A Scripture Line of Time, Treatise · Part 2 · Section 8

A Scripture Line of Time · Treatise · Part 2 · Section 8

p. 90SECT. VIII.

Wherein, The Forty Two Months are meaſur'd by the exacteſt Rules of Prophecy, and found by expreſs Concurrencies of thoſe Prophecies to begin at the Ceſſation of the Chriſtian Weſtern Empire, and to end whenever the 1260 Days end, (the Date of the Kingdom of Chriſt immediately enſuing) and therefore to begin at 475, and by compare with the 1260 Days to end at 1697. According to which, the State of the Empire, of the Adminiſtration of the Firſt Beaſt, and of the Witneſſes during the Fourth Trumpet, viz. from 475 to 606, is repreſented.

THE Point of Time I am now entring upon, hath had a juſt Approach made to it according to its Importance, which is very great: I ſhall now, through the Aſſiſtance of the Divine Spirit, duely conſider the moſt weighty ſenſe of it ſelf; there being no Line of Time, whoſe Bounds are ſo definitive, the Beginning ſo unconteſtably evident in Hiſtory, the End ſo illuſtrious, as this muſt be to ſenſe it ſelf, in the very nature of the thing.

That I may therefore diſcourſe hereof moſt regularly, I propoſe theſe four Heads to fix the Intendment upon.

1. To ſhew, That the Apoſtle Paul hath affirm'd, the coming of the Man of Sin, or Beast, (whoſe End is according to all Prophecies concerning him, Deſtruction by the immediate Appearance of Christ's Kingdom at that his end) hath an unmoveable Bar to his Manifeſtation till his own Time; and that the Apoſtle John declares that Bar to be an indefeiſable Succeſſion of a ſeventh King, not come in his Time, to a ſixth King, then in Being in his Time, and that ſeventh King to endure a ſhort time, and that then the Beast, the eighth King ſhould ſucceed, and that he could ſucceed neither ſooner nor later. When therefore it will appear that ſuch a ſeventh King did ſucceed the ſixth, and that that ſeventh did deceaſe at p. 91475; if it ſhall alſo appear, as it will, that this is the very ſame Beaſt to whom forty two months are determin'd, it will then be moſt evident, his forty two months muſt begin at 475.

2. To ſhew, That the Kingdom of the Beast muſt laſt till the Kingdom of Christ, according to the ſame Laws of Succeſſion, can ſucceed, and it can laſt no longer; as alſo, that the Kingdom of Christ muſt ſucceed when that Kingdom ends, and it can ſucceed no ſooner; if then, it is expreſly ſaid, the Kingdom of Chriſt ſhall immediately ſucceed the 1260 Days; and that according to this Law of Succeſſion, and the courſe of all Prophecy, it muſt alſo ſucceed the forty two months: it then will plainly follow, the 42 Months and the 1260 Days end together.

3. To ſhew, That the 1260 Days muſt be Time of the Sun, and the forty two months muſt be Time of the Moon; and ſeeing they muſt be adjuſted to one another, as ending together, and lying both within one common Womb of Time, Times, Half Time; The forty two months, by the moſt exact compare of Lunar and Solar Time, can be but 1222 Years; and therefore beſides all Advantages of Scripture-uſe of round Number, beginning at 475, they moſt exactly and moſt neceſſarily muſt end at 1697.

4. To ſhew, That the Beast indeed muſt have every way the Seminal, fundamental Nature of ſuch a Beaſt as he is deſcrib'd to be, at the very beginning of his forty two Months, as the Infant hath of a Man, but need not, nor cannot be ſuppos'd to attain full prophetical Proportions, till long after, which Time Prophecy hath alſo dated to him by his Number 666. So that the deſcription of the Empire, according to the Fourth Trumpet, the Adminiſtration of the other Beaſt, and the State of the Witneſſes, may continue many Years after as they ſtood at the forty two Months entring, and ſo Prophecy determines of them.

To begin then with the firſt of theſe, I find this Order and Head 1 Concert of the Parts of it will be moſt convictive and demonſtrative: p. 921. That Daniel, the Apoſtle Paul, and the Apoſtle John, ſpeak all of one and the ſame Beaſt. 2. That this one and the ſame Beaſt hath forty two months determin'd upon him, as the juſt State of his Duration. 3. That the Apoſtle John hath declared that peremptory, poſitive Law of Succeſſion, that was the Let of the coming of the Beaſt into his forty two months.

For the firſt, Although a multitude of Proofs from the 1Concert of all Prophecy, which either have been or will be farther taken notice of, may be given; yet, That which I will reſt upon alone at this time, ſhall be that moſt convictive one, That his End is Deſtruction by the glorious Appearance of the Kingdom of Chriſt; ſo that his eminent Character is Son of Perdition, in Conformity to that Apoſtate Apoſtle, Judas, ſo near the Glory of Chriſt's Reſurrection; ſo the Apoſtle John twice deſcribes him, by his going into Perdition, Apoc. 17. v. 8. v. 11. and his Deſtruction is ſolemnly declared, c. 19. and then the Kingdom of Chriſt ſucceeds, c. 20. c. 21. Thus Daniel in every Viſion; The great Image was ſmitten by the Stone cut out of the Mountains without hands, growing to a great Mountain, filling the Earth by a Kingdom never ending, in its ten-toed feet, part of Iron and part of Clay, ſo exactly compounded of the Beaſt out of the Sea, with his ten crowned Horns, inſeparably united with his falſe Prophetiſm, a Beaſt out of the Earth, Revel. 13. The little Horn is a Beaſt, deliver'd to the Flames, and the Kingdom under the whole Heaven given to the Saints. The King ſtanding up againſt the Prince of Princes ſhall be broken without hand. At the Accompliſhing to ſcatter the Holy People, viz. by this Beaſt, as hath been made to appear; All the Wonders of Chriſt's Kingdom ſhall be finiſhed, Dan. c. 2. v. 24. &c. compar'd with Dan. c. 7. 11. &c. c. 8. 24, 25. c. 12. 7. The Apoſtle Paul, 2 Theſſ. 2, 3. &c. ſtiles him the Son of Perdition, and foretels his being conſumed with the Brightneſs of the Lords; viz. Chriſt's coming, and the Glory of his Appearance. Whoever then conſiders the moſt notable and notorious p. 93Deſtruction always affix'd to one and the ſame kind of Power, ſo even in all its manners of Deſcription, and ſuch a kind of Deſtruction as is always declar'd to iſſue and flow out from the Glory of Chriſt at his coming to his Kingdom, will find, It muſt be one and the ſame Beaſt, ſince Chriſt hath but one ſuch Coming and one ſuch Kingdom, as theſe are deſcrib'd to be; nor indeed is there any more than one ſuch Beaſt ſo ſcituated in Time, Place, and Succeſſion, as this will appear to be.

