present year 1566, got the town of Gyula about Transylvania, after they had sustained sixteen of his most forcible assaults, destroying in the same most cruelly many thousands of our Christian brethren, men, women, and children; but because we have no full certainty, we will refer the story thereof to further information.
THE PROPHECIES OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES CONSIDERED,
TOUCHING THE COMING UP AND FINAL RUIN
come not by chance or by man’s working only, but even as the Lord himself hath appointed it, and cloth permit the same.
And first to begin with the time of the Old Testament, let us seriously advise and ponder, not only the scriptures and prophecies herein
contained, but also let us consider the whole state, order, and regiment of that people; the church, I mean, of the Israelites. For although the
scriptures and prophets of the Old Testament were properly sent to that people, and have their relation properly to things done, or that should be done in that commonwealth, of which prophets John Baptist was the last and made an end, as our Savior himself witnesseth, saying, the law and prophets be unto the time of John, etc.; yet, notwithstanding, the said people of that Old Testament bear a lively image and resemblance of the universal church which should follow, planted by the Son of God through the whole earth. So that as the prophets of God, speaking to them from the mouth and word of God, prophesied what should come to pass in that people; so, likewise, the whole course and history of those Israelites exemplifeth and beareth a prophetic image to us, declaring what is to be looked for in the universal church of God dispersed through the world, planted in Christ Jesus his Son, according as Philip Melancthon, gravely gathering upon the same, testifieth in divers places in his commentary upon the prophet Daniel.
As first the history of godly Abel, slain by wicked Cain, what doth it import or prophesy, but the condition of the people and servants of God, who commonly go to wrack in this world, and are oppressed by the contrary part, which belongeth not to God?
The like may be said also of Isaac and Ishmael; of Jacob and Esau: of whom those two who were the children of promise, and belonged to the election of God, were persecuted in this world by the others who were rejected. Where, moreover, is to be noted concerning Ishmael, that of his stock, after the flesh, came the Saracens, whose sect the Turks do now profess and maintain. And as Ishmael had but twelve sons; so it were to be wished of God, that this Solyman who is the twelfth of the Turkish generation, may be the last. But of this, better occasion shall follow (the Lord willing) hereafter.
Furthermore, of the twelve tribes of Israel, the sacred history so reporteth, (2 Kings 17) that after they had a long season continued together by the space of eight or nine hundred years, at length, for their idolatry and transgression of their forefathers, ten tribes of them were cut off, and dispersed among the Gentiles a hundred and thirty years before the captivity of Babylon; so that but two tribes only remained free, and they also at last, after a hundred and thirty years, were captived under the Babylonians for a certain time. No otherwise hath it happened with the church of Christ almost in the universal world, of which church the greatest part, both in Asia, in Africa, and almost in Europe (where the holy apostles so labored and travailed), we see now to be disparkled among the Turks, and their candlesticks removed: the Lord of his great grace reduce them again, Amen! So that of twelve parts of Christendom, which were once planted in Christ, scarce two parts remain clear, and they, how long they shall so continue, the Lord knoweth. And, albeit through the mercy of the Lord they escape the danger of the Turks, yet have they been so beaten by the pope, that they had been better almost to have been in the Turks’ hands.
Again, after the said Israelites returned, being restored by Cyrus, let us consider well their story, the continuance of time, the manner of their regiments, and what afflictions they sustained in the time of the Maccabees; and we shall see a lively representation of these our days expressed in that prophetic people, according as St. Paul, writing of them, showeth how all things happened to them in figures, (1 Corinthians 10) that is, the actions and doings of that one nation, be as figures and types of greater matters, what shall happen in the latter times of the whole church universally in Christ collected.
So the transmigration and deliverance again of those two tribes, declareth to us the affliction of Christ’s church for sin; and yet that God will not utterly reject his people for his Son’s sake: as by manifold examples of the church hitherto may well appear.
Again, the continuance of the law first given by Moses, unto the
destruction of the said people by Titus, amounteth to one thousand five hundred and sixty-four years; so we, counting the age of the New Testament, and reckoning from the day of our redemption unto this
present, be come now to the year 1584, lacking but only three and thirty years of the full number.1
Likewise, in counting the years from their deliverance out of captivity to the end of their dissolution, we find five hundred and sixty-four years, during which years, as the church of the Jews was not governed under the authority of kings, but the high priests took all the power and authority to themselves; so we Christians, for the space especially of these latter five hundred and sixty-four years, what have we seen and felt, but only the jurisdiction and domination of the pope and high priests playing the ‘Rex’
in all countries, and ruling the whole? Whereby, by the count of these years, it is to be thought the day of the Lord’s coming not to be far off.
Furthermore, in those latter years of the Jews’ kingdom, what troubles and afflictions that people sustained three hundred years together, but chiefly the last hundred and sixty-six years before the coming of Christ, by Antiochus and his fellows, the history of the Maccabees can report;
wherein we have also notoriously to understand the miserable vexations and persecutions of Christian churches, in these latter ends of the world, by Antichrist; for, by Antiochus, Antichrist no doubt is figured and represented. This Antiochus surnamed Magnus, and Antiochus
Epiphanes, his son, came of the stock of Seleuchus Nicanor; much like as Mahomet the Turk, and Solyman, came of the stock of Ottoman.
