Beati Petri Apostolorum Haec est fides Patrum Haec est fides Orthodoxorum I have noted three things in which the number 25 is applicable unto it First concerning the number of Prelates there assembled in the first Session the History of the Councell of Trent lib. 2. pag. 130. plainly testifieth that the number of all the Prelates then and there assembled was 25. And although the number of Prelates was afterwards in other Sessions increased and continually altered and changed yet this first Session was that which gave nomen esle to the Councell and therefore the number of Prelates assembled in this Session is most remarkable rather to be observed then in any other Secondly concerning the number of Sessions and that the whole Councell is divided into 25 Sessions all editions of that Councell doe testifie and the books themselves will be as a thousand witnesses untill the end of the world And lastly it is witnessed by the same books also that the number of Popish Archbishops which subscribed to this Councell was 25 and although many other Bishops and Legates and Abbats others subscribed also yet the number of Archbishops is more remarkable then any of the rest because as Bishops who ought chiefly if not only to have decisive voices in generall Councells are virtually and representatively their whole subordinate Clergie so they themselves especially in the Romish Hierarchie are virtually and representatively contained in their Archbishops It might be here as I believe truly added that the number of all the Decrees of this Councell of Trent was also 25. I meane of such a For the other Decrees which concerne either the beginning continuing prorogueing translating or ending of the Councell or of any Session or which concern safe conducts are matters of meere formality and unavoidable necessity and are not to be numbred with the Decrees of the Councell nor were read when the Decrees were coÌ„firmed as the last act of the Councell witnesseth Decrees as concerne matters of faith reformation which onely are to be accounted for the Decrees of the Councell because these only were read and confirmed in this Councel as appeareth by the last words of the last Session but because it is hard to set downe any one certain number of them and because it is already proved by that which is above said that the number 25 is more remarkable in this Councel then any one other number therefore I passe now to that Creed and forme of profession of the Romish faith which was composed by Pope Pius the fourth according to the doctrine of the Councell of Trent by which Creed it is evident that they have increased the number of the Articles of the faith from twelve unto twenty five as by the Creed it selfe here written verbatim out of Pope Pius his Bull may evidently appeare 1 Credo in unum Deum patrem omnipotentem factorem Coeli Terrae visibilium omnium invisibilium It is evident that some Articles of the Apostles Creed were believed by the Iewes and were Arti leâ— of their saith before our â—aviour Christ came in the flesh The Iewes then did and doe yâ—t believe one God the father almighty they did believe the holy Catholike Church the Communian of Saâ—nts the forgivenesse of sinnes the resurrection of the flesh and life everlasting Aâ— therefore the Apostles did not make de novo all the Articles of their Creeâ— but did â—nely adde certaine articles to that faith which was formerly believed in the Church pretending and that truly that this their addition was implicitely contained in that saith which the Jewes did then professe concerning the Messias which was to cowe So Antichrist was not to make de novo al the Articles of that Creed which he was to professe but was only to adde as it were one moitie to that faith which was formerly believed in the Church pretending but falsly as it behooved Antichrist to doe that this his addition was implicitly contained in the Creed which was formerly professed in the Church 2 Et in unum Dominum Iesum Christum filium Dei unigenitum expatre natum ante omnia secula Deum de Deo Lumen de Lumine Deum verum de Deo vero genitum non factum consubstantiolem patri per quem omnia facta sunt 3 Qui propter nos homines propter nostram salutem descendit de Caelis incarnatus est de Spiritu sancto ex Maria Virgine homo factus est 4 Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato passus sepultus est 5 Et resurrexit tertiâ die secundùm Scripturas 6 Et ascendit ad Coelum sedet ad dextram patris 7 Et iterum venturus est cum gloria judicare vivos mortuos cuius regni non erit finis 8 Et in Spiritum sanctum Dominum vivificantem qui expatre filioque procedit qui cum patre filio simul adoratur conglorificatur qui loquutus est per Prophetas 9 Et unam sanctam Catholicam Apostolicam Ecclesiam 10 Confiteor unum Baptisma in remissionem peccatorum 11 Et expecto resurrectionem Mortuorum 12 Er vitam venturi saeculi Amen 13 Apostolicas Ecclesiasticas traditiones reliquasque ejusdem Ecclesiae observationes constitutiones firmissimè admitto amplector 14 Item sacram Scripturam juxta eum sensum quem tenuit tenet sancta mater Ecclesia cujus est judicare de vero sensu interpretatione sacrarum Scripturarum admitto nec eam unquam nisi juxta unanimem consensum Patrum accipiam interpretabor 15 Profiteor quoque septem esse verè proprié sacramenta novae legis à Jesu Christo Domino nostro instituta atque ad salutem humani generis licet non omnia singulis necessaria scilicet Baptismum Confirmationem Eucharistiam Panitentiam Ordinem Extremam Vnctionem Matrimonium illaque gratiam conferre ex his Baptismum Confirmationem Ordinem sine sacrilegio reiterari non posse 16 Receptos quoque Approbatos Ecclesiae Catholicae Ritus in supradictorum omnium sacramentorum solenni administratione recipio admitto 17 Omnia singula quae de peccato originali de justificatione in sacrosanctà Tridentiná Sy nodo definita declarata fuerunt amplector recipio 18 Profiteor pariter in Missa offerri Deo verum proprium propitiatorium sacrificium pro vivis defunctis atque in sanctissimo Bucharistiae sacramento esse verè realiter substanti aliter corpus sanguinem unà cum anima â—â— Divinitate Domini nostri Iesu Christ fierique conversionem totius substantiae panis in corpus totius substantiae vini in sanguinem quam conversionem Catholica Ecclesia transubstantiationem appellat 19 Fateor etiam sub altera tantùm specie totum atque integrum Christum verumque Sacramentum sumi 20 Constanter teneo Purgatorium esse animasque ibi
quiden reverá non tam nominis Bestiae quà m Bestiae ipsius numerus est quomodâ— etiam statim vocatur Numerus autem nominis ideâ— tantùm dicitur quòd nominis Bestiae liâ—eâ—is in numeros relatis Deoita disponenâ—e contineatur Com Apocal. Cantabrigrae nupâ—r editus Nomen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 numerum conficit à Sp sancto notatum numerum autem mysticum quo indicatur cusus prosapiae siâ— Bestia Idem pag. 216. divers learned Interpreters doe willingly acknowledge But as touching the chiefe and principall meaning that there may be found out such a kinde of interpretation as may be warranted by an expresse Example in the holy Scriptures And such an Interpretation as the precedent subsequent words of the text may not onely seem to admit of but necessarily to inforce and such an interpretation as doth essentially and accurately describe that state of government to which all other notes of Antichrist agree there is no way more probable or more agreeable to reason nor any way lesse repugnant to the writings of the chiefest interpreters then to prosecute the grounds already laid by those who haue indeavoured to finde out the mystery contained in this number by comparing it with the number 144 to which this number 666 is as it were the anti-numerus must therefore be interpreted after the same manner and in the same particulars applyed to the Synagogue of Antichrist as the number 144 ought to be interpreted and as it is in the Scriptures applied to the Church of Christ CAP. 2. That the mystery of the number 144 which is the number opposed to 666 consists in the square root of it which is 12 and that therefore the mystery of 666 must be in the square root of it also ANd now concerning the manner how this number 144 ought to be interpreted it is already agreed upon as it were by a general consent as well of the ancient as of the later interpreters that the only or at least the chief cause why this number was chosen rather then any other to be the measure of the wall of the celestiall Jerusalem is because this number is raised and built upon the number 12 which being multiplied into it selfe produceth this square number 144. For as this number 144 is raised and built upon the number of 12 onely and cannot possibly admit of any other number to be the root and basis of it as is evidently knowne to all that have skill in Arithmetick to count numbers and extract the roots of them so neither can the Church of Christ admit of any other foundation then that which is already laid by the 12 Apostles As therefore this number 144 is built upon 12 unities so is the Church of Christ upon the 12 Apostles And as the number of 12 is more conspicuous and remarkable in this number 144 then any other number because it measureth not onely the bottome or root but the sides and rankes of it also as will plainly appeare to any one that considereth and counteth the sides and unities of this square figure following where the number 144 is set down in due order the unities being placed according to right angles and equall distances one from another I say therefore as the number of 12 is more conspicuous and remarkeable in this figurated number consisting of 144 vnities then any other number soe it is evident that the number of 12 is more conspicuous and remarkeable in the Church of God then any other number whatsoever And hence it is that this number 12 is rehearsed and repeated above one hundred forty and foure times in the Scriptures and is in them so often used and in so many and so diverse particulars applied by the spirit to things pertaining to the Church that we cannot but acknowledge this number to be chosen and as it were affected by the Holy Ghost rather then any other And although the number 144 may truly bee said to be Gods number in a more particular manner then many other numbers used in the Scriptures because it representeth the figure of the Citty and in generall the forme and structure of the Church and Hierarchie thereof as shall be shewed yet it cannot so properly be called Gods number as the number 12 which almost in all materiall respects is applicable to the Church and is used in the Scriptures alwaies as numerus certus pro certo and not as numerus certus