Rev. 17. 10. The disho Part 2. But before that, I muft ufe them yet once more to confound the difhonefty of the Tranflators of the Port-Royal, who fay of the ten Kings, that they shall take power for one hour, or for a little nefty of the time with the beaft, inftead of tranflating it in thê tranflation fame hour, or at the fame time with the beast. They Royal a- found this tranflation, or rather, this notorious fal duration of fification very proper to take away from the ReAntichrifts formed this Text, that proves fo clearly, that the of the Port reign. birth of Antichrift must be reckon'd from the di- "Tis here that thefe Gentlemen the Interpreters will have great need of the Arabique, Rabbinical learning, and Hebrew of Father Simon the Gram marian, proved, are 1260 Papists marian, that not long fince hath fet up for an In- Part 2, terpreter of the Revelation. His new lights do well deferve a particular Chapter by themselves. But for the prefent, we muft follow on our way and fhew, that if the 1260 days be 1260 years, then all that the Papifts fay of Antichrift is falfe, and all that we fay of him is true. If it be falfe, It being that this Empire muft laft but 1260 natural days; that the it is true, that it must laft 1260 years; for I have 1260 days proved, there is no middle way to be taken. And years, the if it be true that Antichrift muft reign 1260 years, Antichrifiis he can no longer be only one fingle man, nor a re- aChimera, volted feu, nor a falfe Meffiah, nor a man of the Tribe of Dan, nor a Tyrant that must re-establish the Mofaical worship, and rebuild Jerufalem to cause the Jews to reign there. For it would be abfurd, to fuppofe that one man fhould live 1260 years, that the reign of the Law of Moses fhould return for 12 Ages, and that Indaifm for fo long a time fhould oppress the Chriftian Religion, If the Empire of Antichrift mult last 1260 years, it muit neceffarily be already come. For 'tis to go If his duraagainst the general opinion of all men, to fuppofe 16 years, that before the reign of Jesus Christ comes, we muft Antichrift yet expect a tyrannical Monarchy of 1200 years. If the Antichriftian Empire be come, it must be either Mahometanifm, or the Papifm. Antichriftianifm can't be found among the Arrians; for they have been extinct a long time, and their reign did not come to near 1260 years. We can't find him among the Albigenfes, who never reign'd, who appear'd but for a little time, and who were always oppreffed. He can't be found neither among the Lutherans, nor Calvinifts; for none of the Characters of Antichriftianifm do, agree to them, and the Papifts would not acknowledge Cc 2 tion be is.come, Part 2. knowledge that our reign should be for 1200 years. There's nothing remains but Mahometanism; Mahome on which one can caft ones eyes, to feek out An not the chriftianifm sanifm hath tichriftianifm 'tis indeed an Antichriftian Characters Sect, becaufe 'tis an enemy to Jefus Chrift, and hath already fubfifted above a 1000 years. But we can't find therein the Characters of Antichriftianifm, fo as 'tis defcribed, in the Prophets. First, Antichriftianifm must be an Apoftacy, and a revolt of men, that formerly were obedient to the faith. The Saracens, Arabians, and Turks, the founders and prefervers of this Sect, never were Chriftians, and are not Apoftates. Mahomet and the Arabians were Heathens. Secondly, Antichriftianifm muft be an Idolatry, for it is called a Whoredom; and must teach the Doctrine of Damons, and mediatory fpirits. Now the Mahometans are not idolaters; on the contrary, they abhor the adoration of Images; and 'tis this that greatly fcandalizeth them against the Chriftian Religion. Thirdly, In the name of Antichrift, we must find the number 666. In the name of Mahomet, and Mahometan, Arabians and Saracens, in any language, this number is not found. Fourthly, Anchriftianifm was to have its feat in the great City, which in St. Johns time ruled over the Kings of the Earth. That is Rome, as all Interpreters unanimoufly acknowledge. Mahomet and his Partizans never did poffefs the City of Rome, and do not poffefsit. Fifthly, The Empire of Antichrift must be the Roman Empire continued; the Empire of the Arabians is fo far from being the continuation of the Roman Empire, that it hath been the destruction of it in the Eaft. Sixthly, Antichrift muft fit in the Temple of God, i.e. in the Church. Mahomet and his Succeffors are out of the Church, and do not belong to Chrifiendom. Seventhly, Ten Kings muft voluntarily give their power to Anti- Part 2. chrift. But the Arabians and Saracens have conquer'd all Kingdoms by meer violence; none did veluntarily fubmit to them. Eighthly, Antichrist must be the seventh head of the Beast in the Revelation, i.c. Of the Roman Empire; Mahomet hath nothing in common with the Roman Empire. Ninethly, The Empire of Antichrift must be properly nothing else, but the image of an Empire, which yet however mult be worshipt, and obedience be given to it; The Empire of the Mahometans is not an image, but rather the most defpotical and arbitrary Empire, that ever was in the World. Tenthly, The Antichristian Empire must have under it ten horns, i.e. ten Kings. Ten horns, every one having his crown, and his Royal power. So far is the Empire of the Mahometans, from fuffering any vaffal Kings to fubfift, that it hath deftroyed all the great Lords. In India, in Perfta, in Turky, every one of thefe Mahometan Empires hath but one only Lord. Eleventhly, The Empire of Antichrift must be but one, it must not be divided; For the Kings that are to fubmit to him, fhall acknowledge him for their only head. But the Empire of Mahomet is divided into many Empires. The Empire of the Tartars, the Empire of the Turks, the Empire of the Perfians, the Empire of the Mogulls; and thefe four Empires are not only different, but always oppofite and almost always enemies. Twelfthly, Antichrift must have two horns, i.e. two powers like to the Lamb. "Tis notorious, the Mahometans have nothing in common with Iefus Chrift, with his Religion, and with his power. Thirteenth, Antichrift muft excommunicate, perfecute take away liberty of commerce from all thofe that will not take on them his name and his Cc 3 mark Part 2. mark in their fore-heads, i. e. that will not follow his Religion. The Mahometans fuffer all forts of Religions, Heathens,and Chriftians. Fourteenth, The Antichriftian Empire must be a head, i.e. á Kingdom hurt with a deadly wound, and revive again. This can by no means agree to Mahome tanifm, which is a Religion wholly new, and which hath formed Empires wholly new. It was neceffary to make these obfervations against those,that greatly defiring to take Antichrift from Rome, would fain place him among the Mahometans. CHAP. IV, Some Principles to dilcover, when the Antichriftian Empire began, and when it must end, Three Characters of that Empire, Idolatry, Pride, and corruption. That these three Char racters began to appear in the fourth Age, and did infinitely encreafe in the fifth. H Itherto we have difcourfed on what is paft, now we proceed to treat of what is future, or at least of thofe things that are believed fo to be. For we fhall fee that many things, that are looked upon as future, are already paft. Tis the ruin of Antichrift and his Empire, that we are now about to fpeak of. And the firft quetion that is asked thereupon is this, When shall that Empire be deftroyed? A great question, and which hath hitherto been looked upon, as a thing that none could penetrate into. Tis certainly, very difficult to be penetrated into, but yet however I do not think, 'tis impoffible to find out the truth, |