It is in the ſecond place to be made out, that this is the 2ſame Beast that hath Fourty two Months determin'd to Him; and though there needs nothing to make that good, but to take the two Chaps. c. 13. and c. 17. of the Apocal. and to write down all the particulars of agreement between thoſe two Beaſts; and it will be impoſſible for ſo much as the thinking Mind to doubt of their being one and the ſame: But I will only inſiſt upon the former Argument in this matter, that Beaſt, that is ſo destroyed as the Beast in the c. 17. is to be deſtroyed, muſt needs according to the former Argument be the ſame Beaſt. But the Beast that hath Fourty two Months, determin'd to his Continuunce c. 13. v. 5. hath ſuch a Deſtruction affix'd to him as the Beast, c. 17. hath: For who can aſſume the Effrontery, or Boldneſs to deny, that the Beast, c. 19. who is taken and caſt into the Lake, v. 20. is the ſame with the Beast. c. 17. And the Beaſt c. 13. hath this very ſame Destruction foretold to him; For he is to be Taken, and to go into that Eternal Captivity of the Lake with his Falſe Prophet inſeparable from him, according to v. 10. and his Ten Crowned Horns, or whole Circle of Kings are to be killed with the Sword of Christ's Mouth, c. 19. v. 21. compar'd with ch. 13. v. 10. he that leadeth into Captivity ſhall go, &c. and he that kills with the Sword, &c. now Chriſt's Captivation and Killing are ſuch as argues Divine Juſtice and Power, and ſuch is that declar'd, c. 19, 20.

The Apoſtle John hath declar'd that ſo obſtinate unyielding 3Bar to the Man of Sin, being reveal'd, ſtill in his p. 94Time, as the Apoſtle Paul moſt emphatically ſpeaks, ſignifying the impoſſibility of his Coming, till that his own proper Time; Now the occaſion of that great Apoſtolical Paragraph was an Expectation of a ſudden Appearance of the 2 Theſſ. 2.2 Thess 2Glory of Chriſt's Kingdom; this very Kingdom, of which we are now ſpeaking; which was the great Expectation of the Apoſtles, till they were better Inſtructed, and of other Chriſtians after them upon a general, but not particular Apprehenſion of Scripture Prophecy; For that this Day was the day of Judgment, there is no Senſe for, in thoſe lightſome Days before the Apoſtacy, ſeeing all the Prophecies are big with a Glorious ſtate of Chriſtianity in this World. To this the Apoſt. for their Information, and of after Ages much more, ſpeaks punctually; That it could not be expected ſo ſoon, and does moſt vehemently obteſtate by the very coming of Chriſt, and our gathering unto him againſt the Expectation: for ſaith he, There muſt be an Apoſtacy firſt, and the Man of Sin muſt be reveal'd; but that muſt be in his own proper Time, and not before; for there is a foreign, a Perſon witholding, and a foreign, an effectual Thing, witholding, or each of theſe taking ſuch Faſt Hold of their proper Space and Time, that the Beſtian Prince cannot come forward till they by going off let go their Hold, and then ſhall be reveal'd that lawleſs one, that Man of Sin, which is an Expoſition of foreign, when it is to be underſtood of a Body of Succeſſors. So this is the Apoſtle's Senſe, The day of Chriſt, viz. of his Glory and Kingdom, cannot come, till the Man of Sin come: The Man of Sin comes indeed out of the Apoſtacy as out of a Womb; but as no Birth can, ſo he cannot come till his own Time: Sathan is eager enough; every thing works to it as faſt as it can: the Myſtery of Iniquity is now already at this very moment at work. But every Thing that God hath ordain'd will hold its own, its own Time, its own Place; and ſuch a Holding Thing there is, and ſuch a Holding Perſon there is that poſſeſſes, and fills that Time and Place.

p. 95Thus far the Apoſtle Paul goes in his Epiſtle, ſo far he was order'd by the Holy Spirit to go, and no farther; the reſt he refers to former Perſonal Diſcourſe. Now whatever prudential reaſon there might be of ſaying no more; The great Reaſon was, the Holy dictating Spirit order'd no more; but that all Scripture might be ſearch'd and compar'd: Holy Writers ſay ſo much in one place, ſo much in another; ſo much one Holy Writer ſays, ſo much more is ſaid by another; by every ones part the Harmony is made up.

The Apoſtle John therefore ſpeaking; as I have prov'd of the ſame great Matter, and aiming at the Glorious Kingdom of Chriſt, the grand ſcope of all Prophecy, declares the Reaſon why the Kingdom of Chriſt could not Come, becauſe there was an unalterable Succeſſion determin'd by God before that Kingdom: There were ſeven Kings, five of them he gives in the Lump, becauſe Prophecy was not concern'd in them, or in the manner or order of their Succeſſion; they are only a Character of the Monarchy, a diſtinctive of the Fourth Beaſt by its ſeven Heads, or Forms of Government, in a Succeſſion as Kings ſignifie, Dan. 7. But in three of them the Prophecy then in motion by the Apoſtle John was highly intereſted; The firſt was then, and it was in its courſe according to five of the ſeven Seals: The ſeventh King was not yet Come, it was not very far off comparatively, but it was not as yet Come, it was to come in the ſixth Seal, and when it came, there was a neceſſity upon him, he muſt continue by the ſame Comparativeneſs but a ſhort ſpace, viz. during only the time of the ſixth and ſeventh Seals; Now this ſeventh the Spirit is induſtrious to aſſure us, He was the Chriſtian Emperour; though he was a King of that great City, and Empire, yet he pertain'd not to the Beaſt; indeed there was a Declination to the Apoſtacy in his time, but the Church was yet pure all thoſe Seals, as appears by them; it appears too it was declining, the Apoſtacy drew near; a declining from one Degree to another there had been from the firſt Operation of the Myſtery of Iniquity, forming the Antichriſtian Prince no p. 96with great Curioſity in the loweſt parts of the Earth, where no Eye ſaw the way of the Sathanick Spirit, but he, before whom Hell and Deſtruction have no Covering. However, this Chriſtian Emperour was none of the Heads, but wounded the Pagan ſixth Draconick Head. The Beast, he is the eighth, and is of the ſeven; Seven, what but Heads? Clearly joyning this Viſion with the ſeven Heads, of Chap. 13. He, that as the Son of Perdition goes into Perdition; I ſay again, Goeth into Perdition, that Perdition juſt before the Kingdom of Chriſt, and ſo hath no Succeſſor, but Chriſt conſuming him.

