is the emblem of the Antichriftian Church, which is not founded on the twelve Apostles, which hath not twelve Articles of Faith, but many more. In a word, as the Number 666. hath no relation to that of twelve, fo the Antichristian Church hath no relation to the Chriftian and Apoftolical Church.

An Englife Divine one Potter, hath carried Potter's this notion further than others have done, in an the num opinion of express treatise, which he hath made about the ber 666. mystery of the Number 666. He pretends, that as the Number of 144. is not myftically designed to fignify the Church and the Empire of I. Chrift, but for the fake of the Number 12, which is its fquare root, and on which it is built; in like manner alfo the Number 666. is not mystical, but by reafon of the fquare root, on which it is raised; fo he would have it, that we should extract the root of the Number 666. and believes, 'tis in this root that we must seek after the Mystery of the Empire of the Beast. Arithmeticians call the vvhat the Square root of a Number given, that number, fquare by which in multiplying it by it felf, the number root is, given is produced, whether there be any remainders or no. For instance, 10 is the fquare root of an 100, because ten multiplied by it felf, 10 times 10 make a 100 without any remains. The Square root of 55. is feven, becaufe multiplying 7 by it felf, 7 times 7make 49, and a remainder of 6 makes 55. According to this, the Square 25. Is the root of the number 666 is 25, for 25 multiplied fquare root by it felf makes 625. with a remainder of 4 1. which

makes 666.

This being fuppofed, that 25 is the fquare root and the foundation of the Number 666, he pretends, that as 144 founded upon 12 reprefents the

L 4

whole

of 666.

The num

ber 2.5. bears way

in the ra

pal Hieraachy.

whole Church, founded upon the holy Hierarchy of the 12 Apostles; in like manner 666 represents the whole Antichriftian Empire of the Papifm, founded upon the Antichriftian Hierarchy. And to make appear how exact the oppofition to the Chriftian Hierarchy is he fhews, that as the Number 12. bears fway in the whole compofition of Ierufalem, which is the Church and the holy City, 12 Foundations, 12 Gates, 12 Angells, 12 thousand Furlongs, 12 forts of Fruits; in like manner the number 25 bears fway in all the Popifh Hierarchy. I. In the number of the Cardinals, who according to their firft inftitution, were 25, wheras the Apostles were but 12. II. In regard to the number of Churches into which Rome Chriftian was at firft divided, which were 25. wheras the heavenly ferufalem hath but 12 Gates: The Churches in which they did baptize, anfwering to the Gates of the City

because

as

Baptifm is the entrance into the Church. III. In the number of the Parishes or Tribes, which in Rome were 25; wheras the ferufalem that comes down from above hath but 12 Tribes appears by the 21 of the Revelation. IV. In the number of the Foundations of Rome, which are 25 Cardinalls, originally and anciently compoling the facred Colledg, that is called the foundation of the Church; wheras the Holy City hath but 12 foundations, which are the 12 Apofties. V. In the number of Angels, i.e. Paftors, who are in number 25 Paftors, Cardinals, Paftors of Paftors; wheras the Jerufalem in the Revelation knows but 12 Angels, 12 principall Paftors, which are the 12 Apostles. VI. In the number of the Gates of Rome, which were 25. wheras Jerufalem hath but 12. VII,

