A DISCOVERIE OF THE BEASTS Being AN EXPOSITION OF THE XIII Chapter of the Revelation of JESUS CHRIST Wherein All true Christians yet in Babylon are admonished to come out And the Anti-christians fore-told what their plagues will be By I. W. Revel 16. 15. Behold I come as a thiefe blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments lest he walke naked and they see his shame Printed in the year M. DC XLI CHRISTIAN READER AMong the many excellent helps which the Lord at this present time hath given unto his Elect for to discover the Mystery of Iniquity and to direct them in the way which Ieadeth to eternall life this little Treatise is a choice and chiefe one Thou art therefore desired to peruse the same with an understanding and impartiall heart and so doing I doubt not through Gods blessing on they labor but thou shalt reap much comfort and good thereby I have set it forth for the publike good and do desire the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ that it may prove so every where even a means to raze down the false Churches and to help forward the buildlng up of Gods House And so prayes he who is thine if thou be Christs I C. AN INTERPRETATION OF THE XIII CHAPTER OF THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST THe Eternall whose power is over all from the beginning hath put enmitie between the Serpent and the Woman Gent. 3 15. and between the seed of the Woman and the seed of the Serpent whereupon it hath come to passe in all ages that the seed of the woman hath laboured to break the Serpents head that is to destroy his works tread him under foot and triumph in victory over him He on the contrarie hath laboured as earnestly to resist God to deceive the Nations and to bring all into condemnation and destruction with with himself And amongst the manifold waies and means which Satan hath devised and practised to manifest his malice against God and his Saints none hath been more dangerous nor more availeable to further iniquity and cause destruction then the Antichristian generation which under the title of the Church and Spouse of Christ and Ministers of the Gospell have corrupted the earth and brought the Nations into miserable bondage and slaverie In this 13 Chapter is declared the state policy and proceeding of the Antichristian Dominion and Kingdom as the same was signified and foreshewed to Iohn the servant of Jesus Christ in a threefold forme First by a Beast rising up out of the Sea having 7 heads and 10 hors ver 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Secondly by a Beast comming up out of the earth having two hoâ—â—es like the Lamb but spake like the Dragon vers 11 12 13 14 Thirdly by an image of the first beast which the second beast caused them that dwelt on the earth to make as in vers 14 15 16 17 18. As the Dominion of the Medes Persians and Grecians which persecuted and destroyed the holy people of God the Iews were signified and foreshewed to Daniel in a vision under the formes of severall beasts according to the qualities of those Dominions so here the Antichristian dominion which persecuted the Churches and people of Christ was foreshewed to Iohn under the formes of such Beasts as are here described whereby we may learne that as reason and judgement is not to be expected in a beast so equitie and right is not to be expected in this dominion but the contrarie Concerning the first of these beasts John sayth That as I stood upon the sea sand I saw a beast rise up out of the sea hauing seven heads and 10 hornes and upon his hornes 10. Crownes and upon his heads the names of blasphemy And the beast which I saw was like unto a Leopard and his feet as the feet of a Beare and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion and the dragon gaue him his power and his seat and great authoritie That by this first beast was signified and represented some state of people and body politique I presume no reasonable man exercised in the Scriptures will deny because as it hath been sayd it is there to be seene that such states and dominions as God hath used as rods and scourges to chastise and correct his Church and people withall have been represented by beasts States and dominions they are of two sorts either Ecclesiastical or Civil but of which sort the State here meant is there hath been and is great opposition Many understand it to be the Romane Empire to which I cannot consent because the Romane Empire is ordeyned of God and is therefore a lawfull Dominion But the Dominion here represented is sayd to be from the dragon that old serpent the Deuill who is sayd to giue his power and his throne and great authoritie unto it and therefore unlawfull neither can I conceave it to be any other ciuil dominion for the same reason But to be short I vnderstand it to be an Ecclesiasticall State or Dominion and in perticular that Dominion which is called the Catholike Church representatiue consisting of the Prelacy and Preisthood of many Nations as Patriarches Cardinalls Archbishops Bishops with divers other elected persons who being called and gathered into Counsells or Synods usually called generall Counsells did usurpe and take on them the office of Iesus Christ in making lawes and Canons erecting Courts instituting offices and officers in matters of Religion as for the government of the Church and for the worship of God to be of all men observed and obeyed These generall Counsels or as the Catholicks call it the Catholicke Church representatiue haue challenged and exercised spirituall authoritie and dominion According to the text