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Title: Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel, and the Apocalypse
of St. John

Author: Isaac Newton

Release date: October 15, 2005 [eBook #16878]
Most recently updated: December 12, 2020

Language: English

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OBSERVATIONS
UPON THE PROPHECIES OF DANIEL, AND THE APOCALYPSE OF
ST. JOHN ***

OBSERVATIONS
upon the
PROPHECIES
of
DANIEL,
and the
APOCALYPSE
of
St. JOHN.

In Two PARTS.

By Sir ISAAC NEWTON.

LONDON,

Printed by J. DARBY and T. BROWNE in Bartholomew-Close.

And Sold by J. ROBERTS in Warwick-lane, J. TONSON in the
Strand, W. INNYS and R. MANBY at the West End of St.
Paul's Church-Yard, J. OSBORN and T. LONGMAN in Pater-Noster-Row,

J. NOON near Mercers Chapel in Cheapside,
T. HATCHETT at the Royal Exchange, S. HARDING in St.
Martin's lane, J. STAGG in Westminster-Hall, J. PARKER in
Pall-mall, and J. BRINDLEY in New Bond-Street.

M.DCC.XXXIII.

To the Right Honourable

PETER

Lord K I N G,
Baron of Ockham, Lord High Chancellor of Great-Britain.

My Lord,
I shall make no Apology for addressing the following Sheets to Your
Lordship, who lived in a long Intercourse of Friendship with the Author;
and, like him, amidst occupations of a different nature, made Religion your
voluntary Study; and in all your Enquiries and Actions, have shewn the
same inflexible Adherence to Truth and Virtue.
I shall always reckon it one of the Advantages of my Relation to Sir Isaac
Newton, that it affords me an opportunity of making this publick
acknowledgment of the unfeigned Respect of,

My Lord,
Your Lordship's
most obedient, and
most humble Servant,
Benj. Smith.

CONTENTS.
PART I.

Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel.
CHAP. I. Introduction concerning, the Compilers of the Books of the Old
Testament.
CHAP. II. Of the Prophetic Language.
CHAP. III. Of the vision of the Image composed of four Metals.
CHAP. IV. Of the vision of the four Beasts.
CHAP. V. Of the Kingdoms represented by the feet of the Image composed
of iron and clay.
CHAP. VI. Of the ten Kingdoms represented by the ten horns of the fourth
Beast.
CHAP. VII. Of the eleventh horn of Daniel's fourth Beast.
CHAP. VIII. Of the power of the eleventh horn of Daniel's fourth Beast, to
change times and laws.
CHAP. IX. Of the Kingdoms represented in Daniel by the Ram and He-
Goat.
CHAP. X. Of the Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks.
CHAP. XI. Of the Times of the Birth and Passion of Christ.
CHAP. XII. Of the Prophecy of the Scripture of Truth.
CHAP. XIII. Of the King who did according to his will, and magnified
himself above every God, and honoured Mahuzzims, and regarded not the
desire of women.

CHAP. XIV. Of the Mahuzzims, honoured by the King who doth according
to his will.

PART II.

Observations upon the Apocalypse of St. John.
CHAP. I. Introduction, concerning the time when the Apocalypse was
written.
CHAP. II. Of the relation which the Apocalypse of John hath to the Book of
the Law of Moses, and to the worship of God in the Temple.
CHAP. III. Of the relation which the Prophecy of John hath to those of
Daniel; and of the Subject of the Prophecy.

PART I.

OBSERVATIONS
upon the
PROPHECIES
of
DANIEL.

OBSERVATIONS
UPON THE

Prophecies of DANIEL

CHAP. I.

Introduction concerning the Compilers of the books of the Old Testament.

When Manasses [1] set up a carved image in the house of the Lord, and built
altars in the two courts of the house, to all the host of Heaven, and us'd
inchantments and witchcraft, and familiar spirits, and for his great
wickedness was invaded by the army of Asserhadon King of Assyria, and
carried captive to Babylon; the book of the Law was lost till the eighteenth
year of his grandson Josiah. Then [2] Hilkiah the High Priest, upon repairing
the Temple, found it there: and the King lamented that their fathers had not
done after the words of the book, and commanded that it should be read to
the people, and caused the people to renew the holy covenant with God.
This is the book of the Law now extant.

When [3] Shishak came out of Egypt and spoil'd the temple, and brought
Judah into subjection to the monarchy of Egypt, (which was in the fifth
year of Rehoboam) the Jews continued under great troubles for about
twenty years; being without the true God, and without a teaching Priest,
and without Law: and in those times there was no peace to him that went
out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the
inhabitants of the countries, and nation was destroyed of nation, and city of
city, for God did vex them with all adversity. But [4] when Shishak was
dead, and Egypt fell into troubles, Judah had quiet ten years; and in that
time Asa built fenced cities in Judah, and got up an army of 580000 men,
with which, in the 15th year of his reign, he met and overcame Zerah the
Ethiopian, who had conquered Egypt and Lybia, and Troglodytica, and
came out with an army of 1000000 Lybians and Ethiopians, to recover the
countries conquered by Sesac. And after this victory [5] Asa dethroned his

mother for idolatry, and he renewed the Altar, and brought new vessels of
gold and silver into the Temple; and he and the people entered into a new
covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers, upon pain of death to those
who worshiped other Gods; and his son Jehosaphat took away the high
places, and in the third year of his reign sent some of his Princes, and of the
Priests and Levites, to teach in the cities of Judah: and they had the book of
the Law with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and
taught the people. This is that book of the Law which was afterwards lost in
the reign of Manasses, and found again in the reign of Josiah, and therefore
it was written before the third year of Jehosaphat.
The same book of the Law was preserved and handed down to posterity by
the Samaritans, and therefore was received by the ten Tribes before their
captivity. For [6] when the ten Tribes were captivated, a Priest or the
captivity was sent back to Bethel, by order of the King of Assyria, to
instruct the new inhabitants of Samaria, in the manner of the God of the
land; and the Samaritans had the Pentateuch from this Priest, as containing
the law or manner of the God of the land, which he was to teach them. For
[7]
they persevered in the religion which he taught them, joining with it the
worship of their own Gods; and by persevering in what they had been
taught, they preserved this book of their Law in the original character of the
Hebrews, while the two Tribes, after their return from Babylon, changed the
character to that of the Chaldees, which they had learned at Babylon.
And since the Pentateuch was received as the book of the Law, both by the
two Tribes and by the ten Tribes, it follows that they received it before they
became divided into two Kingdoms. For after the division, they received
not laws from one another, but continued at variance. Judah could not
reclaim Israel from the sin of Jeroboam, and Israel could not bring Judah
to it. The Pentateuch therefore was the book of the Law in the days of
David and Solomon. The affairs of the Tabernacle and Temple were ordered
by David and Solomon, according to the Law of this book; and David in the
78th Psalm, admonishing the people to give ear to the Law of God, means
the Law of this book. For in describing how their forefathers kept it not, he
quotes many historical things out of the books of Exodus and Numbers.
The race of the Kings of Edom, before there reigned any King over Israel,
is set down in the book of [8] Genesis; and therefore that book was not

written entirely in the form now extant, before the reign of Saul. The writer
set down the race of those Kings till his own time, and therefore wrote
before David conquered Edom. The Pentateuch is composed of the Law and
the history of God's people together; and the history hath been collected
from several books, such as were the history of the Creation composed by
Moses, Gen. ii. 4. the book of the generations of Adam, Gen. v. i. and the
book of the wars of the Lord, Num. xxi. 14. This book of wars contained
what was done at the Red-sea, and in the journeying of Israel thro' the
Wilderness, and therefore was begun by Moses. And Joshua might carry it
on to the conquest of Canaan. For Joshua wrote some things in the book of
the Law of God, Josh. xxiv. 26 and therefore might write his own wars in
the book of wars, those being the principal wars of God. These were
publick books, and therefore not written without the authority of Moses and
Joshua. And Samuel had leisure in the reign of Saul, to put them into the
form of the books of Moses and Joshua now extant, inserting into the book
of Genesis, the race of the Kings of Edom, until there reigned a King in
Israel.
The book of the Judges is a continued history of the Judges down to the
death of Sampson, and therefore was compiled after his death, out of the
Acts of the Judges. Several things in this book are said to be done when
there was no King in Israel, Judg. xvii. 6. xviii. 1. xix. 1. xxi. 25. and
therefore this book was written after the beginning of the reign of Saul.
When it was written, the Jebusites dwelt in Jerusalem, Jud. i. 21 and
therefore it was written before the eighth year of David, 2 Sam. v. 8. and 1
Chron. xi. 6. The books of Moses, Joshua, and Judges, contain one
continued history, down from the Creation to the death of Sampson. Where
the Pentateuch ends, the book of Joshua begins; and where the book of
Joshua ends, the book of Judges begins. Therefore all these books have
been composed out of the writings of Moses, Joshua, and other records, by
one and the same hand, after the beginning of the reign of Saul, and before
the eighth year of David. And Samuel was a sacred writer, 1 Sam. x. 25.
acquainted with the history of Moses and the Judges, 1 Sam. xii. 8, 9, 10,
11, 12. and had leisure in the reign of Saul, and sufficient authority to
compose these books. He was a Prophet, and judged Israel all the days of
his life, and was in the greatest esteem with the people; and the Law by
which he was to judge the people was not to be published by less authority

than his own, the Law-maker being not inferior to the judge. And the book
of Jasher, which is quoted in the book of Joshua, Josh. x. 13. was in being
at the death of Saul, 2 Sam. i. 18.
At the dedication of the Temple of Solomon, when the Ark was brought into
the most holy place, there was nothing in it but the two tables, 1 Kings viii.
9. and therefore when the Philistines took the Ark, they took out of it the
book of the Law, and the golden pot of Manna, and Aaron's Rod. And this
and other losses in the desolation of Israel, by the conquering Philistines,
might give occasion to Samuel, after some respite from those enemies, to
recollect the scattered writings of Moses and Joshua, and the records of the
Patriarchs and Judges, and compose them in the form now extant.
The book of Ruth is a history of things done in the days of the Judges, and
may be looked upon as an addition to the book of the Judges, written by the
same author, and at the same time. For it was written after the birth of
David, Ruth iv. 17, 22. and not long after, because the history of Boaz and
Ruth, the great grandfather and great grandmother of David, and that of
their contemporaries, could not well be remembered above two or three
generations. And since this book derives the genealogy of David from Boaz
and Ruth, and omits David's elder brothers and his sons; it was written in
honour of David, after he was anointed King by Samuel, and before he had
children in Hebron, and by consequence in the reign of Saul. It proceeds not
to the history of David, and therefore seems to have been written presently
after he was anointed. They judge well therefore who ascribe to Samuel the
books of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth.
Samuel is also reputed the author of the first book of Samuel, till the time of
his death. The two books of Samuel cite no authors, and therefore seem to
be originals. They begin with his genealogy, birth and education, and might
be written partly in his lifetime by himself or his disciples the Prophets at
Naioth in Ramah, 1 Sam. xix. 18, 19, 20. and partly after his death by the
same disciples.
The books of the Kings cite other authors, as the book of the Acts of
Solomon, the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, and the book of
the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. The books of the Chronicles cite the
book of Samuel the Seer, the book of Nathan the Prophet, and the book of

Gad the Seer, for the Acts of David; the book of Nathan the Prophet, the
Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and the visions of Iddo the Seer, for the
Acts of Solomon; the book of Shemajah the Prophet, and the book of Iddo
the Seer concerning genealogies, for the Acts of Rehoboam and Abijah; the
book of the Kings of Judah and Israel for the Acts of Asa, Joash, Amaziah,
Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, and Josiah; the book of Hanani the
Seer, for the Acts of Jehosaphat; and the visions of Isaiah for the Acts of
Uzziah and Hezekiah. These books were therefore collected out of the
historical writings of the antient Seers and Prophets. And because the books
of the Kings and Chronicles quote one another, they were written at one and
the same time. And this time was after the return from the Babylonian
captivity, because they bring down the history of Judah, and the
genealogies of the Kings of Judah, and of the High Priests, to that captivity.
The book of Ezra was originally a part of the book of the Chronicles, and
has been divided from it. For it begins with the two last verses of the books
of Chronicles, and the first book of Esdras begins with the two last chapters
thereof. Ezra was therefore the compiler of the books of Kings and
Chronicles, and brought down the history to his own time. He was a ready
Scribe in the Law of God; and for assisting him in this work Nehemias
founded a library, and gathered together the Acts of the Kings and the
Prophets, and of David, and the Epistles of the Kings, concerning the holy
gifts, 2 Maccab. ii. 13. By the Acts of David I understand here the two
books of Samuel, or at least the second book. Out of the Acts of the Kings,
written from time to time by the Prophets, he compos'd the books of the
Kings of Judah and Israel, the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, and the
Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. And in doing this he joined those Acts
together, in due order of time, copying the very words of the authors, as is
manifest from hence, that the books of the Kings and Chronicles frequently
agree with one another in words for many sentences together. Where they
agree in sense, there they agree in words also.
So the Prophecies of Isaiah, written at several times, he has collected into
one body. And the like he did for those of Jeremiah, and the rest of the
Prophets, down to the days of the second Temple. The book of Jonah is the
history of Jonah written by another hand. The book of Daniel is a collection
of papers written at several times. The six last chapters contain Prophecies
written at several times by Daniel himself: the six first are a collection of

historical papers written by others. The fourth chapter is a decree of
Nebuchadnezzar. The first chapter was written after Daniel's death: for the
author saith, that Daniel continued to the first year of Cyrus; that is, to his
first year over the Persians and Medes, and third year over Babylon. And,
for the same reason, the fifth and sixth chapters were also written after his
death. For they end with these words: So this Daniel prospered in the reign
of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. Yet these words might be
added by the collector of the papers, whom I take to be Ezra.
The Psalms composed by Moses, David, and others, seem to have been also
collected by Ezra into one volume. I reckon him the collector, because in
this collection I meet with Psalms as late as the Babylonian captivity, but
with none later.
After these things Antiochus Epiphanes spoiled the Temple, commanded the
Jews to forsake the Law upon pain of death, and caused the sacred books to
be burnt wherever they could be found: and in these troubles the book of
the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel was entirely lost. But upon recovering
from this oppression, Judas Maccabæus gathered together all those writings
that were to be met with, 2 Maccab. ii. 14. and in reducing them into order,
part of the Prophecies of Isaiah, or some other Prophet, have been added to
the end of the Prophecies of Zechariah; and the book of Ezra has been
separated from the book of Chronicles, and set together in two different
orders; in one order in the book of Ezra, received into the Canon, and in
another order in the first book of Esdras.
After the Roman captivity, the Jews for preserving their traditions, put them
in writing in their Talmud, and for preserving their scriptures, agreed upon
an Edition, and pointed it, and counted the letters of every sort in every
book: and by preserving only this Edition, the antienter various lections,
except what can be discovered by means of the Septuagint Version, are now
lost; and such marginal notes, or other corruptions, as by the errors of the
transcribers, before this Edition was made, had crept into the text, are now
scarce to be corrected.
The Jews before the Roman captivity, distinguished the sacred books into
the Law, the Prophets, and the Hagiographa, or holy writings; and read
only the Law and the Prophets in their Synagogues. And Christ and his

Apostles laid the stress of religion upon the Law and the Prophets, Matt. vii.
12. xxii. 4. Luke xvi. 16, 29, 31. xxiv. 44. Acts xxiv. 14. xxvi. 22. Rom. iii.
21. By the Hagiographa they meant the historical books called Joshua,
Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther, the
book of Job, the Psalms, the books of Solomon, and the Lamentations. The
Samaritans read only the Pentateuch: and when Jehosaphat sent men to
teach in the cities, they had with them only the book of the Law; for the
Prophecies now extant were not then written. And upon the return from the
Babylonian captivity, Ezra read only the book of the Law to the people,
from morning to noon on the first day of the seventh month; and from day
to day in the feast of Tabernacles: for he had not yet collected the writings
of the Prophets into the volume now extant; but instituted the reading of
them after the collection was made. By reading the Law and the Prophets in
the Synagogues, those books have been kept freer from corruption than the
Hagiographa.
In the infancy of the nation of Israel, when God had given them a Law, and
made a covenant with them to be their God if they would keep his
commandments, he sent Prophets to reclaim them, as often as they revolted
to the worship of other Gods: and upon their returning to him, they
sometimes renewed the covenant which they had broken. These Prophets he
continued to send, till the days of Ezra: but after their Prophecies were read
in the Synagogues, those Prophecies were thought sufficient. For if the
people would not hear Moses and the old Prophets, they would hear no new
ones, no not tho they should rise from the dead. At length when a new truth
was to be preached to the Gentiles, namely, that Jesus was the Christ, God
sent new Prophets and Teachers: but after their writings were also received
and read in the Synagogues of the Christians, Prophecy ceased a second
time. We have Moses, the Prophets, and Apostles, and the words of Christ
himself; and if we will not hear them, we shall be more inexcusable than the
Jews. For the Prophets and Apostles have foretold, that as Israel often
revolted and brake the covenant, and upon repentance renewed it; so there
should be a falling away among the Christians, soon after the days of the
Apostles; and that in the latter days God would destroy the impenitent
revolters, and make a new covenant with his people. And the giving ear to
the Prophets is a fundamental character of the true Church. For God has so
ordered the Prophecies, that in the latter days the wise may understand, but

the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand, Dan.
xii. 9, 10. The authority of Emperors, Kings, and Princes, is human. The
authority of Councils, Synods, Bishops, and Presbyters, is human. The
authority of the Prophets is divine, and comprehends the sum of religion,
reckoning Moses and the Apostles among the Prophets; and if an Angel
from Heaven preach any other gospel, than what they have delivered, let
him be accursed. Their writings contain the covenant between God and his
people, with instructions for keeping this covenant; instances of God's
judgments upon them that break it: and predictions of things to come. While
the people of God keep the covenant, they continue to be his people: when
they break it they cease to be his people or church, and become the
Synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not. And no power on
earth is authorized to alter this covenant.
The predictions of things to come relate to the state of the Church in all
ages: and amongst the old Prophets, Daniel is most distinct in order of time,
and easiest to be understood: and therefore in those things which relate to
the last times, he must be made the key to the rest.

Notes to Chap. I.
[1] 2 Chron. xxxiii. 5, 6, 7.
[2] 2 Chron. xxxiv.
[3] 2 Chron. xii. 2, 3, 4, 8, 9. & xv. 3, 5, 6.
[4] 2 Chron. xiv. 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12.
[5] 2 Chron. xv. 3, 12, 13, 16, 18.
[6] 2 Kings xvii. 27, 28, 32, 33.
[7] 2 Kings xvii. 34, 41.
[8] Gen. xxxvi. 31.

CHAP. II.

Of the Prophetic Language.

For understanding the Prophecies, we are, in the first place, to acquaint our-
selves with the figurative language of the Prophets. This language is taken
from the analogy between the world natural, and an empire or kingdom
considered as a world politic.
Accordingly, the whole world natural consisting of heaven and earth,
signifies the whole world politic, consisting of thrones and people, or so
much of it as is considered in the Prophecy: and the things in that world
signify the analogous things in this. For the heavens, and the things therein,
signify thrones and dignities, and those who enjoy them; and the earth, with
the things thereon, the inferior people; and the lowest parts of the earth,
called Hades or Hell, the lowest or most miserable part of them. Whence
ascending towards heaven, and descending to the earth, are put for rising
and falling in power and honour: rising out of the earth, or waters, and
falling into them, for the rising up to any dignity or dominion, out of the
inferior state of the people, or falling down from the same into that inferior
state; descending into the lower parts of the earth, for descending to a very
low and unhappy estate; speaking with a faint voice out of the dust, for
being in a weak and low condition; moving from one place to another, for
translation from one office, dignity, or dominion, to another; great
earthquakes, and the shaking of heaven and earth, for the shaking of
kingdoms, so as to distract or overthrow them; the creating a new heaven
and earth, and the passing away of an old one, or the beginning and end of
the world, for the rise and ruin of the body politic signified thereby.
In the heavens, the Sun and Moon are, by interpreters of dreams, put for the
persons of Kings and Queens; but in sacred Prophecy, which regards not
single persons, the Sun is put for the whole species and race of Kings, in the
kingdom or kingdoms of the world politic, shining with regal power and
glory; the Moon for the body of the common people, considered as the
King's wife; the Stars for subordinate Princes and great men, or for Bishops
and Rulers of the people of God, when the Sun is Christ; light for the glory,
truth, and knowledge, wherewith great and good men shine and illuminate
others; darkness for obscurity of condition, and for error, blindness and
ignorance; darkning, smiting, or setting of the Sun, Moon, and Stars, for the
ceasing of a kingdom, or for the desolation thereof, proportional to the
darkness; darkning the Sun, turning the Moon into blood, and falling of the

Stars, for the same; new Moons, for the return of a dispersed people into a
body politic or ecclesiastic.
Fire and meteors refer to both heaven and earth, and signify as follows;
burning any thing with fire, is put for the consuming thereof by war; a
conflagration of the earth, or turning a country into a lake of fire, for the
consumption of a kingdom by war; the being in a furnace, for the being in
slavery under another nation; the ascending up of the smoke of any burning
thing for ever and ever, for the continuation of a conquered people under
the misery of perpetual subjection and slavery; the scorching heat of the
sun, for vexatious wars, persecutions and troubles inflicted by the King;
riding on the clouds, for reigning over much people; covering the sun with a
cloud, or with smoke, for oppression of the King by the armies of an
enemy; tempestuous winds, or the motion of clouds, for wars; thunder, or
the voice of a cloud, for the voice of a multitude; a storm of thunder,
lightning, hail, and overflowing rain, for a tempest of war descending from
the heavens and clouds politic, on the heads of their enemies; rain, if not
immoderate, and dew, and living water, for the graces and doctrines of the
Spirit; and the defect of rain, for spiritual barrenness.
In the earth, the dry land and congregated waters, as a sea, a river, a flood,
are put for the people of several regions, nations, and dominions;
embittering of waters, for great affliction of the people by war and
persecution; turning things into blood, for the mystical death of bodies
politic, that is, for their dissolution; the overflowing of a sea or river, for the
invasion of the earth politic, by the people of the waters; drying up of
waters, for the conquest of their regions by the earth; fountains of waters for
cities, the permanent heads of rivers politic; mountains and islands, for the
cities of the earth and sea politic, with the territories and dominions
belonging to those cities; dens and rocks of mountains, for the temples of
cities; the hiding of men in those dens and rocks, for the shutting up of Idols
in their temples; houses and ships, for families, assemblies, and towns, in
the earth and sea politic; and a navy of ships of war, for an army of that
kingdom that is signified by the sea.
Animals also and vegetables are put for the people of several regions and
conditions; and particularly, trees, herbs, and land animals, for the people of
the earth politic: flags, reeds, and fishes, for those of the waters politic;

birds and insects, for those of the politic heaven and earth; a forest for a
kingdom; and a wilderness for a desolate and thin people.
If the world politic, considered in prophecy, consists of many kingdoms,
they are represented by as many parts of the world natural; as the noblest by
the celestial frame, and then the Moon and Clouds are put for the common
people; the less noble, by the earth, sea, and rivers, and by the animals or
vegetables, or buildings therein; and then the greater and more powerful
animals and taller trees, are put for Kings, Princes, and Nobles. And
because the whole kingdom is the body politic of the King, therefore the
Sun, or a Tree, or a Beast, or Bird, or a Man, whereby the King is
represented, is put in a large signification for the whole kingdom; and
several animals, as a Lion, a Bear, a Leopard, a Goat, according to their
qualities, are put for several kingdoms and bodies politic; and sacrificing of
beasts, for slaughtering and conquering of kingdoms; and friendship
between beasts, for peace between kingdoms. Yet sometimes vegetables and
animals are, by certain epithets or circumstances, extended to other
significations; as a Tree, when called the tree of life or of knowledge; and a
Beast, when called the old serpent, or worshipped.
When a Beast or Man is put for a kingdom, his parts and qualities are put
for the analogous parts and qualities of the kingdom; as the head of a Beast,
for the great men who precede and govern; the tail for the inferior people,
who follow and are governed; the heads, if more than one, for the number
of capital parts, or dynasties, or dominions in the kingdom, whether
collateral or successive, with respect to the civil government; the horns on
any head, for the number of kingdoms in that head, with respect to military
power; seeing for understanding, and the eyes for men of understanding and
policy, and in matters of religion for Επισκοποι, Bishops; speaking, for
making laws; the mouth, for a law-giver, whether civil or sacred; the
loudness of the voice, for might and power; the faintness thereof, for
weakness; eating and drinking, for acquiring what is signified by the things
eaten and drank; the hairs of a beast, or man, and the feathers of a bird, for
people; the wings, for the number of kingdoms represented by the beast; the
arm of a man, for his power, or for any people wherein his strength and
power consists; his feet, for the lowest of the people, or for the latter end of
the kingdom; the feet, nails, and teeth of beasts of prey, for armies and
squadrons of armies; the bones, for strength, and for fortified places; the

flesh, for riches and possessions; and the days of their acting, for years; and
when a tree is put for a kingdom, its branches, leaves and fruit, signify as do
the wings, feathers, and food of a bird or beast.
When a man is taken in a mystical sense, his qualities are often signified by
his actions, and by the circumstances of things about him. So a Ruler is
signified by his riding on a beast; a Warrior and Conqueror, by his having a
sword and bow; a potent man, by his gigantic stature; a Judge, by weights
and measures; a sentence of absolution, or condemnation, by a white or a
black stone; a new dignity, by a new name; moral or civil qualifications, by
garments; honour and glory, by splendid apparel; royal dignity, by purple or
scarlet, or by a crown; righteousness, by white and clean robes; wickedness,
by spotted and filthy garments; affliction, mourning, and humiliation, by
clothing in sackcloth; dishonour, shame, and want of good works, by
nakedness; error and misery, by drinking a cup of his or her wine that
causeth it; propagating any religion for gain, by exercising traffick and
merchandize with that people whose religion it is; worshipping or serving
the false Gods of any nation, by committing adultery with their princes, or
by worshipping them; a Council of a kingdom, by its image; idolatry, by
blasphemy; overthrow in war, by a wound of man or beast; a durable plague
of war, by a sore and pain; the affliction or persecution which a people
suffers in labouring to bring forth a new kingdom, by the pain of a woman
in labour to bring forth a man-child; the dissolution of a body politic or
ecclesiastic, by the death of a man or beast; and the revival of a dissolved
dominion, by the resurrection of the dead.

CHAP. III.

Of the vision of the Image composed of four Metals.
The Prophecies of Daniel are all of them related to one another, as if they
were but several parts of one general Prophecy, given at several times. The
first is the easiest to be understood, and every following Prophecy adds
something new to the former. The first was given in a dream to
Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, in the second year of his reign; but the

King forgetting his dream, it was given again to Daniel in a dream, and by
him revealed to the King. And thereby, Daniel presently became famous for
wisdom, and revealing of secrets: insomuch that Ezekiel his contemporary,
in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar, spake thus of him to the King of
Tyre: Behold, saith he, thou art wiser than Daniel, there is no secret that
they can hide from thee, Ezek. xxviii. 3. And the same Ezekiel, in another
place, joins Daniel with Noah and Job, as most high in the favour of God,
Ezek. xiv. 14, 16, 18, 20. And in the last year of Belshazzar, the Queen-
mother said of him to the King: Behold there is a man in thy kingdom, in
whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father, light and
understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him;
whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father made
master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans and soothsayers:
forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding,
interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of
doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar,
Dan. v. 11, 12. Daniel was in the greatest credit amongst the Jews, till the
reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian: and to reject his Prophecies, is to
reject the Christian religion. For this religion is founded upon his Prophecy
concerning the Messiah.
Now in this vision of the Image composed of four Metals, the foundation of
all Daniel's Prophecies is laid. It represents a body of four great nations,
which should reign over the earth successively, viz. the people of
Babylonia, the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans. And by a stone cut
out without hands, which fell upon the feet of the Image, and brake all the
four Metals to pieces, and became a great mountain, and filled the whole
earth; it further represents that a new kingdom should arise, after the four,
and conquer all those nations, and grow very great, and last to the end of all
ages.
The head of the Image was of gold, and signifies the nations of Babylonia,
who reigned first, as Daniel himself interprets. Thou art this head of gold,
saith he to Nebuchadnezzar. These nations reigned till Cyrus conquered
Babylon, and within a few months after that conquest revolted to the
Persians, and set them up above the Medes. The breast and arms of the
Image were of silver, and represent the Persians who reigned next. The
belly and thighs of the Image were of brass, and represent the Greeks, who,

under the dominion of Alexander the great, conquered the Persians, and
reigned next after them. The legs were of iron, and represent the Romans
who reigned next after the Greeks, and began to conquer them in the eighth
year of Antiochus Epiphanes. For in that year they conquered Perseus King
of Macedon, the fundamental kingdom of the Greeks; and from thence
forward grew into a mighty empire, and reigned with great power till the
days of Theodosius the great. Then by the incursion of many northern
nations, they brake into many smaller kingdoms, which are represented by
the feet and toes of the Image, composed part of iron, and part of clay. For
then, saith Daniel, [1] the kingdom shall be divided, and there shall be in it
of the strength of iron, but they shall not cleave one to another.
And in the days of these Kings, saith Daniel, shall the God of heaven set up
a kingdom which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left
to other people; but it shall break in pieces, and consume all these
kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the
stone was cut out of the mountains without hands, and that it brake in
pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver and the gold.

Notes to Chap. III.
[1] Chap. ii. 41, &c.

CHAP. IV.

Of the vision of the four Beasts.
In the next vision, which is of the four Beasts, the Prophecy of the four
Empires is repeated, with several new additions; such as are the two wings
of the Lion, the three ribs in the mouth of the Bear, the four wings and four
heads of the Leopard, the eleven horns of the fourth Beast, and the son of
man coming in the clouds of Heaven, to the Antient of Days sitting in
judgment.

The first Beast was like a lion, and had eagle's wings, to denote the
kingdoms of Babylonia and Media, which overthrew the Assyrian Empire,
and divided it between them, and thereby became considerable, and grew
into great Empires. In the former Prophecy, the Empire of Babylonia was
represented by the head of gold; in this both Empires are represented
together by the two wings of the lion. And I beheld, saith [1] Daniel, till the
wings thereof were pluckt, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to
stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it; that is, till
it was humbled and subdued, and made to know its human state.
The second Beast was like a bear, and represents the Empire which reigned
next after the Babylonians, that is, the Empire of the Persians. Thy kingdom
is divided, or broken, saith Daniel to the last King of Babylon, and given to
the Medes and Persians, Dan. v. 28. This Beast raised itself up on one side;
the Persians being under the Medes at the fall of Babylon, but presently
rising up above them. [2] And it had three ribs in the mouth of it, between
the teeth of it, to signify the kingdoms of Sardes, Babylon, and Egypt,
which were conquered by it, but did not belong to its proper body. And it
devoured much flesh, the riches of those three kingdoms.
The third Beast was the kingdom which succeeded the Persian; and this
was the empire of the Greeks, Dan. viii. 6, 7, 20, 21. It was like a Leopard,
to signify its fierceness; and had four heads and four wings, to signify that it
should become divided into four kingdoms, Dan. viii 22. for it continued in
a monarchical form during the reign of Alexander the great, and his brother
Aridæus, and young sons Alexander and Hercules; and then brake into four
kingdoms, by the governors of provinces putting crowns on their own
heads, and by mutual consent reigning over their provinces. Cassander
reigned over Macedon, Greece, and Epirus; Lysimachus over Thrace and
Bithynia; Ptolemy over Egypt, Lybia, Arabia, Cœlosyria, and Palestine; and
Seleucus over Syria.
The fourth Beast was the empire which succeeded that of the Greeks, and
this was the Roman. This beast was exceeding dreadful and terrible, and had
great iron teeth, and devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue
with its feet; and such was the Roman empire. It was larger, stronger, and
more formidable and lasting than any of the former. It conquered the
kingdom of Macedon, with Illyricum and Epirus, in the eighth year of

Antiochus Epiphanes, Anno Nabonass.. 580; and inherited that of
Pergamus, Anno Nabonass. 615; and conquered that of Syria, Anno
Nabonass. 679, and that of Egypt, Anno Nabonass. 718. And by these and
other conquests it became greater and more terrible than any of the three
former Beasts. This Empire continued in its greatness till the reign of
Theodosius the great; and then brake into ten kingdoms, represented by the
ten horns of this Beast; and continued in a broken form, till the Antient of
days sat in a throne like fiery flame, and the judgment was set, and the
books were opened, and the Beast was slain and his body destroyed, and
given to the burning flames; and one like the son of man came with the
clouds of heaven, and came to the Antient of days [3], and received
dominion over all nations, and judgment was given to the saints of the most
high, and the time came that they possessed the kingdom.

I beheld, saith [4] Daniel, till the Beast was slain, and his body destroyed,
and given to the burning flames. As concerning the rest of the Beasts, they
had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season
and a time. And therefore all the four Beasts are still alive, tho the dominion
of the three first be taken away. The nations of Chaldea and Assyria are still
the first Beast. Those of Media and Persia are still the second Beast. Those
of Macedon, Greece and Thrace, Asia minor, Syria and Egypt, are still the
third. And those of Europe, on this side Greece, are still the fourth. Seeing
therefore the body of the third Beast is confined to the nations on this side
the river Euphrates, and the body of the fourth Beast is confined to the
nations on this side Greece; we are to look for all the four heads of the third
Beast, among the nations on this side of the river Euphrates; and for all the
eleven horns of the fourth Beast, among the nations on this side of Greece.
And therefore, at the breaking of the Greek empire into four kingdoms of
the Greeks, we include no part of the Chaldeans, Medes and Persians in
those kingdoms, because they belonged to the bodies of the two first Beasts.
Nor do we reckon the Greek empire seated at Constantinople, among the
horns of the fourth Beast, because it belonged to the body of the third.

Notes to Chap. IV.
[1] Chap. vii. 4.
[2] Chap. vii. 5.

[3] Chap. vii. 13.
[4] Chap. vii. 11, 12.

CHAP. V.

Of the Kingdoms represented by the feet of the Image composed of iron and
clay.
Dacia was a large country bounded on the south by the Danube, on the east
by the Euxine sea, on the north by the river Neister and the mountain
Crapac, and on the west by the river Tibesis, or Teys, which runs southward
into the Danube a little above Belgrade. It comprehended the countries now
called Transylvania, Moldavia, and Wallachia, and the eastern part of the
upper Hungary. Its antient inhabitants were called Getæ by the Greeks,
Daci by the Latins, and Goths by themselves. Alexander the great attacked
them, and Trajan conquered them, and reduced their country into a
Province of the Roman Empire: and thereby the propagation of the Gospel
among them was much promoted. They were composed of several Gothic
nations, called Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Vandals, Gepides, Lombards,
Burgundians, Alans, &c. who all agreed in their manners, and spake the
same language, as Procopius represents. While they lived under the
Romans, the Goths or Ostrogoths were seated in the eastern parts of Dacia,
the Vandals in the western part upon the river Teys, where the rivers Maresh
and Keresh run into it. The Visigoths were between them. The Gepides,
according to Jornandes, were upon the Vistula. The Burgundians, a
Vandalic nation, were between the Vistula and the southern fountain of the
Boristhenes, at some distance from the mountain Crapac northwards, where
Ptolemy places them, by the names of Phrugundiones and Burgiones.[1] The
Alans, another Gothic nation, were between the northern fountain of the
Boristhenes and the mouth of the river Tanais, where Ptolemy placeth the
mountain Alanus, and western side of the Palus Mæotis.
These nations continued under the dominion of the Romans till the second
year of the Emperor Philip, and then for want of their military pay began to
revolt; the Ostrogoths setting up a kingdom, which, under their Kings

Ostrogotha, Cniva, Araric, Geperic, and Hermanaric, increased till the year
of Christ 376; and then by an incursion of the Huns from beyond the
Tanais, and the death of Hermanaric, brake into several smaller kingdoms.
Hunnimund, the son of Hermanaric, became King over the Ostrogoths;
Fridigern over the Visigoths; Winithar, or Vinithar, over a part of the Goths
called Gruthungi by Ammian, Gothunni by Claudian, and Sarmatæ and
Scythians by others: Athanaric reign'd over another part of the Goths in
Dacia, called Thervingi; Box over the Antes in Sarmatia; and the Gepides
had also their King. The Vandals fled over the Danube from Geberic in the
latter end of the reign of Constantine the great, and had seats granted them
in Pannonia by that Emperor, where they lived quietly forty years, viz. till
the year 377, when several Gothic nations flying from the Hunns came over
the Danube, and had seats granted them in Mæsia and Thrace by the Greek
Emperor Valens. But the next year they revolted, called in some Goths,
Alans and Hunns, from beyond the Danube, and routed the Roman army,
slew the Emperor Valens, and spread themselves into Greece and Pannonia
as far as the Alps. In the years 379 and 380 they were checkt by the arms of
the Emperors Gratian and Theodosius, and made a submissive peace; the
Visigoths and Thervingi returned to their seats in Mæsia and Thrace, the
Hunns retired over the Danube, and the Alans and Gruthingi obtained seats
in Pannonia.
About the year 373, or 374, the Burgundians rose from their seats upon the
Vistula, with an army of eighty thousand men to invade Gallia; and being
opposed, seated themselves upon the northern side of the Rhine over against
Mentz. In the year 358, a body of the Salian Franks, with their King,
coming from the river Sala, were received into the Empire by the Emperor
Julian, and seated in Gallia between Brabant and the Rhine: and their King
Mellobaudes was made Comes domesticorum, by the Emperor Gratian.
Richomer, another noble Salian Frank, was made Comes domesticorum,
and Magister utriusque Militiæ, by Theodosius; and A.C. 384, was Consul
with Clearchus. He was a great favourite of Theodosius, and accompanied
him in his wars against Eugenius, but died in the expedition, and left a son
called Theudomir, who afterwards became King of the Salian Franks in
Brabant. In the time of this war some Franks from beyond the Rhine
invaded Gallia under the conduct of Genobald, Marcomir and Suno, but

were repulsed by Stilico; and Marcomir being slain, was succeeded in
Germany by his son Pharamond.
While these nations remained quiet within the Empire, subject to the
Romans, many others continued so beyond the Danube till the death of the
Emperor Theodosius, and then rose up in arms. For Paulus Diaconus in his
Historia Miscell. lib. xiv. speaking of the times next after the death of this
Emperor, tells us: Eodem tempore erant Gothi & aliæ gentes maximæ trans
Danubium habitantes: ex quibus rationabiliores quatuor sunt, Gothi
scilicet, Huisogothi, Gepides & Vandali; & nomen tantum & nihil aliud
mutantes. Isti sub Arcadia & Honorio Danubium transeuntes, locati sunt in
terra Romanorum: & Gepides quidem, ex quibus postea divisi sunt
Longobardi & Avares, villas, quæ sunt circa Singidonum & Sirmium,
habitavere: and Procopius in the beginning of his Historia Vandalica writes
to the same purpose. Hitherto the Western Empire continued entire, but now
brake into many kingdoms.
Theodosius died A.C. 395; and then the Visigoths, under the conduct of
Alaric the successor of Fridigern, rose from their seats in Thrace and
wasted Macedon, Thessaly, Achaia, Peloponnesus, and Epirus, with fire
and sword for five years together; when turning westward, they invaded
Dalmatia, Illyricum and Pannonia; and from thence went into Italy A.C.
402; and the next year were so beaten at Pollentia and Verona, by Stilico the
commander of the forces of the Western Empire, that Claudian calls the
remainder of the forces of Alaric, tanta ex gente reliquias breves, and
Prudentius, Gentem deletam. Thereupon Alaric made peace with the
Emperor, being so far humbled, that Orosius saith, he did, pro pace optima
& quibuscunque sedibus suppliciter & simpliciter orare. This peace was
ratified by mutual hostages; Ætius was sent hostage to Alaric; and Alaric
continued a free Prince in the seats now granted to him.
When Alaric took up arms, the nations beyond the Danube began to be in
motion; and the next winter, between A.C. 395 and 396, a great body of
Hunns, Alans, Ostrogoths, Gepides, and other northern nations, came over
the frozen Danube, being invited by Rufinus: when their brethren, who had
obtained seats within the Empire, took up arms also. Jerome calls this great
multitude, Hunns, Alans, Vandals, Goths, Sarmatians, Quades, and
Marcomans; and saith, that they invaded all places between Constantinople

and the Julian Alps, wasting Scythia, Thrace, Macedon, Dardania, Dacia,
Thessaly, Achaia, Epirus, Dalmatia, and all Pannonia. The Suevians also
invaded Rhætia: for when Alaric ravaged Pannonia, the Romans were
defending Rhætia; which gave Alaric an opportunity of invading Italy, as
Claudian thus mentions.

Non nisi perfidiâ nacti penetrabile tempus,
Irrupere Getæ, nostras dum Rhætia vires
Occupat, atque alio desudant Marte cohortes.

And when Alaric went from those parts into Italy, some other barbarous
nations invaded Noricum and Vindelicia, as the same Poet Claudian thus
writes:

——Jam fœdera gentes
Exuerant, Latiique auditâ clade feroces
Vendelicos saltus & Norica rura tenebant.

This was in the years 402 and 403. And among these nations I reckon the
Suevians, Quades, and Marcomans; for they were all in arms at this time.
The Quades and Marcomans were Suevian nations; and they and the
Suevians came originally from Bohemia, and the river Suevus or Sprake in
Lusatia; and were now united under one common King called Ermeric, who
soon after led them into Gallia. The Vandals and Alans might also about
this time extend themselves into Noricum. Uldin also with a great body of
Hunns passed the Danube about the time of Chrysostom's banishment, that
is, A.C. 404, and wasted Thrace and Mæsia. Radagaisus, King of the
Gruthunni and succesor of Winithar, inviting over more barbarians from
beyond the Danube, invaded Italy with an army of above two hundred
thousand Goths; and within a year or two, A.C. 405 or 406., was overcome
by Stilico, and perished with his army. In this war Stilico was assisted with
a great body of Hunns and Ostrogoths, under the conduct of Uldin and
Sarus, who were hired by the Emperor Honorius. In all this confusion it
was necessary for the Lombards in Pannonia to arm themselves in their
own defence, and assert their liberty, the Romans being no longer able to
protect them.

And now Stilico purposing to make himself Emperor, procured a military
prefecture for Alaric, and sent him into the East in the service of Honorius
the Western Emperor, committing some Roman troops to his conduct to
strengthen his army of Goths, and promising to follow soon after with his
own army. His pretence was to recover some regions of Illyricum, which
the Eastern Emperor was accused to detain injuriously from the Western;
but his secret design was to make himself Emperor, by the assistance of the
Vandals and their allies: for he himself was a Vandal. For facilitating this
design, he invited a great body of the barbarous nations to invade the
Western Empire, while he and Alaric invaded the Eastern. And these
nations under their several Kings, the Vandals under Godegisilus, the Alans
in two bodies, the one under Goar, the other under Resplendial, and the
Suevians, Quades, and Marcomans, under Ermeric, marched thro' Rhætia to
the side of the Rhine, leaving their seats in Pannonia to the Hunns and
Ostrogoths, and joined the Burgundians under Gundicar, and ruffled the
Franks in their further march. On the last of December A.C. 406, they
passed the Rhine at Ments, and spread themselves into Germania prima and
the adjacent regions; and amongst other actions the Vandals took Triers.
Then they advanced into Belgium, and began to waste that country.
Whereupon the Salian Franks in Brabant took up arms, and under the
conduct of Theudomir, the son of Ricimer, or Richomer, abovementioned,
made so stout a resistance, that they slew almost twenty thousand of the
Vandals, with their King Godegesilus, in battel; the rest escaping only by a
party of Resplendial's Alans which came timely to their assistance.
Then the British soldiers, alarm'd by the rumour of these things, revolted,
and set up Tyrants there; first Marcus, whom they slew presently; then
Gratian, whom they slew within four months; and lastly Constantine, under
whom they invaded Gallia A.C. 408, being favoured by Goar and
Gundicar. And Constantine having possessed a good part of Gallia, created
his son Constans Cæsar, and sent him into Spain to order his affairs there,
A.C. 409.
In the mean time Resplendial, seeing the aforesaid disaster of the Vandals,
and that Goar was gone over to the Romans, led his army from the Rhine;
and, together with the Suevians and residue of the Vandals, went towards
Spain; the Franks in the mean time prosecuting their victory so far as to
retake Triers, which after they had plundered they left to the Romans. The

Barbarians were at first stopt by the Pyrenean mountains, which made
them spread themselves into Aquitain: but the next year they had the
passage betrayed by some soldiers of Constans; and entring Spain 4 Kal.
Octob. A.C. 409, they conquered every one what he could; and at length,
A.C. 411, divided their conquests by lot; the Vandals obtained Bœtica, and
part of Gallæcia; the Suevians the rest of Gallæcia; and the Alans Lusitania
and the Carthaginian Province: the Emperor for the sake of peace
confirming them in those seats by grant A.C. 413.
The Roman Franks abovementioned, having made Theudomir their King,
began strait after their conquest of the Vandals to invade their neighbours
also. The first they set upon were the Gauls of Brabant[2]: but meeting with
notable resistance, they desired their alliance: and so those Gauls fell off
from the Romans, and made an intimate league with the Franks to be as one
people, marrying with one another, and conforming to one another's
manners, till they became one without distinction. Thus by the access of
these Gauls, and of the foreign Franks also, who afterwards came over the
Rhine, the Salian kingdom soon grew very great and powerful.
Stilico's expedition against the Greek Emperor was stopt by the order of
Honorius; and then Alaric came out of Epirus into Noricum, and requested
a sum of money for his service. The Senate were inclined to deny him, but
by Stilico's mediation granted it. But after some time Stilico being accused
of a traiterous conspiracy with Alaric, and slain 10 Kal. Sept. A.C. 408;
Alaric was thereby disappointed of his money, and reputed an enemy to the
Empire; he then broke strait into Italy with the army he brought out of
Epirus, and sent to his brother Adolphus to follow him with what forces he
had in Pannonia, which were not great, but yet not to be despised.
Thereupon Honorius fearing to be shut up in Rome, retired to Ravenna in
October A.C. 408. And from that time Ravenna continued to be the seat of
the Western Emperors. In those days the Hunns also invaded Pannonia; and
seizing the deserted seats of the Vandals, Alans, and Goths, founded a new
kingdom there. Alaric advancing to Rome besieged it, and 9 Kal. Sept. A.C.
410 took it: and afterwards attempting to pass into Africa, was shipwrackt.
After which Honorius made peace with him, and got up an army to send
against the Tyrant Constantine.

