to be Members of his Church The building upon men then is that which doth bring any people in the nearest resemblance to Antichristianisme and the more they do this the more or less are they Antichristian And this I conceive to be one chief reason in Scripture why the falls of the most eminent Saints are left upon record Because others should not dote too much upon them Moses did anger the Lord at the Waters of Meribah and Massah he died before he entred into the Land of Canaan and the Angel of the Lord did bury him in obscurity No man knew of his Sepulchre because the Children of Israel should not go a-whoring after it Deut. 34. 6. And in the New Testament among all the Apostles the faults of none are left so upon publick record as those of Peter And what is the reason of all this Doubtless the Lord did foresee what Idolatry the Church of Rome would commit in owning his Universal Headship over the Church as that the Power of the Keyes was given into his hand alone For these causes I believe the great falls of Peter are left upon record that the Papists should not say I am of Peter I am of the Bishop of Rome the Head of the Church by succession from Peter Cyprian and some of the Churches of Africa fell into another extreme They thought if a man had denied the truth in time of persecution he should never be received into the Ministery again but should stand in the Body of the People as one of them onely I cannot but in the general approve the strictness of the Discipline especially against the faults and corruptions of Ministers who should be Lights and Examples to others But that they should be so strictly dealt with all never to be received no not upon terms of the greatest Repentance Humiliation and godly Sorrow I may say in this case That Cyprian and the rest of the African Fathers were too Canonical And it was well for S. Peter that he was no Minister in Africa when he denied his Master in the High-Priests Hall Surely by the rigour of such Principles they would never have received him into Office again But the Lord Christ had a better end in the permission of his fall Simon saith he Satan hath desired to winnow thee as wheat but I have prayed for thee that thy faith should not fail Luke 22. 31. Here then the reason is clearly shewed why Satan did prevail so against Peter why he was upheld meerly by the Prayer of Christ the reason is this When thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren God in great wisdome doth suffer the most eminent Ministers to fall greatly to pluck down their pride that they may be more humble and that their bowels of affection and tenderness may be greater towards the lost Sons of men and that they should preach the Grace of God more tenderly and more feelingly to the winning and saving of miserable Souls These were the causes of the fall of Peter and one special reason is also here to be remembred God did permit him to fall so foully to prevent that sin of Antichristianity as I may so speak which should be so general in the last times Now the sin of Antichristianity is to make men the Lords of our Faith to build upon Peter or the Pope the pretended Successor of Peter in matters of Faith and Salvation Fourthly they do symbolize with the Great Antichrist who use a lawful Authority Antichrist-like to serve their own pride ambition and external glory The Apostle saith I would have written unto the Churches but Diotrephes who loveth to have the pre-eminence suffered us not 3 Joh. ver 9. Here then seeing he did love to have the pre-eminence we may probably conceive That it was in the lawful Government of the Church there was an affectation of precedency even in those dayes And in what times may not the like spirit of pride be in some men when they are put into place of Rule We reade also in the Directions of Paul concerning the choice of a Bishop that he must not be a Novice lest being swollen up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the Devil 1 Tim. 3. 6. It is clear from these words as also from the whole Epistle that there must be a Government in the Church of God and whosoever S. Paul's Bishop is he must have the principal stroke in the Government For these words are immediately added If a man know not how to rule his own house how shall he take care for the Church of God The Church of God is Christs house and the Bishops Elders and Ministers of the Church have their Office by delegation from him and not from any other Authority Now such a lawful power as this is men may sinfully abuse and pervert to the setting up of their own greatness and therefore the Apostle doth give this caveat Not a Novice lest being swollen up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the Devil By a Novice he doth not intend a man yong in years for Timothy himself was but yong but he meaneth a beginner in the School of Christ a Novice in manners such a one he would not have set over the House of God lest being swollen up with pride he fall into the same sin and the same condemnation as the Devil did being sometimes an Angel of light From this instance then it is clear That a lawful Power may be used in an Antichristian manner Such beginnings of pride the Apostle probably might see in those dayes and these might occasion him to say The Mystery of Iniquity doth already work Now whereas some do impute it to this or that Government that it would be as Tyrannical and Antichristian as any that went before Let them not deceive themselves The Government may be Christs yet if any do use it to serve their own Pride Tyranny or Lordliness the fault is their own It lies in the corruption of the Person but not in the nature of the Office The superiority of Parents over their Children of Husbands over their Wives of Magistrates over the People are all by Divine Institution yet the persons may so demean themselves that they may tyrannize and if we may so speak it may Antichristianize That is a remarkable passage which the Lord hath concerning Stewards in a lawful power If that evil servant shall say My Lord deferreth his coming and shall begin to smite his fellow-servants and shall eat and drink with the drunken the Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him and will cut him in sunder and appoint him his portion with hypocrites Mat. 24. 48 49. By a Servant or Steward we may understand Magistrate Minister or any other whom the Lord hath intrusted with a lawful Power in Church or Common-wealth Now if they use this Power illegally and tyrannically if Ministers cast those out of the Church who should be kept in
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
up to attention to look after the Messiah of whom so much was sooken in the Prophecies So in the like case many things being foretold in the writings of the Apostles concerning the coming of Antichrist when that time should begin to draw near the Lord was pleased to suffer such a dust to be raised between Constantinople and Rome to rouze up the spirits of men to examine those things which were foretold in the Scriptures In the Book of the Revelation there is much spoken concerning the Name of the Beast and the Mark of the Name Now when this Name or Headship was come to the beginning thereof Gregory did plainly declare That the formality of Antichristianism did consist in this Title and that the Man of sin was then at the doors And I wish one day his sayings do not strongly witness against all his Successors who with one joynt consent down from the year of our Lord 606 have appropriated this Title to themselves to the great dishonour of Christ the true Head of the Church But if they alledge That the Bishop of Rome is only a Ministerial head as Christ's Vicar To this I Answer However they may evade by subtilty of words indeed and in truth they have taken for many Ages together the Dignity of Christ and have made him only the titular Head of the Church For is it not clear by the Stories That all doth depend upon the Authority of the Romane See The credit of Scripture the interpretation of Scripture the making of Laws the abrogation of divine Laws and all things in a manner have depended upon the Authority of the Roman Bishop What he would he hath set up what he would he hath plucked down And when all this is done is he only a titular Head Indeed and in â—…uth the Headship of Christ hath been made but a cypher and the words of Gregory have been found too true in the event But for the passages out of him two things are briefly to be observed First If we go to the 600 years immediately after the birth of Christ there was then no Oecumenical Bishop For though the Man of sin had gone very far and had made many progressions in the Mysterie of Iniquity yet the Authority it self was not publickly established in all that time If it were so we may believe that Gregory would not have inveighed against that Headship as he did Secondly In the year of the Lord 606 the Decree was Enacted That the Bishop of Rome should be Head over all Churches which Dignity the whole Succession have enjoyed now above this 1000 years And that which Gregory did call Antichristian in others that