world." No man reading Propertius, ever made question, but that Rome was here described; and therefore no reason why any doubt should be made, what that great city may be, which with the same colours is painted out unto us in the book of the Revelation. 2. By the judgment of the ancient fathers, affirming expressly that Rome is meant by Babylon, in the seventeenth chapter of the Revelation, as the Rhemists themselves do voluntarily confess in their last note upon the first epistle of Peter. 3. By the confession of those who are most devoted to the see of Rome, as (to name one for many), Bellarmine the cardinal Jesuit; whose words are these: "John in the Revelation every where calleth Rome Babylon, as Tertullian hath noted in his third book against Marcion, and in his book against the Jews: and it is plainly gathered out of the seventeeth chapter of the Revelation: where great Babylon is said to sit upon seven mountains, and to have dominion over the kings of the earth. For there is no other city which in the time of John had dominion over the kings of the earth, but Rome; and the building of Rome upon seven hills is a matter most famous." Hitherto Bellarmine. THE THIRD POSITION. That old Rome only under the heathen persecutors, from the time of the first emperor till Constantine's days, was not Babylon (as the proctors of the Church of Rome would persuade us) but Rome in her last days being free from the government both of heathen and Christian emperors. And that Rome was to be that Babylon, which should draw the kings and nations of the world unto superstition and idolatry from such time as it ceased to be subject to the civil prince (and became the possession of the pope) until the last destruction thereof, which is yet to come. De Rom. pontif. lib. 2. cap. 2. PROOF. 1. The matter of Babylon is revealed unto St. John as a mystery'. But the persecution of the Church by the heathen emperor was far from being a mystery: for it being openly committed, St. John himself at the same time being a companion with the rest of the saints in this tribulation, banished for the word of God, and for the witnessing of Jesus Christ into the island Pathmos: this could not be shewed as a secret and mystical thing. And therefore some further matter, not then openly known to the world, must here be intended. 2. The state of Babylon after her fall is thus declared: "It is fallen, it is fallen, Babylon the great city is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of all foul spirits, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird; for all nations have drunken of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her," &c. If heathen Rome only were Babylon, it would follow that upon the fall thereof in the days of Constantine the emperor, Rome professing the faith of Christ should then become the "habitation of devils, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird." Which being a most gross and absurd imagination, it must needs be granted, that after the days of the Christian emperor, "the faithful city should become a harlot ;" even Romem (whose faith was once renowned throughout all the world) should become "Babylon" the mother of whoredoms and abominations of the earth." 3. Such a desolation is foretold should come upon the great city Babylon (which in the second position is proved to be Rome) that it should utterly be destroyed and never built again, nor reinhabited. Now at that very time i Apoc. chap. 17. ver. 6. Apoc. chap. 18. ver. 2. "Apoc. chap. 17. ver. 5. k Ibid. chap. 1. ver. 9. m Romans, chap. 1. ver. 8. Ibid. chap. 18. ver. 21, 22, 23. when this judgment shall come, it is said that "the" kings of the earth which have committed fornication with her, shall bewail her and lament her;" whereby it is most evident that Rome is not to cease from being Babylon, till her last destruction shall come upon her; and that unto her last gasp she is to continue her spiritual fornications, alluring all nations unto her superstition and idolatry. 4. St. Paul, 2 Thessalonians, chap. II. verse 7. declareth that there was one in his time who did hinder the revealing of that wicked man, who was to be the head of this apostacy, and falling away from the faith. And when that he should be taken out of "the way, then," saith the apostle, "shall that wicked man be revealed." He that withheld and made this hindrance in the apostles time could be no other but the emperor, in whose hands, as long as the possession and government of Rome remained, it was impossible that that wicked one (of whom the apostle speaketh) should reign there. So that upon his removal, that man of sin must succeed in his room, whereupon that great city, wherein he placeth his throne, falleth to be that Babylon, which "should' deceive all nations with her enchantments." Now all the world can witness, that the emperor, who some time was the sovereign lord of Rome, is now quite turned out of the possession thereof, and the pope entered thereupon in his stead. Whereupon it followeth, that the pope (for all his holiness) is that wicked ones of whom the apostle prophesied, that he should "sit in the temple of God exalting himself above all that is called God or worshipped:" and consequently, that Rome, where he hath settled his chair, hath long since begun, and yet continueth to be that Babylon; from whose communion we are charged to sever ourselves, by that voice from heaven, "Got out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and receive not of her plagues." P Rev. chap. 18. verse 9. q Verse 8. s 2 Thess. chap. 2. ver. 4. |