The Name Mark and Number of the Beast, To the reader 2 – Errata

The Name Mark and Number of the Beast · To the reader 2 – Errata

TO THE CONSCIENTIOUS READER, Whosoever he be, that hath a Minde given to him to calculate the Times, and to search into the sense of the most admired Book of the Revelation.

BEfore I come to the Body of the Treatise, it shall not be impertinent to remove a few prejudices in the beginning; and that I may the better be understood, briefly to shew the whole Patern of the Work. When the Spirit doth speak of the Name of the Beast, and the Number thereof, he doth insinuate, that every vulgar understanding is not fit for such a Computation: For, saith he, Here is wisdome; let him that hath understanding count the Number of the Beast, &c. Now I do not assume to my self such a peculiarity of wisdome above other men; for none hath greater cause to have the consideration of his own unworthiness to be set before him. But because I have had a long time a great inclination to the study of the Prophecies, to compare them with the stories of the Church; and finding the Lords blessing upon mine endeavors, I am the more willing to communicate that to others, which I have found to befor my private satisfaction. I may speak it with modesty, that I have spared no pains, to compare the whole Body of the Prophecy, Period with Period, Time with Time, Vision with Vision. I have perused many Commentaries, both of the Modern and Ancient Times; and used all means convenient for the discovery of Truth. And therefore, though in this kinde of Learning, I will not take it upon me to be foreign, yet I may be foreign ▪ though I have not this wisedome, I do profess my self to be the lover and admirer of them that have it.

Now whereas it may be some prejudice, that in this Treatise mention is made of a Fifth Monarchy, and the Reign of Christ upon the Earth: I must needs acknowledge the truth of the Doctrine, rightly stated; but not as the Opinion of the Chiliasts, which doth ordinarily congregate with it, many Heterogeneal Falsities, and Unsavoury Errors. For though there may be cause to maintain the Reign of Christ upon the Earth; yet it is not necessary, to maintain his Visible and Personal Reign: And though there may be cause to defend the Resurrection of the Martyrs slain in all the times of the Beasts Kingdom; yet it is not necessary to defend their historical, literal, and corporal Resurrection at the beginning of the thousand years. And though with Mr. Brightman and Mr. Forbes, we hold the New Ierusalem to be the glorious state of the Church upon Earth; yet we are far from the riot of their Opinions, who hold that men shall live without Ordinances, without Sin and Misery, in those times.

But if it be further alledged, That they that are for this way, the very best of them have many absurdities: I answer, That Piscator, Alstedius, Mede, and some others, have but generally spoken of the thing, and have not descended to particulars. And as they have had great reason to depart from other interpreters: so have they used great moderation in managing the Point; leaving many things for the discovery of future times. On the other side, for the 1000 years, I would gladly know of them that differ, Where they will seat this period of time? If they will say, That it is the state of the Church in Heaven; then let them shew, what is the Battel of Gog and Magog; and how the Camp of the Saints, and the Beloved City, may be besieged in Heaven. But if they take it for the Reign of Christ upon the Earth; then they must necessarily come to admit one member in this disjunctive: They must say, Either this period of time is already past, or else it is to come: If it be already past; VVhere hath the Church enjoyed these years of her Felicity, and of her rest from Persecutions upon Earth? Adde moreover to all this, That the Reign of Christ for 1000 years, is immediately opposed to the times of the Reign of the Beast; and the Resurrection of the Martyrs, to their death that hath been in all Antichristian times: Those Souls are onelyonly represented in the figure to live again, that were beheaded for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Iesus; that had not Worshipped the Beast, nor received his Mark, &c. If therefore we will rightly understand the meaning of these things, here is no Visible or Personal Reign, as some do imagine: But when the Gospel of Christ is set up as the Regent-Law among the Nations; then the Lord Christ doth take the Kingdome, and doth begin to Reign. And this (the Lords Name be praised) is begun already, by the Preaching of the Eternal Gospel by Luther and others, Rev. 14. 6, 7. For now whole Nations, Kingdomes, and Commonwealths, have set up the Faith of Christ, as the Religion of the State; when it was persecuted and trodden down before, by the Authority of the Bishop of Rome, and by all States and Governments that did own and submit to him as Head of the Church. And for the Martyrs, I conceive, That here is no li…eral and corporeal Resurrection of their Bodies: onelyonly Iohn in the Vision and in the Figure, saw the Souls of them that were Beheaded for the Testimony of Jesus: And the times of the Antichristian Tyranny being ended, he saw their deliverance and emersion from under this kinde of death.

