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A38634 An Essay to the explaining of the Revelation wherein amongst other things of great moment, is proved, that by the beast is meant an universal monarch which shall hereafter arise out of the Roman empire : that there shall be a fifth kingdom upon the earth, (namely that of the saints) together with the manner thereof, and that the New Jerusalem is a city properly so called, which God hath reserved in heaven for the saints. 1661 (1661) Wing E3294C; ESTC R36197 107,276 171

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and the Antichrist In the next place seeing it is now manifest that by the Antichrist many deceivers are understood let us search out what manner of deceivers they must be to whom this appellation agreeth If we consult with interpreters and observe how variously they define the Antichrist we shall be at a loss concerning that which wee seek after only we shall finde they so order the business as that if they had a spight against any man upon a Religious accompt they could transform him into Antichrist at their pleasure Wherefore leaving them let us betake our selves again to the touchstone of truth the holy Scripture and see how it defineth Antichrist John the only sacred writer that is to guide us in this as well as in the other particulars describing Antichrist Chap. 2. of this first Epistle verse 22. doth if his words be exactly rendred according to the Greek speak thus Who is the liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ this is the Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son And Chap 4.3 he saith thus Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is that spirit of Antichrist And Epist 2.7 which place was before quoted to another purpose he saith Many deceivers are come into the world who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh This is the deceiver and the Antichrist From which testimonies it is evident that only he who denieth that Jesus is the Christ or that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is an Antichrist What peevishness is it then that they who make the same confession touching Christ and his coming in the flesh should upon some other difference about Religion reproachfully term one another Antichristians And how contrary is this to the determination of the Scripture it self which all should make the rule of their words and actions These things being unfolded it is an easie matter to perceive my design in writing this Essay which is to enure men more closely to follow the Text of the holy scipture as in other parts thereof so especially in the book of the Revelation where men are wont to be loose and exorbitant in a more then ordinary manner as if they strove who should depart furthest off from the literal sense of that prophecy For bearing in minde continually that rule of interpreting which all that are of a sound judgement readily admit That we are not to recede from the letter of the sacred Text without evident necessity which is when the literal interpretation is repugnant either to our sences or to the scope of the place or to a greater number of plain Texts to the contrary I have as I perswade my self given a sounder and clearer exposition of this difficult prophecy then is commonly to be met withall I have also with the same labour cut off all those forced and factions applications of things mentioned in the said book to the Pope which too justly render the reformed Religion suspected to Papists who are apt enought to think that such violent wresting of the Revelation to disparage them preceedeth from a want of solid Arguments to confute their Doctrine For mine own part there is no man that doth abominate all Popish Superstitions more than my self nor is at a wider distance from them yet doth not the detestation of them so transport me as that I am thereby induced to abuse the holy Scripture to the end I may render Papists more odious For such a way of proceeding is wont to work a contrary effect causing men when they once perceive the Papists to be so palpably wronged to imagine that their Religion is wholly true and harmless otherwise what need was there of so far fetched Allegations to disgrace them I have further observed that there is hardly found amongst us any man of unsound Principles in matter of Religion but presently calleth in the Revelation to his aid torturing the rare Mysteries thereof to get something out of them that may give a colour to his Absurdities Wherefore I made this account with my self that by opening away to the plain and genuine understanding of that Book I might possibly give a check to such groundless fancies and hinder them from pestering the World without controll in the time to come I desire therefore all that shall light on this Essay to peruse it with patience and not pass sentence thereon untill they have read it quite through and well considered the connexion of the several parts thereof and the congruity of the things therein delivered both with Scripture and Reason and if they perceive the worth and sovereign use of the many secrets therein discovered let them give the whole glory of them unto God who is the Father of Lights both of that wherewith the Pen-men of the holy Scripture and also of that wherewith the sound Interpreters of the same are enlightned Reader forasmuch as here remaineth an empty page and some few faults escaped in the printing of this book I have thought sit here to insert them that being taken notice of in the beginning the Book might be run over without any rub in the way ERRATA Pag. 2. for were r. are pag. 14. l. 9. for then r. them pag. 37 l. 21. for not are r. are not AN ESSAY To the Explaining of the REVELATION Chap. 13. Vers 1. And I stood upon the Sand of the Sea and saw a Beast rise up out of the Sea having seven Heads and ten Horns and upon his Horns ten Crowns and upon his Heads the name of Blasphemie The Exposition BY the Beast here mentioned is to be understood a Man according to the Exposition of John himself who saith in the 18. Verse of this Chapter Here is wisdom let him that hath understanding count the number of the Beast for it is the number of a Man For if the Number of the Beast be the Number of a Man by the Beast must needs be meant a Man otherwise his Number would be the Number of something else and not of a Man Again the Beast signifieth such a Man as shall be also a King and that an universal one A King because it is said Chap. 16.10 that the fifth Angel poured out his Vial upon the Throne so it is in the Greek of the Beast For if the Beast hath a Throne he is a King it being proper to Kings to sit upon Thrones Thus the four and twenty Elders which Chap. 4.4 are said to sit upon Thrones do Chap. 5.10 acknowledge themselves to have been made Kings Yea it is subjoyned in the fore-cited passage Chap. 16.10 that the Kingdom of the Beast was darkened But if his Kingdom was darkened then it undeniably followeth that he is a King in as much as a Kingdom and a King are Relatives But it is yet superabundantly manifest that by the Beast is meant a King from the Exposition of the Angel Chap. 17.10 11. where he saith