proincerto in which sense it must needs be granted that the number 144 doth signify and represent the Church in generall For it is not in it selfe being wholy considered applicable as the number 12 is to any particular times persons or places or other particular things mentioned in the Scriptures but only in respect of the root or basis of it which is 12. For there were 12 Tribes not 144 and 12 gates in Jerusalem not 144 and 12 Apostles not 144. And so it may be said of many other things And whereas the number 144 is no where mentioned in the Scriptures but only in the 21 of the Revelation it must needs be granted that it is not there said to be the measure of the Wall which doth in that place signify the spirituall building of Gods Church because there then were or at any time should be precisely so many no more faithfull Christians or living stones built upon the 12 foundations there named but that we might thence learne that how great or how little soever the number of faithfull Christians should be yet they must be all built upon the foundation of the 12 Apostles as the number 144 is built upon 12 unities And hence that is evident which most interpreters grant that this number 144 was chosen to be the measure of the wall of the new Ierusalem for this reason only or for this reason chiefly because it is the only square number which can be raised and built upon 12 unities as is clearly known to all those that haue understanding to extract the roots of numbers CHAP. 3. The manner of the interpretation more clearely yet cursorily proposed An introduction to the true interpretation of the number 144 and the measures of the new Hierusalem AND now although I may take this for granted for the reasons above rehearsed that this number 144 is not in it selfe any way particularly to be applied to Gods Church and people but only in respect of the number 12 which is the root and basis of it and so might accordingly proceed shewing that the number 666 is not in it selfe applicable to any Times Names Persons Places or other circumstances belonging to Antichrist as many vainely and fruitlessely have endeavoured to find out but only that the root of this number 666 whatsoever number it be must be the number which is in many particular respects applicable to the kingdome of Antichrist and that as the number 12 which is the square root of 144 is more properly said to be Gods number then
state Hierarthy sect or society of men so confidently and yet so falsly pretending and arrogating themselves to have all fullnesse of power Apostolicall annexed and as it were appropriated unto themselves as the Colledge of Cardinalls doth I may therefore conclude that there are persons in the Papacy answerable to the Apostles as Rome is to Hierusalem that if the Papacy be Antichrist and if the number 666 be to be interpreted and applied after the same manner which is above proved that it ought to be then the first originall number and foundation of this Colledge of Cardinalls must be typed out unto us by the square root of the number 666 as the first limited and established number of the Apostles is typed out by the square root of the number 144. CHAP. 15. That the first number of Cardinals according to their first institution and foundation is chiefly to be considered as that which doth most remarkably characterize Antichrist in his originall AND that only the first decreed and established number of the Colledge of Cardinals is typed out unto us and plainly foretold by the root of the Beast's number this is a farre more evident and remarkable description of Antichrist then if any other number had been declared which should at any other time have been applicable unto them For as it is usually said scire is per causas cognoscere and as we cannot perfectly know any thing untill we know what were the first originall causes and beginnings of it so this order of Cardinals which beareth now so much sway in the Romish Church and which is the very body and corporation of Antichrist may be then perfectly discerned when we know what it was in it's first originall and beginning And for this cause it is that the holy Ghost in the description of the new Hierusalem useth chiefly such numbers and measures as were conspicuous and remarkable in the first apparent foundation of Christian Religion For the wall of the new Hierusalem is said to have 12 foundations not because the number 12 either in respect of the Apostles themselves or in respect of Christian Bishops themselves who are their lawfull successours in so much of their authority as is necessary for the perpetuall government of the Church should be at all times following actually existent and remarkable in the Church but that by this one number which is the root Basis of another number there might be an evident strong allusion not only to the number but also to the nature qualitie and office of those persons from whom as from the Root the Churches Hierarchy doth originally proceed upon whom it is fundamentally built and in whom it was first apparently to be discerned As therefore the number 12 is not applicable to the Hierarchy of the Church in respect of any one perpetuall and constant number of Persons which was alwaies to continue so neither ought the number 25 to be after this manner applicable to the Romish Hierarchy but the true and exact application of it ought chiefly to be terminated in the discovery not onely of the number but also of the nature quality office of those Persons from whom their Pseudo-hierarchy did originally proceed upon whom it was fundamentally built and in whom and with whom it was first apparently to be discerned Howsoever therefore it may perhaps at the first apprehension seeme requisite that according to this application which I am at the number 25 ought to be the onely constant setled and perpetuall number of the Popes Cardinalls or Apostles which should at all times during the time of Antichrists continuance be actually applicable unto them yet upon due consideration it must be granted that such an application can neither be warranted by the example of the opposite number which is applicable to the first number of the Apostles only nor be agreeable to the nature of this type which aymes not only at a certaine number of unities but also of such unities as are the root and Basis of other unities which were to proceed from them and to be built upon them I say therefore that it must be granted that there is no necessity nor any probability that this number ought otherwise to be applied unto them then in respect of that first decreed established number which was most conspicuous and remarkable most exactly applicable unto them in and at the first foundation of their Colledge and in the first apparent and actuall institution of their order And that not only the number of the 10 crowned hornes mentioned in the Revelation may be thus interpreted in respect of their first originall onely but that also the number of the Beast ought to have speciall reference to the first original stock and image of Antichrist's Anti-Apostles is a truth clearely discerned and in general tearmes plainly expressed by a late learned interpreter of the Revelations although he aimed not at the same particular application which I doe These things being now thus cleared and discussed in generall concerning the time the place and the persons which this number ought chiefly to characterize and it being proved that Rome is answerable to Hierusalem and that the Cardinalls of Rome are those persons which may be fitly stiled Anti-Apostles in the Romish Hierarchy and lastly that the time in which the root of the Beast's number ought to be applied to the Pseudohierarchy of Antichrist must be in the first apparent and remarkable emersion of his Hierarchy that so it may be like and answerable to that very nick of time in which and in which only the root of the opposite number is actually applicable to the Hierarchy of the Church these things I say being thus cleared and discussed it remaineth now that J shew by cleare and evident testimonies that as the Colledge of Apostles did originally consiste of 12 persons and no more so the Colledge and corporation of Cardinals in Rome according to it's first institution in the first apparent and remarkable foundation of the a That the first remarkable foundation of the Papacie was about 300 yeares after Christ in or about the time of Constantine is out of question Then was that voice heard hodiè seminatum est virus in Ecclesia Then was the seat of the Empire taken out of the way and removed from Rome to Cōstantinople and then was Antichrist to come when the Roman Emperour was taken out of the way Then doe they pretend Constantines donation to have been made Then was the ancient purity of the Primitive Church decayed then was the visible Hierarchie of the Christian Church almost quite extinguished by the violence of persecutions for then as Baronius relates Anno 304. The persecuting Princes velut gloriosae victoriae titulis de suba actis deletisque penitus Christianis columnas erexetunt Cluniae enim in Hispania in nobili columnâ haec inscriptio legitur DIOCLESIAN JOVIUS c. AMPLIFICATO por ORIENT OCCIDENT IMPERIO ROMANO