Now this Succeſſion ſtands firm; God himſelf had fix'd it. As then no Prince can ſucceed till the former is avaunted, in ſo exact a Succeſſion one cannot crowd out another, no more than one Month or a Day following can crowd out the precedent; but when any goes off, the next ſucceeds immediately: there can be no Vacuity, Rex nunquam moritur, where God holds the Succeſſion, and its Law firm; and ſo it is to the very Kingdom of Chriſt.

Juſt then when the Chriſtian Emperour deceas'd, tht Beſtian Emperour ſucceeded; and that was indiſputably at 475, and then his forty two Months of Duration ſucceeded: and it was a large Time, as Prophecy draws them out; and they are ſtill current; they muſt have been yet a long time ago begun, for there was the ſixth King in Being when the Apoſtle wrote, ſignifying his Time then in ſpending. The ſeventh had no long time; That end of things the Apoſtle declares, Ch. 18. c. 19. c. 20. c. 21. is beyond all Controverſie upon due, yea, but ſmall Conſideration, not yet come. Therefore this eighth King muſt have been long upon the Throne, and now near the end of his forty two months.

For he came at the very firſt of them: He came then, though as an Infant Prince a Prince as in the Cradle, yet then he came. Humane Hiſtory is not more competent to declare the Time when Antichriſt was born, than the Jews could pronounce aright when the Chriſt was born; yet ſome choſen Obſervers there were of the one and of the other, ſome or p. 97alarming Indications: The Father Jerom ſounded it aloud, or rather by Inſpiration before hand proclaim'd it; but God hath judg'd it, he hath declar'd it, and there can be no incertainty in it; When the ſhort-liv'd Chriſtian Emperours and their Empire dyed in the Weſt, then it was; The true Seat of the Roman Empire, being at ſeven headed ſeven hill'd Rome, was by a wonderful Operation of Providence, quitted by the Dragon to be the Seat of the Beaſt; the Chriſtian Emperours reſided elſewhere moſt, for ſtill that was the Metropolis of the Beſtian Empire; Constantinople did but borrow the Name by a ſecret of Providence, of Nova Roma, as uſeful for ſome Types of Prophecy; when the Chriſtian Weſtern Empire was ceſſated; then the Eighth King ſucceeded, his Fourty two Months then began.

I come now to the ſecond Head of this Diſcourſe; The Head 2 Kingdom of Chriſt muſt come immediately after the Beasts Fourty two months ended; The Law of the Succeſſion requires it, it muſt be then immediately proclaim'd; It does not appear all at once, no Kingdom does ſo: But its Preparations are ſeventy five Years; So great, ſo glorious an Empire, ſo juſt, ſo even, and cubical in its Thouſand Years, muſt have an honourable Preparation; And it is but ſhort in compariſon; During this time all ſorts of warnings are given by the ſeven Thunders unſeal'd, Revel. 14. all kind of Juſtice done upon Offenders by the Vials, c. 16. The Beast hath a kind of dying Life, as an outdated Uſurper not yet executed, but that hath loſt his uſurped Empire, and then Lak'd for Ever.

This Succeſſion of the Kingdom of Chriſt is dated by Prophecy to the end of the 1260 Days. For then the Witneſſes riſe, go out of their Sackcloth, are array'd in a white Cloud, Aſcend to Heaven; they cannot Aſcend in Sackcloth; but for 1260 Days Sackcloth was their Shrowd; it is then certain, the 1260 Days End; It is certain alſo, the Kingdom of Chriſt is then proclaim'd, for when the ſecond woe past away, the third comes quickly; No delay, and the third woe Trumpet brought it, and the firſt Sound or Report is, The Kingdoms p. 98of this World are become the Kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Chriſt, therefore laſtly, the forty two months muſt end with the 1260 days, for Chriſt abated nothing of them by his Kingdom, overhaſtily, as is to be ſhewn, and the Beaſt was to have ſo many for his Reign.

The 1260 days, and the forty two months ending together, Head. 3 and the forty two Months beginning at 475, they muſt be adjuſted one to the other, as one being Time of the Sun, the other, as Time of the Moon.

For as in all Languages, and parts of the World, Days muſt, and do ſignifie moſt properly the Time, meaſured by the Sun; ſo in the eaſtern, and moſt eſpecially the Jewiſh, and Scripture Language; Months ſignifie only, and ſolely the Time, as meaſured by the Moon, and are call'd Novitates Newneſſes, or Times meaſured by each new Congreſs of the Moon with the Sun, or new Moons: ſo that however another way of ſpeaking hath prevailed with us, a Month of the Sun is as improper, as a day of the night, or a day meaſured by the Moon; ſo that if words can ſignifie as they are always in Scripture us'd to ſignifie, Months muſt ſignifie Time according to the motion of the Moon.

And further, as hath been already ſhewn, the Symbol is of the peculiar uſe in this Prophecy to ſemble Time of the Night, of the Moon, that the True Church hath under its Feet, and as ſhall be more ſeen in a great Remarque upon the Mahometan Moon.

Becauſe therefore days, months, years, as they are within this Line of Time, muſt all lye within Time, Times, half Time, and equal 1260 days, or years; There are twice Forty two Months, that knitting one within another, will ſupply the ſhortneſs to 1260 Days, or Years, of the Forty two Months, either of the Gentiles, ending thirty eight years ſooner, or thoſe of the Beaſt, beginning thirty eight years later than thoſe 1260 Days.

And, as the Moon could be no Moon, if there were no Sun to lend it Light; ſo the Sun on a body prepared, and moving to it, as the Moon, caſts a Light like that of the Moon, p. 99certainly and without fail: In the ſame manner there could be no Antichriſtian months, or Church, if there were not a true Church, and its Seed, the Witneſſes cloth'd with the Sun of Righteouſneſs, all thoſe 1260 Years, which caſt thoſe Months; And if there be ſuch a body as the Antichriſtian Church, moving to the Chriſtian Church, as that does, it muſt needs derive Months from its Days, equal one to the other.

