THE MYSTERY OF THE VIALS OPENED: Being a short Exposition upon the pouring out of the four last VIALS, mentioned in the 16 Chapter of the REVELATION: Wherein divers things relating to times present, past, and to come, are discovered: As the ruin of ANTICHRIST, and the several degrees thereunto; And the shadowing out these times wherein we live, are generally surveyed.  
LONDON, Printed for John Sweeting at the Angel in Popes-head Alley, 1651.   

The Stationer to the Reader.  
READER,  
ALL that I have to say, is, That this brief Exposition of that Religious and Learned Divine Mr. Robert Parker, upon the pouring out of the four last Vials mentioned in the sixteen chap. of the Revelations, hath been for this many years (before the Palatinat was reduced to a field of blood) in the custody of Sir john Wray, to whose piety thou standest engaged for the publication: the Author was esteemed pious and learned, a Nonconformist to the Bishops. Happily he may differ in opinion from Mr. Brightman and other learned men, but that is no wonder; for they could not agree among themselves: I have done my part, the Copy was sent me to procure a passage into the Public, the which is performed; and by the way, that as the worthy Gentleman that gave me the Manuscript and the Imprimatur thought it worthy the printing; I cannot think otherway but that it deserves the buying.   

THE MYSTERY OF THE VIALS OPENED.  REVEL. 16.8, 9 
And the fourth Angel poured out his vial upon the Sun, and power was given him to scorch men with fire.  
And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repent not to give him glory.  
ALthough I am not worthy to be named with Mr. Brightman, yet I trust I may crave leave under correction, to differ from him, in the Exposition of this Vial. I prosecute his memory with all the benediction that is due to so great a light in the Church of God, and hold himself (for clearing this Apocalyps) the chief Angel of this Vial, in case it be meant of Protestant writers (as he would have it) making the Scriptures as clear as the Sun, to the confounding and tormenting of Papists; howbeit there be some reasons, that lead me to interpret it rather of the wasting of some Protestant Princes or Lutheran State not long hence to be accomplished, which I crave liberty to set down.  
1. The confounding and tormenting of Papists by the Scripture, is not a distinct particular event, as the event of this fourth Vial seems to be Distinct it is not, but the same with the plague of the first Vial, whose botch, what is it else but an ulcer of mind in Papists to see the growth of the Gospel, and fall of Popery, especially here at home in England by the death of Qu. Marry, and the succession of Qu. Eliz. to the crown? And again it is general, whereas the Vial is poured on the Sun a particular star in heaven, to note a plague on some special State of some true Church, or at least some Church disunited from Popery.  
2. The Sun being King amongst stars, Jer. 44.17. he fitly here defineth some King or State even as he doth elsewhere, so Jacob (the most heroical man in his days) is resembled by the Sun, Gen. 37. David, 2 Sam. 21.17. and Hezekiah King of Israel, 2 King. 20.9, 10. Who is the Angel standing in the Sun? Apoc. 19.17. out of doubt some great man in power and place; forasmuch as the writing of some bare Divines cannot so effectually draw People and Nations to join in war against the Pope; What is that darkening of the Sun? Apoc. 6.12. the fall of the persecuting Roman Empire, and the third part of the Sun smitten, Apoc. 8.12. is the wasting of Africa the third part of the world by the Vandals.  
3. In this fourth Vial the Sun himself is first plagued, which cannot be meant of the Scripture, for the text doth say as directly that the fourth Angel doth pour his Vial on the Sun, as the fift doth pour his Vial on the throne of the beast, by which Rome's ruin is foreshowed: Howbeit the Sun not extinguished by this Vial but only distempered to scorch with heat, doth seem to employ that the plague of this Prince or State shall not cast them down so much, as irritate and stir them up to a heat of revenge, laying waste the men that did hurt them.  