the doctrine decreed in that Councell in either of these the number 25 is as remarkably applicable to the Romish faith as the number 12 to the Apostles Creed but J pitch chiefly upon that forme and profession of the Romish faith which Pope Pius the fourth hath set forth according to that Councell to be generally received by all men or as the Bull it selfe witnesseth ut unius ejusdem fidei professio uniformiter ab omnibus exhibeatur unicaque certaillius forma cunctis innotescat That this Councell of Trent doth fully containe the whole faith and doctrine of the Romish Religion the Papists themselves are neither able nor willing to deny Thus much is testified by the eight and ninth acclamations at the end of this Councell which runne after this manner Cardinalis à Lothoringia Sacrosancta Oecumenica Tridentina Synodus eius fidem confiteamur eius decreta semper servemus Responsio Patrum Semper confiteamur semper servemus Cardinalis à Lothor Omnes ita credimus omnes id ipsum sentimus omnes consentientes amplectentes subscribimus Haec est fides beati Petri Apostolorum haec est fides Patrum haec est fides Orthodoxorum Responsio Patrum Ita credimus ita sentimus ita subscribimus I say therefore as the 12 Apostles after that Christian religion began to be believed in the world did assemble themselves together and composed a Creed consisting of 12 Articles for the preservation of unity in matters of religion and for the suppressing of heresies so the chiefe Prelats of the Popish Church after their Romish religion began to be received and believed in the world did for the advancement of their superstitions for the suppressing of that which they call heresie assemble themselves together at the Councell of Trent which Councell was begun by 25 Prelates continued 25 Sessions and ended with the subscription of 25 Popish Archbishops and last of all which is the thing J chiefly ayme at the doctrine and faith decreed in this Councell was afterwards by the Pope and his Cardinals reduced to a set forme of words so naturally branching themselves into 25 Articles that they cannot with any conveniencie be divided into any other number as it shall be declared I have now spoken in generall of all those six things to which the number 12 is applied in the description of the new Hierusalem and I have shewed that there were things actually existing in the city Hierusalem and in the Primitive Church to which every one of these things hath an evident allusion And I have also shewed that there were and are things actually existing in the City and in the Church of Rome fitly answerable and opposite to every one of those six things above mentioned and that according to all senses and interpretations which may with any probability be put upon them If I have spoken more then needs concerning the opposition or contraposition of Things in generall I have therefore done it because I am fully perswaded that this description of the new Hierusalem is not for this reason onely set downe in the Scriptures that by it the true Church of Christ might be described but also that the false Church of Antichrist by way of Antithesis and opposition might by the same description mutatis mutandis be manifestly revealed For there is not intended by this description an opposition of Numbers only and not of those things also which are numbred nor an opposition of Things only and not of those Numbers also which are joyned with them but a double Antithesis and contraposition both of Things and Numbers so that from this description of the new Hierusalem we may make two severall inferences concerning Antichrist the one drawne from the consideration of Things opposite the other from the consideration of Numbers opposite By the first may be found out the Genus by the second the Differentia by which Antichrist may be defined From the first consideration it followeth that Antichrist ought to have such things belonging to his state and Hierarchy as I have already proved to have been actually existing in the Papacie as namely persons answerable to the Apostles a City answerable to Hierusalem having certaine measures and a certaine number of Gates Churches Pastors Parishes professing their faith and religion under a certain number of heads and Articles But from the second consideration which consists in the application of that number which is opposed to 12 unto all these things above mentioned it may be concluded not only that Antichrist must have a Citie answerable to Hierusalem but precisely how many furlongs in compasse his City must be how many Gates it must have about it how many chiefe Churches in it into how many Parishes it was first divided what the first originall decreed number of these persons must be who must pretend themselves to be the Basis and foundation of that Hierarchie which Antichrist was to erect in it And lastly by this number may be concluded into how many heads or Articles the Faith and Religion of Antichrist actually should or conveniently might be divided It remaineth now in the last place that I make the truth of all these things to appeare by particular application and that I make good what I have above promised by shewing out of history that the number 25 is as evidently applicable in all these particulars above mentioned to the City State and Hierarchie of Rome as the number 12 is in all like and answerable respects to the Church of Christ and to the new Hierusalem CHAP. 19. That the first decree'd and limited number of Cardinalls and Parish preists in Rome was 25. And that the first number of Churches for Baptisme and Parishes was 25 also I will first begin this application with the Cardinalls of Rome and with those Titles and Churches in seperably united unto them And as I first shewed that in the Romish Church Cardinalls were answerable to the Apostles so I will first shew that their first originall decreed number in the City of Rome was 25 as the first number of Apostles was 12 at Hierusalem It is a truth generally received and as I believe not contradicted by any writer that the Cardinalls sprang originally from being parish Priests in the City of Rome a Tom 2. 〈◊〉 Clericis cap. 16. Bellarmine acknowledgeth that Cardinalis in suo Titulo est veluti Parochus that a Cardinall is as it were a Parish Priest in his owne Title b liâ—ro 1. 〈◊〉 pag 31. Alexander a Turre writeth to the same purpose in these words Nec aliud profectò erat ab Ecclesiae pâ—â—mordijs agere Cardineas partes quam obire â—uram animarum cujus rei in argumentum ad huc in urbe retinent Parochialium Ecclesiarum Titulos that is neither was it any thing else in the Churches begining to execute the office of a Cardinall but only to discharge the cure of soules For which cause the Cardinalls even to this day doe
intricate so must it also be acknowledged to be new and unheard of in former times In both which respects I may say of it as a late worthy writer doth of his new Philosophy in a very like case Scio quemadmoduÌ„ arduum Gilbertus de Magnete Magneticisque corporibus in praesatione ad Lectorem est vetustis novitatem dare obsoletis nitorem obscuris lucem fastiditis gratiam dubiis fidem it a multò magis novis inauditis contra omnes omnium opiniones authoritatem aliquam conciliare stabilire difficilimum But all truths which are now old were once new and have had their severall oppositions New truths are like new friends worthy to be tried though not to be trusted and I propose these things to the wise and learned as b Si quid Fusce vacas adhuc amari Nam sunt hinc tibi hinc amici Vnum si superest locum rogaâ—us Nec me quid tibi sum nonus recuses Omnes hoc veteres tui fueruat Tu tantum inspice qui novas paratur An possit steri vetus sodalis lib. 1. Epig. 35. Martiall proposed himselfe to his friend to be tryed and examined first and to be beleived afterward as it is alwayes wisdome to trust an old friend so is it somtimes great folly not to make an exact triall of one that is new As touching the method and manner of composure of this treatise I do willingly confesse that it is not only inartificiall but also rude and harsh especially considering how nécessary a perspicuous Method and exquisit expressions had been in so difficult a matter But I hope the Logick is better then the Rhetoricke and perhaps there wil not want those that will quickly put my meaning into better words and other languages if it shall deserve them My only aime hath been to speak so that my meaning may be fully understood and yet I finde that where I have indeavoured to expresse my selfe most clearly there have I done as Iob did in his vexations even darkened Counsell by words without knowledge But I hope a wise learned and charitable Reader will picke out my meaning howsoever and pardon my unnecessary tautologies and circumlocutions And to the serious and setled considerations of such sober minded and judicious Readers I wholy referr that which I have written Let such consider what I say not who speaks unto them and God give them understanding in all things that hating neutrality of opinion especially in a matter of so great consequence and a Next unto the Knowledge of Christ and him crucified there is no Knowledge more necessary for the Church of God then the Knowledge of Antichrist and him revealed necessity they may be both able and willing if the substance of that which I have here written be true to believe it or if it be otherwise to confute it In the mean time and untill I shall see reason to the contrary I shall hope That among this wood and hay and stubble which I have here heaped together there is also some Gold and some Silver and some Pretious Stones that is some long sought after and desireable b Of which one is the reconciling of the measures of the new Hierusalem with those measures of the City mentioned in the last Chap of Ezechiel a truth untill these times unknowne unto the Church truthes which being purged and refined from my errors and imperfections by that fire of which the Apostle speakes in the third Chap of the first Epistle to the Corinthians shall continue in the Church of God notwithstanding any thing which hath been as yet objected against it Kilmington in Somerset March 27. 1642. FRAN POTTER THE CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS CHAP. 1. The probability of the following Interpretation is briefly and generally proposed that opinion of numerall letters being almost wholy rejected CHAP. 2. That the mystery of the number 144 which is the number opposed to 666 consists in the square root of it which is 12 and that therefore the mystery of 666 must be in the square Root of it also CHAP. 3. The manner of the Interpretation more clearely yet cursorily proposed An introduction to the true Interpretation of the number 144 and the measures of the new Hierusalem CHAP. 4. A disquisition concerning the Interpretation of the 16 and 17 verses of the 21 Chap of the Revelat and a new exposition of the measures of the new Hierusalem CHAP. 5. A farther confirmation of the precedent Interpretation of the measures of the new Hierusalem CHAP. 6. The Interpretation of the measure of the wall of the new Hierusalem or of the 144 Cubits CHAP. 7. A farther confirmation of the solid and square measures above mentioned shewing that the like measures are used in other places of Scripture CHAP. 8. The reason why the new Hierusalem is measur'd by the solid and square measures onely that the measure and structure of the wall and the number by which it is expressed doe both typically represent the Hierarchie of the Church of Christ The conclusion of this digression concerning the measures and numbers of the new Hierusalem CHAP. 9. That those writers who make the mystery of the number 144 to consist in the Root of it ought also to have extracted the square Root of the number 666. That the extraction of the square Root is an ancient and usefull invention by which many famous mysteries have been found out CHAP. 10. What the counting of the number is What is meant by the first Beast the second Beast the image of the Beast mentioned Rev. 13. cap. That by counting the Beasts number some other number ought to be found out besider the number 666. CHAP. 11. What it is to extract the square Root of a number That 25 is the number that is the Root of 666 remarkably opposed unto 12. Some objections answered concerning the fractions of the root of 666. CHAP. 12. That the number 25 hath been conceived to be a fatall and unfortunate number by such as knew no relation that it had to Antichrist or to the number 666. CHAP. 13. Of the nature and quality of those particulars in which the Root and the Figure of the Beasts number is to be applied to the Papocie CHAP. 14. That Rome is answerable to Hierusalem and the Popes Cardinals to Christs Apostles CHAP. 15. That the first number of Cardinals according to their first institution and foundation is chiefly to be considered as that which doth most remarkably characterize Antichrist in his originall CHAP. 16. A disquisition concerning other particulars to which the number 12 is applied in the description of the new Hierusalem particularly of the 12 Gates 12 Tribes and 12 Angels CHAP. 17. Of such particulars in the mysticall Babylon as are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Gates Tribes Angels and Foundations of the new Hierusalem CHAP. 18. Of such things as are answerable to the measure of 12000 furlongs and the 12 manner
