exalted above men whereof were four Kings signified here by four heads See Chap. 8.8 and 11.4 Apoc. 12.14 The fourth Beast representing the Romane Empire Vers 7. THe Empire that next succeeded after the Grecian was the Romane and accordingly it is signified by the next which is the fourth Beast Concerning which observe these Particulars First the admirable condition of the fourth Beast in comparison to the former is marked out by a Preface larger then ordinary After this I saw iâ— the Visions by night and behold Secondly it is proposed as a strange and unknown monster without a name in these words A fourth Beast The reason is because of the dissimilitude of the Romane Empire to all precedent kingdoms and the strange variety of the forms thereof as it is expressed afterwards And besides it hath a composition and concurrence in it self of all the properties of the former Beasts being likened to the Babylonian Lion to the Persian Bear and to the Grecian Leopard Revel 13.1 2. Thirdly it is suid to be dreadful and terrible which noteth the ability and readinesse of this Empire to annoy with great evils for a ready power of hurting greatly is the ground of dread and terrour Fourthly it is strong exceedingly for the Romane Empire hath been strong as Iron in comparison of all other kingdoms breaking and bruising them all Chap. 2.40 and devouring the whole earth Chap. 7.23 Fifthly it hath great Iron teeth which signifie the conquering Captains such as Scipio Pompey and Caesar strong irresistible as Iron in comparison of all before And for the same cause the Romane Empire is represented by Iron leggs Chap. 2.40 Sixthly Gras de Antic it hath nails of Brasse Vers 19. A Beast maketh his assault for victory with his his teeth and after victory useth his claws to tear Therefore as the teeth are the Captains making Conquests so the nails are the Romane Senate and Provincial Magistrates these being of Brasse as the other were of Iron because somewhat milder then the Captains Seventhly the actions of both teeth and nails are set down in the next words Of the teeth thus It devoured and brake in pieces Of the feet and nails thus It stamped the residue with the feet thereof Thus the Romane Empire by its Captains devoured the weaker brake in pieces the stronger and by its Magistrates stamped the residue under feet handled and tare at pleasure the conquered crowing and insulting after Conquests Eighthly the extent of Victory is added Vers 23 that it shall devour the whole earth that is a great part thereof even from the River Euphrates into Great Britanny See Luke 2.1 Ninthly It is added that it was unlike to diverse from the Beasts that were before it This is said both in respect of present state and also in respect of multiplicity of forms successive therein For to use the words of Graserus it endeavoured to fit and frame the Forms of all other kingdoms to it self but altered And in respect of diversity and strange multiplicity of Forms of Government it is represented Apoc. 12.3 and 13.1 and 17 by seven heads and an eighth and ten horns The Governments were of Kings Consuls Tribunes Decemviti Dictators Romane Emperours Popes with the ten Kings The alteration of the Romane Empire by the ten horns and Antichrist FOr about Four hundred yeers the Romane Emperors continued in their Majestie even until the end of Constantine the Great and then began effectually to be broken down and to be dissolved into ten kingdoms This is that state of change which is expressed in the end of vers 7 in these words And it had ten horns More distinctly vers 24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise and another shall arise after them Now the Empire beginning to be effectually dissolved at the foresaid time stayed not in falling by degrees until about the yeer 456 it appeared broken into ten parts as a learned Author hath shewed on Apoc. 8. The kingdom of the Britons of the Saxons both in Britanny of the Franks of the Burgundians in France of the Westgothes in the Southern part of France and part of Spain of the Sueves and Alanes in part of Spain of the Vandals in Africa a little before in Spain of the Alemans in Rhaetia and Noricum Provinces of Germany of the Eastgothes in Pannonia a little after in Italy of the Greeks in the reninant of the Empire Though this Decharchical division doth not still continue exactly yet it is sufficient that it was so at first And I give instance in the four horns that are said to come up after Alexanders death whereby all the Successors in the Grecian kingdom are understood in their divided kingdoms although the Quadripartision was onely at first and lasted not above Three and twenty yeers So the Turks are signified by four Angels because their division was quadripartite at first on this side Euphrates Apos 9.14 But the several Kings dividing the Empire though they were in no difference of time exactly ten yet may be called ten in relation to the first Decharchical division thereof under Augustus Caesar whereof see Strabo in the end of his Geography And thus whosoever divided the Empire as Saracens and Turks c. may come under the name of the ten horns in general The Vision and Prophecie of Antichrist Vers 8 c. An historical Narration of the two Wars of Antichrist THere were two notable Wars of Antichrist which are mentioned in Daniel his War against the Turks and Saracens and his War against the Waldensian Witnesses of Truth the one in the East the other in the West both very great as ever any were both about the same time succeeding one another both immediately following the fulnesse and perfection of the Antichristian kingdom in Hildebrand Both Wars properly the Wars of Antichrist voluntarily raised upon conscience of his Decree and both so like and equal that the later was of as great weight and difficulty as the former as Thuanus the Historian doth expresly testifie The Sultans and Kings of the Turks and Saracens about the time of Hildebrand had made an Inundation over Asia Syria and Judea most cruelly persecuting the Christians there inhabiting Hildebrand's next Successor save one Urbanus the second about the yeer 1095 appointing a Synod of Bishops and Princes at Clâ—remont decreed the Expedition against them for the recovering the holy Land by the happie successe whereof those arms of Inundation were overflown again by another Inundation As for the second War we may take notice of the greatnesse and moment thereof and its immediate succession in time after the War against the Turks To this end mark what Thuanus writeth in the Preface of his History When exquisite punishments could nothing prevail against the Waldenses but that they encreased daily at last compleat Armies were leavied against them and a War of no lesse weight then that which was waged before against the Saracens was
fall of the Romane Empire and the rising of the ten Kings the rising of Antichrist must concur who therefore began gradually to proceed together with the irruptions of the Barbarians into his kingdom and dissipation of the Empire and in 606 was openly enthroned But Dan. 7.24 Antichrist is said to come up after the ten horns This understand of his open enthroning which began in 606 after the Inundation of the ten Kings but secretly and hiddenly he arose before even among them and together with them as here it is expressed 2. He is called Another horn that is another beside the ten and as it is expressed vers 24 diverse from them they being Political he also Ecclesiastical by usurpation of an independent authority Spiritual 3. He is called A little horn because little at first as onely Primate and Metropolitane of the Churches of Italy and by little and little encroaching upon the power of the ten Kings by small and scarce discernable degrees of proceeding Before the time of Constantine the Bishop of Rome was onely a poor and mean Minister therefore called Vile or of lowe condition Chap. 11.21 from which weak lowe estate he cunningly and secretly came up among the ten horns until he overtopped them 4. His first arising is intimated to be hidden obscure and secret scarce discernable and therefore he is so represented among the horns that Daniel doth not espie or discover him but by a prying eye and a minde curiously considering Therefore it is said I considered the horns and behold there came up among them another little horn 5. It is added that before him three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots The first War of Antichrist which was waged by him after he came to the fulnesse of his kingdom As the Romane Empire fell so gradually he arose He was openly enthroned in 606. A temporal Dominion was given him by Pipin in 755 But his authority arose not so high as generally to overtop and command at pleasure the Kings and Emperours until the time of Hildebrand after 1073. Thenceforth he began to decree and make Wars himself and by Imperial authority to command the Kings and Emperours of the West to go forth as subjects in the Wars decreed by him And from the foresaid 1073 he had seditiously stirred Wars in Germany but the great and notable War directly decreed by him with voluntary and general submission of Kings Princes and Emperours was that which was decreed at Claremont about Two and twenty yeers after in 1095 against the Turks and Saracens which here followeth to be described And in this War it was verified which was here said of Antichrist that three of the first horns were rooted up before him For within about three yeers after the foresaid Decree at Claremont by the yeer 1099 he by his Souldiers of the Crosse rooted up subdued caused to fall as the phrases run vers 8.20 24 three Kings of the Turks and Saracens Solyman in Asia Cassianus in Syria the Egyptian Caliph in Judea That these three Kings are meant I am more then probably convinced from Chap. 8.9 and 11.29 places exactly parallel where they are expresly restrained to Judea the pleasant Land and to the East and South in the way unto it which must be Syria and Asia from the Northern horn of Macedonia as shall be shewed when I come unto the next Chapter In mean time observe these phrases arguing the places to be parallel 1. There came forth a little horn Chap. 8.9 Behold there came up another little born Chap. 7.8 2. Which waxed great unto the South and to the East and to the pleasant land Chap. 8.9 Before whom three fell Chap. 7.8 3. He shall destroy the holy people Chap. 8.24 He shall wear out the Saints of the most High Chap. 7.21 25. 