And it is moſt apparent, that waving Scriptures round Number; Unto the exactneſs of conſiderably leſs than a Years difference, the Time of Forty two prophetical months, adjuſted by the ſtricteſt Accountant to the time of 1260 prophetical Days, meaſured by the Moon's motion, from one new Conjunction with the Sun to another, will be as 1222 Years to 1260 Years; ſo that if the forty two months of the Beaſt begin at 475, the 1260 days beginning at 437, they will both end neceſſarily at 1697; which is the thing that ought to be ſhewn, ſo great an Exactneſs, ſo ſurely arguing the true Calculalation of this Line, I hope, all will agree, cannot be bychance.

I requeſt then, I ſay, a ſtrictneſs of Account, which to avoid both longſomneſs and perplexity in this Diſcourſe, I do not give, but by ſo ſtrict Account, two miſtakes will be eſcaped, which may ariſe from a general apprehenſion of this Matter; For it will then be found, the Calculation is not to be made by accounting the Time of a Synodical Month to twenty nine days, ſo many hours, &c. which makes the Lunar year 354 days ſo many Hours and Scruples, nor by rating the 1260 days, as three Years and half, which wants about five days of the true Solar Year, and then proportioning the Lunar Year of 364 Days, odd Hours and Scruples to a Year of only 360 days; But the true Scale of Time between the Sun and Moons motion in that which is call'd the middle courſe of each, reſpecting their Conjunction one with another, is to be taken; and I affirm to the moſt rigid Arithmetician concerning it, it will prove exact to about half a years diſtance. That 1260 years of the Sun will exceed forty two Months ſpace of the Moon prophetically underſtood thirty p. 100eight years. For as Maimonides, the moſt learned accountant of Jewiſh Time, ſettles this matter in his ſevere computation of Time, in order to their new moons Solemnities. There is eleven days within ſome hours difference betwixt the lunar year and the ſolar, naturally given as 365 days; judge then how little can the want of the five days to make up the ſolar year 365 days, alter the account of 11 days difference in a year betwixt the Sun and Moon, which riſes from above 72 five days in a year, to make them nearer equal one to the other, than eleven days difference carries with it of inequality.

But I fear to be over tedious in this matter, although the wonderful exactneſs of the account does detain my Thoughts, aſſuring a Line of Time, confirmed ſo many ways beſides, to have its Epoch at 437, and its Period at 1697; by even ſo unexpected an agreement of the Beaſts forty two months, certainly beginning at 475, and therefore the Witneſſes twelve hundred ſixty days thirty eight years before them, while the Gentiles forty two months are ready to ſet out with thoſe 1260 days, that ſo the time of the Beſtian Tyranny, and the ſufferings of the Servants of God may begin and end together, as they ought to do.

I come therefore to the fourth head, to conſider the ſtate of the Empire of the Beaſt at his firſt riſing, or his forty two Months beginning thus at 475, and to compare therewith the Adminiſtration of the other Beaſt and the Prophecy of the Witneſſes, as they ſtood in the interval from 475 to 606; For indeed there is very little of a new ſcene of things opening till then; and therefore the great buſineſs of this head will be to ſettle the eſſential Lineaments of the grand Apocalyptical Beaſt according to the prophetical Iconiſmes of chap. 11. c. 13. c. 17. of the Revel. and to compare therewith the Imagery, given Dan. c. 2. c. 7. c. 8. c. 11. and the Apoſtle Paul's Prediction. 2. Theſ. 2. and the Apoſtle John's ſhort Accounts of Antichriſt in his Epiſtles; wherein I do not yet ſo much intend to diſplay the Quality and Action of the Beaſt which p. 101will be more advantagiouſly done hereafter; for at this time they were but ſeminal, and ſo not diſcoverable, nor open, and there was an accidental Variableneſs therein. But I deſign thoſe invariable and unalterable Eſſentials which are unmoveable, although they appear each in their juſt Seaſons, and which are fundamental to the Beast.

Now herein I do ſolemnly avow, I will bring no preconceiv'd Idea, or Shape of the Beast to the Prophecy, but ſearch for that true one Prophecy gives, and receive it from its hand as wholly unpoſſeſs'd of any Notions of Him before-hand; and then referr to general and uncontroverted Hiſtory, as to an Umpirage moſt impartial, the Agreement of Things with Prophecy.

Nor do I deſign to prove any Name or kind of Power in the World to be this Beast, but only to prove, That there hath been and muſt be ſuch a one to ſuſtain the Prophetick Characters during theſe forty two Months; and what will neceſſarily follow, I can't Fore-Fend.

To this Purpoſe I muſt make theſe three Premiſals:

1. That when Prophecy gives an entire prophetical Scheme of a Monarchy or this Beſtianiſm, it repreſents, as entire and eſſential to that Scheme, Things that did not fill it firſt; as Hiſtory, giving the Character of an Empire, gives it at full; or ſo of any Prince, and not as things were in their mere Infancy. Thus thoſe things are given into the Poſſeſſion of the Beast at his forty two Months beginning, which were not compleat till many Years after; as his Ten Horns, his Great Power and Authority, &c. Now this ought to be no prejudice to the Prophetick Scheme, no more than that the Picture of Charles the Great, as a Man or an Emperour, would not fit his Infancy, eſpecially when Prophecy defines the Time when he ſhall attain that Image, viz. 666.

2. When Prophecy gives the Portraicture of a particular laſt ſtate of a Monarchy that had a variety of States before it, it unites that laſt State as ſo one with the former, and eſpecially with that juſt before it, as that they are ſpoken of as p. 102one common State juſt at one Time; for this belongs to the Glory of Prophecies Preſcience and Omniſcience, to which, paſt, and preſent, and to come, are one, to give things thus entire in one.

Thus Prophecy gives the Dragon, the ſixth Head in the Beast of ſeven Heads, ſeven Heads, when it wanted one as to preſent Event: and if it had to do with any of the five fallen Heads in the Time of the Apocalypſe given, it had done the ſame undoubtedly, becauſe the Scheme is but one although it be at ſeveral Times filled up: ſo the Scheme has always 7 Heads.