4. The men here plagued are not only Papists, for whereas it is added to them in the first Vial by way of restraint, that the sore fell upon them which had the mark of the beast and who worshipped his image; here is no such limitation; it is only said in general, power was given to the Sun to torment men, viz. men of the same heaven where the Sun shineth, viz. men in that visible Church where this Prince or State doth govern: Nevertheless there is hope given that the godly of this Church shall escape in that that being said of the plagued, they gave not glory to God; there is probability that this judgement shall only light on the Papists, or at the least, chief, and wicked men mingled with this Estate and Church, who before had no care of God's glory or the Gospel's good, but only sought their own glory, wealth and pleasures.  
5. The plague here described is not only by heat, which yet were sufficient to uphold the allusion of the Sun, but also by fire; this maketh me conjecture that this Prince or State shall lay desolate by fire and burning more than by sword, God girding him or them with such power, as that they shall not need to fight many battles; neither ought it to seem strange, that fire here meant laying all things waste should literally be meant, seeing the Angel that hath power over this fire, Apoc. 14.18. is Cranmer triumphing in the fire of Martyrdom; & the burning of the flesh of the Whore, is the sacking of Rome, Apoc. 17.16. so the Angel of the Waters in the 5 th'. vers. going before, resembleth the States of the Low Germany seated in a watery Country.  
6. The effect of this plague in the wicked is boiling in heat, and gnawing of their tongues, and blaspheming the name of God, which contain more than an inward rage of Papists, for the confounding of their Religion by the Scriptures; they must needs show wellnear such a ruin of State as the ruin of Rome comes to: forasmuch as great a plague is described here as in the first Vial, and that in the same terms and words, as appeareth by comparing the 9 vers. with the 11 following: add to this, that the plague of this Vial is uttered in the plural number, they blasphemed the name of God over these plagues, as if it contained many confusions in it; and this answereth to the justice of God, who beginneth judgement at his own house, and at them who make profession to be of his household. By this Revelation the Pope shall be destroyed before the Turk, because he professed Christianity, which the Turks did not. In like manner before God destroy the Pope, he shall pour out his Vial on some Protestant or Lutheran Church which made profession of the Gospel against Popery, but obeyed it not: by this means it shall come to pass what was done of old; then God afflicted Jewry his own Church, before he destroyed the earthly Babylon; now he shall punish one of his own Churches, before he proceed against Rome the spiritual Babylon.  
7. I conjecture, that this Sun of the fourth Vial punishing a rebellious Church, and the Angel of the fifth Vial sacking Rome, is all one and the same: First, because the fifth Vial is immediately adjoined and expressed with the very same terms, which probably induceth to think that it shall be wrought by the same means: this conjecture is helped by this, that the rebelling against the Sun of the fourth Vial, shall be procured by the Pope and Papist, which shall be in case that this Sun, so soon as he hath subdued his domestical enemies, shall address himself to an Expedition against Rome: Secondly, the ruin of Rome ariseth from a wilderness, Apoc. 17.3. First, as I conjecture, out of the same Country laid waste like a wilderness. This Country must be the State wasted by the Sun of the fourth Vial, for we have no Prophecy of any other State to be laid waste, immediately before Rome's sacking, but only of that: now that John's carrying into the wilderness to see the ruin of Rome, doth show that Rome's ruin shall arise out of a land, brought to a wilderness, may thus appear. Wherefore is John set on the sea shore, Apoc. 12.18. when he is to see the rising of the Beast, but because of the beasts rising out of the sea, ergo, in that John Apoc. 17.3. is placed in a wilderness to see Rome's ruin, it is a sign that Rome's ruin shall rise out of some Country reduced to a wilderness. So when john is to see the beauty of the jewish Church, he is carried to a great high mountain to see it. Apoc. 21.10. i e. because his Church shall be set up on high like to a mountain, Isa. 22.3. This is the description of him which sacketh Rome, Apoc. 18.1. I saw a great Angel come down from heaven, having great power, so that the earth was enlightened with his glory, which agreeth with the Sun of this fourth Vial: he cometh down from heaven; First, suddenly beyond all expectation of man; Secondly, the Sun of the fourth Vial ariseth suddenly out of his plague, when the world thought he could never have recovered, he hath great power given him, this is the power of the Sun of the fourth Vial, both by glory of conquering, and the wealth of the conquered, which he shall get into his hands: he hath light and brightness, which what is it else but the Sun of the fourth Vial his light and brightness? Lastly, he replenisheth the earth with his glory; which implieth the great admiration of the world, and the astonishment of Papists and earthly men; when they shall see the Sun of the fourth Vial arise so extraordinarily out of his plague. Fourthly, and last of all, Apoc. 17.16. it is said, that the ten horns shall sack Rome: and who shall the States of Christendom sooner choose for their General or proclaim their Emperor against Rome, than he that hath been plagued by Papists, and enraged against them, and furnished with greatest authority, power and wealth to subdue them?  