4. He shall magnifie himself in his heart Chap. 8.25 He shall speak great things Chap. 7.8 25. His look was more stout then his fellows verse 20. 5. He extolled himself against the Prince of the Host the Prince of princes Ch. 8.11 25. He shall speak words against the most High Chap. 7.25 6. By him the daily Sacrifice was taken away Chap. 8.11 And he shall think to change Times and Laws Chap 7.25 And as it is here said that three kings were rooted up from before him so Chap. 11.22 The arms of a stood shall be overflown from before him which is to be understood of the Turks and Saracens as I trust to shew when I come unto the place But here a Doubt ariseth How these three Mahumetan Kings are called three of the first horns seeing the ten were numbred without the comprehension of them Answ They may not be called formally three of the first horns that is as under the form and special kinde of them but onely materially as being the same onely in outward figure and now applied to a new representation And this is proved by Verse 24 where although in respect of the outward figure and type he is said to root out three of the first horns yet when the thing signified cometh to be spoken of it is onely thus said that ten horus are ten kings that shall arise and another shall arise after them and he shall subdue three Kings Mark it is not said that he shall subdue three of them or three of the former Kings as in the Type but onely three kings as if distinguished from the former ten But secondly and more satisfactorily it may be answered that in a more general sense the ten horns may comprehend any that divided the Empire such as Turks and Saracens then as hath been said before But whereas it may be objected from Apoc. 17.17 that the ten horns give their kingdoms to the Beast it is to be understood not of the ten horns in general but of those onely who adhered to the Beast The Gothes and Vandals and Burgundians are among the ten horns and yet they survived not to give their kingdoms to the Beast proportionably we may judge of the Turks and Saracens 6. And thus far of the first War of Antichrist against the Turks and Saracens His second War followeth against the Saints which is described Verse 22. I beheld and is this horn made war with the Saints and prevailed against them Vers 25 He shall wear out the Saints of the most High Which second War began against the Waldesian Protestants since the yeer 1160 and yet continueth and must until the end of the Reign of Antichrist when the ancient of days shall sit in Judgement and the kingdom of New Jerusalem shall be set up Vers 9.10 26. 7. He is said to have eyes like the eyes of a man Verse 8. either in respect of his feigned courtesie and flattering humanity Chap. 8.25 or in respect of his intolerable pride and arrogancy Verse 20 with Psal 12.3 4 18.27 or rather in respect of wisedom and policie Chap. 8.25 with Zech. 11.17 and the eye of his
15. 3. His mouth is opened to speak though not without much weaknesse fears and sorrows Verse 17. 4. He is fully strengthned Vers 19. Accordingly the Witnesses of Truth were raised The first degree in the Waldenses from after the yeer 1160. The second degree in Wickliff John Hus and Zisca from about the yeer 1370 and 1400. The third degree in Luther and Zuinglius and their followers from after the yeer 1517. The fourth degree is to be expected after the three days and half when the Witnesses of Truth shall be fully strengthned An Explication of Dan. 11. Vers 1. ¶ ALso I Gabriel the Angel speaketh sent by the man clothed in linen who is Christ Chap. 10.9 10. ¶ In the first yeer of Darius the Mede even I stood to confirm him and to strengthen him Darius was the lesser horn that rose first at the fall of the Monarchy of Babylon Chap. 8.2 3. Sect. 1. The Persian Monarchy Vers 2. ¶ ANd now I will shew thee the truth Behold there shall stand up three kings in Persia That is after Darius the Mede mentioned in the former Verse and these are Cyrus Cambyses and Darius son of Histaspes ¶ And the fourth That is Xerxes next following ¶ Shall be far richer then they all For Xerxes besides that which he gathered himself received also those unmeasurable riches which by his father Darius had been gathered out of all the East and prepared for the Grecian War ¶ And when he shall be strengthened by his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia For by the sinews of his riches he moved a great War against the Grecians and thereunto stirred up all the men of the East of whom he had about Four and twenty hundred thousand besides the Attendants that would duplicate the number These he stirred up himself and his successors to whom he left this War hereditary until the ruine of the Persian Kingdom The other Persian Kings after Xerxes are not here expressed a transition following to the Grecians because in Xerxes the Persians fall began and the rising of the Grecians toward the Monarchical succession Sect. 2. The Grecian kingdom Vers 3. ¶ BUt a mighty king shall stand up This is Alexander the Great the founder of the Grecian kingdom ¶ That shall rule with great dominion For having conquered the Persians he proceeded further and subdued also the Hircanians Mardians Parthians Indians and so subjected to himself the whole East ¶ And shall do according to his will Whereby is noted continuation of Victories and power irresistible and so it is applied to the Persian Monarchy Chap. 8.4 to the Iron Romane Monarchy Chap. 11.16 and to Antichrist Chap. 11.36 Vers 4. ¶ And when he shall stand up Whereby is noted the suddennesse of his fall For assoon as ever he came to the highest he died ¶ His kingdom shall be broken Broken before divided into four For at first twelve of Alexanders Princes promiscuously brake his kingdom into many pieces unill eleven yeers after his death his kingdom became quadripartite ¶ And shall be divided toward the four windes of heaven For then toward the South Ptolomeus the son of Lagus reigned in Egypt Toward the West Philippus Arideus brother to Alexander in Macedonia Toward the East Seleucus Nicanor in Syria Babylon and the upper places Toward the North Antigonus in Asia Pontus and the other Provinces in that coast ¶ And not to his posterity For all Alexanders Family was slain ¶ Nor according to his dominion which he ruled For his successors were inferiour in extent and power Chap. 8.22 for his kingdom shall be pluckt up That is dissolved divided by Alexanders twelve Princes at last to be setled upon four even for others also besides those For others besides his posterity the four Successors and for others also beside the four the Romans as it is declared in the processe of the Prophecy Sect. 3. The Exposition of Vers 5 6. VErs 5. And the King of the South That is the whole family line and race of the Lagidae in Egypt whereof Ptolemaeus the son of Lagus was the first King shall be strong Among the four Successours of Alexander shall be eminently strong as it appeareth by their power and victories described in the Chapter following and one of his Princes That is one of Alexanders Princes shall also be strong among the four And this was the house and line of the Seleucidae in Syria of whom Seleucus Nicanor was the first and he shall be strong above him That is the house of the Seleucidae in Syria shall be stronger then the house of the Lagidae in Egypt Gras de Antic p. 69. For the Lagidae were commonly more weak and slothful and the dominion also of the Seleucidae was much larger as it is in the words following and have dominion his dominion shall be a great dominion For the Seleucidae did possesse Babylon Syria and part of Asia Vers 6. And in the end of the yeers they shall be joyned together For after long wars Ptolemaeus King of Egypt being weary endeavoured reconciliation for the Kings daughter of the South Berenice the daughter of Ptolemaeus Philadelphus shall come to the King of the North to make an agreement That is shall come to Antiochus Theos King of Syria to make agreement by marriage but she shall not retain the power of the arm For quickly was Berenice deprived of the state of a Queen and of her life neither shall he continue To wit Antiochus Theos the husband of Berenice being cut off by the acts of Laodice nor his arm Which may be the Prince as yet a Boy which he had by Berenice For after the death of Antiochus Theos Seleucus Callinicus being Successour killed both Berenice and her son also and she shall be given up To wit Berenice and they that brought her For Seleucus Callinicus slew Berenice together with the company that was with her and he that begat her For her father Ptolemaeus Philadelphus also died and he that strengthned her Her husband Antiochus Or happily it is an adjunct of her father in these times So the reconciliation was dissolved Vers 7. But out of a branch of her root shall one stand up in his estate That is one of the stock of Berenice which succeeded into the Kingdom of Egypt after the death of Ptelomaus Philadelphus to wit Ptolemaeus Euergetes the third King of the family of the Lagidae which shall come with an army and shall enter into the fortresse of the King of the North For Ptolemaus Euergetes came with a great army into Syria against Seleucus Callinicus then King of the North to avenge the death of his sister Berenice and shall deal against them and prevail For he subdued Syria took Cilicia and the upper parts beyond Euphrates and almost all Asia Jerom. Vers 8. And shall also carry captive into Egypt their gods with their Princes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth their Princes but according to