At the same time Gerontius, one of Constantine's captains, revolted from
him, and set up Maximus Emperor in Spain. Whereupon Constantine sent
Edobec, another of his captains, to draw to his assistance, the Barbarians
under Goar and Gundicar in Gallia, and supplies of Franks and Alemans
from beyond the Rhine; and committed the custody of Vienne in Gallia
Narbonensis to his son Constans. Gerontius advancing, first slew Constans
at Vienne, and then began to besiege Constantine at Arles. But Honorius at
the same time sending Constantius with an army on the same errand,
Gerontius fled, and Constantius continued the siege, strengthned by the
access of the greatest part of the soldiers of Gerontius. After four months
siege, Edobec having procured succours, the Barbarian Kings at Ments,
Goar and Gundicar, constitute Jovinus Emperor, and together with him set
forward to relieve Arles. At their approach Constantius retired. They
pursued, and he beat them by surprize; but not prosecuting his victory, the
Barbarians soon recovered themselves; yet not so as to hinder the fall of the
tyrants Constantine, Jovinus and Maximus. Britain could not be recovered
to the Empire, but remained ever after a distinct kingdom.
The next year, A.C. 412, the Visigoths being beaten in Italy, had Aquitain
granted them to retire into: and they invaded it with much violence, causing
the Alans and Burgundians to retreat, who were then depopulating of it. At
the same time the Burgundians were brought to peace; and the Emperor
granted them for inheritance a region upon the Rhine which they had
invaded: and the same, I presume, he did with the Alans. But the Franks not
long after retaking and burning Triers, Castinus, A.C. 415, was sent against
them with an army, who routed them and slew Theudomir their King This
was the second taking of Triers by the Franks. It was therefore taken four
times, once by the Vandals and thrice by the Franks. Theudomir was
succeeded by Pharamond, the Prince or King of the Salian Franks in
Germany. From thence he brought new forces, reigned over the whole, and
had seats granted to his people within the Empire near the Rhine.
And now the Barbarians were all quieted, and settled in several kingdoms
within the Empire, not only by conquest, but also by the grants of the
Emperor Honorius. For Rutilius in his Itinerary, written in Autumn, Anno
Urbis 1169, that is, according to Varro's computation then in use, A.C. 416,
thus laments the wasted fields:

Illa quidem longis nimium deformia bellis;

And then adds,

Jam tempus laceris post longa incendia fundis
Vel pastorales ædificare casas.

And a little after,

Æternum tibi Rhenus aret.

And Orosius in the end of his history, which was finished A.C. 417,
represents now a general pacification of the barbarous nations by the words
comprimere, coangustare, addicere gentes immanissimas; terming them
imperio addictas, because they had obtained seats in the Empire by league
and compact; and coangustatas, because they did no longer invade all
regions at pleasure, but by the same compact remained quiet in the seats
then granted them. And these are the kingdoms, of which the feet of the
Image were henceforward composed, and which are represented by iron and
clay intermixed, which did not stick one to another, and were of different
strength.

Notes to Chap. V.
[1] Procop. l. 1. de Bello Vandalico.
[2] Galli Arborici: whence the region was named Arboricbant, and by contraction Brabant.

CHAP. VI.

Of the ten Kingdoms represented by the ten horns of the fourth Beast.
Now by the wars above described the Western Empire of the Romans, about
the time that Rome was besieged and taken by the Goths, became broken
into the following ten kingdoms.

1. The kingdom of the Vandals and Alans in Spain and
Africa.
2. The kingdom of the Suevians in Spain.
3. The kingdom of the Visigoths.
4. The kingdom of the Alans in Gallia.
5. The kingdom of the Burgundians.
6. The kingdom of the Franks.
7. The kingdom of the Britains.
8. The kingdom of the Hunns.
9. The kingdom of the Lombards.
10. The kingdom of Ravenna.

Seven of these kingdoms are thus mentioned by Sigonius. 1Honorio
regnante, in Pannoniam 2Hunni, in Hispaniam 3Vandali, 4Alani, 5Suevi &
6
Gothi, in Galliam 4Alani 7Burgundiones & 6Gothi, certis sedibus
permissis, accepti. Add the Franks, Britains, and Lombards, and you have
the ten: for these arose about the same time with the seven. But let us view
them severally.
1. The Kings of the Vandals were, A.C. 407 Godegesilus, 407 Gunderic,
426 Geiseric, 477 Hunneric, 484 Gundemund, 496 Thrasamund, 513
Geiseric, 530 Gelimer. Godegesilus led them into Gallia A.C. 406,
Gunderic into Spain A.C. 409, Geiseric into Africa A.C. 427; and Gelimer
was conquered by Belisarius A.C. 533. Their kingdom lasted in Gallia,
Spain and Africa together 126 years; and in Africa they were very potent.
The Alans had only two Kings of their own in Spain, Resplendial, and
Ataces, Utacus or Othacar. Under Resplendial they went into France A.C.
407, and into Spain A.C. 409. Ataces was slain with almost all his army by
Vallia King of the Visigoths A.C. 419. And then the remainder of these
Alans subjected themselves to Gunderic King of the Vandals in Bœtica, and
went afterwards with them into Africa, as I learn out of Procopius. Whence
the Kings of the Vandals styled themselves Kings of the Vandals and Alans;
as may be seen in the Edict of Hunneric recited by Victor in his Vandalic
persecution. In conjunction with the Chatti, these Alans gave the name of
Cathalaunia, or Catth-Alania, to the Province which is still so called. These
Alans had also Gepides among them; and therefore the Gepides came into
Pannonia before the Alans left it. There they became subject to the Hunns

till the death of Attila A.C. 454, and at length were conquered by the
Ostrogoths.
2. The Kings of the Suevians were, A.C. 407 Ermeric, 458 Rechila, 448
Rechiarius, 458 Maldra, 460 Frumarius, 463 Regismund. And after some
other Kings who are unknown, reigned A.C. 558 Theudomir, 568 Miro, 582
Euboricus, and 583 Andeca. This kingdom, after it had been once seated in
Spain, remained always in Gallæcia and Lusitania. Ermeric after the fall of
the Alan kingdom, enlarged it into all Gallæcia, forcing the Vandals to retire
into Bœtica and the Carthaginian Province. This kingdom lasted 177 years
according to Isidorus, and then was subdued by Leovigildus King of the
Visigoths, and made a Province of his kingdom A.C. 585.
3. The Kings of the Visigoths were, A.C. 400 Alaric, 410 Athaulphus, 415
Sergeric and Vallia, 419 Theoderic, 451 Thorismund, 452 Theoderic, 465
Euric, 482 Alaric, 505 Gensalaric, 526 Amalaric, 531 Theudius, 548
Theudisclus, &c. I date this kingdom from the time that Alaric left Thrace
and Greece to invade the Western Empire. In the end of the reign of
Athaulphus the Goths were humbled by the Romans, and attempted to pass
out of France into Spain. Sergeric reigned but a few days. In the beginning
of Vallia's reign they assaulted the Romans afresh, but were again repulsed,
and then made peace on this condition, that they should on the behalf of the
Empire invade the Barbarian kingdoms in Spain: and this they did, together
with the Romans, in the years 417 and 418, overthrowing the Alans and part
of the Vandals. Then they received Aquitain of the Emperor by a full
donation, leaving their conquests in Spain to the Emperor: and thereby the
seats of the conquered Alans came into the hands of the Romans. In the year
455, Theoderic, assisted by the Burgundians, invaded Spain, which was
then almost all subject to the Suevians, and took a part of it from them. A.C.
506, the Goths were driven out of Gallia by the Franks. A.C. 585, they
conquered the Suevian kingdom, and became Lords of all Spain. A.C. 713,
the Saracens invaded them, but in time they recovered their dominions, and
have reigned in Spain ever since.
4. The Kings of the Alans in Gallia were Goar, Sambida, Eocharic,
Sangibanus, Beurgus, &c. Under Goar they invaded Gallia A.C. 407, and
had seats given them near the Rhine, A.C. 412. Under Sambida, whom
Bucher makes the successor, if not the son of Goar, they had the territories

of Valence given them by Ætius the Emperor's General, A.C. 440. Under
Eocharic they conquered a region of the rebelling Galli Arborici, given
them also by Ætius. This region was from them named Alenconium, quasi
Alanorum conventus. Under Sangibanus they were invaded, and their regal
city Orleans was besieged by Attila King of the Hunns, with a vast army of
500000 men. Ætius and the Barbarian Kings of Gallia came to raise the
siege, and beat the Hunns in a very memorable battle, A.C. 451, in campis
Catalaunicis, so called from these Alans mixt with the Chatti. The region is
now called Campania or Champagne. In that battle were slain on both sides
162000 men. A year or two after, Attila returned with an immense army to
conquer this kingdom, but was again beaten by them and the Visigoths
together in a battle of three days continuance, with a slaughter almost as
great as the former. Under Beurgus, or Biorgor, they infested Gallia round
about, till the reign of Maximus the Emperor; and then they passed the Alps
in winter, and came into Liguria, but were there beaten, and Beurgus slain,
by Ricimer commander of the Emperor's forces, A.C. 464. Afterwards they
were again beaten, by the joint force of Odoacer King of Italy and
Childeric King of the Franks, about the year 480, and again by Theudobert
King of the Austrian Franks about the year 511.
5. The Kings of the Burgundians were, A.C. 407 Gundicar, 436 Gundioc,
467 Bilimer, 473 Gundobaldus with his brothers, 510 Sigismund, 517
Godomarus. Under Gundicar they invaded Gallia A.C. 407, and had seats
given them by the Emperor near the Rhine in Gallia Belgica, A.C. 412.
They had Saxons among them, and were now so potent, that Orosius A.C.
417 wrote of them: 'Burgundionum esse prævalidam manum, Galliæ
hodieque testes sunt, in quibus præsumpta possessione consistunt. About
the year 435 they received great overthrows by Ætius, and soon after by the
Hunns: but five years after had Savoy granted them to be shared with the
inhabitants; and from that time became again a potent kingdom, being
bounded by the river Rhodanus, but afterwards extending much further into
the heart of Gallia. Gundobald conquered the regions about the rivers
Araris and Rhodanus, with the territories of Marseilles; and invading Italy
in the time of the Emperor Glycerius, conquered all his brethren.
Godomarus made Orleans his royal seat: whence the kingdom was called
Regnum Aurelianorum. He was conquered by Clotharius and Childebert,
Kings of the Franks, A.C. 526. From thenceforward this kingdom was

sometimes united to the kingdom of the Franks, and sometimes divided
from it, till the reign of Charles the great, who made his son Carolottus
King of Burgundy. From that time, for about 300 years together, it enjoyed
its proper Kings; and was then broken into the Dukedom of Burgundy,
County of Burgundy, and County of Savoy; and afterwards those were
broken into other lesser Counties.
6. The Kings of the Franks were, A.C. 407 Theudomir, 417 Pharamond,
428 Clodio, 448 Merovæus, 456 Childeric, 482 Clodovæus, &c. Windeline
and Bucher, two of the most diligent searchers into the originals of this
kingdom, make it begin the same year with the Barbarian invasions of
Gallia, that is, A.C. 407. Of the first Kings there is in Labbe's Bibliotheca
M.S. this record.
Historica quædam excerpta ex veteri stemmate genealogico Regum
Franciæ.
Genobaldus, Marcomerus, Suno, Theodemeris. Isti duces vel reguli
extiterunt à principio gentis Francorum diversis temporibus. Sed incertum
relinquunt historici quali sibi procreations lineâ successerunt.
Pharamundus: sub hoc rege suo primo Franci legibus se subdunt, quas
primores eorum tulerunt Wisogastus, Atrogastus, Salegastus.
Chlochilo. Iste, transito Rheno, Romanos in Carbonaria sylva devicit,
Camaracum cepit & obtinuit, annis 20 regnavit. Sub hoc rege Franci usque
Summam progressi sunt.
Merovechus. Sub hoc rege Franci Trevirim destruunt, Metim succendunt,
usque Aurelianum perveniunt.
Now for Genobaldus, Marcomer and Suno, they were captains of the
Transrhenane Franks in the reign of Theodosius, and concern us not. We
are to begin with Theudomir the first King of the rebelling Salii, called
Didio by Ivo Carnotensis, and Thiedo and Theudemerus by Rhenanus. His
face is extant in a coin of gold found with this inscription, THEUDEMIR
REX, published by Petavius, and still or lately extant, as Windeline testifies:
which shews that he was a King, and that in Gallia; seeing that rude
Germany understood not then the coining of money, nor used either Latin
words or letters. He was the son of Ricimer, or Richomer, the favourite of

the Emperor Theodosius; and so being a Roman Frank, and of the Salian
royal blood, they therefore upon the rebellion made him King. The whole
time of his reign you have stated in Excerptis Gregorii Turonensis è
Fredigario, cap. 5, 6, 7, 8. where the making him King, the tyranny of
Jovinus, the slaughter of the associates of Jovinus, the second taking of
Triers by the Franks, and their war with Castinus, in which this King was
slain, are as a series of successive things thus set down in order. Extinctis
Ducibus in Francis, denuo Reges creantur ex eadem stirpe qua prius
fuerant. Eodem tempore Jovinus ornatus regios assumpsit. Constantinus
fugam versus Italiam dirigit; missis a Jovino Principe percussoribus super
Mentio flumine, capite truncatur. Multi nobilium jussu Jovini apud Avernis
capti, & a ducibus Honorii crudeliter interempti sunt. Trevirorum civitas,
factione unius ex senatoribus nomine Lucii, à Francis captà & incensa est.
—Castinus Domesticorum Comes expeditionem accipit contra Francos, &c.
Then returning to speak of Theudomir, he adds: Franci electum à se regem,
sicut prius fuerat, crinitum inquirentes diligenter ex genere Priami, Frigi &
Francionis, super se crearunt nomine Theudemerum filium Richemeris, qui
in hoc prælio quod supra memini, à Romanis interfectus est; that is, in the
battle with Castinus's army. Of his death Gregory Turonensis makes this
further mention: In consularibus legimus Theodemerem regem Francorum
filium Ricimeris quondam, & Ascilam matrem ejus, gladio interfectos.
Upon this victory of the Romans, the Franks and rebelling Gauls, who in
the time of Theudomir were at war with one another, united to strengthen
themselves, as Ordericus Vitalis[1] thus mentions. Cum Galli prius contra
Romanos rebellâssent, Franci iis sociati sunt, & pariter juncti,
Ferramundum Sunonis ducis filium, sibi regem præfecerunt. Prosper sets
down the time; Anno 25 Honorii, Pharamundus regnat in Francia. This,
Bucher well observes, refers to the end of the year 416, or the beginning of
the next year, dating the years of Honorius from the death of Valentinian;
and argues well, that at this time Pharamond was not only King by the
constitution of the Franks, but crowned also by the consent of Honorius,
and had a part of Gallia assigned him by covenant. And this might be the
cause that Roman writers reckoned him the first King: which some not
understanding, have reputed him the founder of this kingdom by an army of
the Transrhenane Franks. He might come with such an army, but he
succeeded Theudomir by right of blood and consent of the people. For the

above cited passage of Fredigarius, Extinctis Ducibus, in Francis denuo
Reges creantur ex eadem stirpe quâ prius fuerant, implies that the kingdom
continued to this new elected family during the reign of more Kings than
one. If you date the years of Honorius from the death of his father, the reign
of Pharamond might begin two years later than is assigned by Bucher. The
Salique laws made in his reign, which are yet extant, shew by their name
that it was the kingdom of the Salii over which he reigned; and, by the
pecuniary mulcts in them, that the place where he reigned abounded much
with money, and consequently was within the Empire; rude Germany
knowing not the use of money, till they mixed with the Romans. In the
Preface also to the Salique laws, written and prefixed to them soon after the
conversion of the Franks to the Christian religion, that is, in the end of the
reign of Merovæus, or soon after, the original of this kingdom is thus
described: Hæc enim gens, quæ fortis dum esset & robore valida,
Romanorum jugum durissimum de suis cervicibus excussit pugnando, &c.
This kingdom therefore was erected, not by invasion but by rebellion, as
was described above. Prosper in registering their Kings in order, tells us:
Pharamundus regnat in Francia; Clodio regnat in Francia; Merovæus
regnat in Francia: and who can imagine but that in all these places he
meant one and the same Francia? And yet 'tis certain that the Francia of
Merovæus was in Gallia.
Yet the father of Pharamond, being king of a body of Franks in Germany in
the reign of the Emperor Theodosius, as above, Pharamond might reign
over the same Franks in Germany before he succeeded Theudomir in the
kingdom of the Salians within the Empire, and even before Theudomir
began his reign; suppose in the first year of Honorius, or when those Franks
being repulsed by Stilico, lost their Kings Marcomir and Suno, one of which
was the father of Pharamond: and the Roman Franks, after the death of
Theudomir, might invite Pharamond with his people from beyond the
Rhine. But we are not to regard the reign of Pharamond in Germany: we are
to date this kingdom from its rise within the Empire, and to look upon it as
strengthened by the access of other Franks coming from beyond the Rhine,
whether in the reign of this King or in that of his successor Clodio. For in
the last year of Pharamond's reign, Ætius took from him a part of his
possession in Gallia: but his successor Clodio, whom Fredigarius
represents as the son of Theudomir, and some call Clogio, Cloio, and

Claudius, inviting from beyond the Rhine a great body of Franks, recovered
all, and carried on their conquests as far as the river Soame. Then those
Franks dividing conquests with him, erected certain new kingdoms at
Cologn and Cambray, and some other cities: all which were afterwards
conquered by Clodovæus, who also drove the Goths out of Gallia, and fix'd
his seat at Paris, where it has continued ever since. And this was the
original of the present kingdom of France.
7. The Kings of Britain were, A.C. 407 or 408, Marcus, Gratian, and
Constantine successively; A.C. 425 Vortigern, 466 Aurelius Ambrosius, 498
Uther Pendraco, 508 Arthur, 542 Constantinus, 545 Aurelius Cunanus, 578
Vortiporeus, 581 Malgo, 586 Careticus, 613 Cadwan, 635 Cadwalin, 676
Cadwallader. The three first were Roman Tyrants, who revolted from the
Empire. Orosius, Prosper and Zosimus connect their revolt with the
irruptions of the Barbarians into Gallia, as consequent thereunto. Prosper,
with whom Zosimus agrees, puts it in the year which began the day after
that irruption. The just time I thus collect: Marcus reigned not many days,
Gratian four months, and Constantine three years. He was slain the year
after the taking of Rome, that is A.C. 411, 14 Kal. Octob. Whence the revolt
was in Spring A.C. 408. Sozomen joins Constantine's expedition into Gallia
with Arcadius's death, or the times a little after; and Arcadius died A.C. 408
May the 1st. Now tho the reign of these Tyrants was but short, yet they gave
a beginning to the kingdom of Britain, and so may be reckoned the three
first Kings, especially since the posterity of Constantine, viz. his sons
Aurelius Ambrosius, and Uther Pendraco, and his grandson Arthur, reigned
afterwards. For from the time of the revolt of these Tyrants Britain
continued a distict kingdom absolved from subjection to the Empire, the
Emperor not being able to spare soldiers to be sent thither to receive and
keep the Island, and therefore neglecting it; as we learn by unquestionable
records. For Prosper tells us; A.C. 410, Variane Cos. Hac tempestate præ
valetudine Romanorum, vires funditùs attenuatæ Britanniæ. And Sigebert,
conjoining this with the siege of Rome, saith: Britannorum vires attenuatæ,
& substrahunt se à Romanorum dominatione. And Zosimus lib. 6. The
Transrhenane Barbarians invading all places, reduced the inhabitants of the
island of Britain, and also certain Celtic nations to that pass, that they fell
off from the Roman Empire; and being no longer obedient to the Roman
laws, κατ' ‛εαυτον βιατευειν, they lived in separate bodies after their own

pleasure. The Britons therefore taking up arms, and hazarding themselves
for their own safety, freed their cities from the imminent Barbarians. In like
manner all Brabant and some other Provinces of the Gauls imitating the
Britons, freed themselves also, ejecting the Roman Presidents, and forming
themselves into a sort of commonwealth according to their own pleasure.
This rebellion of Britain and the Celtic nations happened when Constantine
usurped the kingdom. So also Procopius, lib. 1. Vandal. speaking of the
same Constantine, saith: Constantine being overcome in battle, was slain
with his children: Βρεταννιαν μεν τοι Ρωμαιοι ανασωσασθαι ουκετι εχον·
αλλ' ουσα ‛υπο τυραννους απ' αυτου εμενε. Yet the Romans could not
recover Britain any more, but from that time it remained under Tyrants. And
Beda, l. 1. c. 11. Fracta est Roma à Gothis anno 1164 suæ conditionis; ex
quo tempore Romani in Britannia regnare cessaverunt. And Ethelwaldus: A
tempore Romæ à Gothis expugnatæ, cessavit imperium Romanorum à
Britannia insula, & ab aliis; quas sub jugo servitutis tenebant, multis terris.
And Theodoret, serm. 9. de curand. Græc. affect. about the year 424,
reckons the Britons among the nations which were not then in subjection to
the Roman Empire. Thus Sigonius: ad annum 411, Imperium Romanorum
post excessum Constantini in Britannia nullum fuit.
Between the death of Constantine and the reign of Vortigern was an
interregnum of about 14 years, in which the Britons had wars with the Picts
and Scots, and twice obtained the assistance of a Roman Legion, who drove
out the enemy, but told them positively at their departure that they would
come no more. Of Vortigern's beginning to reign there is this record in an
old Chronicle in Nennius, quoted by Camden and others: Guortigernus
tenuit imperium in Britannia, Theodosio & Valentiniano Coss. [viz. A.C.
425.] & in quarto anno regni sui Saxones ad Britanniam venerunt, Felice &
Tauro Coss. [viz. A.C. 428.] This coming of the Saxons, Sigebert refers to
the 4th year of Valentinian, which falls in with the year 428 assigned by this
Chronicle: and two years after, the Saxons together with the Picts were
beaten by the Britons. Afterwards in the reign of Martian the Emperor, that
is, between the years 450 and 456, the Saxons under Hengist were called in
by the Britons, but six years after revolted from them, made war upon them
with various success, and by degrees succeeded them. Yet the Britons
continued a flourishing kingdom till the reign of Careticus; and the war
between the two nations continued till the pontificate of Sergius A.C. 688.[2]

8. The Kings of the Hunns were, A.C. 406 Octar and Rugila, 433 Bleda and
Attila. Octar and Rugila were the brothers of Munzuc King of the Hunns in
Gothia beyond the Danube; and Bleda and Attila were his sons, and
Munzuc was the son of Balamir. The two first, as Jornandes tells us, were
Kings of the Hunns, but not of them all; and had the two last for their
successors. I date the reign of the Hunns in Pannonia from the time that the
Vandals and Alans relinquished Pannonia to them, A.C. 407. Sigonius from
the time that the Visigoths relinquished Pannonia A. C. 408. Constat, saith
he, quod Gothis ex Illyrico profectis, Hunni successerunt, atque imprimis
Pannoniam tenuerunt. Neque enim Honorius viribus ad resistendum in
tantis difficultatibus destitutus, prorsus eos prohibere potuit, sed meliore
consilio, animo ad pacem converso, fœdus cum eis, datis acceptisque
obsidibus fecit; ex quibus qui dati sunt, Ætius, qui etiam Alarico tributus
fuerat, præcipue memoratur. How Ætius was hostage to the Goths and
Hunns is related by Frigeridus, who when he had mentioned that
Theodosius Emperor of the East had sent grievous commands to John, who
after the death of Honorius had usurped the crown of the Western Empire,
he subjoins: Iis permotus Johannes, Ætium id tempus curam palatii
gerentem cum ingenti auri pondere ad Chunnos transmisit, notos sibi
obsidiatûs sui tempore & familiari amicitiâ devinctos—And a little after:
Ætius tribus annis Alarici obses, dehinc Chunnorum, postea Carpilionis
gener ex Comite domesticorum & Joannis curopalatæ. Now Bucher shews
that Ætius was hostage to Alaric till the year 410, when Alaric died, and to
the Hunns between the years 411 and 415, and son-in-law to Carpilio about
the year 417 or 418, and Curopalates to John about the end of the year 423.
Whence 'tis probable that he became hostage to the Hunns about the year
412 or 413, when Honorius made leagues with almost all the barbarous
nations, and granted them seats: but I had rather say with Sigonius, that
Ætius became hostage to Alaric A.C. 403. It is further manifest out of
Prosper, that the Hunns were in quiet possession of Pannonia in the year
432. For in the first book of Eusebius's Chronicle Prosper writes: Anno
decimo post obitum Honorii, cum ad Chunnorum gentem cui tunc Rugila
præerat, post prælium cum Bonifacio se Ætius contulisset, impetrato
auxilio ad Romanorum solum regreditur. And in the second book: Ætio &
Valerio Coss. Ætius depositâ potestate profugus ad Hunnos in Pannonia
pervenit, quorum amicitiâ auxilioque usus, pacem principum interpellatæ
potestatis obtinuit. Hereby it appears that at this time Rugila, or as Maximus

calls him, Rechilla, reigned over the Hunns in Pannonia; and that Pannonia
was not now so much as accounted within the soil of the Empire, being
formerly granted away to the Hunns; and that these were the very same
body of Hunns with which Ætius had, in the time of his being an hostage,
contracted friendship: by virtue of which, as he sollicited them before to the
aid of John the Tyrant A.C. 424, so now he procured their intercession for
himself with the Emperor. Octar died A.C. 430; for Socrates tells us, that
about that time the Burgundians having been newly vext by the Hunns,
upon intelligence of Octar's death, seeing them without a leader, set upon
them suddenly with so much vigour, that 3000 Burgundians slew 10000
Hunns. Of Rugila's being now King in Pannonia you have heard already.
He died A.C. 433, and was succeeded by Bleda, as Prosper and Maximus
inform us. This Bleda with his brother Attila were before this time Kings of
the Hunns beyond the Danube, their father Munzuc's kingdom being
divided between them; and now they united the kingdom Pannonia to their
own. Whence Paulus Diaconus saith, they did regnum intra Pannoniam
Daciamque gerere. In the year 441, they began to invade the Empire afresh,
adding to the Pannonian forces new and great armies from Scythia. But this
war was presently composed, and then Attila, seeing Bleda inclined to
peace, slew him, A.C. 444, inherited his dominions, and invaded the Empire
again. At length, after various great wars with the Romans, Attila perished
A.C. 454; and his sons quarrelling about his dominions, gave occasion to
the Gepides, Ostrogoths and other nations who were their subjects, to rebel
and make war upon them. The same year the Ostrogoths had seats granted
them in Pannonia by the Emperors Marcian and Valentinian; and with the
Romans ejected the Hunns out of Pannonia, soon after the death of Attila,
as all historians agree. This ejection was in the reign of Avitus, as is
mentioned in the Chronicum Boiorum, and in Sidonius, Carm. 7 in Avitum,
which speaks thus of that Emperor.

——Cujus solum amissas post sæcula multa
Pannonias revocavit iter, jam credere promptum est.
Quid faciet bellis.

The Poet means, that by the coming of Avitus the Hunns yielded more
easily to the Goths. This was written by Sidonius in the beginning of the

reign of Avitus: and his reign began in the end of the year 455, and lasted
not one full year.
Jornandes tells us: Duodecimo anno regni Valiæ, quando & Hunni post
pene quinquaginta annos invasa Pannonia, à Romanis & Gothis expulsi
sunt. And Marcellinus: Hierio & Ardaburio Coss. Pannoniæ, quæ per
quinquaginta annos ab Hunnis retinebantur, à Romanis receptæ sunt:
whence it should seem that the Hunns invaded and held Pannonia from the
year 378 or 379 to the year 427, and then were driven out of it. But this is a
plain mistake: for it is certain that the Emperor Theodosius left the Empire
entire; and we have shewed out of Prosper, that the Hunns were in quiet
possession of Pannonia in the year 432. The Visigoths in those days had
nothing to do with Pannonia, and the Ostrogoths continued subject to the
Hunns till the death of Attila, A.C. 454; and Valia King of the Visigoths did
not reign twelve years. He began his reign in the end of the year 415,
reigned three years, and was slain A.C. 419, as Idacius, Isidorus, and the
Spanish manuscript Chronicles seen by Grotius testify. And Olympiodorus,
who carries his history only to the year 425, sets down therein the death of
Valia King of the Visigoths, and conjoins it with that of Constantius which
happened A.C. 420. Wherefore the Valia of Jornandes, who reigned at the
least twelve years, is some other King. And I suspect that this name hath
been put by mistake for Valamir King of the Ostrogoths: for the action
recorded was of the Romans and Ostrogoths driving the Hunns out of
Pannonia after the death of Attila; and it is not likely that the historian
would refer the history of the Ostrogoths to the years of the Visigothic
Kings. This action happened in the end of the year 455, which I take to be
the twelfth year of Valamir in Pannonia, and which was almost fifty years
after the year 406, in which the Hunns succeeded the Vandals and Alans in
Pannonia. Upon the ceasing of the line of Hunnimund the son of
Hermaneric, the Ostrogoths lived without Kings of their own nation about
forty years together, being subject to the Hunns. And when Alaric began to
make war upon the Romans, which was in the year 444, he made Valamir,
with his brothers Theodomir and Videmir the grandsons of Vinethar,
captains or kings of these Ostrogoths under him. In the twelfth year of
Valamir's reign dated from thence, the Hunns were driven out of Pannonia.
Yet the Hunns were not so ejected, but that they had further contests with
the Romans, till the head of Denfix the son of Attila, was carried to

Constantinople, A.C. 469, in the Consulship of Zeno and Marcian, as
Marcellinus relates. Nor were they yet totally ejected the Empire: for
besides their reliques in Pannonia, Sigonius tells us, that when the
Emperors Marcian and Valentinian granted Pannonia to the Goths, which
was in the year 454, they granted part of Illyricum to some of the Hunns
and Sarmatians. And in the year 526, when the Lombards removing into
Pannonia made war there with the Gepides, the Avares, a part of the Hunns,
who had taken the name of Avares from one of their Kings, assisted the
Lombards in that war; and the Lombards afterwards, when they went into
Italy, left their seats in Pannonia to the Avares in recompence of their
friendship. From that time the Hunns grew again very powerful; their
Kings, whom they called Chagan, troubling the Empire much in the reigns
of the Emperors Mauritius, Phocas, and Heraclius: and this is the original
of the present kingdom of Hungary, which from these Avares and other
Hunns mixed together, took the name of Hun-Avaria, and by contraction
Hungary.
9. The Lombards, before they came over the Danube, were commanded by
two captains, Ibor and Ayon: after whose death they had Kings, Agilmund,
Lamisso, Lechu, Hildehoc, Gudehoc, Classo, Tato, Wacho, Walter, Audoin,
Alboin, Cleophis, &c. Agilmund was the son of Ayon, who became their
King, according to Prosper, in the Consulship of Honorius and Theodosius
A.C. 389, reigned thirty three years, according to Paulus Warnefridus, and
was slain in battle by the Bulgarians. Prosper places his death in the
Consulship of Marinianus and Asclepiodorus, A.C. 413. Lamisso routed the
Bulgarians, and reigned three years, and Lechu almost forty. Gudehoc was
contemporary to Odoacer King of the Heruli in Italy, and led his people
from Pannonia into Rugia, a country on the north side of Noricum next
beyond the Danube; from whence Odoacer then carried his people into
Italy. Tato overthrew the kingdom of the Heruli beyond the Danube. Wacho
conquered the Suevians, a kingdom then bounded on the east by Bavaria,
on the west by France, and on the south by the Burgundians. Audoin
returned into Pannonia A.C. 526, and there overcame the Gepides. Alboin
A.C. 551 overthrew the kingdom of the Gepides, and slew their King
Chunnimund: A.C. 563 he assisted the Greek Emperor against Totila King
of the Ostrogoths in Italy; and A.C. 568 led his people out of Pannonia into
Lombardy, where they reigned till the year 774.

According to Paulus Diaconus, the Lombards with many other Gothic
nations came into the Empire from beyond the Danube in the reign of
Arcadius and Honorius, that is, between the years 395 and 408. But they
might come in a little earlier: for we are told that the Lombards, under their
captains Ibor and Ayon, beat the Vandals in battle; and Prosper placeth this
victory in the Consulship of Ausonius and Olybrius, that is, A.C. 379.
Before this war the Vandals had remained quiet forty years in the seats
granted them in Pannonia by Constantine the great. And therefore if these
were the same Vandals, this war must have been in Pannonia; and might be
occasioned by the coming of the Lombards over the Danube into Pannonia,
a year or two before the battle; and so have put an end to that quiet which
had lasted forty years. After Gratian and Theodosius had quieted the
Barbarians, they might either retire over the Danube, or continue quiet
under the Romans till the death of Theodosius; and then either invade the
Empire anew, or throw off all subjection to it. By their wars, first with the
Vandals, and then with the Bulgarians, a Scythian nation so called from the
river Volga whence they came; it appears that even in those days they were
a kingdom not contemptible.
10. These nine kingdoms being rent away, we are next to consider the
residue of the Western Empire. While this Empire continued entire, it was
the Beast itself: but the residue thereof is only a part of it. Now if this part
be considered as a horn, the reign of this horn may be dated from the
translation of the imperial seat from Rome to Ravenna, which was in
October A.C. 408. For then the Emperor Honorius, fearing that Alaric
would besiege him in Rome, if he staid there, retired to Millain, and thence
to Ravenna: and the ensuing siege and sacking of Rome confirmed his
residence there, so that he and his successors ever after made it their home.
Accordingly Macchiavel in his Florentine history writes, that Valentinian
having left Rome, translated the seat of the Empire to Ravenna.
Rhætia belonged to the Western Emperors, so long as that Empire stood;
and then it descended, with Italy and the Roman Senate, to Odoacer King of
the Heruli in Italy, and after him to Theoderic King of the Ostrogoths and
his successors, by the grant of the Greek Emperors. Upon the death of
Valentinian the second, the Alemans and Suevians invaded Rhætia A.C.
455. But I do not find they erected any settled kingdom there: for in the
year 457, while they were yet depopulating Rhætia, they were attacked and

beaten by Burto Master of the horse to the Emperor Majoranus; and I hear
nothing more of their invading Rhætia. Clodovæus King of France, in or
about the year 496, conquered a kingdom of the Alemans, and slew their
last King Ermeric. But this kingdom was seated in Germany, and only
bordered upon Rhætia: for its people fled from Clodovæus into the
neighbouring kingdom of the Ostrogoths under Theoderic, who received
them as friends, and wrote a friendly letter to Clodovæus in their behalf:
and by this means they became inhabitants of Rhætia, as subjects under the
dominion of the Ostrogoths.
When the Greek Emperor conquered the Ostrogoths, he succeeded them in
the kingdom of Ravenna, not only by right of conquest but also by right of
inheritance, the Roman Senate still going along with this kingdom.
Therefore we may reckon that this kingdom continued in the Exarchate of
Ravenna and Senate of Rome: for the remainder of the Western Empire went
along with the Senate of Rome, by reason of the right which this Senate still
retained, and at length exerted, of chusing a new Western Emperor.
I have now enumerated the ten kingdoms, into which the Western Empire
became divided at its first breaking, that is, at the time of Rome's being
besieged and taken by the Goths. Some of these kingdoms at length fell,
and new ones arose: but whatever was their number afterwards, they are
still called the Ten Kings from their first number.

Notes to Chap. VI.
[1] Apud Bucherum, l. 14. c. 9. n. 8.
[2] Rolevinc's Antiqua Saxon. l. 1. c. 6.

CHAP. VII.

Of the eleventh horn of Daniel's fourth Beast.
[1]Now Daniel, considered the horns, and behold there came up among

them another horn, before whom there were three of the first horns pluckt

up by the roots; and behold in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man,
and a mouth speaking great things,—and [2] his look was more stout than
his fellows,—and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed
against them: and one who stood by, and made Daniel know the
interpretation of these things, told him, that [3] the ten horns were ten kings
that should arise, and another should arise after them, and be diverse from
the first, and he should subdue three kings, [4] and speak great words
against the most High, and wear out the saints, and think to change times
and laws: and that they should be given into his hands until a time and
times and half a time. Kings are put for kingdoms, as above; and therefore
the little horn is a little kingdom. It was a horn of the fourth Beast, and
rooted up three of his first horns; and therefore we are to look for it among
the nations of the Latin Empire, after the rise of the ten horns. But it was a
kingdom of a different kind from the other ten kingdoms, having a life or
soul peculiar to itself, with eyes and a mouth. By its eyes it was a Seer; and
by its mouth speaking great things and changing times and laws, it was a
Prophet as well as a King. And such a Seer, a Prophet and a King, is the
Church of Rome.
A Seer, Επισκοπος, is a Bishop in the literal sense of the word; and this
Church claims the universal Bishoprick.
With his mouth he gives laws to kings and nations as an Oracle; and
pretends to Infallibility, and that his dictates are binding to the whole world;
which is to be a Prophet in the highest degree.
In the eighth century, by rooting up and subduing the Exarchate of
Ravenna, the kingdom of the Lombards, and the Senate and Dukedom of
Rome, he acquired Peter's Patrimony out of their dominions; and thereby
rose up as a temporal Prince or King, or horn of the fourth Beast.
In a small book printed at Paris A.C. 1689, entitled, An historical
dissertation upon some coins of Charles the great, Ludovicus Pius,
Lotharius, and their successors stamped at Rome, it is recorded, that in the
days of Pope Leo X, there was remaining in the Vatican, and till those days
exposed to public view, an inscription in honour of Pipin the father of
Charles the great, in these words: Pipinum pium, primum fuisse qui
amplificandæ Ecclesiæ Romanæ viam aperuerit, Exarchatu Ravennate, &

plurimis aliis oblatis; "That Pipin the pious was the first who opened a way
to the grandeur of the Church of Rome, conferring upon her the Exarchate
of Ravenna and many other oblations." In and before the reign of the
Emperors Gratian and Theodosius, the Bishop of Rome lived splendidly;
but this was by the oblations of the Roman Ladies, as Ammianus describes.
After those reigns Italy was invaded by foreign nations, and did not get rid
of her troubles before the fall of the kingdom of Lombardy. It was certainly
by the victory of the see of Rome over the Greek Emperor, the King of
Lombardy, and the Senate of Rome, that she acquired Peter's Patrimony,
and rose up to her greatness. The donation of Constantine the Great is a
fiction, and so is the donation of the Alpes Cottiæ to the Pope by Aripert
King of the Lombards: for the Alpes Cottiæ were a part of the Exarchate,
and in the days of Aripert belonged to the Greek Emperor.
The invocation of the dead, and veneration of their images, being gradually
introduced in the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th centuries, the Greek Emperor
Philippicus declared against the latter, A.C. 711 or 712. And [5] the Emperor
Leo Isaurus, to put a stop to it, called a meeting of Counsellors and Bishops
in his Palace, A.C. 726; and by their advice put out an Edict against that
worship, and wrote to Pope Gregory II. that a general Council might be
called. But the Pope thereupon called a Council at Rome, confirmed the
worship of Images, excommunicated the Greek Emperor, absolved the
people from their allegiance, and forbad them to pay tribute, or otherwise
be obedient to him. Then the people of Rome, Campania, Ravenna and
Pentapolis, with the cities under them, revolted and laid violent hands upon
their magistrates, killing the Exarch Paul at Ravenna, and laying aside
Peter Duke of Rome who was become blind: and when Exhileratus Duke of
Campania incited the people against the Pope, the Romans invaded
Campania, and slew him with his son Hadrian. Then a new Exarch,
Eutychius, coming to Naples, sent some secretly to take away the lives of
the Pope and the Nobles of Rome: but the plot being discovered, the
Romans revolted absolutely from the Greek Emperor, and took an oath to
preserve the life of the Pope, to defend his state, and be obedient to his
authority in all things. Thus Rome with its Duchy, including part of Tuscany
and part of Campania, revolted in the year 726, and became a free state
under the government of the Senate of this city. The authority of the Senate

in civil affairs was henceforward absolute, the authority of the Pope
extending hitherto no farther than to the affairs of the Church only.

At that time [6] the Lombards also being zealous for the worship of images,
and pretending to favour the cause of the Pope, invaded the cities of the
Exarchate: and at length, viz. A.C. 752, took Ravenna, and put an end to the
Exarchate. And this was the first of the three kingdoms which fell before
the little horn.

In the year 751 [7] Pope Zechary deposed Childeric, a slothful and useless
King of France, and the last of the race of Merovæus; and absolving his
subjects from their oath of allegiance, gave the kingdom to Pipin the major
of the Palace; and thereby made a new and potent friend. His successor [8]
Pope Stephen III, knowing better how to deal with the Greek Emperor than
with the Lombards, went the next year to the King of the Lombards, to
persuade him to return the Exarchate to the Emperor. But this not
succeeding, he went into France, and persuaded Pipin to take the Exarchate
and Pentapolis from the Lombards, and give it to St. Peter. Accordingly
Pipin A.C. 754 came with an army into Italy, and made Aistulphus King of
the Lombards promise the surrender: but the next year Aistulphus, on the
contrary, to revenge himself on the Pope, besieged the city of Rome.
Whereupon the Pope sent letters to Pipin, wherein he told him that if he
came not speedily against the Lombards, pro data sibi potentia, alienandum
fore à regno Dei & vita æterna, he should be excommunicated. Pipin
therefore, fearing a revolt of his subjects, and being indebted to the Church
of Rome, came speedily with an army into Italy, raised the siege, besieged
the Lombards in Pavia, and forced them to surrender the Exarchate and
region of Pentapolis to the Pope for a perpetual possession. Thus the Pope
became Lord of Ravenna, and the Exarchate, some few cities excepted; and
the keys were sent to Rome, and laid upon the confession of St. Peter, that
is, upon his tomb at the high Altar, in signum veri perpetuique dominii, sed
pietate Regis gratuita, as the inscription of a coin of Pipin hath it. This was
in the year of Christ 755. And henceforward the Popes being temporal
Princes, left off in their Epistles and Bulls to note the years of the Greek
Emperors, as they had hitherto done.

After this [9] the Lombards invading the Pope's countries, Pope Adrian sent
to Charles the great, the son and successor of Pipin, to come to his

assistance. Accordingly Charles entered Italy with an army, invaded the
Lombards, overthrew their kingdom, became master of their countries, and
restored to the Pope, not only what they had taken from him, but also the
rest of the Exarchate which they had promised Pipin to surrender to him,
but had hitherto detained; and also gave him some cities of the Lombards,
and was in return himself made Patricius by the Romans, and had the
authority of confirming the elections of the Popes conferred upon him.
These things were done in the years 773 and 774. This kingdom of the
Lombards was the second kingdom which fell before the little horn. But
Rome, which was to be the seat of his kingdom, was not yet his own.

