the Jewish Church True indeed in the Hebrew Visions there is some mention made of the People of God but then commonly you shall see some circumstances in the text to decypher the People of the Jews only As for ensample You shall read somthing spoken of the Tsebi or the pleasant Land of the daily Sacrifice of the Sanctuary of Daniel's People and the like But in the Chaldee Visions there is no such thing mentioned which maketh me to think That the Saints there mentioned are of a more general Nature and concern the People of God both Jews and Gentiles Indeed it is often spoken concerning the Saints of the most High That the little Horn did wear them out and consume them and that at the time appointed they shall take the Kingdom But yet it is not specified in Daniel what these Saints are Whether they be the Saints of the Jews or the Gentiles or both Dr Willet seemeth to me to give a good Reason why they should be called The Saints of the most High scil in reference to their most High Prince the Lord Christ. The words of the text are fair for this Interpretation And the Kingdom and Dominion under the whole Heaven shall be given to the People of the Saints And then in the words immediately following His Kingdom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is an everlasting Kingdom and all Dominions shall obey him vers 27. The Kingdom is given to the Son of man as to the Head and by him it is communicated to his People and Subjects after their Sufferings By all that hath been spoken we may conclude That the Subjects of the Kingdom of Christ the Members of his Mystical Body are the Objects of the Tyranny of the Fourth Beast Thirdly The great Power and Cruelty of this Beast is not only against the Saints but against all the former Metal-Kingdoms for as Iron it shall break them all in pieces vers 40. Therefore this Kingdom is said to be more Mighty than any going before in respect of the exercise and imployment of strength upon the former Kingdoms and not only in respect of the particular exercise of cruelty against the People of the Jews If this be so we cannot say That the Seleucian was such but to the Roman all things agree Fourthly I do yield also that this Expression is used specially for that part of the earth about the Confines of the Church of the Jews yet it is not the whole meaning of the text When the Lord gave Nebuchadnezzar the Head of the Image a Kingdom Power Strength and Glory And wheresoever the Children of men dwelt he gave them all into his hands we cannot say That he made him Ruler over all in Iudea only but he made him Ruler over all the Eastern Countries far and near round about the Confines of that Church and Nation In like manner when the Fourth Kingdom arose and brought the Earth into a more absolute subjection we must not only confine this to the Countries of Iudea but we must also expound the whole Earth by some Analogie to the former Metal-Kingdoms According to this sense when the Fourth Kingdom cometh to the times of its Monarchical Dominion it will be the most potent Kingdom that ever was about the Confines of the Church and it will bring the former Kingdoms into the greatest subjection If you apply this to the Kingdom of the Seleucidae there will be no correspondence at all but to the Roman all things do agree For that Kingdom was absolutely the most mighty and the most powerful that ever was about the Church of the Jews And as the People of Rome had Iudea under their Obedience so they had the greatest Empire about Iudea from East to West that ever was All these Reasons laid together shew plainly That the Fourth Beast is the Roman Kingdom and so consequently the Ten-Horned Beast in Daniel and the Revelation is all one It is not only one and the same in Analogie and similitude of Expression but it is Literally and Historically one and the same The Roman Kingdom is described in both Prophecies by the same Emblems and similitudes And thus much concerning the Queries of the Fourth Beast in the more general Nature thereof We will now descend more particularly to the Ten Horns And here we will shew that they cannot be the Ten Kings lineally succeeding in the Seleucian race but they are so many inferiour Realms of the Roman Empire Querie 1. If the Ten Horns be Ten Seleucian Kings there will be Eleven Horns in all and how can Ten Horns be the Character of the Beast If in the whole succession the Number of Kings be Eleven in all the Beast is more properly called Undeâ—…em Cornupeta the Beast with Eleven Horns The words are plain The ten Horns are ten Kings that shall arise and another shall arise up after them that shall be diverse from the first vers 24. Therefore if in the whole succession there be Eleven Kings first Ten and then another that came up after them why is the Beast set forth by the special Character of Ten Horns The little Horn must needs be the more cruel and more eminent according to the text And yet by this rule that which is more principal shall be excluded from the denomination But Doctor Willet hath this evasion to wit That the little Horn did not come up after the ten but it came up as the last of them And so Piscator rendreth the words Et Cornua decem ex illo Regno nempe decem Reges exsurgent postremus resurget post illos is diversus erit à prioribus And in his Scholia upon the 8 verse he thus speaketh Vox Chaldaica 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quae versu sexto septimo significat alium hic valet ultimum seu postremum Nam Antiochus Epiphanes qui per Cornu illud figurabatur fuit ultimus inter decem illos Reges qui hîc per decem Cornua figurantur But let it be supposed that the Chaldee word may indefinitely be taken yet it is to our purpose to consider what the scope of the text will admit In the former verses when the description of the Babylonian-Lyon was ended it is there mentioned I beheld 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 another Beast like a Bear not a latter Beast that came up out of the Sea For the scope of the Spirit is to shew the rising of Four several Monarchies each one diverse from other So in the present case after the description of the Ten Horns the little Horn is said to be another that came up after them to shew the notable diversity between it and the Horns that came up before And so this is the meaning of the text That another Horn much differing from the former Ten in Nature and Condition came up after them in order of time Secondly Suppose we should let this Translation pass Postremum exsurget post illa a latter shall arise after them Here I
c. Here is wisdome let him that hath understanding count the Number of the Beast c. The discovery then must be by understanding But here we are not to conceive such a kinde of wisdome as lyeth meerly in Mathematical subtilties For how can it be imagined that the holy Spirit and that under the highest penalties should give such serious warning to the Church to beware of receiving the Mark of the Beast the Name and the Number of the Name and these things be onely discoverable to them that have skill in the Mathematicks You will say What wisdome is here intended I answer such a skill and dexterity onely by which men are able to render the mystical and figurative expressions of the Prophecy in their true natural sense and construction The like expression is used Rev. 17. 9. Here is the minde that hath wisdome the seven Heads are seven Mountains where the woman sitteth By wisedome he doth here mean a sagacity and skill to expound the Parables and mystical expressions of the Prophecy in their bare sense and signification And so in the present case when he speaketh of the Name and Universal Headship of the Beast and the Number of the Name it is not to be doubted but that he pointeth to some method of Account famously known in the days of Iohn And whereas he doth not openly and plainly but under dark terms express the matter to wit that it is the Number of a Man and the Number 666 By this he doth imply that some kinde of wisdome is to be used in the true calculation and discovery of the Number You will say If there be 666 years to the setting up of the Name or Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome why is not this expressed in plain and significant terms By the like manner of reasoning you may argue Why doth the Spirit through the whole body of the Prophecy carry on the description of the state of the Church in a figurative mystical and typical way of expression He might if he had so pleased have said in so many syllables that the seven Heads of the Beast are so many Mountains of the City of Rome and so many Heads of Roman Government But he doth rather use a dark circumlocution of a woman sitting upon a Beast with seven Heads He doth use such an hidden way of expressing these things in Emblems and Figures that pious men might bestow the more diligence in searching the Stories of the Church Paraeus in his Commentary upon the Râ—…velatun Chap. 17. v. 7. speaketh to the same purpose Piis vero interpretatione aenigmatic à aurem veâ—…icare voluit spiritus ut subinde in suorum temporum eventus atque Historias invigilarâ—…nt And if we come to example we shall finde That the â—…even Trumpets are delivered in a very dark and mystical manner For after that the Angel had offered much incense with the Prayers of all Saints upon the Golden Altar before the Throne then the seven Angels began to sound When the first Angel sounded there followed Hail and Fire mingled with Blood Chap. 8. ver 7. When the second Angel sounded a Mountain burning with fire was cast into the Sea ver 8. And when the third Angel sounded a great Star fell from Heaven into the Rivers and Fountains and the Name of the Star is Wormwood ver 10 11. Here it is plain That by these Emblems and Figures so many Judgements of God in a succession are said to fall upon the world for their persecuting of the Saints For after the Prayers of all Saints were offered up on the Golden Altar upon the Throne then the seventh Angel began to sound As in the like case when Eliah fled to Horeb he made intercession against Israel saying I have been very jealous for the Lord God of Hosts for the children of Israel have forsaken thy Covenant thrown down thine Altars and killed thy Prophets and I am left alone and they seek my life to take it away In answer to this Prayer the Lord bade him go out and stand upon the Mount 1 Kings 19. 