all his followers have assumed to this very day Therefore Thuanus in his 67 Book doth speak very pithily Phocas Bonifacio tertio insignes Episcopi Universalis titulos quos nuper Gregorius in Iohanne Constantinopolitano improbaverat prolixè attribuit Phocas did largely ascribe to Boniface the third those eminent titles of Universal Bishop which Gregory did lately inveigh against in Iohn of Constantinople Now then to gather all into one sum we may see how the Prophecies and the Stories of the Church do agree First That the two-horned Beast had a determinate time when he rose up out of the Earth Secondly That this time is after the rising of the ten-horned Beast or the ten Kings out of the ruines of the Empire Thirdly It is to be applied to such a time only when the Name and the Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome began publickly to be set up All these three laid together do necessarily bring us to the Decree of the Headship under the Emperor Phocas And so we do Conclude that this is the Number of the Name of the Beast as it is mentioned in the Prophecie Now by what Accompt the Number is 666 we will shew in the Two Chapters following CHAP. V. That the Roman is the Fourth and Last Metal-Kingdom in Daniels Image and the truth of this is proved against the Positions of Junius Broughton Piscator Dr. Willet and others FOr the carrying on of our matter we need not imbark in that great Question Whether the Roman be the Fourth Metal-Kingdom Or Whether the Opinion of Junius and his followers be received We are sure both wayes to make the Accompt good That the Name or Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome is 666. The matter is so firmly grounded upon the event Let us then proceed according to Iunius his Method let us say that the Babylonian is the first Metal-Kingdom that the Mede-Persian is the second that the Macedonian in Alexander is the third that the Seleucian is the fourth Here according to this Analogie there must be an end of all the four Metal-Kingdoms at the destruction of the Seleucian when Syria Iudaea and all that Oriental tract came under the Obedience of the People of Rome Now then if you reckon from the final Conclusion of all the four persecuting Empires and from the beginning of the Roman as that Nation did succeed in the Rule over the Church there will be an exact period of 666 years to the setting up of the Name or Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome And so we do concord with the Principles of Iunius But we do not say That there was a dissolution of all four Metal-Kingdoms but only a dissolution of the third and a beginning of the fourth Now from the beginning of the Roman or the fourth Kingdom we make the accompt And for the clearer manifestation of the truth we will Debate this Point more fully for it is a ruled case in Daniel and the Revelation That one and the same thing is variously repeated for clearer explication As for ensample The Antichristian Kingdom is more obscurely delivered Revel 11. Now if we compare it with the description chap. 13 and chap. 17. all three Scriptures will exceedingly illustrate one and the same truth And so in the present case if it can be solidly proved that the fourth Beast in Daniel is the Roman Kingdom we may safely conclude that the same matter is repeated more largely in the Book of the Revelation Mr Medâ—… speaketh to very good purpose concerning the description of the ten-horn'd Beast Rev. 13. These are his words Toâ—…a autem haec descriptio petita est ex Propheâ—…iâ Danielis cap. 7. ubi de eâdem agitur quâ hic Bestiâ Romanâ status novissimi sed quae ibi Danieli ab Angelo succinctius narrantur ea hîc Iohanni interjectâ quasi explicatione fusius deducuntur Comment Apocal. pag. 190. From which words of his it is clear that one and the same Roman Dominion in the last and Antichristian State thereof is the subject matter of both Scriptures And so we have a certain and a demonstrative Principle to build upon For not only the Book of the Revelation it self will be cleared by comparing one part with another that which is more dark with that which is more
this Fourth Monarchy is to be stated according to Church-relations Secondly We will shew out of the Stories in whose times and by whose means the Church came first under the Dominion of that People Now That the Roman doth begin as the Fourth of Daniel's Kingdoms when the Church came under the Obedience of that People may be proved by these Arguments ARGUMENT I. Where the former Three Kingdoms in Daniel's Image did begin by the same Analogie we are to proceed in stating the Beginning of the Fourth Kingdom But the former Three Kingdoms in Daniel's Image did begin each of them in their several times when the Church and the Confines adjoyning came under their Dominion Therefore the Roman as the Fourth Kingdom in Daniel's Image began when the Church and the Confines about the Church came under the Obedience of that People The Major is clear For none will Deny but that the Roman doth hold Analogie with the three former Empires in their beginning And for the Minor we prove it by Induction of Singulars As for Ensample Example 1. First In the Babylonian Kingdom the first of Daniel's Four there were many Potent Kings that did Reign in that Succession before the times of Nebuchadnezzar for he began to Reign in the 144 year of the Aera of Nabonazzar Now the several Names of the Kings the times of their Reign and the order of their Succession are all set down in the famous Canon of Ptolomy as we shall shew afterwards But not to go far for an Example There is mention made of one Merodach-Baladan in the Canon aforesaid called by the Name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he sent Ambassadors to Hezekiah King of Iudah 2 King 20. 12. There was then a Succession of Babylonian Kings before Nebuchadnezzar You will say Why is he then called the Head of Gold as much in sense as the first Babylonian King I Answer Though he was not simply the first Babylonian King others Reigning before him yet he was the first Prince of the Babylonians that brought the Jewish Church and the Confines about that Church within the Babylonian Empire Example 2. Secondly That Kingdom of the Medes and Persians whereof Darius and Cyrus were the Founders if we go strictly to work the Foundation of these was laid before For it is manifestly plain by the testimony of the Greek Historians and by the Chronographical Tables now in the hands of all men That there was a Potent Race of the Kings of Media down from Arbaces the Mede Yet for all this Darius and Cyrus are the true Founders of the Mede-Persian Kingdom because they first brought the Jewish Church under the power of the Medes and Persians And that which is very remarkable to our present purpose though it be a thing famously known among Historians That Cyrus began to Reign in the 55 Olympiad though he subdued many Nations Propagated the Persian Empire very far yet the Scripture taketh no notice of that beginning but then only when the Church came within the limits of the Persian Dominion And therefore it is well Observed by Piscator in his Scholia upon Ezra chap. 1. vers 2. That the Edict came forth in the first of Cyrus King of Persia. This saith he is the first year of his Reign in Babylon Example 3. The Third Kingdom in Daniel's Image is that of the Graecians of which Alexander became the Head at the overthrow of Darius The rough Goat is said to be the Monarchy of the Graecians and the Great Horn to wit Alexander is expresly called the first King Dan. 8. 21. Now How can he be said to be the first King of the Graecians seeing there were many Mighty Kings before him in and over that Nation To let pass all the other States of Greece in Macedonia it self Philip the Father of Alexander was a Potent Prince But the Answer is as before He was the first Monarchical King that subdued the Territories of the Church There was never any Graecian Prince that extended the Sovereign Rule of that People so far Eastward to the Confines of the Church as he And therefore he is expresly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the first King of the Graecians From all the forementioned particulars it is clear That the former Three Kingdoms in Daniel's Image began each of them in their several times when the Church came under their respective Dominions And so the Assumption is proved If then we proceed in the same Analogie we must necessarily say That the Roman began as the Fourth Metal-Kingdom when the Jewish Church and the Continent adjoyning came first under the Sovereign Lordship and Command of the People of Rome But yet for further confirmation of this truth we will produce some new Arguments to prove That the Metal-Kingdoms are Numbred in relation to the Church First The Revelation of these Metal-Kingdoms was specially for the Saints and People of God For though one end was to Discover to Nebuchadnezzar what Successions of Tyranny there should be after him yet this was principally for the Churches sake and the Churches use And therefore it is mentioned This Secret is not revealed