In the year 796, [10] Leo III being made Pope, notified his election to
Charles the great by his Legates, sending to him for a present, the golden
keys of the Confession of Peter, and the Banner of the city of Rome: the
first as an acknowledgment of the Pope's holding the cities of the Exarchate
and Lombardy by the grant of Charles; the other as a signification that
Charles should come and subdue the Senate and people of Rome, as he had
done the Exarchate and the kingdom of the Lombards. For the Pope at the
same time desired Charles to send some of his Princes to Rome, who might
subject the Roman people to him, and bind them by oath in fide &
subjectione, in fealty and subjection, as his words are recited by Sigonius.
An anonymous Poet, publish'd by Boeclerus at Strasburg, expresseth it
thus:

Admonuitque piis precibus, qui mittere vellet
Ex propriis aliquos primoribus, ac sibi plebem
Subdere Romanam, servandaque fœdera cogens
Hanc fidei sacramentis promittere magnis.

Hence arose a misunderstanding between the Pope and the city: and the
Romans about two or three years after, by assistance of some of the Clergy,
raised such tumults against him, as gave occasion to a new state of things in
all the West. For two of the Clergy accused him of crimes, and the Romans
with an armed force, seized him, stript him of his sacerdotal habit, and
imprisoned him in a monastery. But by assistance of his friends he made his
escape, and fled into Germany to Charles the great, to whom he complained
of the Romans for acting against him out of a design to throw off all
authority of the Church, and to recover their antient freedom. In his absence

his accusers with their forces ravaged the possessions of the Church, and
sent the accusations to Charles; who before the end of the year sent the
Pope back to Rome with a large retinue. The Nobles and Bishops of France
who accompanied him, examined the chief of his accusers at Rome, and
sent them into France in custody. This was in the year 799. The next year
Charles himself went to Rome, and upon a day appointed presided in a
Council of Italian and French Bishops to hear both parties. But when the
Pope's adversaries expected to be heard, the Council declared [11] that he
who was the supreme judge of all men, was above being judged by any
other than himself: whereupon he made a solemn declaration of his
innocence before all the people, and by doing so was looked upon as
acquitted.
Soon after, upon Christmas-day, the people of Rome, who had hitherto
elected their Bishop, and reckoned that they and their Senate inherited the
rights of the antient Senate and people of Rome, voted Charles their
Emperor, and subjected themselves to him in such manner as the old Roman
Empire and their Senate were subjected to the old Roman Emperors. The
Pope crowned him, and anointed him with holy oil, and worshipped him on
his knees after the manner of adoring the old Roman Emperors; as the
aforesaid Poet thus relates:

Post laudes igitur dictas & summus eundem
Præsul adoravit, sicut mos debitus olim
Principibus fuit antiquis.

The Emperor, on the other hand, took the following oath to the Pope: In
nomine Christi spondeo atque polliceor, Ego Carolus Imperator coram Deo
& beato Petro Apostolo, me protectorem ac defensorem fore hujus sanctæ
Romanæ Ecclesiæ in omnibus utilitatibus, quatenùs divino fultus fuero
adjutorio, prout sciero poteroque. The Emperor was also made Consul of
Rome, and his son Pipin crowned King of Italy: and henceforward the
Emperor stiled himself: Carolus serenissimus, Augustus, à Deo coronatus,
magnus, pacificus, Romæ gubernans imperium, or Imperator Romanorum;
and was prayed for in the Churches of Rome. His image was henceforward
put upon the coins of Rome: while the enemies of the Pope, to the number
of three hundred Romans and two or three of the Clergy, were sentenced to
death. The three hundred Romans were beheaded in one day in the Lateran

fields: but the Clergymen at the intercession of the Pope were pardoned,
and banished into France. And thus the title of Roman Emperor, which had
hitherto been in the Greek Emperors, was by this act transferred in the West
to the Kings of France.

After these things [12] Charles gave the City and Duchy of Rome to the
Pope, subordinately to himself as Emperor of the Romans; spent the winter
in ordering the affairs of Rome, and those of the Apostolic see, and of all
Italy, both civil and ecclesiastical, and in making new laws for them; and
returned the next summer into France: leaving the city under its Senate, and
both under the Pope and himself. But hearing that his new laws were not
observed by the judges in dictating the law, nor by the people in hearing it;
and that the great men took servants from free men, and from the Churches
and Monasteries, to labour in their vineyards, fields, pastures and houses,
and continued to exact cattle and wine of them, and to oppress those that
served the Churches: he wrote to his son Pipin to remedy these abuses, to
take care of the Church, and see his laws executed.
Now the Senate and people and principality of Rome I take to be the third
King the little horn overcame, and even the chief of the three. For this
people elected the Pope and the Emperor; and now, by electing the Emperor
and making him Consul, was acknowledged to retain the authority of the
old Roman Senate and people. This city was the Metropolis of the old
Roman Empire, represented in Daniel by the fourth Beast; and by subduing
the Senate and people and Duchy, it became the Metropolis of the little horn
of that Beast, and completed Peter's Patrimony, which was the kingdom of
that horn. Besides, this victory was attended with greater consequences than
those over the other two Kings. For it set up the Western Empire, which
continues to this day. It set up the Pope above the judicature of the Roman
Senate, and above that of a Council of Italian and French Bishops, and
even above all human judicature; and gave him the supremacy over the
Western Churches and their Councils in a high degree. It gave him a look
more stout than his fellows; so that when this new religion began to be
established in the minds of men, he grappled not only with Kings, but even
with the Western Emperor himself. It is observable also, that the custom of
kissing the Pope's feet, an honour superior to that of Kings and Emperors,
began about this time. There are some instances of it in the ninth century:
Platina tells us, that the feet of Pope Leo IV were kissed, according to

antient custom, by all who came to him: and some say that Leo III began
this custom, pretending that his hand was infected by the kiss of a woman.
The Popes began also about this time to canonize saints, and to grant
indulgences and pardons: and some represent that Leo III was the first
author of all these things. It is further observable, that Charles the great,
between the years 775 and 796, conquered all Germany from the Rhine and
Danube northward to the Baltic sea, and eastward to the river Teis;
extending his conquests also into Spain as far as the river Ebro: and by
these conquests he laid the foundation of the new Empire; and at the same
time propagated the Roman Catholic religion into all his conquests, obliging
the Saxons and Hunns who were heathens, to receive the Roman faith, and
distributing his northern conquests into Bishopricks, granting tithes to the
Clergy and Peter-pence to the Pope: by all which the Church of Rome was
highly enlarged, enriched, exalted, and established.
In the forementioned dissertation upon some coins of Charles the great,
Ludovicus Pius, Lotharius, and their successors, stamped at Rome, there is
a draught of a piece of Mosaic work which Pope Leo III. caused to be made
in his Palace near the Church of John Lateran, in memory of his sending
the standard or banner of the city of Rome curiously wrought, to Charles
the great; and which still remained there at the publishing of the said book.
In the Mosaic work there appeared Peter with three keys in his lap,
reaching the Pallium to the Pope with his right hand, and the banner of the
city to Charles the great with his left. By the Pope was this inscription,
SCISSIMUS D.N. LEO PP; by the King this, D.N. CARVLO REGI; and
under the feet of Peter this, BEATE PETRE, DONA VITAM LEONI PP,
ET BICTORIAM CARVLO REGI DONA. This Monument gives the title
of King to Charles, and therefore was erected before he was Emperor. It
was erected when Peter was reaching the Pallium to the Pope, and the Pope
was sending the banner of the city to Charles, that is, A.C. 796. The words
above, Sanctissimus Dominus noster Leo Papa Domino nostro Carolo Regi,
relate to the message; and the words below, Beate Petre, dona vitam Leoni
Papæ & victoriam Carolo regi dona, are a prayer that in this undertaking
God would preserve the life of the Pope, and give victory to the King over
the Romans. The three keys in the lap of Peter signify the keys of the three
parts of his Patrimony, that of Rome with its Duchy, which the Pope
claimed and was conquering, those of Ravenna with the Exarchate, and of

the territories taken from the Lombards; both which he had newly
conquered. These were the three dominions, whose keys were in the lap of
St. Peter, and whose Crowns are now worn by the Pope, and by the
conquest of which he became the little horn of the fourth Beast. By Peter's
giving the Pallium to the Pope with his right hand, and the banner of the
city to the King with his left, and by naming the Pope before the King in the
inscription, may be understood that the Pope was then reckoned superior in
dignity to the Kings of the earth.
After the death of Charles the great, his son and successor Ludovicus Pius,
at the request of the Pope, [13] confirmed the donations of his grandfather
and father to the see of Rome. And in the confirmation he names first Rome
with its Duchy extending into Tuscany and Campania; then the Exarchate
of Ravenna, with Pentapolis; and in the third place, the territories taken
from the Lombards. These are his three conquests, and he was to hold them
of the Emperor for the use of the Church sub integritate, entirely, without
the Emperor's medling therewith, or with the jurisdiction or power of the
Pope therein, unless called thereto in certain cases. This ratification the
Emperor Ludovicus made under an oath: and as the King of the Ostrogoths,
for acknowledging that he held his kingdom of Italy of the Greek Emperor,
stamped the effigies of the Emperor on one side of his coins and his own on
the reverse; so the Pope made the like acknowledgment to the Western
Emperor. For the Pope began now to coin money, and the coins of Rome are
henceforward found with the heads of the Emperors, Charles, Ludovicus
Pius, Lotharius, and their successors, on the one side, and the Pope's
inscription on the reverse, for many years.

Notes to Chap. VII.
[1] Chap. vii. 8.
[2] Ver. 20, 21.
[3] Ver. 24.
[4] Ver. 25.
[5] Sigonius de Regno Italiæ, ad Ann. 726.
[6] Sigonius ib. ad Ann. 726, 752.
[7] Sigon. ib. Ann. 750.

[8] Sigon. ib. Ann. 753, 754, 755.
[9] Sigon. ib. Ann. 773.
[10] Sigon. de Regno Ital. ad Ann. 796.
[11] Vide Anastasium.
[12] Sigon. de Regno Ital.
[13] Confirmationem recitat Sigonius, lib. 4. de Regno Italiæ, ad An. 817.

CHAP. VIII.

Of the power of the eleventh horn of Daniel's fourth Beast, to change times
and laws.
In the reign of the Greek Emperor Justinian, and again in the reign of
Phocas, the Bishop of Rome obtained some dominion over the Greek
Churches, but of no long continuance. His standing dominion was only over
the nations of the Western Empire, represented by Daniel's fourth Beast.
And this jurisdiction was set up by the following Edict of the Emperors
Gratian and Valentinian.—[1] Volumus ut quicunque judicio Damasi, quod
ille cum Concilio quinque vel septem habuerit Episcoporum, vel eorum qui
Catholici sunt judicio vel Concilio condemnatus fuerit, si juste voluerit
Ecclesiam retentare, ut qui ad sacerdotale judicium per contumeliam non
ivisset: ut ab illustribus viris Præfectis Prætorio Galliæ atque Italiæ,
authoritate adhibitâ, ad Episcopale judicium remittatur, sive à
Consularibus vel Vicariis, ut ad Urbem Romam sub prosecutione perveniat.
Aut si in longinquioribus partibus alicujus ferocitas talis emerserit, omnis
ejus causæ edictio ad Metropolitæ in eadem Provincia Episcopi
deduceretur examen. Vel si ipse Metropolitanus est, Romam necessariò, vel
ad eos quos Romanus Episcopus judices dederit, sine delatione contendat.
——Quod si vel Metropolitani Episcopi vel cujuscunque sacerdotis
iniquitas est suspecta, aut gratia; ad Romanum Episcopum, vel ad
Concilium quindecim finitimorum Episcoporum accersitum liceat
provocare; modo ne post examen habitum, quod definitum fuerit, integretur.
This Edict wanting the name of both Valens and Theodosius in the Title,
was made in the time between their reigns, that is, in the end of the year
378, or the beginning of 379. It was directed to the Præfecti Prætorio Italiæ
& Galliæ, and therefore was general. For the Præfectus Prætorio Italiæ
governed Italy, Illyricum occidentale and Africa; and the Præfectus
Prætorio Galliæ governed Gallia, Spain, and Britain.
The granting of this jurisdiction to the Pope gave several Bishops occasion
to write to him for his resolutions upon doubtful cases, whereupon he

answered by decretal Epistles; and henceforward he gave laws to the
Western Churches by such Epistles. Himerius Bishop of Tarraco, the head
city of a province in Spain, writing to Pope Damasus for his direction about
certain Ecclesiastical matters, and the Letter not arriving at Rome till after
the death of Damasus, A.C. 384; his successor Siricius answered the same
with a legislative authority, telling him of one thing: Cum hoc fieri—missa
ad Provincias à venerandæ memoriæ prædecessore meo Liberio generalia
decreta, prohibeant. Of another: Noverint se ab omni ecclesiastico honore,
quo indignè usi sunt, Apostolicæ Sedis auctoritate, dejectos. Of another:
Scituri posthac omnium Provinciarum summi Antistites, quod si ultrò ad
sacros ordines quenquam de talibus esse assumendum, & de suo & de
aliorum statu, quos contra Canones & interdicta nostra provexerint,
congruam ab Apostolica Sede promendam esse sententiam. And the Epistle
he concludes thus: Explicuimus, ut arbitror, frater charissime, universa quæ
digesta sunt in querelam; & ad singulas causas, de quibus ad Romanam
Ecclesiam, utpote ad caput tui corporis, retulisti; sufficientia, quantum
opinor, responsa reddidimus. Nunc fraternitatis tuæ animum ad servandos
canones, & tenenda decretalia constituta, magis ac magis incitamus: ad
hæc quæ ad tua consulta rescripsimus in omnium Coepiscoporum perferri
facias notionem; & non solum corum, qui in tua sunt diœcesi constituti, sed
etiam ad universos Carthaginenses ac Bœticos, Lusitanos atque [2]
Gallicos, vel eos qui vicinis tibi collimitant hinc inde Provinciis, hæc quæ a
nobis sunt salubri ordinatione disposita, sub literarum tuarum prosecutione
mittantur. Et quanquam statuta sedis Apostolicæ vel Canonum venerabilia
definita, nulli Sacerdotum Domini ignorare sit liberum: utilius tamen, atque
pro antiquitate sacerdotii tui, dilectioni tuæ esse admodùm poterit
gloriosum, si ea quæ ad te speciali nomine generaliter scripta sunt, per
unanimitatis tuæ sollicitudinem in universorum fratrum nostrorum notitiam
perferantur; quatenus & quæ à nobis non inconsultè sed providè sub nimia
cautela & deliberatione sunt salubriter constituta, intemerata permaneant,
& omnibus in posterum excusationibus aditus, qui jam nulli apud nos
patere poterit, obstruatur. Dat. 3 Id. Febr. Arcadio & Bautone viris
clarissimis Consulibus, A.C. 385. Pope Liberius in the reign of Jovian or
Valentinian I. sent general Decrees to the Provinces, ordering that the
Arians should not be rebaptized: and this he did in favour of the Council of
Alexandria, that nothing more should be required of them than to renounce
their opinions. Pope Damasus is said to have decreed in a Roman Council,

that Tithes and Tenths should be paid upon pain of an Anathema; and that
Glory be to the Father, &c. should be said or sung at the end of the Psalms.
But the first decretal Epistle now extant is this of Siricius to Himerius; by
which the Pope made Himerius his Vicar over all Spain for promulging his
Decrees, and seeing them observed. The Bishop of Sevill was also the
Pope's Vicar sometimes; for Simplicius wrote thus to Zeno Bishop of that
place: Talibus idcirco gloriantes indiciis, congruum duximus vicariâ Sedis
nostræ te auctoritate fulciri: cujus vigore munitus, Apostolicæ institutionis
Decreta, vel sanctorum terminos Patrum, nullatenus transcendi permittas.
And Pope Hormisda [3] made the Bishop of Sevill his Vicar over Bœtica and
Lusitania, and the Bishop of Tarraco his Vicar over all the rest of Spain, as
appears by his Epistles to them.
Pope Innocent the first, in his decretal Epistle to Victricius Bishop of Rouen
in France, A.C. 404, in pursuance of the Edict of Gratian, made this
Decree: Si quæ autem causæ vel contentiones inter Clericos tam superioris
ordinis quam etiam inferioris fuerint exortæ; ut secundum Synodum
Nicenam congregatis ejusdem Provinciæ Episcopis jurgium terminetur: nec
alicui liceat, [4] Romanæ Ecclesiæ, cujus in omnibus causis debet reverentia
custodiri, relictis his sacerdotibus, qui in eadem Provincia Dei Ecclesiam
nutu Divino gubernant, ad alias convolare Provincias. Quod siquis fortè
præsumpserit; & ab officio Clericatûs summotus, & injuriarum reus
judicetur. Si autem majores causæ in medium fuerint devolutæ, ad Sedem
Apostolicam sicut Synodus statuit, & beata consuetudo exigit, post judicium
Episcopale referantur. By these Letters it seems to me that Gallia was now
subject to the Pope, and had been so for some time, and that the Bishop of
Rouen was then his Vicar or one of them: for the Pope directs him to refer
the greater causes to the See of Rome, according to custom. But the Bishop
of Arles soon after became the Pope's Vicar over all Gallia: for Pope
Zosimus, A.C. 417, ordaining that none should have access to him without
the credentials of his Vicars, conferred upon Patroclus the Bishop of Arles
this authority over all Gallia, by the following Decree.

Zosimus universis Episcopis per Gallias & septem Provincias constitutis.
Placuit Apostolicæ Sedi, ut siquis ex qualibet Galliarum parte sub quolibet
ecclesiastico gradu ad nos Romæ venire contendit, vel aliò terrarum ire

disponit, non aliter proficiscatur nisi Metropolitani Episcopi Formatas
acceperit, quibus sacerdotium suum vel locum ecclesiasticum quem habet,
scriptorum ejus adstipulatione perdoceat: quod ex gratia statuimus quia
plures episcopi sive presbyteri sive ecclesiastici simulantes, quia nullum
documentum Formatarum extat per quod valeant confutari, in nomen
venerationis irrepunt, & indebitam reverentiam promerentur. Quisquis
igitur, fratres charissimi, prætermissà supradicti Formatâ sive episcopus,
sive presbyter, sive diaconus, aut deinceps inferiori gradu sit, ad nos
venerit: sciat se omnino suscipi non posse. Quam auctoritatem ubique nos
misisse manifestum est, ut cunctis regionibus innotescat id quod statuimus
omnimodis esse servandum. Siquis autem hæc salubriter constituta
temerare tentaverit sponte suâ, se a nostra noverit communione discretum.
Hoc autem privilegium Formatarum sancto Patroclo fratri & coepiscopo
nostro, meritorum ejus speciali contemplatione, concessimus. And that the
Bishop of Arles was sometimes the Pope's Vicar over all France, is
affirmed also by all the Bishops of the Diocess of Arles in their Letter to
Pope Leo I. Cui id etiam honoris dignitatisque collatum est, say they, ut non
tantum has Provincias potestate propriâ gubernaret; verum etiam omnes
Gallias sibi Apostolicæ Sedis vice mandatas, sub omni ecclesiastica regula
contineret. And Pope Pelagius I. A.C. 556, in his Epistle to Sapaudus
Bishop of Arles: Majorum nostrorum, operante Dei misericordiâ, cupientes
inhærere vestigiis & eorum actus divino examine in omnibus imitari:
Charitati tuæ per universam Galliam, sanctæ Sedis Apostolicæ, cui divinâ
gratiâ præsidemus, vices injungimus.
By the influence of the same imperial Edict, not only Spain and Gallia, but
also Illyricum became subject to the Pope. Damasus made Ascholius, or
Acholius, Bishop of Thessalonica the Metropolis of Oriental Illyricum, his
Vicar for hearing of causes; and in the year 382, Acholius being summoned
by Pope Damasus, came to a Council at Rome. Pope Siricius the successor
of Damasus, decreed that no Bishop should be ordained in Illyricum
without the consent of Anysius the successor of Acholius. And the following
Popes gave Rufus the successor of Anysius, a power of calling Provincial
Councils: for in the Collections of Holstenius there is an account of a
Council of Rome convened under Pope Boniface II. in which were produced
Letters of Damasus, Syricius, Innocent I. Boniface I. and Cælestine Bishops
of Rome, to Ascholius, Anysius and Rufus, Bishops of Thessalonica: in

which Letters they commend to them the hearing of causes in Illyricum,
granted by the Lord and the holy Canons to the Apostolic See thro'out that
Province. And Pope Siricius saith in his Epistle to Anysius: Etiam dudum,
frater charissime, per Candidianum Episcopum, qui nos præcessit ad
Dominum, hujusmodi literas dederamus, ut nulla licentia esset, sine
consensu tuo in Illyrico Episcopos ordinare præsumere, quæ utrum ad te
pervenerint scire non potui. Multa enim gesta sunt per contentionem ab
Episcopis in ordinationibus faciendis, quod tua melius caritas novit. And a
little after: Ad omnem enim hujusmodi audaciam comprimendam vigilare
debet instantia tua, Spiritu in te Sancto fervente: ut vel ipse, si potes, vel
quos judicaveris Episcopos idoneos, cum literis dirigas, dato consensu qui
possit, in ejus locum qui defunctus vel depositus fuerit, Catholicum
Episcopum vitâ & moribus probatum, secundum Nicænæ Synodi statuta vel
Ecclesiæ Romanæ, Clericum de Clero meritum ordinare. And Pope
Innocent I. saith in his Epistle to Anysius: Cui [Anysio] etiam anteriores
tanti ac tales viri prædecessores mei Episcopi, id est, sanctæ memoriæ
Damasus, Siricius, atque supra memoratus vir ita detulerunt; ut omnia quæ
in omnibus illis partibus gererentur, Sanctitati tuæ, quæ plena justitiæ est,
traderent cognoscenda. And in his Epistle to Rufus the successor of
Anysius: Ita longis intervallis disterminatis à me ecclesiis discat
consulendum; ut prudentiæ gravitatique tuæ committendam curam
causasque, siquæ exoriantur, per Achaiæ, Thessaliæ, Epiri veteris, Epiri
novæ, & Cretæ, Daciæ mediterraneæ, Daciæ ripensis, Mœsiæ, Dardaniæ,
& Prævali ecclesias, Christo Domino annuente, censeam. Verè enim ejus
sacratissimis monitis lectissimæ sinceritatis tuæ providentiæ & virtuti hanc
injungimus sollicitudinem: non primitùs hæc statuentes, sed Præcessores
nostros Apostolicos imitati, qui beatissimis Acholio & Anysio injungi pro
meritis ista voluerunt. And Boniface I. in his decretal Epistle to Rufus and
the rest of the Bishops in Illyricum: Nullus, ut frequenter dixi, alicujus
ordinationem citra ejus [Episcopi Thessalonicensis] conscientiam celebrare
præsumat: cui, ut supra dictum est, vice nostrâ cuncta committimus. And
Pope Cælestine, in his decretal Epistle to the Bishops thro'out Illyricum,
saith: Vicem nostram per vestram Provinciam noveritis [Rufo] esse
commissam, ita ut ad eum, fratres carissimi, quicquid de causis agitur,
referatur. Sine ejus consilio nullus ordinetur. Nullus usurpet, eodem
inconscio, commissam illi Provinciam; colligere nisi cum ejus voluntate
Episcopus non præsumat. And in the cause of Perigenes, in the title of his

Epistle, he thus enumerates the Provinces under this Bishop: Rufo & cæteris
Episcopis per Macedoniam, Achaiam, Thessaliam, Epirum veterem, Epirum
novam, Prævalin, & Daciam constitutis. And Pope Xistus in a decretal
Epistle to the same Bishops: Illyricanæ omnes Ecclesiæ, ut à decessoribus
nostris recepimus, & nos quoque fecimus, ad curam nunc pertinent
Thessalonicensis Antistitis, ut suâ sollicitudine, siquæ inter fratres
nascantur, ut assolent, actiones distinguat atque definiat; & ad eum,
quicquid à singulis sacerdotibus agitur, referatur. Sit Concilium, quotiens
causæ fuerint, quotiens ille pro necessitatum emergentium ratione
decreverit. And Pope Leo I. in his decretal Epistle to Anastasius Bishop of
Thessalonica: Singulis autem Metropolitanis sicut potestas ista committitur,
ut in suis Provinciis jus habeant ordinandi; ita eos Metropolitanos à te
volumus ordinari; maturo tamen & decocto judicio.
Occidental Illyricum comprehended Pannonia prima and secunda, Savia,
Dalmatia, Noricum mediterraneum, and Noricum ripense; and its
Metropolis was Sirmium, till Attila destroyed this city. Afterwards
Laureacum became the Metropolis of Noricum and both Pannonias, and
Salona the Metropolis of Dalmatia. Now [5] the Bishops of Laureacum and
Salona received the Pallium from the Pope: and Zosimus, in his decretal
Epistle to Hesychius Bishop of Salona, directed him to denounce the
Apostolic decrees as well to the Bishops of his own, as to those of the
neighbouring Provinces. The subjection of these Provinces to the See of
Rome seems to have begun in Anemius, who was ordained Bishop of
Sirmium by Ambrose Bishop of Millain, and who in the Council of Aquileia
under Pope Damasus, A.C. 381, declared his sentence in these words:
Caput Illyrici non nisi civitas Sirmiensis: Ego igitur illius civitatis
Episcopus sum. Eum qui non confitetur filium Dei æternum, & coeternum
patri, qui est sempiternus, anathema dico. The next year Anemius and
Ambrose, with Valerian Bishop of Aquileia, Acholias Bishop of
Thessalonica, and many others, went to the Council of Rome, which met for
overruling the Greek Church by majority of votes, and exalting the
authority of the Apostolic See, as was attempted before in the Council of
Sardica.
Aquileia was the second city of the Western Empire, and by some called the
second Rome. It was the Metropolis of Istria, Forum Julium, and Venetia;
and its subjection to the See of Rome is manifest by the decretal Epistle of

Leo I. directed to Nicetas Bishop of this city; for the Pope begins his Epistle
thus: Regressus ad nos filius meus Adeodatus Diaconus Sedis nostræ,
dilectionem tuam poposcisse memorat, ut de his à nobis authoritatem
Apostolicæ Sedis acciperes, quæ quidem magnam difficultatem
dijudicationis videntur afferre. Then he sets down an answer to the
questions proposed by Nicetas, and concludes thus: Hanc autem Epistolam
nostram, quam ad consultationem tuæ fraternitatis emisimus, ad omnes
fratres & comprovinciales tuos Episcopos facies pervenire, ut in omnium
observantia, data profit authoritas. Data 1-2 Kal. Apr. Majorano Aug. Cos.
A.C. 458. Gregory the great A.C. 591, [6] cited Severus Bishop of Aquileia
to appear before him in judgment in a Council at Rome.
The Bishops of Aquileia and Millain created one another, and therefore
were of equal authority, and alike subject to the See of Rome. Pope Pelagius
about the year 557, testified this in the following words: [7] Mos antiquus
fuit, saith he, ut quia pro longinquitate vel difficultate itineris, ab Apostolico
illis onerosum fuerit ordinari, ipsi se invicem Mediolanensis & Aquileiensis
ordinare Episcopos debuissent. These words imply that the ordination of
these two Bishops belonged to the See of Rome. When Laurentius Bishop
of Millain had excommunicated Magnus, one of his Presbyters, and was
dead, [8] Gregory the great absolved Magnus, and sent the Pallium to the
new elected Bishop Constantius; whom the next year [9] he reprehended of
partiality in judging Fortunatus, and commanded him to send Fortunatus to
Rome to be judged there: four years after [10] he appointed the Bishops of
Millain and Ravenna to hear the cause of one Maximus; and two years after,
viz. A.C. 601, when Constantius was dead, and the people of Millain had
elected Deusdedit his successor, and the Lombards had elected another, [11]
Gregory wrote to the Notary, Clergy, and People of Millain, that by the
authority of his Letters Deusdedit should be ordained, and that he whom the
Lombards had ordained was an unworthy successor of Ambrose: whence I
gather, that the Church of Millain had continued in this state of
subordination to the See of Rome ever since the days of Ambrose; for
Ambrose himself acknowledged the authority of that See. Ecclesia Romana,
[12] saith he, hanc consuetudinem non habet, cujus typum in omnibus

sequimur, & formam. And a little after: In omnibus cupio sequi Ecclesiam
Romanam. And in his Commentary upon 1 Tim. iii. Cum totus mundus Dei
sit, tamen domus ejus Ecclesia dicitur, cujus hodie rector est Damasus. In

his Oration on the death of his brother Satyrus, he relates how his brother
coming to a certain city of Sardinia, advocavit Episcopum loci,
percontatusque est ex eo utrum cum Episcopis Catholicis hoc est cum
Romana Ecclesia conveniret? And in conjunction with the Synod of
Aquileia A.C. 381, in a synodical Epistle to the Emperor Gratian, he saith:
Totius orbis Romani caput Romanam Ecclesiam, atque illam sacrosanctam
Apostolorum fidem, ne turbari sineret, obsecranda fuit clementia vestra;
inde enim in omnes venerandæ communionis jura dimanant. The Churches
therefore of Aquileia and Millain were subject to the See of Rome from the
days of the Emperor Gratian. Auxentius the predecessor of Ambrose was
not subject to the see of Rome, and consequently the subjection of the
Church of Millain began in Ambrose. This Diocese of Millain contained
Liguria with Insubria, the Alpes Cottiæ and Rhætia; and was divided from
the Diocese of Aquileia by the river Addua. In the year 844, the Bishop of
Millain broke off from the See of Rome, and continued in this separation
about 200 years, as is thus related by [13] Sigonius: Eodem anno Angilbertus
Mediolanensis Archiepiscopus ab Ecclesia Romana parum comperta de
causa descivit, tantumque exemplo in posterum valuit, ut non nisi post
ducentos annos Ecclesia Mediolanensis ad Romanæ obedientiam
auctoritatemque redierit.
The Bishop of Ravenna, the Metropolis of Flaminia and Æmilia, was also
subject to the Pope: for Zosimus, A.C. 417, excommunicated some of the
Presbyters of that Church, and wrote a commonitory Epistle about them to
the Clergy of that Church as a branch of the Roman Church: In sua, saith
he, hoc est, in Ecclesia nostra Romana. When those of Ravenna, having
elected a new Bishop, gave notice thereof to Pope Sixtus, the Pope set him
aside, and [14] ordained Peter Chrysologus in his room. Chrysologus in his
Epistle to Eutyches, extant in the Acts of the Council of Chalcedon, wrote
thus: Nos pro studio pacis & fidei, extra consensum Romanæ civitatis
Episcopi, causas fidei audire non possumus. Pope Leo I. being consulted by
Leo Bishop of Ravenna about some questions, answered him by a decretal
Epistle A.C. 451. And Pope Gregory the great, [15] reprehending John
Bishop of Ravenna about the use of the Pallium, tells him of a Precept of
one of his Predecessors, Pope John, commanding that all the Privileges
formerly granted to the Bishop and Church of Ravenna should be kept: to
this John returned a submissive answer; and after his death Pope Gregory

ordered a visitation of the Church of Ravenna, confirmed the privileges
heretofore granted them, and sent his Pallium, as of antient custom, to their
new Bishop Marinian. Yet this Church revolted sometimes from the Church
of Rome, but returned again to its obedience.
The rest of Italy, with the Islands adjacent, containing the suburbicarian
regions, or ten Provinces under the temporal Vicar of Rome, viz.
1
Campania, 2Tuscia and Umbria, 3Picenum suburbicarium, 4Sicily, 5Apulia
and Calabria, 6Brutii and Lucania, 7Samnium, 8Sardinia, 9Corsica, and
10
Valeria, constituted the proper Province of the Bishop of Rome. For the
Council of Nice in their fifth Canon ordained that Councils should be held
every spring and autumn in every Province; and according to this Canon,
the Bishops of this Province met at Rome every half year. In this sense Pope
Leo I. applied this Canon to Rome, in a decretal Epistle to the Bishops of
Sicily, written Alippio & Ardabure Coss. A.C. 447. Quia saluberrime, saith
he, à sanctis patribus constitutum est, binos in annis singulis Episcoporum
debere esse conventus, terni semper ex vobis ad diem tertium Kalendarum
Octobrium Romam æterno concilio sociandi occurrant. Et indissimulanter
à vobis hæc consuetudo servetur, quoniam adjuvante Dei gratiâ, faciliùs
poterit provideri, ut in Ecclesiis Christi nulla scandala, nulli nascantur
errores; cum coram Apostolo Petro semper in communione tractatum fuerit,
ut omnia Canonum Decreta apud omnes Domini sacerdotes inviolata
permaneant. The Province of Rome therefore comprehended Sicily, with so
much of Italy and the neighbouring Islands as sent Bishops to the annual
Councils of Rome; but extended not into the Provinces of Ravenna,
Aquileia, Millain, Arles, &c. those Provinces having Councils of their own.
The Bishops in every Province of the Roman Empire were convened in
Council by the Metropolitan or Bishop of the head city of the Province, and
this Bishop presided in that Council: but the Bishop of Rome did not only
preside in his own Council of the Bishops of the suburbicarian regions, but
also gave Orders to the Metropolitans of all the other Provinces in the
Western Empire, as their universal governor; as may be further perceived by
the following instances.
Pope Zosimus A.C. 417, cited Proculus Bishop of Marseilles to appear
before a Council at Rome for illegitimate Ordinations; and condemned him,
as he mentions in several of his Epistles. Pope Boniface I. A.C. 419, upon a

complaint of the Clergy of Valentia against Maximus a Bishop, summoned
the Bishops of all Gallia and the seven Provinces to convene in a Council
against him; and saith in his Epistle, that his Predecessors had done the like.
Pope Leo I. called a general Council of all the Provinces of Spain to meet in
Gallæcia against the Manichees and Priscillianists, as he says in his
decretal Epistle to Turribius a Spanish Bishop. And in one of his decretal
Epistles to Nicetas Bishop of Aquileia, he commands him to call a Council
of the Bishops of that Province against the Pelagians, which might ratify all
the Synodal Decrees which had been already ratified by the See of Rome
against this heresy. And in his decretal Epistle to Anastasius Bishop of
Thessalonica, he ordained that Bishop should hold two Provincial Councils
every year, and refer the harder causes to the See of Rome: and if upon any
extraordinary occasion it should be necessary to call a Council, he should
not be troublesom to the Bishops under him, but content himself with two
Bishops out of every Province, and not detain them above fifteen days. In
the same Epistle he describes the form of Church-Government then set up,
to consist in a subordination of all the Churches to the See of Rome: De qua
forma, saith he, Episcoporum quoque est orta distinctio, & magna
dispositione provisum est ne omnes sibi omnia vindicarent, sed essent in
singulis Provinciis singuli quorum inter fratres haberetur prima sententia,
& rursus quidam in majoribus urbibus constituti sollicitudinem sumerent
ampliorem, per quos ad unam Petri Sedem universalis Ecclesiæ cura
conflueret, & nihil usque à suo capite dissideret. Qui ergo scit se
quibusdam esse præpositum, non moleste ferat aliquem sibi esse
præpositum; sed obedientiam quam exigit etiam ipse dependat; et sicut non
vult gravis oneris sarcinam ferre, ita non audeat aliis importabile pondus
imponere. These words sufficiently shew the monarchical form of
government then set up in the Churches of the Western Empire under the
Bishop of Rome, by means of the imperial Decree of Gratian, and the
appeals and decretal Epistles grounded thereupon.
The same Pope Leo, having in a Council at Rome passed sentence upon
Hilary Bishop of Arles, for what he had done by a Provincial Council in
Gallia, took occasion from thence to procure the following Edict from the
Western Emperor Valentinian III. for the more absolute establishing the
authority of his See over all the Churches of the Western Empire.

Impp. Theodosius & Valentinianus AA. Aetio Viro illustri, Comiti &
Magistro utriusque militiæ & Patricio.
Certum est & nobis & imperio nostro unicum esse præsidium in supernæ
Divinitatis favore, ad quem promerendum præcipue Christiana fides &
veneranda nobis religio suffragatur. Cum igitur Sedis Apostolicæ Primatum
sancti Petri meritum, qui princeps est Episcopalis coronæ & Romanæ
dignitas civitatis, sacræ etiam Synodi firmavit auctoritas: ne quid præter
auctoritatem Sedis istius illicitum præsumptio attemperare nitatur: tunc
enim demum Ecclesiarum pax ubique servabitur, si Rectorem suum
agnoscat Universitas. Hæc cum hactenus inviolabiliter suerint custodita,
Hilarius Arelatensis, sicut venerabilis viri Leonis Romani Papæ fideli
relatione comperimus, contumaci ausu illicita quædam præsumenda
tentavit, & ideo Transalpinas Ecclesias abominabilis tumultus invasit, quod
recens maximè testatur exemplum. Hilarius enim qui Episcopus Arelatensis
vocatur, Ecclesiæ Romanæ urbis inconsulto Pontifice indebitas sibi
ordinationes Episcoporum solâ temeritate usurpans invasit. Nam alios
incompetenter removit; indecenter alios, invitis & repugnantibus civibus,
ordinavit. Qui quidem, quoniam non facile ab his qui non elegerant,
recipiebantur, manum sibi contrahebat armatam, & claustra murorum in
hostilem morem vel obsidione cingebat, vel aggressione reserabat, & ad
sedem quietis pacem prædicaturus per bella ducebat: His talibus contra
Imperii majestatem, & contra reverentiam Apostolicæ Sedis admissis, per
ordinem religiosi viri Urbis Papæ cognitione discussis, certa in eum, ex his
quos malè ordinaverat, lata sententia est. Erat quidem ipsa sententia per
Gallias etiam sine Imperiali Sanctione valitura: quid enim Pontificis
auctoritate non liceret? Sed nostram quoque præceptionem hæc ratio
provocavit. Nec ulterius vel Hilario, quem adhuc Episcopum nuncupare
sola mansueta Præsulis permittit humanitas, nec cuiquam alteri
ecclesiasticis rebus arma miscere, aut præceptis Romani Antistitis liceat
obviare: ausibus enim talibus fides & reverentia nostri violatur Imperii. Nec
hoc solum, quod est maximi criminis, submovemus: verum ne levis saltem
inter Ecclesias turba nascatur, vel in aliquo minui religionis disciplina
videatur, hoc perenni sanctione discernimus; nequid tam Episcopis
Gallicanis quam aliarum Provinciarum contra consuetudinem veterem
liceat, sine viri venerabilis Papæ Urbis æternæ auctoritate, tentare. Sed
illis omnibusque pro lege sit, quicquid sanxit vel sanxerit Apostolicæ Sedis

auctoritas: ita ut quisquis Episcoporum ad judicium Romani Antistitis
evocatus venire neglexerit, per Moderatorem ejusdem Provinciæ adesse
cogatur, per omnia servatis quæ Divi parentes nostri Romanæ Ecclesiæ
detulerunt, Aetî pater carissime Augusti. Unde illustris & præclara
magnificentia tua præsentis Edictalis Legis auctoritate faciet quæ sunt
superius statuta servari, decem librarum auri multa protinus exigenda ab
unoquoque Judice qui passus fuerit præcepta nostra violari. Divinitas te
servet per multos annos, parens carissime. Dat. viii. Id. Jun. Romæ,
Valentiniano A. vi. Consule, A.C. 445. By this Edict the Emperor
Valentinian enjoined an absolute obedience to the will of the Bishop of
Rome thro'out all the Churches of his Empire; and declares, that for the
Bishops to attempt any thing without the Pope's authority is contrary to
antient custom, and that the Bishops summoned to appear before his
judicature must be carried thither by the Governor of the Province; and he
ascribes these privileges of the See of Rome to the concessions of his dead
Ancestors, that is, to the Edict of Gratian and Valentinian II. as above: by
which reckoning this dominion of the Church of Rome was now of 66 years
standing: and if in all this time it had not been sufficiently established, this
new Edict was enough to settle it beyond all question thro'out the Western
Empire.
Hence all the Bishops of the Province of Arles in their Letter to Pope Leo,
A.C. 450, petitioning for a restitution of the privileges of their Metropolitan,
say: Per beatum Petrum Apostolorum principem, sacrosancta Ecclesia
Romana tenebat supra omnes totius mundi Ecclesias principatum. And
Ceratius, Salonius and Veranus, three Bishops of Gallia, say, in their
Epistle to the same Pope: Magna præterea & ineffabili quadam nos
peculiares tui gratulatione succrescimus, quod illa specialis doctrinæ
vestræ pagina ita per omnium Ecclesiarum conventicula celebratur, ut vere
consona omnium sententia declaretur; merito illic principatum Sedis
Apostolicæ constitutum, unde adhuc Apostolici spiritus oracula reserentur.
And Leo himself, in [16] his Epistle to the metropolitan Bishops thro'out
Illyricum: Quia per omnes Ecclesias cura nostra distenditur, exigente hoc à
nobis Domino, qui Apostolicæ dignitatis beatissimo Apostolo Petro
primatum, fidei sui remuneratione commisit, universalem Ecclesiam in
fundamenti ipsius soliditate constituens.

While this Ecclesiastical Dominion was rising up, the northern barbarous
nations invaded the Western Empire, and founded several kingdoms therein,
of different religions from the Church of Rome. But these kingdoms by
degrees embraced the Roman faith, and at the same time submitted to the
Pope's authority. The Franks in Gaul submitted in the end of the fifth
Century, the Goths in Spain in the end of the sixth; and the Lombards in
Italy were conquered by Charles the great A.C. 774. Between the years 775
and 794, the same Charles extended the Pope's authority over all Germany
and Hungary as far as the river Theysse and the Baltic sea; he then set him
above all human judicature, and at the same time assisted him in subduing
the City and Duchy of Rome. By the conversion of the ten kingdoms to the
Roman religion, the Pope only enlarged his spiritual dominion, but did not
yet rise up as a horn of the Beast. It was his temporal dominion which made
him one of the horns: and this dominion he acquired in the latter half of the
eighth century, by subduing three of the former horns as above. And now
being arrived at a temporal dominion, and a power above all human
judicature, he reigned [17] with a look more stout than his fellows, and [18]
times and laws were henceforward given into his hands, for a time times
and half a time, or three times and an half; that is, for 1260 solar years,
reckoning a time for a Calendar year of 360 days, and a day for a solar year.
After which [19] the judgment is to sit, and they shall take away his
dominion, not at once, but by degrees, to consume, and to destroy it unto the
end. [20] And the kingdom and dominion, and greatness of the kingdom
under the whole heaven shall, by degrees, be given unto the people of the
saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all
dominions shall serve and obey him.

Notes to Chap. VIII.
[1] See the Annals of Baronius, Anno 381. Sect. 6.
[2] Populos Galliciæ.
[3] Hormisd. Epist. 24. 26.
[4] The words, sine auctoritate, seem wanting.
[5] Vide Caroli a S. Paulo Geographiam sacram, p. 72, 73.
[6] Greg. M. lib. 1. Indic. 9. Epist. 16.

[7] Apud Gratianum de Mediolanensi & Aquileiensi Episcopis.
[8] Greg. M. lib. 3. Epist. 26. & lib. 4. Epist. 1.
[9] Greg. lib. 5. Epist. 4.
[10] Greg. lib. 9. Epist. 10 & 67.
[11] Greg. lib. 11. Epist. 3, 4.
[12] Ambros l. 3. de sacramentis, c. 1.
[13] Sigonius de Regno Italiæ, lib. 5.
[14] See Baronius, Anno 433. Sect. 24.
[15] Greg. M. lib. 3. Epist. 56, 57. & lib. 5. Epist. 25, 26, 56.
[16] Epist. 25. apud Holstenium.
[17] Dan. vii. 20.
[18] Ver. 25.
[19] Ver. 26.
[20] Ver. 27.

CHAP. IX.

