The Person and Period of the Antichrist, Discourse · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
354. THe firſt of thoſe Scriptural Hints or Intimations for footing our Accompt, is in Rev. 17.12. from the riſing of the 10 Kingdoms. The Holy Ghoſt ſaith expreſly there, that the ten Kings ſhould receive power (as Kings) one hour with the Beaſt; which phraſe implies, that they both had their Riſe about the ſame time, and in the ſame Age, [foreign] is, in ſome Readings, at one hour, as in Joh. 4.52. [foreign] is tranſlated at the 7th hour; and this Reading plainly imports, that the 10 Kings roſe with the Beaſt, and the Beaſt roſe with the 10 Kings at one and the ſame hour; the 10 Kings be the 10 Horns of the Beast that beareth them.
355. And though (in the courſe of Nature) horns do grow up after the Beaſt be come forth into the World; yet 'tis not ſo in this monstruous Beaſt, for he brings his horns with him, Rev. 13.1. the Beaſt that bears the Horns, and the 10 Horns riſe together at one hour: and now our work is to make enquiry when the Ten horn received their power … Kings. Chronicles doth ſhew us, how the Goths and Vandals broke off from the Imperial Yoke ſundry Nations which were ſubject to it, and gave opportunity to ſet up thoſe ten Kingdoms, which remain in Europe to this day.
356. Thoſe ten Horns roſe not all at once, but gradually (as was obſerved before of the Beaſt that bears them) now the firſt riſing of any of thoſe Horns, was in the days of the Emperor Honorius about the Y. of Chriſt 410. when the Emperor (being driven away from his Imperial Seat by thoſe barbarous Nations) was conſtrained for the recovering of Rome again, to allow them by Covenant to ſet up a Kingdom in France (that was the 1ſt Horn) and about the Y. 415. the ſame Honorius was forced to allow the like in Spain, and by the Y. 456. all the 10 Horns (who gave their Kingdoms to the Beast) were up.
357. This is not only confirmed to us by Sigonius, Sleidan, Oroſius, Alsted, Pareus, &c. but alſo by the Jeſuit Petavius, in his Rationarii Temporum parte primâ, lib. 6. pag. 275. writing thus, [Alaricum ut averteret Honorius, Gallias & Hiſpanias ei conceſſit, &c.] Now after that Genſericus the Vandal had ſpoiled Rome, about the Year 456. or not much after, not only thoſe two Horns of France and Spain were extant, but the whole Empire appear'd to be divided into ten Kingdoms, which … had all one mind, and gave their power and ſtrength to the Beaſt, Rev. 17.13. that he ſhould rule in their Dominions, and ſo though they had the title of Kings, yet they obey'd, rather then ruled.
358. Now if we take this hint and character of the Holy Ghoſt, and reckon from it, not from the appearance of the firſt of thoſe Horns about 410. (though then was laid the foundation of the Beaſts Kingdom) but from the time that all the 10 Horns were ſet up (for he is repreſented in his Riſing as a compleat Beast, having 7 Heads (to plot with) and 10 Horns (to puſh with againſt the Church of God) thoſe ten horns or Kingdoms muſt ſet up Antichriſt, and thoſe ten Horns were all come forth about the Y. 456. to which, if we add thoſe 1260 Y. it will make Antichriſts period to fall out about 1716.
359. I muſt acknowledge this Rev. 17.12. will admit of various Interpretations, as this [foreign] may be taken indefinitely, for a ſhort ſpace, as in thoſe Phraſes [this is your hour, and the power of darkneſs, Luke 22.53. and (the hour of temptation Rev. 3.10.) and tho we take it thus, it is yet comfortable; for neither the Pope nor his ten Horns ſhall abide for ever, 'tis but for a ſhort ſpace, v. 10. but for an hour, tis but ſhort to God, though long to us: and [foreign] may be read after the Beaſt, as ſignifying, thoſe ten Kingdoms roſe after Antichriſt; but we read it not ſo, and however tis not long after, tis but an hour after; they both riſe in the ſame Age, this Beaſt puts forth his horns betimes.