ouer all kindreds tongus and nations By their laws and canons they guided and governed them as one uniuersall or Catholicke Church made them also to observe their decrees and commaundements for doctrine this thay haue done both before and also since the Pope was exalted to his dignitie as all histories of the Church do testify So that it hath been and is a great question among the Catholicks whither the authoritie of the Pope or the Catholick Church in cases of Religion be the greater And whereas it is said in the 12. verse that the second beast exercised all the power of the first Beast before him thereby is confirmed the trueth of this exposition For the second Beast being the Pope as hereafter is shewed hath exercised the whole power of the Catholick Church or generall counsels and not of any other state or Dominion Further that this is the first beast here presented that which followeth through Gods helpe shall make manifest and apparant But before I doe proceed I desire the reader to observe that I do not condemne all vse of counsells and Synods but doe hold that divers churches may lawfully be assembled together to consult and advise of matters concerning Religion and the worship of God for their
held Canonicall and those that contradicted the same were therefore cast out and condemned as Heretikes This was the manner and the occasion of the rising of this Beast out of this turbulent Sea And here by the way observe 〈◊〉 1.17 That every good giving and perfect gift is from above from the Father of lights But this Beast is from the Sea beneath not from above and therefore not belonging to the kingdome of Christ But an adversary and enimie thereof Of this Beast it is said that he had 7 heads a thing which is monstrous in nature And therefore by this wasforeshewed that the dominion represented by this beast should be a monstrous dominion Concerning these heads let this be considered That the whole state or society of the Antichristian Sea is of two sorts of people the one sort they call the Cleargie the other sort the Layetie Of these the Cleargie are as heads and guides to direct and go before and the Laietie as the body or rather the tayle to follow after Again by the same policy their Cleargie are sorted into seven orders or degrees namely to speake in their language 1. Iamtores sets ostiarij 2. Lectares 3. Exorcistie 4. Acolithi 5. Subdiaconi 6. Diaconi 7. Sacerdotes These are the seven orders of the Antichristian Cleargie As for Popes Cardinals Patriarches Arch-bishops Bishops Arch-deacous c. they are titles of Dignity and not of order For the Pope is but a Priest concerning his orders and when he stands at the Altar and faith Masse he doth that as Priest and not as a Pope and so of all other degrees This considered it may well bee said of the Anti-christian Synagogue and State that it is as a Monster with seven heads As for the Ministers which God hath ordained to be in his Church they are first Apostles secondly Prophets thirdly Teachers c. 1 Cor. 12.28 c. See also Rom. 12.6 7 1. Eph. 4 11 12 13. And these onely were given for the gathering together of the Saints for the work of the Ministery and for the edification of the body of Christ. Not some to have a bunch of Keys with a charge of the doors of this or that Temple or Cathedrall Church Another to have a book to read to the people things which neither he nor they did understand A third to have a Book of Conjurations or Charmes with charge to read them or say by heart to such as were distracted of their wits or possessed with Divels and to put their hands upon them A fourth to have a Taper or Wax-candle with a Candlestick to carry before the Priests and Deacons in doing their service A fift to recive of the people oblations and offerings and to deliver them to the Deacon to carry to the Altar to read the Epistle and to stand by the Preist while he was saying the Masse A sixth to be the Bishops spie and intelligencer to informe him of such as be irregular and observe not their orders to read the Gospell attend the Priest at the Altar c. A seventh to consecrate the Hoast as they call it and then to offer it as a sacrifice propitiatory for the quick and dead These are not they which God hath given to be in the Church But these are they whereof the Antichristian Cleargie consisteth for whosoever is one of that Cleargie is one of these seven orders be he Pope Prelate or else whatsoever and to note and foreshew this point of policy this Beast which IOHN saw had seven heads If any shall thinke this to be a vaine frivolous and strange interpretation to understand by the seven heads of the Beast these seven order of the Cleargie as thinking those heads to betoken things of greater note and importance Let such consider what account and reckoning is made of such persons as have received the Sacraments of Orders and holy tonsure in the kingdome of the Beast and they shall finde the interpretation not impertinent but very agreeable For a time there was since the writing of this prophesie Vide Concil Matisconen secundum Can. 9.10 when the meanest shrimp that was within these holy Orders as they call them was held to be of that dignity that the chiefest and worthiest secular Iudge in a Kingdom was held unworthy to judge or censure them for any trespasse or fact how notorious wicked and manifest soever because they had received holy Tonsure and were thereby consecrated and set apart unto God to be his portion and heritage and to pray for the people and therefore were exempted from all secular jurisdiction and power such was