Prelections Upon Revelation, Chapter 13
¶ The thirtenth Chapter.
WHen as he had shewed that the deuil the chiefe enemie of the Churche attempteth all thinges for the destruction of the same, now he sheweth in this chapter, what principall instrumentes he would vse, in oppugning the saluatiō of the same, verely euen the Romayne Empire that is Antichrist and his most cruell ministers.
Vers. 1.
And I saw a beast rise out of the sea &c.
ANtichrist is compared to a moste cruell beast, bycause he persecuteth the Church without all reason, or any sense or felinge of humanitie. Moreouer he is not called foreign, but foreign that is a certayne wilde and cruell beast. For of the brute beastes, some although they want reason, yet they are gentle and hurtlesse, but Antichrist is a beast of vntamed wildenes, voide of all shew of gentlenes. For no otherwise then a wild beast through hunger rampeth vponupon the pray offred him, doth Antichrist rage vppon the Churche. But he is also sayed to ascende out of the sea, that in the verie birth or firste springing vp he might shewe of what sorte his rule & Dominion should be, that is troublesome, and tempestuouse, diuers and inconstant. And histories do testify out of how great waues of battaill, and tumultes the Romayne Empire hath risen.
Hauing seuen heades and ten hornes, and vponupon his hornes were ten crownes and vponupon his heade, the name of blasphemie. &c. By the number of heades, and hornes this monster bewrayeth him selfe of what father he was begotten, verelye of the great Dragon, whose naturall properties he throughly resembleth. For although the Monarchie of the Romaynes was ordeyned by God, euen as all power is of God, yet in as much as it abounded in trandes, tyrannie crueltie & lust, and that it persecuted the Churche of Christ, it was of the deuill, but chiefely when all the power thereof was translated to the Pope, which is chiefely figured vnderunder this beast, withoute all doubt it is to be acknowledged to be the verie naturall sonne of Sathan, but when as other notes also of him, by the number of his heades and hornes are propounded of the Aungell in the 17. Chapter, we will not touche them before we come to that place. That he weareth then crownes in his hornes, when as the Dragon had but seuen on his heades, it semeth to be referred to that, that the ten hornes do signifye kinges, which in the beginning were consuls onelyonly and presidentes of prouinces, but when as this beast shall the second time rise vp they shall together with the beaste in one hower receyue kingly power, of which there foloweth more in the 17. Chap. And he beareth in his heades the name of blasphemie, when he calleth himselfe the head of the vniuersall Churche For although in his decrees, and other writinges approued of him, horrible blasphemies may be found, in which he is called some time neither God, nor man, but as it were a neuter betwene both, sometime he is called Christ, sometime our Lorde God, and sometime God aboue all gods, yet he beareth that name openly in his head to be seene of all men, whereby he boasteth himselfe to be Christes vicare as though he were absent, and plucketh to him selfe alone, the knowledge of all causes, & he boasteth that he can not erre in any thing. The like blasphemies vttered his predecessours, Caligula, Nero, Domitian, Diocletian, which commaunded that they them selues should be worshipped as Gods, & that temples should be buylte and altars cōsecrated to there godhead. But none more impudently then the Romayne Byshops, for all men did marke and deride the foly and madnes of the emperours, although they flattered them most filthily,, but almost all hauehave in good earnest acknowledged the diuinitie of the pope, and hauehave asked that of him, which is the propertie of God alone to graunt, as remission of sinnes and other such like.
Vers. 1.
And this beast which I saw was like a cat of the mountayne, and his feete were as the feete of a beare, and his mouth as the mouth of a Lyon. &c.
BY this description it is more clearer then the lighte it selfe, that the Romayne Empire is assigned, which did conteyne in it the power of the other throe kingdomes, which are described by the sumulitudes of a Lion, a Beare and a Catte of the mountayne, Daniell chapter 7. But the fourth monarchie that is of the Romaynes, composed of the pride, raueninge, and cruelty of all the rest, was vnlike to all the other. He hath therfore a bodie like to a catte of the mountayne, which signified Ale…ander the great, which was most swifte to followe after the praye, he hath the feete of a Beare, by which he is equall in rauening with the Meades, and Persians, but he had ye mouth of a Lion, by whiche he exceadeth in hautinesse and pride the Assirians and Chaldeans and he exceadeth in crueltie the fearcenesse of all beastes.