peece of ground why may he not then in another place set downe the square measure it selfe by one number without any circumlocution at all If in the first place the sides of a square number be given and yet the square number be not expressed but left to be found by him that will multiply the sides into themselves as S. Hierome hath done on this place why may not then the square number it selfe be given in another place of Scripture and yet the sides of it be left unexpressed to be found out by him that will extract the roote of it As therefore it was needlesse that the square number it selfe should be expressed to Ezekiel because by multiplying 25000 by it selfe we may certainly know that the square measure of the holy oblation was 625 Millions of square cubits or 667 miles as S Hierome counteth it so it was needlesse that the lineall measures of the wall should be expressed by the Angell to S. Iohn because by extracting the square roote of 144 we may certainely know that the lineall measure of the wall according to its thicknesse and height was precisely 12 cubits CHAP. 8. The reason why the new Hierusalem is measured by the sollid and square measures onely That the measure and structure of the wall and the number by which it is expressed doe both typically represent the Hierarchy of the Church of Christ The conclusion of this digression concerning the measures and numbers of the new Hierusalem IF a reason be demanded why the Angel did not set downe the lineall measures onely of this new Hierusalem as the manner is in Ezekiels visions and in other places of Scripture where the like descriptions are used I answere that although the same quantity might have as perfectly and in respect of the ignorance of many men more perspicuously been made knowne by the lineall measures yet then it had not been possible to have retained the same numbers For being the holy Ghost affecteth as it were this number of 12 more then any other as it is above shewed and keepeth this number constantly through the whole description of this new Hierusalem as if nothing were pleasing and acceptable unto him as indeed it is not but that which is either numbred with this number of 12 or built upon it it was therefore convenient that the same number should be retained if it were posible in the measures also But it was not possible to set downe the true yet the same length or breadth or compasse of this City by the number of 12 either in unities Tens Hundreds Thousands or Millions either by Reeds Cubits furlongs handbreadthes spans or any other measure named in the Scriptures For neither 12 furlongs nor 12 hundred furlongs nor 12000 furlongs are equall either to one side of this City or to the compasse or to the Area but onely 12000 furlongs to the solid content So likewise neither are 12 cubits nor 1200 cubits nor 12000 cubits nor 120000 nor 1200000 nor 12000000 of cubits or the same numbers of any other measures named in the Scriptures equall to any measures of this City above named excepting only the solid measure as is above said As therefore there was a necessity that the Solid measure should be set downe because that only could be expressed by the number of 12 having thousands added to it so was it necessary also that of all other solid measures furlongs should be taken for the same reason For as no other number with this measure so is it certaine that no other measure with this number could expresse the just quantity of this City A second reason and perhaps the chiefe reason why the holy Ghost would have the magnitude of this new Hierusalem expressed by the solid measure is that there might be an expresse and evident example in the Scriptures how to count and apply the number of the beast that so having found out that number which is opposed unto 12 and having added thousands and furlongs to it we might have the solid measure and content of that Cube given whose perimeter is equall to the compasse of the Romish Babylon as 12000 furlongs are the solid measure of that Cube whose perimeter is equall to the compasse of the new Hierusalem But of this in its due place As concerning the reason why the measure of the wall is not expressed by lineall measures it may be answered that although the number of 12 might have been retained and by it the true and the same lineall measures of this wall described yet it cannot be denied but that the true measures of the wall and the number of 12 are both necessarily although mystically implied and as purposely intended by the holy Ghost in the number 144 as if they had been many times expresly named For this number is so significantly applicable not only to the measures and structure of the wall here described but also to that which is by the wall signified that it may be truely said that this number considered absolutely in it selfe and not as it doth by Cubits here in this place shew the square measure of the wall is as it were an idaea of the hierarchy of the Church the wisdome of God having purposely linked two types together that the one might unfold the other the one being an imaginary structure of a materiall building the other an intelligible forme of an immateriall number both of them signifying that as the number 12 was the measure number and foundation of the Citty Gates and wall of the ancient and literall Hierusalem and was in respect of the 12 Patriarks the root from whence the 12 Tribes had their originall according to the flesh so the same number of 12 should be the only conspicuous remarkable number in the foundation structure of the spirituall new Hierusalem in which the 12 Apostlesâ—are 12 spirituall fathers answereable to the 12 Patriarks and are 12 foundation-stones layd by our Saviour Christ upon which foundation and according to which foundation that is by multiplying the doctrine of the Apostles by it selfe onely all the spirituall builders of Gods Church in the times to come ought to erect and square their buildings And they are also placed as 12 Angels at the 12 gates to keep out as it were with a two edged sword every thing that defileth and to admit into this City by the gates of Baptisme committed first and originally unto them and prefigured by the 12 oxen under the brasen Sea 12000 of every tribe that is all those faithfull Christians and true Jsraelites which can derive their spirituall genealogy from the faith and doctrine of the 12 Apostles And this is without all question the true and naturall interpretation of the numbers and measures of this new Hierusalem Concerning which it is to be observed that those interpreters which did not understand the measures and proportion of the wall and therefore could not discerne how exactly that ecclesiasticall state and Hierarchy
numerum 25 qui numerus est quadratus quià resultat ex ductu quinarii in seipsum And Petrus Serranus in his commentaries upon the same vision of Ezekiel writeth after this manner Ita ut potestati libidinum cupiditatum vita omnis permissa sit hoc autem malum signat sacer Propheta cùm 25 viros in portà orientali se vidisse asserit Numerum enim quinarium quo sensus hominis clauduntur nunquam in bonam partem accipi legitur in Scriptur â ut Divus Hieronymus testatuâ— etsi pluriès indifferenter inveniatur undè totius populi lapsus vigesimoquinto numero hoc lâ—co significatur If it be demanded what universall defection and what Apostacy this is from faith and religion by men confirmed in their own malice which â—yra and Serranus acknowledge to be typed out by this number 25 it may be well answered that there is none more probable then that defection and universall Apostacy which was to come upon the Church of Christ at that time when Antichrist was to sit in it For because this vision was not literally fulfilled or not fully terminated in the Jewish Church as it cannot but appeare to those that seriously consider it therefore S. Hierome as in this following treatise shall be shewed and many others doe not onely understand it of some defection and Apostacy which was to be among Christians but doe also apply it even particularly to the Synagogue of Rome John Husse in his book de revelatione Christi Antichristi saith of this vision after this manner Mysticam meretricem Scriptura describens eius excessum notificat Ezek. 8. cap. de viris in templo qui stabant ante picturas And Ecolampadius after a particular application of the chiefe things contained in this vision to the Monkes Friars and Nunnes of the Romish Church hath these words Et quid sibi vult haec visio quà m quòd in Episcopis doctoribus abominationes maximas ultimò cernat And of those words Et sunt circitèr viginti quinque he saith Quid aliud his doceâ—ur quà m nihilillos perfecto animo agere understanding by the word illos those Prelates of the Church of Rome of whom he had before spoken I might here adde the words of Gaspar Sanctius and others concerning this number upon the same occasion but as I conceive these are sufficient to make it evident that this number Twenty five is not only even by the testimony of the Scriptures an Hieroglyphicall character of some unhappy desperate and deplored estate of God's Church but also hath been conceived by religious wise and learned men mystically and typically to foreshew that quintessence of impietie and malice which these latter times have discovered in the Church of Rome Now therefore for as much as it is agreeable to other places of Scripture that this number 25 should be in some speciall manner