The num

the depen

In the extent of the City of Rome, which was 25 thoufand farlongs; wheras the Jerufalem of St. John hath but 12 thousand furlongs. VIII. In the number of the fruits of the Tree of Life, which are the Articles of faith, because the juft fhall live by faith. The fruits in the Ierufalem of St. John are but 12. The Articles of the Chriftian faith are but 12 alfo: but the Articles of the Popish faith are 25 in number. He finds moreover, ber of 25 is that the number 25 bears fway in all the depen- found in dances of the Empire of the Papifm; that in the dencies of greatest part of the Estates of the Papifm hey the Papifm. reckon 25 Provinces or principal dignities. That upon the great Altar of St. Peter at Rome there is a golden Crofs of 25 hands breedth. Before the Church there are five Gates, and one of them is not open'd but every 25 years. In St. Mary Major there are 25 Altars. The great Altar of the Church of St. Peters, is 25 foot fquare one every fide. Befides all this, the Popish Altar are marked with 25 Marks, in honour of the 5 wounds of I. Chrift 5 times redoubled. The fame number is confecrated in the Mass for the fame reafon, because of the 5. wounds of our faviour. He makes divers obfervations of this nature on the Number 25 bearing fway in all the Papifm, even in the Council of Trent, which beganby 25 Bishops, had 25 Seffions, was fubfcribed by 25 Arch-Bishops, and made 25 Articles of faith. And above all, he obferves, that the Number 25 with its fquare root 5, were confide- 25 a curfed red by the Heathen as numbers of an ill omen. of an ill See, faith he, the reafon why the Number 666 reprefents the whole Antichriftian Empire, 'tis because it hath for its fquare root the number 25, which is the prevailing number in the Papal Hierarchy.

Wheras

number &

omen,

Why God

re

41, to 625:

666.

Wherers the number 144. that fignifies the Church, hath for its fquare root the number 12, which is the facred number of the Patriarchs and Apoftles. As for the remainder of 41, which is added to the number 625, arifing from 25. multiplied by it felf, he gives many ingenious reafons for it, and which do deserve to be confulted adds a te on the place. Iofeph Mede, who is a great Mamainder of fter in these forts of things, givesa very authento make up tique approbation of this difcovery. And it cannot be denied, but that it is very ingenious. But I confefs, I find it a little profound. However, I would not deny, that it is the intention of the Holy Spirit. And it may be this is the meaning of the Prophecy, Here is wisdom, let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: For understanding may fignify the wisdom of this World, i. e. Arithmetique, which makes a part of humane sciences, to fignify, that to penetrate into this mystery of the number 666. we mult ufe the rules of Arithmetique, and feek for the Square root of this number 666.

Befides, though one fhould admit all the obfervations of Potter as folid, this would not deftroy the common hypothefis, which is, that the number 666. alludes to the names of Lateinos and Romiyth, in which this number is fo precifely found. For the product of 25. multiplied by it felf, makes but 625. Why did the Holy Spirit add a remainder of 41? why did he not leave the round account of 625, the product of the Square root 25? or why, refolving to add a remainder, did he not add 20 to make it 645, or 30 to make it 655; but adds precifely a remainder of 41 to make it 666? I am perfwaded, it was to make up the fum contained in the names Lateinos and Romiyth.

to ftreng

Potter,

So that it is ftill true, that the number 666. refers immediately to the name of the Antichriftian Empire. But I will not deny, but that befides this, there are other myfteries in it; and those of Potter are very well contrived, and very probable. To ftrengthen them, these two confidera- Two confitions may be added; Firft, That the number derations 12. fignifying very naturally the whole Gofpel mi- then the niftry, because of the twelve Apostles, who are opinion of the first Minifters of the Gofpel; the number 144. muft alfo naturally fignify the body of the whole Church; becaufe as the number 144. is produced by the multiplication of 12, in like manner the body of the Church is formed by the multiplication, which is produced by the Gospel miniftry, of which the twelve Apofiles are the founders. On the other hand, as the number 666 is produced by the multiplication of 25, so the Empire of the Papifm and of the Beast is produ ced by the multiplication, caufed by his falfe miniftry and by his falfe Paftors who originally

were 25.

Seoond, The other confideration is, that the Holy Spirit fignifies the Gospel miniftry by 12, and the body of the Gospel Church by 144. And on the contrary, the body of the Empire of the Papifm by 666. to teach us the proportion that is between the falfe Church and the true. 144 is but the fifth part of 666. The true Church in the time of the oppreffion and reign of Antichrift, is almost nothing in comparilon of the falfe Church.

CHAP.