11 12 13. And as he stood first the Lord passed by and a great and a strong Wind rent the Mountaine and after the Wind there was an Earthquake and after the Earthquake a Fire Here if we would inquire after the signification of these three Emblems for we cannot otherwise think but that something is specially intended in Visions of this nature the Lords own interpretation will shew the meaning of this in the words that follow He that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Ieâ—…u sâ—…ay and he that escapeth the sword of Ieâ—…u shall Elâ—…shah sâ—…ay Here then are three Judgements in a succession the Wind the Earthquake and the Fire And for the still small voice that is expressed in these words I have reserved to my self seven thousand men that have not bowed the knee to Baal ver 18. Now if you go to the seven Trumpets it is clear That they are so many Judgements of God that come one after another upon the world for their Idolatry and for their killing of the Saints But who shall assure us what is certainly meant by each Trumpet What is meant by the Hail mingled with fire by the Mountain burning with fire Who shall assure us what is meant by these Types seeing the Spirit doth not set down his meaning as he doth in the Vision represented to Elias We should in this case have recourse to the Body of the Stories of the Church For I am perswaded That the Lord doth on set purpose deliver these things more Aenigmatically and Figuratively that we should attentively consider the way of his dealing in judging the World and in delivering his Church O how far then do they go out of the true way who are Enemies against all secular Learning in the profitable and sober use thereof God doth of set purpose carry on the whole Prophecy so darkly because we should turn every way for the discovery of the truth And this is the reason wherefore he doth speak so mystically concerning the Name of the Beast the Number of a Man and the Number 666. Further also we are to consider That seeing the Kingdom of the Beast was to be set up by deceiving of the Nations it was not needful to speak every Circumstance plainly to the understanding of men How should the Beast have deceived the world if his deceits and pious frauds if the time of his Kingdome and every particular should have been fully discovered There is then a peculiar sort of people to whom the Lord hath given a special desire to look into the things contained in this Book of the Revelation and they have in some measure an ability though others are dark to understand the meaning of the Spirit in his deep and mystical expressions In the several Epistles to the seven Churches in Asia this is added in the close of all He that hath an ear let him hear what
of the Twentieth Jubilee according to the Authority of the Chronologer aforementioned Being furnished with these Principles as also being firmly perswaded by other Reasons That the Beast was the Bishop of Rome and that the Number did signifie the first visible declaration of the Authority of that See Finding also the account by Jubilees to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Number frequently used amongst men in those ancient times Upon these Considerations I was at length induced probably at least to take this as the meaning of the Text As who would say in plainer terms Let him that hath wisdome count by the Jubilees a Number frequently used amongst men and he shall finde that this Beast shall begin to erect and put forth his Power in the 666th year from the beginning of the Twentieth Jubilee and so he shall come to the particular year when Victor Excommunicated the Churches of Asia This Interpretation though it seemed very specious and plausible at the first yet afterward when I came to dive into the Prophecy and to compare the Commentaries and to look into the natural sense of the Visions I did finde from the collation of all that there must be first a death and a wound of the Roman Majestie in the Caesars before it could be revived in the Popes the Caesareate must fall before the Papacy could begin This I gathered from the whole scope of the Apocalyptical learning And I do admire how any can begin the 42 Moneths from Constantine the Great or from Iulian the Apostata or from any other time before the fall of the old Empire They who do this to my understanding go against the scope and drift of this kinde of learning Another Interpretation I had which I did favour in the beginning and that is the Interpretation of Moulin in his Treatise concerning the Complement of Prophecies He in that Treatise doth set the beginning of the Beasts Kingdome at the fall of the Exarchs of Ravenna and so concludeth That where the Empire made an end there the Papacy was to begin But the Empire ended at the Exarchate Ergo. In this Exposition of his he doth well to set the beginning of Rome Papal after the destruction of Rome Imperial for this is but the sense of the Prophecy But yet withal this must be remembred that we must not set the beginning of the Beasts Kingdom where we will how we will our selves but we must set it there where it ought to be set Now for the place where it ought to be set it must be at the beginning of the Universal Headship of the Beast which is the Name of the Beast when he did make an Image to the Beast that had a wound in one of his Heads If these things be applied to the times they do not agree to the ruine of the Exarchate but to the setting up of the Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome under the Emperor Phocas Then there was an Image made to the Beast then the Name or Universal Headship began then the Roman Potency did revive in the Popes which was formerly lost in the Caesars then the second Beast caused the Image both to speak and live Princ. 9. The Name of the Beast ought so in special to be expâ—…unded that it may be the subject-matter of the Mark. This is proved from Chap. 14. ver 11. where the Mark is expresly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Mark of his Name Now it would not be so called if there were not something in the Name that giveth beeing to the Mark. And therefore when Mr. Potter endevoreth to shew That 25 is the Number of the Beast and that the Government may be known by the frequent use of the Number 25 the square-root of 666 In my apprehension he should not have imployed himself in the variety of those things in the Beasts Kingdome to which this Number might be applied His prime work had been first to have found out the Name of the Beast and then he should have proceeded to the Mark and the Number of the Name For there is no other Mark but that which relateth to the Name and there is no other Number but that which is the Number of the Name I cannot conceive any other but his mistake is in the subjectâ materiâ in the subject matter of the Number He that erreth in the beginning must needs go far out of the way Princ. 