These things I thought good more largely to note, to take off the prejudice of the Millenarian Opinion. Meer necessity doth compel me to maintain, that which I conceive to be a truth of God: And if the matter were rightly stated, I believe here will be nothing found, that will cross the Analogie of the Christian Faith, the Authority of the Magistrate, and the support of the Publick Ministery; but rather it will establish all these things.

But to come a little more near to the main scope of the present Discourse: Seeing I take 666 to be the Number of years to the setting up of the Name of Universal Headship; in this, perhaps, they may be offended, that are against all Calculation of Prophetical Numbers. But for such a way in general, we have good ground from the Scriptures, both of the Old and New Testament. If any have gone too far in other Points, to determine to a particular year, before the Prophecy hath been fulfilled, and so have been mistaken; in the present case there cannot be the same suspicion of Falshood. VVhen we say, That 666 is the Number of years, to the setting up of the Name or Universal Headship of the Beast (in which respect it is called the Number of the Name) in this we are on the surer side; because the truth of the thing is already verified and made good, in the experience of the Church. And whereas all the Reformed Churches, and our late Assembly of Divines in their Confession of Faith, Chap. 25. Sect. 6. do place the formality of Antichristianism, in this, as the Bishop of Rome doth make himself Head of the Church, in the place of Christ, the true Head of the Church; and so consequently, is no other but a counter-Christ: In this we agree wi…h them; and it is the substance of the ensuing Discourse. And for a particular accommodation of the Text, we will proceed in brief, to shew what understanding we have of those passages that have layen in the dark so long. The Reader, perhaps, will be the better prepared to understand, when he shall have a short Description of the things that shall more largely be delivered afterwards.

First, for the Name of the Beast, the subject of the Number, I do not take it in the ordinary way, for Lateinos, or any such Grammatical Name: But the Name, in the sense of the Prophecy, is the Power, Headship, and Dominion of the Beast. If there had been a true discovery of the Name in this sense, I may confidently believe, That the Mysterie of the Number had not layen in obscurity all this while.

Secondly, for the time of the manifestation of this Name or Headship, the greater part of Protestant Writers, and in a manner all that have spoken of these things with any solidity, affirm, That it began solemnly, publickly, and by Authority, to be set up in the Decree, under the Emperour Phocas. This was the remarkable time of the rising of the two-horned Beast out of the Earth; and this we say is exactly 666 years, from the beginning of the Roman as the fourth Metal-Kingdome. In which respect, the Number is called, The Number of the Name; that is, the Number that doth decypher, specifie and characterize the Name or Headship, in the most remarkable beginning and edition thereof.

But seeing the great Question will be, concerning the beginning of the Roman as the fourth Metal-Kingdome; Let us consider the whole Systeme and Body of these Kingdomes, and so proceed by Analogie.

The first is the Babylonian. Now if we enquire where this Kingdome did begin; Not from Nabonasser, not from any Babylonian King immediately ensuing, but from Nebuchadnezzar: For of him it is particularly said, Thou art this Head of Gold, Dan. 2. He first brought the Church of the Iews under the obedience of the People of Babel; and in him therefore we are to settle the beginning of the Babylonian, as the first Metal-Kingdome.

The second is the Persian. And here also if we examine when this Metal-Kingdome did begin; not simply from that time, when that people began to have a Form of Government; but from that time, as they began to exercise Monarchical Dominion in and over the Continent of the Church. This came to pass in the times of Cyrus; in him therefore the Persian doth commence, as the second Metal-Kingdome.

The third is the Grecian. And if we proceed in the same method, we must not generally and indefinitely look to the times when the people of Greece began to have Rule and Government among them; but when they began their Soveraign Dominion over the People of the Iews. Now this came to pas… … … times of Alexander the Great, who is … … in … particular sense, expresly called The first King, Da…. 8. 21. In him then we are to fix the true … and beginning of the Grecian, as the third Metal-Kingdome.

