759. 'And the merchants of the land have become rich through the abundance of her luxuries (delitiae)' signifies the greater and less in rank in that hierarchy, who by a dominion over holy things aspire to Divine majesty and more than regal glory, and continually aim to establish them by a multiplication of monasteries and the possessions under them, and by the treasures which without end they gather together and accumulate from the world, and thus procure for themselves bodily and natural delights and pleasures as a result of the attribution of heavenly and spiritual dominion to themselves. By 'the merchants' of Babylon no others can be understood than the greater and less in rank in their ecclesiastical hierarchy, because in verse 23 of this chapter it is said that they are 'the great ones of the land'; and by 'the abundance of luxuries' by which they 'have become rich' nothing else can be understood than the dogmas by which as means they procure for themselves a dominion over the souls of men, and thus also over their possessions and wealth. That they gather these together without end and fill up their treasuries with them is known; then also that they trade with the holy things of the Church, as that by offerings and gifts made to monasteries and to the saints and images thereof, and by masses, indulgences and various dispensations they sell salvation, that is, heaven. [2] Who is unable to see that if the papal dominion had not been broken at the time of the Reformation they would have scraped together the possessions and wealth of all the kingdoms in the whole of Europe, and that then they would have become the only lords, and all the rest slaves? Do they not have their principal wealth from the preceding ages, when they had authority over emperors and kings whom they could excommunicate and dethrone if they were not obedient? And do they not still have annual incomes that are immense, and treasuries full of gold, silver and precious stones? A like uncivilised dominion still possesses the minds (animus) of many of them, and it is restrained solely through the fear of its loss, if extended beyond limits. But of what use are such great incomes, treasures and possessions except that they may have delight and pride in them, and that they may strengthen their domination to eternity? From these considerations it can be established what is signified by 'the merchants of the land' who 'have become rich through the abundance of the luxuries' of Babylon. They are called 'merchants' also in Isaiah:-