360. The 2d Hint or Intimation, the Holy Ghoſt gives to us to guide our reckoning herein, is in 2 Theſſ. 2.5,6,7. the removal of the Roman Empire from the Seat of the Beaſt, that was [foreign, that foreign quaſi foreign] hindred his Revelation, though the Apoſtle doth not ſpecifie it, for exaſperating the perſecuting Emperors (who promis'd to themſelves [aeterna Romae] or eternity of Imperial Rule) againſt the poor Chriſtians, as Auſtin, Jerom, &c. very probably affirm: now as the riſing of the 10 Horns is contemporary with Antichriſt, ſo is the removal of this Impediment of his Revelation, as the Apoſtles [foreign time] and [foreign then] here do plainly intimate.
361. This is ſuch an undeniable Argument, that the Romaniſts (themſelves) not only acknowledge it, but makes it alſo a ground of their Objection againſt us (that Antichriſt is not yet come; which hath been anſwered in Paragraph 154, 155. ſuprà & 185. together with the 10th Clauſe of the Induction: 56. & 130. to 138. The time of this removal therefore muſt be the very [foreign] or point of time, wherein this term of 1260 Y. muſt be footed, becauſe it is the time, wherein he was revealed, and the Computation muſt be (not from his 1ſt Riſing to be) but from that Riſing which was his Revelation.
362. Hierome (who lived in the times of the firſt Incurſion of the barbarous Nations into Italy, &c. and wrote ſo complainingly of it, (dying in the Y. 420.) he when he ſaw Rome taken, and thoſe Barbarians rending in pieces the Weſtern Empire, ſaid then in thoſe times (in his Epiſtle ad Ageruch.) [qui tenebat, de medio ſublaturus eſt, & non intelligimus Antichriſtum appropinquare] he ſeeing the Empire breaking, ſaid, that Antichriſt must needs be at hand: our work then is to find out the time, when Rome was relinquiſhed by the Emperours in point of Government, and ſeized on by the Pope, that muſt be the head of the Accompt.
363. Now in this Enquiry we may obſerve, firſt that Antichriſt roſe up to a manifestation upon the ruines of the Roman Empire, this is prov'd not only from this 2 Theſſ. 2.6,7. [he that letteth, muſt be taken away] but from Rev. 13.1,11. [the Beaſt ariſes not till the Dragon be caſt down (Rev. 12.) and the Dragons ſeat is reſigned to him, Rev. 13.2.] Yea and from Rev. 17.9,10,11. [five are faln, and one is] to wit, the Caeſars in Johns time, the falling of one Head, was the riſing of another till the laſt. 2ly. Obſerve the Roman Empire began its ruine after the death of Theodoſius the firſt, when it was rent in twain betwixt his two Sons, the Eaſtern part to Arcadius, and the Western to Honorius (who was ſocordis ingenii, of a ſlothfull diſpoſition) under whom Rome was taken by the Barbarians.
364. Obſerve 3ly. that the Weſtern Caeſar (which was the 6. Head, as to Rome) did fall down in that fatal diminutive name of Auguſtulus (whom Petavius calls Momyllus) in the Y. of Chriſt 476. then (ſaith the Jeſuit) [Imperium Occidentale deſitum eſt] this Weſtern Empire was forſaken, which after molder'd into an ignoble Exarchate, whoſe Seat was not Rome, but Ravenna. See for this Petavius, Rationarii Temporum pars 1. lib. 6. pag. 304. & lib. 7. pag. 346. (that is good Proof which is fetched from an Adverſary) and Alſted. Eucuclop. lib. 20. cap. 22. pag. 3012. Thus the foreign, or let being removed, and the Seat (as it were) reſigned. Antichriſt had a fair opportunity to reveal himſelf to be the ſeventh Head.