Thus have I presumed to deliver my conjecture concerning this fourth Vial; I say conjecture, because it cannot certainly be known, till it be executed: Nevertheless, because the time thereof approacheth it becometh every Christian man to strive by prayer, meditation, study, and all other means for some understanding of it, considering that he hath not writ this prophecy only to instruct us when it is past, but also to forewarn us even aforehand.  
The Revealer of secrets that unsealed this book to John, open unto us the mystery of it, that we may foresee the evil that is to come, and hid ourselves from it: as also keep ourselves pure from offences against our Sun, lest we partake of the plagues which this Vial doth denounce against all such transgressions. To God only wise be honour and glory for ever, Amen.   

Mr. Parker his Meditations of the Reign of ANTICHRIST, and of several degrees thereunto. OR, A short and general Survey of the three last VIALS, in all probabilities no less plainly then admirably shadowing out these times wherein we live, out of REVEL. 6.10.  
THE extraordinary accidents that happen within the christian world in these our days being without doubt pointed at in that prophetical history of the Revelation, cannot but enforce a serious musing of the period of these combustions, the truth of which the event will admirably discover, being though somewhat darkly shadowed forth in this Chapter; The desire of the true meaning whereof have made these thoughts legible. You have heard in the opening of the fourth Vial, a preparation towards Rome's ruin; the Vial poured upon the sun, i. e. some sharp calamity and affliction falling upon some Protestant or Lutheran Prince, assuredly some State disunited from Popery. This Sun recovering himself from his plague, which may last for some years in all probability, not above ten, shall make an expedition against his oppressors, scorching the popelings with the heat of misery in the fury of anger. And thus far goes the fourth Vial.  
This Sun or Prince being recovered from his plague; thinks that not a sufficient revenge to devour and burn the inferior members of the adverse party, intendeth an expedition, prepareth a war against the head, the abettors and setters on of the inflictors of his plague, which is plainly shadowed out by the fift Vial, as you shall hear.  
And the fift Angel poured out his Vial on the throne of the Beast, and his Kingdom was full of darkness.  