The fourth is the Roman. And if we proceed by the same Analogie, it will be easie to finde when that Nation did begin, as the fourth Metal-Kingdome: and here we must not reckon from the time of Iulius or Augustus Caesar, but from that time when the Roman Legions first entred Ierusalem; when they brought the Land of Iudea in subjection; when they erected their Government in those Countreys, which formerly did belong to the House of David; and when in their particular time, they did begin to exercise the same cruelty and hardness against the people of the Iews, as the Babylonians, Persians, and Grecians had done before, under each of their Empires respectively. Here we are to set the beginning of the Roman, as the fourth Metal-Kingdome. Now this came to pass 60 years before the Birth of the Lord, and 666 before the going forth of the Decree, That the Bishop of Rome should be Head over all Churches. And so we have the clear meaning of the Text, Let him that hath wisdome, count the Number of the Beast; and he shall finde, That the Number of his Name, Government, and Universal Headship, in the first Institution thereof, is 666 years from the beginning of the Roman as the fourth Metal-Kingdome. And therefore 666 is rightly and Apocalyptically called, The Number of the Name. By this Character, the Church in the days of Iohn, and so downward, had they given themselves to subtilty of observation, in the discovery of the Prophetical times; by wisdome some of them, perhaps, might have found out the particular time of the rising of the two-horned Beast out of the Earth; and the time of the first visible appearing of this Name or Headship, set up in the greatest derogation to his Soveraignty and Dominion, that is onelyonly Lord and Head of the Church.

There is one thing in the Text, which if it be attentively considered, will abundantly confirm the truth of the Interpretation. It is expresly said, Let him that hath wisdome, count foreign, the Number of the Beast; foreign, for it is the Number of a Man. Though there may seem to be great difference between these two; yet in the case we now speak of, they are but one and the same. For as Daniel numbreth the four great Empires and Revolutions of Time, by so many Regions, Parts and Divisions of the Body of Man: In which regard, it is called foreign The Number of a Man, Dan. 2. So he doth decypher the same Tyrannical Empires, and the same Revolutions of Time, by four great Beasts; in which respect it is called, foreign, The Number of the Beast.

To my understanding, the Spirit doth as good as point with the finger to this way of Interpretation. For if it be a duty for him that hath wisdome, to count the Number of the Beast; the Question will be, What Rule shall he number by, that so he may finde out the Account? The Answer is plain, foreign, It is the Number of a Man. Let him count by the changes of Empire, and by the Revolutions of Time in Daniels Image; And so the event doth fully answer the Prediction: for from the beginning of the Roman as the fourth Metal-Kingdome, there are exactly 666 years, to the setting up of the Name or Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome.

OnelyOnly the followers of Iunius, such as Piscator, Polanus, Willet, Rolloc, Deodate, and others, will say, How can the Number take date from the beginning of the Roman as the fourth Metal-Kingdome, when the Roman is no Metal-Kingdome, but doth begin at the end of all those Kingdomes? To satisfie my own understanding, and the understanding of others, I have bestowed the more pains, to try the force of their Arguments: for either we or they must greatly mistake in the Point. However, let it be true as they affirm, that not the Roman, but the Seleucian, is the fourth & last Metal-Kingdome; then all the Metal-Kingdomes must necessarily determine and expireat the destruction of the Seleucian. And so, according to the tenor of this Doctrine, we shall have that which will singularly agree with our way of Calculation. For if the account be made from the end of all four Metal-Kingdomes, from the terminus ad quem; in the same series and method of Computation, there will be 666 years to the setting up of the Name or Headship of the Bishop of Rome. And so we shall concord with the Principles of Iunius; and as to the Point in hand, he and we shall facere paria.

This is in brief the understanding which I have, both of the Name of the Beast, and the Number thereof. Now if any shall ask, What proof, or what evidence I have to hold forth the truth of the thing? I answer, The process of the Demonstration, is by Conglobation, and by a full Induction of Singulars; and it is this in effect: Where there is a true correspondence with all the Circumstances of the Text, the most remarkable Passages of the Prophesie, and the Event of things; that is a true Interpretation. But the present is such: Ergo, &c. All the burthen of proof will rest upon the Assumption. I have to this purpose applied it then to all the Circumstances of the Text, Chap. 13. I have compared it with the main drift and scope of the Spirit, Chap. 17. I have examined it by the tenor of the Apostles Doctrine, 2 Thess. 2. And last of all, I have shewed how it doth agree with the several passages in the body of the Prophesie, and with the event of things.

