A Preparative to Contention, Book · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
Mahomet was not that beast which Saint Iohn noteth vnderunder the number 666. But the verie number 666. is contained in certain Greeke, Hebrew, Latin, and Engliſh words, and ſentences, which concerne the Church of Rome, and the Biſhops thereof.
IN the former chapter we hauehave ſeen the time and raigne of Antichriſt, vnderunder the number 666. Now alſo in this Chapter by the ſame number (being well counted) we ſhall eaſilie finde out the Nation and place,The time whē Mahomet died. the power and pride, the ingenie and qualities of this miſcreant. Albeit Lyrae reckoneth that Mahomet the falſe Prophet of the Saraſins or Turks died in the yere of our Lord, 666 whereof ſome woulde that he ſhould be that Antichrist of the which Saint Iohn had prophecied: yet cannot this prophecie be properly referred to Mahomet: for this number may not be reckoned from the death of Antichrist: but rather from the time of his conception, and riſing, as it is before declared, and ſo to bee continued for the whole tearme of his raigne in the Church. Secondlie,VVhere Antichriſt ſhould be borne. Antichrist was to be borne in the Church among the Chriſtians, in the which he ſhoulde occupie a chiefe place, and bee accounted of the Chriſtian beleeuers: and that afterwarde, Hee ſhould apostate and depart from the ſame, according to the wordes of S. Iohn, in his firſt Epiſtle and ſecond chapter. And as Paul ſaid, 2. Theſ. 2.3,Apoc. 13.11. & 17.9. that he ſhould ſit in the Temple of God, as God: and that his ſeate, or the Citie of his Sea, ſhould be the ſeuen headed beaſt with the tenne hornes: which (as S. Iohn propheſied) roſe vp out of the ſea, vppon whoſe hornes were tenne crowns, & vponupon his heads the name of blaſphemie. But it is certaine that Mahomet (although he be indeed another great Antichriſt, or a mighty mēber of Antichriſt, as Nero was in his time, or in reſpect of the cauſe, as were in the former times, Nimrod, Nabucadnezar, Antiochus, & ſuch like: yet was he neuer in the Chriſtian church, nor did he neuer ſhew him ſelfe as a member of the ſame: but hath been alwaies eſtranged and ſeperated from that number.
Beſides, that the Throne of Mahomet and the Turke is placed farre off from the ſeuen headed beaſt with the tenne hornes,Rome is that beaſt with ſeuen heades and tenne hornes. the which all the beſt learned hauehave expounded of the Citie and policie of the Romanes. For indeed within the walles of that Citie are ſeauen ſeuerall hils or high places, bearing ſo many ſundry names: as Palatine, Capitoline, Tit. liu. Plin. 3. ca. 6.Auentine, Exquiline, Caelius, Viminalis, Quirinalis. The former foure of thoſe hilles Romulus encloſed,The names of the ſeauen hilles. and to enlarge the Citie, Seruius Tullius encloſed the other three, wherof Rome was made the ſeauen headed Citie. To this, concorded the policie of the Romans,The policie of Rome. who were gouerned firſt by kings: next by Conſuls: thirdly by Decem viri: fourthly by Dictatores: fiftly by Triumviri: ſixtly by Caeſares: ſeuenthly by Emperours: to whoſe gouenrment were alſo ſubdued ten kingdomes: as namely Neapolis, Hiſpania, The tenne hornes of the Beaſt.Portugalia, France, Polon, Bohem, Hungary, England, Denmarke, Suedia. Therefore this propheſie cannot ſo well be expounded of the Turke, nor of his Mahomet, not of any other Heathen Potentate: nor (indeede) of any other Synagogue or Church, as of the Citie of Rome, the Church of Rome: the Biſhoppes of Rome in that See, ſo farre degenerating from the holy ſinceritie of the Apoſtles of our Lorde, whome neuertheleſſe they would ſeeme to reſemble in an externall ſhew of holineſſe with their apoſtolicall titles and grace. Gratian. Ca. 24. q. 1. Officii.