And thus it gives the grand Apocalyptick Beast whatever was before it; the five fallen Heads in the Lump, that they make a Character of it; nay, the whole Image, Dan. 2. in the three Beasts, Dan. 7. the Grecian Leopard, the Perſian Bear, and the Babylonian Lyon, are united to this laſt State of the Rev. 13. 2.Rev 13:2fourth Monarchy, and even whole entire Beſtianiſm; becauſe in it that Image was to be beaten to Powder, Dan. 2. 34, 35. and the Lyon, the Bear, and the Leopard, who had their Lives prolonged, Time at large, and intimate Time or Seaſon, were now to be kill'd with the Sword of Chriſt's Mouth, when the Beast, the Little Horn, is given to the conſuming Flames, or to the Lake, Dan. 7. 11, 12. with Apoc. 19. v. 21. So that it is no wonder it is called the Beast wounded in one of its Heads, viz. the ſixth Head, before it came unto its Succeſſion or forty two months; that it is called in the ſame manner the first Beast twice, Revel. 13. 12. for all Beſtianiſm is ſo totally his, that the Dragon, with whom he is more eſpecially united, as his immediate Predeceſſor, that hath the ſeven Heads and ten Horns becauſe it was the Roman Beast under the ſixth Head, yet is carefully forepriz'd from the Name Beaſt, that it might not derogate from the Univerſal Beſtianiſm of this grand Beaſt; yea though it is he in whom this Beaſt was wounded. There is only a ſhort Allowance of the Name of the foreign the other Beaſt to him who is erecting this ſeventh Head into its Supremacy and Dignity, becauſe he is ſo one with him, as the falſe Prophet, and but for the time he is ſo erecting him.

p. 1033. That the prophetical Scheme may be underſtood concerning this Beaſt, it is to be duely ſtated, where the Situation of each part of this multiplice Scheme is to be; there muſt be the Trunk or Body of this Beaſt, and that hath its feet of many Nations and People ſpread far and wide, the People of the Ten Horns, like the feet of a Bear, and by thoſe many ſorts of People, its Body is variouſly ſpotted about like a Leopard; this is the Populacy with their ſubordinate Magiſtrates. There are the ſeven Heads, or ſupreme crowned Authorities, each having ſucceſſive Dignity and Sovereignty, as the Romans had Kings, Conſuls, Decemvirs, Tribunes of the People, perpetual Dictators, all fallen in the Apoſtles Time, and ſo they ſignifie no farther than the making a Character of the Monarchy intended. In the Apoſtles Time were the Emperours, or the Dragon in the Language of Prophecy, and the ſixth Head; and the Beaſt, the ſeventh and laſt, whoſe Mouth ſpeaking as the Lyon, Nebuchadnezzar, acts the Body and Feet to the Cruelty of the Leopard, and Bear by his idolatrous and fiery Decrees. There are the ten crowned Horns, whoſe Scite is in this Head, abſolute, independant Monarchs and Princes, only as they agree to give their Strength and Power to the Beast.

Now all theſe have ſo cloſe an Union with the Grand Beast, that the Body is ſo his, that he is the Beast, becauſe he is the Head of the Body; the ten Horns are his while they are Horns, for their Situation muſt be in the Head: the former Heads are his, the five fallen to make him a Character; the ſixth, the Imperial Dragon, lives in him, is worſhipped in him, continues to the laſt in him, viz. the Monarchickneſs, the Idolatry, the Enmity to Chriſt's Kingdom eſpecially, even as he at the firſt is wounded in him. And the other Beast is his, negotiating his Dignity and Supremacy, and at that compleat, ſubſiding into his Falſe Prophet; the Dragon, the Beast, the Falſe Prophet, ſending out, each the Spirit of Devils; and the Falſe Prophet, taken as inſeparable one from the other, with him, and caſt into the Lake. Thus he is every way the grand Apocalyptick Beaſt.

p. 104Having laid this Foundation by way of Premiſal, I come now to define this Grand Apocalyptick Beaſt, according to his certain, eſſential, invariable Characters, moſt eminent in Prophecy, moſt conſpicuous in History: for I dare not adventure ſo great a weight on Hiſtory without Prophecy, nor ſuſpend it on my Interpretation of Prophecy without obſerving Divine Providence, conducting the Event at every ſwelling Period, into moſt undoubted Hiſtory. When both meet to ſuch Perfection, it is hard to doubt, and even ſullen Obſtinacy to deny.

The Beaſt muſt be the Apoſtle John's Great Antichriſt, that Charact. 1.was to come into the World, agreeing with the falſe Chriſts our Lord propheſied of, and the Apoſtle John's many Antichriſts, 1 John 4. 2, 3. Mat. 24. 24.1 John 4:21 John 4:3Matt 24:24who would ſteal the Kingdom of the Meſſiah from Him, by pretending themſelves to be Christs; and ſo denying that great Article, that Chriſt was come in the Fleſh, to which the Kingdom of his Father David is aſſur'd without end, as being his Root and Off-ſpring.

Now this can be no way ſo effectually done, as by pretending to be the Vicar of Chriſt, and holding his Kingdom in his Right, and as in Honour of him. And he that does that, is the foreign the Oppoſite to Chriſt; and if it ſhould be diſguis'd under Servus Servorum Dei, it would not excuſe it. Now thoſe open, bare-fac'd, Falſe Chriſts, the Judgment of God immediately ſeiz'd, and gave up to Deſtruction. But of ſuch an Antichriſt as this, Chriſt hath ſworn, There ſhall be Time, Times, Half a Time, for Him, and that Chriſts Kingdom ſhould not come, or the Wonders of it be accompliſh'd, till theſe are paſt and fully paſt.

And the Apoſtle Paul aſſures us, before the Day of Chriſt can come, the Apoſtacy muſt bring forth ſuch an Antichriſt, who muſt therefore ſit in the Temple of God, viz. the outward Court and Holy City, or the Profeſſion of Chriſtian Religion, and in Chriſtendome, and there muſt exalt Himſelf, muſt uſurp above All that is called God, viz. Chriſt, even in his humane Nature, called and carrying the Name on his Veſture, p. 105and on his Thigh, (but not Written, or ſet in publick view, till juſt before the Beast's Ruine) King of Kings, Lord of Lords; whom God Sanctified, and ſent into the World, as Supreme Prince, and under him truly Chriſtian Supremes, who are alſo called Gods, John 10. 35, 36.

If then all Hiſtory, and all Knowledge of Time, ſucceſſively, for ſeveral Ages, declare ſuch a pretended Vicar of Chriſt; This is the moſt eſſential and original Character of Antichriſt, without ſearching farther into his Quality and Action; For as whoever ſhould pretend to be deputed to be a Divine God, is an Idol; ſo whoever pretends to be a Spiritual Plenipotentiary Lord of Lords, and above Princes, as Vicar of Chriſt, is Antichriſt; for whoever ſays thus of Himſelf, ſays, He is God; For Chriſt can have no Vicar General on Earth, any more than God one Univerſal Deputy of his Power, claiming Divine Honour.

