2

First, Although he hath two horns like the Lamb, that is, civil and ecclefiaftical power; yet he fpeaketh like the dragon, that is, he bendeth all his power and authority, words and works for the devil.

Secondly, He doth as much as the first beaft could do in the fervice of the dragon. Thirdly, He caufeth the first beast to be worfhipped; that is, established the fubftance of his religion.

Fourthly, He maketh the image of the beaft; that is, addeth a form to the fubftance.

Fifthly, He putteth life into his image by his clergy

Sixthly, He will have his image worshiped and yielded unto on pain of death.

Laftly, He will have all men. of all conditions to wear his livery, and to receive his mark, as it were his hired and covenant fervants.

Here is wifdom: let him that hath wit count the number of the beaft, for it is 'the number of a man, and his number is 'fix hundred threefcore and fix.' Rev. xiii. 18.

Now laft of all, the Holy Ghoft telleth us that it is a very high point of wisdom and understanding to count the number of the beaft, and requireth a fharp and pregnal t wit; and withal, telleth us, that it is the

number of a man; that is, fuch as a man endued with God's Spirit may find out.Then we are encouraged to fearch into it, fince it is within the compafs of mans' reach. It is no impoffible thing. If therefore we could find out his name, we would defire no more, then the field were won, for his name would discover him, and defcry him to all the world, and quite ftop the mouths of the papists, so as they should never have any thing more to fay. For if St. John had faid exprefsly and in plain terms, that the Popes of Rome are this fecond beast, and the very antichrift himself, then the papifts had been put to perpetual filence, all matters quafht, and all controverfies ended betwixt them and us forever. But here the Holy Ghoft doth not tell us his name plainly, but myftically, as many other things in this book, that the worldlings which fhould fulfil them might be blinded, whilft the eyes of God's elect are opened to fee into the truth of all these matters. Well, to come to the point: St. John doth only here. fet down the numerative letters of the beafts name. He wrote in Greek, and he only fetteth down three Greek letters or characters; which in Greek numeration make fix hundred and fixty-fix. Now further, we are to note, the numerative letters of the Greek word Lateinos do make juft this

number. And yet further, we are to obferve as a very fpecial thing, that Irenæus, an ancient father of the church, who lived very near unto the apoftles times, mentioneth this word Lateinos, as the name of the beaft: and moreover affirmeth, that it was a common received opinion in his time, and before, that the beaft fhould fo be called.

Now then let us confider how this fitteth. First, We know that the numerative letters of Lateinos do juftly fit St. John's Greek numerative letters.

Secondly, We know that antichrift is the head of the Latin church, or Latin empire; and therefore this very Lateinos. For here we do not enquire after the name of any particular man, but about the name of a kingdom; for the beaft is a kingdom, and a fucceffion of men. Now Italy in old time was called Latinum, and the Italians Latini, which noteth of what country the beaft fhould come. Moreover, the beafts name or name of the Roman empire is Lateinos, because the empire, both under the heathen tyrants, and the Popes efpecially, had all their religion, fervice, prayers, laws,decrees,. writings, and tranflations in Latin: all was in Latin, Latin; the Pope preferred his Latin tranflation of the Bible before the Hebrew and Greek originals. Thus then it is, St. John telleth us plainly, the number

of the beaft is fix hundred and fixty-fix. Irenæus faith, that Lateinos is his name, which containeth juft the number: therefore here we have his name, here he is found. For if his name be Lateinos, we need fearch no further, we know who it is,. we know who is meant: for is not the Pope Lateinos? Are not the fucceffion of them Latini? Are they not the heads of the Latin church, and Latin empire? have they not all their worship and fervice in Latin? are they not Latins? for what is the name of the Roman empire but Lateinos? and what is the name of the Popish hierarchy but Lateinos? True it is indeed which the papifts fay, that many names may be invented, whofe letters make this number: but the Spirit of God fpeaketh not of feigned names, for thereof can come nothing but uncertainty: but he willeth us to count the number of his name, which then the beast had, that is, Lateinos. I do thus then conclude; The beast is a kingdom, and the papacy is the kingdom of the Latins: there. fore the papacy is the beast.

The papacy is Lateinos, and containeth the number of the beaft: for what other monarchy can be fhewed fince the Revelation was given, whofe numerative letters contain this forefaid number? affuredly none. And therefore out of all doubt St.

John pointeth at the Roman empire, and monarchy of the Popes, For Lateinos doth both contain the number of the beast, according to St. John's computation, and alfo his name, which is in the Latin empire, or Roman empire. And thus have we heard the defcription of these two huge and monftrous beafts, the fea-beast, and the land-beaft; which both from the apostles time hitherto have indeed played the beast against Christ and his church, and ftill do. play the beafts, and will never ceafe playing the beafts, till their horns and hoofs, heads and bodies be clean cut off, which will be fhortly, as we fhall hear anon.

WE

CHAP. XIV.

E have heard in the former chapter the description of the two great and dreadful beafts. We have heard how mightily they have prevailed now many years, and reigned as monarchs of the earth. Now in this chapter we are to hear the fall and ruin of them both. So that the main drift and fcope of this chapter, and all the chapters following until the twentieth