From:
by George Gifford.
Richard Field and Felix Kinston, 1599.
Set forth by George Giffard, Preacher of the Word at Mauldin in Essex.
P. 216-242
[Spelling has been modified]
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which had brought forth the man child.
14 But to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might flee into the wilderness, into her place where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as it were a flood, after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast forth out of his mouth.
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went and made war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
18 And I stood upon the sea sand.
We had last time (in that which goeth next before in this chapter)
the battle between our great prince Michael, and the dragon. The dragon
(as we saw) took the foyle, and was overcome, and cast down from heaven
to the earth. Also we heard the heavenly and most joyful song of
victory. And now S. John sheweth that the dragon for all this doth not
give over, but still persueth the woman, and her seed: we must still
look for trouble at his hands. When the dragon saw (saith S. John) that
he was cast into the earth, he persecuted the woman, which had brought
forth the manchild: he being then overcome of the head, setteth upon
the body. Yea, knowing further that the salvation of the body is most
finally ratified, so that the blessed estate of the woman cannot be
shaken in the heavens, he now endeavoureth to root her out of the
earth. For his persecuting of the woman, sheweth that his purpose is if
he can utterly and wholly to destroy with cruel death all and every one
which should be found to profess the name of Christ. He fought by
stirring up the high priests, the Pharisees, and other cruel tyrants,
to root out the name and memory of Christianity. And considering how
few they were in comparison, which embraced the doctrine of the Gospel
at that time, while all the Apostles remained in Jerusalem: and
weighing on the other side the great multitude, the mighty power and
cruel rage of the adversaries, which were stirred up and inflamed by
the dragon, it is a very great miracle that the whole company, being
almost all in one city, were not of a sudden set upon and cruelly
murdered. The dragon purposeth even to spread his net over them all at
once, and not to let any one escape. He hath for to effect this his
purpose servants & ministers even in great number, armed with
power, and burning with furious rage, and which indeed, beginning with
Steven, set upon the rest. Why are not all destroyed? why do they not
with the like fury run upon all, that they did upon Steven? The Lord
doth even miraculously preserve and protect his Apostles and other
which abode in Jerusalem and many escape by flight into other places,
as ye may see if ye read, Acts 8. This flight and this dispersion, is
so speedy and so without let and danger, that he saith here, that to
the woman were given two wings of a great Eagle, that she might fly
into the wilderness. These be the wings of God's providence and mighty
protection, opening and preparing the passage, and the place where his
Church should now rest and be harboured and fed in the wilderness, even
among the Gentiles. The time of her abode in the wilderness was before
numbered by days, as a thousand, two hundred and threescore days, and
here he saith, a time, times, and half a time. Touching this time we
have spoken before how mythically it is to be taken, and not as the
Papists, which apply it unto three years and an half, as years are
taken in common use, and so would prove that AntiChrist shall reign but
so long. Our Saviour did in his own person preach three years and an
half, and therefore some do interpret that that time is used here to
signify the whole time that the Church shall be fed in the wilderness
of this world. And indeed we saw in the former chapter that the two
Prophets do prophecy even so long. So long also he saith there, the
holy city shall be trodden under foot of the Gentiles. Then all the
time that the Church shall be persecuted & vexed in this world, so
long yet she shall be fed. But how is it said that she might fly into
the wilderness from the presence of the serpent? It is not the devil in
all places of the world? where should any one get from his presence?
The Gentiles did worship devils (as S. Paul testifieth saying, The gods
of Gentiles are devils, 1. Cor. 10) and the devils had their kingdom
over the nations of the world. Alas then, she flyeth from the presence
of the devil: but is it not still into the presence of the devil? There
be devils plenty before she come, and wheresoever she come, or any of
her children, they be even compassed about with armies of devils: and
if they had not been there before, is the dragon such a lump that he
cannot make haste and speed to overtake her? Can the Church here in
earth fly swifter then the devils? For answer to these things, we must
note, that the flight of the Church from the presence of the serpent,
is not meant that she did or could fly from the presence of the devils,
for they always compass the faithful, if we take his presence
absolutely: but after a sort she fleeth his presence, when the power of
the tyrants and persecutors which he raised up cannot reach unto the
Church or overtake her, to murder and kill her. Thus it is then, the
devils touching themselves could be with the Church wheresoever she
became in the world, and how swiftly soever she fled: but they could
not carry the power of the murdering persecutors, and that is here
called the presence of the serpent. Then mark: those which fled from
Jerusalem, could not fly from Satan's temptations, wheresoever they
became: but he could not reach them with the power of the high Priests
and princes of the Jews, that presence of his she fled from. Indeed he
attempted to pursue her that way, if he could have brought it about,
and Saul had letters and authority from the high priests unto Damascus,
Acts 9, but he could do little. For now Samaria received the Gospel,
shortly after Antioch a great city of the Gentiles had a most famous
Church planted in it, and they were the first that were called
Christians, as we read, Acts 11:26. Then Paul and Barnabas were sent
forth among the Gentiles, and the other Apostles also went forth, and
great Churches were planted in all kingdoms almost, in the world. Now
what hope could the dragon have to root out the woman from the earth?
