Rev. xvii. 16, the kings’ hating of the whore, discussed.
Peace. I shall propose the last scripture much insisted on by many for carnal weapons in spiritual cases, Rev. xvii. 16, The ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her with fire.
Truth. Not to controvert with some, whether or no the beast be yet risen and extant:—
Nor secondly, whether either the beast, or the horns, or the whore, may be taken literally for any corporal beast or whore:—
Or thirdly, whether these ten horns be punctually and exactly ten kings:—
Or fourthly, whether those ten horns signify those many kings, kingdoms, and governments, who have bowed down to the pope’s yoke, and have committed fornication with that great whore the church of Rome:—
Let this last be admitted, (which yet will cost some work to clear against all opposites): yet,—
First, can the time be now clearly demonstrated to be come? &c.
Secondly, how will it be proved, that this hatred of this whore, shall be a true, chaste, Christian hatred against anti-christian, whorish practices? &c.
Thirdly, or rather that this hating, and desolating, and making naked, and burning shall arise, not by way of an ordinance warranted by the institution of Christ Jesus, but by way of providence, when, as it useth to be with all whores and their lovers, the church of Rome and her great lovers shall fall out, and by the righteous vengeance of God upon her, drunk with the blood of saints or holy ones, these mighty fornicators shall turn their love into hatred, which hatred shall make her a poor, desolate, naked whore, torn and consumed, &c.