unto me for any wisdom that I have above all living but for their sakes that shall make known the Interpretation to the King vers 30. Therefore in the delineation of these Tyrannical Empires the Lord doth specially intend to Reveal to the Church those Changes and Vicissitudes of times that she should meet withal In Relation to her then There is primarily a Discovery of these things Secondly These Metal-Kingdoms are also Discovered to shew in what Region or Part of Time the Kingdom of Christ should begin All the Scriptures in the Old Testament point mainly to Christ some point to his Parentage others to the place of his Birth others to the Tribe that he should come of So this in special pointeth to that period of time when his Kingdom should begin These are the words of the text In the dayes of these Kingdoms shall the God of Heaven raise up a Kingdom that never shall be destroyed From whence it is manifest That the Monarchies are reckoned according to the alterations which shall be in and about the Borders of the Jewish Church For Where should Christ be Born but in Iudea And hereupon he is called The King of the Jews Thirdly If we go to that Expression so often mentioned Dan. 11. where the Seleucian is called The King of the North and the Dominion of the Lagidae The King of the South Here we must necessarily Affirm That these Empires are said to be North and South in some special relation And the Reason is clear Because Iudea did lie in the middest betwixt them as a Lamb betwixt Two Wolves having the Seleucidae on the North and the Lagidae on the South Now that the People of the Jews are herein principally respected the words of the Angel are clear I am come to make Thee Understand what shall befal Thy People in
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-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
give them a Mark as if the intent of the Beast were by this that they should give testimony that they are his They are also said to receive a Mark Chap. 14. To have the Mark Chap. 16. Now then we are sure that to give receive or have the Mark of the Beast is no other but that Act by which the Consciences of men are obliged to the Authority of the Pope and his Church When also they do prosess That by their Swords Wits Goods Lives and by all that they have they will maintain the Decrees and Laws made by that Authority The Mark in the Forehead is the publick Profession of the Universal Headship in the view of men and the Mark in the Right-hand is the solemn Resolution and Obligation to defend and maintain the Authority of the Beast against all that do oppose it And truly the event of things doth notably answer the prediction For we see by plain experience That the Papists such is their zeal to the Catholick Cause do out-strip us by many degrees The Jesuiâ—…es are never idle they compass Sea and Land they â—…urn themselves into all forms and are still animating of Princes and People against the Protestant Cause Yea they have so wrought that almost no man among them seemeth to spare either Labour Wealth Counsel or Life it self to uphold the Name and Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome God grant that one day they do not rise up in Judgment against us for we do not come near them in the least degree in promoting the Kingdom of Christ or in setting up the Gospel as the Regent-Law among the Nations But the Papists will not hear that they are enemies or that they go against the Lord and his Word They hold That the Bishop of Rome is the Vicar of Christ and that he hath all his Authority by delegation from him These are specious shews But in deed and in truth they are real enemies against Christ For the Scriptures and the words of the Gospel they can do nothing but meerly as the Pope and the Church of Rome do give life vigour and authority to them and as they do interpret them which always they do to their own advantage There is no truth more clearly delivered in Scripture then the Doctrine of Justification by Faith in Christ and yet the Pope saith on the contrary That there is a Purgatory after this life and that the souls there detained are freed by Masses Indulgences Pardons and such like means God and his Word say Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serve The Pope on the contrary saith Thou shalt worship Saints Images Crosses Reliques and the like God and Christ have commanded all men to search the Scriptures and to try the Spirits of what nature they be Now the Pope on the contrary commandeth that men should forbear the doing of this and that they should depend upon him alone God and Christ say Marriage is honourable amongst all men and the bed undefiled The Pope on the contrary forbiddeth Marriage to the Ministry By these and sundry such-like instances it is apparent That the Name and Soveraignty of the Beast is every way contrary to the Name and Soveraignty of the Lamb. For what the Lamb doth command the Beast doth countermand for the most part From hence it is clear then say the Papists what they will when they leave Christ to follow the Laws of the Pope in sense and substance they make him their Christ their Spiritual King Head and Governour and so in effect are no true Christians Now on the contrary seeing the Lord Christ is given as a Leader and Commander to his people they who refuse the Laws of the Pope to yield subjection to Christ in the times of the greatest persecution are every where mentioned in the Revelation to have the Name of the Father written in their Forehead Chap. 14. ver 15. To be the remnant of the seed of the woman that keep the Commandments of God and have the Testimony of Iesus Christ Chap. 12. ver 17. The Papists then in receiving the Doctrines and Decrees of the Bishop of Rome under that formality as they do believe him Universal Head of the Church are positively directly and immediately Antichristian This Truth being laid down a stream of excellent Uses do naturally flow from it First We may here contemplate and behold the truth and infinite Wisdome of God speaking in the Scriptures It is now above 1500 years since that Iohn wrote the Revelation in which he spake of the Beast his Name Mark Image and the Number of his Name Now if we go to experience What have all ages for this thousand years last past but verified and fulfilled the truth of that which he spake of long before He that shall diligently reade the present Treatise will finde it to be true as we have said Secondly here is matter for our prayers and tears yea for our bowels to yern over those great Countries Kingdomes and Commonweals which do as yet own the Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome They do continue in a great sin against the Kingly Office of Christ their profession is no other but Apostacy from the true Head of the Church and unless they repent they will one day feel the great Plagues contained in the words of the Prophecy Thirdly here is cause for the Protestant Churches to be thankful to the Lord For did they rightly understand it he hath delivered them from a bondage and slavery which far surpasseth the bondage of Egypt or Babylon For in the present case if men under this Government refuse to Worship the Beast and to receive his Mark the penalty is that they shall have no liberty to buy nor sell they shall be killed with the Sword they shall have their blood spilt they shall be subjected to sundry kindes of death On the contrary if they do worship the Beast and receive his Mark the Lord Christ doth threaten on the other side that they shall be tormented day and night and the smoke of their burning shall ascend for ever and ever Rev. Chap. 14. ver 7 8 9 10. The day of the deliverance of the Churches from Romish Tyranny was a day of deliverance from a Tyranny over their Souls over their Consciences over their Bodies over their Estates But all Treatises are full of Uses of this kinde We will proceed â—…o that which is Antichristian by Analogie and Reduction for this is more immediate to our purpose CHAP. XIII Concerning that which is Antichristian by Analogie and 〈◊〉 IN the progress of the Discourse we have shewed That the formality of Antichristianism is in the Headship of the Beast By this Standard of the Market we may prove all other things that do more remotely symbolize and agree with the Great Anti-Christ First the power of the Magistrate when it hath no bounds or limits but he doth all by his Will and Prerogative in