which way can he now turn him? Is he yet in hope to root out from the
earth the whole Church? will he yet endeavour such a thing? That he
doth: he is so monstrous great, he hath so often prevailed, and hath so
many way, he is so bold that he yet attempteth utterly to rid the earth
of her. And mark what S. John saith: And
the serpent cast out of his
mouth water, as it were a flood, after the woman, that he might cause
her to be carried away of the flood. This is a strange thing,
and
wonderful to be considered, that the dragon, when the woman was fled
from his presence, into the large and wide wilderness, cast out of his
mouth such abundance of water, as to make a swift and mighty flood that
should drown the woman, and utterly sweep her off from the face of the
earth. It was said before, that his tail drew the third part of the
stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth, which sheweth the huge
greatness of the monster: and this casting forth a flood out of his
mouth sheweth no less: a flood to overflow and run through the great
wilderness, and so to overwhelm and drown her wheresoever she were.
This greatness of the power of Satan's kingdom causeth him to be so
bold, as still to maintain war against the kingdom and power of
almighty God. Do not think (beloved) that the devils are weak in power
or in practise against the Church: but when ye read such things as
this, consider what a most glorious power of God it is which doth
vanquish him, and pluck the poor woman out of his jaws. For indeed,
though the power of the devil in the kingdoms of this world which be
exceeding great, he is a mighty terrible prince, and can command great
things, yet compared to our great prince Michael, the Lord Jesus, he is
nothing. For our Lord, under whose banner we fight, is the king of
kings, and the Lord of hosts, whose power is infinite, and lasteth for
ever and ever.
But what should this [flood] be which cometh out of the devil's
mouth? Do ye not suppose, that the waters which come forth of his
belly, be as sweet and wholesome as the fountain itself out of which
they flow? Sweet things no doubt these waters are, even as sweet as the
devil himself. But what are they that he would drown the woman withall?
Even a flood of all foul heresies, of lies, of reproaches, and
slanders, and such like. For he raised up heretics, even monsters,
which drew many counterfeit Christians into perdition, and although (as
Satan did know) he could not destroy the faith and the salvation of the
elect; yet by this means he could bring them all into extreme danger of
their lives, for the heretics were such as the very Pagans might loathe
to hear of. And then those heresies coming out of his mouth as a part
of those waters, yet he persueded that the Gospel bred them. Men cried
out that there were no such things before that doctrine came, &
that they did by and by spring up with it. The gospel being thus
charged and made odious as a most foul doctrine, and such as bred
monstrous opinions, all that did profess it were extremely hated, even
as men not worthy to be suffered to live upon the earth. Thus were the
minds of bloody tyrants stirred up, and persecutions grew hot and
bitter. Then were the poor christians even compelled to meet in the
nights in caves, and in secret places, & there to have the holy
excercises of religion. Upon this Satan took occasion to accuse them of
most horrible filthiness: as if they should eat their children, and
that men and women meeting together, out were the lights put, &
filthiness committed, even adulteries and incests, fathers with their
daughters, the brethren with their sisters, and such like.
Then further the heat of persecution being terrible, and sundry
revolting, the persecutors hired and procured some of them, to say
indeed, that when they were at those meetings of the Christians, there
were such filthy things committed, and that they themselves had there
committed such things. This gave strength and credit to the slanders,
and what think ye was the rage and fury of the heathen? who would not
think he did even a good work to destory such? There is now nothing but
killing and murdering upon heaps. And yet the danger is further
increased: for the wrath of the Lord being kindled for such wickedness
committed against his son, against his pure word and Church, he poured
forth horrible plagues upon the world: then the subtle serpent did put
and suggest into the minds of the infidels, that all those plagues
came, because the Gods were angry at the new learning. The Christians
were said to be the cause of all those plagues: so that so soon as ever
any strange thing fell out, they cried by and by, to have the
Christians cast to the lions, which was one of the ways by which they
put them to death. Ancient writers which lived in those times, do
testify of these things. Then we see how the waters of heresies, of
lies, slanders, and reproaches, do rise and swell into a mighty swift
stream: So that without the wonderful power of God, providing for the
woman even miraculously, how can she but be caried away of the flood?