10. The Name of the Beast ought so in special to be expounded that it may appear to be the matter about which the Number is conversant This is proved from Ch. 13 v. 17. There it is expresly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Name then only must be the immediate Object of the Number or the thing Numbred Why is it else called The Number of the Name By this Reason then I cannot see how Mr. Potter can apply the Number indefinitely to all such kinde of things as are essential and constituent in the Kingdome of the Beast seeing the Number is onely restrained to the Name and is the Number of the Name or Universal Headship But let us look to the grounds of the Interpretation laid down by that learned man He supposeth this Number 666 to be an Image or typical Representation of the whole Body of Antichrist that is of the whole Body of his Kingdome State or Hierarchy And thus much saith he is acknowledged by many Writers but especially by Cotterius Further he addeth If this Number be an Image or a Type of the whole Body of Antichrist then no man ought to imagine that the whole Image of Antichrist is like to one prrticular Member or part of the Body of Antichrist For as the whole Image of Caesar is not like unto the Hand of Caesar or the Head of Caesar so neither is the Number considered wholly applicable to any particular Times Names Persons Places or other Individuall things or Circumstances belonging unto Antichrist as divers Interpreters have laboured to apply it But saith he if any man desire to know Caesar by his Image he must compare Head to Head Face to Face Eye to Eye Foot to Foot and so conclude a likeness in general from an induction of particulars In like manner he that desires to know Antichrist by his Number he must first finde in this Number such things as are essential and remarkable to that Government So far Mr. Potter In which words of his though I do acknowledge there is greater solidity then I have ordinarily met withall in Interpretations of this kinde yet under favour I conceive when all is done the Number must be the Number of the Name or Universal Headship and that by right ought to be the thing Numbred And whereas he saith That the Number is not applicable to any particular Times Persons Places or other petty Circumstances of the Kingdome of Antichrist I do acknowledge That there hath been vanity more then too much among Interpreters about the explication of these
Bishop of Rome doth make himself Head of the Church in the place of Christ the true Head of the Church and so consequently is no other but a counter-Christ In this we agree wiâ—…h them and it is the substance of the ensuing Discourse And for a particular accommodation of the Text we will proceed in brief to shew what understanding we have of those passages that have layen in the dark so long The Reader perhaps will be the better prepared to understand when he shall have a short Description of the things that shall more largely be delivered afterwards First for the Name of the Beast the subject of the Number I do not take it in the ordinary way for Lateinos or any such Grammatical Name But the Name in the sense of the Prophecy is the Power Headship and Dominion of the Beast If there had been a true discovery of the Name in this sense I may confidently believe That the Mysterie of the Number had not layen in obscurity all this while Secondly for the time of the manifestation of this Name or Headship the greater part of Protestant Writers and in a manner all that have spoken of these things with any solidity affirm That it began solemnly publickly and by Authority to be set up in the Decree under the Emperour Phocas This was the remarkable time of the rising of the two-horned Beast out of the Earth and this we say is exactly 666 years from the beginning of the Roman as the fourth Metal-Kingdome In which respect the Number is called The Number of the Name that is the Number that doth decypher specifie and characterize the Name or Headship in the most remarkable beginning and edition thereof But seeing the great Question will be concerning the beginning of the Roman as the fourth Metal-Kingdome Let us consider the whole Systeme and Body of these Kingdomes and so proceed by Analogie The first is the Babylonian Now if we enquire where this Kingdome did begin Not from Nabonasser not from any Babylonian King immediately ensuing but from Nebuchadnezzar For of him it is particularly said Thou art this Head of Gold Dan. 2. He first brought the Church of the Iews under the obedience of the People of Babel and in him therefore we are to settle the beginning of the Babylonian as the first Metal-Kingdome The second is the Persian And here also if we examine when this Metal-Kingdome did begin not simply from that time when that people began to have a Form of Government but from that time as they began to exercise Monarchical Dominion in and over the Continent of the Church This came to pass in the times of Cyrus in him therefore the Persian doth commence as the second Metal-Kingdome The third is the Grecian And if we proceed in the same method we must not generally and indefinitely look to the times when the people of Greece began to have Rule and Government among them but when they began their Soveraign Dominion over the People of the Iews Now this came to pasâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 times of Alexander the Great who is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 particular sense expresly called The first King Daâ—… 8. 21. In him then we are to fix the true 〈◊〉 and beginning of the Grecian as the third Metal-Kingdome The fourth is the Roman And if we proceed by the same Analogie it will be easie to finde when that Nation did begin as the fourth Metal-Kingdome and here we must not reckon from the time of Iulius or Augustus Caesar but from that time when the Roman Legions first entred Ierusalem when they brought the Land of Iudea in subjection when they erected their Government in those Countreys which formerly did belong to the House of David and when in their particular time they did begin to exercise the same cruelty and hardness against the people of the Iews as the Babylonians Persians and Grecians had done before under each of their Empires respectively Here we are to set the beginning of the Roman as the fourth Metal-Kingdome Now this came to pass 60 years before the Birth of the Lord and 666 before the going forth of the Decree That the Bishop of Rome should be Head over all Churches And so we have the clear meaning of the Text Let him that hath wisdome count the Number of the Beast and he shall finde That the Number of his Name Government and Universal Headship in the first Institution thereof is 666 years from the beginning of the Roman as the fourth Metal-Kingdome And therefore 666 is rightly and Apocalyptically called The Number of the Name By this Character the Church in the days of Iohn and so downward had they given themselves to subtilty of observation in the discovery of the Prophetical times by wisdome some of them perhaps might have found out the particular time of the rising of the two-horned Beast out of the Earth and the time of the first visible appearing of this Name or Headship set up in the greatest derogation to his Soveraignty and Dominion that is onely Lord and Head of the Church There is one thing in the Text which if it be attentively considered will abundantly confirm the truth of the Interpretation It is expresly said Let him that hath wisdome count 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Number of the Beast 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for it is the Number of a Man Though there may seem to be great difference between these two yet in the case we now speak of they are but one and the same For as Daniel numbreth the four great Empires and Revolutions of Time by so many Regions Parts and Divisions of the Body of Man In which regard it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Number of a Man Dan. 2. So he doth decypher the same Tyrannical Empires and the same Revolutions of Time by four great Beasts in which respect it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Number of the Beast To my understanding the Spirit doth as good as point with the finger to this way of Interpretation For if it be a duty for him that hath wisdome to count the Number of the Beast the Question will be What Rule shall he number by that so he may finde out the Account The Answer is plain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is the Number of a Man Let him count by the changes of Empire and by the Revolutions of Time in Daniels Image And so the event doth fully answer the Prediction for from the beginning of the Roman as the fourth Metal-Kingdome there are exactly 666 years to the setting up of the Name or Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome Onely the followers of Iunius such as Piscator Polanus Willet Rolloc Deodate and others will say How can the Number take date from the beginning of the Roman as the fourth Metal-Kingdome when the Roman is no Metal-Kingdome but doth begin at the end of all those Kingdomes To satisfie my own understanding and the understanding of others