2. Now it ſhall be conuenient, that we examine ſome certaine words and voyces containing the number 666. which is the number of the Beaſt,VVordes containing the number. 666. and the number of his name. Apo. ca. 13.17.18. And firſt, thoſe words, which others both of yore, and in this age, hauehave founde out, and thereof counted the ſayde number.
Irenaeus a very auncient writer hath found the number in this word,Latinus 666. Ire. li. 5. contra. hereſ. ca. 15. li. 35. Lateinus, a man of Italy, a Romane, written in Greek letters. The biſhop of Rome (indeed) is both of that Nation, an Italian Prieſt, and the ſame which both in his Church, and in his Courts, &c. preferreth the Latine and Romane tongue, to the Hebrew and Greeke tongues (in the which the worde of GOD was firſt and beſt written.)
The ſame number was deciphered in this word Teitan, Teitan. 666.the title of the ancient Tyrants: vntounto whom rightly alludeth the policie of the Pope, who (as it is ſaid) hath healed vp the deadly wound of the former Beaſt,Apoc. 13.12. that is, of the ancient Empire of the Romans, and hath renewed his old crueltie againſt the Saints, ſurpaſſing the tyrannie of all the auncient Tytanes and Tyrants, that euer raigned and raged before him, as the Hiſtories which are extant ſithence the former yeeres 666. expired: that is, from the time that the Diuell was let at libertie, after the thouſand yeeres, but cheefely ſithence the yeere of our Lorde, 1000. doo plainely teſtifie. Some others hauehave counted the number,Apoc. 20.2. Romiit. Aret. 666. in this Hebrewe worde Romiit, that is, a Romane: and likewiſe: in this voyce, Romanus, written in Hebrew Letters. By the which they aſſure themſelues of the ſplace and ſeate of the Beaſt.Roman. 9.666. After this, they finde him within the Church of Rome: for Eccleſia Italica, written in Greeke Letters,666. Aect. in Apoc. 13. & Nichol Collado. 666. yeeldeth the number. The Italian Church, or the Romane Church: and then by one other ſentence wherein they reckon the ſayde number, they diſcerne his Luciferian pride and ambition, as, foreign: that is, I am a God vppon the earth. But vntounto whom can this ſentence bee better applyed, then to the Biſhoppe of Rome, which exaleth himſelfe (as it is before ſayde) againſt all Kings and Caeſars, Princes, Magiſtrates, and powers in the world. Yea, hee ſitteth in the Temple of God as God, and woulde as God be worſhipped.
This thing Franciſcus Zarabella the Cardinall perceiuing, ſayde plainely: Papa facit quioquid libet, etiam illicita, & eſt pluſquam Deus: that is, The Pope doth whatſoeuer him liſteth, though it bee vnlawfull: and hee is more then a God.
Lo! what is this perſon then, but that verie Antichriſt and who beſides that Antichriſt, extolleth himſelfe in that abhominable pride?
3. Furthermore, after diligent ſearch and due examination of words and ſentences (as the holy Scripture,The number 666. found out in certaine words & ſentences which concerne the Biſhop of Rome, and his miniſters. which openeth mans vnderſtanding, hath directed) I hauehave found out certaine other words, voyces and ſentences, containing not only the like argument, but alſo the number Sixe hundred, ſixtie and ſixe, and that not alone of the Greeke tongue (in the which Saint Iohn wrote both his Epiſtles, & alſo the Apocalypſe, wherein hee left a note of this Number and argument vntounto the Church, but alſo of the Hebrew & Latine tongues. And I do verily beleeue, that the ſaide number and name is contained in ſome certaine words and voyces of the like argument, of eueryevery other language and tongue in the worlde. And for their ſakes which are willing to count the number of the Beaſt, The Greeke words and voyce, of the number of the Beaſt. 666.thereby the ſooner to eſchew him and his deſtruction, I preſently note (among others) that follow. vz.
foreign, That is, I am a Romane, as ſpoken by that Antichriſt, diſplaying his nation and cheeſe Seate.
666.foreign, that is: The God-like Pope. Thus (indeed) that holy Father the Biſhop of Rome muſtereth forth himſelf, and would that ſo al men ſhould eſteeme him, a diuine power, a God-like father: the vicar of Chriſt: the head of the Church. There followeth another like voyce.