And the Dragon gaue him his power and his throne, and great aucthoritie. &c. He receyueth not onelye the power to hurte, and persecute of the Deuill, but also he occupieth his seate in earthe, that the power of Sathan is manifeste to bee seene in nothing more then in his Vicare Antichrist, and this is that sea of Antichrist, and aucthoritie of the Pope, of which they boast so muche of, that is to saye, the throne of the Deuill and power receyued at his hande. But it maye bee demaunded how the Deuill coulde giuegive power, or empire, seeinge all powers are of him, whiche also bestoweth them vppon the wicked and Tyrants. But in the tyrannical power two thinges are to be considered, the one is the ordinaunce of GOD, whiche disposeth all Kingdomes at his will, and to whome he will. And the other is, there fraudes, there treasons, and cruelties, by whiche they aspire to the gouernement, whiche thinges are of the Deuill. The deuill therefore graunted power and aucthoritie to Antichrist, in as much as by his prouocation, by all wickednesse and impietie they atteyne that tyrannie, which occupie that seate.
Vers. 3.
And I saw one of his heades as it were wounded to death but his deadlye wound was healed, and all the worlde wondred and folowed the beast. &c.
ALmost all interpretours do graunte that a great deminishing of the power of Antichrist is signified by this head that was wounded, but when it was wounded they agreed not. For some dooe suppose that it wounded at the time when as that Ihon Husse, and Hierome of Phrage in disclosinge the subtilties of ANTICHRIST, separated a great parte of the Kingedome of Bohemia, from the aucthoritie of that sea. Other doe expounde it of Iulius Cesar, others of Nero beinge slayne. Others doe referre it to the Citie of Rome taken, burned and spoiled by the Gothes. But to me, whiche by the Beast, doe vnderstande not the lawfull administration of the Empire, but the tyrannicall power in persecutinge the Churche, that hee semeth then to hauehave bene wounded vntounto death when as constantine the great after that Marentius, and Lic…nius the last persecutinge tyrants of the heathenishe emperours were slaine, in graunting peace to the Church, smote that most cruell and monstrouse head of Antichrist with a deadely wounde. But shortly after that wounde was healed by the wicked emperours Constantius and Iulianus, valence, and others of whom some beinge heritiques and Iulianus a forsaker of the faith, persecuted the righte Churche vntill at length the bloudye tyrante Phocas, and murtherer of his Lord and Maister Mauritius, resigned the Antichristians Kingdome to Boniface the Pope, in whome and his successors playnely reuiued ye head of deuilishe tyranny which was almost cut of by Cōstantine. Yet in the meane I acknowledge ye the horrible destruction, & calamities of men by battell, which were broughte to the lawfull Empire of the Romaines by the barbarouse people, the Gothes, Vandales, and Saracenes, opened and prepared a way to the rule of the Romaine, bishop. And this also is manifest by the writinge and monumentes of the learned, yt the byshoppricke of Rome, from syluester vntounto sabinianus beinge increased in riches, & that through the fauour of the Emperours, it did litle and litle degenerate into forreine rule and gouernment, vntill at length it ascended to the verye poynct and top of Antichristian Aucthority. Where vponupon to the greate wonder of the worlde his Kingdome was established, lyfted, and exaulted so high oute of so obscure and darke beginnings.
Verse. 4.
And they worshipped the Dragon which gaue power to the beast, and they worshipped the beast sayinge, who is like vntounto the beaste; who is able to warre with him. &c.
IT is meruailous that hee saieth men worshipped the deuill, whome eueryevery where all do abhorre and detest. But he vnderstandeth that the worshippe and obedience, whiche was yelded to Antichrist of the menne that were seduced, perteyned to the spreading abroad of the deuils kingdome, seing they hoonoure Sathan in his vicar or legat. Like as they doe honour the kinge which reuerence those magistrates, which he hath appointed vnderunder him. And that he expresseth when as immediatly he addeth (and they worshipped the beast, saying, who is like to the beast? whose power is so great yt he can forgiue sinnes, & opē the kingedome of heauen to whome he will. Who is able to warre against him? which draweth downe Emperours, and Kinges as ofte as he lust, on…e of there statelye seate, whiche thundreth oute the sentences of cursing…, against his enemies, and through the fulnesse of his power he can thrust downe his aduersaries euen into hell.
Vers. 5.
And there was geuen him a mouth that spake great thinges and blasphemies. &c.
