40 8 d (Revelation ofthe A.poealypre. C A P .12e Now that is called perfecution properly , when one party fuffe- reth.f'orce and wrong, and is not able to defend himfelf againft the injuries ofitis enemy. But what fhould the Woman need to fear any fuch matter as this, feeing the 'Devil war nowcaft our of heaven ? Can the heavens be hurt any whit by the loweft parts ofthe earth ? But Heaven here is not diftinguifhed from Earth in diftance of places, but in the holinefsof Faith and manners. Yet how cometh it to paffe that the Church fhouldPuffer perfecution, as ifit were de- ftituteof adefender, which did even now bring forth her male- child; and had Michael foxher moil valiant Champion ? The truth is this, that thefe wrongs befell the Woman from the Dragon,, be- caufe the chiefcare of the Emperours was to drive out the open and outward enemies from the Church, which when they had once at- tained, they cared lefs_for other matters ; neither did they confider, at leaft fo diligently as it was meet, that the Dragon had manyother wayes to do mifchief, which they themfelves did at unawares, make a more eafie way unto him by their help , fo far off were they from oppofing themfelves valiantly againft his enterprifes. Hence is was therefore that the Dragon did firft of all Pow a privy heart- burning among the Ei/hops; Which being fprungup together with _Conftantine, before the Trumpets began to blow, gave a dolefull prefage of the evil to come, as we have noted on the fecond verte of` the eighth Chapter. For this fpark did fhortly after grow unto .aflame, but chiefly after the controverfie began about the Effence of the Son of God. In all which troublefomecontentions, the truth had the worn alwaies. But the greateft heat of perfecution burnt out, when Conftantine,fulianandValens, raged againft thofe of the [inure faith after the maner,ofopen enemies. . Certainly Conftanti4e and Valens differed nothing from the molt cruel( Tyrants that had béen but only in their bare name andpro- feffion. They were called Chriftian `Princes , but they exercifed the favage cruelty of the Heathens under that name. The Dragon thereforewould grant the Woman no time of Trice , but. when he was calf out of Heaven, he vexed the woman ftraight-after by other means. This perfecution is that which we have fpoken of in the expounding of the frft, fecond, and third Trumpets, Chap.8. j3utfee how profitable this short repetition is, which enformeth us as touchinganother efficient caufe of thofe troubles which are there more largely handled., We learned in that place, that thofe troubles were brought Upon the world , by the )uft judge- ment
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