another reading as if it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is translated their molten Images with their precious vessels of silver and of gold For Euergetes understanding that sedition was moved in Egypt spoiling the Kingdom of Seleucus carried away fourty thousand Talents of silver and precious vessels and two thousand and five hundred Images of their gods and he shall continue more yeers then the King of the North For the Kingdom of the Seleucidae was subdued to the Romans about thirty five yeers before the Lagidae of the South did fall in Cleapatra Vers 9. So the King of the South shall come into his kingdom and shall return into his own land That is into Egypt he himself obtaining Syria and delivering Cilicia to be governed by his friend Antiochus and the Provinces beyond Euphrates to Xantippus another Captain Vers 10. But his sons That is the sons of Seleucus Callinicus the King of the North which were Seleucus Cetaunus and Antiochus Magnus shall be stirred up By reason of Syria taken from their father and shall assemble a multitude of great forces That is seventy thousand footmen and fifty thousand horsemen Polyb. lib. 5. and one shall certainly come He saith in the singular number one shall come and not they because in the very expedition Ceraunus was slain by Nicanor So that Antiochus Magnus came alone with his army into Syria and shall overflow and passe thorow By coming he shall come overflow passe thorow are phrases noting his celerity diligence industry multitude and strength of forces in his expedition He came thus against Philopator the King of the South Son and Successour to Euergetes He oppressed saith Justine many of Philopators Citles with a sudden war so that he subdued Syria and he shall return That is into the Countreys taken from his father and he shall be stirred up even to his fortresse That is even to the fortresse of Philopator for Antiochus came down with his army even to the most fortified City Raphia which lieth as Jerome saith in the entrances of Egypt and there encamped Vers 11. And the King of the South shall be moved with choler That is Philopator King of Egypt shall be incensed for the losse of Syria and for the present danger of losing Egypt and shall come forth and fight with him even with the King of the North That is with Antiochus Magnus at the City Raphia and he shall set forth a great multitude For Philopator set forth sixty and two thousand footmen and six thousand horsemen Paus l. 5. and the multitude shall be given into his hand That is Antiochus his multitude shall be given into the hands of Philopator which being overthrown and put to flight Antiochus flying by the deserts searce escaped with life Vers 12. And the multitude shall be lifted up and their heart exalted So I translate see Vers 12. Isai 2.14 and 6.1 and 2.13 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are Synonyma The sense is that Philopator and his army should be proud of the victory over Antiochus and he shall cast down thousands That is the great multitude of Antiochus but he shall not be strengthned thereby For the King of Egypt did not make use of this victory to strengthen himself thereby For Philopator saith Justine making peace greedily took up the occasion of ease falling back into his luxury Vers 13. And the King of the North shall return For Antiochus after Philopators death restored wars against his Son and Successour Ptolemaeus Epiphaues and shall set forth a multitude greater then the former For he gathered an uncredible army out of the upper parts of Babylon Jerome And not onely so but in sundry expeditions and in the end of times and the yeers A fatal period of yeers as Vers 6. The times of the inundation of the Romans over Macedonia and Asia to the mountain Taurus and fatal declining of the Seleucidae by coming he shall come That is swiftly suddenly with hopes of overflowing with a great army and with much riches First Antiochus overflowed into Syria and Judea then against the Romans also with three hundred thousand footmen and so many more of horsemen An army most rich in Gold Silver Purple Silkes Ivory as Florus and Gellius do testifie Flor. lib cap. 8. Gollius At. l. 5. c. See a great army and much riches It is onely said by coming he shall come with these armies no victory expressed to note rather a threatning of inundation then successe His crackling fire of Thorns was soon extinguished The Macedonian Horn was cut off and Asia by the Romans even unto Taurus in this fatal end or period of times and yeers as it is before expressed And now the Romans having subdued the North of the Greek Empire must be the King of the North in the Verses following And it is proprotionately convenient that as the Persian Kings are not mentioned after Xerxes Vers 2 3. Because under him the Greek Empire began to rise so after Antiochus Magnus the Seleucidae should nor be described because under him the Roman power began to rise upon this Kingdom Sect. 4. Of the Roman Kingdom The first and Heathen State thereof From Verse 14. to the 20. The controversal part THe common and received opinion is That the Grecian Kings are not broken off at the 14. Verse but their History continued in the Verses following And that they are continued to Verse 36. all Authours that ever I saw do with one consent without scruple affirm And from the 36. Verse also to the end some extend their description Others say the Roman Emperours do there succeed others the Pope of Rome For the honour of Christ and of this Prophecy for the farther revelation of Antichrist and confirmation of the Saints I am forced here to leave the common opinion From which I have not wilfully and rashly and unreasonably departed but upon much study and weighing of Arguments And first I think that the description of the Emperours of Rome begins at the 14. Verse reaching to the 20. which I prove by these Arguments First because Amiochus Magnus was immediately spoken of before and his History described in whose time the Roman Kingdom overflowed to the Mountain Taurus Hence I frame an Argument by congruous proportion For if Xerxes is the last Persian King mentioned Verse 3. because he occasioned the first entrance to the rising of the next Monarchy although sundry other Persian Kings came after him Why may not Antiochus Magnus be the last montioned of the Grecian Kings of the North because he occasioned the rising of the next Monarchy even to the overflowing of the Northern parts of the Kingdom of Graecia And now the Roman Captain having overflowed the North and being now made by Conquests King of the North who but he in the next Verses following should be King of the North Besides there is no cause to pretend an abrupt introduction of a new King of the
witnesses hereof Verse 39. And he shall do in the munitions of Temples with a strange God That is with the Idols before declared which are kept and worshipped in those muniments or strong holds to wit in those strong and stately edifices The particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth sometimes signifie as much as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or in not only to or for But how in those strong holds or Temples he shall do with a strange god it seemeth to be cleerly shewed Verse 31. to wit by polluting the sanctuary the strong hold and by taking away out of it the daily sacrifice and by setting up therein namely In the said sanctuary the strong hold the abomination making desolate which is the strange god here spoken off whom he shall acknowledge he shall encrease with glory and he shall cause them to rule over many That is whom Antichrist shall see and acknowledge to be faithfull unto him and defenders of his idolatries he shall make them to rule over many both in Church and Common weale For to use the words of Bullinger he createth and confirmeth Kings constituteth Princes ordaineth Bishops Doctors and Prelates of the Church neither doth he constitute any other through the world but such as sweare to be for him and his Religion Whence and happily more truly the said Bullinger translateth the words after this manner which whosoever shall acknowledge even as the Antichristian Princes and Prelates do those Antichrist shall encrease with honours and shall cause them to rule over many and he shall divide the land for gain For as the same Authour addeth lands of all kinds Collations Offices Prebends Places of government and most ample riches in the Land he bestoweth upon that kind of people only But he bestoweth the same as a reward of their faithfull service and yet not altogether freely but for gain also receiving some part of the benefice bestowed Sect. 15. A Repetition of the wars of Antichrist v. 40. BY reason of the description of Antichrist repeated from Verse 36. his wars here seem also to be repeated And for this cause also that by a certain order and methodicall course the Prophet might descend to the describing of his utter destruction Verse 40. But in the time of the end the King of the South shall push at him The time of the end in the larger sense is with Daniel that time when Antichrist began to ascend to a notable increase of his power and Kingdom as from the times of Charles the Great and more fully from the times of Hildebrand as it is expressely said Chap. 8.17 Yet in a stricter sense the time of the end is that time wherein the yeers of Antichrist are finished Chap. 11.35.45 The King of the South by an Enallage of the number signifieth the Mahometan Kings and Princes whether of the Sarasins or Turks The Sarasins first fought with Antichrist from the yeer 840 and by little and little other causes also together adjoyned inflicted on him his deadly plagues whereof mention is made Ap. 13.3 Machiah Flor. Hist That plague or deadly wound was by little and little healed the Sarasins being cast out of Italy and Sicily and more yet by that expedition into Africk against them in the yeer 1087. Sigon and lastly more perfectly by that great expedition against the Turks and Sarasins in the East about the yeer 1097. The wound was also