IF any shall meruayle howe the maiestie of God can suffer so great blasphemies, which the deuill and Antichrist shew out against the same: Saincte Ihon maketh aunswere shewing that this is by diuine permission, that Antichrist should exault him selfe aboue all heygh, whereby hee mighte seduce the reprobate, vponupon whome by the iust iudgement of God the efficacie, and strength of errour is sent, that they maye beleue lies whiche despised the truethe. 2. Thessalo. 2. By this place wee gather that the wicked can not brust forthe into blasphemies againste God, at there pleasure, excepte God suffer, that they maye abuse there tongues, to there owne destruction Moreouer wee may here note that Antichrist ratleth one nothinge, but great thinges, and blasphemies. For what soeuer they boast as magnificall, concerninge the dignitie of the Pope, his aucthoritie, keyes, swordes, and other prerogatiues of his, is meere blasphemie, by whiche he chalengeth to him selfe the place, and rowme of Christ ouer the Church yea all the whole Popishe doctrine, of the Sacrifice of the Masse, of Purgatorie, of Satisfactions, workes of superurogation, and other suche like monstres, conteyneth infinite blasphemies.
And power was giuen vntounto him to doe, two and …ortie monethes. &c. This clause doth shewe that Antichrist could not obtayne rule in the worlde but by the secreat, & iuste iudgement of God. But this power is shut within her limites, that hee can not raigne so long as he would, nor exercise his vngodlinesse, but his tyrannie is limited by 42. monethes. Concerning this number of monethes what I thinke is to be vnderstoode, I hauehave expounded in the 11. chap. Vers. 2. Here it shall suffice to note that this shorte space of halfe a weeke is put to the comforte of the godlye, that they should not feare. That the tyrannie of Antichrist should be eternall.
Vers. 6.
And he opened his mouth vntounto blasphemie against God to blaspheme his name his tabernacle, and them that dwell in Heauen. &c.
WHen the power of blaspheminge was once graunted, he opened his mouthe to manifolde blasphemies, for he spake coneumeliouslye of God him selfe of his name, and of his tabernacle, and of those whiche dwell in heauen, so he counteth it not enough to reproch the maiestie of God onelye, but also his name that is the worshipe and religion whiche he hath prescribed to sanctifie his name, he cōdēneth as false, & hereticall, and koyneth a new out to his owne brayne. And also he blasphemeth the tabernacle of god, that is his Churche, in which God dwelleth by his spirite, when he calleth it nothing else, but a conspiracie of heretiques and Schismatiques, Wee may two waies take this of those whiche dwell in heauen, either for ye true mēbers of the Church, whiche he with great reproche of them calleth Lutherans, & Zwinglians. &c. Or else for the sainctes now triumphing in heauen whome he diuers waies sclaundereth either when he braggeth that they are the patrones of his wickednesse, or else condemneth their doctrine of errour, or else when he doth erecte temples vntounto thē, Images, holy daies, and other diuine honors, making Idols of the holy worshippers of God: that I may not speake with what stinking lies he extolleth there liues, in the geuing of martiloge, and in suche kinde of writinges, whiche are all meere blasphemie againste the Sainctes, whiche dwell in Heauen. And what reproches hee casteth forthe againste God him selfe we hauehave touched before in the first verse.
Vers. 7.
And it was geuen vntounto him to make warre with the saincts and to ouercome them, and power was geuen him ouer eueryevery kindred and tounge and nation. &c.
HE signifieth that Antichrist coulde doe nothinge, but in as much as ability was permitted to him by God. In that therfore that he sheweth his cruelty vpō the holy martyrs of Christ, he doeth it not at his owne pleasure, or at the will of the deuill, for then woulde he vtterly extinguishe and des…oye all the true worshippers of God: but by the will of god, for a punnishment of the reprobate, and a triall of his children, for whom it is very profitable to be proued with sundry temptations. There is geuen power to Antichrist to make warre againste the saincts, & to affect them them with sundry tormentes vntill he may hauehave the do…eiull victory of many thousand of thē being slaien. And this t…anny doth not rage in one region only, but eueryevery where throughe the whole earth, this is a catholique crueltye. And that which we know partly by histories, how many milians of marti…es were cruell murthered by the Emperores and Romaine Byshopes, we are partly taught by daily experience.
Vers. 8.
Therfore all that dwell vponupon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the boke of life of the lambe which was killed from the beginning of the world. &c.