Such an Antichriſt muſt needs Sit at Rome; For he muſt Charact. 2.bear aloft the Woman, as a falſe Church, that was a Wilderneſs to the True Church, when it was Hid, and yet Fed with hidden Manna; a howling Wilderneſs, where the Lyon, the Leopard, and the Bear Inhabit: In this Wilderneſs, John ſaw ſitting on the Beaſt this Woman, under the Name of that City, that in the Appocalyptical Time, or when that Prophecy was Given, ſate upon many Waters, or People, and upon the Seven Mountains, or the City ſo fam'd for being Septi-Collis, or ſeven Hill'd Rome, and which Reign'd over the Kings of the Earth, as no other City at that Time could be once ſuppos'd to do, ſo Character'd either by its Hills, or being Drunk with the Blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jeſus, **Call'd on that Account Sancta Roma., as that City in all Ages hath been; A City, whoſe Freedom was purchas'd at great rates in all parts of the World, and ſo fitly ſaid to ſit on many Waters; and to draw the Confluence of People to it to receive Law from it. Here therefore for the fulfilling Prophecy, the Beaſt muſt have his Throne, even, as under Pontius Pilate, the Governour of Judea, conſtituted by the Emperour of Rome, Chriſt ſuffer'd, and Roſe again into his Kingdom, according to the Prophecy of Daniel; That in the Days of thoſe p. 106Kings, God would ſet up an everlaſting Kingdom, the right of which then began; ſo that till Constantine, that Roman Empire was a Dragon, watching to devour the manly Birth, that had Right to Rule all Nations.

Now with this Dragon, the Beaſt was to be united, to receive his Throne, Power, and great Authority from him; and in Him, the Dragon muſt Live and be Worſhipped; Therefore He that is the Beaſt, muſt be Roman, and Sit at Rome, from which the Chriſtian Emperours by Divine Conduct receded, that this Character of the Beaſt might be left free to the Beaſt alone: And under Him it muſt be Antichristian, until the very Glorious Kingdom of Christ, and then is to be Burnt, when the Beaſt is Taken, and Caſt into the Lake, that it may anſwer the whole Ichnography, or Deſcription, Rev. c. 17. c. 18.

Now that we may throughly underſtand this Character, and the certainty of it; By the Woman that ſits on the Beast, muſt be Apprehended Rome, as a City and a Church, a Falſe and Antichriſtian Church, fix'd in, and made inſeparable from this City. No other can anſwer the Prophecy, ſo that the other Beaſt, called the Falſe Prophet, cannot be conceived by it; For whereas this City muſt be burnt, as from Heaven, the Falſe Prophet was taken with the Beaſt, and caſt into the Lake.

That it muſt be the very City, is plain by the whole Prophetical Type: This had the Seven Kings, united with the whole Empire, that by their Reſidence in it did alſo carry it and bear it aloft; This Sate on many Waters; This Reigned over the Kings of the Earth: This had its Merchants, and its various Merchandiſes, its Pomp and its Pleaſures; This is the Eternal Rome, that after its being Thrown a burning Mountain into the Sea, at above twelve hundred Years old was preſerv'd and reſcu'd, and hath ſtood twelve hundred Years more, ſo Great as it is at this Day, and ſhall not be totally Deſtroy'd, till the Appearance of Chriſt. Its Epoch of Reſtitution is in Sacred Prophecy, as Chronicular and Monumental as is its Building, or Ʋrbs Condita.

p. 107But, as it is a City, ſo is it an Apoſtatiz'd Church, fix'd to that City; For on its Forhead is written, Mystery, the ſenſe of which is, Church in a City, oppoſite to the Myſtery of the Seven Churches, but agreeable to the myſtery of Iniquity: It is the Great Whore, and mother of Harlots, with which the Kings and People of the Earth have committed Fornication; And this we know, is the conſtant deſcription of an Idolatrous Church in the Old Teſtament, as of Aholiab and Aholibah, Ezek. 23. It is Babylon the Great in this Myſtery, and it is ſpiritually call'd Sodom, the Impure City in its Spiritual Fornications, as well as corporeal Nicolaitaniſm, and Aegypt, the enſlaving cruel City, holding the Iſrael of God in Bondage; It is Spiritually that Apoſtate Jeruſalem, that is in Bondage with its Children, where our Lord was Crucified. It covers the true Church, call'd for its ſake Pergamus, and the high-rais'd Throne of Satan: ſo it is Thyatyra, the Spiritual Jezebel, Daughter of Eth. Baal, King of the Sidonians, Daughter of an Ethnick Idolatrous City, whoſe Merchandiſes are the Inſtruments of Idolatry and Superſtition, ſum'd up in the Bodies of men, not only attending its State, as the Scarlet, Fine Linnen, Gold, Silver, Ivory, Precious Wood, does; but its blind dark Religion, requiring ſervile ſtupid Brutes for men, and Souls of men periſhing for ever in its ſervice againſt Light, and Convictions of Truth, and defending it with a violated diſtorted Reaſon, abus'd Parts and Learning, Revel. 18. 13.

And this Rome muſt be both the City and Church, for here, and in it the Primacy of St. Peter, reſiding as Biſhop, laid the Foundation of its ſo long Greatneſs, under the Name of the Apoſtolick See: Conſtantinople was but an Eminence, as ſmall as the Fame of it Seven Hills, but as little Riſings compar'd with this, Eternal Church of Eternal Rome: The Ottoman Port has ſwallowed that; Flames from Heaven reſt upon this, ſo that the Smoke of its Burning ſhall aſcend for ever and ever, as both City and Church; For ſo Prophecy hath read its deſtiny, and it cannot be revers'd. Strong is the Lord that Judgeth it.

p. 108This City then is to be a Pyramid Pile of Smoke and Flame, aſcending for ever and ever, an eternal City of burning, as the City Sodome, a Lake of Brimſtone ſettling in its very Room, Place, and Scituation; a Jerico ſo curs'd, as to be no more built, and an Apostate Church, ſuffering as ſpiritual Sodome the vengeance of eternal Fire.