365. And whereas, it may be ſaid here that the Pope of Rome (for many Years after that this Roman Heſperus was ſet in Auguſtulus) did ſurrogate the Kings of France (who were afterwards of Germany) into the name and title of Caeſars. I anſwer, in uſurping his Authority of ſurrogating and deputing of Caeſars, he revealed himſelf to be Antichriſt, beſides the Myſtery of keeping up the name of the Caeſars, was to gull the world that the 6. Head was ſtill ſtanding, and that he might not appear to be the laſt Head. Now if we take this hint and reckon as high as we can, from Augustulus (as ſome do) 476. added to 1260. make 1736. a Date longer then before. This account of 1736. (cùm exibunt tempora Bestiae, ſi ducantur ab Auguſtulo) Mr. Mede was much taken with. See his Letter to the Biſhop of Armagh, in Diatribe 4. pag. 334. he ſhews that the Chronology of the Samaritan Pentateuch (ſet out by Dr. Uſher) makes that year 1736. to make up the 6000. year of the World, and then the Sabbatical 1000. or Millenary to begin.
366. The 3d Intimation the Holy Ghoſt gives us for a right Computing the time of Antichriſt is, in Rev. 12.3. [from the healing of the deadly wound] the Beaſt had 7 heads, which are explained to be 7 Hills, or 7 Kings and Monarchies, Rev. 17.9,10. for his extraordinary Soveraignty: now the wound that was given him, was by a Sword, Rev. 13.14. which could not be made in any of the Hills (whereon the Beast was placed) but in one of thoſe Monarchies: and it cannot be meant, that the wound was made in the 6. Head (either Pagan or Chriſtian Emperours as before, Parag. 314.) for that wound was never healed again, as the Jeſuit Petavius and others unanimouſly acknowledge.
267. It follows then, that this wound must be found in the 7th Head, this Pontifex Maximus, that makes himſelf the Head of the Church (which the Caeſars, Conſtantine and Theodoſius utterly diſclaim'd) yea, and the wound ſeem'd mortal and incurable [foreign, as if wounded to death] which Alaricus (in the 19. Y. of Caeſar Honorius) gave this Head, inſomuch that the Beast locked up himſelf in his den at Ravenna; the Church was then beheaded, and yet the wound was made deeper, and more deſperate by Ataulphus (who would have changed the name of Rome into his own name [Ataulphas] and by Genſericus, Odoacer, Theoderick and Totilas. As Rome began in a diminutive name, to wit, Romulus (which would not be call'd Romula, from her Founder, for the fatality of that name, but Roma) ſo her Empire ended in another diminutive, in Auguſtulus by Odoacer, and made wholly deſolate by Totilas.
367. This was ſuch a Wound, that this 7th Head which had been long ſtriving for univerſal Supremacy, and to be Lord Paramount in the World, was under an univerſal Neglect, and himſelf utterly diſcourag'd: for the Eaſtern Emperor (with whom he had faln out before, about Images) though invited, refuſed to be an healer of his Wound; and all Nations began to deſpiſe this Head, that was now become a ſervant to Barbarians.
369. Thus we ſee the wounded Head here to be no other then the 7th Government, to wit, the Pope which makes up the firſt Argument (againſt thoſe Opinions forecited) that the 1ſt Beaſt hath relation to Antichriſt in this Rev. 13. a 2d Argum. to prove this, is drawn from the deſcription of the 1ſt Beast: as (1ſt) in his blaſphemous mouth (blaſpheming both the Lord of the houſe and the houſe of God, and thoſe that dwell therein (where can this be found more then in this Antichriſt, who blaſphemes (1) againſt the Name of God, not only in aſſuming to himſelf Gods divine incommunicable Properties, but aſcribing Divine honor to Images, as Eſa. 65.7. & Ezek. 20.27,28. and in his pardons for Sin, Mark 2.7.
370. 2ly. He alſo blaſpheems Gods Tabernacle, which is either the natural Body of Chriſt (who is ſaid to tabernacle amongſt us, Joh. 1.14. & 2.19. Heb. 9.11.) by his Tranſubſtantiating Prieſts, adoring Bread for Chriſt, or this Tabernacle is the mystical Body of Chriſt (which is the Church, 1 Cor. 3.19.) by his reproaching it under the names of Conventicles and Schiſmatical companies: yea, and thoſe Saints that are in Heaven do not eſcape his blaſphemies, in his putting upon them Divine honour, not only Invocating them, but alſo dedicating both Days and Temples to them: (2ly.) the Pope is like this firſt Beast (as in blaſphemy) ſo in Perſecution v. 7. and thus the Waldenſes in the 12. Century (whom the Pope perſecuted) underſtood him to be this very Beast, ſaying to his Champions, we know ye muſt overcome us, for God hath ſaid, the Beaſt ſhall make war with the Saints, and overcome them, Rev. 13.7.