their dignity accounted to be and still is where that kingdom prevaileth and hath the dominion yea ever in this Land that quarrell hath cost the King his Crown as it is to be seene in the Histories of the Reign of King IOHN and not his Crown onely but his life also Now if the meanest of them be above the dominion of any King or secular Iudge and secular Iudges be the heads of the people whom God hath appointed to beare rule over them well may these be said to be as heads in the kingdom of the Beast wherein these shavelings are holden to be so holy and high in dignity and degree As this Beast which Iohn saw had seven heads so likewise it had ten hornes whereby was foreshewed that as the Kings of the Medes and Persians were shewed and represented to Daniel by the two hornes of the Beast which he saw in his vision so the Kings of many Kingdomes should be as garders and defenders of the Antichristian kingdom and state And that this Scripture hath been fulfilled to the uttermost by the Kings of the Nations is so manifest that none can be ignorant of it that are of judgement and experience And it was just with the Lord to make the Kings of the earth vassals to this Beast because they received not the love of the truth but took pleasure in urighteousnesse they would not forsake their sins to live godlily righteously and soberly as all must do that will attaine salvation but they would live after their lusts and for their sins they would make satisfaction by building of Churches and Monasteries c. and endowing them with Lands Rents and other Revenews by means whereof those which traded like Merchants in those many waters the kingdom of the Beast grew rich and wealthy and became the great men of the earth Furthermore John faith of the Beast that he saw that it was like a Leopard c. By the resemblance and likenesse of a Leopard was signified that this Beast should be foule and full of spots as is shewed in the 18 Chapter Babylon is become the habitation of Divels and the hold of foule spirits and the Cage of every unclean and hatefull Bird. The filthinesse of this Beast is apparant in that he doth by force and Armes compell all sorts of wicked and ungodly people to be of his
society and refuseth none but the godly therefore fitly was he thus prefigured Secondly by the quallity and disposition of the Leopard was signified that this Generation should be subtile and crafty in getting their prey They boast themselves to be the Church and Spouse of Christ but if it be so whence then had they that infinite store and abundance of worldly wealth and riches wherewith they exceed in deliciousnesse of living This was not the condition of Christ and his Disciples the Lord himselfe had not whereon to lay his head but in that respect was more destitute then Foxes which have holes and then Birds which have nests his Disciples wanted gold and silver and had no certaine dwelling place whence therefore had this Generation their Lands Livings and Lordships Their Castles Mannors Houses and Princely Palaces It will be said of the donation and gift of Emperours Kings and other great States and of the charitable devotion of all sorte of people But how were people brought to be so full handed to this generation To bring this about much slight craft and nimblenesse of with was used first people were made to believe that what they gave to the Church was to the maintenance of the Ministery of the Gospell and for the comfort and reliefe of the poore and therefore should be a sacrifice so well pleasing to God and meritorious as that it should receive great reward at his hands herewith the mindes of religious and devout people was so much moved that they thought nothing too much to give to the Church by means whereof Churches began to grow rich Secondly people were made to believe that the worshiping of Images and Relicks of Saints and building of Churches Chappels Oratories c. and endowing them with Lands Tenements Parsonage and Vicarage houses c. was an effectuall way to have favour with the Saints and to procure their praiers and intercession for them By these and such like means this wylie and crafty generation deluded the people and made themselves rich and robbed Christ of his honour who onely is our Advocate to God And furthermore they gathered in heaps of wealth by Masses Pilgrimages Pursse-penance Offerings and such like Merchandises wherein their subtilty and craft was prefigured by a Leopard a Beast subtile by nature whose property is to lie in waite for her prey and slilie to catch it as the Cat doth the Mousâ— and in that respect doth well resemble the Antichristian Clergie that subtill generation But further it is added that the feete of this Beast were as the feete of a Beare The Leopard is more nimble to catch then the Beare but the Beare is more strong and eager to hold fast that which he hath seased vpon then is the Leopard both these properties this generation hath nimble to catch and greedy to hold they catch by slight But hold by force and therefore in catching resemble the Leopard but in fast holding the feete of a Beare To this it is added that the mouth of this Beast was as the mouth of a Lion And by this another propertie of the Antichristian Clergie was foreshewed for as the Lion when he hath taken his prey roareth vpon it at whose roaring the Beasts tremble So this generation being thus exalted and made rich and have gotten their prey they terrifie the small Beasts of the Forrests roaring with curses and excommunications against be he Prince or Pesant that shall presume to part stakes