Of the kingdoms represented in Daniel by the Ram and He-Goat.
The second and third Empires, represented by the Bear and Leopard, are
again represented by the Ram and He-Goat; but with this difference, that
the Ram represents the kingdoms of the Medes and Persians from the
beginning of the four Empires, and the Goat represents the kingdom of the
Greeks to the end of them. By this means, under the type of the Ram and
He-Goat, the times of all the four Empires are again described: I lifted up
mine eyes, saith [1] Daniel, and saw, and behold there stood before the river
[Ulai] a Ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high, but one
was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.—And the Ram
having two horns, are the kings of Media and Persia: not two persons but
two kingdoms, the kingdoms of Media and Persia; and the kingdom of
Persia was the higher horn and came up last. The kingdom of Persia rose
up, when Cyrus having newly conquered Babylon, revolted from Darius

King of the Medes, and beat him at Pasargadæ, and set up the Persians
above the Medes. This was the horn which came up last. And the horn
which came up first was the kingdom of the Medes, from the time that
Cyaxares and Nebuchadnezzar overthrew Nineveh, and shared the Empire
of the Assyrians between them. The Empires of Media and Babylon were
contemporary, and rose up together by the fall of the Assyrian Empire; and
the Prophecy of the four Beasts begins with one of them, and that of the
Ram and He-Goat with the other. As the Ram represents the kingdom of
Media and Persia from the beginning of the four Empires; so the He-Goat
represents the Empire of the Greeks to the end of those Monarchies. In the
reign of his great horn, and of the four horns which succeeded it, he
represents this Empire during the reign of the Leopard: and in the reign of
his little horn, which stood up in the latter time of the kingdom of the four,
and after their fall became mighty but not by his own power, he represents it
during the reign of the fourth Beast.
The rough Goat, saith Daniel, is the King of Grecia, that is, the kingdom;
and the great horn between his eyes is the first King: not the first Monarch,
but the first kingdom, that which lasted during the reign of Alexander the
great, and his brother Aridæus and two young sons, Alexander and
Hercules. [2] Now that [horn] being broken off, whereas four [horns] stood
up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation [of the Greeks], but
not in his [the first horn's] power. The four horns are therefore four
kingdoms; and by consequence, the first great horn which they succeeded is
the first great kingdom of the Greeks, that which was founded by Alexander
the great, An. Nabonass. 414, and lasted till the death of his son Hercules,
An. Nabonass. 441. And the four are those of Cassander, Lysimachus,
Antigonus, and Ptolemy, as above.
[3]
And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come
to the full, a King [or new kingdom] of fierce countenance, and
understanding dark sentences, shall stand up: and his power shall be
mighty, but not by his own power. This King was the last horn of the Goat,
the little horn which came up out of one of the four horns, and waxed
exceeding great. The latter time of their kingdom was when the Romans
began to conquer them, that is, when they conquered Perseus King of
Macedonia, the fundamental kingdom of the Greeks. And at that time the
transgressors came to the full: for then the High-priesthood was exposed to

sale, the Vessels of the Temple were sold to pay for the purchase; and the
High-priest, with some of the Jews, procured a licence from Antiochus
Epiphanes to do after the ordinances of the heathen, and set up a school at
Jerusalem for teaching those ordinances. Then Antiochus took Jerusalem
with an armed force, slew 4000 Jews, took as many prisoners and sold
them, spoiled the Temple, interdicted the worship, commanded the Law of
Moses to be burnt, and set up the worship of the heathen Gods in all Judea.
In the very same year, An. Nabonass. 580, the Romans conquered
Macedonia, the chief of the four horns. Hitherto the Goat was mighty by its
own power, but henceforward began to be under the Romans. Daniel
distinguishes the times, by describing very particularly the actions of the
Kings of the north and south, those two of the four horns which bordered
upon Judea, until the Romans conquered Macedonia; and thenceforward
only touching upon the main revolutions which happened within the
compass of the nations represented by the Goat. In this latter period of time
the little horn was to stand up and grow mighty, but not by his own power.
The three first of Daniel's Beasts had their dominions taken away, each of
them at the rise of the next Beast; but their lives were prolonged, and they
are all of them still alive. The third Beast, or Leopard, reigned in his four
heads, till the rise of the fourth Beast, or Empire of the Latins; and his life
was prolonged under their power. This Leopard reigning in his four heads,
signifies the same thing with the He-Goat reigning in his four horns: and
therefore the He-Goat reigned in his four horns till the rise of Daniel's
fourth Beast, or Empire of the Latins: then its dominion was taken away by
the Latins, but its life was prolonged under their power. The Latins are not
comprehended among the nations represented by the He-Goat in this
Prophecy: their power over the Greeks is only named in it, to distinguish the
times in which the He-Goat was mighty by his own power, from the times
in which he was mighty but not by his own power. He was mighty by his
own power till his dominion was taken away by the Latins; after that, his
life was prolonged under their dominion, and this prolonging of his life was
in the days of his last horn: for in the days of this horn the Goat became
mighty, but not by his own power.
Now because this horn was a horn of the Goat, we are to look for it among
the nations which composed the body of the Goat. Among those nations he
was to rise up and grow mighty: he grew mighty [4] towards the south, and

towards the east, and towards the pleasant land; and therefore he was to
rise up in the north-west parts of those nations, and extend his dominion
towards Egypt, Syria and Judea. In the latter time of the kingdom of the
four horns, it was to rise up out of one of them and subdue the rest, but not
by its own power. It was to be assisted by a foreign power, a power superior
to itself, the power which took away the dominion of the third Beast, the
power of the fourth Beast. And such a little horn was the kingdom of
Macedonia, from the time that it became subject to the Romans. This
kingdom, by the victory of the Romans over Persius King of Macedonia,
Anno Nabonass. 580, ceased to be one of the four horns of the Goat, and
became a dominion of a new sort: not a horn of the fourth Beast, for
Macedonia belonged to the body of the third; but a horn of the third Beast
of a new sort, a horn of the Goat which grew mighty but not by his own
power, a horn which rose up and grew potent under a foreign power, the
power of the Romans.
The Romans, by the legacy of Attalus the last King of Pergamus, An.
Nabonass. 615, inherited that kingdom, including all Asia Minor on this
side mount Taurus. An. Nabonass. 684 and 685 they conquered Armenia,
Syria and Judea; An. Nabonass. 718, they subdued Egypt. And by these
conquests the little horn [5] waxed exceeding great towards the south, and
towards the east, and towards the pleasant land. And it waxed great even to
the host of heaven; and cast down some of the host and of the stars to the
ground, and stamped upon them, that is, upon the people and great men of
the Jews. [6] Yea, he magnified himself even to the Prince of the Host, the
Messiah, the Prince of the Jews, whom he put to death, An. Nabonass. 780.
And by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his
sanctuary was cast down, viz. in the wars which the armies of the Eastern
nations under the conduct of the Romans made against Judea, when Nero
and Vespasian were Emperors, An. Nabonass. 816, 817, 818. [7] And an host
was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it
cast down the truth to the ground, and it practised and prospered. This
transgression is in the next words called the transgression of desolation;
and in Dan. xi. 31. the abomination which maketh desolate; and in Matth.
xxiv. 15. the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
standing in the holy place. It may relate chiefly to the worship of Jupiter
Olympius in his Temple built by the Emperor Hadrian, in the place of the

Temple of the Jews, and to the revolt of the Jews under Barchochab
occasioned thereby, and to the desolation of Judea which followed
thereupon; all the Jews, being thenceforward banished Judea upon pain of
death. Then I heard, saith [8] Daniel, one saint speaking, and another saint
said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision
concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give
both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto
me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be
cleansed. Daniel's days are years; and these years may perhaps be reckoned
either from the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in the reign of
Vespasian, or from the pollution of the Sanctuary by the worship of Jupiter
Olympius, or from the desolation of Judea made in the end of the Jewish
war by the banishment of all the Jews out of their own country, or from
some other period which time will discover. Henceforward the last horn of
the Goat continued mighty under the Romans, till the reign of Constantine
the great and his sons: and then by the division of the Roman Empire
between the Greek and Latin Emperors, it separated from the Latins, and
became the Greek Empire alone, but yet under the dominion of a Roman
family; and at present it is mighty under the dominion of the Turks.
This last horn is by some taken for Antiochus Epiphanes, but not very
judiciously. A horn of a Beast is never taken for a single person: it always
signifies a new kingdom, and the kingdom of Antiochus was an old one.
Antiochus reigned over one of the four horns, and the little horn was a fifth
under its proper kings. This horn was at first a little one, and waxed
exceeding great, but so did not Antiochus. It is described great above all the
former horns, and so was not Antiochus. His kingdom on the contrary was
weak, and tributary to the Romans, and he did not enlarge it. The horn was a
King of fierce countenance, and destroyed wonderfully, and prospered and
practised; that is, he prospered in his practises against the holy people: but
Antiochus was frighted out of Egypt by a mere message of the Romans, and
afterwards routed and baffled by the Jews. The horn was mighty by
another's power, Antiochus acted by his own. The horn stood up against the
Prince of the Host of heaven, the Prince of Princes; and this is the character
not of Antiochus but of Antichrist. The horn cast down the Sanctuary to the
ground, and so did not Antiochus; he left it standing. The Sanctuary and
Host were trampled under foot 2300 days; and in Daniel's Prophecies days

are put for years: but the profanation of the Temple in the reign of
Antiochus did not last so many natural days. These were to last till the time
of the end, till the last end of the indignation against the Jews; and this
indignation is not yet at an end. They were to last till the Sanctuary which
had been cast down should be cleansed, and the Sanctuary is not yet
cleansed.
This Prophecy of the Ram and He-Goat is repeated in the last Prophecy of
Daniel. There the Angel tells Daniel, that [9] he stood up to strengthen
Darius the Mede, and that there should stand up yet three kings in Persia,
[Cyrus, Cambyses, and Darius Hystaspis] and the fourth [Xerxes] should be
far richer than they all; and by his wealth thro' his riches he should stir up
all against the realm of Grecia. This relates to the Ram, whose two horns
were the kingdoms of Media and Persia. Then he goes on to describe the
horns of the Goat by the [10] standing up of a mighty king, which should rule
with great dominion, and do according to his will; and by the breaking of
his kingdom into four smaller kingdoms, and not descending to his own
posterity. Then he describes the actions of two of those kingdoms which
bordered on Judea, viz. Egypt and Syria, calling them the Kings of the
South and North, that is, in respect of Judea; and he carries on the
description till the latter end of the kingdoms of the four, and till the reign
of Antiochus Epiphanes, when transgressors were come to the full. In the
eighth year of Antiochus, the year in which he profaned the Temple and set
up the heathen Gods in all Judea, and the Romans conquered the kingdom
of Macedon; the prophetic Angel leaves off describing the affairs of the
kings of the South and North, and begins to describe those of the Greeks
under the dominion of the Romans, in these words: [11] And after him Arms
[the Romans] shall stand up, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of
strength. As ‫ ממלך‬signifies after the king, Dan. xi. 8; so here ‫ ממנו‬may
signify after him: and so ‫ מן־האחת‬may signify after one of them, Dan. viii.
9. Arms are every where in these Prophecies of Daniel put for the military
power of a kingdom, and they stand up when they conquer and grow
powerful. The Romans conquered Illyricum, Epirus and Macedonia, in the
year of Nabonassar 580; and thirty five years after, by the last will and
testament of Attalus the last King of Pergamus, they inherited that rich and
flourishing kingdom, that is, all Asia on this side mount Taurus: and sixty
nine years after, they conquered the kingdom of Syria, and reduced it into a

Province: and thirty four years after they did the like to Egypt. By all these
steps the Roman arms stood up over the Greeks. And after 95 years more,
by making war upon the Jews, they polluted the sanctuary of strength, and
took away the daily sacrifice, and, in its room soon after, placed the
abomination which made the Land desolate: for this abomination was
placed after the days of Christ, Matth. xxiv. 15. In the 16th year of the
Emperor Hadrian, A. C. 132, they placed this abomination by building a
Temple to Jupiter Capitolinus, where the Temple of God in Jerusalem had
stood. Thereupon the Jews under the conduct of Barchochab rose up in
arms against the Romans, and in that war had 50 cities demolished, 985 of
their best towns destroyed, and 580000 men slain by the sword: and in the
end of the war, A.C. 136, they were all banished Judea upon pain or death;
and that time the land hath remained desolate of its old inhabitants.
Now that the prophetic Angel passes in this manner from the four kingdoms
of the Greeks to the Romans reigning over the Greeks, is confirmed from
hence, that in the next place he describes the affairs of the Christians unto
the time of the end, in these words: [12] And they that understand among the
people shall instruct many, yet they shall fall by the sword and by flame, by
captivity and by spoil many days. Now when they shall fall they shall be
holpen with a little help, viz. in the reign of Constantine the great; but many
shall cleave to them with dissimulation. And some of them of understanding
there shall fall to try them, and to purge them from the dissemblers; and to
make them white even to the time of the end. And a little after, the time of
the end is said to be a time, times, and half a time: which is the duration of
the reign of the last horn of Daniel's fourth Beast, and of the Woman and her
Beast in the Apocalyps.

Notes to Chap. IX.
[1] Chap. viii. 3.
[2] Ver. 22.
[3] Ver. 23.
[4] Chap. viii. 9.
[5] Chap. viii. 9, 10.
[6] Ver. 11.

[7] Ver. 12.
[8] Ver. 13, 14.
[9] Dan. xi. 1, 2.
[10] Ver. 3.
[11] Dan xi. 31.
[12] Chap. xi. 33, &c.

CHAP. X.

Of the Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks.
The Vision of the Image composed of four Metals was given first to
Nebuchadnezzar, and then to Daniel in a dream: and Daniel began then to
be celebrated for revealing of secrets, Ezek. xxviii. 3. The Vision of the four
Beasts, and of the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, was also
given to Daniel in a dream. That of the Ram and the He-Goat appeared to
him in the day time, when he was by the bank of the river Ulay; and was
explained to him by the prophetic Angel Gabriel. It concerns the Prince of
the host, and the Prince of Princes: and now in the first year of Darius the
Mede over Babylon, the same prophetic Angel appears to Daniel again, and
explains to him what is meant by the Son of man, by the Prince of the host,
and the Prince of Princes. The Prophecy of the Son of man coming in the
clouds of heaven relates to the second coming of Christ; that of the Prince
of the host relates to his first coming: and this Prophecy of the Messiah, in
explaining them, relates to both comings, and assigns the times thereof.
This Prophecy, like all the rest of Daniel's, consists of two parts, an
introductory Prophecy and an explanation thereof; the whole I thus translate
and interpret.
[1]
'Seventy weeks are [2] cut out upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to
finish transgression, and [3] to make an end of sins, to expiate iniquity, and
to bring in everlasting righteousness, to consummate the Vision and [4] the
Prophet, and to anoint the most Holy.

'Know also and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment
to cause to return and to build Jerusalem, unto [5] the Anointed the Prince,
shall be seven weeks.

'Yet threescore and two weeks shall [6] it return, and the street be built and
the wall; but in troublesome times: and after the threescore and two weeks,
the Anointed shall be cut off, and [6] it shall not be his; but the people of a
Prince to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary: and the end thereof
shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war, desolations are
determined.
'Yet shall he confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in half a
week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease: and upon a wing of
abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and
that which is determined be poured upon the desolate.'
Seventy weeks are cut out upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to finish
transgression, &c. Here, by putting a week for seven years, are reckoned
490 years from the time that the dispersed Jews should be re-incorporated
into [7] a people and a holy city, until the death and resurrection of Christ;
whereby transgression should be finished, and sins ended, iniquity be
expiated, and everlasting righteousness brought in, and this Vision be
accomplished, and the Prophet consummated, that Prophet whom the Jews
expected; and whereby the most Holy should be anointed, he who is
therefore in the next words called the Anointed, that is, the Messiah, or the
Christ. For by joining the accomplishment of the vision with the expiation
of sins, the 490 years are ended with the death of Christ. Now the dispersed
Jews became a people and city when they first returned into a polity or
body politick; and this was in the seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimanus,
when Ezra returned with a body of Jews from captivity, and revived the
Jewish worship; and by the King's commission created Magistrates in all
the land, to judge and govern the people according to the laws of God and
the King, Ezra vii. 25. There were but two returns from captivity,
Zerubbabel's and Ezra's; in Zerubbabel's they had only commission to build
the Temple, in Ezra's they first became a polity or city by a government of
their own. Now the years of this Artaxerxes began about two or three
months after the summer solstice, and his seventh year fell in with the third
year of the eightieth Olympiad; and the latter part thereof, wherein Ezra

went up to Jerusalem, was in the year of the Julian Period 4257. Count the
time from thence to the death of Christ, and you will find it just 490 years.
If you count in Judaic years commencing in autumn, and date the reckoning
from the first autumn after Ezra's coming to Jerusalem, when he put the
King's decree in execution; the death of Christ will fall on the year of the
Julian Period 4747, Anno Domini 34; and the weeks will be Judaic weeks,
ending with sabbatical years; and this I take to be the truth: but if you had
rather place the death of Christ in the year before, as is commonly done,
you may take the year of Ezra's journey into the reckoning.
Know also and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment
to cause to return and to build Jerusalem, unto the Anointed the Prince,
shall be seven weeks. The former part of the Prophecy related to the first
coming of Christ, being dated to his coming as a Prophet; this being dated
to his coming to be Prince or King, seems to relate to his second coming.
There, the Prophet was consummate, and the most holy anointed: here, he
that was anointed comes to be Prince and to reign. For Daniel's Prophecies
reach to the end of the world; and there is scarce a Prophecy in the Old
Testament concerning Christ, which doth not in something or other relate to
his second coming. If divers of the antients, as [8] Irenæus, [9] Julius
Africanus, Hippolytus the martyr, and Apollinaris Bishop of Laodicea,
applied the half week to the times of Antichrist; why may not we, by the
same liberty of interpretation, apply the seven weeks to the time when
Antichrist shall be destroyed by the brightness of Christ's coming?
The Israelites in the days of the antient Prophets, when the ten Tribes were
led into captivity, expected a double return; and that at the first the Jews
should build a new Temple inferior to Solomon's, until the time of that age
should be fulfilled; and afterwards they should return from all places of
their captivity, and build Jerusalem and the Temple gloriously, Tobit xiv. 4,
5, 6: and to express the glory and excellence of this city, it is figuratively
said to be built of precious stones, Tobit xiii. 16, 17, 18. Isa. liv. 11, 12. Rev.
xi. and called the New Jerusalem, the Heavenly Jerusalem, the Holy City,
the Lamb's Wife, the City of the Great King, the City into which the Kings of
the earth do bring their glory and honour. Now while such a return from
captivity was the expectation of Israel, even before the times of Daniel, I
know not why Daniel should omit it in his Prophecy. This part of the
Prophecy being therefore not yet fulfilled, I shall not attempt a particular

interpretation of it, but content myself with observing, that as the seventy
and the sixty two weeks were Jewish weeks, ending with sabbatical years; so
the seven weeks are the compass of a Jubilee, and begin and end with
actions proper for a Jubilee, and of the highest nature for which a Jubilee
can be kept: and that since the commandment to return and to build
Jerusalem, precedes the Messiah the Prince 49 years; it may perhaps come
forth not from the Jews themselves, but from some other kingdom friendly
to them, and precede their return from captivity, and give occasion to it; and
lastly, that this rebuilding of Jerusalem and the waste places of Judah is
predicted in Micah vii. 11. Amos ix. 11, 14. Ezek. xxxvi. 33, 35, 36, 38. Isa.
liv. 3, 11, 12. lv. 12. lxi. 4. lxv. 18, 21,22. and Tobit xiv. 5. and that the
return from captivity and coming of the Messiah and his kingdom are
described in Daniel vii. Rev. xix. Acts i. Mat. xxiv. Joel iii. Ezek. xxxvi.
xxxvii. Isa. lx. lxii. lxiii. lxv. and lxvi. and many other places of scripture.
The manner I know not. Let time be the Interpreter.
Yet threescore and two weeks shall it return, and the street be built and the
wall, but in troublesome times: and after the threescore and two weeks the
Messiah shall be cut off, and it shall not be his; but the people of a Prince
to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary, &c. Having foretold both
comings of Christ, and dated the last from their returning and building
Jerusalem; to prevent the applying that to the building Jerusalem by
Nehemiah, he distinguishes this from that, by saying that from this period to
the Anointed shall be, not seven weeks, but threescore and two weeks, and
this not in prosperous but in troublesome times; and at the end of these
Weeks the Messiah shall not be the Prince of the Jews, but be cut off; and
Jerusalem not be his, but the city and sanctuary be destroyed. Now
Nehemiah came to Jerusalem in the 20th year of this same Artaxerxes,
while Ezra still continued there, Nehem. xii. 36, and found the city lying
waste, and the houses and wall unbuilt, Nehem. ii. 17. vii. 4, and finished
the wall the 25th day of the month Elul, Nehem. vi. 15, in the 28th year of
the King, that is, in September in the year of the Julian Period 4278. Count
now from this year threescore and two weeks of years, that is 434 years,
and the reckoning will end in September in the year of the Julian Period
4712 which is the year in which Christ was born, according to Clemens
Alexandrinus, Irenæus, Eusebius, Epiphanius, Jerome, Orosius,
Cassiodorus, and other antients; and this was the general opinion, till

Dionysius Exiguus invented the vulgar account, in which Christ's birth is
placed two years later. If with some you reckon that Christ was born three
or four years before the vulgar account, yet his birth will fall in the latter
part of the last week, which is enough. How after these weeks Christ was
cut off and the city and sanctuary destroyed by the Romans, is well known.
Yet shall he confirm the covenant with many for one week. He kept it,
notwithstanding his death, till the rejection of the Jews, and calling of
Cornelius and the Gentiles in the seventh year after his passion.
And in half a week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease; that
is, by the war of the Romans upon the Jews: which war, after some
commotions, began in the 13th year of Nero, A.D. 67, in the spring, when
Vespasian with an army invaded them; and ended in the second year of
Vespasian, A.D. 70, in autumn, Sept. 7, when Titus took the city, having
burnt the Temple 27 days before: so that it lasted three years and an half.
And upon a wing of abominations he shall cause desolation, even until the
consummation, and that which is determined be poured upon the desolate.
The Prophets, in representing kingdoms by Beasts and Birds, put their
wings stretcht out over any country for their armies sent out to invade and
rule over that country. Hence a wing of abominations is an army of false
Gods: for an abomination is often put in scripture for a false God; as where
Chemosh is called [10] the abomination of Moab, and Molech the
abomination of Ammon. The meaning therefore is, that the people of a
Prince to come shall destroy the sanctuary, and abolish the daily worship of
the true God, and overspread the land with an army of false gods; and by
setting up their dominion and worship, cause desolation to the Jews, until
the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. For Christ tells us, that the
abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel was to be set up in the times
of the Roman Empire, Matth. xxiv. 15.
Thus have we in this short Prophecy, a prediction of all the main periods
relating to the coming of the Messiah; the time of his birth, that of his death,
that of the rejection of the Jews, the duration of the Jewish war whereby he
caused the city and sanctuary to be destroyed, and the time of his second
coming: and so the interpretation here given is more full and complete and
adequate to the design, than if we should restrain it to his first coming only,

as Interpreters usually do. We avoid also the doing violence to the language
of Daniel, by taking the seven weeks and sixty two weeks for one number.
Had that been Daniel's meaning, he would have said sixty and nine weeks,
and not seven weeks and sixty two weeks, a way of numbring used by no
nation. In our way the years are Jewish Luni-solar years, [11] as they ought
to be; and the seventy weeks of years are Jewish weeks ending with
sabbatical years, which is very remarkable. For they end either with the
year of the birth of Christ, two years before the vulgar account, or with the
year of his death, or with the seventh year after it: all which are sabbatical
years. Others either count by Lunar years, or by weeks not Judaic: and,
which is worst, they ground their interpretations on erroneous Chronology,
excepting the opinion of Funccius about the seventy weeks, which is the
same with ours. For they place Ezra and Nehemiah in the reign of
Artaxerxes Mnemon, and the building of the Temple in the reign of Darius
Nothus, and date the weeks of Daniel from those two reigns.
The grounds of the Chronology here followed, I will now set down as
briefly as I can.
The Peloponnesian war began in spring An. 1 Olymp. 87, as Diodorus,
Eusebius, and all other authors agree. It began two months before
Pythodorus ceased to be Archon, Thucyd. l. 2. that is, in April, two months
before the end of the Olympic year. Now the years of this war are most
certainly determined by the 50 years distance of its first year from the
transit of Xerxes inclusively, Thucyd. l. 2. or 48 years exclusively, Eratosth.
apud Clem. Alex. by the 69 years distance of its end, or 27th year, from the
beginning of Alexander's reign in Greece; by the acting of the Olympic
games in its 4th and 12th years, Thucyd. l. 5; and by three eclipses of the
sun, and one of the moon, mentioned by Thucydides and Xenophon. Now
Thucydides, an unquestionable witness, tells us, that the news of the death
of Artaxerxes Longimanus was brought to Ephesus, and from thence by
some Athenians to Athens, in the 7th year of this Peloponnesian war, when
the winter half year was running; and therefore he died An. 4 Olymp. 88, in
the end of An. J.P. 4289, suppose a month or two before midwinter; for so
long the news would be in coming. Now Artaxerxes Longimanus reigned 40
years, by the consent of Diodorus, Eusebius, Jerome, Sulpitius; or 41,
according to Ptol. in can. Clem. Alexand. l. 1. Strom. Chron. Alexandr.
Abulpharagius, Nicephorus, including therein the reign of his successors

Xerxes and Sogdian, as Abulpharagius informs us. After Artaxerxes reigned
his son Xerxes two months, and Sogdian seven months; but their reign is
not reckoned apart in summing up the years of the Kings, but is included in
the 40 or 41 years reign of Artaxerxes: omit these nine months, and the
precise reign of Artaxerxes will be thirty nine years and three months. And
therefore since his reign ended in the beginning of winter An. J.P. 4289, it
began between midsummer and autumn, An. J.P. 4250.
The same thing I gather also thus. Cambyses began his reign in spring An.
J.P. 4185, and reigned eight years, including the five months of Smerdes;
and then Darius Hystaspis began in spring An. J.P. 4193, and reigned thirty
six years, by the unanimous consent of all Chronologers. The reigns of
these two Kings are determined by three eclipses of the moon observed at
Babylon, and recorded by Ptolemy; so that it cannot be disputed. One was in
the seventh year of Cambyses, An. J.P. 4191, Jul. 16, at 11 at night; another
in the 20th year of Darius, An. J.P. 4212, Nov. 19, at 11h. 45' at night; a third
in the 31st year of Darius, An. J.P. 4223, Apr. 25, at 11h. 30 at night. By
these eclipses, and the Prophecies of Haggai and Zechary compared
together, it is manifest that his years began after the 24th day of the 11th
Jewish month, and before the 25th day of April, and by consequence about
March. Xerxes therefore began in spring An. J.P. 4229: for Darius died in
the fifth year after the battle at Marathon, as Herodotus, lib. 7, and Plutarch
mention; and that battle was in October An. J.P. 4224, ten years before the
battle at Salamis. Xerxes therefore began within less than a year after
October An. J.P. 4228, suppose in the spring following: for he spent his first
five years, and something more, in preparations for his expedition against
the Greeks; and this expedition was in the time of the Olympic games, An. 1
Olymp. 75, Calliade Athenis Archonte, 28 years after the Regifuge, and
Consulship of the first Consul Junius Brutus, Anno Urbis conditæ 273,
Fabio & Furio Coss. The passage of Xerxes's army over the Hellespont
began in the end of the fourth year of the 74th Olympiad, that is, in June An.
J.P. 4234, and took up one month: and in autumn, three months after, on the
full moon, the 16th day of the month Munychion, was the battle at Salamis,
and a little after that an eclipse of the sun, which by the calculation fell on
Octob. 2. His sixth year therefore began a little before June, suppose in
spring An. J.P. 4234, and his first year consequently in spring An. J.P. 4229,
as above. Now he reigned almost twenty one years, by the consent of all

writers. Add the 7 months of Artabanus, and the sum will be 21 years and
about four or five months, which end between midsummer and autumn An.
J.P. 4250. At this time therefore began the reign of his successor Artaxerxes,
as was to be proved.
The same thing is also confirmed by Julius Africanus, who informs us out
of former writers, that the 20th year of this Artaxerxes was the 115th year
from the beginning of the reign of Cyrus in Persia, and fell in with An. 4
Olymp. 83. It began therefore with the Olympic year, soon after the summer
Solstice, An. J.P. 4269. Subduct nineteen years, and his first year will begin
at the same time of the year An. J.P. 4250, as above.
His 7th year therefore began after midsummer An. J.P. 4256; and the
Journey of Ezra to Jerusalem in the spring following fell on the beginning
of An. J.P. 4257, as above.

Notes to Chap. X.
[1] Chap. ix. 24, 25, 26, 27.
[2] Cut upon. A phrase in Hebrew, taken from the practise of numbring by cutting notches.
[3] Heb. to seal, i.e. to finish or consummate: a metaphor taken from sealing what is
finished. So the Jews compute, ad obsignatum Misna, ad obsignatum Talmud, that is, ad
absolutum.
[4] Heb. the Prophet, not the Prophecy.
[5] Heb. the Messiah, that is, in Greek, the Christ; in English, the Anointed. I use the
English word, that the relation of this clause to the former may appear.
[6] Jerusalem.
[7] See Isa. xxiii. 13.
[8] Iren. l. 5. Hær. c. 25.
[9] Apud Hieron. in h. l.
[10] 1 Kings xi. 7.
[11] The antient solar years of the eastern nations consisted of 12 months, and every month
of 30 days: and hence came the division of a circle into 360 degrees. This year seems to be
used by Moses in his history of the Flood, and by John in the Apocalypse, where a time,
times and half a time, 42 months and 1260 days, are put equipollent. But in reckoning by
many of these years together, an account is to be kept of the odd days which were added to
the end of these years. For the Egyptians added five days to the end of this year; and so did
the Chaldeans long before the times of Daniel, as appears by the Æra, of Nabonassar: and

the Persian Magi used the same year of 365 days, till the Empire of the Arabians. The
antient Greeks also used the same solar year of 12 equal months, or 360 days; but every
other year added an intercalary month, consisting of 10 and 11 days alternately.
The year of the Jews, even from their coming out of Egypt, was Luni-solar. It was solar, for
the harvest always followed the Passover, and the fruits of the land were always gathered
before the feast of Tabernacles, Levit. xxiii. But the months were lunar, for the people were
commanded by Moses in the beginning of every month to blow with trumpets, and offer
burnt offerings with their drink offerings, Num. x. 10. xxviii. 11, 14. and this solemnity was
kept on the new moons, Psal. lxxxi. 3,4,5. 1 Chron. xxiii. 31. These months were called by
Moses the first, second, third, fourth month, &c. and the first month was also called Abib,
the second Zif, the seventh Ethanim, the eighth Bull, Exod. xiii. 4. 1 Kings vi. 37, 38. viii.
2. But in the Babylonian captivity the Jews used the names of the Chaldean months, and by
those names understood the months of their own year; so that the Jewish months then lost
their old names, and are now called by those of the Chaldeans.
The Jews began their civil year from the autumnal Equinox, and their sacred year from the
vernal: and the first day of the first month was on the visible new moon, which was nearest
the Equinox.
Whether Daniel used the Chaldaick or Jewish year, is not very material; the difference
being but six hours in a year, and 4 months in 480 years. But I take his months to be
Jewish: first, because Daniel was a Jew, and the Jews even by the names of the Chaldean
months understood the months of their own year: secondly, because this Prophecy is
grounded on Jeremiah's concerning the 70 years captivity, and therefore must be
understood of the same sort of years with the seventy; and those are Jewish, since that
Prophecy was given in Judea before the captivity: and lastly, because Daniel reckons by
weeks of years, which is a way of reckoning peculiar to the Jewish years. For as their days
ran by sevens, and the last day of every seven was a sabbath; so their years ran by sevens,
and the last year of every seven was a sabbatical year, and seven such weeks of years made
a Jubilee.

CHAP. XI.

Of the Times of the Birth and Passion of Christ.
The times of the Birth and Passion of Christ, with such like niceties, being
not material to religion, were little regarded by the Christians of the first
age. They who began first to celebrate them, placed them in the cardinal
periods of the year; as the annunciation of the Virgin Mary, on the 25th of
March, which when Julius Cæsar corrected the Calendar was the vernal
Equinox; the feast of John Baptist on the 24th of June, which was the
summer Solstice; the feast of St. Michael on Sept. 29, which was the
autumnal Equinox; and the birth of Christ on the winter Solstice, Decemb.

25, with the feasts of St. Stephen, St. John and the Innocents, as near it as
they could place them. And because the Solstice in time removed from the
25th of December to the 24th, the 23d, the 22d, and so on backwards, hence
some in the following centuries placed the birth of Christ on Decemb. 23,
and at length on Decemb. 20: and for the same reason they seem to have set
the feast of St. Thomas on Decemb. 21, and that of St. Matthew on Sept. 21.
So also at the entrance of the Sun into all the signs in the Julian Calendar,
they placed the days of other Saints; as the conversion of Paul on Jan. 25,
when the Sun entred ; St. Matthias on Feb. 25, when he entred ; St.
Mark on Apr. 25, when he entred ; Corpus Christi on May 26, when he
entred ; St. James on July 25, when he entred ; St. Bartholomew on Aug.
24, when he entred ; Simon and Jude on Octob. 28, when he entred : and
if there were any other remarkable days in the Julian Calendar, they placed
the Saints upon them, as St. Barnabas on June 11, where Ovid seems to
place the feast of Vesta and Fortuna, and the goddess Matuta; and St. Philip
and James on the first of May, a day dedicated both to the Bona Dea, or
Magna Mater, and to the goddess Flora, and still celebrated with her rites.
All which shews that these days were fixed in the first Christian Calendars
by Mathematicians at pleasure, without any ground in tradition; and that the
Christians afterwards took up with what they found in the Calendars.
Neither was there any certain tradition about the years of Christ. For the
Christians who first began to enquire into these things, as Clemens
Alexandrinus, Origen, Tertullian, Julius Africanus, Lactantius, Jerome, St.
Austin, Sulpicius Severus, Prosper, and as many as place the death of Christ
in the 15th or 16th year of Tiberius, make Christ to have preached but one
year, or at most but two. At length Eusebius discovered four successive
Passovers in the Gospel of John, and thereupon set on foot an opinion that
he preacht three years and an half; and so died in the 19th year of Tiberius.
Others afterwards, finding the opinion that he died in the Equinox Mar. 25,
more consonant to the times of the Jewish Passover, in the 17th and 20th
years, have placed his death in one of those two years. Neither is there any
greater certainty in the opinions about the time of his birth. The first
Christians placed his baptism near the beginning of the 15th year of
Tiberius; and thence reckoning thirty years backwards, placed his birth in
the 43d Julian year, the 42d of Augustus and 28th of the Actiac victory. This
was the opinion which obtained in the first ages, till Dionysius Exiguus,

placing the baptism of Christ in the 16th year of Tiberius, and
misinterpreting the text of Luke, iii. 23. as if Jesus was only beginning to be
30 years old when he was baptized, invented the vulgar account, in which
his birth is placed two years later than before. As therefore relating to these
things there is no tradition worth considering; let us lay aside all and
examine what prejudices can be gathered from records of good account.
The fifteenth year of Tiberius began Aug. 28, An. J.P. 4727. So soon as the
winter was over, and the weather became warm enough, we may reckon
that John began to baptize; and that before next winter his fame went
abroad, and all the people came to his baptism, and Jesus among the rest.
Whence the first Passover after his baptism mentioned John ii. 13. was in
the 16th year of Tiberius. After this feast Jesus came into the land of Judea,
and staid there baptizing, whilst John was baptizing in Ænon, John iii. 22,
23. But when he heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into
Galilee, Mat. iii. 12. being afraid, because the Pharisees had heard that he
baptized more disciples than John, John iv. 1. and in his journey he passed
thro' Samaria four months before the harvest, John iv. 35. that is, about the
time of the winter Solstice. For their harvest was between Easter and
Whitsunday, and began about a month after the vernal Equinox. Say not ye,
saith he, there are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold I say
unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, for they are white already
to harvest; meaning, that the people in the fields were ready for the Gospel,
as his next words shew[1]. John therefore was imprisoned about November,
in the 17th year of Tiberius; and Christ thereupon went from Judea to Cana
of Galilee in December, and was received there of the Galileans, who had
seen all he did at Jerusalem at the Passover: and when a Nobleman of
Capernaum heard he was returned into Galilee, and went to him and
desired him to come and cure his son, he went not thither yet, but only said,
Go thy way, thy son liveth; and the Nobleman returned and found it so, and
believed, he and his house, John iv. This is the beginning of his miracles in
Galilee; and thus far John is full and distinct in relating the actions of his
first year, omitted by the other Evangelists. The rest of his history is from
this time related more fully by the other Evangelists than by John; for what
they relate he omits.
From this time therefore Jesus taught in the Synagogues of Galilee on the
sabbath-days, being glorified of all: and coming to his own city Nazareth,

and preaching in their Synagogue, they were offended, and thrust him out of
the city, and led him to the brow of the hill on which the city was built to
cast him headlong; but he passing thro' the midst of them, went his way, and
came and dwelt at Capernaum, Luke iv. And by this time we may reckon
the second Passover was either past or at hand.
All this time Matthew passeth over in few words, and here begins to relate
the preaching and miracles of Christ. When Jesus, saith he, had heard that
John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth,
he came and dwelt at Capernaum, and from that time began to preach and
say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, Matth. iv. 12. Afterwards
he called his disciples Peter, Andrew, James and John; and then went about
all Galilee, teaching in the Synagogues,—and healing all manner of
sickness:—and his fame went thro'out all Syria; and they brought unto him
all sick people,—and there followed him great multitudes of people from
Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from
beyond Jordan, Matth, iv. 18, 25. All this was done before the sermon in the
mount: and therefore we may certainly reckon that the second Passover was
past before the preaching of that sermon. The multitudes that followed him
from Jerusalem and Judea, shew that he had lately been there at the feast.
The sermon in the mount was made when great multitudes came to him
from all places, and followed him in the open fields; which is an argument
of the summer-season: and in this sermon he pointed at the lilies of the field
then in the flower before the eyes of his auditors. Consider, saith he, the
lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; and yet
Solomon in all his glory was not arayed like one of these. Wherefore if God
so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is and to morrow is cast into
the oven, &c. Matth. vi. 28. So therefore the grass of the field was now in
the flower, and by consequence the month of March with the Passover was
past.
Let us see therefore how the rest of the feasts follow in order in Matthew's
Gospel: for he was an eye-witness of what he relates, and so tells all things
in due order of time, which Mark and Luke do not.
Some time after the sermon in the mount, when the time came that he
should be received, that is, when the time of a feast came that he should be
received by the Jews, he set his face to go to Jerusalem: and as he went

with his disciples in the way, when the Samaritans in his passage thro'
Samaria had denied him lodgings, and a certain Scribe said unto him,
Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest, Jesus said unto him,
The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man
hath not where to lay his head, Matth. viii. 19. Luke ix. 51, 57. The Scribe
told Christ he would bear him company in his journey, and Christ replied
that he wanted a lodging. Now this feast I take to be the feast of
Tabernacles, because soon after I find Christ and his Apostles on the sea of
Tiberias in a storm so great, that the ship was covered with water and in
danger of sinking, till Christ rebuked the winds and the sea, Matth. viii. 23.
For this storm shews that winter was now come on.
After this Christ did many miracles, and went about all the cities and
villages of Galilee, teaching in their Synagogues, and preaching the gospel
of the kingdom, and healing every sickness, and every disease among the
people, Matth. ix. he then sent forth the twelve to do the like, Matth. x. and
at length when he had received a message from John, and answered it, he
said to the multitudes, From the days of John the Baptist until now the
kingdom of heaven suffereth violence; and upbraided the cities, Chorazin,
Bethsaida, and Capernaum, wherein most of his mighty works were done,
because they repented not, Matth. xi. Which several passages shew, that
from the imprisonment of John till now there had been a considerable
length of time: the winter was now past, and the next Passover was at hand;
for immediately after this, Matthew, in chap. xii. subjoins, that Jesus went
on the sabbath-day thro' the corn, and his disciples were an hungred, and
began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat,—rubbing them, saith Luke, in
their hands: the corn therefore was not only in the ear, but ripe; and
consequently the Passover, in which the first-fruits were always offered
before the harvest, was now come or past. Luke calls this sabbath
δευτεροπρωτον, the second prime sabbath, that is, the second of the two
great feasts of the Passover. As we call Easter day high Easter, and its
octave low Easter or Lowsunday: so Luke calls the feast on the seventh day
of the unlevened bread, the second of the two prime sabbaths.
In one of the sabbaths following he went into a Synagogue, and healed a
man with a withered hand, Matth. xii. 9. Luke vi. 6. And when the Pharisees
took counsel to destroy him, he withdrew himself from thence, and great
multitudes followed him; and he healed them all, and charged them that

they should not make him known, Matth. xii. 14. Afterwards being in a ship,
and the multitude standing on the shore, he spake to them three parables
together, taken from the seeds-men sowing the fields, Matth. xiii. by which
we may know that it was now seed-time, and by consequence that the feast
of Tabernacles was past. After this he went into his own country, and taught
them in their Synagogue, but did not many mighty works there because of
their unbelief. Then the twelve having been abroad a year, returned, and
told Jesus all that they had done: and at the same time Herod beheaded
John in prison, and his disciples came and told Jesus; and when Jesus heard
it, he took the twelve and departed thence privately by ship into a desert
place belonging to Bethsaida: and the people when they knew it, followed
him on foot out of the cities, the winter being now past; and he healed their
sick, and in the desert fed them to the number of five thousand men, besides
women and children, with only five loaves and two fishes, Matth. xiv. Luke
ix. at the doing of which miracle the Passover of the Jews was nigh, John
vi. 4. But Jesus went not up to this feast; but after these things walked in
Galilee, because the Jews at the Passover before had taken counsel to
destroy him, and still sought to kill him, John vii. i. Henceforward therefore
he is found first in the coast of Tyre and Sidon, then by the sea of Galilee,
afterwards in the coast of Cæsarea Philippi; and lastly at Capernaum,
Matth. xv. 21, 29. xvi. 13. xvii. 34.
Afterwards when the feast of Tabernacles was at hand, his brethren
upbraided him for walking secretly, and urged him to go up to the feast. But
he went not till they were gone, and then went up privately, John vii. 2. and
when the Jews sought to stone him, he escaped, John viii. 59. After this he
was at the feast of the Dedication in winter, John x. 22. and when they
sought again to take him, he fled beyond Jordan, John x. 39, 40. Matth. xix.
1. where he stayed till the death of Lazarus, and then came to Bethany near
Jerusalem, and raised him, John xi. 7, 18. whereupon the Jews took counsel
from that time to kill him: and therefore he walked no more openly among
the Jews, but went thence into a country near to the wilderness, into a city
called Ephraim; and there continued with his disciples till the last Passover,
in which the Jews put him to death, John xi. 53, 54.
Thus have we, in the Gospels of Matthew and John compared together, the
history of Christ's actions in continual order during five Passovers. John is
more distinct in the beginning and end; Matthew in the middle: what either

omits, the other supplies. The first Passover was between the baptism of
Christ and the imprisonment of John, John ii. 13. the second within four
months after the imprisonment of John, and Christ's beginning to preach in
Galilee, John iv. 35. and therefore it was either that feast to which Jesus
went up, when the Scribe desired to follow him, Matth. viii. 19. Luke ix. 51,
57. or the feast before it. The third was the next feast after it, when the corn
was eared and ripe, Matth, xii. 1. Luke vi. 1. The fourth was that which was
nigh at hand when Christ wrought the miracle of the five loaves, Matth. xiv.
15. John vi. 4, 5. and the fifth was that in which Christ suffered, Matth. xx.
17. John xii. 1.
Between the first and second Passover John and Christ baptized together,
till the imprisonment of John, which was four months before the second.
Then Christ began to preach, and call his disciples; and after he had
instructed them a year, lent them to preach in the cities of the Jews: at the
same time John hearing of the fame of Christ, sent to him to know who he
was. At the third, the chief Priests began to consult about the death of
Christ. A little before the fourth, the twelve after they had preached a year
in all the cities, returned to Christ; and at the same time Herod beheaded
John in prison, after he had been in prison two years and a quarter: and
thereupon Christ fled into the desart for fear of Herod. The fourth Christ
went not up to Jerusalem for fear of the Jews, who at the Passover before
had consulted his death, and because his time was not yet come.
Thenceforward therefore till the feast of Tabernacles he walked in Galilee,
and that secretly for fear of Herod: and after the feast of Tabernacles he
returned no more into Galilee, but sometimes was at Jerusalem, and
sometimes retired beyond Jordan, or to the city Ephraim by the wilderness,
till the Passover in which he was betrayed, apprehended, and crucified.
John therefore baptized two summers, and Christ preached three. The first
summer John preached to make himself known, in order to give testimony
to Christ. Then, after Christ came to his baptism and was made known to
him, he baptized another summer, to make Christ known by his testimony;
and Christ also baptized the same summer, to make himself the more
known: and by reason of John's testimony there came more to Christ's
baptism than to John's. The winter following John was imprisoned; and
now his course being at an end, Christ entered upon his proper office of
preaching in the cities. In the beginning of his preaching he completed the

number of the twelve Apostles, and instructed them all the first year in
order to send them abroad. Before the end of this year, his fame by his
preaching and miracles was so far spread abroad, that the Jews at the
Passover following consulted how to kill him. In the second year of his
preaching, it being no longer safe for him to converse openly in Judea, he
sent the twelve to preach in all their cities: and in the end of the year they
returned to him, and told him all they had done. All the last year the twelve
continued with him to be instructed more perfectly, in order to their
preaching to all nations after his death. And upon the news of John's death,
being afraid of Herod as well as of the Jews, he walked this year more
secretly than before; frequenting desarts, and spending the last half of the
year in Judea, without the dominions of Herod.
Thus have we in the Gospels of Matthew and John all things told in due
order, from the beginning of John's preaching to the death of Christ, and the
years distinguished from one another by such essential characters that they
cannot be mistaken. The second Passover is distinguished from the first, by
the interposition of John's imprisonment. The third is distinguished from the
second, by a double character: first, by the interposition of the feast to
which Christ went up, Mat. viii. 19. Luke ix. 57. and secondly, by the
distance of time from the beginning of Christ's preaching: for the second
was in the beginning of his preaching, and the third so long after, that
before it came Christ said, from the days of John the Baptist until now, &c.
and upbraided the cities of Galilee for their not repenting at his preaching,
and mighty works done in all that time. The fourth is distinguished from the
third, by the mission of the twelve from Christ to preach in the cities of
Judea in all the interval. The fifth is distinguished from all the former by
the twelve's being returned from preaching, and continuing with Christ
during all the interval, between the fourth and fifth, and by the passion and
other infallible characters.
Now since the first summer of John's baptizing fell in the fifteenth year of
the Emperor Tiberius, and by consequence the first of these five Passovers
in his sixteenth year; the last of them, in which Jesus suffered, will fall on
the twentieth year of the same Emperor; and by consequence in the
Consulship of Fabius and Vitellius, in the 79th Julian year, and year of
Christ 34, which was the sabbatical year of the Jews. And that it did so, I
further confirm by these arguments.

