125. To this end, they will strive to make some rulers as bad as they would have them, to do their work, and to make the rest thought worse of than they are, that they may have a fair pretence for their treasons and usurpations; which was the case of all the writers, that plead for Pope Gregory the Seventh, against the German emperors; who took that advantage, to settle the cardinals' power of elections; and, in a council at Rome, to declare the pope to be above the emperor, and to have power to depose him: and as bad was done in the general council, at Lateran, under Innocent the Third. Can. 2, 3.
126. Concerning princes, I shall give you no prognostics but Christ's; that it will "be as hard for a rich man to enter into heaven, as for a camel to go through a needle's eye." And therefore, you may know what men the rich will be, in most countries of the world.
127. And the rich will be the rulers of the world; and it is meet it should be so: not that men should rule because they are rich, but they that rule should be rich; and not exposed to contempt, by a vulgar garb and state.
128. But some wise and good princes and magistrates God will raise up, to keep the interest of truth and justice from sinking in barbarousness, and diabolical wickedness.
129. And where princes and magistrates are bad, they will seldom do so much hurt as good, or prove very cruel, where the worldly and corrupt clergy do not animate and instigate them; their reason, their interest, and their experience will lead them, by man-like usage, to seek the people's love and quietness, and their kingdom's unity and strength. But bloody persecutions (such as that of the Waldenses, Piedmont lately, France, Ireland, Queen Mary's, &c.) are ordinarily the effects of clergy interest and zeal.
130. The grand design of the devil, through the world, will be to corrupt the two great ordinances of God, magistracy and ministry; and turn them both against Christ, who giveth them their power. The instances of his success, are most notorious in the Turkish empire, and the papal kingdom, called by them the catholic church; which Campanella, de Regno Dei, doth labour to prove, by all the prophecies cited by the millenarians, or fifth-monarchy men, to be the true universal kingdom of Christ; in which, by his vicar the pope, he shall reign over all the kings and kingdoms of the earth.
A
PROGNOSTICATION
OF THE
CHANGES THAT WILL BE IN CHRISTENDOM IN THE GOLDEN AGE,
AND
TIME OF TRUE REFORMATION AND UNITY.
1. Because it is made part of our prayers, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven;" and, "we look for a new heaven, and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." I hope their opinion is not true, who think that the earth shall still grow more and more like to hell, till the general conflagration turn it into hell, and make it the proper seat of the damned. Yet, lest this should prove true, I will place my chief hopes in heaven; remembering who said, "Sell all, and follow me, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven" (and not on earth). But supposing that ever the world will come to full reformation and concord, (of which I am uncertain, but do not despair of,) I proceed to my prognostics of the way.
2. God will stir up some happy king, or governor, in some country of christendom, endowed with wisdom and consideration; who shall discern the true nature of godliness and christianity, and the necessity and excellency of serious religion; and shall see what is the corruption and hinderance of it in the world; and shall place his honour and felicity in pleasing God, and doing good, and attaining everlasting happiness; and shall subject all worldly respects unto these high and glorious ends. And shall know, that wisdom, and godliness, and justice leave the most precious name on earth, and prepare for the most glorious reward in heaven: in comparison of which, all fleshly pomp and pleasure is dross and dung, and worthy of nothing but contempt.