371, A third Argument to prove Antichriſt this Beaſt is, from his Identity with the 2d Beaſt, which all acknowledge to be Antichriſt, for Antichriſt doth not always appear in one ſhape, but ſometimes in one ſhape, and ſometimes in another; ſometimes as Dominus in Temporalibus, and ſo he makes himſelf the Moſes of Iſrael, and at other times, as Dominus in Spiritualibus, and ſo he becomes their Aaron or High-Prieſt. and though he got his Temporal power after his Spiritual (ſo tis the younger of the two) yet it is firſt repreſented, as Moſes (the younger Brother) is placed before Aaron the Elder.
372. This Opinion may not ſeem improbable, that both the 2 Beasts hold out one Antichriſt: for the firſt reaſon is, one Elephant (propter ingentem magnitudinem, quâ inſtar plurium eſt) for his vaſt bigneſs, is called Behemoth (Job 40.15.) which is the Hebr. plur. foem. as if many Beaſts in one, why may not this great Monſter (Antichriſt) be reſembled by two Beaſts, who indeed is a compound of many beasts (all Hereſies centring in him) or a Beast of beasts (as the Song of ſongs) by way of Eminency: and as the Elephant is ſaid to be the chiefeſt of the ways of God, Job 40.19. ſo Antichrist is chiefest of the ways of Satan, 2 Theſſ. 2.9. ut ſuprá.
373. The (2d) reaſon (that makes it probable) is, if the firſt Beast do not hold out Antichrist, then the Holy Ghoſt hath not (at all) ſet down the term of Antichrists continuance in the World; which is contrary to the whole current of Expoſitors, who all underſtand the Term of Antichriſts Reign to be included in the 42 Months, or 1260 days or years of the first Beast. Now we do not find any ſuch expreſs terms of Time about the 2d Beast, how long he ſhall continue: as to that number of the Beaſt 666. I have ſhew'd at large (ut ſupra) that it cannot hold out the Number of his Beginning nor of his Ending, which a little Arithmetick or Human Wiſdom might eaſily compute, and this is not call'd Wiſdom with God, the wiſdom of this World is fooliſhneſs with God, 1 Cor. 1.20.
374. But laſtly the third Reaſon which renders it moſt probable is, that thoſe two Beasts are one and the ſame, becauſe there is but one Beaſt mentioned in Rev. 17.8. (which is the Holy Ghoſts interpretation of the Beaſt, ſpoken of in the 13. chap.) he doth not ſpeak of two Beasts, but (the Beaſt which thou ſaw, &c.) as in Daniel, the interpretation of the Viſions follows the Viſions themſelves, ſo doth Rev. 17. interpret the Viſion of the Beaſt in chap. 13. yea, Mr. Medes (notion of the 10 Popiſh Kings) and Mr. Cottons (of the Cathol. Church) makes a complex Antichrist.
375. Thoſe things being premiſed, I come more clearly to ſpeak of the healing of this deadly wound in this 6th Head, which we find in Hiſtory, to be done not per ſaltum, but gradually, as an old wound (of an 140 Y. ſtanding) required: the firſt Plaister that was applied to it, was by Justinian the Emperor, in the 5. Century, not only by the Expulſion of the Barbarians out of Italy by his two Generals, Belliſarius and Narſes, but eſpecially by his Constitutions (call'd Novellae & Authenticae) wherein the Decree was, that the Biſhop of old Rome according to the Canons of the holy Councels ſhould have the Primacy of all Priests.