Here is a more direct striking at the head, then in the former Vial, for in other things there is a great resemblance betwixt these two Vials, they both exercise their extremity against men, they both cause blaspheming of God in their adversaries, which doth strongly confirm the conjecture that you heard of in the former Vial, that the Sun of the fourth Vial, and the Angel of the fifth Vial is all one and the same man, in a double warlike expedition; for first, having the Vial poured upon himself, he lies for a certain time hidden and obscured, as though his light and heat had been utterly darkened, and cooled; and rising out of his misery, he shall scorch some petty Armies with the heat of his anger, perhaps overcoming that Army, that before gave him the foil, spoiling those neighbour territories that had made a prey of his, during his darkness, and lying in his plague, which shall cause his adversaries to fret, and curse, and ban, that a half dead man should thus strangely arise, and to their everlasting shame and overthrow become potent: But now coming to a higher pitch, attended with greater strength, shall cast his thoughts upon higher things, the effecting of greater matters, even the overthrow of the head of rebels, the Antichristian beast, the Romish whore. We see then who this fift Angel is: In all likelihood, some Prince or State an enemy to Popery, recovering health after a long sickness, peace after many troubles, and strength after great weakness, whereinto he was cast, by the cruel tyranny of the beasts members. Having thus found out the party, let us look upon his work: he pours saith the text, his Vial upon the throne of the beast; the preparatives thus far fitly concurring, viz. Rome's destroyer, being set on his feet, and made Master of his domestical enemies, he sends a defiance against the head, and pours out his wrath upon the principal; And here I must crave leave to differ again in my conjecture from the sun of this age Mr. Brightman, as I shall do in all these three last Vials, and that not without reason, as in the opening of them shall appear. For whereas Mr. Brightman doth put a full period to Antichrist his reign in this fifth Vial; I cannot see how that can be, forasmuch as there follows in the next Vial things which must necessarily precede Rome's ruin. We may therefore with more reason, and no derogation of praise due to so worthy a lamp, refer its desolation to the seventh Vial, & make this a more near and clear preparative thereunto. This Angel then bearing an inward hatred to the Whore, shall use all means to dethrone her from her chair of State, to eclipse her glory, to darken her brightness; but not daring as yet to meddle with the head and principal parts, he shall clip her wings that she dare not sore too high, put bounds to her Dominions, dispossess her of some parts of her Kingdoms, for in that it is said her Kingdom was darkened, or did wax dark, not was overthrown; it is plain that this is only an abridging her of her large morsels, obscuring her brightness, pulling some fair feathers out of her proud train, making her to view her black legs, the baseness of her rising, that she shall not dare to vaunt herself as the prime darlings amongst the sons of the Children of Pride: This makes me conjecture that this Angel, this Prince or State shall get some of the temporal Kingdoms of Antichrist out of the claws of this Beast to himself; whereby the extent of her rule shall be straightened: And if I should think that this Angel of the fift Vial (being that same afflicted Sun in the fourth Vial) shall be elected the head of the ten horns that shall sack Rome, of whom we will speak more in the next Vial; the resemblance that is between the probable events of this election, and the effects of this Vial will warrant the conjecture; for weigh them a little; First, if this Angel be chosen Head or Emperor, in all likelihood, nay without all doubt he will scorn to receive the Imperial Crown from the paw of the Beast, who is his mortal enemy; and is not this a shroud darkness to the Beasts vainglorious authority; for without controversy, the Romish Beast doth glory in nothing more than this, that she hath power to set up, and to pull down, to enthrone and dethrone, to crown and uncrown Emperors and Kings at her pleasure, which power all her Worshippers and Flatterers do give her, as is plain in their writings to be seen: Now than this juggling deceit of hers, or rather tyrannical usurpation of authority over the German Emperors, being discovered and dispelled, neglected and contemned, her esteem will be much diminished, her reputation blemished, her brightness obscured, her vain threats, and childish thunderbolts of Excommunication derided; and may not this loss of crowning Kings be well said to be a darkening of her Kingdom?  
Moreover, add hereunto a second degree of darkness: This Angel being chosen Emperor and Head, shall in his own person, or be a means that he that is the Head shall wring the whole Germane Empire out of this Beasts clutches; for there is no likelihood, but that he that in despite of the Beast is recovered out of his plague, shall to spite the Beast draw all his own subjects from the obedience of this Antichristian tyrant, which thing being such a wide gap into the Beasts power, may well be called a darkening of his Kingdom; and in these two things especially the Emperors refusing to be crowned, or to receive his Dominion from the Pope, and the wresting, or rather freeing of the whole German Empire from Popish slavery, shall the working of the fifth Vial be accomplished; for still remember, that this Angel at this time shall darken, not overturn the Kingdom of the beast (which thing Mr. Brightman in part did see) it being as clear as the sun, that the darkening of the Beasts Kingdom, implies a declination, not a desolation, a falling a tanto, not a toto, an eclipsing of her glorious lustre, not an extinguishing of her whole body: Neither need this to move any doubt; because the Vial is poured upon the seat or throne of the Beast which is Rome, and therefore ought we to expect the accomplishment of this Vial on that City. For I answer it is plain, and our usual manner of speech to call the whole Kingdom the throne of the King, or the seat of the Governor; and so the throne of Antichrist is every where, where he is esteemed and worshipped; for though this Angel shall have a good mind to be meddling with the Beasts person, and in all likelihood he, or some of his shall be the seventh Angel that shall make an end of her, yet shall he not in the time of this fifth Vial dare to attempt so high a design, but shall for a while content himself to have freed himself and his Empire from the slavish bondage of Romish tyranny, deferring his expedition against Rome, and the Beast, until that potent, proper, and mighty upholder, of their ruinous and tottering estate shall be broken and removed, which the sixth angel shall ere long discover and take away, as in the opening of that shall appear.  