healed in the overthrow of all other enemies through the successefull atchievements of Otho the Great and his followers Now by those expeditions and especially by the last against the Turks and Sarasins in the East the King of the North that is Antichrist rushed against the Mahometans like a whirlewind with Charets and Horses and with great fleets or with many ships and overflowed flowed and passed thorow At length he came into the Holy-land as they call or into Judea called the pleasant land many Countries falling under him He came into the Holy-land at the last term of his inundation Seeing that he touched not the land of Edom nor the land of Moab neither the beginning of the children of Ammon that is not so much as the first or outmost borders of them Wherefore these and not the other Countries adjoyned did Antichrist subdue Or happily the land of the children of Ammon is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the beginning in relation to the land of Moab and the land of Edom Because among those three Countries the land of Ammon did lye next unto the North as a beginning of the Countries first obvious to the Latines coming from the North. So that although the land of Ammon as a beginning of the other Countries did first lie open unto Antichrist yet it is affirmed that it should escape out of his hands The Holy-land only subdued and taken out of the hands of the Infidels which was the main thing intended in this expedition Furthermore it is added that Antichrist should not only subdue the Countries but also should stretch forth his hand upon them and pillage them and carry away the spoyls of them Verse 42 43. and so indeed he did in the foresaid expedition And in this respect as also in respect of overthrow and slaughter the land of Egypt did not escape Verse 42. For in the last proceedings of this first expedition to wit at Ascalon he had power over the treasures of gold and silver and over all the pleasant things of the Egyptians and of the Lybians and Ethiopians alse which are wont to be joyned with the Egyptians in wars 2 Chro. 12.2 3. Ezek. 30.5 Ier. 40.9 I conceive that first and great expedition of Antichrist here only to be described which was ended or accomplished in the foresaid victory over the Egyptians In that last victory saith Paulus Aemylius more then a hundred thousand of the Egyptians and of other Nations either subject to them or confederate with them such as the Lybians and Ethiopians are wont to be as hath been said are reported to have been slain So great prey was taken there as was not taken before though all the battles in this war that went before were put together So saith he the Turkish war being ended the Egyptians being slain a yoke being put upon the East the Nobles returned home full of glory and riches So before to the same effect Verse 26.28 Verse 44. But tidings shall trouble him from the East when afterward the Turks and Sarasins were loosed having recovered themselves So Verse 26. and from the North. By reason of the insurrection of the Waldenses and Albingenses Verse 30. Hence Antichrist grieved and troubled went forth with great wrath to destroy many to wit of the Waldenses Verse 24 30. Chap. 8.24 25. Verse 45. And he shall plant the Tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious and holy mountain Not between two seas but seas because in the Countries bordering on the Mediterranean and Ocean seas where the Church was seated signified
same and the invocation of Saints and to maintain the same by constant persecutions Alsted Chronol cap. de conciliis Sigon de regno Ital. Centur. Magdebur Then also began the Pope to exercise power and dominion over Kings and Emperours Sigon Balgus And from this time forward he ceased not to pursue the Emperours of the East in favour of Idolatry untill such time as he had utterly cast them out of Italy and established his owne Kingdom in the Empire of the Franks Platina Onuphrius Fourthly the 490 yeers or 70 weeks of yeers may begin at the yeer 1370 as hath been said from the time of Wickliffe Of this I have already spoken So all the numbers in this second way will precisely end in the yeer 1859. Now let the Reader consider and judge Fifthly the solution of the Turks notwithstanding this second way may begin in the foresaid yeer 1260. and continuing 390 yeers may end immediately before 1650 or else beginning from about 1300 may possibly run out 40 yeers after Or happily beginning in remisse degrees from about 1169 may be extended to 1559. and so the end of the strength of the Turkish Kingdom may be determined by these yeers proportionably to the five moneths of the Kingdom of the Sarasins and not the absolute and perfect end thereof Concerning the 1000 yeers Apoc. 20.3 THe Dragon is not simply the Devil but with seven heads and ten horns Chap. 12.3 that is the Devil in the Roman Empire He in his heathen estate or in the Heathen Emperours had through all the Roman Empire seduced the Nations C 12.9 to wit with heathenisme and in the way of opposition to the Church But he was cast down out of his throne in the times of Constantine Christ then taking possession of the throne together with the Saints Chap. 12.5 10. But he by the barbarous Nations as by many waters overflowing the Empire of the West and afterward stirring and raising up Antichrist beginning openly to reign and with the Barbarians to subjugate the Church about the yeer 600. even now seemed about to obtain and to recover that amplitude of power and dominion for the seducing of the Nations in his second or Antichristian state which before he had obtained in his first or Ethnick state This greatnes and efficacy of power that he might not yet obtain he was forthwith by the six first plagues of the Vials more and more to be bound and imprisoned as it were in a bottomlesse pit for the space of a thousand yeers and those thousand yeers being ended he is for a little space to be loosed in Antichrist to obtain that power at least comparatively which before he had in his Heathen state So then after these 1000 yeers he shall recover himself out of all the former plagues of the Vials and having subdued the withesses in the West he shall go forth without impediment to gather all Nations against the holy City and upon this occasion he shall come to an end by the seventh Viall The Dragon in Antichrist and in the Antichristian horns gradually ascending to the height the Saints or holy people began as it were to be beheaded Apoc. 20.4 which phrase I. believe is here applied for mysticall signification forasmuch as it was not usuall or customary with Antichrist to kill the Saints by such a kind of death properly understood but mystically he beheaded them by the word and censures wrongfully applied pronouncing them to be schismaticks and hereticks and so cut off from Christ as the body from the head and then prosecuting them as excommunicate and cut off from Christ with persecutions first of lesser kind before the times of Waldus and after unto death The Saints in this estate arose in their own defence and by the word and censures did as it were behead the Antichristians pronouncing them excommunicate and cut off from Christ and thereby exposed them unto the judgement of the Vials Now God approved the word and sentence in their mouths and thereupon followed it with plagues whereby the Dragon in the Antichristians shall be imprisoned and restrained a thousand yeers unto the end of the sixth Viall And then a short solution intervening for the gathering of all Nations shall afterward be utterly cut off by the seventh Viall Thus then the Saints did reign a thousand yeers to wit by the word and prophesie as it is also expressed Apoc. 11.5 6. and unto the foresaid last solution of the Antichristians out of the bottomlesse pit Apoc. 11.7 and they reigned by bringing the Vialls in the way of prophesie as it is affirmed in the same place Apoc. 11.6 Thus also they are said to reign as Priests of God and of Christ Apoc. 20.7 that is by the word and prayer For in this manner Priests do use to reign Therefore the Saints or Angels which are the Ministers of the seven Vials are brought in clothed with fine linnen which was the habit of the Priests Ezek. 44. and coming as Priests out of the Temple Apoc. 15.5 6. to pour them out by the word and prayer upon the Antichristians And in this sense they are said to be set on thrones and to have judgement put into their hands Apoc. 20.4 which is the judgement of the seven Vials Apocalyps 14.7 and 15.4 and 16.7 Now whereas the Saints are said to smite the Antichristians with ulcers and blood and fire as in the four first Vials and then to darken the Kingdom of Antichrist as in the fifth and afterward to dry up the waters of his Kingdom in the sixth what is this but at least to bind and restrain the Dragon in the Antichristians And we can also shew that these six Vials let the yeers of Antichrist be measured which way you will must continue the space of a 1000 yeers And expresly after that these six Vials are ended it is said as after the end of the 1000 yeers that the Dragon with the Beast is loosed to gather all Nations together against the time of the last Viall Compare Apoc. 16.13 14 15. with Apoc. 20.3 8 9. These two places namely Apocalyps 11.5 6 7. and 16.13 14. compared with Apocalyps 20.3 8 9. I suppose sufficient for the answering of any objections that may be opposed to our interpretation Whereunto may be added that in Daniel 9.24 25 26 27. where the Church is brought in standing and prevailing that is reigning all along from its first beginning untill the last week which agreeth with the time of the solution of the Dragon for a little space at the end of his 1000 years For we must understand these expressions not in a sense absolute but comparative And as the primitive Saints notwithstanding the ten successive Persecutions are brought in reigning and prevailing more and more against the Heathen Emperours to wit by the word and prayer the fight of faith and patience accompanied with sutable effects of the Gospel and of judgement untill they were utterly cast down in the dayes
