431 A fevelatson of the Apoc .lyfe. C A P. 13, Secondly, heopened his mouth mainfit the Tabernacle, that is, the truc Church of God, lying hid, and being a pilgrim upon earth. For this Tabernacle is the fame with the Temple Chapr. t r. i. the dwelling place ofGod, who converfeth among his people in the de- fett;whichdoth teach us manifeftly,at what time efpeciallyhe should belch out thefe blafphemies; namely, when the Church fhould keep in the wildernes,and fhould be known to a few obfcure citizens one- ly. Andnot to f{and repeating thefe many blafphemie5; could it be pcffìble,thatAntichrift when hewas in his height ofpride,ihould not rage as ifhe were mad,or rather like a do/ill, with his hellish mouth againft the Church when it was poore and abjea,whonow lying al- moit breathles,and half dead,cannot hold himfelf from loding it with all kinde of reproachful! words and deeds,and that when it is allo- yed again 8.: brought toherflourllhing efl:ate by the goodnes ofGod? Tbirdly,he blafphemeth thofe that dwell in heaven; Thefe be Citi- zens and members of the true Church upon earth. He barked with a throat like anopen fepulcher againft the Tabernacle,that is,agairft the univerfall company ofthe faithful!; but his blafphemy is chiefly intendedand call grit agairfl: thofe that dwel in heaven;that is;parti- cular holy men, whomhe Both labour to teare in pelees if he could withal! the contumelies,that his impure mouth could breath otit a gainfethem.Arc not all they that oppofe themfelves to the Romich impiety, traduced, as ifthey were Heretichr,Schifmatickr,rebel,,mot Wicked Wretches,unworshy to enioy the common aire andliehtWithother men?Reade over the Baall only of Leo the tenth againft Luther, and you may fee plentifiully,how theBeafis tongue is let on fire of hell to blafphemy there that beell in heaven. And indeed all the books of the Papas are ffuffed with thefe blafphemies,yeatheir tongues dofcarce . let go any things elfe. Verf. 7. Andit Wae given unto him to Make War With the Saints. This is, that war, which was fpoken of; chap. I I. 7, 8. Namely the councell of Trent,and thofe cruel wars which the Tolle and the Empe- rour made against the Troteftants in Germany. As alfo that victory, wherin they, triumphed over the two Prophets, when they had Clain them.For the Reáfi vvageth war the whole time ofhis two and forty moneths,as we have feenbefòre in the fift verfe; but yet toward the end ofthattime,this war wherofmention is made in this place fhould be moil: memorable ofall other.'This Beaft therefore is the Anoell of the bottomeleIJe Pit,Chap.9 t t;& t t .7.There remainechyet another war,but wherein the Beaft fhall not overcome, but be overcomed. e/Ind
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