how can she but be rooted out of the earth? Well, the blessed Lord doth
indeed provide for her: and delivereth her from being swallowed up of
this great flood, of all these stinking waters which issued out of the
dragon's belly. For as the Lord hath ratified the salvation of this
woman in heaven, and set it so fast that the dragon cannot shake it, so
also he preserveth her in the wilderness of this world, until such time
as she hath brought forth all her chilldren. The dragon doth cause
thousands of her children indeed to be cruelly slain in all places, but
he cannot root her out, nor make her barren, but she shall still
continue in the world, bring forth and nurse up blessed children to
God, even to the day of the general iudgment. Then the devil doth
tempt, the devil doth persecute, but he cannot pluck down the Church
from heaven from her salvation, nor yet destroy her with bodily death
out of this world. These things are fixed and established by God, and
it is impossible that they should be altered. But let us see how the
woman escaped drowning, for the flood pursueth her into the wildernes.
The earth (saith Saint John) helped the woman, and the earth opened
her
mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his
mouth. Here is a wonderful deliverance, behold and consider.
Our Lord is the Lord of hosts, and hath all creatures both the living
and the dead at his commandement to help his Church. For as all things,
when he willeth, stand up and fight against the wicked, so also they
fight for the defence of the Church when he commandeth them. The earth
is the Lord's, and all that is therein: The earth acknowledgeth her
Lord, and obeyeth his commandment: the earth doth help the woman.
Wonderful is God in his providence: doth the earth help the woman? yea,
which of his creatures shall not help his chosen, even willingly when
he will have it so? For though it be said that the earth helped the
woman, yet we must look up higher, and know that it is the Lord which
does it. For the earth doth it but as the Lord's handmaid, and being
thereunto by him appointed. Then the holy Ghost doth not use this
speech to draw our eyes from God, to seek succour elsewhere: but indeed
setteth forth his wonderful power and providence, which commandeth and
directeth all creatures to the service of his Church. But now it may be
demanded whether this be to be understood of the very earth indeed,
even the ground that we tread upon? Nay, ye know that in this book
things are to be taken mythically: and as he compareth the heresies,
the lies, reproaches, and slanders to a flood of waters cast forth of
the dragon's mouth to carry away the woman: So he compareth the
drinking & drying up of the same, as if the earth should cleave and
swallow up a flood of waters: for there is no way to restrain a great
flood, but if the earth open and drink it. This it is then, all the
heresies, all the slanders and lies cast forth as a mighty flood to
drown the Church, have by the good providence of God even as it were
sunk in the earth, and have been swallowed up. The Church remaineth in
the world at this day after all those ancient crimes and slanders call
forth against her, they being as it were sunk into the earth, and
vanished. She is long since justified and cleared from those sole
faults which the subtle serpent caused her to be charged withall, and
brought into hatred. Great multitudes, even of the wicked have been
compelled to confess her innocence, and to praise her. The heresies of
all the ancient heretics are even as it were drunk up by the earth.
Some indeed Satan raiseth up in all places as fit instruments to renew
those former heresies, but cannot prevail to rend & tear all in
pieces, and to vex and make havoc as of old. Indeed the errors of
popery did overspread almost all in time past, even like a flood; but
now, even as if the earth had opened her mouth a great part are sunk,
and even the papists themselves confess that they were abuses: and the
rest of`their matters can hardly retain credit, no not among a few. For
not only the true believers, which in these last times are many, but
also multitudes of mere worldlings do see the vanity of popery, and do
despise it. And in this high providence of God, even the earth that is
the state of wordly things, and worldly men have ministered some help.
For when any mighty cruel tyrant, believing the filthy lies and
slanders raised against the faithful, purposeth to root them all out,
and joineth with other of the same mind: one thing or other riseth up
even of and about the earthly state, and holdeth them occupied and
buried, so that they cannot perform their desire against the church.