666.foreign. that is: The Pope-like God. This is to be vnderſtood in ſuch ſort, as that which Paul ſpeaketh of the diuel, which Tranſformeth himſelf into an Angell of light. For how ſoeuer he would ſhew himſelfe, hee is founde to be ſuch an one, as the next word declareth him to be vz.
foreign. That is: The Catholike man, 666is a plague or infelicitie. His chaire therefore is worthily called the Chaire of peſtilence, wherein whoſoeuer ſitteth, findeth no meane deſtructions and woes awayting on him. Apo. 16.2. Moreouer, he is not only deſcried to riſe out of the earth, as wholy earthly minded, but alſo to be in very deed that Beaſt which Saint Iohn ſaw to riſe from thence, by the which hee would (without all doubt) that wee ſhould vnderſtand Antichriſt. Apo. 13.11, 12.
foreign. That is, The Sacerdotall Emperour, 666and King for euer.
In euerie one of thoſe former ſeuerall voyces, I hauehave deciphered foreign. that is, ſixe hundred ſixtie and ſixe, which is the number of the Beaſt. Apo. 13.11: of the which argument, I could produce yet manie more: but theſe ſhall here ſuffice.
4. After the premiſed,Hebrew words and voices of the number of Antichriſt. hauing examined certaine Hebrew words, and voices of the like argument, I hauehave from thence happily deciphered the foreſaide number: vz.
foreign, That is, As a God, or, God-like. 666But who aſpireth to this dignitie, as doth the Pope? he would be worſhipped as God: he would rule ouer all kings and Ceaſars, as God: hee ſitteth in the Temple of God as God: and he ſaith in his heart:666 Anchicalh bmyzith, I am as God in munition and ſtrength: alluding to that place in Dan. 11.38. Hee ſhall honour the God Mayſim; that is, the God of munition or ſtrength.
Another worde trieth him to be of or among the Tyrants of the earth: as namely, foreign. That is:666 Thoſe Emim or Giants, ſo called, for that they are a terrour to their ſubiects whom they oppreſſe with cruelty. With ſuch (indeed) the Pope hath ſhaken handes, to the honour of true Chriſtian hearts. Neither hath he onelie daunted meane and poore perſons, but terrified the mightie Potentates, who hath bin forced both to ſtoope to his vnmeaſurable crueltie, and alſo to pledge him in the vnſauerie dregges of his filthie fornications: wherein (no doubt) appeared a fearefull iudgement of God vponupon the inhabiters of the earth, and of the Sea, vntounto whom it pleaſed his Maieſtie to ſende foorth that vngodlie Tyrant, as a iuſt recompence for theyr ſinnes, and therefore hee is called in another worde of the like number, Marath Iehouah, That is, The bitterneſſe, 666or plague of Almightie God: as the inſtrument of his wrath on the earth.
And becauſe the Emperour himſelfe hath beene compelled to ſtoope vntounto his holineſſe, as ouerwhelmed with the terrour of his mightie crueltie, to the decay of the Emperiall honour, wee hauehave another Hebrew worde of the ſame number, which ſayth:666 Clh. mlch, Almightie King decayeth: as then, when the Pope aſpiring, exalted his throne to the abaſing of the Romane Emperour, his Lorde and Maiſter, and as then, when the people gaue that vntounto the Pope, which (in verie deede) was due vntounto Caeſar. This is that Departing whereof Paule prophecied. 2. Theſ. 2.3. VntoUnto the which they vnhappilie adioyned their faythleſſe Apoſtacie, attributing that alſo to the Pope, which was proper and due vntounto Chriſt, the true bread of life, the which is alſo bewrayed in other Hebrew voyces following.
666Lchm hchih: The bread of viuification: or, food of reliefe. An horrible blaſphemie, in that the people eſteemed ye Pope for their euerlaſting food, which came from heauen, derogating the honor of Chriſt.
Moreouer, this voyce is not vnaptly applied to the Popes VVafer-cake, the which they taught to bee tranſubſtantiated into the bodie of Chriſt, which therefore the blinded people adored and worſhipped as their verie maker and Sauiour.