LYke as hee sore tolde in ye verse going before that Antichrist shoulde shew his cruelty vponupon the bodies of the sainctes, so in this verse he sheweth againste the soules of whome his false illusions shall preuaile. That is to say against the reprobate onlye, which are not predestinate to eternall lyfe in Christ, whom he calleth the lambe whiche was slaien from the beginning of y• world, because the strength and effect of this sacrifice, can be…ore he had taken fleshe profited the patriarches from the beginninge of the worlde, like as it shalbe profitable to the elect euen to the ende of the worlde. The reprobate therefore beinge seduced partly by his sub…lties, and partly stricken with the cruelty vsed against those that resist, will acknowledg his rule and au…thority, and will worshippe him instede of a most filthy Idole. For his deceiptes and illusions shall not preuaile in any, but in those which perishe.
Vers. 9.
If any man hauehave an eare let him heare. &c.
HE vttereth a matter worthy of great consideration as ofte as he moueth attentiō with so earnest indeuour. We ought therefore with diligence to imprint throughly in oure mindes the doctrine which followeth to the hearinge whereof the holye ghost doth as it were by name calle eueryevery one of vsus.
Vers. 10.
He that leadeth into captiuitie shall goe into captiuity, he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword, here is the pacience and the faith of the sainctes. &c.
THe law of repaying is decreed of the mighty God, for all tirantes, and to those which oppresse the Church of God with cruelty. Eternall captiuitie abideth for those which hauehave led the the saincts captiues. They which hauehave slaien the martyrs with the sword, shalbe killed with eternall death, which is the sworde of Goddes furye and wrath. And also god will hauehave certeyne signes of his iustice to remaine apparant in the worlde, that all men maye know that they shall not escape vengeaunce, whiche accordinge to the manner of beastes doe cruelly rage in madnes againste innocentes. Accordinge to that of the poet: few mighty cruell men descend to there graue without slaughter and bloud few tyrants by drie death. For if we shoulde recken vp of the Emperours, those whiche were the chiefe aucthors of persecutions, we shall finde that they were destroyed of God by diuers and sundrye slaughters. Nero, Domitian, Decus, Valerianus Licinius, Iulianus with many others, were slaien with bloudy and cruell deathe. Therefore the murtheringe of the sainctes is not so permitted to Antichrist, that the Lorde would leaue the same alwaies vnreuenged. Here therfore the saincts hauehave neede of faith and pacience, whiche followeth nexte, for excepte power were graunted to Antichrist to e…ercise his tyranny, what triall of faith should there be? what profe of pacience? here therfore the saieth and pacience of the Sainctes is to be loked for.
Vers. 11.
And I beheld an other beast comming out of the earth. &c.
NOw followeth the descriptiō of the other beast which cōfirmeth the former beast, yt we may know what instrument … Antichrist vseth to the establisshing of his kingdome. For as the Dragon with seuen heades hath for his vicare a beast with seuen heades: so the beast with seuen heades hathe this beast with two hornes. He doth not expresse of what forme or shape this beast was, although it be certayne that he was a monster, bycause hee was borne out of the earth, that is of a moste base and obscure beginning to the settinge forthe of the kingdome of Antichrist.
Which had two hornes like a Lambe. &c. He hath nothing like to a Lambe besides his two hornes, in the rest of his bodie deformed, vttering the nature of a wild beast. But some do gather by these hornes, that the pope is shadowed by this beast, which chalingeth to him selfe the power of the kingdome, and of the priesthoode, which as it is probable, so I do not see how all thinges can fitly agree to this exposition, which afterward are often repeated of both the beastes. In my iudgment therefore others do rightlyer interprete him to signifie the popishe clergie, whiche indeuour with all there strength, to maintayne the dignitie of there Pope, these will hauehave somewhat like to Christ, either when they boast them selues to be his seruaunts or else when they chalendge to them selues bothe the seculer and priestlye aucthoritie. I speake of the chiefe Prelates, the Cardinales, the Archbishopes, and byshopes &c. which vsurpe both a kingly and pontificall dignitie.
But hee spake like the Dragon. &c. Howsoeuer by the number of his hornes hee semethe to hauehave some outwarde shewe, or likenesse of Christ, yet he bewrayeth himselfe by his voice that he is a preacher of the dragon and not of Christ. For this beast, which afterward is called the false prophete, whose doctrine if wee shall examine accordinge to the moste certayne rule of Gods woorde, it shalbe founde to bee Deuilishe, and quite contrarie to Gods truethe. That I maye omitte other profes, which are almost infinite, least I should be ouer tedious, that one testimonie of S. Paule in the first Epistle to Timothy and fourth chapt. calling the forbidding of mariage and meates the doctrine of deuils, doth sufficiently proue that this false prophete, which teacheth ye same thinges which the Pope prescribeth, doth speake the selfe same, whiche the great Dragon inspireth into Antichrist.