applicable both to Antichrist and the Church of Rome I may with the greater confidence proceed to the particular application hoping by it and upon the grounds above proved to finde out such an accurate and essentiall discription of the Papacie as shall not seem unprobable to have been intended by the holy Ghost much lesse shall it be prejudiciall to any man's wisdome to believe it CHAP. 13. Of the nature and qualitie of those particulars in which the root and the figure of the Beasts number is to be applied to the Papacie AND now concerning those particulars in which this number is to be applied to the Papacie it is to be remembred what is above said of the number 12 and of those things to which it is applied For as Antichrist is opposed to Christ and as 666 is opposed to 144 so is 25 opposed to 12 and so must those things which are chiefly to be measured or numbred by this number 25 be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex adverso respondentia that is correspondent answerable on the other side and in some sort opposed to or set over against those things which are measured numbred or described by the number 12. And as I am perswaded for this Cause partly is the Church militant in the 21 Chapter of the Revel measured numbred and described by these two numbers only 144 and 12 that there might be an expresse example in the Scriptures not onely shewing in generall how the number 666 ought to be interpreted but also leading us as it were by the hand to those particulars in which the root of this number ought principally to be applyed And although perhaps it were a sufficient application and as much as some Readers would expect and more then any Papist can confute to heap together a greater number of particulars in which this number 25 is rather applicable unto the Romanists then it is to any other estate Church or sect or then any other number is to themselves and to their state yet this is farre short of that most exact and exquisite application which seemeth chiefly to be intended by the Holy Ghost Indeed the frequent occurring of this number in things pertaining to the state and Religion of the Romanists as shall be shewed in the second place after I have proved the first and chiefe application may well be an argument that either some secret destiny which is in it or their affectation of it hath made it more proper to them and more common among them then any other number Yet if it were applicable to them in no more nor in no other particulars but in those only which are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to those things which are measured numbred or described by the number 12 in the 21 Chap. of the Revel those onely are abundantly and superabundantly sufficient not only for an evident description but for a remarkable essentiall and incommunicable definition as well of their City as of their state and Hierarchy For what can be either said or imagined to be more essentiall or remarkable either to or in any city then the figure of it the circuit of the walls or compasse of it the number of the Gates the number of the Churches the number of Tribes Wards or Parishes into which it was first divided And concerning the forme of government which is more properly a City then the materiall structures what can be said or imagined to be more essentiall to it or remarkable in it then the number time place office and in some sort the very name also of those persons who are the very Basis and foundation of it and the very hinges as they themselves confesse on which their whole Hierarchy depends and moves it selfe As therefore the number 12 in the 21 Chap. of the Revel is applied to the Church and Hierarchy thereof in such things as are most essentiall to it and in such circumstances as are most apparently remarkable in it so the number 25 in like manner must be applied to the Papacie and Pseudo-Hierarchy thereof in such things as are most essentiall to
it and in such circumstances as are most apparently remarkable in it And as the number 12 is in that chapter after such an admirable and wonderfull manner applied to the spirituall Hierusalem that is to the Church and Hierarchy thereof that the literall and materiall City in which that Ecclesiasticall Hierarchy was first established is also by the same number plainly measured and manifestly described so ought also the number 25 to be in such sort applied to the mysticall and spirituall Babylon that the materiall City it selfe in which that Pseudo-apostolicall Hierarchy hath been long since established may be by the same number both truly measured and evidently described And for this cause it is absolutely necessary that the Beast mentioned in the 13 Chap of the Revel which is Antichrist must not be one person only as the Papistsfalsly teach but as the latest a Although certaine of the Scholasticall Divines do say that Antichrist shall be borne of the nation of the Iewes and of the tribe of Dan c. yet great learned men which with deepe judgements have read the Scriptures doe write that he shall not be one personall man only but that under the name of Antichrist is meant and comprehended the whole kingdome of false teachers bearing rule in the temple of God and that in a great City which hath rule and dominion over the kings of the earth Rapsodiae G. A. Bishop of Exeter pagina 287. Misâ—ellan 25. and best writers doe agree must essentially consist of a certaine number of such persons as may be fitly answerable b Antichristus habituâ—us est suos Pseudo-apoilolos Anselmus in 13. cap. Apoc. and opposite to Christ's Apostles residing in some City answerable and opposite to Hierusalem For how is it otherwise possible to interpret this number of the Beast after the same manner that that number which is opposed unto it is and ought to be interpreted How can we by counting the Beast's number finde out the number of his Apostles and the number of his Tribes the number both of the spirituall materiall gates of his Church and City the figure and compasse of it except Antichrist shall have some City answerable to Hierusalem and some Persons answerable to the Apostles and essentiall to his Hierarchy ruling and residing in it CHAP. 14. That Rome is answerable to Hierusalem and the Popes Cardinalls to Christ's Apostles AND as this assertion must necessarily follow out of that which is above said concerning the manner how this number ought to be interpreted so is it evidently and apparently verified in the Papacy a Alchasar upon the 21 cap. of the Rev. saith Totam hujus prophetiae summam devolui ad Romae comparationem theologicam cum HIERUSALEM nomen Hierusalem hoc loco Romanae Ecclesiae attribui veterem Hierusolimam nomen suum amisisse illudquè novam ROMAM id est Romanam Ecclesiam comparâsse utpote quae antiquae successit Hierysolimae in eo quod fidelium omnium CAPUT METROPOLIS sit effecta Alchasar in disputat de argumento 21. cap. For as Hierusalem truly was Caput mater gremium ostium omnium Ecclesiarum a Ex quo univers◠〈◊〉 secunda Hierusalem â—â—uit appellati apud quam Dominus ad illius Robur sider in Petro iterum crucifigi voluit ubiquè unius Dei veneratio ac fides indeficiens Domini precibus Petri favore ad ultimum usquè judicantis Domini adventum in urbe sublimi valente ac in de veriore Hierusalem creditur permansura Oâ—â—phrius Panvinius de praecipuis Urbis Romae basiâ—eis pagina 265. Coloniae 1584. And the same Onuphrius saith pag. 138. that at Rome supra peristâ—â—â— extetiotis Basilicae Lateranensis porticus hi versus sunt Dogmate Papali datur ac simul Imperiali Quòd sim cunctarum maâ—er Caput Ecclesiarum so doth Rome falsly pretend her selfe to be and so Rome really and truly is the mother of all spirituall whoredome and abominations in respect of all those Churches which have been seduced by her And as there is a cleere and eminent Antithesis betweene Hierusalem and Rome b Isidorus Moseonius lib. 1â— de Cardinalibus ubi enumerat appellationes Cardinalium magis proprias Cardinales inquit primoâ—n loco appellantur viâ—â—m gerentes Apostolorum so is there also between Christs Apostles and the Popes Cardinalls there being no persons in the whole world of what ranke order or degree soever stiling themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vicem gerentes Apostolorum as they do They are the very substance Soule and Essence of the Papacie and so neerly united to the Pope that he accounts them as parts of his owne body c De donatis Papae Cardinales debent habere dâ—midium Et Papa dimidium corum quae dantur Cardinalibus Jacobatius de Concilijs num 173. Non possunt testari sine licentia Papae quia sunt pars corporis Papae non praestant juramentum fidelitatis tanquam invisâ—â—rati Papae Jdem ibid. Item Papa habet singular em diligentiam de salute corporali Cardinalium unde si Cardinalis infirmetur non minuitur ei sanguis sine speciali Papae licentia Idem Numero 176. Cardinales in Ecclesia Romanâ unum corpus mysticum effecti sunt unum Collegium satro sanctum cum summo Pontifice constituunt Hieronimus Manfredus de Cardinalibus cap. 5. Ecce illud Collegium 〈◊〉 Apostolorum Actuum 15 cujus in locum sacer Cardinalium Senatus submissus est utroque consiliative deliberativo munere praefultum Alexander à Turre lib 2º 2 ae Partis pag. 82. Collegium Cardinalium dicitur Sacrosanctum Collegium Apostolorum Ecclesiae gremium Iacobatius de concilijs Num. 170. and they together with him make one compleat Colledge and Corporation and one mysticall Body actually and eminently containing upholding and representing all power and Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction They were instituted in the first most remarkeable foundation of the Papacy by the Pope in the City of Rome about the time of Constantine the great in a Institutio Cardinalium figuralitèr habuit ortam ab institutione divinâ exemplaritèr autem à Christo expressa autem fuit facta tempore Pontiani Marcelli Rom. Pont. propter baptisma Gondisalvus Villadeigo tausarum olim Palatij Auditoris in initio libelli de Origine Cardinalatûs imitation of our Saviour Christ who did in the first most remarkeable foundation of his Church erect the Colledge of Apostles at Hierusalem giving them a b The name which Christ gave to his Disciples was to be called Apostles Luc. 6. 13. And the name which the Pope giveth to his best beloved disciples is to be called Cardinalls For as Christ in his Church gave some to be Apostles some Teachers some Prophets c. 1. Cor. 12. 28. And Ephes 4. 11. So the Pope in the Romish Church hath given some to be called Cardinalls some Iesuites some Abbats