Another voyce noteth his damnable Apoſtacie, from the faith of Chriſt, how ſoeuer hee ſhew himſelfe, Srtho: His turning away: or, his abhomination:666 For notwithſtanding the priſtine puritie of the Biſhop of Rome, the latter Biſhops being called the vniuerſall Popes, hauehave wonderfully degenerated and apoſtated, forſaking not only Paul, with Demas, and Peter with Magus, but alſo Chriſt Ieſus with Iudas. Howbeit, with the Angel Apoſtate, they giuegive faire ſemblances of holineſſe, whoſe egregious hypocriſie therein, another word bewraieth.
foreign: This word with the Hebrews,666 ſignifieth Hiding, keping ſecrete: Alſo, an Hider, and by tranſlation an Hypocrite. The Caldeans by the ſame, vnderſtand a deſtioyer, a waster: but the Greekes by the like voyce (as foreign) note a Sauiour. Although there bee in this one voyce contrarie ſignifications (after the diuerſitie of tongues), yet may the triple ſignification therof, be aptly applied to him that hath that triple Crowne: who notwithſtanding that he bee indeed a waſter and deſtroyer of ſoules, and a diſturber of the Chriſtian peace, ſetteth forth himſelfe as a Preſeruer, a Sauiour, diſſembling to be that which he is, and ſembling to be that which he is not. Further, hee is found within the borders of Italie, yea, and among the Prieſts, as this word importeth, vz.
There be ſome other words and voyces which rightly decipher, not onelyonly his proude exaltation, but alſo his chiefe ſeat: in the view & conſideration whereof, we may point at the Roman Prelate, and ſay: Lo, there is that Antichriſt.
666Ha a noſch, ciihorah beromi, That wretched man, which is likened to the highest Lorde, is in Rome. Yea, another ſayth. Neged maſchiach Romah, Antichrist of Rome, or, the Romiſh Antichriſt. VntoUnto this may bee added an other like ſentence:666 as, Hoiah cozeb maſchiah Beromah: Antichriſt is in Rome: or, a falſe Christ is reſident in the Citie of Rome.
666By another worde he is found among the holy Fathers: as, Abboth Haromah: The Abbots: or, Fathers of Rome.
666Another voice findeth him in the Church, as the chiefe perſon: foreign, That is: The head of the Church or Congregation. And who is he which vſurpeth on this title and dignitie? Euen the Romiſh Biſhop. Therefore another voice diſcrieth him, not onlie in the Church, and in a principall ſeate, but in the Church of Rome:666 as Royi chahal Romah: The high Prieſt: or, principall Prelate of the Romiſh Church. I am ſure the Pope will not abandon this title, howſoeuer he acquit himſelfe in the place.
In eueryevery one of thoſe ſeuerall places, I find 666. being the number of Antichriſt. Moreouer theſe Hebrew letters beeing tranſcribed or conuerted and placed after the Hebrew order, foreign: hauehave affinitie with a worde which ſignifieth an eleuation, 666a lifting vp, an offering: wherof (as it ſeemeth) was borrowed the worde Miſſa, or Maſſe: which is the note of the Popes Idoll. Now, of ſo manie wordes propoſed, the reader may take the meeteſt, and apply them with right iudgement.
5 There bee alſo found certaine Latine words and ſentences of the former number and argument, whereof I onelie note thoſe that follow, to bee likewiſe conſidered.
Dux Cleri, The Captaine, the Leader, or,Latine words and voices of the number of the beaſt. Doxlvi. the Head of the Cleargie.
Carduus Latinus, A Latine thistle.
Calix Deus, The Chalice God.
Lucrodoxi: Gaine worthie: or, Glorious through lucre.
Doctoris vniuerſalis initia: The beginnings of a Catholike Doctor.
Pontifex, altus Sacerdos: The Pope, an high Priest: or, The filth of the Sea, an high Prieſt. The Pope is as the excrements of the Roman Empire: (which is that beaſt that roſe vp from the Sea, Apoc. 13.1, 11.) yea, and of the ſame Sea.