also decreed against them And for the immediate succession of this War after the War against the Turks and Saracens yea conjunction in time therewith mark what another writeth The Pope saith he turned the Armies of the Crosse which had been first appointed against the Saracens upon his adversaries the Waldenses A brief Relation of the state proceedings and Wars of the Waldenses and Aloingenses gathered out of the Book intituled The History of the Waldenses and Albingenses OBserve first that the Popes Expeditions against the Turks and Saracens overflowed them about the yeer 1098 and Sixty two yeers after that is in the yeer 1160 the Waldenses arose in France professing the same Doctrine that we do now and made an absolute separatation from the Church of Rome The Pope used what means he could to root them out but the more they were persecuted the more they multiplied so that on a sudden they filled that great Tract of Land which â—â—eth between the Alps and the Pirenaean mountains Pope Innocent the third perceiving the insufficiency of former Persecutions called a Synod in the yeer 1204 and there decreed that the Expeditions of the Crosse which had been appointed against the Turks should now be turned against the Waldenses and the Catholikes saith he that shall take up the Crosse for rooting them out let them enjoy the same pardon of their sins which is granted unto them that go against the Turks for the recovering of the holy Land For the stirring up of this flame he sent about his Preachers who in likelihood carried themselves as a little after when taking this or such like Texts Who will rise up with me against the evil doers and who will stand with me against the workers of iniquity they were wont to conclude their Sermons in this manner Ye see now dearly beloved how great is the malice of the Hereticks ye see also how much hurt they do in the world ye see again how religiously and by how many godly ways the Church laboureth to reclaim them But these means can do no good with them nay they defend themselves by Secular power And therefore the holy Mother the Church though unwilling and with grief doth call together a Christian Army against them Whosoever therefore hath the zeal of faith whosoever there is whom the honour of God doth touch whosoever there is that will have that great Pardon let him come and take the Crosse let him joyn himself to the War of the Crucifix By these and such like means P. 2. c. 6. p. 36. a great Army of voluntary Souldiers came together in the yeer 1209 to the number of Three hundred thousand besides many other great Levies in the yeer following At which time the Earl of Tolouze the Earl of Besiers the Earl of Foix the Earl of Comming and Prince of Bearne stood out in defence of the Waldenses against the fury of the Pope The Popes Agents and Souldiers took their Cities Towns and Castles spoiled and pillaged their Countreys killed by the Sword captivated burned hanged and dismembred with most mercilesse and cruel behaviour until about the yeer 1213 and so forward when the Waldenses began to rise again with a little help fire going forth of their mouthes and devouring them that hurt them Neither could the Pope any more by War effectually prevail until turning to policie and deceit by flatteries and lying promises he did utterly overflow and break them down For about the yeer 1228 the old Earles of Tolouze and Foix being dead Pag. 117 the young Earl of Tolouze was allured by the Abbot of Grandselve to come to Meaux in France there to conclude a Peace fair promises pretended and assurance given of safe return There contrary to faith and promise the Popes Agents did catch the Earl under hatches enslaved him to the Pope By the like flattery they took the Earl of Foix. In depth of policie they set upon him by the forced mediation of the deceived Earl of Tolouze by whom they thought they could most aptly and effectually work and accomplish their designes He accordingly wrote to some of the subjects of the Earl of Foix who being frighted with the apprehension of their ruine should intreat their Earl both to have compassion on himself and subjects who would doubtlesse be overthrown by this violence that they shew him that there was an excellent opportunity offered the onely means to make them live in perfect peace if they would perswade him to submission By the requests and tears of these frighted persons and the deceitful plots and tricks of the Popes Agents this Earl was taken also and delivered up as a gage of his affection the Castles of Foix Pag. 130. Montgailard Montreal Vicdesos and Lordat for the good of the Peace in general while he yeelded the homage demanded Thus a Peace and Composition was made by these two Earls through submission to the Pope which two props being gone Pag. 130. the Earl of Comming and Prince of Bearne could not continue See then to appearance the end of the Albingenses when in the yeer 1234 Trancavel a Bastard-son of the Earl of Besiers stood up in their defence with most prosperous successe To take him off the Popes Agents used another politick device for they cunningly wrought on him by the mediation of the deceived Earl of Foix through great promises and threats of danger to bring him to some peaceable designe and their craft successefully prospered in his hand 〈◊〉 134. And thus were the Waldensian Princes overflown and broken down by Peace and crafty devices and not by War and their Churches fell with them For although the horrible and consuming destruction of the Waldenses was hotly and eagerly continued by the Monks Inquisitors Hist Wald. â— 1. b. 2. â—2 p. 9. from the yeer 1206 to the yeer 1228 yet now their Princes being by subtilty thrust under hatches their destruction did in comparably encrease For from hence arose that great Persecution by the Monks Inquisitors 〈◊〉 2. b. 2. â— 122 124 who taking this poor people disarmed and forsaken of their Leaders as many as would not forsake their Faith kindled their fires more then ever whereby they were utterly rooted out and the remnant seattered to the Mountains and over all Europe This I thought needful to presix that the Prophecie following might more clearly be understood Now we proceed in the explication of the Text. Concerning Antichrist these Particulars are shewed Verse 8 c. 1. THat his rising is among the ten horns in these words There came up among them So that the first rising of Antichrist doth concur with the first rising of the ten horns And so expresly Revel 17.12 they receive power as Kings at one hour with the Beast And Antichrist was to be manifested upon the removal of the Romane Empire 2 Thess 2.7 8 which began effectually to be removed by the ten Kings after Constantine the Great proportionately with the
Philosophical and Scholastical understanding whereby he is said to see and understand dark mysteries Chap. 8.23 8. He is said to have a mouth speaking presumptuous or great things Verse 8 25 that is magisterially to teach and dictate false Doctrines and such as are of a high nature against the Person Offices and Worship of the Sonne of God Revel 13.5 6 and with great insolency and presumption of spirit Dan. 11.36 and with Scholastical profundities and an ambitious style of speaking Dan. 8.23 9. It is said particularly that he shall think that he may change Laws and Times He shall not onely change them but also think it lawful for him so to do as supreme Vicar of Christ on earth So he shall change Laws by removing the daily Sacrifice or true Worship in reading hearing and teaching of the Truth in Prayer and Sacraments and by setting up his abominations and Antichristian Idolatries Chap. 11.30 31 and Doctrines of devils Chap. 11.37 38 39. Times he changeth by ordaining superstitious holy days 10. His look is said to be more stout then his fellows that is then the ten horns Vers 20 whereby is signified his exaltation of himself above Kings and Princes whereof see Chap. 11.36 37. 11. The duration of Antichrist is determined by a time two times and a half Vers 25 that is One thousand two hundred and sixty yeers as it is expounded Revel 12.6 14. The rising of Antichrist is to be fixed at the beginning of the fall of the Romane Empire and rising of the ten horns But of this more fully in another place 12. And thus much of the description of Antichrist his nature actions characters and duration Now his Fall and Ruine is described in this manner 1. Daniel is said to behold till the horns were set up Set up not cast down according to the Original This is to note that Antichrist continueth his reign and persecution until the setting up of the Thrones of Judgement So it is more plainly said Verse 21 22 25 26. 2. The ancient of days did sit This is God the Judge called the ancient of days because he ever lived to take notice of and now infallibly to bring to remembrance all the ancient and long-past villanies of the Man of sin 3. His garments were white as snow to note the righteousnesse of his Judgements Will and Actions So his Throne is white for the same end Revel 20.11 12. 4. The hair of his head is like the pure wool to note the righteousnesse of his Counsels and Decrees 5. His throne is like a fiery flame and his wheels like burning fire to note his speed and wrath in coming unto Judgement 6. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him to note the issue and execution of his Judgement beginning in temporal consumptions ending in eternal burnings 7. A thousand thousands ministred unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him to note the assistance of his Saints and Angels numberlesse in the sentence and execution of the last Judgement 1 Cor. 6.2 3. 