C A P.12..fÌe'elatioiz ofthe Apocalyple. and cat} down from heaven. God that governs every thing by his eternall providence, would have a monument of this molt glori- ous victory to be openly let up in the eyes ofmen ; for which caufe, Conflantine took order, That a TableAmid be hangedUp on high 6r- fore the doors of his Palace,tbherein a Dagen Itupainted,that lay thrufi through with aDart under his otn, and hisfubjchlsfeet, Eufeb. on the life of Conftant. Orat. 3. Fol.137. g. _And the Dragon it'acs call out upon the earth. That is, out of the borders of the true and Holy Church, not only among the pro- phane nations, but alfo among the refit ofthe Chriftian people, that was any wayesdifagreeing from, orcontrary to fincere piety,howfo ever they made a chew thereof, and were called by the names of Chriftians. That which is called heaven and earth, was called the Temple and the Court,in the former Chapter. The Church lay hidden in that, the Gentilesdomineered in this ; namely, that people, who took to themfelves the name ofthe Church,becaufe they were fo neer unto it bodily, and yet were but as Heathens in Gods account. The Devil then that was cafhout, is thruft down into this earth, and into this Court,together with his Angels, having power given him tovex the whore, who did before that, of a long time, exercife all his cruel- ty againfk the true Sposefe. Io. Then Iheard a loudvoycefaying : Here we have the Songof Triumph, which th@Saints fing oat, wherein they magnifie God for this great benek ; which is firft declared by thofe things wherein the benefit it felt confifts in this verfe ; and then it is illustrated by the caufès thereof, verf. I. And the effects, verf. Ia, The benefit it feif, in refpec`t ofmen, is falvation and Itrength, becaufe now were thole tyrants overthrown, who indeavoured to fatisfie their malicious hearts with the destruerionof Chriftians : In refpeet ofGod, it is the glory ofhis Kingdom, and of Chrifs Kingdom andpater. For then is his power truly feen aloft, when he Both deftroy and put down his enemies utterly. His kingdom alfo is after a fort vifibly feen,when he fetteth up godly Princes to govern hisChurch; hence alto is Chrifts power made glorious, as which, before, when it was troden under feet by theenemies, and did not Ihew it fell in taking vengeance on them, as they deferved, feemed to be weak, or rather none at all. But Chriff did now declare abundantly, when hee took this King- dom into his hands, that his former winking at his enemies, and fuffering them to goe away Scotfree, proceeded not from any want of power in himfelf, but onely from a willing forbearance Ggg of 4o
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