He, The Beaſt, muſt carry univerſal monarchy, as the Emperours ….of Rome did over as it were, the habitable World, for ſo his Union with the Dragon imports; and yet that this may not be miſtaken, it muſt be in an Image; a real, martial, natural Ceſareate is not in the prophetical Portraicture of Antichriſt, but in the Image of a Pontificate, or a Vicarſhip to Chriſt on Earth, even as the Caeſars carried a Pontificate enchas'd into their Imperialiſm or Ceſareate; ſo the Beaſt bears a Ceſareate or imperial Power, enchas'd into his Pontificate.

The other Beaſt therefore, miniſtring to the Worſhip of the firſt Beaſt, viz. the Roman Empire, as to be under the ſeventh head, but not yet erected into publick Dignity and Supremacy, found no way to do it, but by ſaying to the Antichriſtian Earth, and its Inhabitants, that they ſhould make an Revel. 13. v. 14, 15. &c.Rev 13:14Rev 13:15Image to the firſt Beaſt, that was wounded with a ſword, and did live, was wounded in the ſixth head, liv'd in the ſeventh, but was not yet in Dignity to be worſhipped; to this entire Beaſt as in the ſeventh head was to be made an Image of Idolatry, and an Image of Imperiality; an univerſal Power under the Image of an (in ordine ad ſpiritualia) reſident in a pontifical ſupremacy and infallibility. And when this Image had by the continuing ſervice of that other Beaſt, Life given to it, to ſpeak and to cauſe, That all that would not worſhip this Image, c. 14. v. 9. c. 15. v. 2. c. 16. v. 2. c. 19. v. 20. c. 20. v. 4,ſhould be kill'd; and that all ſhould receive a mark, &c. Here aroſe the univerſal monarchy in an Image, and from this time, the Prophecy joyns continually the Beaſt and his Image together.

The Beaſt muſt anſwer that prophetick motto, or Inſcription Caract. 5.upon him, thrice given, and pointing at three ſeveral Seaſons.

p. 1091. The Beaſt that Was, Is not, he is the eighth, and is of the Ch. 17. 11.ſeven, and goeth into Perdition; this is determin'd to the point of time proper to his Succeſſion, and then he muſt anſwer it.

2. The Beaſt that was, is not, ſhall aſcend out of the bottomleſs v. 8.Pit, &c. This is determined to the times in which the Beaſt firſt bore the Woman. For the Beaſt that thou ſaweſt, viz. with the Woman ſitting upon him, was, &c. Then therefore he muſt anſwer that Inſcription.

3. The Beaſt that was, is not, yet is, This is determined to v. 8.the time, when the Inhabitants of the Earth wonder, whoſe Names were not written, &c. When they behold the Beaſt that was, &c. This by compare with c. 13. muſt be, when he came to be worſhipped, and that was not till he came to his number when the Image had Life given to it, ſpoke, and caus'd, and then it muſt be anſwer'd.

And in this very Inſcription the Wiſdom of God is much to be ador'd, ſhewing ſo exactly the gradual riſing of the Beaſt firſt out of the Sea in his Succeſſion, then out of the Abyſs or bottomleſs Pit at his Ʋniverſality, then at his number 666, when he came to be worſhipped as a Head.

4. For in the firſt, he is truly ſaid to be the Beaſt, that was, that is, ſubſiſted in the general Beſtianiſm of the Roman Monarchy, that had been in ſix heads, was to ſurvive forty two months under this ſeventh head; and ſo in the prophetick Scheme had a Being: Is not, for the Beaſt had at this time as little appearance as could poſſibly conſiſt with his Succeſſion: ſucceed he did, becauſe that name of headſhip, under which the Beaſt was to live ſo long, was left at that Time to Him, the ſupream Name alone in Rome, and ſo continued ever ſince. For after the Ceſſation of the Chriſtian Emperour, neither the Kings of the barbarous Nations, nor the Greek Emperour, raviſh'd the Title of Rome, but contented themſelves with that of Italy, Lombardy, Exarchy of Ravenna, in which the care of Providence over Prophecy, is worthy admiration; yet in the Time of the Chaſm, Interreign, or Gap p. 110between the ſixth Head, the Pagan Emperour wounded by the Chriſtian Emperour, the ſeventh King, and no Head, and the Beaſt, the ſeventh Head, but eighth King; It might well be ſaid, Is not; For this Beastian Head in Prophetical Scheme, felt that Wound, both by Sympathy, as the Beaſt, that having no Head, in Dignity was truly Mottoed Is not, as alſo upon himſelf, as ſeventh Head, the Wound fell, becauſe he ſucceeded not, being fore Let; and when he did ſucceed, he was but in Infancy, the Kings of Italy, and the Grecian Exarch held him under, that it might well be ſaid of him Is not; but yet he ſo Is, that he goeth into Perdition; that is, he is in his forty two months current; which end in his Perdition, and of which the State under the Chriſtian Emperour was a great Pledge, as of Christs Kingdom, ſo of his Perdition.

In the ſecond place, when he riſeth out of the bottomleſs Pit, and hath univerſal Supremacy, as Head of Rome, he eminently carrieth the Roman Woman aloft in the ſame Supremacy, and yet in the former ſenſes may be ſaid, Was, Is not, but ſhall aſcend at his Time 606, out of the bottomleſs Pit; and as a Character moſt evident upon him, as always inſeparable from him, goes into Perdition; for out of the Abyſs he riſes, into it he is thrown for ever; this was after Phocas gave univerſality to him, as is next to be diſcourſed.

In the third, when the Dragon lives in the Beaſt, who converts Paganiſm into Antichriſtianiſm, exerciſing the ſame Idolatrous univerſal Power in the Earth, in an Image at 666, as we ſhall ſee; They worſhip both the Dragon, and wonder after the Beaſt, admiring the artifice, when they ſee the Beaſt that Was, viz. in the Draconick Head, Is not the very ſame Pagan idolatrous or imperial Dragon, and yet Is is All. That very ſame thing is an Antichriſtian and Pontifical Image at 666. His Perdition is not herein named, both for the Grace of the Type, at his Inauguration, and becauſe it is expreſs'd before and after in this engraving upon him. I leave therefore every one to judge, how admirably Prophecy and matter of Fact agree in theſe Inſcriptions.

p. 111He muſt be a Horn in the Seed, and Bud at his very Charact. 5.Succeſſion, ſo deſign'd by Providence, ſo of right, as a ſupreme, though but in Infancy, and in an Image; yet being a ſmall and feeble Horn, he could not get up, but under the favour and ſhelter, behind, and in the midſt of the other Horns, and then they became his Horns in open view.