8. The Judgement was set and the Books opened It is set for the destroying of the fourth Beast the Romane Empire and Antichrist after the time two times and a half beginning in temporal destruction finished in eternal and compleated universally in the Resurrection at the end of Fourty and sive yeers Chap. 12.11 12. The Judgement must be set to destroy great Babylon unto the end Vers 26 that is unto end of the said yeers and to the full end and destruction of all the reliques and remainders of Babylon Spiritual And the Books are opened to signifie an open discovery of all the works of Antichrist and his followers that they may be proportionably rewarded 9. Daniel is said to behold them upon the setting up of the thrones of Judgement and again to behold till the Beast was slain to note that although the deadly blowe is given unto Antichrist at the first erecting of the Thrones of Judgement yet the destruction of his kingdom is gradually to be brought unto perfection as in Fourty five yeers before expressed 10. The destruction of Antichrist is declared in three degrees 1. The Beast is slain The Beast is the Romane Empire subsisting under Antichrist and his horns and it is slain to note the deadly blowe given thereunto at the beginning of the Judgement in the battel of Gog and Magog whereof read Ezek. 38. Revel 20.8 2. His body is destroyed This is the second degree noting the gradual destruction of great Babylon the Body and Kingdom of the Beast partly by intestine slaughter partly by the parts falling off and oppressing her under the Standard of the Witnesses of Truth Ezek. 39.1 2 3. Revel 17. The third and last degree is thus expressed And his body was given to the burning fire which noteth the full end and absolute consumption of all the relikes of the kingdom by the end of the Fourty five yeers Compare Verse 26 with Revel 19.20 and 20.14 11. As concerning the rest of the Beasts it is said that they also had their dominion taken away and that their lives were prolonged onely for a season and a time Vers 12. The meaning seemeth to be that not onely the Romane kingdom but all the rest before expressed after the manner thus described passed away forasmuch as they all were temporary and appointed of God to continue onely for a time and season the kingdom of the Saints onely eternal concerning which in the next words 1. Daniel beholdeth this in night-Visions because while the dark night of Calamity covereth the Antichristian world the light ariseth on new Jerusalem Isai 60.1 2. and 21.12 Dan. 12.1 2. One like the Son of man 〈◊〉 in the clonds of heaven The Son of man is Christ the Head including also his Body the Church as appeareth by the interpretation Vers 26 He is said to come and this is his second coming in a large sense comprehending his coming to bear rule on earth by setting up his Kingdom breaking down the enemy and this the space of Fourty five yeers and then his visible appearing at the Resurrection immediately ensuing to finish his new Jerusalem begun in heavenly perfection And in this large description his second Coming is usually taken in the Prophets He is said to come in the clouds of heaven that is on high above the glory and power of the kingdoms of the earth in the supereminent majestie of his Kingdom Revel 11.12 Isa 52.13 Matth. 24.30 3. He is said to come to the Ancient of days that is as Mediator to obtain the kingdom for his Saints removed from the enemy So the Lamb is said to approach to him that sate upon the Throne to receive the Book notwithstanding he that sitteth on the Throne is also Christ as God Revel 5.7 4. It is added that they brought him neer before him Until better light may shine I cannot but conjecture that they do signifie the Saints These
bring Christ neer to the Ancient of days by the importunity of prayers for the obtaining of the Kingdom and removal of it from the Beast 5. Hereupon dominion is given unto him and glory To him that is to Christ and to his Saints Vers 26 27. This kingdom beginneth with the beginning of the fall of Antichrist and with the setting up of the Thrones of Judgement as appeareth Vers 21 22 26 27 and is absolved in heavenly perfection at the Resurrection immediately ensuing 6 The greatnesse of his kingdom is signified in these words that all people nations and languages should serve him Hereby is signified the Universal Conversion of the remnant of the earth who at the fall of Antichrist shall be subject to Christ and his Ordinances in the hand of his holy people the Witnesses of Truth for which cause they are also said to be subject to them Verse 26 27. Isai 60.10 12. All that shall withdraw their necks from such subjection shall be destroyed Dan. 12.12 And this is the first state or rising of new Jerusalem the space of Fourty five yeers before its compleating in the Resurrection which state is especially described by all the Prophets as also the first states of all other changes as of the Greeks in four horns Dan. 8 of the ten horns Chap. 7 of the Turkish four Angels Rev. 9 of the Waldensian professors all which states are specially described as being the original of the changes 7. The Duration of the kingdom is signified in the next words His deminion is an everlasting dominion which shall not passe away and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed The third Vision or Prophecie of Daniel Chap. 8. The Controversal Part. ABout the precedent Beasts and horns described in the Vision there is no Controversie and therefore I descend unto the little horn which hath been hitherto for ought I know according to the letter expounded of Antiochus Epiphanes But that it is not so to be expounded I prove by these Arguments 1. The little horn that magnified himself unto the South and East and pleasant Land is by parallel comparison the same little horn that rooted out the three Chap. 7.8 Now that little horn as it is most evident is Antichrist or the Pope of Rome belonging to the Romane kingdom and therefore cannot be Antiochus 2. This little horn ariseth when the transgressors shall come to the full and in the end of the Grecian Empire Chap. 8.23 whereas Antiochus was in the midst and far from the time of the great and full degree of the transgressors 3. The horn here spoken of is in respect of his beginnings called a little horn whereas Antiochus was not so lowe at first as to be called a little horn For to use the words of judicious Graserus de Antich p. 76. Antiochus in respect of his Parentage and Condition of Fortune which he had thereby was so great even from his Infancy that then in the world known unto us there was scarce another to be compared with him being the undoubted son of Antiochus the great and after Seleucus Philopater his elder brother right Heir of the kingdoms of Asia Babylon and Syria 4. Because this horn is said to wax very great in comparison of the former horns Verse 9 whereas Antiochus although he was great from his beginning yet did not attain unto a condition greater then his fathers Concerning which let the words of Graserus be observed proceeding in the place before alleadged He never had full possession of the whole kingdom of his father Antiochus the great which he possessed before the Romane War the sinews of War also failed him not once And as for that which Junius alleadgeth concerning his taking of Egypt if that were true yet it would little help his cause seeing it is manifest that his father Antiochus did not lesse exploits against Egypt Indeed Antiochus Epiphanes did the second time invade Egypt but with such a successe that he got more dishonour then honour thereby Neither in other Wars was he so happie and fortunate that therein he might be so far preferred above his Ancestors In sum Antiochus Epiphanes had little or nothing more then the meaner sort of the Kings of Syria Thus far Graserus 5. How did Antiochus Epiphanes so excellently magnifie himself unto the South and to the East and to the pleasant Land How unto the East forasmuch as he was ignominiously put to flight and expelled out of Persia in the East by the Citizens of Elemais How against the South seeing in both his Expeditions against Egypt Noutler Cron. he was at last shamefully repulfed the first time by the Captains of Ptolomaeus the second time by the Ambassadour Popilius And how unto the pleasant Land forasmuch as after his Intestine cruelty on the Jews his Princes and Armies were in Judea overthrown and put to flight by the Jews and their Captain Judas Maccabaus 6. The acts of this little horn are extended to the time of the end Vers 17 and of the last wrath Vers 19 whereas Antiochus Epiphanes died long before the Birth of Christ 7. In the judgement of a learned Author the Two thousand three hundred days mentioned Vers 14 are unappliable to Antiochus Epiphanes And Pererius sheweth out of the first Book of Maccabees that Antiochus his Persecutions began in the yeer of the Grecian kingdom 143 and ended in the yeer 148 1 Mac. 1.21.22 and 4.41 52. Perer. in Dan. pag. 509 510. which could not be longer then six full yeers and therefore it cannot fill up exactly the measure of Two thousand three hundred days which space containeth six yeers three months and twenty days For the three moneths and twenty days would overabound Pererius to salve this difficulty saith that the yeers Two thousand three hundred may be extended to the death of Antiochus which was in the next yeer following But according to the words of Daniel and the drift of the interpretation of the authors of this opinion the foresaid yeers Two thousand three hundred must not end in the death of Antiochus although if they should yet the difficulty of exact accommodation would still remain but in the cessation of persecution and calamity of the Church and in the purgation of the Sanctuary Vers 13 14 which being referred to the Jews in the time of Antiochus came to passe exactly in the yeer of the Greek Empire One hundred fourty eight as hath been said and cannot be extended to the yeer following Having shewed that this little horn is not Antiochus Epiphanes now I will adde a few Arguments to prove that it is Antichrist or the Pope of Rome First because it is described in a parallel description with the little horn Chap. 7.8 which must of necessity be Antichrist as hath been proved Secondly because it is a general and constant Apostacie and in the time of the end which is said under this little horn to come to passe Vers 12.17 19