Great kings and princes in these latter days have sworn each to other
in a cursed league, which yet they call the holy league, that they will
join all together, & even destroy from the earth all that profess
the holy Gospel, whom they indeed judge to be wicked heretics. Why have
they not prevailed? the earth hath opened her mouth, the worldly state
hath been such that they never could: but one way or other have had
their hands full. The floods of lies, of reproaches, and slanders cast
forth by those that worship the beast, against the faithful and holy
servants of the Lord, and with which the ears of princes have been
filled, and their minds enflamed to wrath and cruelty, and even by this
means sunk: Indeed there have been horrible slaughters committed, and
many slain in France and other countries, but the dragon is far from
drowning the woman with his stinking flood. If ye consider what a few
the true professors of the Gospel be, and what wonderful power there is
in the world in the hands of them that hate them deadly, and with them
rooted out: ye shall be constrained to confess that it is even a great
miracle, as if the earth did open her mouth and drink up the floods of
the dragon's lies, that the state of kingdoms and earthly things is
such, that they cannot according to their desire join together to
destroy the woman. And even as the Gospel was through subtilty of the
serpent, charged in old times to breed all those monstrous heresies
which sprang up: so also at this day the enemies cry out, that our
doctrine doth bring forth all the heresies that arise. The Anabaptists,
the Libertines, those of the family of love, yea all such execrable
monsters, are by the servants of Antichrist, termed as it were the
children of those which preach the Gospel! But the falsehood of this
approach, and even the earth openeth her mouth and drinketh in the
flood of their false accusations. Furthermore it has pleased God in all
ages to use the men of this world sundry ways to help his Church: who
are even as the earth, in respect of any heavenly thing. Thus we see
how the woman doth escape the flood which the dragon casteth out ofhis
mouth. The Church then cannot be rooted out from the face of the earth.
Let this comfort and stay us when the rage is greatest against the
servants of Christ. Ye shall at sometime see such tempests raised by
Satan, as if heaven and earth should be mingled together: Ye shall see
such power bent against the Gospel, and so great terror, as if all
should fall down. Nothing but slaughters, and terrible threatenings:
yea so terrible as if fire came out of their mouths even to devour all.
Be not then dismayed, nor do not faint: the Gospel cannot be beaten
down, the cause of God cannot be overthrown, neither can Satan ever
bring to pass by all his sleights and cruel practices, but that there
shall ever some stand up boldly to profess, to teach, and to maintain
the same.
Now it followeth: Then the dragon
was wrath with the woman, and went
and made war with the remnant of her seed, &c. What, was he
not
wrath with her before? Yes, but this is to teach us, that the heat
& fury of his wrath still increased. But what is the
reason that his wrath thus increaseth? Because his enterprises fail,
and that he can by no means have his purpose to destroy the woman,
therefore he is more & more enflamed in wrath against her. In this
is set before us a right devilish wrath: for he hath no cause to be
moved against the woman, but that he cannot hurt nor destroy her. What
hath she done to him? he fought to cast her down from eternal
blessedness, and took the foyle, and himself was cast to the earth and
all his. He laboured then to root her out from the face of the earth,
and all the ways which he deviseth fail of bringing his desire to pass:
and now he is more & more wrath, that he can no way destroy her. Is
not this a mad kind of wrath? as this is in the devil, so shall ye see
it evident in many men and women whom he doth work in. If they be once
inflamed with burning malice against any man, it carrieth them with a
desire to do them all the mischief which they can. It is even meat and
drink to them when they can hurt.
Now if they practice and deceive many ways and means, and see
nothing will prevail, they cannot hurt those whom they do bitterly
hate; that is a wonderful sting, it grieveth them and tormenteth them
sore, and even kindleth in them a greater fire of wrath and
displeasure, and the heat of their fury burneth hotter within them. For
as it is some kind of quenching or slaking the heat and fire of their
malice, when they can execute their desire upon those whom they so
deadly hate, so the missing of their purpose, kindleth the flame. Let
man take heed, for it is a most cursed thing to be like, & to
resemble the wicked devils. Such as abound in malice are like the
devil, and resemble him exceedingly: If Satan's wrath be kindled, then
he will not yet give over. Give over? No, he will never give over until
he be quite cast down. For he could not prevail against Christ but was
cast down, yet he set upon the church. When he saw one way succeeded
not, he fought another: when he could not destroy her out of the
heavens, he attempted to root her wholly out of the earth. When he
findeth what he can do to afflict her, his wrath is still kindled more
and more, and he will do what he can to afflict her. Here is the thing,
he cannot do what he will: therefore he will do what he can. His fiery
cruel hatred and malice will not suffer him to rest. He will still be
devising what harms and mischiefs he can: and therefore it is said, he
was wrath with the woman, and went and made war with the remnant of her
seed, &c. He is then come down thus low that he can proceed no