I have bestowed the more pains to try the force of their Arguments for either we or they must greatly mistake in the Point However let it be true as they affirm that not the Roman but the Seleucian is the fourth last Metal-Kingdome then all the Metal-Kingdomes must necessarily determine and expireat the destruction of the Seleucian And so according to the tenor of this Doctrine we shall have that which will singularly agree with our way of Calculation For if the account be made from the end of all four Metal-Kingdomes from the terminus ad quem in the same series and method of Computation there will be 666 years to the setting up of the Name or Headship of the Bishop of Rome And so we shall concord with the Principles of Iunius and as to the Point in hand he and we shall facere paria This is in brief the understanding which I have both of the Name of the Beast and the Number thereof Now if any shall ask What proof or what evidence I have to hold forth the truth of the thing I answer The process of the Demonstration is by Conglobation and by a full Induction of Singulars and it is this in effect Where there is a true correspondence with all the Circumstances of the Text the most remarkable Passages of the Prophesie and the Event of things that is a true Interpretation But the present is such Ergo c. All the burthen of proof will rest upon the Assumption I have to this purpose applied it then to all the Circumstances of the Text Chap. 13. I have compared it with the main drift and scope of the Spirit Chap. 17. I have examined it by the tenor of the Apostles Doctrine 2 Thess. 2. And last of all I have shewed how it doth agree with the several passages in the body of the Prophesie and with the event of things And now Reader whosoever thou art that hast a minde given thee rightly to calculate the Number of the Beast I leave it to thee to reade to meditate to examine and to judge of the things that I have written If I have anywhere deviated from the Truth I desire thy brotherly Admonition And if anywhere it shall please the Lord to make this Treatise an Instrument of light to thy understanding know That thou hast this Treasure brought to thee in an earthen Vessel that the praise may be of God alone And so I rest Thine in the LORD N. S. THE CONTENTS of the CHAPTERS Of the ensuing TREATISE CHAP. I. COncerning the Profitableness and the Use of the Discovery Pag. 1 CHAP. II. Concerning the Possibility of the Discovery and how that there are certain demonstrative Principles to bring the Truth to light pag. 12 CHAP. III. That the Name of the Beast is not the word Lateinos or any other Grammatical word but the Name is The Universal Power and Headship of the Beast immediately opposed to the Power Dominion and Headship of the Lamb pag. 18 CHAP. IV. Concerning the Number of the Name of the Beast where it is shewed That the Name or Universal Headship began publickly to he Established under the Emperor Phocas 666 years from the beginning of the Roman as the Fourth Metal-Kingdome pag. 36 CHAP. V. That the Roman is the Fourth and Last Metal-Kingdome in Daniels Image and the truth of this is proved against the Positions of Junius Broughton Piscator Dr. Willet and others pag. 46 CHAP. VI. That the Beginning of the Roman as the Fourth Metal-Kingdome is not from the time of Julius or Augustus Caesar or from any other â—…ulgar 〈◊〉 but precisely from that instant when the 〈◊〉 oâ—… God came under the Dominion of the Romans 60 years before the Birth of the Lord and 666 before the going â—…orth of the Decâ—…ee That the Bishop of Rome should be Head oâ—…r all the Churches pag. 116 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-Kingdome to the setting up of the Name or Universal 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 pag. 158 CHAP. VIII The Truth of the Interpretation is proved from the remarkable Circumstances of the Text it self Revel 13. 16 17 18. pag. 165 CHAP. IX The Truth of the Interpretation is further Confirmed from the scope of the Seventeenth Chapter of the Revelation pag. 212 CHAP. X. A List of Fifteen Principles drawn from the main sense of the Prophecy concerning the Beast his Name Mark and Number by the Position of which the present Interpretation is established Also the several Expositions of Mr. Potter and other Writers are brought to Tryal pag. 219 CHAP. XI A brief Description of the Doctrine of S. Paul 2 Thess. 2. And how he doth fully agree with the present Interpretation pag. 238 CHAP. XII The Application of the whole Where mention is made first of those things that are directly Antichristian pag. 247 CHAP. XIII Concerning that which is Antichristian by Analogie and Reduction pag. 251 CHAP. XIV What these things are which are Antichristian onely by the Position of some Circumstances as they are truly Christian by the Position of others The Conclusion of the whole pag. 277 CHAP. XV. Concerning those things which are not Antichristian but are onely falsly so called by the Separation pag. 291 There are divers faults to be amended some are lesser which we leave to the courtesie of the Reader to pass by others there are that do more notably mar and deface the sense which we do desire that he will amend Page Line For Reade 94 3 briefly fully 135 23 be brought be there brought 142 11 in the fourth is the fourth ibid. 27 secret sacred 185 29 seventh Angel seven Angels 193 20 typical proof topical proof 216 21 Augustus Angulus 229 12 to that Government in that Government Some Hebrew words are not right printed pag. 51 101 118 153. The terms in the Conclusion of the first Argument pag. 117. are misplaced And so are the words in another expression pag. 57. lin 17 18. A plain EXPOSITION OF THE Number of the Name of the Beast Revel 13. vers 18. CHAP. I. Concerning the Profitableness and the Use of the Discovery BEfore I come positively to set down the meaning of the Number and what the Holy Spirit doth hereby particularly intend it shall be profitable to speak Two things First Concerning the Use of the Discovery Secondly Concerning the Possibility thereof For the Use It is a matter of some Concernment that I should treat of this in the beginning first out of respect to that Common Maxime Let all things be done to Edification I shall therefore endeavour to let it appear to the Christian Reader how he may be builded up in the Faith and how in this Argument he may have matter of Correction
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
Bishop of Rome should be Head over all Churches For the Calculation of the times I have shewed That there is a Chain of 666 years from the beginning of the Roman as the Fourth Metal-Kingdom to the setting up of the Name or Universal Headship aforesaid To the clearer probation of which I have largely insisted upon two Points First That the Roman is the Fourth Metal-Kingdom against Iunius and his followers Secondly That the Roman doth begin as the Fourth Metal-Kingdom not from Iulius or Augustus Caesar but from that time when the Church came under the Dominion of that People Now from this beginning I do positively Affirm That there is a Chain of 666 years to the beginning of the Papacie set forth by the Type or Emblem of the little Horn Dan. 7. And this is the true Accommodation and Application of Daniel's Visions to the Stories of the Church And whereas Iohn in the Revelation speaketh of the rising of the Two-Horned Beast out of the Earth that the Number of the Name or Universal Headship of this Beast is 666 His meaning is That there are 666 years from the beginning of the Roman as the Fourth Metal-Kingdom to the setting up of the Name or Universal Headship of the Beast He doth more fully repeat that which was more briefly delivered before And in these Calculations he doth but refer us to Daniel's Chronologie in the Image of persecuting States This is the whole process of the Discourse But before I come to the Point I will remove a mistake in some of our latter Commentaries which will have Mahomet or the Turk to be the little Horn. This is the Opinion of Grasserus and Mr Brightman I have been held with some kind of admiration to see two such worthy Expositors to leave the Common and plain way and to embrace a private Fancy of their own so contrary to the scope of the Scriptures and to the ordinary Reason of men But let us come to Argument First The little Horn and the Ten Horns in the text are set forth as the parts that do integrate and make up the Roman as the Fourth Metal-Kingdom But so do neither Mahomet nor the Turk as it is plain by experience For who can say That the Turk or Mahomet are any integral parts of the Roman Kingdom being every way so contrary and opposite having no union or conjunction at all Object 1. But it may be Replied The ten Kings that arose out of the Ruines of the old Empire are reckoned as Branches and Parts of the Roman Kingdom and yet they were the Princes by whom the Empire was destroyed Sol. To this I Reply The forenamed Interpreters may easily give an Answer to this Doubt out of the Revelation Though the Ten Kings did arise out of the Ruines of the Empire yet all of them afterward were united in one Roman Body of the last Edition but neither Mahomet nor the Turk ever came within this union or combination Object 2. But it may be further Alledged That the little Horn did subdue three of the former Horns and this rather agreeth to Mahomet and the Turk than to the Papacie whose part it is to preserve them Sol. Among the many Notes of the little Horn it is possible some few may be applicable to Mahomet and to the Turk but we should also consider the multitude and Evidence of those others that do utterly reject such an Application Now there are many Notes that cannot possibly agree with Mahomet or the Turk if we should come to singulars And for the