some Monkes some Friars some Exorcists some Acolâ—uts c. name prefining their c The first limited number which Christ gave to his Apostles was according to the number of the gates and Tribes of Hierusalem so the first limited and prefined number of the Cardinalâ—s was according to the number of the gates of ROME and according to the number of those Divisions of the City and People of Rome which the Popes have made answerable to the tribes of HIERUSALEM as shall be proved in due place number and declaring their d The Offiâ—â— and Commission which Christ gave to his Apostles consisted in three things First The Administration of Baptisme was committed chiefly and originally unto them And although they did afterward commit this function unto others yet they were first commanded to goe and Baptize all nations and as it were by the 12 gates of their Baptisme to bring all true Israelites into the spirituall Hierusalem So at the first institution of the Cardinalls their Office and Commiâ—sion was chiefly to baptize and they were affixed to certaine chiefe Churches in ROME in which and in which onely baptisme was to be celebrated Secondly the Apostles were to preach Christ and to propagate and plant Christian Religion in all the world So the Cardinalls having quickly committed the celebration of Baptisme unto others imployed themselves wholy to preach the Pope and to plant and propagate Poperie in all kingdomes of the world Thirdly Christ gave unto the Apostles the chiefe power to forgive and to detaine sinnes so likewise the Pope committeth the chiefe â—are and dispensation of his selling of pardons indulgences unto the Cardinalls saying unto them as Christ to his Apostles Whosesoever sinnes yee remitt they are remiâ—tted and whosesoever sinnes yee retayne they are retayned office as the Pope hath since done to his Cardinals at Rome As the Apostles truely were and are the root and foundation of the Christian Church and of all Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction so the Cardinals e For the order of Cardinalls is a confessed innovation as B. Morton sheweth And Antonius de Pratis affirmeth CARDINALATUS non dicitur gradus nec Ordo Ecclesiasticae Hirarchiae à Christo institutae nec gradui Apostoloâ—um succedens sicut Episcopatus saccrdotium De jurisdictione Episcopali Num. 3o. Tom 3º Parte 2â— pag. 36â— falslypretend themselves to be and so they truely are and doe in expresse words declare themselves to be the very f Cardinales sunt Bases Ecclesiae Gabriel Paleottus de descriptione Consistorii Cardinales vniversi orbis regendi pondera sustinent super corum humeros totius Ecclesiae machinâ— imponitur Hieronymus Albanus de Cardinalibus Questione â—â— Basis and g Alchasar in his Commentaries on the Revel saith The Pope useth to sâ—nd a Saphire stone to every new made Cardinall to put him in mind that he is now one of those fâ—unâ—ation-stones which are mentioned in the description of the new HIERUSALEM foundation of the Romish Hierarchy And therefore the Root and foundation of all that Superstition and Impiety which being derived originally from Rome hath been transfused through the whole body of the Christian Church As it is the Priviledge of the Apostles to be as it were 12 stars set in that Crowne which is mentioned in the 12 Chapter of the Revelation so is it an especiall Priviledge belonging to the Cardinals to haue their names written in the Crown of their Prince as witnesseth a Cardinales sunt patriciâ— scripti in diade mate Principis Iacobatius Iacobatius de concil num 153. There was a two fold state and Condition of the Apostles first they were Apostoli vrbis affixed as it were to the City Hierusalem where they were to abide untill they were endowed with power frome above but afterwards they were Apostoli orbis and were sent from thence into all kingdomes of the world So likewise the Cardinalls in imitation and affectation of the like honour are stiled Cardinales Vrbis Orbis and they remaine as it were affixed to the City of Rome untill they are indewed with power from above that is untill they are sent by the Pope as his Nuntio's and legates into all kingdomes of the world As the Apostles in respect of their spirituall fatherhood are fitly answerable to the 12 Patriarches who are the fathers of all the Israelites according to the flesh so the Cardinalls are likewise called Patres Spirituales affecting the like honour As the Apostles having supreme Authority in the Church may in some sense be said to be the judges of the world and to sit upon 12 Thrones to judge the 12 tribes of Israell so the Cardinalls make their a Cardinal dicit Papa Esto srater noster muaâ—i princeps Consist orium enim Christi Papae idem est censendum Alexand à Turte lib 1º 2 ae Partis pag. 35. Honour Regius humanâ—s Pontificius certè divinus Regum terrestre de cus Pontificum coeleste Maiestâ—s Râ—gâ—s minimè completa Pontificis numeris omnibus expleta illa civilis politica haec super coelestis sancta Alâ—x a Turâ—e lib. 4o. pag 272. Idem pag 36. visionem throni Apo. 4o. Papae Cardinalibus appheat coelesti Cherub Sâ—raphin Consistory of their Apostolicall Sea to admit of no appeale but to be of such a celestiall sublimity that it is equall to the tribunall seat of God And therefore they are stiled Judices Orbis and they do exercise all civill Ecclesiasticall power over the city and people of Rome which either the Patriarches and Princes of the Tribes did in the literall or the Apostles in the spirituall Hierusalem Many other things might here be alleaged to shew how exact and exquisite an Antythesis and Contra position there is between the Apostles and Cardinalls It might be observed that there is not one of those proper Appellations and Titles which are usually attributed to the Cardinalls such as are these following Patres Spirituales Vicem-gerentes Apostolorum Senatores Papae Patres Purpurati Patricij Mundi Principes Iudices Orbis Cardinales Vrbis Orbis and the like There is not I say any one of these Titles but the Cardinalls may by it be proved either to be emulous of the like honour which the Apostles had or else to be the Image of such a kinde of government as was before their lives remarkable in the City of Rome Both which Considerations as by the way may be observed are necessarily incident to the right discerning of that great Antichrist who is not only to resemble some ancient government of Rome but also * To be or to be like that Synagogue of Satan as some interpreters conceive Revel 2 2. 3. 9. to be that Synagogue of Satan mentioned in the Revel which say they are Apostles and are not For as much therefore as there hath not been in any City answerable to Hierusalem or in any other place at any time since the Apostles lived any
nomine Christianorum deleto Rursus ibidem altera inscriptio DIOCLESIAN CAESAR AUGUST SUPERSTITIONE CHRISTI UBI QUE deletá i But because the Papacie began then suddenly to start up after these persecutions therefore Baronius saith fefellit planè spes vana principes c. Papacy did consist of 25 persons and no more CHAP. 16. A disquisition concerning other particulars to which the number 12 is applied in the description of the new Hierusalem and particularly of the 12 Gates 12 Tribes and 12 Angels THat this truth may more plainely appeare it is requisite that something be first said briefly and in generall of those other particulars to which the same number is also to be applied for as it is above intimated all those particulars to which the number 12 is applied in the description of the new Hierusalem must have so many other particulars answerable and opposite to them in that mysticall Babylon to which the number 25 must be in like manner applicable Now the number 12 is actually and expresly applied unto six severall things in the description of the new Hierusalem which are these 1 Twelve Gates 2 Twelve Angels at the Gates 3 Twelve Tribes written on the Gates 4 Twelve foundations with names written on them 5 Twelve thousand furlongs the measure of the City 6 Twelve manner of fruits of the tree of life Notwithstanding that there is great difference among Interpreters what these 6 things are which are hereso expresly numbred described and howthey ought to be applyed to the Church yet their divers interpretations according to which every man aboundeth in his own sense are rather helps thē hinderances for the right discerning and finding out of those things which in the Romish Hierarchy are answerable unto thē For which way soever these things are to be understood and according to what possible probabilitie soever they may be interpreted there are things in all senses answerable unto them in the Romish Babylon If these Gates be literally to be understood of the gates of the materiall city Hierusalem then the materiall gates of the City of Rome must be answerable unto them And for a full application in this sense it shall be shewed that as the gates of Hierusalem were 12 in number so the gates of Rome were 25 in number But if those gates be also to be understood in a spirituall sense which without all question is chiefly intended and most exactly verified then these gates must be understood to be the gates of the Church signified by Hierusalem Now the gates of the Catholique Church which is really and truly the Heavenly Hierusalem may be said to be 12 divers waies First the Apostles themselves may be said to have been the 12 gates of the Church in respect of their faith and doctrine in generall because by their examples and by the sincerity and truth of their life and doctrine all other Christians have been converted to the true Religion And in this respect the Cardinals of Rome who make themselves answerable to the Apostles and whose originall number was 25 may be also said to have beene the 25 gates of spirituall Babylon because chiefly and originally by their policy and hypocrisy in laying the first foundation of Poperie all other Papists have been since perswaded and invited to believe and to embrace the Heresies and superstitions of the Church of Rome But secondly and in a more particular and proper sense there may be said to have been 12 gates of the Church because the administration of the Sacraments especially of Baptisme which is literally and properly the gate of the celestiall Hierusalem was chiefly originally a Although others did baptize in the Primitiue Church besides the 12 Apostles yet they cannot be properly called the first gates of the Church because these to whom this power was derived from the Apostles were first baptized themselves by the Apostles So that as Christ is truly and eminently said to be the foūdation of that foundation which was laid by the Apostles so the Apostles thēselves are truly and eminently the first chiefe gates of the Church even in respect of those who have beene since made as it were gates of the Church by their appointment by the fulnesse of their Commission authority which they di◠all equally and immediatly receive from Christ as it appeareth in the Gospell committed unto the 12 Apostles And in this sense it shall be shewed that as in the first apparent beginning of Christianity the administration of Baptisme was originally committed unto 12 Apostles in the City of Hierusalem which is therefore truly called Mater gremium ostium omnium Ecclesiarum the mother the wombe and the gate of all Churches so in the first apparent beginning of Popery the administration of Baptisme was originally committed unto 25 Cardinals in the City of Rome which city doth also stile her selfe Mater gremium ostium omnium Ecclesiarum the Mother the wombe and the gate of all Churches Thirdly these gates of the new Hierusalem seem to have speciall reference to those materiall Churches or to those places which were then answerable to our Churches wherein the Apostles did usually administer the word Sacraments while they were in Hierusalem for as the Apostles are called gates because administration of the word and Sacraments was performed by them so Churches may be called gates because these functions were performed in them And as Baptisme is truly said to be the gate of the Church so according to the phrase of the Scriptures that may be truly said of every particular Church or congregation which Iacob once spake of Bethel Haec est domus Dei haec Gen. 28. 