further, but to make war with the true children of the Church, and that
remaineth to all the faithful, and shall remain even to the end of the
world. There is no pacifying of this enemy, there is no truce to be
made or had with him for so much as one minute of an hour: but it
behooveth us to be always armed, and always to stand ready to repell
his assaults. Behold here also even as it were the image of the devil
in many men (for as the regenerate do bear the image of God their
father who hath begotten them in the new and spiritual birth, so the
wicked do bear the image of their father the devil) which being
overcome with malice that reigneth in them, can never cease nor give
over, seeking and devising how to hurt those whom they hate, although
they take never so many foyles. If they cannot wreck their anger to the
full, they will also assay to do what they can. If they be foyled and
foyled again, yea even shamed, and can see no hope to do half so much
harm, nor the hundreth part: which they wish: yet they will not give
over, but if they can hurt but in a small trifle it shall come. Here is
the very image of the devil, where ye see this. Ye will say, it is a
great thing which Satan is here said to do, that he warreth against the
faithful. He doth wonderfully vex and torment the true Christians here
in the world. It is very true, this is a great thing considered in
itself: but compared with the other two, this one, that he fought to
overthrow the salvation of the church: the other, that he fought to
destroy her at once out of the earth; that she might never bring forth
any more children to God, it is but a small thing. And so I say, note
it in men which burn in malice and wrath, & they can never give
over, their devilish mind can never rest, though it be but in small
trifles, yet will it shew itself. The reason is evident, Satan the
fiery red dragon cannot rest, and he possesseth their mind, therefore
they cannot rest, for he thrusteth them forward, and will in no wise
let them rest.
lf they have lied, if they have slandered, if they have done
injuries other ways, and be convinced, rebuked, & for the time even
suffer shame, yet they must on again, he even thrusteth them upon their
noses. O woefull and lamentable estate of slavery and bondage, which
the servants of Satan are held in, when the fierce dragon filleth them
full of his fiery malice, & will have them as restless as himself,
even till he bring them together with himself into endless misery.
Resist him therefore, beloved, give not place unto him by anger, and
wicked enuie: For if he once get hold in them, that is, to fill the
heart with malice, he can hardly be cast forth. But let us return now
again unto that former point of Satan's making war. He maketh war with
the remnant of her seed. Here is that which we are to look for, even
continual war with the dragon, and with all the power which he can
make: we have him our cruel & fierce enemy. All the true children
of the church must make full account of this so long as they live, and
stand prepared.
For although he find it (as I said) beyond his reach to root out
the mother, yet he will not cease to torment as many of her children as
he can, that he may terrify others from embracing the holy faith. We
are put in mind of this by Saint Paul, and willed to put on the whole
armonr of God, that we may be able to resist, Eph. 6. Here is also to
be noted, that Saint John maketh a short description of the right seed,
or true children of the woman: for he saith, which keep the
commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. It
is but
short, but it is a pithy description of the right seed, he noteth two
things which both go together in the sound Christians.
They hold the doctrine and faith of Jesus Christ in an open and bold
profession, that is one: and walk in obedience to the law of God, that
is the other. They profess the Gospel, and will not deny it though it
should cost them their lives. And they profess it not with a dead
faith, but that lively faith which worketh by love: for he saith, they
have the testimony Jesus, and they keep the commandments of God. And
this is one chief cause why the dragon doth rage in wrath so sore
against them, that they will not with the rest of the world obey and
worship him: but cleave to the Lord God in faith and obey his laws. The
children of this world also, the ministers of Satan cannot abide them,
because their works be good; and they love the light, and they
themselves love darkness more than light, because their deeds be evil,
John 3:19. Hereupon it followeth, that the dragon shall always have
them for to take his part, and most ready to persecute the true
children of God, because they cannot but hate, even as he hateth. This
much touching the dragon's making war with the remnant of the woman's
seed.
It followeth in the text, and I
stood upon the sea sand. This short
clause maketh a passage unto that which followeth in the next chapter,
touching the vision and description of the beast that riseth out of the
sea. But whether Saint John saith of himself, I stood upon the sea
sand, or whether he saith that the dragon stood upon the sea sand, is
the doubt; because the Greek may be intetpreted, either I stood, or he
stood. Some expound it, that Saint John in a vision stood upon the sea
sand, that he might behold the rising up of the beast. But I take it
the more probable, that they dragon stood upon the sea sand, as it were
working and framing out of the sea his chief instruments the huge and
terrible beast, by whom he warreth against the servants of God. It is
not much material whether way we take it, and therefore I will not stay
upon it, but will here make an end.