I take it for granted that the passion was on friday the 14th day of the month
Nisan, the great feast of the Passover on saturday the 15th day of Nisan, and
the resurrection on the day following. Now the 14th day of Nisan always
fell on the full moon next after the vernal Equinox; and the month began at
the new moon before, not at the true conjunction, but at the first appearance
of the new moon: for the Jews referred all the time of the silent moon, as
they phrased it, that is, of the moon's disappearing, to the old moon; and
because the first appearance might usually be about 18 hours after the true
conjunction, they therefore began their month from the sixth hour at
evening, that is, at sun set, next after the eighteenth hour from the
conjunction. And this rule they called ‫ יה‬Jah, designing by the letters ‫ י‬and
‫ ה‬the number 18.
I know that Epiphanius tells us, if some interpret his words rightly, that the
Jews used a vicious cycle, and thereby anticipated the legal new moons by
two days. But this surely he spake not as a witness, for he neither
understood Astronomy nor Rabbinical learning, but as arguing from his
erroneous hypothesis about the time of the passion. For the Jews did not
anticipate, but postpone their months: they thought it lawful to begin their
months a day later than the first appearance of the new moon, because the
new moon continued for more days than one; but not a day sooner, lest they
should celebrate the new moon before there was any. And the Jews still
keep a tradition in their books, that the Sanhedrim used diligently to define
the new moons by sight: sending witnesses into mountainous places, and
examining them about the moon's appearing, and translating the new moon
from the day they had agreed on to the day before, as often as witnesses
came from distant regions, who had seen it a day sooner than it was seen at
Jerusalem. Accordingly Josephus, one of the Jewish Priests who ministred
in the temple, tells us [2] that the Passover was kept on the 14th day of
Nisan, κατα σεληνην according to the moon, when the sun was in Aries.
This is confirmed also by two instances, recorded by him, which totally
overthrow the hypothesis of the Jews using a vicious cycle. For that year in
which Jerusalem was taken and destroyed, he saith, the Passover was on the
14th day of the month Xanticus, which according to Josephus is our April;
and that five years before, it fell on the 8th day of the same month. Which
two instances agree with the course of the moon.

Computing therefore the new moons of the first month according to the
course of the moon and the rule Jah, and thence counting 14 days, I find
that the 14th day of this month in the year of Christ 31, fell on tuesday
March 27; in the year 32, on sunday Apr. 13; in the year 33, on friday Apr.
3; in the year 34, on wednesday March 24, or rather, for avoiding the
Equinox which fell on the same day, and for having a fitter time for harvest,
on thursday Apr. 22. also in the year 35, on tuesday Apr. 12. and in the year
36, on saturday March 31.
But because the 15th and 21st days of Nisan, and a day or two of Pentecost,
and the 10th, 15th, and 22d of Tisri, were always sabbatical days or days of
rest, and it was inconvenient on two sabbaths together to be prohibited
burying their dead and making ready fresh meat, for in that hot region their
meat would be apt in two days to corrupt: to avoid these and such like
inconveniences, the Jews postponed their months a day, as often as the first
day of the month Tisri, or, which is all one, the third of the month Nisan,
was sunday, wednesday or friday: and this rule they called ‫ אדו‬Adu, by the
letters ‫ א‬, ‫ ד‬, ‫ ו‬signifying the numbers 1, 4, 6; that is, the 1st, 4th, and 6th
days of the week; which days we call sunday, wednesday and friday.
Postponing therefore by this rule the months found above; the 14th day of
the month Nisan will fall in the year of Christ 31, on wednesday March 28;
in the year 32, on monday Apr. 14; in the year 33, on friday Apr. 3; in the
year 34, on friday Apr. 23; in the year 35, on wednesday Apr. 13, and in the
year 36, on saturday March 31.
By this computation therefore the year 32 is absolutely excluded, because
the Passion cannot fall on friday without making it five days after the full
moon, or two days before it; whereas it ought to be upon the day of the full
moon, or the next day. For the same reason the years 31 and 35 are
excluded, because in them the Passion cannot fall on friday, without making
it three days after the full moon, or four days before it: errors so enormous,
that they would be very conspicuous in the heavens to every vulgar eye.
The year 36 is contended for by few or none, and both this and the year 35
may be thus excluded.
Tiberius in the beginning of his reign made Valerius Gratus President of
Judea; and after 11 years, substituted Pontius Pilate, who governed 10
years. Then Vitellius, newly made President of Syria, deprived him of his

honour, substituting Marcellus, and at length sent him to Rome: but, by
reason of delays, Tiberius died before Pilate got thither. In the mean time
Vitellius, after he had deposed Pilate, came to Jerusalem in the time of the
Passover, to visit that Province as well as others in the beginning of his
office; and in the place of Caiaphas, then High Priest, created Jonathas the
son of Ananus, or Annas as he is called in scripture. Afterwards, when
Vitellius was returned to Antioch, he received letters from Tiberius, to make
peace with Artabanus king of the Parthians. At the same time the Alans, by
the sollicitation of Tiberius, invaded the kingdom of Artabanus; and his
subjects also, by the procurement of Vitellius, soon after rebelled: for
Tiberius thought that Artabanus, thus pressed with difficulties, would more
readily accept the conditions of peace. Artabanus therefore straightway
gathering a greater army, opprest the rebels; and then meeting Vitellius at
Euphrates, made a league with the Romans. After this Tiberius commanded
Vitellius to make war upon Aretas King of Arabia. He therefore leading his
army against Aretas, went together with Herod to Jerusalem, to sacrifice at
the publick feast which was then to be celebrated. Where being received
honourably, he stayed three days, and in the mean while translated the high
Priesthood from Jonathas to his brother Theophilus: and the fourth day,
receiving letters of the death of Tiberius, made the people swear allegiance
to Caius the new Emperor; and recalling his army, sent them into quarters.
All this is related by Josephus Antiq. lib. 18. c. 6, 7. Now Tiberius reigned
22 years and 7 months, and died March 16, in the beginning of the year of
Christ 37; and the feast of the Passover fell on April 20 following, that is,
35 days after the death of Tiberius: so that there were about 36 or 38 days,
for the news of his death to come from Rome to Vitellius at Jerusalem;
which being a convenient time for that message, confirms that the feast
which Vitellius and Herod now went up to was the Passover. For had it been
the Pentecost, as is usually supposed, Vitellius would have continued three
months ignorant of the Emperor's death: which is not to be supposed.
However, the things done between this feast and the Passover which
Vitellius was at before, namely, the stirring up a sedition in Parthia, the
quieting that sedition, the making a league after that with the Parthians, the
sending news of that league to Rome, the receiving new orders from thence
to go against the Arabians, and the putting those orders in execution;
required much more time than the fifty days between the Passover and
Pentecost of the same year: and therefore the Passover which Vitellius first

went up to, was in the year before. Therefore Pilate was deposed before the
Passover A.C. 36, and by consequence the passion of Christ was before that
Passover: for he suffered not under Vitellius, nor under Vitellius and Pilate
together, but under Pilate alone.
Now it is observable that the high Priesthood was at this time become an
annual office, and the Passover was the time of making a new high Priest.
For Gratus the predecessor of Pilate, saith Josephus, made Ismael high
Priest after Ananus; and a while after, suppose a year, deposed him, and
substituted Eleazar, and a year after Simon, and after another year
Caiaphas; and then gave way to Pilate. So Vitellius at one Passover made
Jonathas successor to Caiaphas, and at the next Theophilus to Jonathas.
Hence Luke tells us, that in the 15th year of Tiberius, Annas and Caiaphas
were high Priests, that is, Annas till the Passover, and Caiaphas afterwards.
Accordingly John speaks of the high Priesthood as an annual office: for he
tells us again and again, in the last year of Christ's preaching, that Caiaphas
was high Priest for that year, John xi. 49, 51. xviii. 13. And the next year
Luke tells you, that Annas was high Priest, Acts iv. 6. Theophilus was
therefore made high Priest in the first year of Caius, Jonathas in the 22d
year of Tiberius, and Caiaphas in the 21st year of the same Emperor: and
therefore, allotting a year to each, the Passion, when Annas succeeded
Caiaphas, could not be later than the 20th year of Tiberius, A.C. 34.
Thus there remain only the years 33 and 34 to be considered; and the year
33 I exclude by this argument. In the Passover two years before the Passion,
when Christ went thro' the corn, and his disciples pluckt the ears, and
rubbed them with their hands to eat; this ripeness of the corn shews that the
Passover then fell late: and so did the Passover A.C. 32, April 14, but the
Passover A.C. 31, March 28th, fell very early. It was not therefore two years
after the year 31, but two years after 32 that Christ suffered.
Thus all the characters of the Passion agree to the year 34; and that is the
only year to which they all agree.

Notes to Chap. XI.
[1] I observe, that Christ and his forerunner John in their parabolical discourses were wont
to allude to things present. The old Prophets, when they would describe things
emphatically, did not only draw parables from things which offered themselves, as from the

rent of a garment, 1 Sam. xv. from the sabbatic year, Isa. xxxvii. from the vessels of a
Potter, Jer. xviii, &c. but also when such fit objects were wanting, they supplied them by
their own actions, as by rending a garment, 1 Kings xi. by shooting, 2 Kings xiii. by
making bare their body, Isa. xx. by imposing significant names to their sons, Isa. viii. Hos.
i. by hiding a girdle in the bank of Euphrates, Jer. xiii. by breaking a potter's vessel, Jer.
xix. by putting on fetters and yokes, Jer. xxvii. by binding a book to a stone, and casting
them both into Euphrates, Jer. li. by besieging a painted city, Ezek. iv. by dividing hair into
three parts, Ezek. v. by making a chain, Ezek. vii. by carrying out houshold stuff like a
captive and trembling, Ezek. xii, &c. By such kind of types the Prophets loved to speak.
And Christ being endued with a nobler prophetic spirit than the rest, excelled also in this
kind of speaking, yet so as not to speak by his own actions, that was less grave and decent,
but to turn into parables such things as offered themselves. On occasion of the harvest
approaching, he admonishes his disciples once and again of the spiritual harvest, John iv.
35. Matth. ix. 37. Seeing the lilies of the field, he admonishes his disciples about gay
clothing, Matth. vi. 28. In allusion to the present season of fruits, he admonishes his
disciples about knowing men by their fruits, Matth. vii. 16. In the time of the Passover,
when trees put forth leaves, he bids his disciples learn a parable from the fig tree: when its
branch is yet tender and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh, &c. Matth. xxiv.
32. Luke xxi. 29. The same day, alluding both to the season of the year and to his passion,
which was to be two days after, he formed a parable of the time of fruits approaching, and
the murdering of the heir, Matth. xxi. 33. Alluding at the same time, both to the money-
changers whom he had newly driven out of the Temple, and to his passion at hand; he made
a parable of a Noble-man going into a far country to receive a kingdom and return, and
delivering his goods to his servants, and at his return condemning the slothful servant
because he put not his money to the exchangers, Matth. xxv. 14. Luke xix. 12. Being near
the Temple where sheep were kept in folds to be sold for the sacrifices, he spake many
things parabolically of sheep, of the shepherd, and of the door of the sheepfold; and
discovers that he alluded to the sheepfolds which were to be hired in the market-place, by
speaking of such folds as a thief could not enter by the door, nor the shepherd himself open,
but a porter opened to the shepherd, John x. 1, 3. Being in the mount of Olives, Matth.
xxxvi. 30. John xiv. 31. a place so fertile that it could not want vines, he spake many things
mystically of the Husbandman, and of the vine and its branches, John xv. Meeting a blind
man, he admonished of spiritual blindness, John ix. 39. At the sight of little children, he
described once and again the innocence of the elect, Matth. xviii. 2. xix. 13. Knowing that
Lazarus was dead and should be raised again, he discoursed of the resurrection and life
eternal, John xi. 25, 26. Hearing of the slaughter of some whom Pilate had slain, he
admonished of eternal death, Luke xiii. 1. To his fishermen he spake of fishers of men,
Matth. iv. 10. and composed another parable about fishes. Matth. xiii. 47. Being by the
Temple, he spake of the Temple of his body, John ii. 19. At supper he spake a parable about
the mystical supper to come in the kingdom of heaven, Luke xiv. On occasion of temporal
food, he admonished his disciples of spiritual food, and of eating his flesh and drinking his
blood mystically, John vi. 27, 53. When his disciples wanted bread, he bad them beware of
the leven of the Pharisees, Matth. xvi. 6. Being desired to eat, he answered that he had
other meat, John iv. 31. In the great day of the feast of Tabernacles, when the Jews, as their
custom was, brought a great quantity of waters from the river Shiloah into the Temple,
Christ stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink. He that
believeth in me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water, John vii. 37. The next day,
in allusion to the servants who by reason of the sabbatical year were newly set free, he said,
If ye continue in my word, the truth shall make you free. Which the Jews understanding
literally with respect to the present manumission of servants, answered, We be Abraham's

seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayeth thou, ye shall be made free? John
viii. They assert their freedom by a double argument: first, because they were the seed of
Abraham, and therefore newly made free, had they been ever in bondage; and then,
because they never were in bondage. In the last Passover, when Herod led his army thro'
Judea against Aretas King of Arabia, because Aretas was aggressor and the stronger in
military forces, as appeared by the event; Christ alluding to that state of things, composed
the parable of a weaker King leading his army against a stronger who made war upon him,
Luke xiv. 31. And I doubt not but divers other parables were formed upon other occasions,
the history of which we have not.
[2] Joseph. Antiq. lib. 3. c. 10.

CHAP. XII.

Of the Prophecy of the Scripture of Truth.
The kingdoms represented by the second and third Beasts, or the Bear and
Leopard, are again described by Daniel in his last Prophecy written in the
third year of Cyrus over Babylon, the year in which he conquered Persia.
For this Prophecy is a commentary upon the Vision of the Ram and He-
Goat.

Behold, saith [1] he, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia, [Cyrus,
Cambyses, and Darius Hystaspes] and the fourth [Xerxes] shall be far
richer than they all: and by his strength thro' his riches he shall stir up all
against the realm of Grecia. And a mighty king [Alexander the great] shall
stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.
And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be
divided towards the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity [but after
their death,] nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom
shall be pluckt up, even for others besides those. Alexander the great having
conquered all the Persian Empire, and some part of India, died at Babylon a
month before the summer Solstice, in the year of Nabonassar 425: and his
captains gave the monarchy to his bastard brother Philip Aridæus, a man
disturbed in his understanding; and made Perdiccas administrator of the
kingdom. Perdiccas with their consent made Meleager commander of the
army, Seleucus master of the horse, Craterus treasurer of the kingdom,
Antipater governor of Macedon and Greece, Ptolemy governor of Egypt;

Antigonus governor of Pamphylia, Lycia, Lycaonia, and Phrygia major;
Lysimachus governor of Thrace, and other captains governors of other
Provinces; as many as had been so before in the days of Alexander the
great. The Babylonians began now to count by a new Æra, which they
called the Æra of Philip, using the years of Nabonassar, and reckoning the
425th year of Nabonassar to be the first year of Philip. Roxana the wife of
Alexander being left big with child, and about three or four months after
brought to bed of a son, they called him Alexander, saluted him King, and
joined him with Philip, whom they had before placed in the throne. Philip
reigned three years under the administratorship of Perdiccas, two years
more under the administratorship of Antipater, and above a year more under
that of Polyperchon; in all six years and four months; and then was slain
with his Queen Eurydice in September by the command of Olympias the
mother of Alexander the great. The Greeks being disgusted at the cruelties
of Olympias, revolted to Cassander the son and successor of Antipater.
Cassander affecting the dominion of Greece, slew Olympias; and soon after
shut up the young king Alexander, with his mother Roxana, in the castle of
Amphipolis, under the charge of Glaucias, An. Nabonass. 432. The next
year Ptolemy, Cassander and Lysimachus, by means of Seleucus, form'd a
league against Antigonus; and after certain wars made peace with him, An.
Nabonass. 438, upon these conditions: that Cassander should command the
forces of Europe till Alexander the son of Roxana came to age; and that
Lysimachus should govern Thrace, Ptolemy Egypt and Lybia, and Antigonus
all Asia. Seleucus had possest himself of Mesopotamia, Babylonia, Sustana
and Media, the year before. About three years after Alexander's death he
was made governor of Babylon by Antipater; then was expelled by
Antigonus; but now he recovered and enlarged his government over a great
part of the East: which gave occasion to a new Æra, called Æra
Seleucidarum. Not long after the peace made with Antigonus, Diodorus
saith the same Olympic year; Cassander, seeing that Alexander the son of
Roxana grew up, and that it was discoursed thro'out Macedonia that it was
fit he should be set at liberty, and take upon him the government of his
father's kingdom, commanded Glaucias the governor of the castle to kill
Roxana and the young king Alexander her son, and conceal their deaths.
Then Polyperchon set up Hercules, the son of Alexander the great by
Barsinè, to be king; and soon after, at the sollicitation of Cassander, caused
him to be slain. Soon after that, upon a great victory at sea got by Demetrius

the son of Antigonus over Ptolemy, Antigonus took upon himself the title of
king, and gave the same title to his son. This was An. Nabonass. 441. After
his example, Seleucus, Cassander, Lysimachus and Ptolemy, took upon
themselves the title and dignity of kings, having abstained from this honour
while there remained any of Alexander's race to inherit the crown. Thus the
monarchy of the Greeks for want of an heir was broken into several
kingdoms; four of which, seated to the four winds of heaven, were very
eminent. For Ptolemy reigned over Egypt, Lybia and Ethiopia; Antigonus
over Syria and the lesser Asia; Lysimachus over Thrace; and Cassander
over Macedon, Greece and Epirus, as above.
Seleucus at this time reigned over the nations which were beyond
Euphrates, and belonged to the bodies of the two first Beasts; but after six
years he conquered Antigonus, and thereby became possest of one of the
four kingdoms. For Cassander being afraid of the power of Antigonus,
combined with Lysimachus, Ptolemy and Seleucus, against him: and while
Lysimachus invaded the parts of Asia next the Hellespont, Ptolemy subdued
Phœnicia and Cœlosyria, with the sea-coasts of Asia.
Seleucus came down with a powerful army into Cappadocia, and joining
the confederate forces, fought Antigonus in Phrygia and flew him, and
seized his kingdom, An. Nabonass. 447. After which Seleucus built Antioch,
Seleucia, Laodicea, Apamea, Berrhæa, Edessa, and other cities in Syria and
Asia; and in them granted the Jews equal privileges with the Greeks.
Demetrius the son of Antigonus retained but a small part of his father's
dominions, and at length lost Cyprus to Ptolemy; but afterwards killing
Alexander, the son and successor of Cassander king of Macedon, he seized
his kingdom, An. Nabonass. 454. Sometime after, preparing a very great
army to recover his father's dominions in Asia; Seleucus, Ptolemy,
Lysimachus and Pyrrhus king of Epirus, combined against him; and
Pyrrhus invading Macedon, corrupted the army of Demetrius, put him to
flight, seized his kingdom, and shared it with Lysimachus. After seven
months, Lysimachus beating Pyrrhus, took Macedon from him, and held it
five years and a half, uniting the kingdoms of Macedon and Thrace.
Lysimachus in his wars with Antigonus and Demetrius, had taken from them
Caria, Lydia, and Phrygia; and had a treasury in Pergamus, a castle on the
top of a conical hill in Phrygia, by the river Caicus, the custody of which he

had committed to one Philetærus, who was at first faithful to him, but in the
last year of his reign revolted. For Lysimachus, having at the instigation of
his wife Arsinoe, slain first his own son Agathocles, and then several that
lamented him; the wife of Agathocles fled with her children and brothers,
and some others of their friends, and sollicited Seleucus to make war upon
Lysimachus; whereupon Philetærus also, who grieved at the death of
Agathocles, and was accused thereof by Arsinoe, took up arms, and sided
with Seleucus. On this occasion Seleucus and Lysimachus met and fought in
Phrygia; and Lysimachus being slain in the battel, lost his kingdom to
Seleucus, An. Nabonass. 465. Thus the Empire of the Greeks, which at first
brake into four kingdoms, became now reduced into two notable ones,
henceforward called by Daniel the kings of the South and North. For
Ptolemy now reigned over Egypt, Lybia, Ethiopia, Arabia, Phœnicia,
Cœlosyria, and Cyprus; and Seleucus, having united three of the four
kingdoms, had a dominion scarce inferior to that of the Persian Empire,
conquered by Alexander the great. All which is thus represented by Daniel:
[2] And the king of the South [Ptolemy] shall be strong, and one of his

Princes [Seleucus, one of Alexander's Princes] shall be strong above him,
and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.
After Seleucus had reigned seven months over Macedon, Greece, Thrace,
Asia, Syria, Babylonia, Media, and all the East as far as India; Ptolemy
Ceraunus, the younger brother of Ptolemy Philadelphus king of Egypt, slew
him treacherously, and seized his dominions in Europe: while Antiochus
Soter, the son of Seleucus, succeeded his father in Asia, Syria, and most of
the East; and after nineteen or twenty years was succeeded by his son
Antiochus Theos; who having a lasting war with Ptolemy Philadelphus, at
length composed the same by marrying Berenice the daughter of
Philadelphus: but after a reign of fifteen years, his first wife Laodice
poisoned him, and set her son Seleucus Callinicus upon the throne.
Callinicus in the beginning of his reign, by the impulse of his mother
Laodice, besieged Berenice in Daphne near Antioch, and slew her with her
young son and many of her women. Whereupon Ptolemy Euergetes, the son
and successor of Philadelphus, made war upon Callinicus; took from him
Phœnicia, Syria, Cilicia, Mesopotamia, Babylonia, Sustana, and some other
regions; and carried back into Egypt 40000 talents of silver, and 2500
images of the Gods, amongst which were the Gods of Egypt carried away

by Cambyses. Antiochus Hierax at first assisted his brother Callinicus, but
afterwards contended with him for Asia. In the mean time Eumenes
governor of Pergamus beat Antiochus, and took from them both all Asia
westward of mount Taurus. This was in the fifth year of Callinicus, who
after an inglorious reign of 20 years was succeeded by his son Seleucus
Ceraunus; and Euergetes after four years more, An. Nabonass. 527, was
succeeded by his son Ptolemy Philopator. All which is thus signified by
Daniel:[3] And in the end of years they [the kings of the South and North]
shall join themselves together: for the king's daughter of the South
[Berenice] shall come to the king of the North to make an agreement, but
she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall she stand, nor her
seed, but she shall be delivered up, and he [Callinicus] that brought her,
and he whom she brought forth, and they that strengthned her in [those]
times, [or defended her in the siege of Daphne.] But out of a branch of her
roots shall one stand up in his seat [her brother Euergetes] who shall come
with an army, and shall enter into the fortress [or fenced cities] of the king
of the North, and shall act against them and prevail: and shall carry
captives into Egypt, their Gods with their Princes and precious vessels of
silver and gold; and he shall continue some years after the king of the
North.
Seleucus Ceraunus, inheriting the remains of his father's kingdom, and
thinking to recover the rest, raised a great army against the governor of
Pergamus, now King thereof, but died in the third year of his reign. His
brother and successor, Antiochus Magnus, carrying on the war, took from
the King of Pergamus almost all the lesser Asia, recovering also the
Provinces of Media, Persia and Babylonia, from the governors who had
revolted: and in the fifth year of his reign invading Cœlosyria, he with little
opposition possest himself of a good part thereof; and the next year
returning to invade the rest of Cœlosyria and Phœnicia, beat the army of
Ptolemy Philopator near Berytus; he then invaded Palestine and the
neighbouring parts of Arabia, and the third year returned with an army of
78000: but Ptolemy coming out of Egypt with an army of 75000, fought and
routed him at Raphia near Gaza, between Palestine and Egypt; and
recovered all Phœnicia and Cœlosyria, Ann. Nabonass. 532. Being puffed
up with this victory, and living in all manner of luxury, the Egyptians
revolted, and had wars with him, but were overcome; and in the broils sixty

thousand Egyptian Jews were slain. All which is thus described by Daniel:
[4] But his sons [Seleucus Ceraunus, and Antiochus Magnus, the sons of

Callinicus] shall be stirred up, and shall gather a great army; and he
[Antiochus Magnus] shall come effectually and overflow, and pass thro' and
return, and [again the next year] be stirred up [marching even] to his
fortress, [the frontier towns of Egypt;] and the King of the South shall be
moved with choler, and come forth [the third year] and fight with him, even
with the King of the North; and he [the King of the North] shall lead forth a
great multitude, but the multitude shall be given into his hand. And the
multitude being taken away, his heart shall be lifted up, and he shall cast
down many ten thousands; but he shall not be strengthned by it: for the king
of the North shall return, &c.
About twelve years after the battle between Philopator and Antiochus,
Philopator died; and left his kingdom to his young son Ptolemy Epiphanes,
a child of five years old. Thereupon Antiochus Magnus confederated with
Philip king of Macedon, that they should each invade the dominions of
Epiphanes which lay next to them. Hence arose a various war between
Antiochus and Epiphanes, each of them seizing Phœnicia and Cœlosyria by
turns; whereby those countries were much afflicted by both parties. First
Antiochus seized them; then one Scopas being sent with the army of Egypt,
recovered them from Antiochus: the next year, An. Nabonass. 550,
Antiochus fought and routed Scopas near the fountains of Jordan, besieged
him in Sidon, took the city, and recovered Syria and Phœnicia from Egypt,
the Jews coming over to him voluntarily. But about three years after,
preparing for a war against the Romans, he came to Raphia on the borders
of Egypt; made peace with Epiphanes, and gave him his daughter
Cleopatra: next autumn he passed the Hellespont to invade the cities of
Greece under the Roman protection, and took some of them; but was beaten
by the Romans the summer following, and forced to return back with his
army into Asia. Before the end of the year the fleet of Antiochus was beaten
by the fleet of the Romans near Phocæa: and at the same time Epiphanes
and Cleopatra sent an embassy to Rome to congratulate the Romans on
their success against their father Antiochus, and to exhort them to prosecute
the war against him into Asia. The Romans beat Antiochus again at sea near
Ephesus, past their army over the Hellespont, and obtain'd a great victory
over him by land, took from him all Asia westward of mount Taurus, gave it

to the King of Pergamus who assisted them in the war; and imposed a large
tribute upon Antiochus. Thus the King of Pergamus, by the power of the
Romans, recovered what Antiochus had taken from him; and Antiochus
retiring into the remainder of his kingdom, was slain two years after by the
Persians, as he was robbing the Temple of Jupiter Belus in Elymais, to raise
money for the Romans. All which is thus described by Daniel. [5] For the
King of the North [Antiochus] shall return, and shall set forth a multitude
greater than the former; and shall certainly come, after certain years, with
a great army and with much riches. And in those times there shall many
stand up against the King of the South, [particularly the Macedonians;] also
the robbers of thy people [the Samaritans, &c.] shall exalt themselves to
establish the vision, but they shall fall. So the King of the North shall come,
and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities; and the arms of the
South shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there he
any strength to withstand. But he that cometh against him shall do
according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall
stand in the glorious land, which shall fail in his hand. He shall also set his
face to go with the strength [or army] of all his kingdom, and make an
agreement with him [at Raphia;] and he shall give him the daughter of
women corrupting her; but she shall not stand his side, neither be for him.
After this he shall turn his face unto the Isles, and shall take many: but a
Prince for his own behalf [the Romans] shall cause the reproach offered by
him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.
Then he shall turn his face towards the fort of his own land: but he shall
stumble and fall, and not be found.
Seleucus Philopator succeeded his father Antiochus, Anno Nabonass. 561,
and reigned twelve years, but did nothing memorable, being sluggish, and
intent upon raising money for the Romans to whom he was tributary. He
was slain by Heliodorus, whom he had sent to rob the Temple of Jerusalem.
Daniel thus describes his reign. [6] Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser
of taxes in the glory of the kingdom, but within few days be shall be
destroyed, neither in anger nor in battle.
A little before the death of Philopator, his son Demetrius was sent hostage
to Rome, in the place of Antiochus Epiphanes, the brother of Philopator;
and Antiochus was at Athens in his way home from Rome, when Philopator
died: whereupon Heliodorus the treasurer of the kingdom, stept into the

throne. But Antiochus so managed his affairs, that the Romans kept
Demetrius at Rome; and their ally the King of Pergamus expelled
Heliodorus, and placed Antiochus in the throne, while Demetrius the right
heir remained an hostage at Rome. Antiochus being thus made King by the
friendship of the King of Pergamus reigned powerfully over Syria and the
neighbouring nations: but carried himself much below his dignity, stealing
privately out of his palace, rambling up and down the city in disguise with
one or two of his companions; conversing and drinking with people of the
lowest rank, foreigners and strangers; frequenting the meetings of dissolute
persons to feast and revel; clothing himself like the Roman candidates and
officers, acting their parts like a mimick, and in publick festivals jesting and
dancing with servants and light people, exposing himself by all manner of
ridiculous gestures. This conduct made some take him for a madman, and
call him Antiochus Επιμενης. In the first year of his reign he deposed Onias
the high-Priest, and sold the high-Priesthood to Jason the younger brother
of Onias: for Jason had promised to give him 440 talents of silver for that
office, and 15 more for a licence to erect a place of exercise for the training
up of youth in the fashions of the heathen; which licence was granted by the
King, and put in execution by Jason. Then the King sending one Apollonius
into Egypt to the coronation of Ptolemy Philometor, the young son of
Philometor and Cleopatra, and knowing Philometor not to be well affected
to his affairs in Phœnicia, provided for his own safety in those parts; and for
that end came to Joppa and Jerusalem, where he was honourably received;
from thence he went in like manner with his little army to the cities of
Phœnicia, to establish himself against Egypt, by courting the people, and
distributing extraordinary favours amongst them. All which is thus
represented by Daniel. [7] And in his [Philometor's] estate shall stand up a
vile person, to whom they [the Syrians who set up Heliodorus] shall not
give the honour of the kingdom. Yet he shall come in peaceably, and obtain
the kingdom by flatteries [made principally to the King of Pergamus;] and
the arms [which in favour of Heliodorus oppose him] shall be overflowed
with a food from before him, and be broken; yea also [Onias the high-
Priest] the Prince of the covenant. And after the league made with him, [the
King of Egypt, by sending Apollonius to his coronation] he shall work
deceitfully [against the King of Egypt,] for he shall come up and shall
become strong [in Phœnicia ] with a small people. And he shall enter into
the quiet and plentiful cities of the Province [of Phœnicia;] and [to

ingratiate himself with the Jews of Phœnicia and Egypt, and with their
friends] he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers
fathers: he shall scatter among them the prey and the spoil, and the riches
[exacted from other places;] and shall forecast his devices against the
strong holds [of Egypt] even for a time.
These things were done in the first year of his reign, An. Nabonass. 573.
And thenceforward he forecast his devices against the strong holds of
Egypt, until the sixth year. For three years after, that is in the fourth year of
his reign, Menelaus bought the high-Priesthood from Jason, but not paying
the price was sent for by the King; and the King, before he could hear the
cause, went into Cilicia to appease a sedition there, and left Andronicus his
deputy at Antioch; in the mean time the brother of Menelaus, to make up the
money, conveyed several vessels out of the Temple, selling some of them at
Tyre, and sending others to Andronicus. When Menelaus was reproved for
this by Onias, he caused Onias to be slain by Andronicus: for which fact the
King at his return from Cilicia caused Andronicus to be put to death. Then
Antiochus prepared his second expedition against Egypt, which he
performed in the sixth year of his reign, An. Nabonass. 578: for upon the
death of Cleopatra, the governors of her son the young King of Egypt
claimed Phœnicia and Cœlosyria from him as her dowry; and to recover
those countries raised a great army. Antiochus considering that his father
had not quitted the possession of those countries[8], denied they were her
dowry; and with another great army met and fought the Egyptians on the
borders of Egypt, between Pelusium and the mountain Casius. He there beat
them, and might have destroyed their whole army, but that he rode up and
down, commanding his soldiers not to kill them, but to take them alive: by
which humanity he gained Pelusium, and soon after all Egypt; entring it
with a vast multitude of foot and chariots, elephants and horsemen, and a
great navy. Then seizing the cities of Egypt as a friend, he marched to
Memphis, laid the whole blame of the war upon Eulæus the King's
governor, entred into outward friendship with the young King, and took
upon him to order the affairs of the kingdom. While Aniochus was thus
employ'd, a report being spread in Phœnicia that he was dead, Jason to
recover the high-Priesthood assaulted Jerusalem with above a thousand
men, and took the city: hereupon the King thinking Judea had revolted,
came out of Egypt in a furious manner, re-took the city, slew forty thousand

of the people, made as many prisoners, and sold them to raise money; went
into the Temple, spoiled it of its treasures, ornaments, utensils, and vessels
of gold and silver, amounting to 1800 talents; and carried all away to
Antioch. This was done in the year of Nabonassar 578, and is thus
described by Daniel. [9] And he shall stir up his power, and his courage
against the King of the South with a great army; and the King of the South
shall be stirrd up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall
not stand: for they, even Antiochus and his friends, shall forecast devices
against him, as is represented above; yea, they that feed of the portion of his
meat, shall betray and destroy him, and his army shall be overthrown, and
many shall fall down slain. And both these Kings hearts shall be to do
mischief; and they, being now made friends, shall speak lyes at one table,
against the Jews and against the holy covenant; but it shall not prosper: for
yet the end, in which the setting up of the abomination of desolation is to
prosper, shall be at the time appointed. Then shall he return into his land
with great riches, and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he
shall act, against it by spoiling the Temple, and return into his own land.
The Egyptians of Alexandria seeing Philometor first educated in luxury by
the Eunuch Eulæus, and now in the hands of Antiochus, gave the kingdom
to Euergetes, the younger brother of Philometor. Whereupon Antiochus
pretending to restore Philometor, made war upon Euergetes; beat him at
sea, and besieged him and his sister Cleopatra in Alexandria: while the
besieged Princes sent to Rome to implore the assistance of the Senate.
Antiochus finding himself unable to take the city that year, returned into
Syria, leaving Philometor at Memphis to govern Egypt in his absence. But
Philometor made friendship with his brother that winter; and Antiochus,
returning the next spring An. Nabonass. 580, to besiege both the brothers in
Alexandria, was met in the way by the Roman Ambassadors, Popilius
Læna, C. Decimius, and C. Hostilius: he offered them his hand to kiss, but
Popilius delivering to him the tables wherein the message of the Senate was
written, bad him read those first. When he had read them, he replied he
would consider with his friends what was fit to be done; but Popilius
drawing a circle about him, bad him answer before he went out of it:
Antiochus, astonished at this blunt and unusual imperiousness, made answer
he would do what the Romans demanded; and then Popilius gave the King
his hand to kiss, and he returned out of Egypt. The same year, An.

Nabonass. 580, his captains by his order spoiled and slaughtered the Jews,
profaned the Temple, set up the worship of the heathen Gods in all Judea,
and began to persecute and make war upon those who would not worship
them: which actions are thus described by Daniel. [10] At the time appointed
he shall come again towards the South, but the latter shall not be as the
former. For the ships of Chittim shall come, with an embassy from Rome,
against him. Therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have
indignation against the holy covenant. So shall he do; he shall even return,
and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.
In the same year that Antiochus by the command of the Romans retired out
of Egypt, and set up the worship of the Greeks in Judea; the Romans
conquered the kingdom of Macedon, the fundamental kingdom of the
Empire of the Greeks, and reduced it into a Roman Province; and thereby
began to put an end to the reign of Daniel's third Beast. This is thus exprest
by Daniel. And after him Arms, that is the Romans, shall stand up. As ‫ממלך‬
signifies after the King, Dan. xi. 8; so ‫ ממנו‬may signify after him. Arms are
every where in this Prophecy of Daniel put for the military power of a
kingdom: and they stand up when they conquer and grow powerful.
Hitherto Daniel described the actions of the Kings of the North and South;
but upon the conquest of Macedon by the Romans, he left off describing the
actions of the Greeks, and began to describe those of the Romans in Greece.
They conquered Macedon, Illyricum and Epirus, in the year of Nabonassar
580. 35 years after, by the last will and testament of Attalus the last King of
Pergamus, they inherited that rich and flourishing kingdom, that is, all Asia
westward of mount Taurus; 69 years after they conquered the kingdom of
Syria, and reduced it into a Province, and 34 years after they did the like to
Egypt. By all these steps the Roman Arms stood up over the Greeks: and
after 95 years more, by making war upon the Jews, they polluted the
sanctuary of strength, and took away the daily sacrifice, and then placed
the abomination of desolation. For this abomination was placed after the
days of Christ, Math. xxiv. 15. In the 16th year of the Emperor Adrian, A.C.
132, they placed this abomination by building a Temple to Jupiter
Capitolinus, where the Temple of God in Jerusalem had stood. Thereupon
the Jews under the conduct of Barchochab rose up in arms against the
Romans, and in the war had 50 cities demolished, 985 of their best towns
destroyed, and 580000 men slain by the sword; and in the end of the war,

A.C. 136, were banished Judea upon pain of death, and thenceforward the
land remained desolate of its old inhabitants.
In the beginning of the Jewish war in Nero's reign, the Apostles fled out of
Judea with their flocks; some beyond Jordan to Pella and other places,
some into Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, Asia minor, and elsewhere. Peter and
John came into Asia, and Peter went thence by Corinth to Rome; but John
staying in Asia, was banished by the Romans into Patmos, as the head of a
party of the Jews, whose nation was in war with the Romans. By this
dispersion of the Christian Jews, the Christian religion, which was already
propagated westward as far as Rome, spred fast into all the Roman Empire,
and suffered many persecutions under it till the days of Constantine the
great and his sons: all which is thus described by Daniel. [11] And such as
do wickedly against the covenant, shall he, who places the abomination,
cause to dissemble, and worship the heathen Gods; but the people among
them who do know their God, shall be strong and act. And they that
understand among the people, shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the
sword, and by flame, and by captivity, and by spoil many days. Now when
they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help, viz. in the reign of
Constantine the great; and at that time by reason of their prosperity, many
shall come over to them from among the heathen, and cleave to them with
dissimulation. But of those of understanding there shall still fall to try God's
people by them and to purge them from the dissemblers, and to make them
white even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
Hitherto the Roman Empire continued entire; and under this dominion, the
little horn of the He-Goat continued mighty, but not by his own power. But
now, by the building of Constantinople, and endowing it with a Senate and
other like privileges with Rome; and by the division of the Roman Empire
into the two Empires of the Greeks and Latins, headed by those two cities; a
new scene of things commences, in which which [12] a King, the Empire of
the Greeks, doth according to his will, and, by setting his own laws above
the laws of God, exalts and magnifies himself above every God, and speaks
marvellous things against the God of Gods, and shall prosper till the
indignation be accomplished.—Neither shall he regard the God of his
fathers, nor the lawful desire of women in matrimony, nor any God, but
shall magnify himself above all. And in his seat he shall honour
Mahuzzims, that is, strong guardians, the souls of the dead; even with a God

whom his fathers knew not shall he honour them, in their Temples, with
gold and silver, and with precious stones and valuable things. All which
relates to the overspreading of the Greek Empire with Monks and Nuns,
who placed holiness in abstinence from marriage; and to the invocation of
saints and veneration of their reliques, and such like superstitions, which
these men introduced in the fourth and fifth centuries. [13] And at the time of
the end the King of the South, or the Empire of the Saracens, shall push at
him; and the King of the North, or Empire of the Turks, shall come against
him like a whirlwind, with chariots and with horsemen, and with many
ships; and be shall enter into the countries of the Greeks, and shall
overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and
many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape out of his hand,
even Edom and Moab, and the chief of the children Ammon: that is, those
to whom his Caravans pay tribute. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon
the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape; but he shall have
power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things
of Egypt; and the Lybians and Ethiopians shall be at his steps. All these
nations compose the Empire of the Turks, and therefore this Empire is here
to be understood by the King of the North. They compose also the body of
the He-Goat; and therefore the Goat still reigns in his last horn, but not by
his own power.

Notes to Chap. XII.

[1] Chap. xi. 2, 3, 4.
[2] Chap. xi. 5.
[3] Chap. xi. 6, 7, 8.
[4] Chap. xi. 10, &c.
[5] Chap. xi. 13-19.
[6] Chap. xi. 20.
[7] Chap. xi. 21, &c.
[8] 2 Maccab. iii. 5, 8. & iv. 4.
[9] Chap. xi. 25, &c.
[10] Chap. xi. 29, 30.
[11] Chap. xi. 32, &c.
[12] Chap. xi. 36, &c.
[13] Chap. xi. 40, &c.

CHAP. XIII.