Appellation that consisteth only of Letters and syllables how will this redound to the benefit or perfection of the Beasts Kingdom if men of all Degrees and Orders shall receive a Name meerly consisting of Numeral Letters and such-like trifles But if you take the Name for the sovereign Power and Headship there is nothing more rational and common than for the Kingdoms of this world to make Laws that all should live in subjection to their Power and Authority And Experience plainly sheweth That in all the Kingdoms of the Christian world stricter Laws have been made for the Preservation of the Dignity of the Catholick Apostolick Roman See as they call it and for the maintenance of the Decrees made by that Authority than there have been for the support and Defence of their own Communities Among many take this one Instance of the Statute Ex Officio made here in England in the times of Hen. 4. In which Statute it was provided That all they should be Burned publickly in the sight of the People that did maintain teach inform openly or in secret any thing contrary to the Catholick Faith and the determination of the Holy Church And so in the times following by vertue of this Law the faithful Martyrs under the Title of Lollards have been publickly burned for speaking preaching writing and declaring against the Decrees and Superstitions established by the Authority of the Church of Rome And it is as plain That neither the Scripture nor any Article of the Creed nor any other Point of the Christian Faith is received among them but that which is warranted by this Authority From whence we may easily collect what is meant by the Law and Injunction of the Beast That none might buy nor sell but such only that had the Mark and the Number of the Name We are not to take the Name Alphabetically For to what end should he command men to receive such a Name as this But if you take the Name for the Universal Headship and the Mark for the publick owning of subjection to this Headship there is great Reason given for the making of such a Statute and it is fully proved by the event The Seventh Argument is taken from the Essence of the great Antichrist as he is set forth 2 Thess. 2. For the Pith and Marrow of the Apostle in this description is to express the great sublimity of Power that the man of sin should assume to himself in and over the Church of God These are the words of the Text He as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God vers 4. From these words we may gather the Essence of the Antichristian Kingdom lieth in the affectation of a kind of godlike Dominion and Headship in and over the Church of God Now then as the â—…on of God hath merited of his Father to be only Head and only Lord So must our subjection be rendered to him without communicability of such a prerogative to any other For though there be gods many and lords many there is but one Universal Head on whom the whole Body of the Church doth depend In this sense as the Son hath merited of the Father to be the Supreme Lord and Head there is none de jure can be but himself only Now then when Paul in the Thessalonians doth describe the Essence of the Beast's Kingdom he doth shew that it doth chiefly confist in the Headship and Dominion over the Church And this is that which Iohn in the Revelation calls the Name of the Beast And so far we have gone in the Discovery of the Subject of the Number We have shewed by many Reasons That the Name is The Headship of the Beast Now we shall in the next Chapter endeavour to Calculate and Compute the Number CHAP. IV. Concerning the Number of the Name of the Beast where it is shewed That the Name or Universal Headship began publickly to be Established under the Emperor Phocas 666 years from the beginning of the Roman as the Fâ—…th Metal Kingdome FOr the carrying on of this Complicate Proposition we are to make Two things clear First That the Name or Sovereign Dominion of the Beast began precisely at that time of the Universal Headship under the Emperor Phocas Secondly That there is a Câ—…in of 666 years from the begining of the Roman as the Fourth Metal Kingdom to the Name or Universal Headship afcreâ—…aid First Concerning the Eâ—…sion of the two-horned Beast out of the Earth I find a great consent in the Commentaries Controversies and Stories of the Church That the Two-Horned Beast began in the Universal Headship under the Emperor Phocas Crackanâ—…orp in his Treatise against Spalaâ—… calleth it the Câ—… one of the Building And in very deed though many Authors do stiffly maintain That the Name is the word Lateinos and that the Number is made out of the Numeral Letters of that Name yet if you put them upon it to state the Original of the Beast's Kingdom they do generally in a manner pitch upon the year aforesaid But we will not depend upon Authority Therefore to the right computing of â—…he true Apocalyptical time we will Observe these ensuing Principles Principle 1. There must be some particular instant of time when the Antichristian state Typed by the Beast with Two Horns had its first visible rising out of the Earth This is proved from the words of the Text And I beheld another Beast coming out of the Earth and he had Two Horns like the Lamb and he spake as the Dragon Rev. 13. 11. And therefore as there was a certain and determinate time when the Babylonian Lyon and the Persian Bear came up out of the Sea that is As there was a certain time when the Babylolonian and Persian Monarchies began so there must be a particular and certain term of time when the Antichristian Monarchy must come up out of the Earth also If this be well observed it will cut off a multitude of superâ—…luous Diâ—…putes concerning the Infancy Childhood Middle age and other degrees of the Antichristian state In these points every man may abound in his own Fancy but sure I am according to the true Apocalyptical process there is mention made but of one visible and remarkable beginning of the Two-Horned Beast And this is at the time of his rising ouâ—… of the Earth Princ. 2. Secondly The time of the rising of this Beast must be after the dissipation of the old Empire and the beginning of the Ten Kings Typed and Figured by the rising of the Ten-Horned Beast out of the Sea There are Two Branches in this Principle The First is this That the time of the beginning of the Two-Horned Beast must needs be placed after the Fall of the Empire This is clearly proved from the Scope of the 13 and 17 Chapters of the Revelation Both these Scriptures do pitch upon this that there must be a taking away of the Imperial Majesty and a kinde of Chasm
or Intercision of that sovereignty before the Roman Dominion in the last the reâ—…aired and Antichristian state thereof In the 13 Chapter it is said That the Ten-Horned Beast had a wound in one of his heads vers 3. What is this wound but an intercision or cessation of all Roman Majesty in the world at the rising of the Ten Kings The Two-Horned beast by his Deâ—…es did cure the wound vers 14 15. What is this cure but the renovation of the same Sovereignty in the Popes which was formerly lost in the Caesars So in the 17 Chapter it is said That all the world worshipped the Beast When they beheld the Beast that was is not and yet is v. 8. What is meant here by the Beast that is not This noteth the total cessation abrogation of the Roman Majesty at the Fall of the Empire And by the Beast that is This â—…eth the reâ—…ing of the Roman Majesty from the Dead when it was formerly lost in the Caesars Both Scriptures then do plainly shew and so doth S. Paul in the Thessalonians That the Empire must first Fall before the Antichristian times can begin They therefore that set the beginning of the Beast's Kingdom at the time of Victor or at Constantines removing the seat of the Empire to Constantinople or at the Reign of the Emperor Iulâ—…an or at any other time before the Fall of the Empire To my understanding they do anticipate the true beginning of the Beast's Kingdom and do go against the Grounds and Foundations of all true Apocalyptical learning The Second Branch of this Principle is this also That the time of the beginning of the Beast with Two Horns must be after the rising of the Ten Kings or the Ten-Horned Beast out of the Sea chap. 13. vers 1. For though the antient Commentators take the first Beast to be the Old Empire yet the latter Interpreters such as Brightman Peraeus Mede and others do more rightly understand this to be the rising of the Ten Kings out of the ruines of the Empire And in very deed if we consider the time of the Beginning of this Beast it was presently and immediately after the Dragons Flood scil after the Inundation of the Barbarous Nations Secondly The Manner of the Rising The Beast had Ten Crowns upon his Horns at the time of his Rising out of the Sea which noteth the Division of the Roman into Ten inferiour Kingdoms in that notable change of State Thirdly The time of his Continuance He was to continue 42 Months and this is the exact time of the Sufferings of the Church under the Antichristian Persecution These and many such-like Reasons do strongly prove That the Beast with Ten Horns and his rising out of the Sea doth Note and decypher The standing up of the Ten Kings out of the Ruines of the Empire And here then The beginning of the 42 Months the time of the Reign of this Beast is set forth by a true Demonstrative Character and we may not doubt of the certainty thereof Further then If we look to the scope of the Text the rising of the Beast with Two Horns must needs be after the rising of the Ten-Horned Beast and so consequently after the standing up of the Ten Kings out of the Ruines of the Empire And so the Visions will be rightly applyed to their true times I know nothing of moment which doth contradict this Assertion but only