with them or meddle with their prey or diminish their portion but an Egge or an Onion That these be the properties of this Generation needs no proof it is manifest by daily experience Here therefore we may learne what to esteem and judge of the Antichristian Cleargie together with those Multitudes People Nations and Tongues out of which they have sprung and over which they are set and supported namely that they are a monstrous and beastly Generation excelling in craft covetousnesse pride cruelty and all iniquity and therefore not to be esteemed as they boast themselves to be a holy Catholike Church and Spouse of Christ which cannot erre c. And by this we may see how lamentably the Nations have been deluded and led into errour and ungodlinesse by their guides and leaders Now it followeth that unto this Monster the Dragon gave his power and his Throne and great authority Here is declared of whom the Prelates and Clergie have received their spirituall Lordships power authority and jurisdiction to devise and make spirituall Laws and Canons to erect spirituall Courts and create Officers to beare rule and exercise dominion over the Nations even from the Divell they have not any lawfull authority from God but an usurped authority from the Divell whose instruments they are to advance his kingdom and to persecute the Saints which obey God rather then men And here we may observe that they are rightly called spirtuall Lords because originally they proceed from that prince that ruleth in the aire the spirit that worketh in the children of unbeliefe but withall in stead of spirituall Lords Laws Courts and Officers call them spirituall wickednesses and so we give them their right titles and being such if we will fight the good fight of faith we must by witnessing what they be wrastle against them and not submit unto them but stand fast in that liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and not be intangled with any yoke of bondage and that we may wrastle and prevaile we must take unto us the whole Armour of God Ephes 6. Further Iohn saith that he saw one of the heads of the Beast as it were wounded to death and his deadly wound was healed and all the world wondred after the Beast By this Head which was as it were wounded to death was signified the reviving of Priesthood the mysterie whereof in few words is this The workers of iniquity in this Antichristian kingdom having ordained this order of ministery called Priesthood whether it were in imitation of the Iews or Heathen it is doubtfull but certain it is that because it wanted externall sacrifices it came short both of the Iewish Priesthood and also of the Heathen so that it was a lame and wounded Priesthood and was not respected In time it came to passe that they found out a sacrifice as is to bee seene in their Masse-book which was the transubstantiating of Bread into Wine into the very Body and Blood of Christ really and substantially as they use to speak and teach and being so transubstantiated to offer it up unto God a sacrifice propitiatory both for quick and dead Thus the wounded head of Priesthood was cured and revived and so became the worlds wonder as now it followeth to be declared according as Iohn here witnesseth And all the world wondred after the Beast That is the people of the Nations having this Priesthood set over them and commended unto them to be of such power and dignity as that they could make them
suffered in any Kingdom or Common-wealth and so they blaspheme the Tabernacle of God in a high degree as if Gods people were a company of ungodly rebels and wicked conspiratours but the righteous Lord will in due time visit his people and rebuke his enemies And on the other side for Gods people now to deny the kingdom of the Beast that is as they call it the holy Catholike Church Militant to be the true Church of Christ To refuse to partake and communicate with them in their abominations delusions and unlawful works of darknes is adjudged disobedience schisme and contempt of the power and authorty of the Church To speak against their proceedings sedition disturbance of the peace of the Church heresie impiety and what not Thus they adorne the Harlot which corrupteth the earth with her fornications with the title of the Church and Spouse of Christ and Tabernacle of God and so blaspheme the Tabernecle of God as if it were not a communion of Saints by calling and profession but an habitation of Divels an hold of foule Spirits and a Cage of every unclean and hatefull Bird. Further it is said of the Beast that it did blaspheme those that dwelt in heaven that is the Saints departed this life Those that dwell in heaven are then blasphemed when it is said of them that they take it as an honour done unto them when we make them our Patrons build them Temples set up their Images offer and pray unto them and make them Mediatours between Christ and us for by this they are made not onely Idols but also favourers and chief maintainers of Idolatry They are also blasphemed when the doctrine which they taught and practised is condemned for heresie or when erronious doctrines vaine traditions superstitious rites ceremonies and customes are fathered upon them as received from them by Tradition as unwritten verities but the world hath been brought to believe that Saints in heaven might by these means be as it were bought and sould between Priest and people wherein they have been highly blasphemed Moreover it is said that it was given to the Beast to make warre with the Saints and to overcome them and power was given him over all