Then he was one among Ten, into which the Empire being variouſly divided, fell; ſo as to make that number at any time after its diviſion; and Ten as a complemental number is choſen.

Three were pulled up by him, by his Influence and Inſtance, before him, by the ſtrength and martial Proweſs of others.

Let Hiſtory then declare, what Three eminent Horns were pull'd up, and we ſhall find the Gothick Horn pull'd up by Juſtinian the Emperour, the Lombards a ſecond, and the Greek Exarchy the Third for this little Horn, by Charls Martill; by Pipin his Son, who was made King of France, by him Charles the Great, Son, and Grand-ſon to the two former, inveſted with the titularity of Weſtern Emperour; For let Hiſtory further declare, for whoſe ſake they were pull'd up, and whoſe Patrimony they became.

Nor let it be any blemiſh in Prophecy, that Daniel does not ſpeak openly of the Headſhip of this little Horn, nor John of the Hornſhip of this Head; for one Type was peculiar to one Prophet, the other to the other, and could not without manifeſt Injury to either Type, be conjoyn'd, or confounded.

But Daniel ſubindicates his Headſhip, whom he ſtiles a little Dan. 7. 8. Dan, 8. 23. Dan. 11. 36. c 7. 24.Dan 7:8Dan 11:36Horn, by the Eyes of a Man, by a Countenance ſtout above his Fellows, by a Mouth ſpeaking great things, by his understanding dark Sentences, by his being a King, doing after his own Will; in all which he was a Horn diverſe from all the rest.

On the other ſide the Apocaliptick Prophet does not diſſemble his being a little Horn, while a Head; for the Dragon gave him his Seat, the Ten Kings agree to give him their Power and Kingdom, neither of which he could win by puiſſance, p. 112and when the Words of God are fulfilled, they reſume all with eaſe, and at Pleaſure; for he proſper'd only by Craft and Serpentine Dan. 8. 24.Dan 8:24Subtilty, inſpir'd into him by Sathan.

The Beast is always united with falſe Prophecy, that he Charct. 6.himſelf is the Head, and principal of it from the firſt, and therein negotiated his own univerſal Monarchy, Within his Purple there lies a rough Garment to deceive; he is full of the Spirit of Antichrist, and ſo ſurpriſes the Kingdom of the true Prophet, Prieſt, and King; He is Sathan transform'd into an Angel of Light, a falſe Apoſtle coming with lying Signs and Wonders; his Eyes are as a Seers, his Mouth ſpeaketh great things, His Efficacy is by the deceivableneſs of Ʋnrighteouſneſs in them, that periſh; his Name, Son of Perdition, is deriv'd from the Traytor Apoſtle Judas, who betrays Chriſt with the hail Maſter, and a Kiſs; he Blaſphemes, he is worſhiped by thoſe who are not written in the Lambs Book of Life; he is made ſupreme by calling Fire from Heaven in falſe Anathemaes; he is inſeparably united with the falſe Prophet, and cast into the Lake with him. He is conſumed with the Spirit of Christs Mouth, and diſappears, vaniſhes, as a counterfeit at the ſight of the true Chriſt himſelf, being a falſe Christ, an Antichriſt comprehending and embracing falſe Prophetiſm, within his Tyranny of changing Laws and Times, and doing after his own Will.

Now whether ſuch a Tyranny in the Image of Pſeudo Prophetiſm, hath been in the World, gradually riſing according to Prophecy, ſince the deceaſe of the Christian Emperour, and ſupporting the forty two months, for above theſe laſt twelve hundred years, (and eſpecially from 606, and 725,) that hath been no Fantom, Ghoſt, or Mormo, but Fleſh and Bones, hard ſubſtantial Tyranny? Let all the Chriſtian World judge.

And thus I have ſettled every way the forty two months, as Beſtianiſm lyes under them, without any new Diſtinction of Time, under which nothing ſo remarkably tranſcendent to the former account of the other Beast, and the Witneſſes appears, as will come into conſideration in the Progreſs of things, p. 113to which therefore I adjoyn the farther Treaty of them, and cloſe this part of Diſcourſe with theſe few ſhort Remarks.

Let the Prophetick Symbols be laid either to Eccleſiaſtick or Remark 1 General Hiſtory, and we ſhall find, History hath nothing, relating to things, Prophecy hath been ſuppos'd to have deſign'd its Symbols to and for; but that both in the Frame and Structure of the whole Prophecy, in its Series, and Notes of Time, there is a moſt exact and wonderful Co-ordination of one to and with the other. I mean in Cardinal Points.

To aſcribe them then to Chance or Fancy, what does it ſpeak, but an Obſtinacy ſemblable to that of the Atheist, againſt all proof of a Divine Being, or to the Phariſaick Deſpightful accounting to the Prince of Devils what was too evident to be denied, and too great to be devolv'd upon natural Cauſes.

If the Myſtery of Iniquity began in the very Time of the Remark 2 Apoſtles; if the Apoſtacy began at 437; and that then the Gentiles had invaded the outward Court of the Christian Profeſſion, as within their forty two months, ſo to do; if the Beaſt was at 475 in his forty two months, under the Guardianſhip of the other Beast, with the two Horns of East and West, however pretending to the Lamb; What Dependance can there be upon Antiquity, not ſupported by Divine Authority of Scripture, or firm ſolid Reaſon? How much better are cloſe Reſearches into this Divine Prophecy to determine thoſe Controverſies, than Search into Antiquity only?

As certainly as the Gentiles Power of entring the Holy Remark 3 Ground, and treading it down with unhallowed Feet; as certainly as the Beast came into his forty two Months at the due time; ſo certainly ſhall the Kingdom of the Lord, and of his Christ, ſucceed at the end of theſe forty two Months: for it is not only ſo according to the Word of the Watchers, and Demand of the Holy ones, but according to the ſolemn Oath of Christ, with hands lifted up to Heaven, That after Time, Times, Half a Time, Time ſhall be no more, but of the ſeventh Trumpet finiſhing All, and the Beast going into Perdition.

p. 114There is no Injury done to Perſons of Royal Dignity, or Remark 4 of any other Character of Dominion, by deriving upon them what Divine Prophecy hath affix'd to them: their Perſons, their Places, may receive all due Honour and Chriſtian Subjection notwithſtanding. Prayers may be made for them, as any way deputed by God; their perſonal Vertues and worthy Actions may be had in due eſteem, even as the Princes of the Heathen, by Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, or of the Caeſars by the Apoſtles.