truth. There is a particular Providence, that pre- Part 2. fides over the understanding of Prophecies, as we have obferved; God would not have them under ftood in every age, because this would binder their accomplishment. But when they are juft ready to be fulfilled, God permits them to be penetrated into; and the things which we fee come to pafs from day to day, open mens eyes.

to know

begin

the 1260

In this matter the whole depends on our know- The great ing, where we must begin the 1260 years, that point is, are affigned for the reign of the papilm. And there where we are as many opinions about that, as there are men. must be Some begin them with Boniface the third, Suc- years. cellor to Gregory the great, because they would be favourable to Gregory the firit, who feems to have had very good things in him: And becaufe his Succeffor was the firft, that affumed the name of Univerfal Bishop. Others defcend lower, and begin the 1260 years, at the time when Images were establifht. Some come as far as to the th Age, and to the reign of Gregory the feventh who was infolent to a higher degree than any of his Predeceffors dared to advance themfelves unto. There are fome alfo, that come as far as to the 12th Age,

of

er

defcend fo

of the

Ifhall not amufe my felf with mentioning, The found much lefs with confuting all thefe Opinions. Ifhall their ef only fay this boldly, that they who go fe low to rour, that find out the beginning of the 1260 years, are in an low for the ervour. That which hath deceived them is this, beginning they imagine, we must not begin the Antichriftian 1265 years. Empire, till the time that Idolatry and Tyranny were arrived to their height in the Church; in which I am throughly perfwaded, they deceive themfelves. Another caufe of their being deceived, is this, having this truth in mind, that Rome must be

Cc4

the

not

Part 2. the head of the Antichriftian Empire; they will begin that Empire before the Roman Church was most notoriously remarkable for her pride among all the Churches.

When any

story of an

Empire,

from its original.

Totally to remove these two mistakes, it must make a hi- be obferved, that in every country, and in every language, when any would make a Hiftory of an they must Empire and a Kingdom, they begin it from its oribegin it. ginal. They that make the Hiftory of the Franks, or Frenchmen among the Gauls, do not fix their beginning on that time, when the French were masters of all the Gauls, from the frontier of Flanders, to the Alps, and the Pyrenean mountains. For that happen'd very late. But they begin with the first entry of the Franks into Gaul, and their firft eftablishment on this fide the Rhine. When any make a History of the Empire of Rome, they begin the Roman Hiftory from the first foundation of that City; fo they reckon'd in Rome it felf, ab Urbe Condità. And this way of reckoning continued till the fifth age, when the Chriftian account began to be in ufe, and men reckon❜d by the years of Jefus Chrift. Moreover, 'tis the cuftome of the Scripture, and of the Holy Spirit, as well as of the World: 'Tis faid, the fojourning of the Ifraelites in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years, yet they were not in that flavery above 210 years. But the Holy Spirit reckons from the time of the calling of Abraham, and his paffing into Canaan, where he and his off-fpring were ftrangers. 'Tis therefore all the time of the pilgrimage of the family of Abraham, which God begins from its original. Lastly, 'tis the file of the Prophets; and particularly in the Prophecy we are treating af. The fourth Beaft is the Roman Empire; all the Worldagrees inthat: where doth

the

the Holy Spirit begin the Hiftory of that Beaft, Part 2. or of that Empire not at the point of its grandeur, which happen'd not till above 400 years after its original, but from the point of its birth, and that is clear, because he afcribes feven heads to that Beast., Heads, which fignify fo many Gor vernments, under which Rome hath pafled. Now the first of these Governments, is that of Kings, under whom Rome in the beginning was no more than a great Village, and afterwards a very little City without dependencies. This principle therefore must be fuppofed, that the H. Spirit dates the Antichriftian Empire from its original.

t

that the

ftianifm

ceived at

The other mistake that we must get rid of, is 'Tis not this, that Rome is precifely the place where the neceflary, Empire of Antichrift must have its birth. 'Tis firft feeds not fo. Antichriftianifm is born every where, and of Antichriit might very well be born in the East, before it should have came to fix its feat in the West, That which makes been conmen affix the birth of the Antichriftian Empire Rome. precisely to Rome, is, because being ftruck with what Saint Paul faith, that the man of fin must exalt himself above all that is called God, they have confined Antichriftianifin principally, and almost folely to tyranny and Pride; and have imagined, that the birth of Antichriftianifm was not to be found but in that City, which had always been, and which afresh was to be the Throne of Pride. But herein they have been deceived. Antichriftianifm confits no lefs in idolatry, and corruption of manners than in tyranny: in fuch a manner, that in all places where we fee the birth of Idolatry, Superftition, and Corruption, there without doubt Antichriftianifm is born...