shewed Now if Idolatry came in between 380. and 400. then about 390. And Syricius did all this about the year 390. I make little matter that I cannot set down the precise year thereof exactly seeing Syricius began but about five years before to be in the seat of the Pope and the holy Ghost seemeth not so much to look at the niceties of numbers as alwayes to expresse the few broken pieces but looketh especially at the perfect and round number which is the number decadical and so the number 390. may be set down for the beginning of that which happily in some degree began three or four years before See Corn. a Lap. upon Ezek. 29.12 3. The years begin at the coming in of the Barbarians which are the primitive ten horns And as Arrianisme came to its strength about the year 360. so the Barbarians began at that time effectually and successively to break in upon the Empire judgement answering unto sin The Persians made the first onset and in the issue took away five Provinces from the Roman Empire and the bank being thus broken down Ammianus the whole flood of the Barbarians followed after from about the year 364. After the year 378. there followed a cessation of the Arrian Heresie and Persecution and therewithall a cessation of the irruptions of Barbarians for about ten years and then the Antichristian Heresie and Idolatry succeeding from about the year 390. the inundation of the Barbarians came in afresh again with a new and stronger beginning So that from this time forward it could be no more interrupted but continued and increased untill the Empire of the West was utterly dissolved â—alvis Croplâ—ad ann 89. For the cruell Barbarians from the North came in irresistibly upon Britainy from about the year 390. and horrible intestine wars following in the residue of the Empire and making way for these Barbarians and also for the rest about five years after namely from about the year 395. the Gothes and all the other Barbarians followed and entred into the whole Empire irresistibly So having divided the Empire into the ten Kingdoms they corrupted the Church more then before and lastly subjected their Kingdoms openly unto Antichrist and to his Laws So then the effectuall irruption of the Barbarians beginning at 360. and again afresh at 390. do also from the former term set a beginning to the years 1290. and from the latter term set a beginning to the years 1260. Now that the years must begin at the coming in of the Barbarians and dissipation of the Empire it may appear from these considerations 1. It is very probable That Antichrist arose in the coming in of the Barbarians and dissipation of the Empire So expresly Serez the Author of the French History a man indifferent and impartiall and of whom we have no cause to think that he looked at any other end in his Discourse but onely the reality of the thing in it self without respect to the Accommodation of the years And thus he writeth fol. 2. Damasas Syricius Anastasius Innocentius Sosimus and Bonifacius Bishops of Rome lived there one after the other amidst the confusions of the Empire and even at Rome whereas the Emperors were seldom seen so as the absence of the Emperors troubled to withstand the Barbarians the miserable state of the time which forced Christians to flye to their Bishop for counsell and comfort in their confused afflictions laid the foundation of their authority then small being tyed to their charges and subject to the Emperours command But it grew by degrees untill it came to the height of this Soveraign and Absolute power so as in the end they have prescribed Laws to the Emperours Kings and Christian Princes A necessary Observation both for the truth and order of this History to understand rightly both the time and means of their rising In the first age the Bishops of Rome durst not shew themselves being persecuted and imprisoned and martyred by the Emperours Since Constantine the Great their authority began in the dissipation of the Empire it increased especially under Pipin and Charls the Great Again at the year 514. thus the same Author writeth The Pope of Rome thrust himself forward amidst these confusions and ruines of the Empire recovering that which the Emperours had lost 2. Antichrist is the little horn and he rose at the same time together with the ten horns in low and dark beginnings and the Primitive ten horns were the Northern Barbarians Dan. 7.8 It is true he is said afterward Verse 24. to arise after the ten Horns but this may be said in respect of the open and more perfect degree of his Kingdom 3. The Beast or Antichrist is said to receive his Kingdom at one hour together with the ten horns Apoc. 17.12 4. The flood of the Dragon which doth signifie the inundation of the Northern Barbarians is expresly set after the womans flight and coming to her fixed seat in the state of the Wildernesse wherein she is to sit down and to be hidden the space of all the foresaid years the time two times and half So therefore the flood of the Barbarians cannot precede the years and can ascend at most but unto a state of coexistende therewithall as being in order ranked after them and begun in events in order of nature praeexistent though not happily of time 5. The seventh head is Antichrist and he ariseth into his Kingdom gradually as the sixth head falling under the Barbarians giveth way and place unto him See Apoc. 17.10 Thus the Emperours the impediment of Antichrist is gradually removed that Antichrist may gradually succeed 2 Thess 2.8 According to this way thus we may settle the terms of the years 1290 Beginning at the year 360 do end together in the year 1649. 1260 Beginning at the year 390 do end together in the year 1649. 490 Beginning at the year 1160 do end together in the year 1649. 575 Beginning at the year 1075 do end together in the year 1649. 390 Beginning at the year 1260 do end together in the year 1649. 1. The 1290. Dan. 12.11 2. The 1260. Dan. 12.7 Apoc. 12.6 14. 3. The 490. Dan. 9.24 4. The 575. Dan. 8.14 There are numbred 2300. of mornings and evenings But because in Scripture-use there is a morning and evening for the day time and a morning and evening for the night time Exo. 29.41 30.8 Lev. 23.5 Num. 9.3 5 11. Exod. 12.6 and 29.39 Psal 30.5 6. Therefore it may be that four of those 2300. do concur to make up one day and so 2300. mornings and evenings may make up 575. full dayes which in use Propheticall are 575. years And so this number may onely comprehend the times of the most perfect raign of Antichrist described in that eighth chapter beginning from the year 1075. when first Hildebrand took occasion to exalt himself effectually above the Emperour and promulged effectuall Decrees concerning the unmarryed estate of the
Clergy and other Will-worship and Antichrist in him began of a little horn to become a great horn and presently thereupon exceeding great in the war against the Turks and Albingenses which estate of his seeing it is onely handled in the foresaid chapter no marvell if a number of years proportionate unto such a state of Antichrist was cut out in the said place 5. The years 390. according to the round number or at large 391. and an hour Ap. 9.14 do appertain unto the solution of the Turks which by the dissentions of the Latines and movings of the Tartars began to be loosed from about the year 1260. and two years before in some degree so that the hour may be in 1258. the day the year following and the 390 from 1260. See Brov. annal Thus the Turks will cease to be loosed in the year 1649. and the next year following may they begin to fall together with the Pope if this former way of Accommodation doth hold Although in respect of remisse degrees the Turk began to be loosed in Saladin about the year 1169. Calvis and so his 390. years will expire immediatly before 1559. from which time the Turkish power and Kingdom hath continually decayed The second way of Accommodation of the years NOw that the Popes Kingdom more properly so called that is the commanding and effectuall and open state thereof and the more perfect state of the foresaid signes thereof do set beginning to these years the following Arguments will plead on the other side 1. The Beast or little horn that is the Pope is said expresly to rise into his Kingdom after the ten horns being thenceforth about to raign the time two times and half Dan. 7.24 25. It will be answered He rose with them in respect of small beginnings but after them in respect of open manifestation of his Kingdom See Apoc. 17.12 But howsoever thus much may be gathered That according to this place it will not be inconvenient or unreasonable to begin the years of Antichrist after the rising of the ten horns and from the manifestation and open power of his Kingdom but rather very connaturall unto it 2. The Beast is said expresly to rise into his Kingdom after the Dragons flood and the drying up thereof being about to raign 42. moneths which signifie all the years of Antichrist Apoc. 12.16 17 18. with cap. 13.1 5 6. Now the Dragons flood was the flood of the Northern Barbarians forasmuch as the waters cast out of his mouth do properly signifie Nations Tongues and People Apoc. 17.15 flowing out upon the Church at the mouth or suggestion of the Devil Their flood was dryed up partly when they were subdued by Justinian partly when they were united with the earthly part of Christendom in Antichristian Religion It may be answered That after this time indeed the Beast arose into the open state and power of his Kingdom in appearance according to the similitude of other Kingdoms But in small and dark beginnings that he began before and that from those small beginnings his years are to be numbred howsoever they be set down under the open state thereof Compare Apoc. 12.14 with cap. 13.5 6. But this will be sufficient for our purpose that it will be very consonant and agrecable to this place to begin the years of Antichrist from his latter state and not unnaturall thereunto howsoever we cannot prove that certainly it is so 3. Dan. 11.19 to 21. So expresly after the inundation of the Northern Barbarians and after the Restauration also by Justinian Antichrist is brought in succeeding in the Kingdom But it may be answered as before That then indeed began the glory of his Kingdom or some small degree of glory at the least Although he had the Kingdom before even with Justinian and before him also yet without the glory of the Kingdom compare Dan. 11. v. 20. with v. 21. and both with v. 19. This howsoever seemeth to follow from the words that this second state or degree of Antichrist his Kingdom may constitute a very naturall and convenient beginning for the duration of his reign especially seeing in such accommodation of the yeers all numbers will agree and every one of them from very reasonable and satisfactory terms of beginning According to this second way we may set beginnings thus unto the years 1290 From 570 end in the year 1859. 