Pſeudo epiſcopales vſus: The falſe Biſhoplike Maiſters: or, The vſe and conuerſation of the falſe Biſhops. Such are the Popes and his Cleargie.
Socerdotale ſurrexit: A ſacerdotall thing is riſen vp.
Vicarius titulo Christi, fel ſansta a Eccleſiae: hee, who is entituled the Vicar of Christ, is the gall of the holie Church.
Alſo this Monoſtich following, is of the like number and argument.
Icon, pax, pixis, crux, lux, fex, cantica, Cleiri.
Thus engliſhed.
The picture, Pixe, and Paxe,
the Croſſe and lights:
The drowſie dregges and Canticles,
of Cleargie wights.
Further, to ſhew in what place, and amongeſt what perſons Antichriſt was borne, bred, and maintained, wee hauehave this ſentence of the like number. Per Epiſcopos vniuerſales ſanctae Eccleſiae, ſurrexit Antichristus,foreign. VVhat is ment by this worde Antichriſt. Rex, ſeruus, ſuperbus. Amongeſt the Catholike Biſhops of the holie church, Antichrist is riſen vp, both a King, and a proude ſeruant. And here wee may note, that this word Antichrist, is not the proper name of anie one ſingular perſon, but a name common to all them that bee contrarie to Chriſt (as it is ſayde before:) but beyond all others to them who when they be contrarie to Chriſt, do ſeeme to be for him. Therfore the Roman Biſhops hauehave worthily merited this title, who notwithſtanding their holy ſemblances of vertues, do both vſurpe tyrannie, Lordſhip, and dominion, ouer and aboue all Kings and Caeſars, the which our Lorde Chriſt neuer attempted, nor taught. And in ſtudies and doctrine are to him oppoſed & contrarie. Neither can it be, but that this is that notable Antichrist, the which Iohn in the ſpirit of prophecie deſcried in the Romane Monarch. Nor is that prophecie to bee expounded of anie one Pope▪ or of anie one particular perſon: but of all thoſe wicked and vngodlie miſcreants, either conſederating in one conſpiracie agaynſt Chriſt, and his Saints, or ſucceeding one another in that Antichriſtian Sea, and Church of Rome. So that, though one Pope die,Antichriſt is continued in the world yea, in the ſea of Rome. or be remoued from that Sea, or Church, it followeth not, that therefore Antichriſt is dead, or that Antichriſt is remooued wholy with him: but that Antichrist, is neuertheleſſe continued and foſtered in the ſame Sea, by them that reteine this proude title of vniuerſalitie, and worſhip a mortall man in the place of Chriſt.
In euerie one of thoſe Latin words and ſentences, we may alſo gather the nūber of Antichriſt, foreign. Pap'eſt. 666Delx vi.
Moreouer, this voice Pap'eſt: that is, he is the Pope: or Papeſt, written in Greeke letters, and reckoned, yeeldeth the foreſaid number.
6 I hope that the true Chriſtian will neither diſdaine nor condemne this my plaine dealing, nor iudge the paper combred with curious and vnneceſſarie inuentions and deuiſes: but rather, as he is willing with wiſdome to count the number of Antichriſt, thereby the ſooner to abandon him, and flie from his deſtructions, ſo will hee gladly embrace thoſe meanes which are to him exhibited to that end, by the helpe of the diuine ſpirit, in the feare of Almightie God.