376. But aſſuredly it was never perfectly healed, till Phocas (the Parricide) cloſed up the wound about the year 606. granting to Boniface the third, that he ſhould be Oecumenical Biſhop (having all the World for his Dioceſs) and chief in honour as well as in Order, (hic Imperator facinoroſus Pontifici Romano omnia indulgebat, ut facinora ſua expiaret) Phocas yielded to the Pope (who inſinuated into his favour) this Superiority: Thoſe two Beasts, or beastly Men lick'd each other, and the Head was ſo perfectly cured by him, that preſently all the World wondred after it, when thus recovering of its wound. Now the term of 42 Months or 1260 Y. being given to the Beast after the healing of this wounded Head; tis an hint (I ſay) that we muſt reckon from Phocas his healing it in Y. 606. which brings his fall ſtill lower to 1866.
377. There is a fourth Intimation, which (becauſe it is a Criticiſm) I ſhall not inſiſt on, to wit, Rev. 13.5. power was given [to continue foreign, to make war 42. months] as v. 7. he made war againſt the Saints, ſo that all Antichrists term ſhall be a Warring againſt the Church: now from this hint we are to inquire when Antichrist began his war, wherein Blood was ſhed, and Cities deſtroyed (as the Gr. word foreign ſignifies, foreign much blood) this was not till the 12. Century ag. the Waldenſes, for 1. he was admired, 2. ſpake great things, and laſtly warred, this brings it ſtill lower, but becauſe [foreign] is not in ſome Copies, it is not in Montanus, nor in the Syriack, nor in the Aethiopick, nor in the vulgar Latin. I inſiſt not upon it.
378. Yet allowing our own Reading, as Authentick, (becauſe it is not ſafe to allow of Corruptions in Originals, ſeeing the Arabick Reading hath it [making War] it plainly holds out, that the Beaſt had this Leaſe of 42. Months given him; not only to be admired in the World, and in the Superſtitious minds of his Worſhippers for ſo long a time; yea, and not only to ſpeak great things with his blaſphemous mouth, in his Pardons and Thundring excommunications for ſuch a term alſo: but likewiſe to make War againſt the Church, (as War is taken largely and not ſtrictly) ſeeing that all thoſe Three are joyn'd together by the Holy Ghoſt, and tis ſo expreſly mentioned (in our Greek Copy) Power was given him to make War 42. Months, Rev. 13.4,5.
379. The whole Reign of the Beaſt, is [quodam modò] a certain kind of War and oppoſition againſt the Church: for the Devil is her reſtleſs Adverſary, and never departs from her, but as he departed from her Lord, only for a ſeaſon, Luk. 4.13. once in the Month he will be ſure to aſſault her, and thus he makes the Beaſt fulfil thoſe 42. Prophetical Months, though there may be ſome lucida intervalla (ſome Reſpit.) Thus the Red-Dragon makes three Aſſaults or Perſecutions, in Revel. 12. The firſt is againſt the Man-Child (which that glorious Primitive Church, (clothed with the Sun, &c.) after many ſtrong Prayers for a Nurſing Father in the Empire, and after ten ſharp Throes in the 10. Perſecutions) brought forth, Chap. 12. v. 4.
380. The ſecond Aſſault was againſt the Woman (or Church it ſelf) that brought forth this Man-Child, after he was caught up to God, and to his Throne, v. 5. and the Dragon being caſt out, v. 9.13. Thus when Conſtantine (that Man-Child) had deſtroy'd the Dragon, then did the Dragon caſt out of his mouth a Flood of Arrianiſm to drown the Woman. But the third Aſſault was againſt the Womans Seed, or Remnant, v. 17. (that kept Gods Commandments) by the Antichriſtian Beaſt, Ch. 13. tis ſaid, he went to make War with them, Chap. 12.17. which is the ſame word in Ch. 13.5. [foreign] ſo that the Beaſts Reign is call'd a making War with the Seed of the Church.
381. This War or Perſecution againſt the Remnant of the Seed, Antichriſt began betimes after he had got his Kingdom, (as our Martyrologies do ſhew) in all thoſe ten Kingdoms that belonged to his Juriſdiction, for he had the Sword of thoſe ten Horns at his Command, to War againſt this Remnant withall: Thoſe Kings were to fulfill Antichriſts will, Revel. 17.17. and was like ſo many Vaſſal-Kings under the Beaſt, to go and do at his bidding; Such a Check and Command he had over them, as the Centurion had over his Soldiers, Matth. 8.9.