Of the King who did according to his will, and magnified himself above
every God, and honoured Mahuzzims, and regarded not the desire of
women.
In the first ages of the Christian religion the Christians of every city were
governed by a Council of Presbyters, and the President of the Council was
the Bishop of the city. The Bishop and Presbyters of one city meddled not
with the affairs of another city, except by admonitory letters or messages.
Nor did the Bishops of several cities meet together in Council before the
time of the Emperor Commodus: for they could not meet together without
the leave of the Roman governors of the Provinces. But in the days of that
Emperor they began to meet in Provincial Councils, by the leave of the
governors; first in Asia, in opposition to the Cataphrygian Heresy, and soon
after in other places and upon other occasions. The Bishop of the chief city,
or Metropolis of the Roman Province, was usually made President of the

Council; and hence came the authority of Metropolitan Bishops above that
of other Bishops within the same Province. Hence also it was that the
Bishop of Rome in Cyprian's days called himself the Bishop of Bishops. As
soon as the Empire became Christian, the Roman Emperors began to call
general Councils out of all the Provinces of the Empire; and by prescribing
to them what points they should consider, and influencing them by their
interest and power, they set up what party they pleased. Hereby the Greek
Empire, upon the division of the Roman Empire into the Greek and Latin
Empires, became the King who, in matters of religion, did according to his
will; and, in legislature, exalted and magnified himself above every God:
and at length, by the seventh general Council, established the worship of the
images and souls of dead men, here called Mahuzzims.
The same King placed holiness in abstinence from marriage. Eusebius in
his Ecclesiastical history [1] tells us, that Musanus wrote a tract against
those who fell away to the heresy of the Encratites, which was then newly
risen, and had introduced pernicious errors; and that Tatian, the disciple of
Justin, was the author thereof; and that Irenæus in his first book against
heresies teaches this, writing of Tatian and his heresy in these words: A
Saturnino & Marcione profecti qui vocantur Continentes, docuerunt non
contrahendum esse matrimonium; reprobantes scilicet primitivum illud
opificium Dei, & tacitè accusantes Deum qui masculum & fæminam
condidit ad procreationem generis humani. Induxerunt etiam abstinentiam
ab esu eorum quæ animalia appellant, ingratos se exhibentes ergo eum qui
universa creavit Deum. Negant etiam primi hominis salutem. Atque hoc
nuper apud illos excogitatum est, Tatiano quodam omnium primo hujus
impietatis auctore: qui Justini auditor, quamdiu cum illo versatus est, nihil
ejusmodi protulit. Post martyrium autem illius, ab Ecclesia se abrumpens,
doctoris arrogantia elatus ac tumidus, tanquam præstantior cæteris, novam
quandam formam doctrinæ conflavit: Æonas invisibiles commentus perinde
ac Valentinus: asserens quoque cum Saturnino & Marcione, matrimonium
nihil aliud esse quam corruptionem ac stuprum: nova præterea argumenta
ad subvertendam Adami salutem excogitans. Hæc Irenæus de Hæresi quæ
tunc viguit Encratitarum. Thus far Eusebius. But altho the followers of
Tatian were at first condemned as hereticks by the name of Encratites, or
Continentes; their principles could not be yet quite exploded: for Montanus
refined upon them, and made only second marriages unlawful; he also

introduced frequent fastings, and annual, fasting days, the keeping of Lent,
and feeding upon dried meats. The Apostolici, about the middle of the third
century, condemned marriage, and were a branch of the disciples of Tatian.
The Hierocitæ in Egypt, in the latter end of the third century, also
condemned marriage. Paul the Eremite fled into the wilderness from the
persecution of Decius, and lived there a solitary life till the reign of
Constantine the great, but made no disciples. Antony did the like in the
persecution of Dioclesian, or a little before, and made disciples; and many
others soon followed his example.
Hitherto the principles of the Encratites had been rejected by the Churches;
but now being refined by the Monks, and imposed not upon all men, but
only upon those who would voluntarily undertake a monastic life, they
began to be admired, and to overflow first the Greek Church, and then the
Latin also, like a torrent. Eusebius tells us, [2] that Constantine the great had
those men in the highest veneration, who dedicated themselves wholly to
the divine philosophy; and that he almost venerated the most holy company
of Virgins perpetually devoted to God; being certain that the God to whom
he had consecrated himself did dwell in their minds. In his time and that of
his sons, this profession of a single life was propagated in Egypt by Antony,
and in Syria by Hilarion; and spred so fast, that soon after the time of
Julian the Apostate a third part of the Egyptians were got into the desarts of
Egypt. They lived first singly in cells, then associated into cœnobia or
convents; and at length came into towns, and filled the Churches with
Bishops, Presbyters and Deacons. Athanasius in his younger days poured
water upon the hands of his master Antony; and finding the Monks faithful
to him, made many of them Bishops and Presbyters in Egypt: and these
Bishops erected new Monasteries, out of which they chose Presbyters of
their own cities, and sent Bishops to others. The like was done in Syria, the
superstition being quickly propagated thither out of Egypt by Hilarion a
disciple of Antony. Spiridion and Epiphanius of Cyprus, James of Nisibis,
Cyril of Jerusalem, Eustathius of Sebastia in Armenia, Eusebius of Emisa,
Titus of Bostra, Basilius of Ancyra, Acacius of Cæsarea in Palestine,
Elpidius of Laodicea, Melitius and Flavian of Antioch, Theodorus of Tyre,
Protogenes of Carrhæ, Acacius of Berrhæa, Theodotus of Hierapolis,
Eusebius of Chalcedon, Amphilochius of Iconium, Gregory Nazianzen,
Gregory Nyssen, and John Chrysostom of Constantinople, were both

Bishops and Monks in the fourth century. Eustathius, Gregory Nazianzen,
Gregory Nyssen, Basil, &c. had Monasteries of Clergymen in their cities,
out of which Bishops were sent to other cities; who in like manner erected
Monasteries there, till the Churches were supplied with Bishops out of these
Monasteries. Hence Jerome, in a Letter written about the year 385, [3] saith
of the Clergy: Quasi & ipsi aliud sint quam Monachi, & non quicquid in
Monachos dicitur redundet in Clericos qui patres sunt Monachorum.
Detrimentum pecoris pastoris ignominia est. And in his book against
Vigilantius: Quid facient Orientis Ecclesiæ? Quæ aut Virgines Clericos
accipiunt, aut Continentes, aut si uxores habuerint mariti esse desistunt.
Not long after even the Emperors commanded the Churches to chuse
Clergymen out of the Monasteries by this Law.

Impp. Arcad & Honor. AA. Cæsario PF. P.
[4]
Si quos forte Episcopi deesse sibi Clericos arbitrantur, ex monachorum
numero rectius ordinabunt: non obnoxios publicis privatisque rationibus
cum invidia teneant, sed habeant jam probatos. Dat. vii. Kal. Aug. Honorio
A. iv. & Eutychianio Coss. A.C. 598. The Greek Empire being now in the
hands of these Encratites, and having them in great admiration, Daniel
makes it a characteristick of the King who doth according to his will, that
he should not regard the desire of Women.
Thus the Sect of the Encratites, set on foot by the Gnosticks, and
propagated by Tatian and Montanus near the end of the second century;
which was condemned by the Churches of that and the third century, and
refined upon by their followers; overspread the Eastern Churches in the
fourth century, and before the end of it began to overspread the Western.
Henceforward the Christian Churches having a form of godliness, but
denying the power thereof, came into the hands of the Encratites: and the
Heathens, who in the fourth century came over in great numbers to the
Christians, embraced more readily this sort of Christianity, as having a
greater affinity with their old superstitions, than that of the sincere
Christians; who by the lamps of the seven Churches of Asia, and not by the
lamps of the Monasteries, had illuminated the Church Catholic during the
three first centuries.

The Cataphrygians brought in also several other superstitions: such as were
the doctrine of Ghosts, and of their punishment in Purgatory, with prayers
and oblations for mitigating that punishment, as Tertullian teaches in his
books De Anima and De Monogamia. They used also the sign of the cross
as a charm. So Tertullian in his book de Corona militis: Ad omnem
progressum atque promotum, ad omnem aditum & exitum, ad vestitum, ad
calceatum, ad lavacra, ad mensas, ad lamina, ad cubilia, ad sedilia,
quacunque nos conversatio exercet, frontem crucis signaculo terimus. All
these superstitions the Apostle refers to, where he saith: Now the Spirit
speaketh expresly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, the Dæmons and
Ghosts worshipped by the heathens, speaking lyes in hypocrisy, about their
apparitions, the miracles done by them, their reliques, and the sign of the
cross, having consciences seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and
commanding to abstain from meats, &c. 1 Tim. iv. 1,2,3. From the
Cataphrygians these principles and practices were propagated down to
posterity. For the mystery of iniquity did already work in the Apostles days
in the Gnosticks, continued to work very strongly in their offspring the
Tatianists and Cataphrygians, and was to work till that man of sin should be
revealed; whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and
signs, and lying wonders, and all deceivableness of unrighteousness;
coloured over with a form of Christian godliness, but without the power
thereof, 2 Thess. ii. 7-10.
For tho some stop was put to the Cataphrygian Christianity, by Provincial
Councils, till the fourth century; yet the Roman Emperors then turning
Christians, and great multitudes of heathens coming over in outward
profession, these found the Cataphrygian Christianity more suitable to their
old principles, of placing religion in outward forms and ceremonies, holy-
days, and doctrines of Ghosts, than the religion of the sincere Christians:
wherefore they readily sided with the Cataphrygian Christians, and
established that Christianity before the end of the fourth century. By this
means those of understanding, after they had been persecuted by the
heathen Emperors in the three first centuries, and were holpen with a little
help, by the conversion of Constantine the great and his sons to the
Christian religion, fell under new persecutions, to purge them from the
dissemblers, and to make them white, even to the time of the end.

Notes to Chap. XIII.
[1] Lib. 4. c. 28, 29.
[2] In vita Constantini, l. 4. c. 28.
[3] Epist. 10.
[4] L. 32. de Episcopis.

CHAP. XIV.

Of the Mahuzzims, honoured by the King who doth according to his will.
In scripture we are told of some trusting in God and others trusting in idols,
and that God is our refuge, our strength, our defense. In this sense God is
the rock of his people, and false Gods are called the rock of those that trust
in them, Deut. xxxii. 4, 15, 18, 30, 31, 37. In the same sense the Gods of the
King who shall do according to his will are called Mahuzzims, munitions,
fortresses, protectors, guardians, or defenders. In his estate, saith [1] Daniel,
shall he honour Mahuzzims; even with a God whom his fathers knew not,
shall he honour them with gold and silver, and with precious stones, and
things of value. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds or temples;—and
he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land among them for
a possession. Now this came to pass by degrees in the following manner.

Gregory Nyssen [2] tells us, that after the persecution of the Emperor
Decius, Gregory Bishop of Neocæsarea in Pontus, instituted among all
people, as an addition or corollary of devotion towards God, that festival
days and assemblies should be celebrated to them who had contended for
the faith, that is, to the Martyrs. And he adds this reason for the institution:
When he observed, saith Nyssen, that the simple and unskilful multitude, by
reason of corporeal delights, remained in the error of idols; that the
principal thing might be corrected among them, namely, that instead of
their vain worship they might turn their eyes upon God; he permitted that at
the memories of the holy Martyrs they might make merry and delight
themselves, and be dissolved into joy. The heathens were delighted with the

festivals of their Gods, and unwilling to part with those delights; and
therefore Gregory, to facilitate their conversion, instituted annual festivals
to the Saints and Martyrs. Hence it came to pass, that for exploding the
festivals of the heathens, the principal festivals of the Christians succeeded
in their room: as the keeping of Christmas with ivy and feasting, and
playing and sports, in the room of the Bacchanalia and Saturnalia; the
celebrating of May-day with flowers, in the room of the Floralia; and the
keeping of festivals to the Virgin Mary, John the Baptist, and divers of the
Apostles, in the room of the solemnities at the entrance of the Sun into the
signs of the Zodiac in the old Julian Calendar. In the same persecution of
Decius, Cyprian ordered the passions of the Martyrs in Africa to be
registred, in order to celebrate their memories annually with oblations and
sacrifices: and Felix Bishop of Rome, a little after, as Platina relates,
Martyrum gloria consulens, constituit at quotannis sacrificia eorum nomine
celebrarentur; "consulting the glory of the Martyrs, ordained that sacrifices
should be celebrated annually in their name." By the pleasures of these
festivals the Christians increased much in number, and decreased as much
in virtue, until they were purged and made white by the persecution of
Dioclesian. This was the first step made in the Christian religion towards
the veneration of the Martyrs: and tho it did not yet amount to an unlawful
worship; yet it disposed the Christians towards such a further veneration of
the dead, as in a short time ended in the invocation of Saints.
The next step was the affecting to pray at the sepulchres of the Martyrs:
which practice began in Dioclesian's persecution. The Council of Eliberis in
Spain, celebrated in the third or fourth year of Dioclesian's persecution,
A.C. 305, hath these Canons. Can. 34. Cereos per diem placuit in
Cœmeterio non incendi: inquietandi enim spiritus sanctorum non sunt. Qui
hæc non observârint, arceantur ab Ecclesiæ communione. Can. 35. Placuit
prohiberi ne fæminæ in Cœmeterio pervigilent, eò quod sæpe sub obtentu
orationis latentèr scelera committant. Presently after that persecution,
suppose about the year 314, the Council of Laodicea in Phrygia, which then
met for restoring the lapsed discipline of the Church, has the following
Canons. Can. 9. Those of the Church are not allowed to go into the
Cœmeteries or Martyries, as they are called, of hereticks, for the sake of
prayer or recovery of health: but such as go, if they be of the faithful, shall
be excommunicated for a time. Can. 34. A Christian must not leave the

Martyrs of Christ, and go to false Martyrs, that is, to the Martyrs of the
hereticks; for these are alien from God: and therefore let those be anathema
who go to them. Can. 51. The birth-days of the Martyrs shall not be
celebrated in Lent, but their commemoration shall be made on the Sabbath-
days and Lords days. The Council of Paphlagonia, celebrated in the year
324, made this Canon: If any man being arrogant, abominates the
congregations of the Martyrs, or the Liturgies performed therein, or the
memories of the Martyrs, let him be anathema. By all which it is manifest
that the Christians in the time of Dioclesian's persecution used to pray in
the Cœmeteries or burying-places of the dead; for avoiding the danger of
the persecution, and for want of Churches, which were all thrown down:
and after the persecution was over, continued that practice in honour of the
Martyrs, till new Churches could be built: and by use affected it as
advantageous to devotion, and for recovering the health of those that were
sick. It also appears that in these burying-places they commemorated the
Martyrs yearly upon days dedicated to them, and accounted all these
practices pious and religious, and anathematized those men as arrogant who
opposed them, or prayed in the Martyries of the hereticks. They also lighted
torches to the Martyrs in the day-time, as the heathens did to their Gods;
which custom, before the end of the fourth century, prevailed much in the
West. They sprinkled the worshipers of the Martyrs with holy-water, as the
heathens did the worshipers of their Gods; and went in pilgrimage to see
Jerusalem and other holy places, as if those places conferred sanctity on the
visiters. From the custom of praying in the Cœmeteries and Martyries, came
the custom of translating the bodies of the Saints and Martyrs into such
Churches as were new built: the Emperor Constantius began this practice
about the year 359, causing the bodies of Andrew the Apostle, Luke and
Timothy, to be translated into a new Church at Constantinople: and before
this act of Constantius, the Egyptians kept the bodies of their Martyrs and
Saints unburied upon beds in their private houses, and told stories of their
souls appearing after death and ascending up to heaven, as Athanasius
relates in the life of Antony. All which gave occasion to the Emperor Julian,
as Cyril relates, to accuse the Christians in this manner: Your adding to that
antient dead man, Jesus, many new dead men, who can sufficiently
abominate? You have filled all places with sepulchres and monuments,
altho you are no where bidden to prostrate yourselves to sepulchres, and to
respect them officiously. And a little after: Since Jesus said that sepulchres

are full of filthiness, how do you invoke God upon them? and in another
place he saith, that if Christians had adhered to the precepts of the Hebrews,
they would have worshiped one God instead of many, and not a man, or
rather not many unhappy men: And that they adored the wood of the cross,
making its images on their foreheads, and before their houses.
After the sepulchres of Saints and Martyrs were thus converted into places
of worship like the heathen temples, and the Churches into sepulchres, and
a certain sort of sanctity attributed to the dead bodies of the Saints and
Martyrs buried in them, and annual festivals were kept to them, with
sacrifices offered to God in their name; the next step towards the invocation
of Saints, was the attributing to their dead bodies, bones and other reliques,
a power of working miracles, by means of the separate souls, who were
supposed to know what we do or say, and to be able to do us good or hurt,
and to work those miracles. This was the very notion the heathens had of
the separate souls of their antient Kings and Heroes, whom they worshiped
under the names of Saturn, Rhea, Jupiter, Juno, Mars, Venus, Bacchus,
Ceres, Osiris, Isis, Apollo, Diana, and the rest of their Gods. For these Gods
being male and female, husband and wife, son and daughter, brother and
sister, are thereby discovered to be antient men and women. Now as the first
step towards the invocation of Saints was set on foot by the persecution of
Decius, and the second by the persecution of Dioclesian; so this third seems
to have been owing to the proceedings of Constantius and Julian the
Apostate. When Julian began to restore the worship of the heathen Gods,
and to vilify the Saints and Martyrs; the Christians of Syria and Egypt seem
to have made a great noise about the miracles done by the reliques of the
Christian Saints and Martyrs, in opposition to the powers attributed by
Julian and the heathens to their Idols. For Sozomen and Ruffinus tell us, that
when he opened the heathen Temples, and consulted the Oracle of Apollo
Daphnæus in the suburbs of Antioch, and pressed by many sacrifices for an
answer; the Oracle at length told him that the bones of the Martyr Babylas
which were buried there hinder'd him from speaking. By which answer we
may understand, that some Christian was got into the place where the
heathen Priests used to speak thro' a pipe in delivering their Oracles: and
before this, Hilary in his book against Constantius, written in the last year
of that Emperor, makes the following mention of what was then doing in
the East where he was. Sine martyrio persequeris. Plus crudelitati vestræ

Nero, Deci, Maximiane, debemus. Diabolum enim per vos vicimus. Sanctus
ubique beatorum martyrum sanguis exceptus est, dum in his Dæmones
mugiunt, dum ægritudines depelluntur, dum miraculorum opera cernuntur,
elevari sine laqueis corpora, & dispensis pede fæminis vestes non defluere
in faciem, uri sine ignibus spiritus, confiteri sine interrogantis incremento
fidei. And Gregory Nazianzen, in his first Oration against the Emperor
Julian then reigning, writes thus: Martyres non extimuisti quibus præclari
honores & festa constituta, à quibus Dæmones propelluntur & morbi
curantur; quorum sunt apparitiones & prædictiones; quorum vel sola
corpora idem possunt quod animæ sanctæ, sive manibus contrectentur, sive
honorentur: quorum vel solæ sanguinis guttæ atque exigua passionis signa
idem possunt quod corpora. Hæc non colis sed contemnis & aspernaris.
These things made the heathens in the reign of the same Emperor demolish
the sepulchre of John the Baptist in Phœnicia, and burn his bones; when
several Christians mixing themselves with the heathens, gathered up some
of his remains, which were sent to Athanasius, who hid them in the wall of
a Church; foreseeing by a prophetic spirit, as Ruffinus tells us, that they
might be profitable to future generations.
The cry of these miracles being once set on foot, continued for many years,
and encreased and grew more general. Chrysostom, in his second Oration
on St. Babylas, twenty years after the silencing of the Oracle of Apollo
Daphnæus as above, viz. A.C. 382, saith of the miracles done by the Saints
and their reliques [3]: Nulla est nostri hujus Orbis seu regio, seu gens, seu
urbs, ubi nova & inopinata miracula hæc non decantentur; quæ quidem si
figmenta fuissent, prorsus in tantam hominum admirationem non venissent.
And a little after: Abunde orationi nostræ fidem faciunt quæ quotidiana à
martyribus miracula eduntur, magna affatim ad illa hominum multitudine
affluente. And in his 66th Homily, describing how the Devils were
tormented and cast out by the bones of the Martyrs, he adds: Ob eam
causam multi plerumque Reges peregrè profecti sunt, ut hoc spectaculo
fruerentur. Siquidem sanctorum martyrum templa futuri judicii vestigia &
signa exhibent, dum nimirum Dæmones flagris cæduntur, hominesque
torquentur & liberantur. Vide quæ sanctorum vitâ functorum vis sit? And
Jerom in his Epitaph on Paula, thus [4] mentions the same things. Paula
vidit Samariam: ibi siti sunt Elisæus & Abdias prophetæ, & Joannes
Baptista, ubi multis intremuit consternata miraculis. Nam cernebat variis

dæmones rugire cruciatibus, & ante sepulchra sanctorum ululare, homines
more luporum vocibus latrare canum, fremere leonum, sibilare serpentum,
mugire taurorum, alios rotare caput & post tergum terram vertice tangere,
suspensisque pede fæminis vestes non defluere in faciem. This was about
the year 384: and Chrysostom in his Oration on the Egyptian Martyrs,
seems to make Egypt the ringleader in these matters, saying [5]: Benedictus
Deus quandoquidem ex Ægypto prodeunt martyres, ex Ægypto illa cum Deo
pugnante ac insanissima, & unde impia ora, unde linguæ blasphemæ; ex
Ægypto martyres habentur; non in Ægypto tantum, nec in finitima
vicinaque regione, sed UBIQUE TERRARUM. Et quemadmodum in
annonæ summa ubertate, cum viderunt urbium incolæ majorem quam usus
habitatorum postulat esse proventum, ad peregrinas etiam urbes
transmittunt: cum & suam comitatem & liberalitatem ostendant, tum ut
præter horum abundantiam cum facilitate res quibus indigent rursus ab illis
sibi comparent: sic & Ægyptii, quod attinet ad religionis athletas, fecerunt.
Cum apud se multam eorum Dei benignitate copiam cernerent, nequaquam
ingens Dei munus sua civitate concluserunt, sed in OMNES TERRÆ
PARTES bonorum thesauros effuderunt: cum ut suum in fratres amorem
ostenderent, tum ut communem omnium dominum honore afficerent, ac
civitati suæ gloriam apud omnes compararent, totiusque terrarum ORBIS
esse METROPOLIN declararent.—Sanctorum enim illorum corpora quovis
adamantino & inexpugnabili muro tutiùs nobis urbem communiunt, &
tanquam excelsi quidam scopuli undique prominentes, non horum qui sub
sensus cadunt & oculis cernuntur hostium impetus propulsant tantùm, sed
etiam invisibilium dæmonum insidias, omnesque diaboli fraudes subvertunt
ac dissipant.—Neque vero tantùm adversus hominum insidias aut adversus
fallacias dæmonum utilis nobis est hæc possessio, sed si nobis communis
dominus ob peccatorum multitudinem irascatur, his objectis corporibus
continuo poterimus eum propitium reddere civitati. This Oration was
written at Antioch, while Alexandria was yet the Metropolis of the East,
that is, before the year 381, in which Constantinople became the
Metropolis: and it was a work of some years for the Egyptians to have
distributed the miracle-working reliques of their Martyrs over all the world,
as they had done before that year. Egypt abounded most with the reliques of
Saints and Martyrs, the Egyptians keeping them embalmed upon beds even
in their private houses; and Alexandria was eminent above all other cities
for dispersing them, so as on that account to acquire glory with all men, and

manifest herself to be the Metropolis of the world. Antioch followed the
example of Egypt, in dispersing the reliques of the forty Martyrs: and the
examples of Egypt and Syria were soon followed by the rest of the world.
The reliques of the forty Martyrs at Antioch were distributed among the
Churches before the year 373; for Athanasius who died in that year, wrote
an Oration upon them. This Oration is not yet published, but Gerard Vossius
saw it in MS. in the Library of Cardinal Ascanius in Italy, as he says in his
commentary upon the Oration of Ephræm Syrus on the same forty Martyrs.
Now since the Monks of Alexandria sent the reliques of the Martyrs of
Egypt into all parts of the earth, and thereby acquired glory to their city, and
declared her in these matters the Metropolis of the whole world, as we have
observed out of Chrysostom; it may be concluded, that before Alexandria
received the forty Martyrs from Antioch, she began to send out the reliques
of her own Martyrs into all parts, setting the first example to other cities.
This practice therefore began in Egypt some years before the death of
Athanasius. It began when the miracle-working bones of John the Baptist
were carried into Egypt, and hid in the wall of a Church, that they might be
profitable to future generations. It was restrained in the reign of Julian the
Apostate: and then it spred from Egypt into all the Empire, Alexandria
being the Metropolis of the whole world, according to Chrysostom, for
propagating this sort of devotion, and Antioch and other cities soon
following her example.
In propagating these superstitions, the ring-leaders were the Monks, and
Antony was at the head of them: for in the end of the life of Antony,
Athanasius relates that these were his dying words to his disciples who then
attended him. Do you take care, said Antony, to adhere to Christ in the first
place, and then to the Saints, that after death they may receive you as
friends and acquaintance into the everlasting tabernacles, Think upon these
things, perceive these things; and if you have any regard to me, remember
me as a father. This being delivered in charge to the Monks by Antony at
his death, A.C. 356, could not but inflame their whole body with devotion
towards the Saints, as the ready way to be received, by them into the eternal
Tabernacles after death. Hence came that noise about the miracles, done by
the reliques of the Saints in the time of Constantius: hence came the
dispersion of the miracle-working reliques into all the Empire; Alexandria
setting the example, and being renowned, for it above all other cities. Hence

it came to pass in the days of Julian, A.C. 362, that Athanasius by a
prophetic spirit, as Ruffinus tells us, hid the bones of John the Baptist from
the Heathens, not in the ground to be forgotten, but in the hollow wall of a
Church before proper witnesses, that they might be profitable to future
generations. Hence also came the invocation of the Saints for doing such
miracles, and for assisting men in their devotions, and mediating with God.
For Athanasius, even from his youth, looked upon the dead Saints and
Martyrs as mediators of our prayers: in his Epistle to Marcellinus, written in
the days of Constantine the great, he saith that the words of the Psalms are
not to be transposed or any wise changed, but to be recited and sung
without any artifice, as they are written, that the holy men who delivered
them, knowing them to be their own words, may pray with us; or rather, that
the Holy Ghost who spake in the holy men, seeing his own words with
which he inspired them, may join with them in assisting us.
Whilst Egypt abounded with Monks above any other country, the veneration
of the Saints began sooner, and spred faster there than in other places.
Palladius going into Egypt in the year 388 to visit the Monasteries, and the
sepulchres of Apollonius and other Martyrs of Thebais who had suffered
under Maximinus, saith of them: Iis omnibus Christiani fecerunt ædem
unam, ubi nunc multæ virtutes peraguntur. Tanta autem fuit viri gratia, ut
de iis quæ esset precatus statim exaudiretur, eum sic honorante servatore:
quem etiam nos in martyrio precati vidimus, cum iis qui cum ipso fuerunt
martyrio affecti; & Deum adorantes, eorum corpora salutavimus. Eunapius
also, a heathen, yet a competent witness of what was done in his own times,
relating how the soldiers delivered the temples of Egypt into the hands of
the Monks, which was done in the year 389, rails thus in an impious manner
at the Martyrs, as succeeding in the room of the old Gods of Egypt. Illi ipsi,
milites, Monachos Canobi quoque collocârunt, ut pro Diis qui animo
cernuntur, servos & quidem flagitiosos divinis honoribus percolerent,
hominum mentibus ad cultum ceremoniasque obligatis. Ii namque condita
& salita eorum capita, qui ob scelerum multitudinem à judicibus extremo
judicio fuerant affecti, pro Divis ostentabant; iis genua submittebant, eos in
Deorum numerum receptabant, ad illorum sepulchra pulvere sordibusque
conspurcati. Martyres igitur vocabantur, & ministri quidem & legati
arbitrique precum apud Deos; cum fuerint servilia infida & flagris pessimè
subacta, quæ cicatrices scelerum ac nequitiæ vestigia corporibus

circumferunt; ejusmodi tamen Deos fert tellus. By these instances we may
understand the invocation of Saints was now of some standing in Egypt, and
that it was already generally received and practised there by the common
people.
Thus Basil a Monk, who was made Bishop of Cæsarea in the year 369, and
died in the year 378, in his Oration on the Martyr Mamas, saith: Be ye
mindful of the Martyr; as many of you as have enjoyed him in your dreams,
as many as in this place have been assisted by him in prayer, as many of
you as upon invoking him by name have had him present in your works, as
many as he has reduced into the way from wandering, as many as he has
restored to health, as, many as have had their dead children restored by him
to life, as many as have had their lives prolonged by him: and a little after,
he thus expresses the universality of this superstition in the regions of
Cappadocia and Bithynia: At the memory of the Martyr, saith he, the whole
region is moved; at his festival the whole city is transported with joy. Nor
do the kindred of the rich turn aside to the sepulchres of their ancestors, but
all go to the place of devotion. Again, in the end of the Homily he prays,
that God would preserve the Church, thus fortified with the great towers of
the Martyrs: and in his Oration on the forty Martyrs; These are they, saith
he, who obtaining our country, like certain towers afford us safety against
our enemies. Neither are they shut up in one place only, but being
distributed are sent into many regions, and adorn many countries.—You
have often endeavoured, you have often laboured to find one who might
pray for you: here are forty, emitting one voice of prayer.—He that is in
affliction flies to these, he that rejoices has recourse to these: the first, that
he may be freed from evil, the last that he may continue in happiness. Here
a woman praying for her children is heard; she obtains a safe return for her
husband from abroad, and health for him in his sickness.—O ye common
keepers of mankind, the best companions of our cares, suffragans and
coadjutors of our prayers, most powerful embassadors to God, &c. By all
which it is manifest, that before the year 378, the Orations and Sermons
upon the Saints went much beyond the bounds of mere oratorical flourishes,
and that the common people in the East were already generally corrupted
by the Monks with Saint-worship.
Gregory Nazianzen a Monk, in his sixth Oration written A.C. 373, when he
was newly made Bishop of Sasima, saith: Let us purify ourselves to the

Martyrs, or rather to the God of the Martyrs: and a little after he calls the
Martyrs mediators of obtaining an ascension or divinity. The same year, in
the end of his Oration upon Athanasius then newly dead, he thus invokes
him: Do thou look down upon us propitiously, and govern this people, as
perfect adorers of the perfect Trinity, which in the Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost, is contemplated and worshiped: if there shall be peace, preserve me,
and feed my flock with me; but if war, bring me home, place me by thyself,
and by those that are like thee; however great my request. And in the end of
the funeral Oration upon Basil, written A.C. 378, he thus addresses him: But
thou, O divine and sacred Head, look down upon us from heaven; and by
thy prayers either take away that thorn of the flesh which is given us by God
for exercise, or obtain that we may bear it with courage, and direct all our
life to that which is most fitting for us. When we depart this life, receive us
there in your Tabernacles, that living together and beholding the holy and
blessed Trinity more purely and perfectly, whereof we have now but an
imperfect view, we may there come to the end of our desires, and receive
this reward of the wars which we have waged or suffered: and in his Oration
upon Cyprian, not the Bishop of Carthage, but a Greek, he invokes him
after the same manner; and tells us also how a pious Virgin named Justina,
was protected by invoking the Virgin Mary, and how miracles were done by
the ashes of Cyprian.
Gregory Nyssen, another eminent Monk and Bishop, in the life of Ephræm
Syrus, tells how a certain man returning from a far country, was in great
danger, by reason all the ways were intercepted by the armies of barbarous
nations; but upon invoking Ephræm by name, and saying, Holy Ephræm
assist me, he escaped the danger, neglected the fear of death, and beyond
his hope got safe home. In the end of this Oration Gregory calls upon
Ephræm after the following manner: But thou, O Ephræm, assisting now at
the divine altar, and sacrificing to the Prince of life, and to the most holy
Trinity, together with the Angels; remember us all, and obtain for us pardon
of our sins, that we may enjoy the eternal happiness of the kingdom of
heaven. The same Gregory, in his Oration on the Martyr Theodorus written
A.C. 381, thus describes the power of that Martyr, and the practice of the
people. This Martyr, saith he, the last year quieted the barbarous tempest,
and put a stop to the horrid war of the fierce and cruel Scythians.—If any
one is permitted to carry away the dust with which the tomb is covered,

wherein the body of the Martyr rests; the dust is accepted as a gift, and
gathered to be laid up as a thing of great price. For to touch the reliques
themselves, if any such prosperous fortune shall at any time happen; how
great a favour that is, and not to be obtained without the most earnest
prayers, they know well who have obtained it. For as a living and florid
body, they who behold it embrace it, applying to it the eyes, mouth, ears,
and all the organs of sense; and then with affection pouring tears upon the
Martyr, as if he was whole and appeared to them: they offer prayers with
supplication, that he would intercede for them as an advocate, praying to
him as an Officer attending upon God, and invoking him as receiving gifts
whenever he will. At length Gregory concludes the Oration with this prayer:
O Theodorus, we want many blessings; intercede and beseech for thy
country before the common King and Lord: for the country of the Martyr is
the place of his passion, and they are his citizens, brethren and kindred,
who have him, defend, adorn and honour him. We fear afflictions, we expect
dangers: the wicked Scythians are not far off, ready to make war against us.
As a soldier fight for us, as a Martyr use liberty of speech for thy fellow-
servants. Pray for peace, that these publick meetings may not cease, that
the furious and wicked barbarian may not rage against the temples and
altars, that the profane and impious may not trample upon the holy things.
We acknowledge it a benefit received from thee, that we are preserved safe
and entire, we pray for freedom from danger in time to come: and if there
shall be need of greater intercession and deprecation, call together the
choir of thy brethren the Martyrs, and in conjunction with them all
intercede for us. Let the prayers of many just ones attone for the sins of the
multitudes and the people; exhort Peter, excite Paul, and also John the
divine and beloved disciple, that they may be sollicitous for the Churches
which they have erected, for which they have been in chains, for which they
have undergone dangers and deaths; that the worship of idols may not lift
up its head against us, that heresies may not spring up like thorns in the
vineyard, that tares grown up may not choak the wheat, that no rock void of
the fatness of true dew may be against us, and render the fruitful power of
the word void of a root; but by the power of the prayers of thyself and thy
companions, O admirable man and eminent among the Martyrs, the
commonwealth of Christians may become a field of corn. The same Gregory
Nyssen, in his sermon upon the death of Meletius Bishop of Antioch,
preached at Constantinople the same year, A.C. 381, before the Bishops of

all the East assembled in the second general Council, spake thus of
Meletius. The Bridegroom, saith he, is not taken from us: he stands in the
midst of us, tho we do not see him: he is a Priest in the most inward places,
and face to face intercedes before God for us and the sins of the people.
This was no oratorical flourish, but Gregory's real opinion, as may be
understood by what we have cited out of him concerning Ephræm and
Theodorus: and as Gregory preached this before the Council of
Constantinople, you may thence know, saith [6] Baronius, that he professed
what the whole Council, and therewith the whole Church of those parts
believed, namely, that the Saints in heaven offer prayers for us before God.
Ephræm Syrus, another eminent Monk, who was contemporary with Basil,
and died the same year; in the end of his Encomium or Oration upon Basil
then newly dead, invokes him after this manner: Intercede for me, a very
miserable man; and recal me by thy intercessions, O father; thou who art
strong, pray for me who am weak; thou who art diligent, for me who am
negligent; thou who art chearful, for me who am heavy; thou who art wise,
for me who am foolish. Thou who hast treasured up a treasure of all virtues,
be a guide to me who am empty of every good work. In the beginning of his
Encomium upon the forty Martyrs, written at the same time, he thus
invokes them: Help me therefore, O ye Saints, with your intercession; and
O ye beloved, with your holy prayers, that Christ by his grace may direct
my tongue to speak, &c. and afterwards mentioning the mother of one of
these forty Martyrs, he concludes the Oration with this prayer: I entreat
thee, O holy, faithful, and blessed woman, pray for me to the Saints, saying;
Intercede ye that triumph in Christ, for the most little and miserable
Ephræm, that he may find mercy, and by the grace of Christ may be saved.
Again, in his second Sermon or Oration on the praises of the holy Martyrs
of Christ, he thus addresses them: We entreat you most holy Martyrs, to
intercede with the Lord for us miserable sinners, beset with the filthiness of
negligence, that he would infuse his divine grace into us: and afterwards,
near the end of the same discourse; Now ye most holy men and glorious
Martyrs of God, help me a miserable sinner with your prayers, that in that
dreadful hour I may obtain mercy, when the secrets of all hearts shall be
made manifest. I am to day become to you, most holy Martyrs of Christ, as
it were an unprofitable and unskilful cup-bearer: for I have delivered to the
sons and brothers of your faith, a cup of the excellent wine of your warfare,

with the excellent table of your victory, replenished with all sorts of
dainties. I have endeavoured, with the whole affection and desire of my
mind, to recreate your fathers and brothers, kindred and relations, who
daily frequent the table. For behold they sing, and with exultation and
jubilee glorify God, who has crown'd your virtues, by setting on your most
sacred heads incorruptible and celestial crowns; they with excessive joy
stand about the sacred reliques of your martyrdoms, wishing for a blessing,
and desiring to bear away holy medicines both for the body and the mind.
As good disciples and faithful ministers of our benign Lord and Saviour,
bestow therefore a blessing on them all: and on me also, tho weak and
feeble, who having received strength by your merits and intercessions, have
with the whole devotion of my mind, sung a hymn to your praise and glory
before your holy reliques. Wherefore I beseech you stand before the throne
of the divine Majesty for me Ephræm, a vile and miserable sinner, that by
your prayers I may deserve to obtain salvation, and with you enjoy eternal
felicity by the grace and benignity and mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ, to whom with the Father and Holy Ghost be praise, honour and
glory for ever and ever. Amen.
By what has been cited out of Basil, the two Gregories and Ephræm, we
may understand that Saint-worship was established among the Monks and
their admirers in Egypt, Phœnicia, Syria and Cappadocia, before the year
378, this being the year in which Basil and Ephræm died. Chrysostom was
not much later; he preached at Antioch almost all the time of Theodosius the
great, and in his Sermons are many exhortations to this sort of superstition,
as may be seen in the end of his Orations on S. Julia, on St. Pelagia, on the
Martyr Ignatius, on the Egyptian Martyrs, on Fate and Providence, on the
Martyrs in general, on St. Berenice and St. Prosdoce, on Juventinus and
Maximus, on the name of Cœmetery, &c. Thus in his Sermon on Berenice
and Prosdoce: Perhaps, saith he, you are inflamed with no small love
towards these Martyrs; therefore with this ardour let us fall down before
their reliques, let us embrace their coffins. For the coffins of the Martyrs
have great virtue, even as the bones of the Martyrs have great power. Nor
let us only on the day of this festival, but also on other days apply to them,
invoke them, and beseech them to be our patrons: for they have great power
and efficacy, not only whilst alive, but also after death; and much more
after death than before. For now they bear the marks or brands of Christ;

and when they shew these marks, they can obtain all things of the King.
Seeing therefore they abound with such efficacy, and have so much
friendship with him; we also, when by continual attendance and perpetual
visitation of them we have insinuated ourselves into their familiarity, may
by their assistance obtain the mercy of God.
Constantinople was free from these superstitions till Gregory Nazianzen
came thither A.D. 379; but in a few years it was also inflamed with it.
Ruffinus [7] tells us, that when the Emperor Theodosius was setting out
against the tyrant Eugenius, which was in the year 394, he went about with
the Priests and people to all the places of prayer; lay prostrate in haircloth
before the shrines of the Martyrs and Apostles, and pray'd for assistance by
the intercession of the Saints. Sozomen [8] adds, that when the Emperor was
marched seven miles from Constantinople against Eugenius, he went into a
Church which he had built to John the Baptist, and invoked the Baptist for
his assistance. Chrysostom [9] says: He that is clothed in purple, approaches
to embrace these sepulchres; and laying aside his dignity, stands
supplicating the Saints to intercede for him with God: and he who goes
crowned with a diadem, offers his prayers to the tent-maker and the fisher-
man as his Protestors. And in [10] another place: The cities run together to
the sepulchres of the Martyrs, and the people are inflamed with the love of
them.
This practice of sending reliques from place to place for working miracles,
and thereby inflaming the devotion of the nations towards the dead Saints
and their reliques, and setting up the religion of invoking their souls, lasted
only till the middle of the reign of the Emperor Theodosius the great; for he
then prohibited it by the following Edict. Humatum corpus, nemo ad
alterum locum transferat; nemo Martyrem distrahat, nemo mercetur:
Habeant verò in potestate, si quolibet in loco sanctorum est aliquis
conditus, pro ejus veneratione, quod Martyrium vocandum sit, addant quod
voluerint fabricarum. Dat. iv. Kal. Mart. Constantinopoli, Honorio nob.
puero & Euodio Coss. A.C. 386. After this they filled the fields and high-
ways with altars erected to Martyrs, which they pretended to discover by
dreams and revelations: and this occasioned the making the fourteenth
Canon of the fifth Council of Carthage, A.C. 398. Item placuit, ut altaria,
quæ passim per agros aut vias, tanquam memoriæ Martyrum constituuntur,

in quibus nullum corpus aut reliquiæ Martyrum conditæ probantur, ab
Episcopis, qui illis locis præsunt, si fieri potest, evertantur. Si autem hoc
propter tumultus populares non sinitur, plebes tamen admoneantur, ne illa
loca frequentent, ut qui rectè sapiunt, nullâ ibi superstitione devincti
teneantur. Et omnino nulla memoria Martyrum probabiliter acceptetur, nisi
aut ibi corpus aut aliquæ certæ reliquiæ sint, aut ubi origo alicujus
habitationis, vel possessionis, vel passionis fidelissima origine traditur.
Nam quæ per somnia, & per inanes quasi revelationes quorumlibet
hominum ubique constituuntur altaria, omnimodè reprobentur. These altars
were for invoking the Saints or Martyrs buried or pretended to be buried
under them. First they filled the Churches in all places with the reliques or
pretended reliques of the Martyrs, for invoking them in the Churches; and
then they filled the fields and high-ways with altars, for invoking them
every where: and this new religion was set up by the Monks in all the Greek
Empire before the expedition of the Emperor Theodosius against Eugenius,
and I think before his above-mentioned Edict, A.C. 386.
The same religion of worshiping Mahuzzims quickly spred into the Western
Empire also: but Daniel in this Prophecy describes chiefly the things done
among the nations comprehended in the body of his third Beast.

Notes to Chap. XIV.
[1] Chap. xi. 38, 39
[2] Orat. de vita Greg. Thaumaturg. T. 3. p. 574.
[3] Vide Hom. 47. in. S. Julian.
[4] Epist. 27. ad Eustochium.
[5] Edit. Frontonis Ducæi, Tom. 1.
[6] Ad. an. 381, Sect. 41.
[7] Hist. Eccl. l. 2. c. 23.
[8] L. 4. c. 24.
[9] Hom. 66. ad. populum, circa finem. & Hom. 8, 27. in Matth. Hom. 42, 43. in Gen.
Hom. 1. in 1 Thess.
[10] Exposit. in Psal. 114. sub finem.

The end of the first Part.

PART II.

OBSERVATIONS
upon the
APOCALYPSE
of
St. JOHN.

CHAP. I.