eradication of Three Horns we have largely proved how the Papacie did humble Three Dominions to have elbow-room in Italy He did cast down some of the former and it is as true That he did preserve the union of the Residue to make a Roman Catholick Empire Secondly For the Blasphemies of the little Horn The Beast was destroyed and his Body given to the burning fire Now what Congruity or colour of Reason is there That the Roman Kingdom should be destroyed for the Blasphemies of Mahomet If you apply this to the Papacy this is fully verified in that which is spoken The Beast was taken and with him the false Prophet and they both were cast into the Lake of fire Thirdly In all the times of the Roman Kingdom from the beginning to the end there was the greatest cruelty exercised against the Saints in the times of the little Horn. Now if you apply this to Mahomet and the Turk though they have made great waste in the Christian world yet the War hath not been formerly against the Saints as such neither hath their cruelty been the greatest that ever hath been But if we apply this to the Papacy here hath been a War against the Saints as Saints and here hath been the greatest Persecutions that ever were as appeareth by the whole Book of the Revelation Fourthly The little Horn is said to continue a time times and the dividing of time This will not agree to the duration of Mahomet for what place of Scripture doth once mention such a thing But it is plainly applied to the Papacy Rev. 12. 6. Rev. 13. 5. These and many more Reasons may be produced to prove That Mahomet cannot be resembled by the little Horn and the Reasons for the Affirmative are very weak and feeble On the contrary if you take the whole Body of the Chapter and the whole Bundle of Notes they will be wholly applied to the Bishop of Rome and strongly prove That the Papacy is the little Horn. Now I will try the truth of one Principle on which the forenamed Authors do build when they take Mahomet to be the little Horn. The chief Ground they build upon is this Because the Turk doth hold all those Countries in Asia which were formerly the Continent of the Iewish Church To this I have said before That so long as the Jews were the only People of God the delineation of the Four Metal-Kingdoms was in special reference to that Church But they being cast off the Metal-Kingdoms so much of them as doth remain doth more immediately concern the Churches of the Gentiles If Mahomet be the little Horn who were the Saints of the most High whom he did wear cut Will any man say That they were only the Saints of the Jewish Church Alas the Jews were a People cast away some hundreds of years before the Name of Mahomet was heard in the world and they do remain till this day a People not called again It may be more truly affirmed That the Metal-Kingdoms in Daniel's Image do not concern the Jews only nor the Gentiles only but both Jews and Gentiles in their several times For proof of this we will lay down some special Observations First In the Image of persecuting States it is not the purpose of God only to shew Four Revolutions of Empire but his more special intent is to shew the beginning of the Kingdom of his Son Secondly It is his purpose
But saving the great worth and Learning of such an Author here is the very formality of Antichristianism for which which men shall be liable to very great Judgements unless they do repent And though they do distinguish betwixt Two kinds of Heads that Head which is Supreme and that which is Ministerial it is too too well known if we go to Practice That the Bishop of Rome hath not assumed a Ministerial Headship to himself nay indeed and in truth he hath made the Headship of Christ nothing at all Ninthly The Mark in the Forehead and in the right Hand ought to be so expounded that therein must appear the principal Cause of the sufferings of the Martyrs For after that the Beast was destroyed Iohn saw in the Vision the Souls of them that were beheaded for the Word God and for the Testimony of Jesus that had not worshipped the Beast nor received his Mark Chap. 20. 3 4. The special Cause of the sufferings of the Martyrs must be for the refusal of these things If we transfer this to Experience we shall find That great Multitudes of Men and Women have been put to death in all the times of the Beast's Kingdom because they would not yield Obedience to the Laws Ceremonies Traditions and Superstitious Observations imposed upon them by the Authority of the Bishop of Rome as Universal Head of the Church They were slain because they held the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ because they took the Lord Christ alone for the true Head of the Church and would live only in subjection to his Laws Now then to gather up all the aforementioned particulars into one sum it is clear That the Profession of a Roman Catholick in the visibility thereof is the Mark of the Beast in the Forehead and in the right Hand and all Circumstances do wonderfully agree But let us now come to give some special instance for this out of the Old Testament And here if we go to the times of Antiochus Epiphanes we shall finde a cleer instance of the Character or Mark of the Beast in the times of the Graecian Antichrist For there is mention made of one Iason when he had bought the High Priesthood for Money and did assign 150 Talents more if he might have license to set up a place for Exercise and for the training up of Youth in the Fashions of the Heathen and to write them of Hierusalem by the Name of Antiochians Which when the King had granted and he had gotten the Rule into his hand it is expressly said of this Iason 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Our English hath it He forthwith brought his own Nation to the Greekish Fashion Iunius and Montanus and the Lexicographer Scapula have it Ad Graecum Ritum But I think the words may better be translated He carried over his own Country-men to the Greek Character 2 Macc. 4. 9 10. For the more close and perfect Application of this Truth we will note these four Particulars 1. What is the Hellenick or Graecian Character 2. Who are the Persons that do receive it 3. The Time when 4. The Power and Authority which did compel them to receive it For the first A Character is nothing else but a Note of Distinction by and through which one sort of People are distinguished from another as the Ephraimites were distinguished from the Gileadites by the Word Shiboleth so one Nation is distinguished from another by their Language Attire and other Customes But in this case we have not to do with the Marks of civil distinction and therefore when it is said That Iason carried over his own Country-men to the Hellenick Character this is meant of such a way of worship as was the publick Profession among the profane Graecians in matters of Religion In respect whereof that publick Profession was determinatus modus vivendi as the School-men speak containing that manner and way of living according to the Law of the Antiochians The like may be said That the Mark of the Beast in the Revelation is that whereby they of the Romish Religion are distinguished from others for they have a peculiar manner of living according to the Laws of that Church under the Pope the Head There is then an exact Agreement betwixt the Hellenick and the Romish Character and in both Nations Men are distinguished by this as by the Badge of their Profession Secondly For the Persons who were they that Iason carried over to receive the Mark of the Beast in the Graecian Tyranny It is plainly said That he carried over 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his own Country-men of the Stock and Lineage of Abraham And these things were foretold by Daniel the Prophet many yeers before That in the dayes of Antiochus Epiphanes many of his own Country-men should forsake the Holy Covenant Dan. 11. 31 32. and as he foretold it came to pass indeed as appeareth in the Book of the Macchabees and in the Stories of Iosephus and others Now if we apyly this to the Beast in the Revelation there is a more general Defection and Apostacie of the whole Christian world He causeth all to receive a Mark in their forehead and in their right hand Thirdly For the time When was it that Iason carryed over his own Country-men to the Hellenick Character to the publike Profession of Religion used by the Grecians in the Seleâ—…cian State It was in the times of Antiochus the Grecian Antichrist If therefore we read in the Book of the Revelation That the Beast did cause all to receive a Mark in their forehead and in their right hand this was no other but that which was done before in the times of Antiochus the Grecian Antichrist who is set forth as a Type and a Figure of that great Antichrist who should come in the last times Fourthly For the power by and through which Iason should carry over his own Country-men to the Hellenick Character or to that way of Profession It was then when he had gotten the Rule into his hands Some sins do increase by Propagation as Original sin some by Ensample as many evil Customs amongst us But here is mention made of the increase and prevailing of a sin by Imperial Edict by the Countenance Power and Authority of them that have the Soveraignty in their hands The like may be said of the Beast in the Revelation all did receive the Mark in their forehead and in their right hand and if you look to the reason it was a sin of Monarchy or Imperial power The Beast as a Potentate did cause all to receive a Mark in their forehead and in their right hand By the Hellenick Character used in the times of the Grecian Tyranny we may know what is the Mark of the Beast so often mentioned in the Revelation and by the one we may finde out the meaning of the other I have stay'd the longer on this Point because it is the principal matter in the Text and the right