Kindreds and Tongues and Nations Warre is made with the Saints when they are accused to Rulers and Governors to be Heretikes Schismaticks wicked and ungodly persons and they may then be said to be overcome whem their accusers are justified and they condemned according to this this Scripture hath been fulfilled and verified Great and of long continuance have been the warres which the Beast hath made with the Saints and many have been the victories of this kinde which the Beast hath had against them as the Histories and other records of the Nations do plentifully witnes It was given to the Beast to make warre with the Saints when Rulers and Governours gave way to the Beast to devise and make laws at their own pleasure concerning Religion and the worship of God and then to condemne for Delinquents and evill doers all that would not observe those Laws How free and forward Rulers and Governours have been to give such power unto the Beast they themselves have felt by long and wofull experience for much woe hath the Beast wrought not to the poore and meaner sort of the Saints onely but even to Emperours and Kings and all degrees of people and therefore it is said in the words following that power was given unto this Beast over every Kindred Tongue and Nation So that the exaltation thereof was such as to be a Father above all fathers to every Kindred a Lord above all Lords to every Tongue a King above all Kings to every Nation Thus was this Beast exalted and sate as a Queen triumphing over them having all of all degrees brought in bondage unto her Dominion which was a just recompence upon their heads that gave such power unto this Beast yet see how the world was herein deluded they were not captives against their wills but in blind devotion had this Beast in most high reverence as being a devine power ordained and given by God and not from the Dragon Thus did the Lord give them over to be deluded by this Beast as a just reward of their vngodlynes in that they receaued not the loue of the truth but tooke pleasure in vnrighteousnesse Further it is declared in the words following That all that dwell vpon the earth must worship him that is the Beast whose names are not written in the booke of the life of the Lamb slayne from the foundation of the World by those that dwell on the earth is ment those that have set their habitation there and choose rather to enioy the prosperitie of the world and plesures of sinne together with the Beast then to sufffer affliction for the truth and for witnessing against the Beast these are they that worship him that is receaue their precepts and rules for their doctrine and wholesome instuction and observe their ordinances and Lawes as perfect rules of eqitie and righteousnesse casting the word of God declared in the holy scriptures be hind their backes and treading his Ordinances vnder their feete making farre more conscience not to eate an Egge on Friday then to steale or to commit adulterie But of such it is said that their names are not written in the Booke of life of the Lamb which was slaine from the beginning of the world That is they are not of the number of Gods Elect and Choosen in Christ and given vnto him for his portion and heritage whose condition is to be hated despised persecuted and afflicted in the world for righteousnes sake in whom the Lamb Christ Jesus as in his members hath been slaine since the beginning of the world which condition those which cannot brook and endure but count it a pleasure to live deliciously for a season and take delight to enjoy the pleasures of sin may thereby be discribed not to have their names written in the Book of life Concerning these things it is added If any man have an eare let him heare As if it should be said few there be which have an eare to heare these things For who can indure to heare that Catholike Church which they account to be spirituall holy and heavenly to bee compared to a Beast ugly in forme and horrible and monstrous in nature Who can endure to heare that Power that Throne and that authority which they believe to be of God to be said and affirmed to be of the Dragon that old Serpent the Divell and Satan Who will believe that a righteous God would give way to his enemies the workers of iniquity so farre to prevaile and so long time as for many hundred years together to delude the Nations to bring them into bondage and to keepe them in slavery And that a few poore despised people of no reckoning in the world here one and there another should see more and be wiser then
to this is the meaning of the name of the Beast which the holy Ghost setteth down in a mysterie in the 17 Chapter and 5 verse Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots the abominations of the earth But the Papists call it not Babylon the Great but the great universall or Catholike Church not the Mother of Harlots but the Mother of all true Beleevers not the Mother of all abominations of the earth but the Pillar and ground of Truth that cannot erre This is the difference betwixt the name which God giveth them and which they take and attribute unto themselves But let them speak the best of themselves and let us consider and answer them in their own language they call themselves the Catholike Church and their professed vassals and subjects are therefore called Catholikes and whatsoever they be that do either preach or professe the Catholike faith that is beleeve as this Catholike Church beleeveth that it is Mother of all true Beleevers that it cannot erre c. they are Catholikes such persons wheresoever they live if