that which is spoken by Mr Mede in his Apocalyptical Key Synchronism the second Where he endeavoureth to shew That the Ten-horned Beast and the Beast with Two Horns are exact Contemporaries in all their times These are his words A se invicâ—…nt neque ortu suo neque interitu separantur quinetiam altera alterius potestatem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hoc est in praesentia ipsius administrat And then he concludes Quis non vidit illas omni aevo suo necessariò contemporare But saving the great respect I bear to this Author I cannot see first how this can agree with the scope of the Scripture Secondly With the event of things Thirdly With the Tenor of his own Doctrine as he delivereth it elsewhere Fourthly With the Body of the best Protestant Expositors who have spoken most Proâ—…atively concerning the beginning of the Beast's Kingdom First I cannot see how he agreeth with the Scripture For Iohn saw first a Beast come out of the Sea with seven Heads and ten Horns and ten Crowns upon his Horns and after that he saw another second Beast which came out of the Earth with Two Horns From whence we may easily collect That the rising of the one is in order of time before the rising of the other and therefore they no not ad amussim contemporare ortu suo they do not exactly agree in the time of their Original Secondly I cannot see how he agrees with the event of things For at that time when the Ten Kings arose out of the ruines of the Empire there was no Roman Sovereignty in the whole world For as we have formerly mentioned The Beast had a wound in one of his Heads and therefore there was an intercision and a cessation of that Potency for a time We yield that the Two-Horned Beast is the Restorer of the Ten-Horned Beast he cured the wound and made the Image to speak and live It is true that he revived the Roman Sovereignty from Death to Life but this reviving was not assoon as the Ten Kings rose out of the Ruines of the Empire Thirdly I cannot see how this agreeth with Mr Mede's own Doctrine For he saith Apost pag. 83. That the Fourth Beast is the Roman Kingdom the Ten Horns are the Ten Kings that arise out of the dissipation of the Empire and the little Horn he saith expresly that it must arise after them pag. 74. For so he will have the Chaldee word to be all one with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the 70 to wit That the little Horn must arise behind the Ten Horns Now then if the Papacie must arise after and behind the Ten Kings it is plain That he doth contemporate with them ortu suo in his beginning and that according to Mr Mede's own Principles Fourthly I cannot see how he can agree with the Body of the best Protestant Expositors who have demonstratively written of the beginning of the Beast's Kingdom For as many almost who have spoken of the rising of the Two-Horned Beast out of the Earth have applied this beginning to the Bishop of Rome in the times after the Fall of the Empire when the Decree went forth That he should be Head over all the Churches All the Circumstances of the Text laid together prove the truth of this Interpetation We come now to the Third Principle Princ. 3. The time of the rising of the second Beast must be so stated That all the circumstances of the Text may agree to such a beginning We must not leave the times of the Fall
a third 〈◊〉 Brass that should rule over all and then last of all a Kingdom of Iron which should break in pieces and suâ—…due all the former Metals But how is this verified in the Fourth Kingdom The strength and power of the Kingdom was chiefly in the Iron-Legs when it came to the Feet and Toes it then became divided and was partly strong and 〈◊〉 broken If we look narrowly to the words there is a description of the Fourth Kingdom in the 〈◊〉 â—…ate thereof First It iâ—… described as one intire Kingdom ruâ—…ing over all the Earth and so it was in the first times when it was in the Iron Legs Secondly It is described as a divided Kingdom into many parts and so it was in its last times in the Feet part of Iron and part of Clay If this be so How far doth Piscator and other Interpreters of his way depart from the Truth First They make the Fourth the mightiest Kingdom to consist meerly of the Fragments and broken pieces of Alexander's Dominion Secondly That which is more They make it a Kingdom broken and divided in all its times when it became divided in its last times only Thirdly They plead the mixture of Marriages between the Seleucâ—…dae and the Lagidae in the Iron-Legs of the Image and yet it standeth them upon to prove That the Fourth Kingdom was divided when it was in the Iron-Legs The Scripture saith no such thing but rather the contrary as long as it was in the Iron-Legs it was an absolute intire and undivided Kingdom And therefore where there is no division into pieces what need is there of mingling to make an Union Secondly They usually take it for granted That the Fourth Kingdom is divided into two parts and therefore they mainly insist upon the division between the Seleucidae and the Lagidae We yield that there is a division in the Feet and Toes of the Image but how is it proved That this is a division into Two parts only and no more The words of the text are these The Legs were of Iron and the Feet part of Iron and part of Clay The Chaldee hath it Out of those parts that wâ—…e of Iron and those parts that were of Clay The materials of the Feet were Iron and Clay of these the several parts of the Fourth Kingdom were tempered But how is it proved That the Kingdom was divided into Two parts only and no more They that build upon this as upon an undoubted Principle should first make it appear That it is so For where doth Daniel in his Exposition make mention of any such bipartite State How can this be proved from his words For thus it is in the text Whereas thou sawest the Feet and Toes part of Potters Clay and part of Iron the Kingdom shall be divided or as Iunius rendreth it Râ—…gna erunt diversâ—… There shall be diverse Kingdoms But how is it proved That the Kingdom is divided only into Two parts and that the diverse Kingdoms are only two and no more Let us refer that matter to that other description chap. 7. And is there any thing there spoken to prove the bipartite State of the Fourth Kingdom For if we must suppose That the Seleucidae and the Lagidae are the Two Iron-Legs or divisions of the Fourth Empire why is not this repeated again or somthing to this purpose in the seventh Chapter All agree in it That there is a description of one and the same Kingdom in both texts Now then in the seventh Chapter there is no mention made of this division only there it is said That Ten Kings or Kingdoms shall arise and another shall arise up after them Here it is plainly said what that Number of Kingdoms is into which the Fourth Empire shall be divided scil into Ten inferiour Realms These then are the parts of the Fourth Empire that shall mingle themselves with the seed of men in the latter times of that Dominion There is nothing spoken in the text conâ—…erning the bipartite State nothing concerning the Seleucidae and the Lagidae but that multiplicity of lesser States in the Feet and Toes of the Image are here defined and declared to be Ten in Number the proper Character and print-mark of the Roman Dominion Rev. 17. Object You will say That the two Legs of the Image do signifie the double state of the Fourth Kingdom and these are the Seleucidae and the Lagidae Sol This is but a Fancy as I have formerly proved for if you look to the Exposition of the text in Daniel's own words The Fourth Kingdom was so far from being bipartite that it was not at all partite or divided as long as it was in the Legs the division beginning only in the Feet and Toes But if any stand upon the Analogie and similitude That therefore the Kingdom must be divided into Two parts because there are two Legs in the Body of man I would here know also by the same method of Interpretation what is meant by the Knees the Ancles and other parts of the Legs Must we finde out a signification for all these The Kingdom of Babel is compared to an Head of Gold must we look then what is signified by the Eyes the Nose the Mouth the Beard the Lips and other parts of the Head and so apply several significations to the Babylonian Kingdom This were to trifle in a serious matter It is a good observation of Dr Willets That the Image is no Natural but a voluntary sign and therefore we are not to seek for a signification beyond the intent of the Type The intent of the Type by the Legs of the Image as by the lowest region and part of the Body of Man is to set forth the Fourth and last Monarchical Kingdom and the Fourth and last period of time We can prove no more by the similiâ—…ude than it will signifie and here it is plain That the Two Legs do signifie no more than the Two Thighs the Two Sides and these do not signifie the bipartite State of the Third Kingdom Thirdly They take it for a granted Truth That the twodivided State is the proper Character of the Graecian Kingdom and therefore they look to the Seleucidae or Lagidae as the immediate parts and divisions of that Empire But herein also they are greatly deceived For it is plain from chap. 8. That the Graecian is quadri-partite In a famous change of State that Empire became divided into Four Kingdoms The Goat is the Kingdom of Graecia the Four Horns are Four Kingdoms that shall arise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of that Nation vers 22. And this is the reason wherefore the Third Beast is said to have Four Heads because of the quadri-partite Estate of that Empire From whence we collect That Piscator and other Interpreters that follow his judgement do erre from the Truth when they would have the Seleucidae and the Lagâ—…dae to be the two parts of the Greek Empire To speak properly Neither the