the Spirit saith to the Churches There are many excellent things that he speaketh to the Churches in the way of Reproof in the way of Advice and in the way of Comfort yet onely he that hath an ear to hear will understand the meaning of his words And so in the present case when it is said Here is wisdome let him that hath understanding count the Number of the Beast This implieth That this matter must be found out by some subtilty of observation The person that doth inquire must be such a one as hath wisdome Secondly For the manner of discovery it must be by calculation of the Number and therefore it is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let him count the Number of the Beast The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth such a kinde of Numbring as is by Counters or Stones of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lapillus Calculus But in the ordinary and common use it doth promiscuously note any kinde of reckoning And therefore it is said concerning the man that went about to build a Tower 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he counteth or reckoneth the cost Luke 14. 28. And so in the present case there is a computation or way of account to finde out the mystery of the Number But here is the difference betwixt Interpreters some go to the extraction of the root some to the numeral Letters of the name Lateinos But of these we have spoken in part already and we shall further shew the vanity of this way in the process of the Discourse We will therefore come positively and plainly to set down the meaning of the Spirit And we shall finde That there is nothing more familiar in the Predictions of Prophetical Scriptures then for the Spirit to foretel remarkable occurrences by a definite number of years to every such occurrence Of many Examples that may be given take these few When the Lord would give Noah warning concerning the Flood he told him That such a Number of years should fulfil their course and then the Flood should come My Spirit shall not alway strâ—…ve with man yet his dayes shall be an hundred and twenty years Gen. 6. 3. So when he made a Promise to Abraham that he would give to his Posterity the Land of Canaan for an Inheritance he told him That 400 years should run compleat to the performance of the Promise Thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs and shall serve them and they shall afflict them four hundred years and afterwards they shall come out with great substance Gen. 15. 13 14 15. Further when the people of the Jews were carried captive into Babylon in the times of Ieâ—…kims Captivity to these the Prophet Ieremy did send a Consolatory Letter in which he did declare two things of eminent note Their remarkable deliverance and the overthrow of the Babylonian Empire Yet withall â—…e did declare That seventy years must first be fulfilled and accomplished at Babylon before their deliverance wiâ—… come And these Nations shall serve the King of Babylon seventy years and when seventy years are accomplished then will I visit the King of Babylon Jer. 25. ver 11 12. And again Thus saith the Lord After seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you and perform my good word towards you in causing you to return unto this place Jer. 29. 10 11. Last of all when Daniel himself was mâ—…sing on the truth of the Promise of God and gave himself to understand the Times and to pray in faith for the accomplishment of the Promises he had a further discovery of the seventy weeks that should lead him to the times of the Messiah to his Passion to the Preaching of the Gospel among all Nations and to the destruction of Ierusalem Now to the performance of these things it was shewed to him That there must be seventy Sevens or seventy weeks of years or 490 years in all to begin and commence from the building of the second Temple which line of years if he followed it would bring him to that time when all these things should be fulfilled By these Examples it is manifest That it is a frequent thing in Prophetical Scriptures to foretell future occurrences and to shew the Number of years that shall pass before the event If this be so we have a rational ground to build upon when we make 666 the Number of years to the setting up of the Name or Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome But for the further clearing of the truth That the study and the calculation of the Prophetical years is said to be wisdome we can make this appear by some special Examples out of Scripture We reade in the the Prophecy of Daniel In the first year of Darius the son of Ahashuerosh of the seed of the Medes which was made King over the Realm of the Caldeans in the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the Number of the years whereof the word of the Lord came to Ieremiah the Prophet that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Ierusalem Dan. 9. 1 2 3. Concerning Darius the Mede there is a great Controversie among Chronologers whether he came to the Kingdome of the Caldeans by Conquest or by free Election But let that point be what it will be all do agree in it That Darius the Mede raigned immediately before Cyrus the Persian And it is as clear also by the stories of the times That the first year of Darius the Mede was upon the very dawning of the Churches deliverance In this year then Daniel gave himself to study by books the Number of years that the Lord would accomplish in the Churches desolations In him then by the way let us note That they who have the greatest fulness of Spirit are chiefly imployed in the meditation of the Scriptures And they who are conversant in the Prophetical Scriptures are many times helped out in the knowledge of these things by the Sacred and the Civil Stories But now let us take notice of the process and order of his meditations First he did lay it as a general ground That seventy years must be expired before deliverance will come But now saith he the seventy years of the desolations of Ierusalem begin almost to be fulfilled Therefore in these times we are almost come to the promised deliverance And thereupon he did pray with great faith in the Promises of God as appeareth by the scope of the Chapter Here now in this Syllogism Daniel did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by two known Numbers he did finde out a third unknown His major Proposition was the Prophecy of Ieremy his Assumption was his own experience and the Chaldee Registers of the Time and his Conclusion was the approach of the delivery of the Church And the whole operation in computing the times was by wisdome For these are the words of the Text I Daniel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 understood by books Piscator
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Number of his Government is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 193 for in that year he did begin to Reign from the beginning of Nabonassar And so of the rest The like may be said in the present case of the Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome that from the beginning of the Roman as the fourth Metal Kingdom the Number of his Name or Government is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 666 Onely the difference is in the manner of the Computation For when we account the times of Darius Nebuchadnezzar and others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is the Number of Nabonassar But when we account the Name or Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome and the beginning thereof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is the Number in Daniels Image in the way of the Prophetical Chronologie figuratively called the Number of a Man Let us carry the matter to Antiochus Epiphanes the Graecian Antichrist Of the beginning of his Reign and Government it is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he reigned in the 137 year of the Kingdome of the Greeks 1 Mac 1. 