they thus believe although they never received the marke of the Beast nor can receive it yet this profession is enough to intitle them in the right of buying or selling these foresaid wares such persons have the name of the Beast and therefore they may buy pardons of the forgivenesse of part or all their sins and use any of these things which they suppose necessary for their souls health but indeed destruction yea after their death they may for a summe of money given to the foresaid Merchants by their charitable Successours be released out of Purgatory thus by their own discription we have found out the name of the Beast and who they are that have received it The third condition is the number of his name as the Beast had one generall name which is the Catholike Church whereby he was known from all other States and Kingdoms in the world so it hath a number of names belonging to the particular parts and members thereof to distingnish one from another as in the 17. Chapter and third verse The Beast was full of names of blasphemy As the true Church which is that body whereof Christ Iesus onely is the Head is compleat and furnished when it is coupled and knit together by every joynt and member which Christ Iesus hath given for the furniture thereof namely Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastours and Teachers So this false Church being furnished with those parts and members which that great red Dragon hath invented and set up under the title of Ministers of Christ to work upon the children of disobedience namely the Pope Patriarches Cardinals Arch-bishops Bishops Deanes Arch-deacons Abots Priors Prebends Canons Chancellers Commissioners Registers Doctours with the rest of the selected Synod or Counsell so I say this Church or Beast being furnished with these members are the full number of his name that is they are the number of whom the Catholike Church consisteth and from them all inferiour power and offices of Ministry as Monks Friers Parsons Vicars Curats and Jesuits are derived This I understand to be the number of his name and this exposition agreeth with that in the verse following where it is said let him that hath understanding count the number of the Beast what can be understood but the Number of the particular parts whereof he consisteth And where it is said For it is the number of a man What can be understood but that it beareth the resemblance and likenesse of a man as followeth to be declared Thus we see who may buy and sell in this Kingdom and who may not Here is wisdom let him that hath understanding count the number of the Beast for it is the number of a man and his number is 666. Here is shewed first what is required in searching out this mystery and that is wisdom and understanding not such as is from beneath but from above which commeth down from the Father of lights from whom commeth every good and perfect gift he it is that giveth wisdome to the simple and the understanding of his secrets to those that feare him which should teach those that desire to know the Mysteries of his will to labour to be such as to whom he hath promised to reveale them then whatsoever we aske we shall receive of him for to such he giveth liberally and upbraideth not Secondly here is shewed a direction how to imploy a mans wisdom in finding out this Mysterie and that is by counting or reckoning the number of this Beast Thirdly a reason why the number of the Beast is to be counted Because it is the number of a man that is it agreeth with and is answerable to the parts of a man and so is the more easily to be found for as we know the true Church of Christ is compared in the Scriptures to the naturall body of a man as in 1 Cor. 12.12 For as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so also is Christ Jesus And in the 27. verse the Apostle speaking of the Church of Corinth he saith Yee are the body of Christ and members in particular c. So in the Ephes 1.22 23. Christ is given to be Head over all things to the Church which is his Body Thus as the true Church is called and compared to a body so the Catholikes affirme that they onely are that Church and that Body and that the particular parts and members of their Church are the full number thereof Now whereas they say they are the Church let us say they are the Beast And whereas they say their particular parts and members make up the number of the Church let us say their particular parts members make up the number of the Beast and so we finde the true interpretation of this Scripture Further here is set down the number of the Beast which is 666. By this number I do not understand any set number and that the parts and members of the Beast are no more nor lesse but thereby I understand is meant a full and compleat number as before was shewed As all the parts and members of a man joyned together make a whole perfect man so do the particular parts and members of the Beast make a perfect and entire Beast Thus briefly according to the ability which God hath given me I have gone over this Chapter wherein is briefly set forth the workers of iniquity which have done and yet still do prevaile over Gods people under the title of Ministers of the Gospell and Church of Christ as they were represented under the forme of three severall Beasts The first Beast representing the Generall Counsels or as the Papists call it the Catholike Church The second Beast representing the POPE And the third Beast the PROVINCIAL COUNCELS which were established by the Pope The which three Beasts bearing rule and Dominion in these times whereinto