Vers. 12.
And he did all that the first beast could do before him. &c.
THe power of Antichrist is extended to his chiefe munsiers therefore he exerciseth his power by them, this is yt which he sayeth, that this beast with the two hornes did all that the first beast could do in his presence.
And he causeth the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed. &c. The popish clergie labour with tothe and nayle, that all may euerie where acknowledge the aucthoritie of the Byshop of Rome, and that all may require at his handes, Indulgences, dispensations, Empires and kingdomes, and manye yelde to him homage, which thing whiles they labour so sendiously to bring to pas, they call backe againe, the aunciente tyrannie of the Ethnikes, which being strikē with a deadly wound, now at length by there ayed hath bene perfectly healed.
Vers. 13.
And doth great wounders so that he maketh fire come downe from heauen on the earth, in the sight of men. &c.
SAincte Paule foretold that the cōming of Antichrist should be in lying signes. Bycause also Christ him selfe prophecied that there should come false prophetes, which with workinge monstrouse myracles should deceyue manie, in so much that euen the verie electe if it were possible should also being seduced be drawne into there destruction. And heare the false prophete, as it were an apishe imitator of Elias, causethe fire to descend from heauen vntounto the earthe, in the sighte of men, all whiche are either fayned to be done, or else by the craftie conueyaunce and iugling castes of Sathan, bewitching the eyes of men, they are but boasted of, of which sorte of Miracles the legens of the popishe sainctes are full. Yea those wonderfull thinges, which they worke by there counsels and aucthoritie in the commune wealth, maye worthelye be counted for great signes and wonders, as when they translate kingdomes, frō the lawfull heires vntounto others, some Emperours they depose, others they place in there roumes, & other such like, which are wonderfull myracles to men. But we are admonished so often in the scriptures of signes, myracles, & wonders, which should be wrought by false prophets that we should not suffer our selues to be led backe from the trueth of Gods woorde by any workes, although they be neuer so wōderfull, against the trueth of which worde we ought not to geue credite to Aungels comming downe from heauen, to the Balath. Chapt. … Contrariwise it hath alwaies bene the maner of the false prophetes, to call and prouoke men from the woorde of God to myracles, and here vponupon the papistes instantlye require of vsus to worke myracles, as though the doctrine, which we professe, were not sufficientlye confirmed withe infinite miracles of Christ and his Apostles.
Vers. 14.
And deceiueth thē that dwell on ye earth, by meanes of those signes, which he hath power to do in y• sight of the beast. &c.
HE declareth in this verse to what end he wrought great signes before men verely that he mighte seduce the moste of thē into errour. Such myracles therfore with the workers of the same are to be accursed of the faithfull by whiche they are called away from the simplicitie of Gods worde to the deuises and inuentions of men. But it is worthy to bee noted, that he saieth power was geuen him, that he mighte worke signes in the sight of the former beast. For god as S. Paule witnesseth will giuegive vntounto them the efficacie and strength of errour, yt they may credite lies, which would not beleue the truth 2. Thes. ….
Sayinge to them that dwell on the earth that they should make the image of the beast, which had the wond of a sword & did line. And this is ye errour into which they seduced wretched men, that they should acknowledge the pope for God, or rather for an Idolle, and that they should set vp his Image for them selues to worship as if it were some God, but some vnderstand by the Image of the beast, that in the papacie is restored, a certen Image of the Romane Empire whiche was fallen to which opinion I would willingly subscribe, if the vision did not expresse that both the beast, and his Image were extant at one time. Adde moreouer that by the coūsell and suggestion of this beast, an image of the first beast oughte to be made of the inhabitantes of the earthe. Lastlye that this two horned mōster, studieth by all meanes to aduaūce the dignitie of the first beast, but the pope setteth forth not the olde Empire of the Romanes to be worshipped, but him selfe. I expound this Image therefore to be the aucthoritie of the pope, which all are commaunded to receyue at the handes of the popishe clergie, being brought vntounto them by his legates a latere, and to acknowledge it in the courts of Christianitie as they call them, in which the popes lawe is exercised, and the pope himselfe is chiefe iudge which power remayning in the court or in the Legate a Latere, may of good right be called the Image of the pope. And that he repeateth so often that the deadly woūd of his head was healed, it is that we may know that it is notwithstanding the same beast, although he somewhat differ in outwarde shew, which made so many slaughters of the martyres whose crueltie althoughe for a time being restrained semed as it were dead, at length reuiued to the exercising of the like or rather greater tyrannie.