382. If Antichriſt ſay to this King [Go,] he preſently Goeth, if to Another [Come,] he Cometh: If to a Third [do this] he muſt do it, if he bid any of thoſe Horns, Go, puſh this Remnant, Go, Strike them with your Sword, They muſt fulfil his will, right or wrong: If he bid them, Go make War againſt Turks or Hereticks, they went, as appears in the Holy-War, (ſo call'd) and in the Churches Perſecutions: he had alſo his Emiſſaries (thoſe Fryar-Frogs) that ſtirr'd up People (with promiſes of univerſal Pardons) to perſecute Hereticks, Rev. 16.13.14. yet all this amounts not to a formal War, (Strictly taken) the formalis Ratio of War, being a fighting of ſeveral Battles betwixt two Parties, by force of Arms: Now though there were many butcheries and Maſſacres of the Saints from the Primitive times, yet properly no War till the 12. Century; for then the Waldenſes took up Arms in their own juſt defence, (both as Men and as Chriſtians) againſt the Popiſh Croiſadoes.
383. There is a 5th. Intimation, to wit, The Womans dwelling in the Wilderneſs, which Mr. Mede makes Contemporary with the Reign of the Beaſt, and to begin at the ſame Inſtant of time; 1. Becauſe of the Equality of both their Times, (as 42. Months, and 1260. days being an Equal Number) therefore they muſt concur in the whole Intermediate ſpace of Time, from beginning to ending: 2ly. Becauſe upon her entrance into the Wilderneſs, ſhe meets with this double Beaſt, the 10 Horned, and the two Horned one, to the former of which, the Dragon (ſtandeth on the Sea-ſhore) gave his Power and Throne, as he ſaith.
384. But becauſe this alſo is Incumbred with ſeveral Ambiguities, I dare not inſiſt upon this neither; as 1. It doth not neceſſarily follow, that equal Times, muſt be the ſame Times, for bare Equality hinders not, but ſome of thoſe Times may be before, and ſome after, and ſo have differing Dates; Therefore Mr. Mede confeſſes tis not Infallibly Concluding: 2ly. The Womans flight into the Wilderneſs, if it Commence at Conſtantines comming to the Crown, and the times of the Beaſt Synchronize with it, (as Holy Brightmans opinion was Par. 285.) this makes the Beaſts Expiration long before tis found really to be ſo by Experience: Exitus acta probat.
385. A 3d. Incumbrance that this Intimation ſeems to be perplexed with, is, that there ſeems to be a double Computation of the Womans flight into the Wilderneſs, one before the Battle was fought, Revel. 12.6. for the Battle is related after in ver. 7.8.9. the End of which was, there was no place for the Dragon in Heaven: the other was after, when the two wings of an Eagle was given to her, ver. 14. (as Mr. Cotton obſerves) ſo then this double Computation, muſt needs make the time of the Reign of the Beaſt the more Ambiguous: and 4ly. If Mr. Medes Notion hold, that the two wings (given to the Woman) were the two Caeſars of the Empire, divided into Eaſt and Weſt, by whoſe help ſhe got into the Wilderneſs: Then the latter Computation of her flight, muſt not be till after Theodoſius, for the diviſion of the Empire [into Eaſt and Weſt] ſtood not, till his two Sons came to inherit them.
386. But then 5ly. The Flood of Arrianiſm muſt precede the Riſing of the Beaſt, which took up a great Interſpace after the deſtroying of the Dragon: This Hereſy continued ſome hundreds of years, and was a long time publickly received in the Church, ſpreading it ſelf univerſally Eaſt and Weſt, from thence Jerom [Ingemuit totus Orbis, & ſe Arrianum miratus eſt] and perſecuting the Orthodox, (under Conſtantius) beyond all the Pagans, till the Earth (which help'd the Woman, Revel. 12.16.) of the Barbarous Nations providentially broke this Arrian Faction: Thus this Synchroniſm wants not Ambiguities.