times must consume the Roman Kingdom in the Antichristian state thereof as it is cleer by the whole Book of the Revelation Object But whereas Piscator doth alledge That the Kingdom of Christ did begin to fill the whole Earth when the Gentiles far and neer were brought to the Faith by the Preachiâ—…g of the Apostles Sol. I do not Deny but that the Kingdom of Christ in the Apostles time did then begin to fill the Earth For the bounds of his Spiritual Kingdom were much enlarged by their travel But what is this to the purpose The text speaketh plainly of a Monarchical Kingdom of such a Kingdom opposed to the Four Monarchies that shall subdue and fill the whole Earth The Apostles Preached the Gospel among all Nations and by name Saint Paul filled all places from Ierusalem to Illyricum with the Gospel of Christ. Yet nevertheless for all this large spreading of the Gospel there was no destruction of the Roman Kingdom In those times the Romans continued their Power and Tyranny though the Gospel of Christ was Preached everywhere But when the stone shall become a Mountain and fill the whole Earth before this can be done the Stone must strike the Image upon the Feet and Toes thereof The Tyranny of the Roman Kingdom must be broken by the Power of the Gospel before the Kingdom of Christ can be set up in the Throne Now if we apply these things to the times we shall find that the Church was in perpetual conflict with the Empire of the Romans for 300 yearâ—… together in all the times of the Ten first Persecutions Now it is said of the Primitive Mareyrs That they overcame him to wit The Persecuting Empire by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their Testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death Rev. 12. 11. By the scope of the place it is clear That the Lord Christ by his Power and his Martyrs by their Sufferings both together did break the Tyranny of that Persecuting Empire It is said of them That they overcame him to wit the Dragon with Seven Heads and Ten Horns The Saints by their Sufferings did overcome him and so the Gospel was set up as the regent Law The Woman brought forth a Man-Child that should Rule all Nations with a Rod of Iron This is meant of the Reign of Christ upon the Earth and there were some beginnings thereof in the times of Constantine the Great as appears by the scope of the text vers 9 10 11. Now whereas it came to pass afterwards That the Christian Empire was broken to pieces by the coming down of the barbarous Nations out of the North and Ten Kings rose out of the Ruines of the Empire aforesaid Then also according to the Prophecies a New Persecuting Empire was Erected to try the Faith and Patience of the Saints This in the whole Prophecie is called The Antichristian Empire or The Roman Kingdom in the last Edition thereof Now this Kingdom also shall be broken in pieces by the Preaching of the eternal Gospel the Nations shall be undeceived and the Gospel shall be set up as the regent Law as it began to be set up in the times of Constantine the Great but was hiâ—…dered afterward But now it shall be far otherwise The Kingdom of Christ shall be so set up after the breaking in pieces of the Toes and Feet of the Image after the wearing out of the Antichristian Tyranny that he shall Reign 1000 years From all that hath been said it is clear That we must look after the Monarchical beginning of the Kingdom of Christ according to the Prophecies Of this we shall have some occasion to speak more largely afterward Now let us consider what is Alledged by Polanus Polanus The Scope of Daniel is To speak of those great Empires only that should stand up one after another till Christ in those Territories where the Babylonian began Now the Roman had nothing that the Babylonian had but only Syria and Egypt He had nothing that the Persian had more than the Babylonian but Asia the Less Therefore the Roman is not to be accounted one of the Four Empires Answer It is true that the Roman went no further Eastward than the River Euphrates neither did he possess many of those Eastern Countries which were formerly under the Babylonian and Persian Monarchies But what of all this It is enough for our purpose That he possessed all those Countries on this side Euphrates which were the Continent of the Church In the Churches Continent the Roman was the Successor of the Babylonian Persian and Graecian Empires For look what Monarchy the Babylonian began over the People of the Jews the same was continued by the Romans when their time came to have the Monarchy over the Church If this be a truth we may quickly Answer the Objection of Dr Willet which is much to the same effect These are his words This Vision of an humane Image signified one united Body consisting of divers Kingdoms one succeeding another as the parts of the Body do joyn one to another the Beginning and Head of which was Babylon And then he addeth The Roman Monarchy being distant at least 1200 miles could not make one united Body with it Therefore that Monarchy cannot here fitly be understood By the same Reason he might Argue The Graecian Kingdom being distant many miles from the Babylonian and Persian therefore it cannot be compacted into the same Image of Persecuting Empires But this is not the Point which we are on For we are not to measure the Monarchies by the Longitude Latitude and Distance of place but by the same Succession of Monarchical Dominion over the Churches Territories In this sense the Roman may be placed in the same Image of Monarchical Empires as long as he did continue the same Sovereignty over the Church which the Babylonian began And therefore when the Scriptures do call the City of Rome by the Name of Babylon it is a very proper Expression for she did continue the same Tyranny over the Saints which the Babylonians began And it is clear also That the same Empire did Devolve and Descend upon the Romans in the Fourth Alteration and Change of State But let us proceed Polanus At the Coming of Christ the Kingdom represented by the Feet and Toes was ruined but so was not the Kingdom of the Romans which was not compleat till the time of Trajan Therefore the Roman is not the Fourth Kingdom Answer I have already touched this Point in my Answer to Piscator but because I see many Excellent Expositors build upon this Principle That the Kingdom of Christ Beginneth at the Dissolution of all Four Metal-Kingdoms and that this Dissolution was at his Incarnation Because they build strongly upon this we will bestow the more pains to enquire into the matter To the clearing of this let us look to that which the text naturally affordeth and then let us make Application From
hath been introduced in the latter times But now it is not so with the Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome this hath been in hatching in all Ages almost down from the times of the Apostles till in the 666th year from the beginning of the Roman as the Fourth Metal-Kingdom it began publickly to be established under the Emperor Phocas And here was the true beginning of the Name or Universal Headship of the Beast and of the Mark of the Name Fourthly The Mark in the Forehead and in the right Hand is a convertible and reciprocal Note to distinguish the Subjects of the Beast's Kingdom from other men and such a convertible Note is the publick Profession of a Roman Catholick And therefore many of their chief Writers do lay down Three Notes to prove a true Church by Verae fidei Professione by the Profession of the true Faith Sacramentorum Communione by participating of the Sacraments Pontifici Romano tanquam legitimo Pastori subjectione by subjection to the Bishop of Rome as to their lawful Pastor Fifthly The Mark in the Forehead and the right Hand must be such a thing as is in open view and in common use for so do these figurative Expressions import It is not said That he causeth all to receive a Mark in their Arm or Breast or Foot or Leg or any other Member of the Body but in the Forehead which is in open view and in the right Hand as being that part of the Body which is of most common use Now what is there among that Society of men which is of more common use and publick view than the Profession of a Roman Catholick Experience doth plainly shew That none can buy nor sell nor hold Land and Possessions but such a one as