7 Moreouer, the ſeate or place of Antichrist, The ſeate of … Antichriſt.is well knowne, partly by the tytle, partly by the deſcription of the ſame. The title of his Sea is after the name of his Cittie foreign, Rome, and is interpreted pride, exaltation, eleuation, mightineſſe, ſturdineſſe, abhomination, and by them of yore, called Vngodlie Rome. After the which his Church is entituled, Eccleſia Romana, the Romane Church: which is as much to ſay, as the proude, the ſtately, the ſtrong, the hautie, and the abominable Church,Chriſt hath not ſet forth his church in proud titles. as oppoſed to the holy Catholike Church of Chriſt. For Chriſt hath not ſet foorth his Church before the worlde in proude tytles, but vnderunder the notes of humilitie, meekeneſſe, and ſobrietie, as a little flocke, an oppreſſed people, a deformed Spouſe, the poore, the Lambes, the Doues, little children, little ones, and ſuch like: and hath commended vntounto them humilitie, ſobrietie, ſimplicitie, innocencie, patience, watchfulneſſe, faſting, obedience and ſuch like. Therefore not onelie Daniel, Dan. 7.8. Reu. 13.1. & ca. 17.9.when he ſpeaketh of the 4. Monarke, being of the Romanes, and Saint Iohn when hee telleth of that Beast which roſe vp out of the Sea, Antichriſt was diſcouered as ſoon as he was borne, and pointed at in euerie age following.with ſeuen heades, and ten hornes, doo plainlie poynt at the Citie and See of Rome: but alſo the auncient Martyr Irenaeus, nowe little leſſe then a thouſand fiue hundred yeares ago, and Gregorie a Biſhop of Rome, and Hierom, and Auguſtine, and Haymo, and Hylarius, and Tertullian, and Lyra, and Thomas, and Bernarde, with wany others, both godlie and learned in their times, hauehave conſented in this, that Rome is that myſticall Babilon, and the ſeate of Antichriſt.
8 But becauſe that of this Argument, both they, and manie others, both of yore, and in this preſent age, hauehave written both learnedly and largely: therefore vntounto that which hath beene ſayde, I will adde onelie that auncient prophecie of Sybilla Erithraea, This Sibyll prophecied to the Greekes when they beſieged Troy. Bull. in Apo. 13. con. 61.who liued manie hundred yeares before the byrth of Chriſt: brieflie comprehending the things premiſed, and ſo conclude this argument. This Sibylla hauing fore-ſpoken of the taking, the ranſacking, and the burning of Rome, which was performed by Totilaes king of the Gothes, in the time of Iuſtinian the Emperor, did alſo prophecie of fifteene dilicate Kings which ſhould raigne there after that: and that then immediately, there ſhould riſe vp one other king in ſuch ſort deſcribed and ſet foorth, as beſt beſeemeth the Popes holineſſe.Sibyll. Erith. in li. 8. Sibyl. oraculorum. The words of her prophecie being Engliſhed, ſound much after this ſort.
In time to come (O bragging Rome)
on thee ſhall fall from hie:
Celestiall plagues, as ſcourgesiuſt,
for all thy tyrannie.
Then ſhall thy necke bow to thy doome,
and groueling to the ground,
The fierie flames that knowes not hoe
ſhall fiercely thee confound.
From thence when fifteene kings ſucceed,
(So dilicate) the reſt:
And hauehave with cruell ſeruitude
The world full ſorely preſt:
A king ſhall riſe, whoſe white hoare head,
ſhall ſhine and gliſter gay:
His title ſounding like the Sea,
(as Pontifex men ſay.)
Reſpecting wholie earthlie things,
and promiſing men bliſſe:
VVith putting forth his filthie foote,
(to them, the ſame to kiſſe.)
According to this prophecie,Ri. Reynol. in his Chronicle of the Empire. if ye number vp 15. Emperours, or Caeſars, after the raigne of Iustinian, yee, ſhall come into the raigne of Irene, with her yong ſonne Conſtantine, Adrian 1. in Nicaen.Synod. 2. al. 7.at what time Pope Adrian occupied the See of Rome, who with the conſent of the Empreſſe , commaunded that wicked decree in the Nicaene Synode, for the reſtoring and worſhipping of dumbe Images, as it is before declared.
9. Lo, this is that Dagon whom they ſtriue to ſtay vp! this is that Baal, for whom they contend ſo eagerly, and therein much diſquiet Ioas, and Cedeon, with their families, and vtterly diſturbe all godlie tranquilitie: and this is their cauſe, wherein they do not onelyonly reſemble, but exceede thoſe old Iſraelites which the Lorde deſtroyed: yea, thoſe heathen, whom he caſt out before the children of Iſrael, after that he had long ſuffered them to walke their owne wayes, in the lewdneſſe of their minds.