17. est porta coeli this is the house of God this is the gate of heaven And although those places in Hierusalem wherein Christians first assembled themselves were not such as our Churches now are as neither was Bethel at that time when Jacob called it the gate of Heaven yet it cannot be imagined but that there were set congregations which had some certaine places to meet in and severall Pastors to instruct them for as the Apostles divided the world as it were by line among themselves so that one would not meddle within the compasse of anothers line so it is to be conceived that the same Apostles by whose precept or example Parishes and Diocesses in all places began to be erected first in Cities and then in Villages did not confusedly and promiscuously performe all duties Ecclesiasticall functions among themselves but that they did divide the City Hierusalem into 12 severall Jurisdictions Parishes or Divisions and that they did in 12 severall places administer the Sacrament of Baptisme and doe all other religious duties which are now usually performed in Churches These places were for the most part large upper roomes such as that was which the Apostles prepared for our Saviour Christ to eat the Paschall Lamb in these in those times were
usually called a Ecclesia ante consecrationem propriè dicitur Basilica Basilicae which name hath been ever since retained sheweth the true originall from whence Christian Churches had their beginning and these places were in those times really and truly Christian Churches although in respect of those which we now have they were so but onely as it were in semine origine Now forasmuch as this coelestiall Hierusalem is the type of the Christian Church universall into which no man can have his entrance admission except it be by baptisme which ought alwaies to be performed in some particular Church or congregation therefore every particular Church or Congregation wherein this Sacrament is usually administred may in this respect as also in divers others be truly said to be agate by which men do usually and ordinarily enter into the spirituall Hierusalem And because the first Christian Churches or congregations which were at once and the same time instituted and erected in Hierusalem by the Apostles as patterns and platformes to all succeeding times and Cities are presumed to have been 12 in number according to the number of the 12 Apostles therefore the number of the gates of the Christian Church vniversall according to it's first originall and beginning which time is chiefly aymed at in this whole description are truly said to be twelve And this I take chiefly to be that literall veritie really and actually existing in the primitive Church to which the twelve Gates of the new Hierusalem have a plaine and evident allusion And this is farther cleared because it followeth in the Text that these Gates had 12 Angells placed at them and the names of the twelve Tribes written on them For first concerning the Angels it is evident in this book of the Revelation that the Ministers of the Gospell are called the Angels of those Churches which are committed unto them If therefore these twelve gates be the first christian Churches then the 12 Angels may fitly be said to be those 12 Pastors to whom the charge of these twelve Churches was committed For as touching Angels properly so called which are ministring spirits it is certaine that the dispensation of the Gospell is not committed unto Angels but unto men and that men and not Angels have power and are appointed to baptize and to excommunicate that is to admit in and to cast out of the Church and to open and shut the gates of the heavenly Hierusalem And for this cause it is plainly said in the 2 chap. of the Hebrews verse 5. that God hath not unto Angells put in subjection the world to come in which place the world to come signifieth the renewed estate of the Church under the Gospell Secondly concerning the 12 Tribes if the Gates be the first 12 Churches and the Angells the 12 first Pastors then questionlesse these Tribes are the 12 first Ecclesiasticall divisions Titles Iurisdictions or Parishes into which the City and people of Hierusalem in some sort were and should in processe of time haue been more perfectly divided if that City had not been destroyed nor the Passage of the Gospell hindered For it is to be considered that this description of the new Hierusalem is applicable to those times by way of anticipation as it were and rather in respect of that beauty and perfection at which the primative Church then aymed then in respect of that unto which it had in those times attained Neverthelesse because it is evident by the Scriptures that there was so great a number of beleeving Christians in Hierusalem at that time that every Apostle might have had the charge of neare 500 soules it cannot therefore with any probability be imagined but that they did distribute and dispose themselves and those beleevers in as decent and convenient order as those times would permitt and according to such Divisions as did not only resemble the 12 Tribes of the Jsraelites which were typicall predictions of the Apostles times but were also exemplary causes of the like Ecclesiasticall divisions namely of Diocesses and Parishes which began immediately after the Apostles times to be erected in other Cityes and haue been ever since continued in the Church CHAP. 17. Of such Particulars in the mysticall Babylon as are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Gates Tribes Angells and Foundations of the new Hierusalem I Hope it is now sufficiently declared what those things were in the primitive Church to which the twelve Gates the twelve Angells and the twelve Tribes have a speciall allusion The 12 Gates are 12 Churches or Congregations in which the Sacraments and especially Baptisme was administred The 12 Angells are those 12 Pastors to whom these 12 Churches were committed The 12 Tribes are those 12 Titles or Parishes or other divisions into which the City and people of Hierusalem were divided And all these things will be farther cleared by that which I shall now say concerning those things which are answerable and opposite unto them in the Romish Babylon And that not only because Contrariajuxta seposita magis elucescunt contraries being placed together are the more easily discerned but also because the Church of Rome by a pretended Imitation but by a true and reall Emulation pretended her selfe to have been framed and erected after the example of the Church of Hierusalem and to be a continuall and perfect expression of it even in respect of those things which are above recited Onuphrius de praecipuis Vrbis Rom basilicis in the second chapter where he writes of the first Parishes Churches and Pastors which were instituted and erected in the City of Rome saith that Saint Peter came to Rome and there founded the Church of Rome and instituted the Cleargy in that City Hierosolimitanae caeter arumque orientalium Ecclesiarum exemplo according to the example of the Church of Hierusalem and other Orientall Churches And concerning the institution of Cardinalls who were the first Parish Priestes of the first Churches erected in Rome a Gondisalvus Villadiego Causarum olim palatiâ— Auditor in initio libell de Origine Cardinaâ—â—â—us Gondisalvus Villadiego sayeth Jnstitutio Cardinalium figuraliter habuit ortum ab institutione divinà exemplariter autem a Christo expressa autem fuit facta tempore Pontiani Marcelli Rom. Pontif. that is the institution of Cardinalls had it's institution figuratively from divine institution exemplarily from Christ but expressely from the Popes Pontianus and Marcellus By these and many other like testimonyes which are frequent in their owne writers it is evident that the Romanists are not likely to deny either that their Church and City of Rome hath such things in it as are fitly answerable to those particulars which are above rehearsed in the description of the new Hierusalem or that the literall Hierusalem in the time of the Apostles bad not such Churches such Pastors and such Ecclesiasticall divisions as I haue above described But supposing that which will not be graunted that these things mentioned in