Introduction, concerning the time when the Apocalypse was written.
Irenæus introduced an opinion that the Apocalypse was written in the time
of Domitian; but then he also postponed the writing of some others of the
sacred books, and was to place the Apocalypse after them: he might perhaps
have heard from his master Polycarp that he had received this book from
John about the time of Domitian's death; or indeed John might himself at
that time have made a new publication of it, from whence Irenæus might
imagine it was then but newly written. Eusebius in his Chronicle and
Ecclesiastical History follows Irenœus; but afterwards [1] in his Evangelical
Demonstrations, he conjoins the banishment of John into Patmos, with the
deaths of Peter and Paul: and so do [2] Tertullian and Pseudo-Prochorus, as
well as the first author, whoever he was, of that very antient fable, that John
was put by Nero into a vessel of hot oil, and coming out unhurt, was
banished by him into Patmos. Tho this story be no more than a fiction yet
was it founded on a tradition of the first churches, that John was banished
into Patmos in the days of Nero. Epiphanius represents the Gospel of John
as written in the time of Domitian, and the Apocalypse even before that of
Nero. [3] Arethas in the beginning of his Commentary quotes the opinion of
Irenæus from Eusebius, but follows it not: for he afterwards affirms the

Apocalypse was written before the destruction of Jerusalem, and that
former commentators had expounded the sixth seal of that destruction.
With the opinion of the first Commentators agrees the tradition of the
Churches of Syria, preserved to this day in the title of the Syriac Version of
the Apocalypse, which title is this: The Revelation which was made to John
the Evangelist by God in the Island Patmos, into which he was banished by
Nero the Cæsar. The fame is confirmed by a story told by [4] Eusebius out
of Clemens Alexandrinus, and other antient authors, concerning a youth,
whom John some time after his return from Patmos committed to the care
of the Bishop of a certain city. The Bishop educated, instructed, and at
length baptized him; but then remitting of his care, the young man
thereupon got into ill company, and began by degrees first to revel and
grow vitious, then to abuse and spoil those he met in the night; and at last
grew so desperate, that his companions turning a band of high-way men,
made him their Captain: and, saith [5] Chrysostom, he continued their
Captain a long time. At length John returning to that city, and hearing what
was done, rode to the thief; and, when he out of reverence to his old master
fled, John rode after him, recalled him, and restored him to the Church.
This is a story of many years, and requires that John should have returned
from Patmos rather at the death of Nero than at that of Domitian; because
between the death of Domitian and that of John there were but two years
and an half; and John in his old age was [6] so infirm as to be carried to
Church, dying above 90 years old, and therefore could not be then suppos'd
able to ride after the thief.
This opinion is further supported by the allusions in the Apocalypse to the
Temple and Altar, and holy City, as then standing; and to the Gentiles, who
were soon after to tread under foot the holy City and outward Court. 'Tis
confirmed also by the style of the Apocalypse itself, which is fuller of
Hebraisms than his Gospel. For thence it may be gathered, that it was
written when John was newly come out of Judea, where he had been used
to the Syriac tongue; and that he did not write his Gospel, till by long
converse with the Asiatick Greeks he had left off most of the Hebraisms. It
is confirmed also by the many false Apocalypses, as those of Peter, Paul,
Thomas, Stephen, Elias and Cerinthus, written in imitation of the true one.
For as the many false Gospels, false Acts, and false Epistles were

occasioned by true ones; and the writing many false Apocalypses, and
ascribing them to Apostles and Prophets, argues that there was a true
Apostolic one in great request with the first Christians: so this true one may
well be suppos'd to have been written early, that there may be room in the
Apostolic age for the writing of so many false ones afterwards, and
fathering them upon Peter, Paul, Thomas and others, who were dead before
John. Caius, who was contemporary with Tertullian, [7] tells us that
Cerinthus wrote his Revelations as a great Apostle, and pretended the
visions were shewn him by Angels, asserting a millennium of carnal
pleasures at Jerusalem after the resurrection; so that his Apocalypse was
plainly written in imitation of John's: and yet he lived so early, that [8] he
resisted the Apostles at Jerusalem in or before the first year of Claudius,
that is, 26 years before the death of Nero, and [9] died before John.
These reasons may suffice for determining the time; and yet there is one
more, which to considering men may seem a good reason, to others not. I'll
propound it, and leave it to every man's judgment. The Apocalypse seems to
be alluded to in the Epistles of Peter and that to the Hebrews and therefore
to have been written before them. Such allusions in the Epistle to the
Hebrews, I take to be the discourses concerning the High-Priest in the
heavenly Tabernacle, who is both Priest and King, as was Melchisedec; and
those concerning the word of God, with the sharp two-edged sword, the
σαββατισμος, or millennial rest, the earth whose end is to be burned,
suppose by the lake of fire, the judgment and fiery indignation which shall
devour the adversaries, the heavenly City which hath foundations whose
builder and maker is God, the cloud of witnesses, mount Sion, heavenly
Jerusalem, general assembly, spirits of just men made perfect, viz. by the
resurrection, and the shaking of heaven and earth, and removing them, that
the new heaven, new earth and new kingdom which cannot be shaken, may
remain. In the first of Peter occur these: [10] The Revelation of Jesus Christ,
twice or thrice repeated; [11] the blood of Christ as of a Lamb foreordained
before the foundation of the world; [12] the spiritual building in heaven, 1
Pet. ii. 5. an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not
away, reserved in heaven for us, who are kept unto the salvation, ready to
be revealed in the last time, 1 Pet. i. 4, 5. [13] the royal Priesthood, [14] the
holy Priesthood, [15] the judgment beginning at the house of God, and [16]

the Church at Babylon. These are indeed obscurer allusions; but the second
Epistle, from the 19th verse of the first Chapter to the end, seems to be a
continued Commentary upon the Apocalypse. There, in writing to the
Churches in Asia, to whom John was commanded to send this Prophecy, he
tells them, they have a more sure word of Prophecy, to be heeded by them,
as a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star
arise in their hearts, that is, until they begin to understand it: for no
Prophecy, saith he, of the scripture is of any private interpretation; the
Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God
spake, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Daniel [17] himself professes
that he understood not his own Prophecies; and therefore the Churches
were not to expect the interpretation from their Prophet John, but to study
the Prophecies themselves. This is the substance of what Peter says in the
first chapter; and then in the second he proceeds to describe, out of this sure
word of Prophecy, how there should arise in the Church false Prophets, or
false teachers, expressed collectively in the Apocalypse by the name of the
false Prophet; who should bring in damnable heresies, even denying the
Lord that bought them, which is the character of Antichrist: And many, saith
he, shall follow their lusts [18]; they that dwell on the earth [19] shall be
deceived by the false Prophet, and be made drunk with the wine of the
Whore's fornication, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be
blasphemed; for [20] the Beast is full of blasphemy: and thro' covetousness
shall they with feigned words make merchandize of you; for these are the
Merchants of the Earth, who trade with the great Whore, and their
merchandize [21] is all things of price, with the bodies and souls of men:
whose judgment—lingreth not, and their damnation [22] slumbreth not, but
shall surely come upon them at the last day suddenly, as the flood upon the
old world, and fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrha, when the
just shall be delivered [23] like Lot; for the Lord knoweth how to deliver the
godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment
to be punished, in the lake of fire; but chiefly them that walk after the flesh
in the lust of uncleanness, [24] being made drunk with the wine of the
Whore's fornication; who despise dominion, and are not afraid to
blaspheme glories; for the beast opened his mouth against God [25] to
blaspheme his name and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
These, as natural brute beasts, the ten-horned beast and two-horned beast,

or false Prophet, made to be taken and destroyed, in the lake of fire,
blaspheme the things they understand not:—they count it pleasure to riot in
the day-time—sporting themselves with their own deceivings, while they
feast [26] with you, having eyes full of an [27] Adulteress: for the kingdoms
of the beast live deliciously with the great Whore, and the nations are made
drunk with the wine of her fornication. They are gone astray, following the
way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,
the false Prophet [28] who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the
children of Israel. These are, not fountains of living water, but wells without
water; not such clouds of Saints as the two witnesses ascend in, but clouds
that are carried with a tempest, &c. Thus does the author of this Epistle
spend all the second Chapter in describing the qualities of the Apocalyptic
Beasts and false Prophet: and then in the third he goes on to describe their
destruction more fully, and the future kingdom. He saith, that because the
coming of Christ should be long deferred, they should scoff, saying, where
is the promise of his coming? Then he describes the sudden coming of the
day of the Lord upon them, as a thief in the night, which is the Apocalyptic
phrase; and the millennium, or thousand years, which are with God but as a
day; the passing away of the old heavens and earth, by a conflagration in
the lake of fire, and our looking for new heavens and a new earth, wherein
dwelleth righteousness.
Seeing therefore Peter and John were Apostles of the circumcision, it seems
to me that they staid with their Churches in Judea and Syria till the Romans
made war upon their nation, that is, till the twelfth year of Nero; that they
then followed the main body of their flying Churches into Asia, and that
Peter went thence by Corinth to Rome; that the Roman Empire looked upon
those Churches as enemies, because Jews by birth; and therefore to prevent
insurrections, secured their leaders, and banished John into Patmos. It
seems also probable to me that the Apocalypse was there composed, and
that soon after the Epistle to the Hebrews and those of Peter were written to
these Churches, with reference to this Prophecy as what they were
particularly concerned in. For it appears by these Epistles, that they were
written in times of general affliction and tribulation under the heathens, and
by consequence when the Empire made war upon the Jews; for till then the
heathens were at peace with the Christian Jews, as well as with the rest. The
Epistle to the Hebrews, since it mentions Timothy as related to those

Hebrews, must be written to them after their flight into Asia, where Timothy
was Bishop; and by consequence after the war began, the Hebrews in Judea
being strangers to Timothy. Peter seems also to call Rome Babylon, as well
with respect to the war made upon Judea, and the approaching captivity,
like that under old Babylon, as with respect to that name in the Apocalypse:
and in writing to the strangers scattered thro'out Pontus, Galatia,
Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, he seems to intimate that they were the
strangers newly scattered by the Roman wars; for those were the only
strangers there belonging to his care.

This account of things agrees best with history when duly rectified. For [29]
Justin and [30] Irenæus say, that Simon Magus came to Rome in the reign of
Claudius, and exercised juggling tricks there. Pseudo-Clemens adds, that he
endeavoured there to fly, but broke his neck thro' the prayers of Peter.
Whence [31] Eusebius, or rather his interpolator Jerom, has recorded, that
Peter came to Rome in the second year of Claudius: but [32] Cyril Bishop of
Jerusalem, Philastrius, Sulpitius, Prosper, Maximus Taurinensis, and
Hegesippus junior, place this victory of Peter in the time of Nero. Indeed
the antienter tradition was, that Peter came to Rome in the days of this
Emperor, as may be seen in [33] Lactantius. Chrysostom [34] tells us, that the
Apostles continued long in Judea, and that then being driven out by the
Jews they went to the Gentiles. This dispersion was in the first year of the
Jewish war, when the Jews, as Josephus tells us, began to be tumultuous
and violent in all places. For all agree that the Apostles were dispersed into
several regions at once; and Origen has set down the time, [35] telling us
that in the beginning of the Judaic war, the Apostles and disciples of our
Lord were scattered into all nations; Thomas into Parthia, Andrew into
Scythia, John into Asia, and Peter first into Asia, where he preacht to the
dispersion, and thence into Italy. [36] Dionysius Corinthius saith, that Peter
went from Asia by Corinth to Rome, and all antiquity agrees that Peter and
Paul were martyred there in the end of Nero's reign. Mark went with
Timothy to Rome, 2 Tim. iv. 11. Colos. iv. 10. Sylvanus was Paul's assistant;
and by the companions of Peter, mentioned in his first Epistle, we may
know that he wrote from Rome; and the Antients generally agree, that in
this Epistle he understood Rome by Babylon. His second Epistle was writ to
the same dispersed strangers with the first, 2 Pet. iii. 1. and therein he saith,
that Paul had writ of the same things to them, and also in his other Epistles,

ver. 15, 16. Now as there is no Epistle of Paul to these strangers besides that
to the Hebrews, so in this Epistle, chap. x. 11, 12. we find at large all those
things which Peter had been speaking of, and here refers to; particularly the
passing away of the old heavens and earth, and establishing an inheritance
immoveable, with an exhortation to grace, because God, to the wicked, is a
consuming fire, Heb. xii. 25, 26, 28, 29.
Having determined the time of writing the Apocalyse, I need not say much
about the truth of it, since it was in such request with the first ages, that
many endeavoured to imitate it, by feigning Apocalypses under the Apostles
names; and the Apostles themselves, as I have just now shewed, studied it,
and used its phrases; by which means the style of the Epistle to the Hebrews
became more mystical than that of Paul's other Epistles, and the style of
John's Gospel more figurative and majestical than that of the other Gospels.
I do not apprehend that Christ was called the word of God in any book of
the New Testament written before the Apocalypse; and therefore am of
opinion, the language was taken from this Prophecy, as were also many
other phrases in this Gospel, such as those of Christ's being the light which
enlightens the world, the lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the
world, the bridegroom, he that testifieth, he that came down from heaven,
the Son of God, &c. Justin Martyr, who within thirty years after John's
death became a Christian, writes expresly that a certain man among the
Christians whose name was John, one of the twelve Apostles of Christ, in the
Revelation which was shewed him, prophesied that those who believed in
Christ should live a thousand years at Jerusalem. And a few lines before he
saith: But I, and as many as are Christians, in all things right in their
opinions, believe both that there shall be a resurrection of the flesh, and a
thousand years life at Jerusalem built, adorned and enlarged. Which is as
much as to say, that all true Christians in that early age received this
Prophecy: for in all ages, as many as believed the thousand years, received
the Apocalypse as the foundation of their opinion: and I do not know one
instance to the contrary. Papias Bishop of Hierapolis, a man of the
Apostolic age, and one of John's own disciples, did not only teach the
doctrine of the thousand years, but also [37] asserted the Apocalypse as
written by divine inspiration. Melito, who flourished next after Justin, [38]
wrote a commentary upon this Prophecy; and he, being Bishop of Sardis
one of the seven Churches, could neither be ignorant of their tradition about

it, nor impose upon them. Irenæus, who was contemporary with Melito,
wrote much upon it, and said, that the number 666 was in all the antient and
approved copies; and that he had it also confirmed to him by those who had
seen John face to face, meaning no doubt his master Polycarp for one. At
the same time [39] Theophilus Bishop of Antioch asserted it, and so did
Tertullian, Clemens Alexandrinus, and Origen soon after; and their
contemporary Hippolytus the Martyr, Metropolitan of the Arabians, [40]
wrote a commentary upon it. All these were antient men, flourishing within
a hundred and twenty years after John's death, and of greatest note in the
Churches of those times. Soon after did Victorinus Pictaviensis write
another commentary upon it; and he lived in the time of Dioclesian. This
may surely suffice to shew how the Apocalypse was received and studied in
the first ages: and I do not indeed find any other book of the New Testament
so strongly attested, or commented upon so early as this. The Prophecy
said: Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this
Prophecy, and keep the things which are written therein. This animated the
first Christians to study it so much, till the difficulty made them remit, and
comment more upon the other books of the New Testament. This was the
state of the Apocalypse, till the thousand years being misunderstood,
brought a prejudice against it: and Dionysius of Alexandria, noting how it
abounded with barbarisms, that is with Hebraisms, promoted that prejudice
so far, as to cause many Greeks in the fourth century to doubt of the book.
But whilst the Latins, and a great part of the Greeks, always retained the
Apocalypse, and the rest doubted only out of prejudice, it makes nothing
against its authority.
This Prophecy is called the Revelation, with respect to the scripture of truth,
which Daniel [41] was commanded to shut up and seal, till the time of the
end. Daniel sealed it until the time of the end; and until that time comes, the
Lamb is opening the seals: and afterwards the two Witnesses prophesy out
of it a long time in sack-cloth, before they ascend up to heaven in a cloud.
All which is as much as to say, that these Prophecies of Daniel and John
should not be understood till the time of the end: but then some should
prophesy out of them in an afflicted and mournful state for a long time, and
that but darkly, so as to convert but few. But in the very end, the Prophecy
should be so far interpreted as to convince many. Then, saith Daniel, many
shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be encreased. For the Gospel

must be preached in all nations before the great tribulation, and end of the
world. The palm-bearing multitude, which come out of this great
tribulation, cannot be innumerable out of all nations, unless they be made so
by the preaching of the Gospel before it comes. There must be a stone cut
out of a mountain without hands, before it can fall upon the toes of the
Image, and become a great mountain and fill the earth. An Angel must fly
thro' the midst of heaven with the everlasting Gospel to preach to all
nations, before Babylon falls, and the Son of man reaps his harvest. The two
Prophets must ascend up to heaven in a cloud, before the kingdoms of this
world become the kingdoms of Christ. 'Tis therefore a part of this Prophecy,
that it should not be understood before the last age of the world; and
therefore it makes for the credit of the Prophecy, that it is not yet
understood. But if the last age, the age of opening these things, be now
approaching, as by the great successes of late Interpreters it seems to be, we
have more encouragement than ever to look into these things. If the general
preaching of the Gospel be approaching, it is to us and our posterity that
those words mainly belong: [42] In the time of the end the wise shall
understand, but none of the wicked shall understand. [43] Blessed is he that
readeth, and they that hear the words of this Prophecy, and keep those
things which are written therein.
The folly of Interpreters has been, to foretel times and things by this
Prophecy, as if God designed to make them Prophets. By this rashness they
have not only exposed themselves, but brought the Prophecy also into
contempt. The design of God was much otherwise. He gave this and the
Prophecies of the Old Testament, not to gratify men's curiosities by
enabling them to foreknow things, but that after they were fulfilled they
might be interpreted by the event, and his own Providence, not the
Interpreters, be then manifested thereby to the world. For the event of
things predicted many ages before, will then be a convincing argument that
the world is governed by providence. For as the few and obscure Prophecies
concerning Christ's first coming were for setting up the Christian religion,
which all nations have since corrupted; so the many and clear Prophecies
concerning the things to be done at Christ's second coming, are not only for
predicting but also for effecting a recovery and re-establishment of the
long-lost truth, and setting up a kingdom wherein dwells righteousness. The
event will prove the Apocalypse; and this Prophecy, thus proved and

understood, will open the old Prophets, and all together will make known
the true religion, and establish it. For he that will understand the old
Prophets, must begin with this; but the time is not yet come for
understanding them perfectly, because the main revolution predicted in
them is not yet come to pass. In the days of the voice of the seventh Angel,
when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God shall be finished, as he
hath declared to his servants the Prophets: and then the kingdoms of this
world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ, and he shall
reign for ever, Apoc. x. 7. xi. 15. There is already so much of the Prophecy
fulfilled, that as many as will take pains in this study, may see sufficient
instances of God's providence: but then the signal revolutions predicted by
all the holy Prophets, will at once both turn mens eyes upon considering the
predictions, and plainly interpret them. Till then we must content ourselves
with interpreting what hath been already fulfilled.
Amongst the Interpreters of the last age there is scarce one of note who hath
not made some discovery worth knowing; and thence I seem to gather that
God is about opening these mysteries. The success of others put me upon
considering it; and if I have done any thing which may be useful to
following writers, I have my design.

Notes to Chap. I.
[1] Dem. Evang. l. 3.
[2] Vid. Pamelium in notis ad Tertull. de Præscriptionbus, n. 215 & Hieron l. 1. contra
Jovinianum, c. 14. Edit.Erasmi.
[3] Areth. c. 18, 19.
[4] Hist. Eccl. l. 3. c. 23.
[5] Chrysost. ad Theodorum lapsum.
[6] Hieron. in Epist. ad Gal. l. 3. c. 6.
[7] Apud Euseb. Eccl. Hist. l. 3. c. 28. Edit. Valesii.
[8] Epiphan. Hæres. 28.
[9] Hieron. adv. Lucif.
[10] 1 Pet. i. 7, 13. iv. 13. & v. 1.
[11] Apoc. xiii. 8.

[12] Apoc. xxi.
[13] Apoc. i. 6. & v. 10.
[14] Apoc. xx. 6.
[15] Apoc. xx. 4, 12.
[16] Apoc. xvii.
[17] Dan. viii. 15, 16, 27. & xii. 8, 9.
[18] ασελγειας, in many of the best MSS.
[19] Apoc. xiii. 7, 12.
[20] Apoc. xiii. 1, 5, 6.
[21] Apoc. xviii. 12, 13.
[22] Apoc. xix. 20.
[23] Apoc. xxi. 3, 4.
[24] Apoc. ix. 21. and xvii. 2.
[25] Apoc. xiii. 6.
[26] Apoc. xviii. 3, 7, 9.
[27] μοιχαλιδος.
[28] Apoc. ii. 14.
[29] Apol. ad Antonin. Pium.
[30] Hæres. l. 1. c. 20. Vide etiam Tertullianum, Apol. c. 13.
[31] Euseb. Chron.
[32] Cyril Catech. 6. Philastr. de hæres. cap. 30. Sulp. Hist. l. 2. Prosper de promiss. dimid.
temp. cap. 13. Maximus serm. 5. in Natal. Apost. Hegesip. l. 2. c. 2.
[33] Lactant de mortib. Persec. c. 2.
[34] Hom. 70. in Matt. c. 22.
[35] Apud Euseb. Eccl. Hist. l. 2. c. 25.
[36] Euseb. Hist. l. 2. c. 25.
[37] Arethas in Proæm. comment. in Apoc.
[38] Euseb. Hist. l. 4. cap. 26. Hieron.
[39] Euseb. Hist. l. 4. c. 24.
[40] Hieron.
[41] Dan. x. 21. xii. 4, 9.

[42] Dan. xii. 4, 10.
[43] Apoc. i. 3.

CHAP. II.

Of the relation which the Apocalypse of John hath to the Book of the Law of
Moses, and to the worship of God in the Temple.
The Apocalypse of John is written in the same style and language with the
Prophecies of Daniel, and hath the same relation to them which they have
to one another, so that all of them together make but one complete
Prophecy; and in like manner it consists of two parts, an introductory
Prophecy, and an Interpretation thereof.
The Prophecy is distinguish'd into seven successive parts, by the opening of
the seven seals of the book which Daniel was commanded to seal up: and
hence it is called the Apocalypse or Revelation of Jesus Christ. The time of
the seventh seal is sub-divided into eight successive parts by the silence in
heaven for half an hour, and the sounding of seven trumpets successively:
and the seventh trumpet sounds to the battle of the great day of God
Almighty, whereby the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of the
Lord and of his Christ, and those are destroyed that destroyed the earth.
The Interpretation begins with the words, And the temple of God was
opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the Ark of his
Testament: and it continues to the end of the Prophecy. The Temple is the
scene of the visions, and the visions in the Temple relate to the feast of the
seventh month: for the feasts of the Jews were typical of things to come.
The Passover related to the first coming of Christ, and the feasts of the
seventh month to his second coming: his first coming being therefore over
before this Prophecy was given, the feasts of the seventh month are here
only alluded unto.
On the first day of that month, in the morning, the High-Priest dressed the
lamps: and in allusion hereunto, this Prophecy begins with a vision of one
like the Son of man in the High-Priest's habit, appearing as it were in the

midst of the seven golden candlesticks, or over against the midst of them,
dressing the lamps, which appeared like a rod of seven stars in his right
hand: and this dressing was perform'd by the sending seven Epistles to the
Angels or Bishops of the seven Churches of Asia, which in the primitive
times illuminated the Temple or Church Catholick. These Epistles contain
admonitions against the approaching Apostacy, and therefore relate to the
times when the Apostacy began to work strongly, and before it prevailed. It
began to work in the Apostles days, and was to continue working till the
man of sin should be revealed. It began to work in the disciples of Simon,
Menander, Carpocrates, Cerinthas, and such sorts of men as had imbibed
the metaphysical philosophy of the Gentiles and Cabalistical Jews, and
were thence called Gnosticks. John calls them Antichrists, saying that in his
days there were many Antichrists. But these being condemned by the
Apostles, and their immediate disciples, put the Churches in no danger
during the opening of the first four seals. The visions at the opening of these
seals relate only to the civil affairs of the heathen Roman Empire. So long
the Apostolic traditions prevailed, and preserved the Church in its purity:
and therefore the affairs of the Church do not begin to be considered in this
Prophecy before the opening of the fifth seal. She began then to decline,
and to want admonitions; and therefore is admonished by these Epistles, till
the Apostacy prevailed and took place, which was at the opening of the
seventh seal. The admonitions therefore in these seven Epistles relate to the
state of the Church in the times of the fifth and sixth seals. At the opening
of the fifth seal, the Church is purged from hypocrites by a great
persecution. At the opening of the sixth, that which letted is taken out of the
way, namely the heathen Roman Empire. At the opening of the seventh, the
man of sin is revealed. And to these times the seven Epistles relate.
The seven Angels, to whom these Epistles were written, answer to the seven
Amarc-holim, who were Priests and chief Officers of the Temple, and had
jointly the keys of the gates of the Temple, with those of the Treasuries, and
the direction, appointment and oversight of all things in the Temple.
After the lamps were dresed, John saw the door of the Temple opened; and
by the voice as it were of a trumpet, was called up to the eastern gate of the
great court, to see the visions: and behold a throne was set, viz. the mercy-
seat upon the Ark of the Testament, which the Jews respected as the throne
of God between the Cherubims, Exod. xxv. 2. Psal. xcix. 1. And he that sat

on it was to look upon like Jasper and Sardine stone, that is, of an olive
colour, the people of Judea being of that colour. And, the Sun being then in
the East, a rainbow was about the throne, the emblem of glory. And round
about the throne were four and twenty seats; answering to the chambers of
the four and twenty Princes of the Priests, twelve on the south side, and
twelve on the north side of the Priests Court. And upon the seats were four
and twenty Elders sitting, clothed in white rayment, with crowns on their
heads; representing the Princes of the four and twenty courses of the Priests
clothed in linen. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and
thunderings, and voices, viz. the flashes of the fire upon the Altar at the
morning-sacrifice, and the thundering voices of those that sounded the
trumpets, and sung at the Eastern gate of the Priests Court; for these being
between John and the throne appeared to him as proceeding from the
throne. And there were seven lamps of fire burning, in the Temple, before
the throne, which are the seven spirits of God, or Angels of the seven
Churches, represented in the beginning of this Prophecy by seven stars. And
before the throne was a sea of glass clear as chrystal; the brazen sea
between the porch of the Temple and the Altar, filled with clear water. And
in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four Beasts full
of eyes before and behind: that is, one Beast before the throne and one
behind it, appearing to John as in the midst of the throne, and one on either
side in the circle about it, to represent by the multitude of their eyes the
people standing in the four sides of the peoples court. And the first Beast
was like a lion, and the second was like a calf, and the third had the face of
a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle. The people of Israel in the
wilderness encamped round about the tabernacle, and on the east side were
three tribes under the standard of Judah, on the west were three tribes under
the standard of Ephraim, on the south were three tribes under the standard
of Reuben, and on the north were three tribes under the standard of Dan,
Numb. ii. And the standard of Judah was a Lion, that of Ephraim an Ox,
that of Reuben a Man, and that of Dan an Eagle, as the Jews affirm.
Whence were framed the hieroglyphicks of Cherubims and Seraphims, to
represent the people of Israel. A Cherubim had one body with four faces,
the faces of a Lion, an Ox, a Man and an Eagle, looking to the four winds of
heaven, without turning about, as in Ezekiel's vision, chap. i. And four
Seraphims had the same four faces with four bodies, one face to every body.
The four Beasts are therefore four Seraphims standing in the four sides of

the peoples court; the first in the eastern side with the head of a Lion, the
second in the western side with the head of an Ox, the third in the southern
side with the head of a Man, the fourth in the northern side with the head of
an Eagle: and all four signify together the twelve tribes of Israel, out of
whom the hundred forty and four thousand were sealed, Apoc. vii. 4. And
the four Beasts had each of them six wings, two to a tribe, in all twenty and
four wings, answering to the twenty and four stations of the people. And
they were full of eyes within, or under their wings. And they rest not day and
night, or at the morning and evening-sacrifices, saying, holy, holy, holy Lord
God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. These animals are
therefore the Seraphims, which appeared to Isaiah [1] in a vision like this of
the Apocalypse. For there also the Lord sat upon a throne in the temple; and
the Seraphims each with six wings cried, Holy, holy, holy Lord God of
hosts. And when those animals give glory and honour and thanks to him
that sitteth upon the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the four and
twenty Elders go into the Temple, and there fall down before him that sitteth
on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their
crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory
and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy
pleasure they are and were created. At the morning and evening-sacrifices,
so soon as the sacrifice was laid upon the Altar, and the drink-offering
began to be poured out, the trumpets sounded, and the Levites sang by
course three times; and every time when the trumpets sounded, the people
fell down and worshiped. Three times therefore did the people worship; to
express which number, the Beasts cry Holy, holy, holy: and the song being
ended, the people prayed standing, till the solemnity was finished. In the
mean time the Priests went into the Temple, and there fell down before him
that sat upon the throne, and worshiped.
And John saw, in the right hand of him that sat upon the throne, a book
written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals, viz. the book
which Daniel was commanded to seal up, and which is here represented by
the prophetic book of the Law laid up on the right side of the Ark, as it were
in the right hand of him that sat on the throne: for the festivals and
ceremonies of the Law prescribed to the people in this book, adumbrated
those things which were predicted in the book of Daniel; and the writing
within and on the backside of this book, relates to the synchronal

Prophecies. [2] And none was found worthy to open the book but the Lamb
of God. And lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four Beasts, and in the
midst of the Elders, that is, at the foot of the Altar, stood a lamb as it had
been slain, the morning-sacrifice; having seven horns, which are the seven
Churches, and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into
all the earth. And he came, and took the book out of the right hand of him
that sat upon the throne: And when he had taken the book, the four Beasts
and four and twenty Elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of
them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to
open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by
thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and
hast made us, unto our God, Kings and Priests, and we shall reign on the
earth. The Beasts and Elders therefore represent the primitive Christians of
all nations; and the worship of these Christians in their Churches is here
represented under the form of worshiping God and the Lamb in the Temple:
God for his benefaction in creating all things, and the Lamb for his
benefaction in redeeming us with his blood: God as sitting upon the throne
and living for ever, and the Lamb as exalted above all by the merits of his
death. And I heard, saith John, the voice of many Angels round about the
throne, and the Beasts and the Elders: and the number of them was ten
thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a
loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches,
and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every
creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and
such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I, saying, Blessing,
honour, glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto
the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four Beasts said, Amen. And the four
and twenty Elders fell down and worshiped him that liveth for ever and
ever. This was the worship of the primitive Christians.
It was the custom for the High-Priest, seven days before the fast of the
seventh month, to continue constantly in the Temple, and study the book of
the Law, that he might be perfect in it against the day of expiation; wherein
the service, which was various and intricate, was wholly to be performed by
himself; part of which service was reading the Law to the people: and to
promote his studying it, there were certain Priests appointed by the

Sanhedrim to be with him those seven days in one of his chambers in the
Temple, and there to discourse with him about the Law, and read it to him,
and put him in mind of reading and studying it himself. This his opening
and reading the Law those seven days, is alluded unto in the Lamb's
opening the seals. We are to conceive that those seven days begin in the
evening before each day; for the Jews began their day in the evening, and
that the solemnity of the fast begins in the morning of the seventh day.
The seventh seal was therefore opened on the day of expiation, and then
there was silence in heaven for half an hour. And an Angel, the High-Priest,
stood at the Altar, having a golden Censer; and there was given him much
incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints, upon the
golden Altar which was before the throne. The custom was on other days,
for one of the Priests to take fire from the great Altar in a silver Censer; but
on this day, for the High-Priest to take fire from the great Altar in a golden
Censer: and when he was come down from the great Altar, he took incense
from one of the Priests who brought it to him, and went with it to the golden
Altar: and while he offered the incense, the people prayed without in
silence, which is the silence in heaven for half an hour. When the High-
Priest had laid the incense on the Altar, he carried a Censer of it burning in
his hand, into the most holy place before the Ark. And the smoke of the
incense, with the prayers of the Saints, ascended up before God out of the
Angel's hand. On other days there was a certain measure of incense for the
golden Altar: on this day there was a greater quantity for both the Altar and
the most holy Place, and therefore it is called much incense. After this the
Angel took the Censer, and filled it with fire from the great Altar, and cast it
into the earth; that is, by the hands of the Priests who belong to his mystical
body, he cast it to the earth without the Temple, for burning the Goat which
was the Lord's lot. And at this and other concomitant sacrifices, until the
evening-sacrifice was ended, there were voices, and thundrings, and
lightnings, and an earthquake; that is, the voice of the High-Priest reading
the Law to the people, and other voices and thundrings from the trumpets
and temple-musick at the sacrifices, and lightnings from the fire of the
Altar.
The solemnity of the day of expiation being finished, the seven Angels
found their trumpets at the great sacrifices of the seven days of the feast of
tabernacles; and at the same sacrifices, the seven thunders utter their voices,

which are the musick of the Temple, and singing of the Levites, intermixed
with the soundings of the trumpets: and the seven Angels pour out their
vials of wrath, which are the drink-offerings of those sacrifices.

When six of the seals were opened, John said: [3] And after these things,
that is, after the visions of the sixth seal, I saw four Angels standing on the
four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind
should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw
another Angel ascending from the East, having the seal of the living God:
and he cried with a loud voice to the four Angels, to whom it was given to
hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, nor the sea, nor the
trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. This
sealing alludes to a tradition of the Jews, that upon the day of expiation all
the people of Israel are sealed up in the books of life and death. For the
Jews in their Talmud [4] tell us, that in the beginning of every new year, or
first day of the month Tisri, the seventh month of the sacred year, three
books are opened in judgment; the book of life, in which the names of those
are written who are perfectly just; the book of death, in which the names of
those are written who are Atheists or very wicked; and a third book, of
those whose judgment is suspended till the day of expiation, and whose
names are not written in the book of life or death before that day. The first
ten days of this month they call the penitential days; and all these days they
fast and pray very much, and are very devout, that on the tenth day their
sins may be remitted, and their names may be written in the book of life;
which day is therefore called the day of expiation. And upon this tenth day,
in returning home from the Synagogues, they say to one another, God the
creator seal you to a good year. For they conceive that the books are now
sealed up, and that the sentence of God remains unchanged henceforward to
the end of the year. The same thing is signified by the two Goats, upon
whose foreheads the High-Priest yearly, on the day of expiation, lays the
two lots inscribed, For God and For Azazel; God's lot signifying the people
who are sealed with the name of God in their foreheads; and the lot Azazel,
which was sent into the wilderness, representing those who receive the
mark and name of the Beast, and go into the wilderness with the great
Whore.
The servants of God being therefore sealed in the day of expiation, we may
conceive that this sealing is synchronal to the visions which appear upon

opening the seventh seal; and that when the Lamb had opened six of the
seals and seen the visions relating to the inside of the sixth, he looked on
the backside of the seventh leaf, and then saw the four Angels holding the
four winds of heaven, and another Angel ascending from the East with the
seal of God. Conceive also, that the Angels which held the four winds were
the first four of the seven Angels, who upon opening the seventh seal were
seen standing before God; and that upon their holding the winds, there was
silence in heaven for half an hour; and that while the servants of God were
sealing, the Angel with the golden Censer offered their prayers with incense
upon the golden Altar, and read the Law: and that so soon as they were
sealed, the winds hurt the earth at the sounding of the first trumpet, and the
sea at the sounding of the second; these winds signifying the wars, to which
the first four trumpets sounded. For as the first four seals are distinguished
from the three last by the appearance of four horsemen towards the four
winds of heaven; so the wars of the first four trumpets are distinguished
from those of the three last, by representing these by four winds, and the
others by three great woes.
In one of Ezekiel's visions, when the Babylonian captivity was at hand, six
men appeared with slaughter-weapons; and a seventh, who [5] appeared
among them clothed in white linen and a writer's ink-horn by his side, is
commanded to go thro' the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the
foreheads of the men that sigh and cry for all the abominations done in the
midst thereof: and then the six men, like the Angels of the first six trumpets,
are commanded to slay those men who are not marked. Conceive therefore
that the hundred forty and four thousand are sealed, to preserve them from
the plagues of the first six trumpets; and that at length by the preaching of
the everlasting gospel, they grow into a great multitude, which no man
could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people and tongues: and at
the sounding of the seventh trumpet come out of the great tribulation with
Palms in their hands: the kingdoms of this world, by the war to which that
trumpet sounds, becoming the kingdoms of God and his Christ. For the
solemnity of the great Hosannah was kept by the Jews upon the seventh or
last day of the feast of tabernacles; the Jews upon that day carrying Palms
in their hands, and crying Hosannah.
After six of the Angels, answering to the six men with slaughter-weapons,
had sounded their trumpets, the Lamb in the form of a mighty Angel cane

down from heaven clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow was upon his head,
and his face was as it were the Sun, and his feet as pillars of fire, the shape
in which Christ appeared in the beginning of this Prophecy; and he had in
his hand a little book open, the book which he had newly opened; for he
received but one book from him that sitteth upon the throne, and he alone
was worthy to open and look on this book. And he set his right foot upon
the sea and his left foot on the earth, and cried with a loud voice, as when a
lion roareth. It was the custom for the High-Priest on the day of expiation,
to stand in an elevated place in the peoples court, at the Eastern gate of the
Priests court, and read the Law to the people, while the Heifer and the Goat
which was the Lord's lot, were burning without the Temple. We may
therefore suppose him standing in such a manner, that his right foot might
appear to John as it were standing on the sea of glass, and his left foot on
the ground of the house; and that he cried with a loud voice, in reading the
Law on the day of expiation. And when he had cried, seven thunders uttered
their voices. Thunders are the voice of a cloud, and a cloud signifies a
multitude; and this multitude may be the Levites, who sang with thundering
voices, and played with musical instruments at the great sacrifices, on the
seven days of the feast of Tabernacles: at which times the trumpets also
sounded. For the trumpets sounded, and the Levites sang alternately, three
times at every sacrifice. The Prophecy therefore of the seven thunders is
nothing else than a repetition of the Prophecy of the seven trumpets in
another form. And the Angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the
earth, lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever
and ever, that after the seven thunders there should be time no longer; but
in the days of the voice of the seventh Angel, when he shall begin to sound,
the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants
the Prophets. The voices of the thunders therefore last to the end of this
world, and so do those of the trumpets.
And the voice which I heard from heaven, saith John, spake unto me again
and said, Go and take the little book, &c. And I took the little book out of
the Angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey, and
as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, Thou
must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and
kings. This is an introduction to a new Prophecy, to a repetition of the
Prophecy of the whole book; and alludes to Ezekiel's eating a roll or book

spread open before him, and written within and without, full of
lamentations and mourning and woe, but sweet in his mouth. Eating and
drinking signify acquiring and possessing; and eating the book is becoming
inspired with the Prophecy contained in it. It implies being inspired in a
vigorous and extraordinary manner with the Prophecy of the whole book,
and therefore signifies a lively repetition of the whole Prophecy by way of
interpretation, and begins not till the first Prophecy, that of the seals and
trumpets, is ended. It was sweet in John's mouth, and therefore begins not
with the bitter Prophecy of the Babylonian captivity, and the Gentiles being
in the outward court of the Temple, and treading the holy city under foot;
and the prophesying of the two Witnesses in sackcloth, and their smiting the
earth with all plagues, and being killed by the Beast; but so soon as the
Prophecy of the trumpets is ended, it begins with the sweet Prophecy of the
glorious Woman in heaven, and the victory of Michael over the Dragon; and
after that, it is bitter in John's belly, by a large description of the times of the
great Apostacy.
And the Angel stood, upon the earth and sea, saying, Rise and measure the
Temple of God and the Altar, and them that worship therein, that is, their
courts with the buildings thereon, viz. the square court of the Temple called
the separate place, and the square court of the Altar called the Priests court,
and the court of them that worship in the Temple called the new court: but
the great court which is without the Temple, leave out, and measure it not,
for it is given to the Gentiles, and the holy city shall they tread under foot
forty and two months. This measuring hath reference to Ezekiel's measuring
the Temple of Solomon: there the whole Temple, including the outward
court, was measured, to signify that it should be rebuilt in the latter days.
Here the courts of the Temple and Altar, and they who worship therein, are
only measured, to signify the building of a second Temple, for those that are
sealed out of all the twelve tribes of Israel, and worship in the inward court
of sincerity and truth: but John is commanded to leave out the outward
court, or outward form of religion and Church-government, because it is
given to the Babylonian Gentiles. For the glorious woman in heaven, the
remnant of whole seed kept the commandments of God, and had the
testimony of Jesus, continued the same woman in outward form after her
flight into the wilderness, whereby she quitted her former sincerity and
piety, and became the great Whore. She lost her chastity, but kept her

outward form and shape. And while the Gentiles tread the holy city
underfoot, and worship in the outward court, the two witnesses, represented
perhaps by the two feet of the Angel standing on the sea and earth,
prophesied against them, and had power, like Elijah and Moses, to consume
their enemies with fire proceeding out of their mouth, and to shut heaven
that it rain not in the days of their Prophecy, and to turn the waters into
blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will, that is,
with the plagues of the trumpets and vials of wrath; and at length they are
slain, rise again from the dead, and ascend up to heaven in a cloud; and then
the seventh trumpet sounds to the day of judgment.
The Prophecy being finished, John is inspired anew by the eaten book, and
begins the Interpretation thereof with these words, And the Temple of God
was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his Temple the Ark of the
Testament. By the Ark, we may know that this was the first Temple; for the
second Temple had no Ark. And there were lightnings, and voices, and
thundrings, and an earthquake, and great hail. These answer to the wars in
the Roman Empire, during the reign of the four horsemen, who appeared
upon opening the first four seals. And there appeared a great wonder in
heaven, a woman clothed with the Sun. In the Prophecy, the affairs of the
Church begin to be considered at the opening of the fifth seal; and in the
Interpretation, they begin at the same time with the vision of the Church in
the form of a woman in heaven: there she is persecuted, and here she is
pained in travail. The Interpretation proceeds down first to the sealing of the
servants of God, and marking the rest with the mark of the Beast; and then
to the day of judgment, represented by a harvest and vintage. Then it returns
back to the times of opening the seventh seal, and interprets the Prophecy of
the seven trumpets by the pouring out of seven vials of wrath. The Angels
who pour them out, come out of the Temple of the Tabernacle; that is, out of
the second Temple, for the Tabernacle had no outward court. Then it returns
back again to the times of measuring the Temple and Altar, and of the
Gentiles worshiping in the outward court, and of the Beast killing the
witnesses in the streets of the great city; and interprets these things by the
vision of a woman sitting on the Beast, drunken with the blood of the
Saints; and proceeds in the interpretation downwards to the fall of the great
city and the day of judgment.

The whole Prophecy of the book, represented by the book of the Law, is
therefore repeated, and interpreted in the visions which follow those of
sounding the seventh trumpet, and begin with that of the Temple of God
opened in heaven. Only the things, which the seven thunders uttered, were
not written down, and therefore not interpreted.

Notes to Chap. II.
[1] Isa. vi.
[2] Apoc. v.
[3] Apoc. vii
[4] Buxtorf in Synogoga Judaica, c. 18, 21.
[5] Ezek. ix.

CHAP. III.