Vers. 15.
And he had power geuen him, to giuegive a spirite vntounto the Image of the beast, so that the Image of the beast should speake and should cause that as many as would not worship the beast should be killed. &c.
HE alwaies repeateth that it was geuen him, that we maye vnderstand that euen the verie counsels & actions of ye wicked are ordered by the will of god, and that the reprobate can do nothing at all, but that which god doth permitte. Moreouer least we should Imagen that this image here was dead, he addeth that a spirite was inspired into it of the beast being the priest thereof. So that the Image shoulde speake, that is the beast by his Legates, & other iudges of the papall court, which geue sentēce according to the popes law, so that now we hauehave an Image not dumbe & dead, but which is liuing & speaketh, we may note, how the tyrāny of the pope by litle & litle taketh increase for in the beginning, he onelyonly allureth and seduceth by myracles, then he perswadeth the seduced to set vp an Image of the beast in euerie citie, into which being set vp he inspireth life & geueth power to speake, & lastly he cōmaundeth it to be worshipped vnderunder payne of deathe. For we know that it was counted worthye deathe, if any did contemne the power of the pope.
Vers. 16.
And he made all both small & great, riche & pooer, fre & bound to receyue a marcke in there right hand or in there for cheades.
BEing not content to hauehave set forth the peyne of death to all that should refuse to worship the Idoll of the beast, that is to acknowledge the aucthoritie of the pope, he also bringeth all of what state or condition soeuer into bondage vntounto him compellinge euerie one, euen as his boundslaues to receyue his marcke either in the right hand or in the forehead. By the righte hand by which the actions and deedes of this life are guided and wrought, he signifieth, that in all doinges, whatsoeuer men of what state and condition so euer princes or priuate persons do take in hande, alwaies to the sea of Rome her prerogatiue is to be reserued, that nothing may by any meanes be decreed against that. And the marcke is imprinted in their forehead that alwaies and euerie where they may testifie that they are slaues of that Apostolicall or rather Apostaticall sea.
Vers. 17.
And that no man might buy or sell, saue he that had the marche or the name of the beast, either the number of his name.
LEast any might escape by some subtiltie he appointeth this subiection that none coulde buye, or sell that is exercise any action necessarie, to the sustentation of this lyfe, but hee whiche would confesse him selfe to be subiecte to this power. And to conclude, a man must be banished oute of the world, excepte he would take vponupon him this yoke of slauery and bondage. And he putteth three thinges, his marke, his name, & the number of his name which perteyne all to one end, & they signifie that by some outwarde signe or ceremony, this seruitude is to be professed to all men, that hee maye acknowledge him selfe to be a member of the latine Churche whosoeuer leadeth his life within his Dominion.
Vers. 18.
Here is wisedome: let him that hath wit count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man, and his number is sixe hundreth, threscore, and sixe. &c.
BYcause this misterie was verie darcke, Saincte Ihon forewarneth that here lieth wisedome hidde, but yet bycause it is the number of man, that is, whiche maye be counted by the wisedome of man and is not infinite, he prouoketh wise men which are endued with vnderstanding to number the same: for the number is sixe hundred, sixtie and sixe. I will omitte the most parte of the expositions, which are brought of this place, and I will bring forth that onelyonly, which liketh me best, which Ireneus affirmeth pleased many in his age, not long after this reuelation was receyued. Which is, that foreign is the name of the beast, the number of which name, of ye computation of the numerall letters amounteth to sixe hundred sixtie and sixe. Whiche if it seemed to be true in the time of Ireneus, muche more now vntounto vsus, seying the byshop of Rome in his commō prayers, in his lawes, in his writinges, in his faith is & wilbe counted a latine. Moreouer he ought to be a latine whosoeuer he be that will not be called a Grecian, that is a Schismatike. So that rightlye in the verse going before the number of his name is also to be takē for the marcke. Other do draw ye same number out of (Ecclesia Italica) the Church of Italie, which I do not reiecte, when as whether thou sekest the Church, or the head of the same, thou maiest finde either of them in the misterie of this number.