You have seen this angel and his Vial; now let us look what follows upon this, how the Beast and his followers take this blow, for surely such a great blemish cannot but move them, at least to some passionate behaviour against their oppressor; now this effect is the same that followed the scorching of the Sun in the fourth Vial, that differs only in degree, for the nearer the blow comes to the head, and the more eminent that the expedition of this (not long since forlorn man) is, the more is their pain, the greater is their rage; for if they did blaspheme God when the Sun did but scorch the base, and meanest pillars in the Pope's Church: What will they do now when he comes to take away the main pillar whereupon the building of Popery hangs, and the corner stone in their church? Why, the text shows, They gnawed their tongues for pains. These are the Beasts attendants; before they vented their discontent against God in more mild sort; but now they are even mad with rage, and like mad men they tear their own flesh.  
The Beasts friends and followers shall be so astonished at this wonderful alteration, that because they shall want power to give their fury vent against their enemies, they shall wreak that upon themselves, at the consideration of this sudden and unexpected accident; and certainly this is more than probable, that the popelings shall be in this raging fit of madness, at this so extraordinary darkening of their Kingdom; for as they exulting over, and trampling upon this Sun, this afflicted State in time of his plague did falsely and fond flatter themselves with dreams of perpetual rest, because the hater of their tyranny was suppressed; even so, they seeing this worm (for so he was in their conceits) lift up his head against his adversaries, shall be moved; but when they see him confront their authority, enforce their swelling waves to keep within their own channel; Oh than they shall be enraged. The darkening of their Kingdom doth much move them; but that it should be darkened by this State, this beyond measure sets them on fire; here is blaspheming, cursing, gnawing, What not? for assuredly, this so sudden, unlooked for, strange increase of this angel, shall gall at the very heart all the swarms of Monks, Friars, Jesuits, Cardinals, and the rest of the rabble of this Antichristian crew: For this darkening of their Kingdom is such a pain and sore to them (for these words the Holyghost gives it) as nothing can be greater, and well it may when all the pains that they have taken in masking Antichrist, and covering him under the veil of their Inventions shall be proved but smoke. But what, doth this discovery of their falsities, these pains drive them to the truth? Nay saith the Spirit, both in the former and in this Vial, they repent not, etc. Whence I conjecture, that few or none, in respect of the generality of the grand and head Papists, not many of the Beasts followers shall be drawn out of their wilful blindness in the damnation of this Romish where, but shall receive their reward at one hour, in one manner with the Beast.  
Thus have we in spite of the Beast, and without his consent, enthroned this angel in his place appointed, from which he shall never descend, till he hath executed against Rome the judgement that is written: for yet a little while and their destruction shall come as an armed man; which cannot be, till that which upholdeth her be taken out of the way, which the sixth angel with his Vial will speedily do; Thus far the fifth Vial.   
VER. 12. 
And the sixth Angel poured out his Vial upon the great River Euphrates and the water thereof was dried up.  
We mentioned in the former Vial, a certain potent prop that did uphold the Beast, and kept the fift angel a while from bringing a final desolation to the Romish Beast, which obstacle, both what it was, and the means of its removal, we have here plainly discovered.  