387. And (Ignotum per Ignotius) a dark by a darker, can never be any good demonſtrative Argument, to find out the certainty of any Poſtulatum or Queſtion whatſoever: Thoſe Ambiguities both about the Beaſts War, and about the Womans flight, makes them the leſs demonſtrative: for there ſeems to be a double accompt of both; Of the Beaſts War one is, againſt the Remnant, when the Church was got from the Dragon into the Wilderneſs, (as Iſrael from Pharaoh into the deſert) then began that War with her Seed, that could not get into the Wilderneſs with her, ſo had not Temples nor Prophets to feed and nouriſh them, (as the Church in the Wilderneſs had, Revel. 12.6.14.) but ſerved God privately without either Meetings or Miniſtry, (as ſome ſay) in Antichriſts Dominions.
388. And that Decree which Pope Innocent the firſt made (to wit, that (omnes Hereticos eſſe Vi cogendos) all Hereticks muſt be compell'd by force) was a fair foundation for, and an Introduction to that force of Arms which Antichriſt uſed afterwards againſt the Saints, under the name of Hereticks in all his Dominions: the other War is not only deſcrib'd in the Parties againſt whom it is raiſed, but alſo in the ſucceſs of it, [foreign] Saints are the Party againſt whom, and Victory is the Succeſs of the Beaſts War, whereof no mention is made in the former, if we compare Revel. 12.17. with Revel. 13.5.7. in all which 3 places, this phraſe [foreign] is uſed, Revel. 13.5. holds out the Term of the War, Revel. 12.17. the War it ſelf, and Revel. 13.7. names not only the Seed, (Saints) but the Succeſs too.
389. Thus as we have a double account of the Beaſts War, ſo likewiſe of the Womans flight into the Wilderneſs, (as before) therefore can we not ſo fully fix upon either of thoſe two laſt Intimations, unleſs we could find out the [foreign,] the Article and point of time, when thoſe double computations began, wherein I muſt confeſs my ſelf to be at a loſs, and the more, becauſe I am at this day deprived of the help of my own Library: may we but fully inform our ſelves of the exact Epochas and beginnings of all thoſe Hints aforeſaid, it would bring not a little light to this intricate Queſtion: the full diſcovery of which I muſt refer to men of greater abilities and opportunities for Chronology.
390. There is alſo a 6th. Intimation, to wit, the treading under foot of the outer Court (or holy City) by the Gentiles, for the time of 42. Months, Revel. 11.2. which is the very expreſs Term of the Leaſe of the Beaſt, as Revel. 13.5. Mr. Mede makes this likewiſe to Contemporize with the Beaſt, having one and the ſame beginning and ending, not only becauſe of the Equality of their times, (as before) but alſo becauſe of the Identity of their Expiration; for when the great Earthquake hath deſtroyed the Imperial City, and with it the Kingdom of the Beast, Rev. 11.13. and the Kingdoms become the Lords, v. 15. thoſe very Gentiles that had trodden underfoot the holy City ſo long, are then caſt out, at which they are enraged, v. 18.
391. The outward Court and the holy City, Mr. Mede makes to be Synonimus and mutually to expound themſelves becauſe the outward Court was the place of Worſhip for the People of the holy City: as the Inner Court was for the Prieſts and Levites: And thoſe Gentiles that tread it down, are not Pagans, but Papagans, which are Idolaters like unto the Gentiles, who are alſo call'd Sodom and Egypt, yea, and the Synagogue of Satan … thoſe ſhall poſſeſs the Holy City or Europe, (the allotted Seat of the Church) they ſhall tread under foot the outward Face of the viſible Church, for 42. Months.
392. Now could we but find out the beginning of this treading down of the Holy City, this would guide us (as by a Synchroniſm) to the time of Antichriſts fall; but I ſhall not inſiſt upon this neither: not only, becauſe a late Learned Critick makes this caſting out of the Outward Court to the Gentiles, a Diſpenſation under the 6th. Trumpet, and in the laſt times of Antichriſt, as if he ſhould recover all thoſe Kingdoms again, (before his fall) that have made a proteſtation againſt him, hence are they call'd Proteſtants, and not to contemporize with him from firſt to laſt; but alſo, becauſe this hath ſuch a fair Coincidency with the time of the Witneſſes in Sackcloth, which I purpoſe to ſpeak more largely to in the next place.