doth acknowledge this Universal Headship Sixthly The Mark in the Forehead and in the right Hand is in express and significant terms called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Mark of his Name They have no rest day nor night that worship the Beast and his Image and receive the Mark of his Name chap. 14. vers 11. Now if you apply this to the Profession of a Roman Catholick all things will agree For what is a Roman Catholick but such a one as doth make it the chief and main Article of his Faith to acknowledge the Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome and to subject his Conscience to the Laws made by that Authority And this we have already proved in the Third Chapter of this Treatise to be no other but the Name of the Beast For if there were no such thing as the Universal Headship Sovereign Power and Supreme Dominion of the Bishop of Rome what would become of the Faith and Profession of a Roman Catholick The Name or Universal Headship is that which giveth foundation to the Mark or Profession à priori and the Mark or Profession is that which declareth the Name or Universal Headship à posteriori And therefore in significant terms it is called the Mark of the Name Seventhly The Mark in the Forehead and in the right Hand is that which the Subjects of the Beast's Kingdom do assume to themselves as a matter of the greatest Honour and Dignity It is not a brand or nick-Name put upon them by their Enemies but that which themselves do voluntarily profess as may be seen in the whole Book of the Revelation Now such a Name is the Profession of a Roman Catholick The Roman Church comprehendeth all those Nations Languages and People that agree in the same Unity of the Faith under the Pope the Head And every Member of this Church of what sort soever maketh this as the principal Badge of his Profession to adhere to the Bishop of Rome as to the visible Head of the Church Eighthly The Mark in the right Hand and in the Forehead must be so expounded That in receiving of this men must be guilty of great sin against Christ and so consequently lyable to most grievous Judgements except they repent And therefore it is expressed That such shall be tormented day and night that worship the Beast and receive his Mark. Surely then that act of receiving the Mark of the Beast must needs be a grievous sin because the Lord Christ doth threaten it with so heavie a Judgement Now if you take the Profession of the Faith of a Roman Catholick as he professeth his subjection to the Bishop of Rome this is the greatest derogation that can be to Christ to supplant him in his Universal Headship For it is his peculiar and incommunicable Priviledge to be the only Head of the Church his Mystical Body Therefore whosoever he is that doth ascribe this to himself or to any other doth sin against the Kingly Office of Christ and doth what in him lies to dethrone and put Christ from his sovereign Dignity A Wife may be guilty of many Offences against her Husband but that is one of the most capital when she doth take another in his room for that is in a sense To break the bond and to cast him off from being her Husband when she doth give her self to another man A Roman Catholick then when he doth profess his Allegiance to the Bishop of Rome as to the visible Head of the Church this publick Profession of his is Rebellion and high Treason against the Lord Christ the true Head of the Church this doth supplant him of his Kingly Power and Dignity and therefore he doth threaten this sin with such grievous Judgements Those words therefore that are added as an Epiphonema in the end of the Revelation Whosoever shall adde to the words of this Book God will adde to him the Plagues that are written in this Book And if any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophecie God will take away his part out of the Book of Life and out of the Holy City and from the things which are written in this Book chap. 22. vers 18. 19. Interpreters do usually apply this place to those that bring in Traditions but I think that here is a more special sense intended sutable to the nature of the Book for the principal scope of the Book of the Revelation is to speak of the Kingly Office of Christ and therefore they that set up another Head of the Church they do adde to the words of the Prophecie of this Book and God will adde to them the Plagues that are written in the Book So they that take away from the Kingly Office of Christ they do in a more special sense take away from the words of the Prophecie of this Book And therefore God will take away their part out of the New Ierusalem and from the things that are contained in the Book If these things are so I cannot but admire at Hugo Grotius a man of great Learning in these last times who in his Tract de Antichristo doth speak very favourably of the Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome
came to pass in that year when Cicero and Antonius were Consuls at Rome in the 179 Olympiad in the third Month on a Fasting-day he saith That Pompey entred Ierusalem with the Roman Legions Antiq. lib. 12. cap. 8. And for their subjection to the Romans he addeth That Syria and Iudea and all places from the Borders of Egypt to Euphrates were committed to the tuition of Scaurus Antiq. lib. 14. cap. 8. de Bell. Iud. lib. 1. cap. 5. And here I finde That all Historians and Chronologers do agree in the aforementioned year Now for the Number of time That there are 666 years from this beginning to the Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome under the Emperor Phocas this is clear also in all our ordinary Books of Chronology Dr Willet who doth differ from our Judgement about the Roman as the Fourth Metal-Kingdom he in his Synops. Papism Quaest. de Antichr part 2. saith That the Scepter was taken from Iudah at that year when Cicero was Consul at Rome which he affirmeth to be 60 years before the Birth of the Lord and 666 before the setting up of the Headship of the Bishop of Rome And in general he doth approve the truth of our Interpretation as Bale the Historian did before him And whereas it may be Alledged That Calvisius the most accurate Chronologer doth Number somthing more than 60 years to the Birth of the Lord To solve this Difficulty let us say as he doth That Cicero and Antonius did enter their Office about the 20 of October when all was full of troubles at Rome And in the fourth of Iuly following which was the 17 day of the Month Tamuz the Romans entered Ierusalem and Pompey went into the Temple To this if we adde those Acts of his of breaking down the Wall of Ierusalem of making Iudea Tributary to the Romans and delivering all into the Power of Scaurus the Questor till further Order should be taken by the Senate These things must necessarily be done in the latter end of the year when Câ—…cero and Antonius were Consuls or rather in the beginning of the next year which according to Calvisius his account is the year of the world 3889. To which if you adde 666 years the Number of the Name of the Universal Headship of the Beast this will make the year of the world 4554. And this will bring us to that fatal year of the Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome under the Emperor Phocas And so this present year will be From The Creation of the World the 4555 Year From The Birth of the Lord the 606 Year From The Beginning of the Roman as the Fourth Metal-Kingdom the 666 Year For the Number of years there is yet one main Objection Some will have the periods of time in Daniel's Image to be a meer Scholastical speculation Sol. We will go to the Scriptures and to the Stories of the Church to decide the Question For the Scriptures Let us first consider the words of Daniel's Thanksgiving upon the Revelation of the Mystery of the Four Metal-Kingdoms Blessed be the Name of God for ever for Wisdom and Might are his he changeth the times and seasons he removeth Kings and setteth up Kings Dan. 2. 