And here though I take Mr. Brightman to be under God a principal angel in this Vial also, in case it be meant of the conversion of the Jews as he would have it, in that he hath set the pens, tongues, and hearts of many on work, in the opening of this opinion, which is so plainly and firmly grounded on the Word of God, that I think it impossible to be infringed, and do also without all question believe it shall be effected in its time; yet notwithstanding, I neither do nor can think that this eminent work was aimed at any whit at all in this verse; my reasons are these:  
First, this drying up of Euphrates comes in the time of Rome's declination, but before her final desolation, but the man of Sin shall be utterly abolished, at the brightness of Christ's coming to call the Jews.  
Secondly, the end of this Rivers drying up, is to make a way for the Kings of the East; implying, that these Kings shall come up all one way together, about one business; and the original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, the way, imports as much, which way was barred up to all these Eastern Princes alike, by the current of this River: but the Jews shall be converted from all the four winds; so that this River can only hinder one part of them, What comfort can the Western Jews have from hence?  
Thirdly, the conversion of the Jews is described in whole Chapters afterwards; it is not likely than the Spirit of God would either include that so briefly and darkly here, which in more words he doth plainly open afterwards, or that he would insert it here in the midst of the Vials, and after without any method come back again: I rather think that from hence to the end of Revelation is an orderly and methodical description of things that shall happen to the end of the world, some few digressions only excepted.  
Fourthly, if the conversion of the Jews be here meant, then is the drying up of Euphrates literally meant, which is not usual in this book, especially in such passages of note and eminency; to say nothing of this, that the truth of this miracle hath no sure foundation I think in the Book of God, but only some prophetical allusions, and the prophecy of the counterfeit Esdras in the Apocrypha.  
This interpretation therefore not holding water, we must see for some other;  
I conjecture then by the drying up of Euphrates is understood the removal of that obstacle which is an impediment to the Expedition of the fifth angel against the Beast himself: Now what this impediment was, we shall find out, if we seriously consider the thing itself under which it is shadowed.  
What is then Euphrates? for this being once known, we shall the more easily gather who shall be this angel that pours out his Vial upon Euphrates.  
Euphrates then is a River (to say so much of it as concerns our purpose) in Caldea that runs through that great City Babylon, and performs to that City a double office, the one of maintenance, for upon that River is brought all kind of merchandise, whereby the State of the City is upheld, the other of defence, being as a wall to the City, and a sure safeguard to the Citizens, insomuch that the inhabitants had a certain confidence (which for the sure belief thereof some have termed a Prophecy) that they should never be overcome till the River prove their enemy.  
Now when Cyrus' King of Persia came against the City, and besieged it a long time, but in vain, he did by divers new made channels divert the course of the water, and through the old channel being now made dry, he entered the City, and got Babylon; and so was their confidence or Prophecy made true, the River became their enemy, and made a way for this Persian Prince.  
Thus we see what Euphrates was, by which we may be warranted to think, that by Euphrates here is meant some State or Kingdom, which is to Rome as Euphrates was to Babylon, a supporter and defence: Now when I thought of all the States and Princes in this Western world, I see none a greater supporter to the seat of Antichrist, or more stands for him, then doth the Catholic King (as the Popelings call him) I conjecture therefore, that by Euphrates in this verse is meant the Kingdom and State of the King of Spain, for do but weigh them, and you shall see how fully they agree.  
First, Euphrates is a great River in Caldea, and Spain is a great Kingdom in Europa.  
Secondly, Euphrates did convey maintenance to Babylon, and so did uphold the City, and it is notoriously remarkable, that Spain is the sole nourisher and upholder of the Popish Kingdom.  
Thirdly, Euphrates was a defence to Babylon, and who knows not that the Beast of Rome doth acknowledge the Spanish forces to be the only supporters of his credit, the bar that keeps his enemies from trampling his triple crown in the dust.  
Fourthly, Babylon could not be won, nor Cyrus have any way into that City, till the water of this River was dried up, and may we not well think, that the only cause that stays the fift Angel, and other Eastern Princes from an Expedition against Rome, is the power of Spain, for they shall stand waiting till this current of supportation that runs from Spain to Rome be dried up, and Spain enforced to bestow their strength elsewhere, perhaps in their own defence.  