11. If we will draw this matter into figures the Number of his Name or Government is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 137. And for the way and method of account 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is the Number of the Kingdome of the Greeks for in such a year of their Kingdome he began to Reign If we apply this to the Roman Antichrist to the beginning of the Universal Headship under the Emperor Phocas we may say that he began that Dominion in the year 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 666 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For from that time as the Church of God came under the Dominion of the Romans there is such an exact Number of years Many more instances might be brought out of Antiquity to shew how it hath been the manner of the Ancients to reckon the Times and the Changes of Government by the Characters of the Greek Alphabet But these shall suffice Now to gather all into one sum I have compared the Interpretation with all the particulars of the Text. I have shewed what is meant by the Law what by the Beast that made the Law what by the Persons that did receive the Mark in their Forehead and in their Right-hand I have largely discoursed also concerning the Calculation of the Number who the Person is that is to make the discovery what the Calculation is what is meant by the Number of a Man and what by 666 years to the setting up of the Name or Universal Heaâ—…ship of the Bishop of Rome And seeing I finde all things to agree therefore I conclude That this is a true Interpretation For the confirmation of this let us go to the next Chapter CHAP. IX The Truth of the Interpretation is further confirmed from the scope of the Seventeenth Chapter of the Revelation HEre all solid Expositors do agree That the same matter is handled again which was formerly discoursed of in the 13th Chapter The thing is not aliud aliud another and another though it be delivered aliter aliter in another and another manner That which is there spoken concerning the Beast as a King or Potentate is here applied to an Idolatrous or Whorish Church But let us hear the words of the Text So he carried me away in the Spirit into the Wilderness and I saw a woman sit upon a Scarlet-coloured Beast full of the Names of Blasphemy having seven Heads and ten Horns v. 3. This Woman is an Idolatrous Church and if we look to the whole scope of the description she can be no other but the Roman Idolatrous Church That this is meant of the City of Rome is clear from the 9th Vers. The seven Heads are seven Mountains where the Woman sitteth Now all Stories do agree That Rome was seated upon seven Hills and was famous through all the world by the title of Septi-collis or The Seven-hilled City And to put all out of question the Angel saith The Woman which thou sawest is the great City that reigneth over the Kings of the Earth ver 18. Now what was the Great City which in the days of Iohn reigned over all earthly Kings but the City of Rome There are such clear Characters in the Text that the Ancients who lived before the fall of the Empire did all agree in it That Rome was the City Babylon And the Jesuits in these days who of all men living are the most active to hide the meaning of this Scripture do yield that Rome is here intended But how Not Rome Christian but Rome Pagan To this we reply Though the Apostle doth make mention of Rome Pagan yet he doth primarily intend Rome Christian or rather Rome Antichristian Let it be considered what Title is given to her and so not onely in this Chapter but in other places she is called The Whore of Babylon In Scripture-language this Name is onely given to Idolatrous Churches We never or at least seldome reade in the Writings of the Prophets of the Whore of Egypt of the Whore of Edom of the Whore of Tyrus or of the Whore of Damascus this Title is usually given to Samaria and Ierusalem to the Churches of Israel and Iudah as they did fall away from the Worship of the true God to serve other gods And therefore Hosea in the Vision was to take a wife of fornications because the land had committed great whoredome in departing from the Lord Hos. 1. 2. So the Prophet Ezekiel being to speak of the spiritual fornications of Samaria and Ierusalem calleth the one Aholah and the other Aholibamah Ezek. 23. 4. From these and many other Scriptures it is evident That the Title is usually given to Idolatrous Churches which have departed away from Christ their lawful Husband So then if the Whore of Babylon doth signifie Rome this must needs be applied to Rome Christian as she did break her Marriage-Covenant with Christ and yield her self up to another Husband For Rome Pagan was never married to Christ and therefore though she might be called Babylon in the figure yet she is not the Whore of Babylon Secondly she is described in the Text having a Golden Cup in her hand By which amorous poâ—…ion she did entice the Kings of the Earth to commit fornication with her Now this doth not appertain to Rome Pagan but to the Romish Church which hath greatly deceived the Kings of the Earth by her Idolatries and Superditions Thirdly it is clear from the scope of the Text That the Woman doth ride the Beast in its last and renewed State in the times of the ten Kings for these shall carry the Whore and shall be wholly at her devotion till the words of God be fulfilled and after that they shall hate her as much and burn her flesh with fire If we apply this to Rome Pagan there is nothing will agree for she had no beeing in the times of the Ten Kings But all things may be
of them Five are fallen one is and the other is not yet come and the Beast that cometh out of the Bottomless Pit he is the eighth To satisfie the doubt we do pitch upon this sense that the Beast is both the eighth Dynasty and the seventh Head For if you reckon by the order of Kings the Dynasty of the Christian Caesars being included he must needs be the eighth But if you reckon by the Heads of the Beast which are Pagan and Idolatrous Forms of Government then that of the Christian Caesars must be Status exâ—…resimus or exemptilis a State exempted and put out of the Kalendar From whence it comes to pass That the Beast if you reckon him among the Kings his place is to be the eighth but yet among the Heads he is but the seventh And so these words The Beast that was and is not he is the eighth and is one of the seventh are plain as I take it and the knot is untied But leaving this scruple I finde That all solid Interpreters do agree in the general sense of the Text to wit That the Antichristian times begin at the fall of the Empire and the rising of the Ten Kings The words of the Angel are so clear for speaking of the Roman Dominion and the Ten Horns of that Beast he expresly saith These have no Kingdome as yet but shall receive a Kingdome one hour with the Beast which plainly sheweth That their times shall be when the Roman Dominion shall come to the last and Antichristian edition of State The fall of the old Empire and the rising of the Ten Kings is an infallible Character of the beginning of the Antichristian times And this no man can rationally deny that doth look upon the true scope of the Angels Interpretation But our question is concerning the times of the Great Whore when was it that she did begin to ride the Beast We cannot say That it was at that time when the Kings did rise out of the ruines of the Empire For then the Kings of the Earth did not dogmatically and conscientiously acknowledge the Church of Rome the Mother of all Churches To the resolution of the case we will consider what Expositors do say to this purpose For in the 17th Chapter though there is mention made of the Beast with Ten Horns yet there is not the least word of the two-horned Beast Now the reason ordinarily given is very solid and it doth agree with the scope of the Scripture For it is plain That the description under the resemblance of a Beast with two Horns Chap. 13. is again repeated under the similitude and type of a Great Whore Chap. 17. Both Scriptures speak of one and the same matter in substance though in a different manner And if need should require we have many Arguments to prove the Parallel Now then in the present case seeing Iohn speaks of the City of Rome that in his days was the great City that ruled over the Kings of the Earth it is to our purpose to inquire when the Church came within the verge of the Dominion oâ—… that great City And here I say if we calculate the times aright and reckon 666 years from that time when that great City came to have Dominion over the Church we shall precisely come to that point and instant of time when the Church of Rome was made the Catholick and the General Mother of all other Churches The Church first came under the Dominion of the City of Rome and then 666 years after â—…hat Church her self was declared Universal Mother of all Churches And here then our Interpretation is one and the same in substance in both Scriptures And whereas the Woman hath this Inscription on her Forehead Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and the Abominations of the Earth The Name then on the Forehead of the Woman is not a Grammatical word consisting of Letters and Syllables but it signifieth her Universal Maternity or Motherhood when she began to be declared Universal Mother over all other Churches Now if you apply this to the times it came to pass in the 666th year from that time when the Church and the Territories of the Church came under the obedience of the