Wherein this is to be noted and pondered, that, like as of the said Seleueus issued twelve Syrian kings one after another, of that generation, who reigned over the Israelites with much severity and tyranny; so, of this devilish generation of Ottoman, have come twelve Turkish tyrants, whereof this Solyman is now the twelfth; God grant he may be the last!
And as the two last Antiochi, being sons of the two brethren, did fight together for the kingdom, and in fighting were both slain, and shortly after the kingdom fell to the Romans; so the Lord grant, for Christ’s sake, that the bloody brood of this old Solyman (who hath reigned now six and forty years) may so fight together, and perish in their own blood, that this bloody tyranny of theirs may come to a final end for ever. Amen.
And that the truth hereof may the better appear to such as be disposed to meditate more upon the matter, I thought good and profitable for the reader, to set before his eyes, in table-wise, the catalogue of both these
Antichristian families, with the names and succession of the persons, first of the twelve Syrian kings, then of the twelve Ottomans, in like number and order.
A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE SYRIANS AND THE TURKS:
THE SYRIANS: YEARS
1. Seleucus 33
2. Anitochus Soter 19
3. Antiochus Theos, who killed Bernice his mother-in-law, and his young brother
15
4. Seleucus Callincius, whith Antiochus Hierax his borther;
which two brethren warred one against the other
20
5. Antiochus Magnus 36
6. Seleucus Philopater 12
7. Antiochus Epiphanes, or rather Epimanes 8. Antiochus Eupater
9. Demetrius, brother of Epiphanes, who killed Eupater, his cousin
10. Demetrius Nicanor, whom Antiochus Sedetes, his brother, explused from his kingdom.
11. Antiochus Sedetes, These two last being brethren had two sons
12. Anitochus Gripus, and Antiochus Ciricenus. These two, striving together for the kingdom, where both slain, and so, not long after, the kingdom of Syria came to the hands of Tygranes king of Armenia, and so being taken from him came to the Romans in the time of Pompey.
THE TURKS: YEARS
1. Ottoman 28
2. Orchan: he slew his two brethren. 22
3. Amurath: he put out the eyes of Sauces, his own son 23 4. Bajazet: he slew Solyman, his brother
5. Calepine: the Greek stories make no mention of his
Calepine. The Lain stories say that Calepine and Orchan were both one, and that he was slain by Mahomet his brother.
6
6. Orchan, whom Moses his uncle did slay
7. Mahomet the First: he slew Mustapha, his brother 14 8. Amurath the Second: he slew Mustapha, his brother 34 9. Mahomet the Second: he slew his two brethren, Turcine, an infant, and Calepine.
37
10. Bajazet the Second: he warred against his brother Demes, which Demes was afterwards poisoned by pope Alexander VI
33
11. Selim: he poisoned Bajazet his father, and his two brethren Acomates and Corcuthus, with all their children, his own cousins
7
12. Solyman: he slew Mustapha, his own son, and was also the death of Gianger, his second son
46
These two pestilent families and generations, rising out, doubtless, from the bottomless pit, to plague the people of God, as in number of
succession they do not much differ, so in manner of their doings and wicked abominations, they be as near agreeing, being both enemies alike to the people and church of Christ, both murderers and parricides of their own brethren and kindred, both blasphemers of God, and troublers of the whole world. Wherein we have all to learn and note, by the way, the terrible anger of Almighty God against the sin and wickedness of men.
Furthermore, whoso is disposed to consider and cast the course of times, and to mark how things be disposed by the marvelous operation of God’s providence, shall find the times also of these two adversaries in much like sort to concur and agree. For, in considering with ourselves both the testaments and churches of God, the first of the Jews, the second of the Christians, look what time the Syrian kings had to rage then in Jerusalem, the same proportion of time hath now the tyranny of the Turks to murder the Christians; so that the one Antichrist may well represent and prefigure the other. For, as by the book of Maccabees may appear, Antiochus Epiphanes was about the hundred and ninety-first year before the Passion of our Savior, and day of our redemption; so now casting the same number from this present year backward, we shall find it to be about the same year and time, when Bajazet, the fourth Turk after Ottoman, began to remove his imperial seat from Bursa in Bithynia to Adrianople in Europe, which is a city of Thrace; in which year and time began all the mischief in Europe, as is to be seen before, and this was A.D. 1375, unto which year, if we add 191, it maketh 1566, according to the prophecy of the Apocalypse
chapter 20, where it is prophesied of Gog and Magog, that they shall compass about the tents of the saints, and the well-beloved city, by which well-beloved city is meant, no doubt, Europe; and this was in the year abovesaid, 1375. Although touching the precise points of years and times, it is not for us greatly to be exquisite therein; but yet where diligence, and studious meditation may help to knowledge, I would not wish negligence to be a pretense to ignorance. And thus much for the times of Antiochus and his fellows.