But who shall be this sixth Angel that shall pour his Vial upon Euphrates? Why surely I think this will give a great probability to my former conjecture; To pour out the Vial, in all this Revelation, doth signify to lay affliction upon, and bring misery unto, and most usually the plague of War; some Prince therefore, or State shall fall at odds with Spain, and hold her play at home, that she shall not attend to secure her ancient friend, the Beast, and his followers.  
And if I should think that this State or sixth Angel shall be the Kingdom of England, or the Low countries, or both jointly with their friends; one peradventure would think it unlikely, and yet the next age, or perhaps this will (it may he) make it appear, that they shall have a principal hand in pouring out this sixth Vial.  
But who are those Eastern Kings whose way by this means shall be prepared, and what is this preparation of their way to do?  
I answer, Even the same men, that are afterwards called the Ten horns prepared in a readiness to sack Rome, who are both here and there called Kings; and yet chap. 17. are said to have no crowns, which in my conceit doth most admirably shadow out the Germane Princes, every of which is an absolute Prince in his own territory, and therefore may well be called a King, yet are not crowned; they have not the name of Kings, but have a head, as these horns had, which bears the crown, the name over them all, even the Emperor, which at this time shall be Angel of the fifth Vial; for these Princes and their head is it, that this way is prepared; for they seeing that Rome's Euphrates, her supporter is dried up, shall presently join in an Expedition, which shall be the final desolation of this purple Whore, we see now the meaning.  
The sixth Angel poured out his Vial upon Euphrates, and the waters thereof were dried up, that the ways of the Kings of the East, might be prepared, i. e. England, or the Low countries, or some other Prince enemy to Spain, doth fall at odds with Spain, by which Spain is enforced to employ his forces for his own defence, and suffereth his aid, which he was used to send to Rome's help to be dried up; which occasion the German Princes, and their Head laying hold upon, and finding their way fitly prepared, because Rome is now left destitute of foreign help, execute that for which they were kept to be ready at a day or an hour, when the Lord should call; where by the way we may note, how the Lord makes all things admirably concur to his own ends. The Jars betwixt this sixth Angel and Euphrates is for this end, to make a way open for the German Princes to sack Rome; Whereupon I conjecture and verily think, that all the troubles that shall happen in this Western world in these times, are only to make way, for the ruin of Rome, upon whose head, and in whose ruin they shall at the last all fall and end now: let us in a word look upon that which follows.  
And I saw three unclean spirits, etc. That which remains of this Vial in the three next verses is only thus much: That the Pope perceiving his estate to decline, his Kingdom and authority to totter, himself left destitute and forsaken of his dearest and only son the King of Spain, his fierce enemies now, sometimes his vassals, plotting, imagining, affecting his overthrow, shall by the instigation of the great dragon, the devil, and the persuasion of the false Prophets his flattering crew of Cardinals, Friars, and the rest of that Antichristian building, send forth his croaking Jesuits, who shall by their crafty subtleness go forth unto the Kings of the earth, incite and stir them up to take in hand the defence of their master Antichrist, whose ruin then is coming, and shall fall unexspectedly and suddenly upon him, as by that sudden digression and exclamation, Behold I come as a thief, etc. may be gathered; when these frogs have gathered what Kings they can together, by whose strength their master this beast expects a restauration, at least a prolongation of his former glory, he shall unlooked for receive his fatal wound, which shall make him irrecoverably expire; for then,  
Vers. 17. The seventh Angel pours out his Vial upon the air, and a great voice comes forth of the Temple, saying, It is done, etc. Here is the utter desolation of Rome, and the tyranny thereof presaged, and not of Constantinople, which shall come to his final period in the overthrow of Gog, not now; In the mean space let us with our prayers cry mightily unto God, that this Man of Sin may not long oppress;  
Which God grant.  
FINIS.