Of the relation which the Prophecy of John hath to those of Daniel; and of
the Subject of the Prophecy.
The whole scene of sacred Prophecy is composed of three principal parts:
the regions beyond Euphrates, represented by the two first Beasts of
Daniel; the Empire of the Greeks on this side of Euphrates, represented by
the Leopard and by the He-Goat; and the Empire of the Latins on this side
of Greece, represented by the Beast with ten horns. And to these three parts,
the phrases of the third part of the earth, sea, rivers, trees, ships, stars, sun,
and moon, relate. I place the body of the fourth Beast on this side of
Greece, because the three first of the four Beasts had their lives prolonged
after their dominion was taken away, and therefore belong not to the body
of the fourth. He only stamped them with his feet.
By the earth, the Jews understood the great continent of all Asia and Africa,
to which they had access by land: and by the Isles of the sea, they
understood the places to which they sailed by sea, particularly all Europe:

and hence in this Prophecy, the earth and sea are put for the nations of the
Greek and Latin Empires.
The third and fourth Beasts of Daniel are the same with the Dragon and ten-
horned Beast of John, but with this difference: John puts the Dragon for the
whole Roman Empire while it continued entire, because it was entire when
that Prophecy was given; and the Beast he considers not till the Empire
became divided: and then he puts the Dragon for the Empire of the Greeks,
and the Beast for the Empire of the Latins. Hence it is that the Dragon and
Beast have common heads and common horns: but the Dragon hath crowns
only upon his heads, and the Beast only upon his horns; because the Beast
and his horns reigned not before they were divided from the Dragon: and
when the Dragon gave the Beast his throne, the ten horns received power as
Kings, the same hour with the Beast. The heads are seven successive Kings.
Four of them were the four horsemen which appeared at the opening of the
first four seals. In the latter end of the sixth head, or seal, considered as
present in the visions, it is said, five of the seven Kings are fallen, and one
is, and another is not yet come; and the Beast that was and is not, being
wounded to death with a sword, he is the eighth, and of the seven: he was
therefore a collateral part of the seventh. The horns are the same with those
of Daniel's fourth Beast, described above.
The four horsemen which appear at the opening of the first four seals, have
been well explained by Mr. Mede; excepting that I had rather continue the
third to the end of the reign of the three Gordians and Philip the Arabian,
those being Kings from the South, and begin the fourth with the reign of
Decius, and continue it till the reign of Dioclesian. For the fourth horseman
sat upon a pale horse, and his name was Death; and hell followed with him;
and power was given them to kill unto the fourth part of the earth, with the
sword, and with famine, and with the plague, and with the Beasts of the
earth, or armies of invaders and rebels: and as such were the times during
all this interval. Hitherto the Roman Empire continued in an undivided
monarchical form, except rebellions; and such it is represented by the four
horsemen. But Dioclesian divided it between himself and Maximianus, A.C.
285; and it continued in that divided state, till the victory of Constantine the
great over Licinius, A.C. 323, which put an end to the heathen persecutions
set on foot by Dioclesian and Maximianus, and described at the opening of
the fifth seal. But this division of the Empire was imperfect, the whole

being still under one and the same Senate. The same victory of Constantine
over Licinius a heathen persecutor, began the fall of the heathen Empire,
described at the opening of the sixth seal: and the visions of this seal
continue till after the reign of Julian the Apostate, he being a heathen
Emperor, and reigning over the whole Roman Empire.
The affairs of the Church begin to be considered at the opening of the fifth
seal, as was said above. Then she is represented by a woman in the Temple
of heaven, clothed with the sun of righteousness, and the moon of Jewish
ceremonies under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars
relating to the twelve Apostles and to the twelve tribes of Israel. When she
fled from the Temple into the wilderness, she left in the Temple a remnant
of her seed, who kept the commandments of God, and had the testimony of
Jesus Christ; and therefore before her flight she represented the true
primitive Church of God, tho afterwards she degenerated like Aholah and
Aholibah. In Diocesian's persecution she cried, travelling in birth, and
pained to be delivered. And in the end of that persecution, by the victory of
Constantine over Maxentius A.C. 312, she brought forth a man-child, such
a child as was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, a Christian Empire. And
her child, by the victory of Constantine over Licinius, A.C. 323, was caught
up unto God and to his throne. And the woman, by the division of the
Roman Empire into the Greek and Latin Empires, fled from the first Temple
into the wilderness, or spiritually barren Empire of the Latins, where she is
found afterwards sitting upon the Beast and upon the seven mountains; and
is called the great city which reigneth over the Kings of the earth, that is,
over the ten Kings who give their kingdom to her Beast.
But before her flight there was war in heaven between Michael and the
Dragon, the Christian and the heathen religions; and the Dragon, that old
serpent, called the Devil and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world, was
cast out to the earth, and his Angels were cast out with him. And John
heard a voice in heaven, saying, Now is come salvation and strength, and
the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our
brethren is cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb,
and by the word of their testimony. And they loved not their lives unto the
death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe be to
the inhabiters of the earth and sea, or people of the Greek and Latin

Empires, for the devil is come down amongst you, having great wrath,
because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
And when the Dragon saw that he was cast down from the Roman throne,
and the man-child caught up thither, he persecuted the woman which
brought forth the man-child; and to her, by the division of the Roman
Empire between the cities of Rome and Constantinople A.C. 330, were
given two wings of a great eagle, the symbol of the Roman Empire, that she
might flee from the first Temple into the wilderness of Arabia, to her place
at Babylon mystically so called. And the serpent, by the division of the
same Empire between the sons of Constantine the great, A.C. 337, cast out
of his mouth water as a flood, the Western Empire, after the woman; that he
might cause her to be carried away by the flood. And the earth, or Greek
Empire, helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed
up the flood, by the victory of Constantius over Magnentius, A.C. 353, and
thus the Beast was wounded to death with a sword. And the Dragon was
wroth with the woman, in the reign of Julian the Apostate A.C. 361, and, by
a new division of the Empire between Valentinian and Valens, A.C. 364,
went from her into the Eastern Empire to make war with the remnant of her
seed, which she left behind her when she fled: and thus the Beast revived.
By the next division of the Empire, which was between Gratian and
Theodosius A.C. 379, the Beast with ten horns rose out of the sea, and the
Beast with two horns out of the earth: and by the last division thereof,
which was between the sons of Theodosius, A.C. 395, the Dragon gave the
Beast his power and throne, and great authority. And the ten horns received
power as Kings, the same hour with the Beast.
At length the woman arrived at her place of temporal as well as spiritual
dominion upon the back of the Beast, where she is nourished a time, and
times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent; not in his kingdom, but
at a distance from him. She is nourished by the merchants of the earth, three
times or years and an half, or 42 months, or 1260 days: and in these
Prophecies days are put for years. During all this time the Beast acted, and
she sat upon him, that is, reigned over him, and over the ten Kings who
gave their power and strength, that is, their kingdom to the Beast; and she
was drunken with the blood of the Saints. By all these circumstances she is
the eleventh horn of Daniel's fourth Beast, who reigned with a look more
stout than his fellows, and was of a different kind from the rest, and had

eyes and a mouth like the woman; and made war with the saints, and
prevailed against them, and wore them out, and thought to change times and
laws, and had them given into his hand, until a time, and times, and half a
time. These characters of the woman, and little horn of the Beast, agree
perfectly: in respect of her temporal dominion, she was a horn of the Beast;
in respect of her spiritual dominion, she rode upon him in the form of a
woman, and was his Church, and committed fornication with the ten Kings.
The second Beast, which rose up out of the earth, was the Church of the
Greek Empire: for it had two horns like those of the Lamb, and therefore
was a Church; and it spake as the Dragon, and therefore was of his religion;
and it came up out of the earth, and by consequence in his kingdom. It is
called also the false Prophet who wrought miracles before the first Beast,
by which he deceived them that received his mark, and worshiped his
image. When the Dragon went from the woman to make war with the
remnant of her seed, this Beast arising out of the earth assisted in that war,
and caused the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the authority
of the first Beast, whose mortal wound was healed, and to make an Image
to him, that is, to assemble a body of men like him in point of religion. He
had also power to give life and authority to the Image, so that it could both
speak, and by dictating cause that all religious bodies of men, who would
not worship the authority of the Image, should be mystically killed. And he
causeth all men to receive a mark in their right hand or in their forehead,
and that no man might buy or sell save he that had the mark, or the name of
the Beast, or the number of his name; all the rest being excommunicated by
the Beast with two horns. His mark is , and his name ΛΑΤΕΙΝΟΣ,
and the number of his name 666.
Thus the Beast, after he was wounded to death with a sword and revived,
was deified, as the heathens used to deify their Kings after death, and had
an Image erected to him; and his worshipers were initiated in this new
religion, by receiving the mark or name of this new God, or the number of
his name. By killing all that will not worship him and his Image, the first
Temple, illuminated by the lamps of the seven Churches, is demolished, and
a new Temple built for them who will not worship him; and the outward
court of this new Temple, or outward form of a Church, is given to the
Gentiles, who worship the Beast and his Image: while they who will not
worship him, are sealed with the name of God in their foreheads, and retire

into the inward court of this new Temple. These are the 144000 sealed out
of all the twelve tribes of Israel, and called the two Witnesses, as being
derived from the two wings of the woman while she was flying into the
wilderness, and represented by two of the seven candlesticks. These appear
to John in the inward court of the second Temple, standing on mount Sion
with the Lamb, and as it were on the sea of glass. These are the Saints of the
most High, and the host of heaven, and the holy people spoken of by Daniel,
as worn out and trampled under foot, and destroyed in the latter times by
the little horns of his fourth Beast and He-Goat.
While the Gentiles tread the holy city under foot, God gives power to his
two Witnesses, and they prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore
days clothed in sackcloth. They are called the two Olive-trees, with relation
to the two Olive-trees, which in Zechary's vision, chap. iv. stand on either
side of the golden candlestick to supply the lamps with oil: and Olive-trees,
according to the Apostle Paul, represent Churches, Rom. xi. They supply
the lamps with oil, by maintaining teachers. They are also called the two
candlesticks; which in this Prophecy signify Churches, the seven Churches
of Asia being represented by seven candlesticks. Five of these Churches
were found faulty, and threatned if they did not repent; the other two were
without fault, and so their candlesticks were fit to be placed in the second
Temple. These were the Churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia. They were
in a state of tribulation and persecution, and the only two of the seven in
such a state: and so their candlesticks were fit to represent the Churches in
affliction in the times of the second Temple, and the only two of the seven
that were fit. The two Witnesses are not new Churches: they are the
posterity of the primitive Church, the posterity of the two wings of the
woman, and so are fitly represented by two of the primitive candlesticks.
We may conceive therefore, that when the first Temple was destroyed, and a
new one built for them who worship in the inward court, two of the seven
candlesticks were placed in this new Temple.
The affairs of the Church are not considered during the opening of the first
four seals. They begin to be consider'd at the opening of the fifth seal, as
was said above; and are further considered at the opening of the sixth seal;
and the seventh seal contains the times of the great Apostacy. And therefore
I refer the Epistles to the seven Churches unto the times of the fifth and

sixth seals: for they relate to the Church when she began to decline, and
contain admonitions against the great Apostacy then approaching.
When Eusebius had brought down his Ecclesiatical History to the reign of
Dioclesian, he thus describes the state of the Church: Qualem quantamque
gloriam simul ac libertatem doctrina veræ erga supremum Deum pietatis à
Christo primùm hominibus annunciata, apud omnes Græcos pariter &
barbaros ante persecutionem nostrâ memoriâ excitatam, consecuta sit, nos
certè pro merito explicare non possumus. Argumento esse possit
Imperatorum benignitas erga nostros: quibus regendas etiam provincias
committebant, omni sacrificandi metu eos liberantes ob singularem, qua in
religionem nostram affecti erant, benevolentiam. And a little after: Jam vero
quis innumerabilem hominum quotidiè ad fidem Christi confugientium
turbam, quis numerum ecclesiarum in singulis urbibus, quis illustres
populorum concursus in ædibus sacris, cumulatè possit describere? Quo
factum est, ut priscis ædificiis jam non contenti, in singulis urbibus
spatiosas ab ipsis fundamentis exstruerent ecclesias. Atque hæc progressii
temporis increscentia, & quotidiè in majus & melius proficiscentia, nec
livor ullus atterere, nec malignitas dæmonis fascinare, nec hominum insidiæ
prohibere unquam potuerunt, quamdiu omnipotentis Dei dextra populum
suum, utpote tali dignum præsidio, texit atque custodiit. Sed cum ex nimia
libertate in negligentiam ac desidiam prolapsi essemus; cum alter alteri
invidere atque obtrectare cæpisset; cum inter nos quasi bella intestina
gereremus, verbis, tanquam armis quibusdam hastisque, nos mutuò
vulnerantes; cum Antistites adversus Antistites, populi in populos collisi,
jurgia ac tumultus agitarent; denique cum fraus & simulatio ad summum
malitiæ culmen adolevisset: tum divina ultio, levi brachio ut solet, integro
adhuc ecclesiæ statu, & fidelium turbis liberè convenientibus, sensim ac
moderatè in nos cæpit animadvertere; orsà primùm persecutione ab iis qui
militabant. Cum verò sensu omni destituti de placando Dei numine ne
cogitaremus quidem; quin potius instar impiorum quorundam res humanas
nullâ providentiâ gubernari rati, alia quotidiè crimina aliis adjiceremus:
cum Pastores nostri spretâ religionis regulâ, mutuis inter se contentionibus
decertarent, nihil aliud quam jurgia, minas, æmulationem, odia, ac mutuas
inimicitias amplificare studentes; principatum quasi tyrannidem quandam
contentissimè sibi vindicantes: tunc demùm juxta dictum Hieremiæ,
obscuravit Dominus in ira sua filiam Sion, & dejecit de cælo gloriam Israel,

—per Ecclesiarum scilicet subversionem, &c. This was the state of the
Church just before the subversion of the Churches in the beginning of
Dioclesian's persecution: and to this state of the Church agrees the first of
the seven Epistles to the Angel of the seven Churches, [1] that to the Church
in Ephesus. I have something against thee, saith Christ to the Angel of that
Church, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from
whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will
come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of its place,
except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the
Nicolaitans, which I also hate. The Nicolaitans are the Continentes above
described, who placed religion in abstinence from marriage, abandoning
their wives if they had any. They are here called Nicolaitans, from Nicolas
one of the seven deacons of the primitive Church of Jerusalem; who having
a beautiful wife, and being taxed with uxoriousness, abandoned her, and
permitted her to marry whom she pleased, saying that we must disuse the
flesh; and thenceforward lived a single life in continency, as his children
also. The Continentes afterwards embraced the doctrine of Æons and
Ghosts male and female, and were avoided by the Churches till the fourth
century; and the Church of Ephesus is here commended for hating their
deeds.
The persecution of Dioclesian began in the year of Christ 302, and lasted
ten years in the Eastern Empire and two years in the Western. To this state
of the Church the second Epistle, to the Church of Smyrna, agrees. I know,
saith [2] Christ, thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, but thou art rich;
and I know the blasphemy of them, which say they are Jews and are not, but
are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt
suffer: Behold, the Devil shall call some of you into prison, that ye may be
tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death,
and I will give thee a crown of life. The tribulation of ten days can agree to
no other persecution than that of Dioclesian, it being the only persecution
which lasted ten years. By the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews
and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan, I understand the Idolatry of the
Nicolaitans, who falsly said they were Christians.

The Nicolaitans are complained of also in [3] the third Epistle, as men that
held the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling-block

before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to Idols, and [4] to
commit spiritual fornication. For Balaam taught the Moabites and
Midianites to tempt and invite Israel by their women to commit fornication,
and to feast with them at the sacrifices of their Gods. The Dragon therefore
began now to come down among the inhabitants of the earth and sea.
The Nicolaitans are also complained of in the fourth Epistle, under the
name of the woman Jezabel, who calleth herself a Prophetess, to teach and
to seduce the servants of Christ to commit fornication, and to eat things
sacrificed to Idols. The woman therefore began now to fly into the
wilderness.
The reign of Constantine the great from the time of his conquering Licinius,
was monarchical over the whole Roman Empire. Then the Empire became
divided between the sons of Constantine: and afterwards it was again united
under Constantius, by his victory over Magnentius. To the affairs of the
Church in these three successive periods of time, the third, fourth, and fifth
Epistles, that is, those to the Angels of the Churches in Pergamus, Thyatira,
and Sardis, seem to relate. The next Emperor was Julian the Apostate.

In the sixth Epistle, [5] to the Angel of the Church in Philadelphia, Christ
saith: Because in the reign of the heathen Emperor Julian, thou hast kept
the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation,
which by the woman's flying into the wilderness, and the Dragon's making
war with the remnant of her seed, and the killing of all who will not
worship the Image of the Beast, shall come upon all the world, to try them
that dwell upon the earth, and to distinguish them by sealing the one with
the name of God in their foreheads, and marking the other with the mark of
the Beast. Him that overcometh, I will make a pillar in the Temple of my
God; and he shall go no more out of it. And I will write upon him the name
of my God in his forehead. So the Christians of the Church of Philadelphia,
as many of them as overcome, are sealed with the seal of God, and placed
in the second Temple, and go no more out. The same is to be understood of
the Church in Smyrna, which also kept the word of God's patience, and was
without fault. These two Churches, with their posterity, are therefore the
two Pillars, and the two Candlesticks, and the two Witnesses in the second
Temple.

After the reign of the Emperor Julian, and his successor Jovian who reigned
but five months, the Empire became again divided between Valentinian and
Valens. Then the Church Catholick, in the Epistle to the Angel of the
Church of Laodicea, is reprehended as lukewarm, and [6] threatned to be
spewed out of Christ's mouth. She said, that she was rich and increased with
goods, and had need of nothing, being in outward prosperity; and knew not
that she was inwardly wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and
naked. She is therefore spewed out of Christ's mouth at the opening of the
seventh seal: and this puts an end to the times of the first Temple.
About one half of the Roman Empire turned Christians in the time of
Constantine the great and his sons. After Julian had opened the Temples,
and restored the worship of the heathens, the Emperors Valentinian and
Valens tolerated it all their reign; and therefore the Prophecy of the sixth
seal was not fully accomplished before the reign of their successor Gratian.
It was the custom of the heathen Priests, in the beginning of the reign of
every sovereign Emperor, to offer him the dignity and habit of the Pontifex
Maximus. This dignity all Emperors had hitherto accepted: but Gratian
rejected it, threw down the idols, interdicted the sacrifices, and took away
their revenues with the salaries and authority of the Priests. Theodosius the
great followed his example; and heathenism afterwards recovered itself no
more, but decreased so fast, that Prudentius, about ten years after the death
of Theodosius, called the heathens, vix pauca ingenia & pars hominum
rarissima. Whence the affairs of the sixth seal ended with the reign of
Valens, or rather with the beginning of the reign of Theodosius, when he,
like his predecessor Gratian, rejected the dignity of Pontifex Maximus. For
the Romans were very much infested by the invasions of foreign nations in
the reign of Valentinian and Valens: Hoc tempore, saith Ammianus, velut
per universum orbem Romanum bellicum canentibus buccinis, excitæ
gentes sævissimæ limites sibi proximos persultabant: Gallias Rhætiasque
simul Alemanni populabantur: Sarmatæ Pannonias & Quadi: Picti,
Saxones, & Scoti & Attacotti Britannos ærumnis vexavere continuis:
Austoriani, Mauricæque aliæ gentes Africam solito acriùs incursabant:
Thracias diripiebant prædatorii globi Gotthorum: Persarum Rex manus
Armeniis injectabat. And whilst the Emperors were busy in repelling these
enemies, the Hunns and Alans and Goths came over the Danube in two
bodies, overcame and slew Valens, and made so great a slaughter of the

Roman army, that Ammianus saith: Nec ulla Annalibus præter Cannensem
ita ad internecionem res legitur gesta. These wars were not fully stopt on
all sides till the beginning of the reign of Theodosius, A.C. 379 & 380: but
thenceforward the Empire remained quiet from foreign armies, till his
death, A.C. 395. So long the four winds were held: and so long there was
silence in heaven. And the seventh seal was opened when this silence
began.
Mr. Mede hath explained the Prophecy of the first six trumpets not much
amiss: but if he had observed, that the Prophecy of pouring out the vials of
wrath is synchronal to that of sounding the trumpets, his explanation would
have been yet more complete.
The name of Woes is given to the wars to which the three last trumpets
sound, to distinguish them from the wars of the four first. The sacrifices on
the first four days of the feast of Tabernacles, at which the first four
trumpets sound, and the first four vials of wrath are poured out, are
slaughters in four great wars; and these wars are represented by four winds
from the four corners of the earth. The first was an east wind, the second a
west wind, the third a south wind, and the fourth a north wind, with respect
to the city of Rome, the metropolis of the old Roman Empire. These four
plagues fell upon the third part of the Earth, Sea, Rivers, Sun, Moon and
Stars; that is, upon the Earth, Sea, Rivers, Sun, Moon and Stars of the third
part of the whole scene of these Prophecies of Daniel and John.

The plague of the eastern wind [7] at the sounding of the first trumpet, was
to fall upon the Earth, that is, upon the nations of the Greek Empire.
Accordingly, after the death of Theodosius the great, the Goths, Sarmatians,
Hunns, Isaurians, and Austorian Moors invaded and miserably wasted
Greece, Thrace, Asia minor, Armenia, Syria, Egypt, Lybia, and Illyricum,
for ten or twelve years together.
The plague of the western wind at the sounding of the second trumpet, was
to fall upon the Sea, or Western Empire, by means of a great mountain
burning with fire cast into it, and turning it to blood. Accordingly in the
year 407, that Empire began to be invaded by the Visigoths, Vandals, Alans,
Sueves, Burgundians, Ostrogoths, Heruli, Quadi, Gepides; and by these
wars it was broken into ten kingdoms, and miserably wasted: and Rome

itself, the burning mountain, was besieged and taken by the Ostrogoths, in
the beginning of these miseries.
The plague of the southern wind at the sounding of the third trumpet, was to
cause a great star, burning as it were a lamp, to fall from heaven upon the
rivers and fountains of waters, the Western Empire now divided into many
kingdoms, and to turn them to wormwood and blood, and make them bitter.
Accordingly Genseric, the King of the Vandals and Alans in Spain, A.C.
427, enter'd Africa with an army of eighty thousand men; where he invaded
the Moors, and made war upon the Romans, both there and on the sea-
coasts of Europe, for fifty years together, almost without intermission,
taking Hippo A.C. 431, and Carthage the capital of Africa A.C. 439. In A.C.
455, with a numerous fleet and an army of three hundred thousand Vandals
and Moors, he invaded Italy, took and plundered Rome, Naples, Capua, and
many other cities; carrying thence their wealth with the flower of the people
into Africa: and the next year, A.C. 456, he rent all Africa from the Empire,
totally expelling the Romans. Then the Vandals invaded and took the
Islands of the Mediterranean, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Ebusus, Majorca,
Minorca, &c. and Ricimer besieged the Emperer Anthemius in Rome, took
the city, and gave his soldiers the plunder, A.C. 472. The Visigoths about the
same time drove the Romans out of Spain: and now the Western Emperor,
the great star which fell from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, having by
all these wars gradually lost almost all his dominions, was invaded, and
conquered in one year by Odoacer King of the Heruli, A.C. 476. After this
the Moors revolted A.C. 477, and weakned the Vandals by several wars, and
took Mauritania from them. These wars continued till the Vandals were
conquered by Belisarius, A.C. 534. and by all these wars Africa was almost
depopulated, according to Procopius, who reckons that above five millions
of men perished in them. When the Vandals first invaded Africa, that
country was very populous, consisting of about 700 bishopricks, more than
were in all France, Spain and Italy together: but by the wars between the
Vandals, Romans and Moors, it was depopulated to that degree, that
Procopius tells us, it was next to a miracle for a traveller to see a man.

In pouring out the third vial it is [8] said: Thou art righteous, O Lord,—
because thou hast judged thus: for they have shed the blood of thy Saints
and Prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink, for they are worthy.
How they shed the blood of Saints, may be understood by the following

Edict of the Emperor Honorius, procured by four Bishops sent to him by a
Council of African Bishops, who met at Carthage 14 June, A.C. 410.

Impp. Honor. &. Theod. AA. Heracliano Com. Afric.
Oraculo penitus remoto, quo ad ritus suos hæreticæ superstitionis
abrepserant, sciant omnes sanctæ legis inimici, plectendos se pœna &
proscriptionis & sanguinis, si ultra convenire per publicum, execrandâ
sceleris sui temeritate temptaverint. Dat. viii. Kal. Sept. Varano V.C. Cons.
A.C. 410.
Which Edict was five years after fortified by the following.

Impp. Honor. & Theod. AA. Heracliano Com. Afric.
Sciant cuncti qui ad ritus suos hæresis superstitionibus obrepserant
sacrosanctæ legis inimici, plectendos se pœnâ & proscriptionis &
sanguinis, si ultra convenire per publicum exercendi sceleris sui temeritate
temptaverint: ne quâ vera divinaque reverentia contagione temeretur. Dat.
viii. Kal. Sept. Honorio x. & Theod. vi. AA. Coss. A.C. 415.
These Edicts being directed to the governor of Africa, extended only to the
Africans. Before these there were many severe ones against the Donatists,
but they did not extend to blood. These two were the first which made their
meetings, and the meetings of all dissenters, capital: for by hereticks in
these Edicts are meant all dissenters, as is manifest by the following against
Euresius a Luciferan Bishop.

Impp. Arcad. & Honor. AA. Aureliano Proc. Africæ.
Hæreticorum vocabulo continentur, & latis adversus eos sanctionibus
debent succumbere, qui vel levi argumento à judicio Catholicæ religionis &
tramite detecti fuerint deviare: ideoque experientia tua Euresium hæreticum
esse cognoscat. Dat. iii. Non. Sept. Constantinop. Olybrio & Probino Coss.
A.C. 395.

The Greek Emperor Zeno adopted Theoderic King of the Ostrogoths to be
his son, made him master of the horse and Patricius, and Consul of
Constantinople; and recommending to him the Roman people and Senate,
gave him the Western Empire, and sent him into Italy against Odoacer King
of the Heruli. Theoderic thereupon led his nation into Italy, conquered
Odoacer, and reigned over Italy, Sicily, Rhætia, Noricum, Dalmatia,
Liburnia, Istria, and part of Suevia, Pannonia and Gallia. Whence
Ennodius said, in a Panegyric to Theoderic: Ad limitem suum Romana
regna remeâsse. Theoderic reigned with great prudence, moderation and
felicity; treated the Romans with singular benevolence, governed them by
their own laws, and restored their government under their Senate and
Consuls, he himself supplying the place of Emperor, without assuming the
title. Ita sibi parentibus præfuit, saith Procopius, ut vere Imperatori
conveniens decus nullum ipsi abesset: Justitiæ magnus ei cultus, legumque
diligens custodia: terras à vicinis barbaris servavit intactas, &c. Whence I
do not reckon the reign of this King, amongst the plagues of the four winds.
The plague of the northern wind, at the sounding of the fourth trumpet, was
to cause the Sun, Moon and Stars, that is, the King, kingdom and Princes of
the Western Empire, to be darkned, and to continue some time in darkness.
Accordingly Belisarius, having conquered the Vandals, invaded Italy A.C.
535, and made war upon the Ostrogoths in Dalmatia, Liburnia, Venetia,
Lombardy, Tuscany, and other regions northward from Rome, twenty years
together. In this war many cities were taken and retaken. In retaking Millain
from the Romans, the Ostrogoths slew all the males young and old,
amounting, as Procopius reckons, to three hundred thousand, and sent the
women captives to their allies the Burgundians. Rome itself was taken and
retaken several times, and thereby the people were thinned; the old
government by a Senate ceased, the nobles were ruined, and all the glory of
the city was extinguish'd: and A.C. 552, after a war of seventeen years, the
kingdom of the Ostrogoths fell; yet the remainder of the Ostrogoths, and an
army of Germans called in to their assistance, continued the war three or
four years longer. Then ensued the war of the Heruli, who, as Anastasius
tells us, perimebant cunctam Italiam, slew all Italy. This was followed by
the war of the Lombards, the fiercest of all the Barbarians, which began
A.C. 568, and lasted for thirty eight years together; factâ tali clade, saith
Anastasius, qualem à sæculo nullus meminit; ending at last in the Papacy of

Sabinian, A.C. 605, by a peace then made with the Lombards. Three years
before this war ended, Gregory the great, then Bishop of Rome, thus speaks
of it: Qualiter enim & quotidianis gladiis & quantis Longobardorum
incursionibus, ecce jam per triginta quinque annorum longitudinem
premimur, nullis explere vocibus suggestionis valemus: and in one of his
Sermons to the people, he thus expresses the great consumption of the
Romans by these wars: Ex illa plebe innumerabili quanti remanseritis
aspicitis, & tamen adhuc quotidiè flagella urgent, repentini casus
opprimunt, novæ res & improvisæ clades affligunt. In another Sermon he
thus describes the desolations: Destructæ urbes, eversa sunt castra,
depopulati agri, in solitudinem terra redacta est. Nullus in agris incola,
penè nullus in urbibus habitator remansit. Et tamen ipsæ parvæ generis
humani reliquiæ adhuc quotidiè & sine cessatione feriuntur, & finem non
habent flagella cœlestis justitiæ. Ipsa autem quæ aliquando mundi Domina
esse videbatur, qualis remansit Roma conspicimus innumeris doloribus
multipliciter attrita, defolatione civium, impressione hostium, frequentiâ
ruinarum.—Ecce jam de illa omnes hujus fæculi potentes ablati sunt.—Ecce
populi defecerunt.—Ubi enim Senatus? Ubi jam populus? Contabuerunt
ossa, consumptæ sunt carnes. Omnis enim sæcularium dignitatum ordo
extinctus est, & tamen ipsos vos paucos qui remansimus, adhuc quotidié
gladii, adhuc quotidié innumeræ tribulationes premunt.—Vacua jam ardet
Roma. Quid autem ista de hominibus dicimus? Cum ruinis crebrescentibus
ipsa quoque destrui ædificia videmus. Postquam defecerunt homines etiam
parietes cadunt. Jam ecce desolata, ecce contrita, ecce gemitibus oppressa
est, &c. All this was spoken by Gregory to the people of Rome, who were
witnesses of the truth of it. Thus by the plagues of the four winds, the
Empire of the Greeks was shaken, and the Empire of the Latins fell; and
Rome remained nothing more than the capital of a poor dukedom,
subordinate to Ravenna, the seat of the Exarchs.
The fifth trumpet sounded to the wars, which the King of the South, as he is
called by Daniel, made in the time of the end, in pushing at the King who
did according to his will. This plague began with the opening of the
bottomless pit, which denotes the letting out of a false religion: the smoke
which came out of the pit, signifying the multitude which embraced that
religion; and the locusts which came out of the smoke, the armies which
came out of that multitude. This pit was opened, to let out smoke and

locusts into the regions of the four monarchies, or some of them. The King
of these locusts was the Angel of the bottomless pit, being chief governor as
well in religious as civil affairs, such as was the Caliph of the Saracens.
Swarms of locusts often arise in Arabia fælix, and from thence infest the
neighbouring nations: and so are a very fit type of the numerous armies of
Arabians invading the Romans. They began to invade them A.C. 634, and to
reign at Damascus A.C. 637. They built Bagdad A.C. 766, and reigned over
Persia, Syria, Arabia, Egypt, Africa and Spain. They afterwards lost Africa
to Mahades, A.C. 910; Media, Hircania, Chorasan, and all Persia, to the
Dailamites, between the years 927 and 935; Mesopotamia and Miafarekin
to Nasiruddaulas, A.C. 930; Syria and Egypt to Achsjid, A.C. 935, and now
being in great distress, the Caliph of Bagdad, A.C. 936, surrendred all the
rest of his temporal power to Mahomet the son of Rajici, King of Wasit in
Chaldea, and made him Emperor of Emperors. But Mahomet within two
years lost Bagdad to the Turks; and thenceforward Bagdad was sometimes
in the hands of the Turks, and sometimes in the hands of the Saracens, till
Togrul-beig, called also Togra, Dogrissa, Tangrolipix, and Sadoc,
conquered Chorasan and Persia; and A.C. 1055, added Bagdad to his
Empire, making it the seat thereof. His successors Olub-Arflan and
Melechschah, conquered the regions upon Euphrates; and these conquests,
after the death of Melechschah, brake into the kingdoms of Armenia,
Mesopotamia, Syria, and Cappadocia. The whole time that the Caliphs of
the Saracens reigned with a temporal dominion at Damascus and Bagdad
together, was 300 years, viz. from the year 637 to the year 936 inclusive.
Now locusts live but five months; and therefore, for the decorum of the
type, these locusts are said to hurt men five months and five months, as if
they had lived about five months at Damascus, and again about five months
at Bagdad; in all ten months, or 300 prophetic days, which are years.
The sixth trumpet sounded to the wars, which Daniel's King of the North
made against the King above-mentioned, who did according to his will. In
these wars the King of the North, according to Daniel, conquered the
Empire of the Greeks, and also Judea, Egypt, Lybia, and Ethiopia: and by
these conquests the Empire of the Turks was set up, as may be known by
the extent thereof. These wars commenced A.C. 1258, when the four
kingdoms of the Turks seated upon Euphrates, that of Armenia major seated
at Miyapharekin, Megarkin or Martyropolis, that of Mesopotamia seated at

Mosul, that of all Syria seated at Aleppo, and that of Cappadocia seated at
Iconium, were invaded by the Tartars under Hulacu, and driven into the
western parts of Asia minor, where they made war upon the Greeks, and
began to erect the present Empire of the Turks. Upon the sounding of the
sixth trumpet, [9] John heard a voice from the four horns of the golden Altar
which is before God, saying to the sixth Angel which had the trumpet, Loose
the four Angels which are bound at the great river Euphrates. And the four
Angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour and a day, and a
month and a year, for to slay the third part of men. By the four horns of the
golden Altar, is signified the situation of the head cities of the said four
kingdoms, Miyapharekin, Mosul, Aleppo, and Iconium, which were in a
quadrangle. They slew the third part of men, when they conquered the
Greek Empire, and took Constantinople, A.C. 1453. and they began to be
prepared for this purpose, when Olub-Arslan began to conquer the nations
upon Euphrates, A.C. 1063. The interval is called an hour and a day, and a
month and a year, or 391 prophetic days, which are years. In the first thirty
years, Olub-Arslan and Melechschah conquered the nations upon
Euphrates, and reigned over the whole. Melechschah died A.C. 1092, and
was succeeded by a little child; and then this kingdom broke into the four
kingdoms above-mentioned.

Notes to Chap. III.
[1] Apoc. ii. 4, &c.
[2] Apoc. ii. 9, 10.
[3] Ver. 14.
[4] Numb. xxv. 1, 2, 18, & xxi. 16.
[5] Apoc. iii. 10, 12.
[6] Apoc. iii. 16, 17.
[7] Apoc. viii. 7, &c.
[8] Apoc. xvi. 5, 6.
[9] Apoc. ix. 13, &c.

THE END.

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The last pages of these Observations having been differently drawn up by
the Author in another copy of his Work; they are here inserted as they
follow in that copy, after the 22d line of the 261st page foregoing.

And none was found worthy to open the book till the Lamb of God
appeared; the great High-Priest represented by a lamb slain at the foot of the
Altar in the morning-sacrifice. And he came, and took the book out of the
hand of him that sat upon the throne. For the High-Priest, in the feast of the
seventh month, went into the most holy place, and took the book of the law
out of the right side of the Ark, to read it to the people: and in order to read

it well, he studied it seven days, that is, upon the fourth, fifth, sixth,
seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth days, being attended by some of the priests
to hear him perform. These seven days are alluded to, by the Lamb's
opening the seven seals successively.
Upon the tenth day of the month, a young bullock was offered for a sin-
offering for the High-Priest, and a goat for a sin-offering for the people: and
lots were cast upon two goats to determine which of them should be God's
lot for the sin-offering; and the other goat was called Azazel, the scape-goat.
The High-Priest in his linen garments, took a censer full of burning coals of
fire from the Altar, his hand being full of sweet incense beaten small; and
went into the most holy place within the veil, and put the incense upon the
fire, and sprinkled the blood of the bullock with his finger upon the mercy-
seat and before the mercy-seat seven times; and then he killed the goat
which fell to God's lot, for a sin-offering for the people, and brought his
blood within the veil, and sprinkled it also seven times upon the mercy-seat
and before the mercy-seat. Then he went out to the Altar, and sprinkled it
also seven times with the blood of the bullock, and as often with the blood
of the goat. After this he laid both his hands upon the head of the live goat;
and confessed over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all
their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat;
and sent him away into the wilderness by the hands of a fit man: and the
goat bore upon him all their iniquities into a land not inhabited, Levit.
chap. iv. & chap. xvi. While the High-Priest was doing these things in the
most holy place and at the Altar, the people continued at their devotion
quietly and in silence. Then the High-Priest went into the holy place, put off
his linen garments, and put on other garments; then came out, and sent the
bullock and the goat of the sin-offering to be burnt without the camp, with
fire taken in a censer from the Altar: and as the people returned home from
the Temple, they said to one another, God seal you to a good new year.
In allusion to all this, when he had opened the seventh seal, there was
silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And an Angel stood at the
Altar having a golden Censer, and there was given unto him much incense,
that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints, upon the golden Altar
which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense with the prayers
of the Saints ascended up before God out of the Angel's hand. And the Angel
took the Censer, and filled it with fire of the Altar, and cast it to the earth,

suppose without the camp, for sacrificing the goat which fell to God's lot.
For the High-Priest being Christ himself, the bullock is omitted. At this
sacrifice there were voices and thundrings, of the musick of the Temple,
and lightnings of the sacred fire, and an earthquake: and synchronal to
these things was the sealing of the 144000 out of all the twelve tribes of the
children of Israel with the seal of God in their foreheads, while the rest of
the twelve tribes received the mark of the Beast, and the Woman fled from
the Temple into the wilderness to her place upon this Beast. For this sealing
and marking was represented by casting lots upon the two goats, sacrificing
God's lot on mount Sion, and sending the scape-goat into the wilderness
loaden with the sins of the people.
Upon the fifteenth day of the month, and the six following days, there were
very great sacrifices. And in allusion to the sounding of trumpets, and
singing with thundring voices, and pouring out drink-offerings at those
sacrifices, seven trumpets are sounded, and seven thunders utter their
voices, and seven vials of wrath are poured out. Wherefore the sounding of
the seven trumpets, the voices of the seven thunders, and the pouring out of
the seven vials of wrath, are synchronal, and relate to one and the same
division of the time of the seventh seal following the silence, into seven
successive parts. The seven days of this feast were called the feast of
Tabernacles; and during these seven days the children of Israel dwelt in
booths, and rejoiced with palm-branches in their hands. To this alludes the
multitude with palms in their hands, which appeared after the sealing of the
144000, and came out of the great tribulation with triumph at the battle of
the great day, to which the seventh trumpet sounds. The visions therefore of
the 144000, and of the palm-bearing multitude, extend to the sounding of
the seventh trumpet, and therefore are synchronal to the times of the
seventh seal.
When the 144000 are sealed out of all the twelve tribes of Israel, and the
rest receive the mark of the Beast, and thereby the first temple is destroyed;
John is bidden to measure the temple and altar, that is, their courts, and
them that worship therein, that is, the 144000 standing on mount Sion and
on the sea of glass: but the court that is without the temple, that is, the
peoples court, to leave out and measure it not, because it is given to the
Gentiles, those who receive the mark of the Beast; and the holy city they
shall tread under foot forty and two months, that is, all the time that the

Beast acts under the woman Babylon: and the two witnesses prophesy 1260
days, that is, all the same time, clothed in sackcloth. These have power, like
Elijah, to shut heaven that it rain not, at the sounding of the first trumpet;
and, like Moses, to turn the waters into blood at the sounding of the second;
and to smite the earth with all plagues, those of the trumpets, as often as
they will. These prophesy at the building of the second temple, like Haggai
and Zechary. These are the two Olive-trees, or Churches, which supplied
the lamps with oil, Zech. iv. These are the two candlesticks, or Churches,
standing before the God of the earth. Five of the seven Churches of Asia,
those in prosperity, are found fault with, and exhorted to repent, and
threatned to be removed out of their places, or spewed out of Christ's mouth,
or punished with the sword of Christ's mouth, except they repent: the other
two, the Churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia, which were under
persecution, remain in a state of persecution, to illuminate the second
temple. When the primitive Church catholick, represented by the woman in
heaven, apostatized, and became divided into two corrupt Churches,
represented by the whore of Babylon and the two-horned Beast, the 144000
who were sealed out of all the twelve tribes, became the two Witnesses, in
opposition to those two false Churches: and the name of two Witnesses once
imposed, remains to the true Church of God in all times and places to the
end of the Prophecy.
In the interpretation of this Prophecy, the woman in heaven clothed with the
sun, before she flies into the wilderness, represents the primitive Church
catholick, illuminated with the seven lamps in the seven golden
candlesticks, which are the seven Churches of Asia. The Dragon signifies
the same Empire with Daniel's He-goat in the reign of his last horn, that is,
the whole Roman Empire, until it became divided into the Greek and Latin
Empires; and all the time of that division it signifies the Greek Empire
alone: and the Beast is Daniel's fourth Beast, that is, the Empire of the
Latins. Before the division of the Roman Empire into the Greek and Latin
Empires, the Beast is included in the body of the Dragon; and from the time
of that division, the Beast is the Latin Empire only. Hence the Dragon and
Beast have the same heads and horns; but the heads are crowned upon the
Dragon, and the horns upon the Beast. The horns are ten kingdoms, into
which the Beast becomes divided presently after his separation from the
Dragon, as hath been described above. The heads are seven successive

dynasties, or parts, into which the Roman Empire becomes divided by the
opening of the seven seals. Before the woman fled into the wilderness, she
being with child of a Christian Empire, cried travelling, viz. in the ten years
persecution of Dioclesian, and pained to be delivered: and the Dragon, the
heathen Roman Empire, stood before her, to devour her child as soon as it
was born. And she brought forth a man child, who at length was to rule all
nations with a rod of iron. And her child was caught up unto God, and to
his throne in the Temple, by the victory of Constantine the great over
Maxentius: and the woman fled from the Temple into the wilderness of
Arabia to Babylon, where she hath a place of riches and honour and
dominion, upon the back of the Beast, prepared of God, that they should
feed her there 1260 days. And there was war in heaven, between the
heathens under Maximinus and the new Christian Empire; and the great
Dragon was cast out, that old serpent, which deceiveth the whole world, the
spirit of heathen idolatry; he was cast out of the throne into the earth. And
they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their
testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
And when the Dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted
the woman which brought forth the man child, stirring up a new persecution
against her in the reign of Licinius. And to the woman, by the building of
Constantinople and equalling it to Rome, were given two wings of a great
eagle, that she might flee into the wilderness into her place upon the back
of her Beast, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time,
from the face of the serpent. And the serpent, upon the death of Constantine
the great, cast out of his mouth water as a flood, viz. the Western Empire
under Constantine junior and Constans, after the woman: that he might
cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth, the nations of Asia
now under Constantinople, helped the woman; and by conquering the
Western Empire, now under Magnentius, swallowed up the flood which the
Dragon cast out of his mouth. And the Dragon was wroth with the woman,
and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the
commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, which in
that war were sealed out of all the twelve tribes of Israel, and remained
upon mount Sion with the Lamb, being in number 144000, and having their
father's name written in their foreheads.

When the earth had swallowed up the flood, and the Dragon was gone to
make war with the remnant of the woman's seed, John stood upon the sand
of the sea, and saw a Beast rise out of the sea, having seven heads and ten
horns. And the Beast was like unto a Leopard, and his feet were as the feet
of a Bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion. John here names Daniel's
four Beasts in order, putting his Beast in the room of Daniel's fourth Beast,
to shew that they are the same. And the Dragon gave this Beast his power
and his seat and great authority, by relinquishing the Western Empire to
him. And one of his heads, the sixth, was as it were wounded to death, viz.
by the sword of the earth, which swallowed up the waters cast out of the
mouth of the Dragon; and his deadly wound was healed, by a new division
of the Empire between Valentinian and Valens, An. 364. John saw the Beast
rise out of the sea, at the division thereof between Gratian and Theodosius,
An. 379. The Dragon gave the Beast his power, and his seat and great
authority, at the death of Theodosius, when Theodosius gave the Western
Empire to his son Honorius. After which the two Empires were no more
united: but the Western Empire became presently divided into ten
kingdoms, as above; and these kingdoms at length united in religion under
the woman, and reign with her forty and two months.
And I beheld, saith John, another Beast coming up out of the earth. When
the woman fled from the Dragon into the kingdom of the Beast, and became
his Church, this other Beast rose up out of the earth, to represent the Church
of the Dragon. For he had two horns like the Lamb, such as were the
bishopricks of Alexandria and Antioch: and he spake as the Dragon in
matters of religion: and he causeth the earth, or nations of the Dragon's
kingdom, to worship the first Beast, whose deadly wound was healed, that
is, to be of his religion. And he doth great wonders, so that he maketh fire
come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men; that is, he
excommunicateth those who differ from him in point of religion: for in
pronouncing their excommunications, they used to swing down a lighted
torch from above. And he said to them that dwell on the earth, that they
should make an image to the Beast, which had the wound by a sword, and
did live; that is, that they should call a Council of men of the religion of this
Beast. And he had power to give life unto the image of the Beast, that the
image of the Beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not
worship the image of the Beast should be killed, viz. mystically, by

dissolving their Churches. And he causeth all both small and great, rich and
poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right band or in their
foreheads, and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or
the name of the Beast, or the number of his name; that is, the mark , or the
name ΛΑΤΕΙΝΟΣ, or the number thereof χξς, 666. All others were
excommunicated.
When the seven Angels had poured out the seven vials of wrath, and John
had described them all in the present time, he is called up from the time of
the seventh vial to the time of the sixth seal, to take a view of the woman
and her Beast, who were to reign in the times of the seventh seal. In respect
of the latter part of time of the sixth seal, then considered as present, the
Angel tells John: The Beast that thou sawest, was and is not, and shall
ascend out of the abyss, and go into perdition; that is, he was in the reign of
Constans and Magnentius, until Constantius conquered Magnentius, and re-
united the Western Empire to the Eastern. He is not during the reunion, and
he shall ascend out of the abyss or sea at a following division of the Empire.
The Angel tells him further: Here is the mind which hath wisdom: the seven
heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth; Rome being built
upon seven hills, and thence called the seven-hilled city. Also there are
seven Kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and
when he cometh, he must continue a short space: and the Beast that was
and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into
perdition. Five are fallen, the times of the five first seals being past; and one
is, the time of the sixth seal being considered as present; and another is not
yet come, and when he cometh, which will be at the opening of the seventh
seal, he must continue a short space: and the Beast that was and is not, even
he is the eighth, by means of the division of the Roman Empire into two
collateral Empires; and is of the seven, being one half of the seventh, and
shall go into perdition. The words, five are fallen, and one is, and the other
is not yet come, are usually referred by interpreters to the time of John the
Apostle, when the Prophecy was given: but it is to be considered, that in
this Prophecy many things are spoken of as present, which were not present
when the Prophecy was given, but which would be present with respect to
some future time, considered as present in the visions. Thus where it is said
upon pouring out the seventh vial of wrath, that great Babylon came in
remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the

fierceness of his wrath; this relates not to the time of John the Apostle, but
to the time of pouring out the seventh vial of wrath. So where it is said,
Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and thrust in thy sickle and reap, for the time is
come for thee to reap; and the time of the dead is come, that they should be
judged; and again, I saw the dead small and great stand before God: these
sayings relate not to the days of John the Apostle, but to the latter times
considered as present in the visions. In like manner the words, five are
fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come, and the Beast that was and
is not, he is the eighth, are not to be referred to the age of John the Apostle,
but relate to the time when the Beast was to be wounded to death with a
sword, and shew that this wound was to be given him in his sixth head: and
without this reference we are not told in what head the Beast was wounded.
And the ten horns which thou sawest, are ten Kings, which have received no
kingdom as yet, but receive power as Kings one hour with the Beast. These
have one mind, being all of the whore's religion, and shall give their power
and strength unto the Beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, at the
sounding of the seventh trumpet; and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he
is Lord of Lords and King of Kings; and they that are with him are called
and chosen and faithful. And he saith unto me, the waters which thou
sawest where the whore sitteth, are peoples and multitudes and nations and
tongues, composing her Beast. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon
the Beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and
naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire, at the end of the 1260
days. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree and
give their kingdom unto the Beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
And the woman which thou sawest, is that great city which reigneth over the
Kings of the earth, or the great city of the Latins, which reigneth over the
ten Kings till the end of those days.

FINIS.

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