20 21. The scope of the Vision is concerning the Four Metal-Kingdoms and so many changes of time answerable to those Four Mutations of Empire But if we look more narrowly to the text the words in the Chaldee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are times and revolutions of time For the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth as much as tempus statutum determinatum an appointed and determinate time For the Lord having shewed Nebuchadnezzar's Dream to Daniel and the substance of the Dream That it concerned a Fourfold change of Empire and a Fourfold change of time upon the Earth Upon this Reason the Prophet breaketh forth into the praise of the Wisdom and the Power of God in a sutable manner to the present occasion And in very deed if we look upon the translation of the Empire from the Babylonians to the Persians from the Persians to the Graecians from the Graecians to the Romans Here is a notable Example of the Wisdom and the Power of God And that which is more considerable The Lord speaketh of the times of the sovereign Dominion of these People many years before they come to have the Dominion upon the Earth For this cause the Prophet breaketh forth into the praises of the wisdom of God in his disposing the changes of times and the changes of Empire and for the communication of this deep secret to him and the other three Children and by their means to the information of the Church And when all this is done shall we say That the Four changes of time in the Image of the Metal-Kingdoms are but a curious speculation Further it is added vers 44. In the dayes of these Kingdoms shall the God of Heaven raise up a Kingdom that shall never be destroyed This is spoken of the rising of the Kingdom of Christ in the time of one of the Four Metal-Kingdoms The Four periods of time then are not a bare Speculation but a plain Scripture-truth For it is the plot of the Spirit to shew That down from Nebuchadnezzar there should be Four Changes of Empire and Four notable Revolutions of time and when these Changes should be in their course and succession then the Kingdom of Christ shall begin Now whereas Bodin in his Method of History chap. 7. taketh a great deal of pains in the Confutation of this Let us Consider what he Alledgeth First There be many things he confuteth which we do not allow For as we have formerly said The Babylonian Empire did not begin at Ninus but at Nebuchadnezzar Secondly He taketh it as Granted That only the Amplitude of Dominion maketh a Monarchical Kingdom And hereupon Reasons Why should not the Kingdoms of the Parthians Saracens Turks Tartars go under the account of Monarchical Kingdoms Here he is to consider That not only the greatness of Dominion but the greatness of Dominion over the Churches Continent is necessary to the Being of Daniel's Metal-Kingdoms And therefore look what Kingdom Nebuchadnezzar did begin it did orderly descend to the Persians Graecians and Romans and not to the Parthians as experience sheweth Therefore a Beast in Daniel or the Revelation doth not signifie a State or Government in the General Notion but a State or Government that is Idolatrous and doth persecute the Church Neither doth it signifie an Idolatrous Government in the Latitude but such an Idolatrous Government in and about the Borders of the Church If this distinction were well observed They that are Enemies to Magistracie would not have such harbour in the Revelation as they think they have Thirdly He disputeth against those who stand for a German-Roman Empire And with him we do agree That this is but a Fable For the Empire of the last Edition is the whole Body of
the Kings that make one Catholick Communion under the Pope their Head Rev. 13. and chap. 17. In these Particulars he doth not touch us in his Disputation but them only who do maintain the Truth with some mixtures of their own Secondly For the Points wherein we differ He standeth hard upon this That the Roman cannot be called the Iron-Metal seeing in these latter Ages Learning Civility Religion Discoveries by Navigation have been raised to a higher perfection and therefore the Roman cannot be set forth by a more worthless Metal than the other Kingdoms Sol. But in this matter he doth not Dispute so much against us as against the Scripture it self and the scope of the Spirit For is it not the scope of the Spirit to compare the Fourth Kingdom to Iron because of the strength cruelty and power to break all things in pieces in and about the Borders of the Church What good will Learning Civility Navigation and other such things do when the Church of God is under Persecution But yet further to Convince the Consciences of men That the Four Metal-Kingdoms in Daniel's Image are no nice speculation I would willingly put it to men to Resolve me this Question The Faithful that lived in the Iewish Church some years before the coming of Christ whether was it not their practise and some way their duty to search after the time of his coming These are the words of Peter Of which Salvation the Prophets have enquired and searched diligently who Prophesied of the Grace that should come unto you searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signifie when it testified before-hand the Sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow 1 Pet. 1. 10 11. Out of these words Three Points no necessarily issue First The coming of Christ his Sufferings and the glory that followed this was revealed to the Church of the Jews Secondly It was revealed to them in what period of time Christ should come Thirdly They did diligently search the several periods and changes of time to come to that particular season when the Son of Man should come in the flesh The words in the Original are very Emphatical 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Piscator hath it Scrutantes inquem cujusmodi temporis articulum Beza In quem aut qualem temporis articulum But I think the words are more naturally rendered Scrutantes ad quam aut qualem temporis periodum Searching to which or to what kind of period of time the Spirit should point as with a finger when he spake of the coming of Christ in the flesh But let the Translation be what it will be all is to this sense That the Believers of the Antient Church did diligently search the periods of time to the coming of Christ in the flesh And our Saviour doth blame the Jews for it That they could discern the face of the skie and yet could not understand the signs of the times that is The signs of the times of his coming in the flesh Matt. 16. 1 2 3. Now for the periods of time to the coming of the Son of Man in the flesh there are none more clear demonstrative in the whole Old Testament than those two in the Prophecie of Daniel The first is that of the Four Metal-Kingdoms chap. 2. and the Second is that of the 70 weeks chap. 9. By these Two the Saints and Prophets in the Old Testament might periodically come to the times of the Messiah and so might discover his coming in the flesh à priori Our Saviour therefore doth blame them that by the changes of State in Iudea First From the Babylonians to the Persians Secondly From the Persians to the Graecians Thirdly From the Graecians to the Romans that by these several Alterations of time they did not discern the signs of his coming nor the beginning of his Kingdom which should be set up when the Image should come to the last and lowest Region to the Fourth and the last Metal-Kingdom In the times of this Kingdom the God of Heaven shall set up a Kingdom that never shall be destroyed Dan. 2. 44. Therefore when the times of the Romans were come the Fourth and the last Monarchical People the Jews by the course of Daniel's periods might easily understand that they were not far from the times of the Messiah And to put all out of doubt if they had Numbred 490 years or 70 weeks of years from the building of the City and Temple in the dayes of Ezra and Nehemiah by this period also they might have come to the time of the cutting off of the Messiah and to the preaching of the Gospel among all Nations By the Collation and Parallel of these two periods the Saints in the Jewish Church might have found out in what Article or what period of time the Son of man should come in the flesh And shall we then say That the Four periods of time in Daniel's Image is a Scholastical and nice speculation Thus I have largely insisted upon the Point where Two things are made good First That the Roman doth begin as the Fourth Metal-Kingdom when the Church and the Continent of the Church came under the Dominion of that People Secondly That the Number of years are 666 to the setting up of the Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome under the Emperor Phocas if the account be made from the beginning of the Roman as the Fourth Metal-Kingdom I have proved also That this Method of Account is no nice speculation but a true Scripture-way to calculate and Number the Prophetical times Let us now proceed to the next Chapter to shew the issue of the Discourse CHAP. VII The whole Process of the Discourse is repeated That there are 666 years from the beginning of the Roman as the Fourth Metal-Kingdom to the setting up of the Name or Vniversal Headship of the Bishop of Rome And that this is the meaning of the Spirit in the Revelation when he speaketh of the Name of the Beast and of the Number of the Name FOR the cleerer Demonstration of the Truth it is necessary that I should Repeat the sum of that which I have formerly delivered that we may see the whole Process of the Disputation First I have shewed That the Name of the Beast is not the word Lateinos nor any other Grammatical Name whatsoever but in the Apocalyptical stile it noteth his Universal Headship or Power standing in immediate Opposition to the Name or Headship of the Lamb. Secondly For the time of the beginning of this Universal Headship I have shewed That it had not only a determinate beginning but it began after the Fall of the Empire and not only so but it began after the Fall of the Empire in such a time when the Universal Headship was ascribed to the Bishop of Rome Now this I have proved out of the Stories to begin under the Emperor Phocas when the Decree went forth That the