Now what cruelty this Antiochus exercised against the people of God, it is manifest in the history of the Maccabees;2 there we read that this
Antiochus, in the eighth year of his reign, in his second coming to Jerusalem, first gave forth in commandment, that all the Jews should relinquish the law of Moses, and worship the idol of Jupiter Olympus, which he set up in the temple of Jerusalem. The books of Moses and of the prophets he burned. He set garrisons of soldiers to ward the idol. In the city of Jerusalem he caused the feasts and revels of Bacchus to be kept, full of all filth and wickedness. Old men, women, and virgins, such as would not leave the law of Moses, with cruel torments he murdered. The mothers that would not circumcise their children, he slew. The children
that were circumcised, he hanged up by the necks. The temple he spoiled and wasted. The altar of God, and the candlestick of gold, with the other ornaments and furniture of the temple, partly he cast out, partly he carried away. Contrary to the law of God, he caused them to offer and to eat swine’s flesh. Great murder and slaughter he made of the people, causing them either to leave their law, or to lose their lives. Among whom, besides many others, with cruel torments, he put to death a godly mother with her seven sons, sending his cruel proclamations through all the land, that whosoever kept the observances of the Sabbath, and other rites of the law, and refused to condescend to his abominations, should be executed: by reason whereof the city of Jerusalem was left void and desolate of all good men, but there were a great number who were contented to follow and obey his idolatrous proceedings, and to flatter with the king, and became enemies unto their brethren. Briefly, no kind of calamity, nor face of misery could be showed in any place, which was not there seen. Of the tyranny of this Antiochus it is historied at large in the book of Maccabees;
(1 Macc. 1) and Daniel, prophesying (Daniel 9) before of the same, declareth that the people of the Jews deserved no less for their sins and transgressions.
By consent of all writers, this Antiochus beareth a figure of the great Antichrist, who was to follow in the latter end of the world, and is already come, and worketh what he can against us. Although, as St. John saith, there have been, and be many Antichrists, as parts and members of the body of Antichrist, who are forerunners, yet, to speak of the head and principal Antichrist, and great enemy of Christ’s church, he is to come in the latter end of the world, at which time shall be such tribulation as never was seen before; whereby is meant, no doubt, the Turk, prefigured by this Antiochus.3 By this Antichrist I do also mean all such as, following the same doctrine of the Turks, think to be saved by their works and demerits, and not by their faith only in the Son of God, of what title and profession else soever they be; especially if they use the like force and violence for the same, as he doth, etc.
Of the tyranny of this Antiochus aforesaid, and of the tribulations of the church in the latter times, both of the Jews’ church, and also of the Christian church to come, let us hear and consider the words of Daniel in
the nineteenth, and also in his seventh chapter, prophesying of the same as followeth:
“He shall return, and fret against the holy covenant; so shall he do:
he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall, take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall set up the abominable desolation. And such as wickedly break the covenant, shall flatter with him deceitfully; but the people that do know their God, shall prevail and prosper. And they that understand among the people, shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by spoil, many days.
Now when they shall fall, they, shall be holpen with a little help, but many shall cleave unto them feignedly. And some of them of understanding shall fall to be tried, and to be purged, and to make them white, till the time be out: for there is a time appointed. And the king shall do what him listeth: he shall exalt himself and magnify himself against all that is God, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath be accomplished; for the determination is made. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desires of women, nor care for any God; for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his place shall he honor the god Mauzzin, and the god whom his fathers knew not, shall he honor with gold, and with silver, and with precious stones and pleasant things.
‘Thus shall he do in the holds of Mauzzim with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge; he shall increase his glory, and shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
And at the end of time shall the king of the south push at him, and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots and with horsemen, and with many ships, and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass through. He shall enter also into the pleasant land, and many countries shall be Overthrown; but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch
forth his hands also upon the countries, and the land of Egpyt shall not escape; but he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt, and of the Lybians, and of the black Moors where he shall pass. But the tidings out of the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go forth with great wrath, to destroy and root out many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas, in the glorious and holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.”
To this place of Daniel above prefixed, might also be added the prophecy of the said Daniel written in the seventh chapter, and much tending to the like effect; where he, treating of his vision of four beasts (which signify the four monarchies), and speaking now of the fourth monarchy, hath these words:
“After this, I saw in the visions by night, and behold the fourth beast was grim and horrible, and marvelous strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue under its feet; and it was unlike the other beasts that were before it, for it had ten horns. As I considered the horns, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked away. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking presumptuous things, and it seemed more stout than the others. Which horn also, when I looked on, made battle with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the Old Aged came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Highest, and till the appointed time was come, that the saints should have the kingdom.”
Thus have ye heard the plain words of Daniel; in which as he doth manifestly describe the coming of Antiochus, the great adversary, toward the latter end of the Jews; so by the same Antiochus is figured also to us the great adversary of Christ, who is the Turk.
Although some there be, notwithstanding, who, with great learning and judgment, do apply this place of Daniel above recited, not to the Turk, but rather to the pope; and that for six or seven special causes herein touched and noted.4