And now, Reader, whosoever thou art, that hast a minde given thee, rightly to calculate the Number of the Beast, I leave it to thee to reade, to meditate, to examine, and to judge of the things that I have written. If I have anywhere deviated from the Truth, I desire thy brotherly Admonition: And if anywhere it shall please the Lord, to make this Treatise an Instrument of light to thy understanding, know, That thou hast this Treasure brought to thee in an earthen Vessel, that the praise may be of God alone. And so I rest,

Thine in the LORD, N. S.

THE CONTENTS of the CHAPTERS Of the ensuing TREATISE.

CHAP. I.

COncerning the Profitableness, and the Use of the Discovery, Pag. 1

CHAP. II.

Concerning the Possibility of the Discovery; and how that there are certain demonstrative Principles to bring the Truth to light, pag. 12

CHAP. III.

That the Name of the Beast is not the word Lateinos, or any other Grammatical word; but the Name is, The Universal Power and Headship of the Beast, immediately opposed to the Power, Dominion, and Headship of the Lamb, pag. 18

CHAP. IV.

Concerning the Number of the Name of the Beast; where it is shewed, That the Name or Universal Headship began publickly to he Established under the Emperor Phocas, 666 years from the beginning of the Roman, as the Fourth Metal-Kingdome, pag. 36

CHAP. V.

That the Roman is the Fourth and Last Metal-Kingdome in Daniels Image; and the truth of this is proved against the Positions of Junius, Broughton, Piscator, Dr. Willet, and others, pag. 46

CHAP. VI.

That the Beginning of the Roman, as the Fourth Metal-Kingdome, is not from the time of Julius, or Augustus Caesar, or from any other …ulgar …; but precisely from that instant, when the … o… God came under the Dominion of the Romans, 60 years before the Birth of the Lord, and 666 before the going …orth of the Dec…ee, That the Bishop of Rome should be Head o…r all the Churches, pag. 116

CHAP. VII.

The whole process of the Discourse is repeated: That there are 666 years from the Beginning of the Roman as the Fourth Metal-Kingdome, to the setting up of the Name or Universal Headship of the Bishop of Rome; And that this is the meaning of the Spirit in the Revelation, when he speaketh of the Name of the Beast, and of the Number of the Name, pag. 158

CHAP. VIII.

The Truth of the Interpretation is proved, from the remarkable Circumstances of the Text it self, Revel. 13. 16, 17, 18. pag. 165

CHAP. IX.

The Truth of the Interpretation is further Confirmed, from the scope of the Seventeenth Chapter of the Revelation, pag. 212

CHAP. X.

A List of Fifteen Principles drawn from the main sense of the Prophecy, concerning the Beast, his Name, Mark, and Number; by the Position of which, the present Interpretation is established. Also, the several Expositions of Mr. Potter and other Writers, are brought to Tryal, pag. 219

CHAP. XI.

A brief Description of the Doctrine of S. Paul, 2 Thess. 2. And how he doth fully agree with the present Interpretation, pag. 238

CHAP. XII.

The Application of the whole: Where mention is made first, of those things that are directly Antichristian, pag. 247

CHAP. XIII.

Concerning that which is Antichristian by Analogie and Reduction, pag. 251

CHAP. XIV.

What these things are which are Antichristian onelyonly by the Position of some Circumstances, as they are truly Christian by the Position of others. The Conclusion of the whole, pag. 277

CHAP. XV.

Concerning those things which are not Antichristian, but are onelyonly falsly so called by the Separation, pag. 291

There are divers faults to be amended: some are lesser, which we leave to the courtesie of the Reader to pass by; others there are that do more notably mar and deface the sense: which we do desire that he will amend.

Some Hebrew words are not right printed, pag. 51, 101, 118, 153. The terms in the Conclusion of the first Argument, pag. 117. are misplaced. And so are the words in another expression, pag. 57. lin. 17, 18.