1260 From 600 end in the year 1859. 1150 From 710 end in the year 1859. 490 From 1370 end in the year 1859. First 1290. may begin in 570 according to the round number For then upon the coming of the Longebards into Italy began the evident and open state of the Popes Kingdom So expresly Machiavel in his History of Florence l. 1. Caeperunt hec tempore pontifices Romani majori esse in dignitate quam antea fuerant Paulo post Vix alia erat pontificum dignitas et aestimatio prater eam quam vitae sancti monia sibi paraverant et doctrina ante aetatem Longobardorum Rursum Quum autem Longobardi jn Italiam jam venirent et illa in factiones plurimas scissa esset adaugebatur pontificia potestas hoc eorum adventu Quum enim pontifex caput esset et princeps urbis Romanae imperator vero Constantinopoli preesset itase tempori et praesenti rerum statui accommodabant Longobardi ac Longinus ut mediante pontifice populum Romanum sibi devincirent non ut subditus illorum esset sed socius et nunc horum nunc Grecorum artes sequentes pontifices mirum quam adaugebant suam dignitatem Secondly the 1260 yeers may fitly begin in the yeer 600. according to the round number Then began Gregory the Pope to deform the Church with rites and superstitions Alsted Chron. Myst iniq And indeed the Historicall use of Images began about the yeer 400. but the solitary Images of Saints began not to be set up in Temples before the yeer 600. Perk. yet the Pope approved not the worship of them Then began Gregory the Pope to command a litany for the invocation of Saints to be sung publikely Then saith Perkins of a commemoration of Saints was made an invocation of them â—rkins â—â— Imaâ—â— Casâ—der About the same yeer Gregory the Pope contended about the Primacy with the Patriark of Constantinople And about six yeers after the yeer 600. the Pope was made by Phocas universall Bishop and then first was the priviledge confirmed to the Church of Rome to wit of Primacy over all Churches Alsted lastly from about this time the Pope began to send forth his emissaries for the subjecting of the ten horns and people of Christendom unto his papall authority Thirdly the 1150 yeers being the halfe of the 2300. Dan. 8.13 14. by taking only one morning and one evening for one full day may begin most fitly at the yeer 710. For then Antichrist began publikely and in open councels to authorize the worshipping of Images and to establish the
difficulty thereof This is Isaiah 65.17 c. The state of new Heavens and new Earth is there described verse 17. This largely taken is the whole Kingdom of Christ beginning at the times of the Apostles wherein is spiritually old age in respect of Grace and duration and prosperity and security spirituall Psal 1.3 and 92.12 13 14. But of this sense I purposenet to speak now In a stricter acception it is the state of new Jerusalem Apoc. 21.1 2. 2 Pet. 3.13 that beginneth in 〈◊〉 at the end of the years of Antichrist and is consummate in coelestiall glory Therein shall be no weeping crying c. v. 19. as Apocalyps 21.4 and there shall all be as old men and none shall dye as yong men verse 20. because there all shall be lasting and also wise as old men and fully know the Lord and none shall be spirituall Infants any more See Apoc. 4.4 1 Cor. 14.20 For the description of the Church is mysticall after the similitude of an earthly Kingdom glorious in temporall happinesse in which are no diseases Famine or Sword to cut off the life before old age and in which men build and plant and labour cheerfully and successively enjoying the fruit of their labours without molestation or interruption and wherein no enemy or wilde Beast maketh men afraid So that by such temporall felicity of long life spirituall old age or wisdom is partly signified and partly perpetuall continuance in the Kingdom of Heaven And as the Saints and Ministers have builded spirituall houses and planted spirituall vineyards in their own conversion and the conversion of others and in the setting up of Churches by the preaching of the Gospel after the similitude of those that in an earthly Kingdom do the same in temporall respects 1 Cor. 9.7 so shall they eat the fruit or enjoy the comfort hereof without interruption of any enemy through all eternities So verse 21 22 23. And thus are the words following to be interpreted verse 24. Before they call I will hear Because although they may literally be expounded of the inchoation of new Jerusalem yet figuratively onely of the heavenly perfection wherein God is said to hear before we call after the similitude of temporall security to signifie his continuall protection of his people from the very fears or near approaches of any dangers And whereas it is added verse 25. that The wolf and the lamb shall feed together and the Serpent shall lick the dust Nothing else is signified then an absolute and eternall exclusion of all enemies offensive to the Church partly by conversion begun upon the Earth and in Heaven continued partly by perdition everlasting Lastly whereas in the time of the new Heavens and Earth Levites and Priests are said to continue Isaiah 66.21 22. Ministers are understood in the state of inchoation and both in state of inchoation and perfection all Saints shall be mysticall Priests and Levites for ever And they shall go forth and see the carcases of the wicked that is duly consider the end of the wicked whose worm shall never dye and whose fire shall never go out in the state of Hell then opposite unto heavenly perfection So chap. 66.24 compared with Mark 9.44 It is clear from the Epistle to the Hebrews that under the Type of the Land of Canaan the Land of Israel was Heaven signified And if in these and such like expressions of the Prophers Heaven is not understood then would it not be spoken of by them which would be utterly unreasonable to think Of the SEVEN VIALS IT remaineth to be shewed when the one thousand yeers must begin and end They begin as hath been said with the Seven Vials In the four first Vials are onely set down four degrees of Judgement and in the fourth degree coming to perfection as appeareth by those four degrees of judgement on the Roman Empire expressed by the like Figures Apoc. 8.7 And these four first Vials are upon the Builders and Founders of Antichrist as appeareth by Apoc. 16.2 The Kingdom of Antichrist in propriety is not touched till the fifth Vial as is expressed Verse 10. There are two wayes of Accommodation I will propose them both briefly and the event will shortly shew which is to be chosen For either I judge the four first Vials are the four degrees of Mahumetan plagues upon Christendom in general together with other plagues adjoyned beginning from the yeer 620 or else the four degrees of judgement upon the German-Roman-Empire the chief Founder of the Prelacy of Antichrist beginning from the yeer 840. Sigon If the former way shall hold the first Vial will be from 620 the second from 840 the third from 1160 the fourth from 1260 when the Turks effectually being loosed began to powre out the Vial on the Sun to the irrecoverable darkning of Christendom But if the second way shall hold the first Vial will be from 840 the second may be from 888 Sigon the third after a restauration as by Rivers from 1160 the fourth from 1250 when Frederick the second dying See Chaâ—â—on Chronâ—â— in the liâ—â— of Frederick 2. Sigon deâ— reg Hal. at the year 1286. the last maintainer in a manner of the German-Roman-Empire and all Christendom together being in combustions made way for the powring of the Vial on the Sun to the darkning of the said Empire irrecoverably and of the Latin Kingdom in Jerusalem and to the Laxation of the Turks upon Christendom in general Now the Popes Kingdom in propriety though assailed for a little season by the Waldenses yet speedily did not onely recover it self in the foresaid times but also took occasion by the Opposition to come unto its fulnesse wherein it also subsisted untill the time of Wickcliff Wherefore from the yeer 1370 the time of Wickcliff began the fifth Vial to be powred out upon the Throne and Kingdom of the Beast in propriety so called The sixth followed from the time of Luther whereby the waters of Euphrates the Rivers or Waters that is the Nations and Kingdoms of Babylon spiritual Apoc. 17.15 effectually began to be dryed up And the Protestant Princes politick or Protestant Saints in general as spiritual Kings and Princes began openly and visibly to reign set up by Christ the Sun of Righteousnesse to shine upon the World then sitting in a night of darknesse and therefore they are said to come as it were from the rising of the Sun So the phrase is to be interpreted Apoc. 7.2 3. Ezek. 43.1 2 3. and frequently in Prophecies This sixth Vial runneth out in the last Ascension of the Beast out of the bottomlesse pit Apoc. 11.17 and in the solution of the Dragon at the end of the 1000 yeers Apoc. 20.3 For in the issue of the sixth Vial it is expressely said in the same words for substance that the Beast and Dragon went forth to gather the Kings of the Earth and of the whole World Apoc. 16.13.14 That in their last prosperity for a