were) a certain pawn and pledge to confirm his faith in the víc`tory ; fo Conffantine being yet a young and tender Chriftian, might go on the more boldly, and might fight with more abundance of hope againft the enemies of Chriflsdeath. But the craftinefl`eof the Devil!, and the wickednefsof mans mind did not long after turn this fign, that was given to this intent, untoa mokpernicious and damnable Idol , as it did that brazen Serpent, that was even commanded by God of old. Maxeniuo on the con trary made war by the condua and government of the Devil! alone, asbeing one that dad mofl damnably Worfhip and confult With Devils, anddidfor thispurpofe tale to cut Women great With child inpeeces, that het might look into the bol els of their young ones before they Were born: 1Llaximintu,and Licinius,were Captains likewife ofthis fame mifchievous impiety , fo that there is no man , but that if he look upon the Captains that fought in the room of their chiefe Generali, he may eafily fee that Michael ftood fighting on theone ftde,and the Devill on the other. 8. But they prevailed not: Here we have the Event of this war. The outward felicity of the former time did fail the enemies. Be- fore they did trample upon the Church as their hearts tufted, now while they encounter withhermanly -childe, they are dëftroyed with an utter deftrucion. The Dragon Alaxentius was drowned in the River Tiber , Maximintu prevented a banifhnlent, into which Licinius was about to drive him out of hand , and that by a cafuall, or as force fay a voluntary, or as others a forcible death. Liciniu s himfelf having been often putto flight in very many battels, did at length lofe'his.head for treachery againit Conflantine. Thus was the 'Dragonb this time utterly overcome, and caft out of heaven,where he had of long titneufurped a government by tyranny. For his place was found no longer inheaven, when as the open ene- mies of Chrift were fubdued,andoverthrown,much morecaft out of their Empires,withoutany hope ofever recovering them afterwards. For the Dcvill was bound from this time for a thoufand yeers , as we may fee, Chap. so. 2. Yea and then whenhe (hall be let loofe,he fhall not raign over the Chriftians as flee didbefore he was bound, but the damages which he (hall bring upon them, fhall be but as the bitingof their heel only. In the meane time it fhouldbe manifeft unto all men , that the Dragon was now at length vatiquilhed, and
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