City of Rome And this is the Number of her Maternity or general Motherhood or of the Name written in the Forehead of the Woman If we apply this to the two-horned Beast in the 13 Chapter his Name is no other but his Paternity or Universal Headship and the Number of his Name is no other but the Number of his Universal Headship from the beginning of the Roman as the fourth Metal-Kingdome And so the sense of one Chapter is clear by the scope and drift of the other But we go on CHAP. X. A List of Fifteen Principles drawn from the main sense of the Prophecy concerning the Beast his Name Mark and Number by the Position of which the present Interpretation is established Also the several Expositions of Mr. Potter and other Writers are brought to Tryall FOr the more full proof of the Point we must take the same method to prove the truth of our Interpretation as Divines do when they would prove the Pope to be Anti-Christ They do infallibly determine him to be so because all the Properties of the Beast do punctually pitch upon that Seat or Succession So in the present case we may say That 666 is such a Number of years to the setting up of the Name or Universal Headship of the Beast And this we take to be an infallible and undoubted Truth because all the Principles of the Prophecy do pitch and mainly centre upon such an Interpretation We can prove the truth thereof by the accumulation of Notes Wâ—… may further take in the words of the Jesuite Suarez for he himself well obserueth That it is not sufficient to decypher Antichrist by one two or three Notes but by the Concurrence of all the Properties that do appertain to him So I may say for a tight Exposition of the Name of the Beast and the Number thereof we must not rest in a few Circumstances for so many have been brought for the name Lateinos And M. Pâ—…tters Interpretation also seemeth to be very fair But this is that which I mainly stand upon That their several Interpretations will not agree with many Principles The same course then that we take to prove the Truth shall be to disprove their Error But now to the Principles in order Princ. 1. The Name of the Beast his Mark and Number do all agree to the Papall Tyranny by a special application This is proved from the whole scope of the Text. For the Beast is a Tyrannical Empire or Government and not onely so but also a Roman Tyrannical Empire in the last edition thereof Therefore these Characters are specially applicable to that Government and to the Hierarchy thereof and not to any other They erre therefore that seek after the Number in the
Name of any one particular man as Bellarmine doth in the Names of some Protestant Divines Whereas to speak properly the Name of the Beast is the Name of a Tyrannical State or Government Secondly they also do depart far from the Truth that will have the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be the Name of the Beast And though indeed the Name doth make 666 according to the Numeral Letters in the Greek Alphabet this cannot be the sense For though the Turks make a Tyrannical Empire and have greatly afflicted the Church yet the scopâ—… of the Spirit is here mainly to speak of a Roman Tyrannical State in the last edition and this is clear from the scope of the whole Prophecy Princ. 2. The Name of the Beast his Mark Image and the Number of his Name ought so to be expounded that all these may have mutual relation each to other This is proved from the Text Chap. 13. ver 15 16 17 18. Chap. 14. ver 9 10 11. For there the persons who did worship the Image of the Beast are also said to receive his Mark in their Forehead and in their Right-hand Now how is it possible that they could receive the Mark but they must also receive the Name sith it is called The Mark of the Name And how can they receive the Name but they must receive the Number seeing it is styled The Number of the Name All these are Homogeneal and have near relation each to other And therefore when Iohn did behold that company that stood upon the glassie Sea mingled with fire and did sing the triumphal Song in honor to the Lamb they are said to overcome the Beast his Image Mark and the Number of his Name Therefore all these have a neer affinity and correspondence each with other From whence we may convince those Interpreters of error who do distinguish the Subjects of the Beast into divers kindes into those that worship the Image into others that receive the Mark into a third sort that have the Number of the Name Whereas according to the Text the same persons that worship the Image receive the Mark and the Number thereof Secondly those Expositors are too blame which do not ground their Demonstration upon these things but do immediately proceed to calculate the Number Mr. Potter in his Treatise endeavoreth to finde out the Number in six things in the Hierarchy of the Church of Rome as they stand opposite to six things in the New Ierusalem But in my apprehension he doth not lay a right foundation for the Number which he is to calculate is the Number of the Name of the Beast and the Number is answerable to the Mark. Therefore the proper work which he hath to do is to handle these matters and not six things in the Hierarchy of the Church of Rome immediately opposed to six things in the description of the New Ierusalem Princ. 3. The Name of the Beast his Mark and Number must necessarily begin at the first Visible Constitution of his Dominion and continue in all times to the end thereof For the first Visible Constitution we reade That as soon as the second Beast came up out of the Earth he made an Image to the Beast and caused all to worship the Image and to receive a Mark in their Forehead Chap. 13. ver 14 15 16 17. Now this was not done onely at the time of the beginning but in all the times of that Kingdome from the beginning to the end For the Vials were poured out upon them that worshipped the Beast and received the Mark Chap. 16. ver 2. And at the ending of the Beasts Kingdome when the eternal Gospel is preached to every Kindred Tongue and Nation then are the threatnings denounced against all those that worship the Beast and receive the Mark Chap. 14. ver 9 10 11. From whence we gather That the Name Mark and Image must be in all the times of the Kingdome of the Beast According to this Rule how can Iunius apply the Number of the Beast to the Canon-Law How can he make it appear that this Law hath been in force all the times of that Kingdome Mr. Potter also when he doth apply this Number to the Cardinals Gates and other circumstances in the City of Rome how can he prove that these have been in all the times of that Kingdom He doth mainly stand upon it That the Cardinals are the very Essence of the Papacy so nearly united to the Pope that they make one Body containing and representing all Ecelesiastical Iurisdiction Well be it so but how proveth he this Colledge to have been in all the times of the Beasts Kingdome I do willingly yield to that solid determination of his I conceive saith he the second Beast mentioned Rev. 13. ver 11. to be that unlawful Ecclesiastical Power which these latter times have setled upon the Pope And I believe that he is the Great Anti-Christ not as Bishop or Archbishop or Patriarch but as he pretends himself Pope and Vicar of Christ having such a transcendent Ecclesiastical Power as is incommunicable to any other upon Earth pag. 55. This Testimony I take to be a plain scripture-Scripture-truth and for my part I do believe Though the Mystery of Iniquity was long in working the Bishop of Rome did not begin to be the solemn Antichrist and the two-horned Beast did not rise up out of the earth till the times of the Universal Headship In this I do fully agree with the Author aforenamed But yet with submission to a better judgement I cannot understand how the Colledge of Cardinals or the other five particular Circumstances applied to the Hierarchy of Rome how these began at the time of the declaration of the Universal Headship or how they have continued in all the times of the Beasts Kingdome from the beginning to the end thereof Now it is apparently evident That the Name and the Mark have been applicable to the Kingdome of the Beast in all the times thereof Princ. 4. In submitting to in worshipping the Image and in receiving the Mark the Name and the Number of the Name hath been the great sin of the world in departing from Christ. This may be proved from the whole scope of the Prophecy the great deceiving of the Nations in all Antichristian times hath been in the matter of the worship of the Image and receiving the Mark Chap. 20. ver 1 2 3. Chap. 13. ver 15 16 17 18. From whence I further argue That the Number 25 cannot be proved to be the Number of the Name of the Beast neither hath the Apostacy of the world consisted in the frequent and superstitious use of this Number For how doth a State sin when they use such a particular Number as this The Philistims were a people given to superstitious observations yet I cannot see how they did sin in the observation of the Number 5 when they did send five Golden Emerods and five Golden Mice 1 Sam. 6. 4.