These principles being laid down, the three Characters, which we have affixed to the Antichriftian

Part 2. Empire, by reafon of its three names, must be remembred. Idolatry, because 'tis called Babylon,

of Anti

the fourth

fuperfti

tion.

the mother of fornications and abominations; cor

ruption of manners, because 'tis called Sodom; The three Pride and Tyranny, becaufe 'tis called Egypt. When Characters these three fins began to be establisht in the Church, chriftianifm Antichriftianifm began to enter into it. Now 'tis began in certain, it was towards the end of the fourth, and Age; and in the whole fifth Age, that thefe diforders refirst of all ceived their birth. The fuperftition of Reliques, the veneration and worship of them, and imme diately after, the invocation and interceffion of the Saints, were introduced about the year 360. or 380. Already before this time, that fuperftition had begun among the people. I do not at all doubt, but that women, and fimple perfons, efpecially those that were but newly converted from Paganism, were the first Authors of it. Devont ignorant people easily fall into fuperftition. It had been a very ancient cuftome to frequent the Mar tyrs tombs, there to celebrate their memory, to pray for them, and there to pray for themselves. For in Eufebius's time, men were wont to affemble themselves at the fepulchers of the Martyrs, to say their prayers upon their fepulchers, and there to honour their most happy fouls. The Papists in this paffage would fain find the invocation of Saints; but 'tis not there. Eufebius only ufes the word' Evan. 1.12. honour, which doth not import either invocation or adoration; 'twas only out of a defign to honour the memory of the Martyrs, that they affembled at their tombs. But the ignorant people, furprised with the deceit of fome falfe miracles, which the Devil wrought at thofe tombs, from a fimple honour immediately proceed to a religions worship; and a few years after, the Paftors fuffer'd

Præp.

C. II.

them

themselves to be carried down the torrent, they Part 2. gave way to it, and laboured to establish this falfe devotion. Saint Bafil in the Eaft, and Saint Ambrofe in the Weft, are the most ancient Fathers, in whom we find the footsteps of the invocation and interceffion of the Saints.

ners began

um ad Mer

As for the corruption of the manners of the Clergy and people, it began to be great at the very fame time. The Church being become Queen of Corrupti the World by the means of her Emperors, clothed on of manher felf with its luxury, and followed all its man- alfo in the ners; covetoufnefs, unchastity, debauchery were fourth Age. introduced into the Sanctuary. We need only to fee what St. Jerome, who lived in that time, faith of Rome and the Roman Clergy, and of the Ecclefiafticks in general in his days. He reprefents Rome as already become a Babylon. Go out Panla & of Babylon, my people, faith he, for she is fallen, EuftochiBabylon the great, she is become a habitation of De- cellam. vils, and a dwelling place of unclean spirits. 'Tis trne, there is the Holy Church, &c. But the pride, grandare, power, &c. that are found in that City, agrees not with the life and tranquillity of Monks. The fame Author faith, that the Princes of the Church lived in deliciousness, and imaginedthey did preferve their parity in the midst of mighty repafts, and lafcivious actions. Elsewhere he faith, that the Ecclefiafticks did kiß and eares the Ladies, in Mic. ftretcht forth their hands to them to receive their cap. 2. prefents. They obferved the tempers of women, they caufed great eftates to be given to themselves; and their covetoufnefs became fo odious, that the Chriftian Emperors forbad the Ad NepoEcclefiafticks the receiving Legacies by Will, tianum. whileft Whores, and Comedians were permitted fo to do.

Lastly,

Comment.