answerable to those ancient Tribes of Hierusalem and Rome although called by another name and changed to another number And thus much of things answering to the Tribes of the new Hierusalem Jn the next place it is to be observed that in every one of these Parishes there was some publique place of meeting appointed or some Church erected for the administration of Baptisme these places or Churches in the City of Rome are fitly answerable to those Churches in the literall Hierusalem which were the first Gates of the spirituall Hierusalem For as it is above declared that every particular Church may for divers reasons be said to be a gate of the Church universall but especially in respect of the administration of baptisme which literally and properly is the Gate of the Church so these Churches in the City of Rome which are named Baptismall Churches as it is a By D. Field observed because in these only Baptisme was originally administred are in this respect as also in divers others properly and exactly answerable to those Gates of the Spirituall Hierusalem That there were such Churches as these and that to every one of these Churches there was at the first but one Priest appointed as there was one Angell placed at every Gate of the celestiall Hierusalem is evident by that which Onuphrius hath written and by the testimonies of divers other writers whose words J shall have occasion to set downe when I come to speake of the number of these Churches But when these Parish Preists degenerated into Cardinalls and were made a Colledge and Corporation exercising a new kind of superepiscopall jurisdiction in and over these churches then was the birth of Antichrist then did Antichrist really and truly and literally and locally sit first in these christian churches at Rome and from thence his pseudo-apostolicall Authority hath been obtruded and imposed upon other churches By which it is evident that as some interpreters doe make the Apostles themselves although in divers respects to be the Gates the Angells and the foundations of the celestiall Hierusalem so the Cardinalls in one respect may be said to be the first Gates of the Church of Rome because at their first institution the administration of Baptisme was committed unto them only and in another respect they may be called Angels because they were Pastors of the first parish churches in Rome and lastly they may be truly said to have been the first Foundation stones on which the Popish Hierarchie hath been ever since erected as it is above more fully and particularly declared I doe not forget that some writers doe interpret these twelve Foundations to be the twelve Articles of the Creed but I passe over this interpretation in this place not because the Pope hath not a Creed consisting of twentie and five Articles answerable to those of the Apostles but because I conceive the 12 Articles of the Creed to be chiefly and directly aymed at by the twelve manner of fruits growing on the tree of life as in the sixth and last place shall be observed And thus much in generall of things sometime actually existing in Rome answerable to the Gates Tribes Angels and Foundations sometime actually existing in the new Hierusalem and that according to all senses which way soever they may with any probability be interpreted concerning all which I doe oblige my selfe to prove that there were 25 Gates in Rome according to the sense literall 25 Churches for Baptisme according to the sense spirituall and 25 Pastors placed at these Churches and 25 Cardinals sitting and ruling in them and 25 Titles Tribes or Parishes belonging to them CHAP. 18. Of such things as are answerable to the measure of 12000 furlongs and the 12 manner of fruits growing on the tree of life The conclusion of all that hath been said concerning the Antithesis of things in generall as it is distinguished from that Antithesis of numbers which is next to be proved IN the next place it comes to be inquired what that is in the City of Antichrist which is answerable to the measure of 12 thousand furlongs by which as it is above shewed the true compasse of that City in which Christ did first and chiefly erect his Church and Hierarchie is truly although mystically declared To which J answer that as the number 12 having thousands of furlongs added unto it is the truesolid measure of an imaginarie Cube whose compasse is equall to the compasse of the city Hierusalem so the number 25 having thousands of furlongs added to it is the true solid measure of that imaginary Cube whose compasse is equall to the compasse of the city of Rome I will not here trouble the reader with Arithmeticall computations let those that have understanding to extract the Roots of numbers either believe me or else finde out themselves what is the solid root of 25000 and they shall be then resolved that a Cube of 25 thousand Furlongs is in compasse 116 furlongs and above 3 quarters of a furlong that is 14 miles and an halfe and almost halfe a quarter of a mile which measure how fitly it agreeth with the circuit and compasse of the city of Rome shall in it's place be evidently declared It remaineth now in the sixth and last place to be considered what is meant by the 12 manner of Fruits growing on the tree of life and what those things are in the Church of Rome answerable unto them This tree of life in the midst of the city is Christ in the midst of his Church these 12 Fruits are that food by which Christians live and are nourished up unto everlasting life and that food by which Christians live is Faith For all just men live by Faith as it is written and by every word that proccedeth out of the mouth of God but the Apostles creed is the only true faith because it is the materiall object of every Christian man's faith and a perfect summe of the doctrine of Christian religion gathered out of the Scriptures and containing all truthes necessary to be believed and therefore whosoever confesseth with his mouth and believeth with his heart all the Articles of the creed he doth truly eat of all those fruits which grow on this tree of life Now because the creed of the Apostles did originally proceed from 12 persons doth naturally branch it selfe into 12 Articles as it hath been long since actually divided therefore J doubt not but that this is that particular truth really and actually existing in the Church to which these 12 manner of Fruits have a speciall and evident allusion Now as touching the Romish faith J shall make it evident that the Papists have added new Articles to the Apostles creed and have increased the number from 12 unto 25 For whether we take the councell of Trent it selfe to be the faith and doctrine of the Church of Rome or that Creed which was composed and set forth by Pope Pius the fourth according to
are nominatim recited by Onuphrius in his book de Pontisicum Cardinalium creatione Concerning Deacon Cardinals of the City of Rome their number is not to be considered For it is certaine that they were not instituted by Marcellus nor at the same time that the Presbyter Cardinals were nor in many ages after them Yet if there had been Cardinall Deocons in Rome from the beginning they should have been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 answerable to those 7 Deacons in the Primitive Church as a Evaristus verò Apostolorum insticuto ad septenarium numeruÌ„ Diaconos in Ecâ—lesiâ Romanâ auxit Onuphrius de praecipuis urbis Basilicis cap 2. Onuphrius intimateth and not to the 12 Apostles The like may be said of Cardinall Bishops that they were not thought upon when the Presbyter Cardinals and their titles were first instituted Wherefore Isidorus Mosconius saith thus of them Episcopi tunc non erant in Collegio Cardinalium ideò primus Episcopus ad Cardinalitiam dignitatem assumptus fuit Conradus Suenns Archiepiscopus Moguntinus creatus ab Alexandro tertio Ann. 1163 that is Bishops were not then in the Colledge of Cardinals therefore the first Bishop promoted to this dignity was Conradus Suenus Archbishop of Mentz created by Alexander the third in the yeare 1163. There was for many ages a great difference and distinction between the Presbyter Cardinals of the ancient foundation and between the Bishop and Deacon Cardinals which were of a later institution these were not capable of any of those ancient titles given first to the Parish Priests of Rome And although the a Sixtus quartus quod nun quam antea factum suerat Deaconias Praesbyteris Titulos Diaconis assignare non dubitavit Hieron Piatus pag. 19 Popes omnipotency hath since brought this anciently observed order unto a promilcuous confusion by giving these titles to Bishops Deacons and all sorts of Cardinals yet there is in stiling them writing of their b In liteâ—is Domini Papae nunquam ponitur Cardinalis Presbyter quin additur Titulus nec Episcopus vel Diaconus cuÌ„ Titulo Alvarus Pelagius de planctu Ecclesiae lib. 2. Nota Omnes Presbyteri Cardinales intitulantur hoc modo Dil. Fill. F. Tâ— S. Lauretii c. Praesbytero Cardinali excepto uno videlicet 12 Apostolorum qui intitulatur hoc modo N. Basilicae Apostolorum Praesbytero Cardinali ut in Capite Cùm olim de Privilegiis Episcopi autem Cardinales intitulantur hoc modo F. Episcopo Portune Et non fit mentio de Titulis Diacom Cardinales similitèr sine titulis hoc modo N. Sancti Georgiâ— ad velum aureum Dracono Cardinali Practica Cancellatiae Apostolicae à Petro Rebusso edita pag. 475. names a distinction still observed to testifie the ancient difference which was between them Forasmuch therefore as these Cardinall Bishops and Deacons were not originally in the Colledge of Cardinals when their first number was decreed but are rather redundant extuberancies of the Papacie built upon and dangerously overhanging that ancient foundation of the Presbyter Cardinals I say therefore that whatsoever the number of Cardinals either Bishops Priests or Deacons either now is or hath been at anytime since their first institution either de facto or de iure it can no way prejudice or infringe howsoever it may perhaps c De omnibus Christianitatis regionibus Cardinales assumantur sic tamen quod numerum 24 non excedant praedicto autem numero pro magna Ecclesiae necessitate ant utilitate duo alii aduci poterunt Concil Basil Oecumenicum Ses 23. sub Eugen. 4. By this decree there must not be above 26 nor under 24 therefore there may be 25. And if the Pope be numbred among them there must be 25 at the least confirme the truth of that which is above said concerning their first originall number I doe therefore now conclude according to that which I suppose I have above evidently and sufficiently proved by many witnesses first That there were in Rome originally at the first remarkable foundation of the Papacie 25 Churches in which and in no other Baptisme was to be administred which 25 Churches according to a b First in a generall sense as it may be said of every Church that it is Domus Dei porta coeli Secondly as they were Baptismal Churches Thirdly that as the Gates of the City were seats of iudgement to the Israelites so there was an Ecclesiastical iurisdiction annexed to these Cardinal Titles as perhaps it is intimated in the â— 22 Psalme that there shall be to the Churches in the nâ—w Hieâ—usalem treble sense are answerable to the 12 Gates of the new Hierusalem Secondly that there were 25 Titles Parishes Wards Dioceses or other divisions of persons and places belonging to these 25 Churches which 25 Titles are answerable to those 12 Tribes of the new Hierusalem Thirdly that there were 25 Priests or Pastors to whom these 25 Churches were assigned which 25 Pastors are answerable to the 12 Angels placed at the Gates of the new Hierusalem Lastly I conclude that these 25 Priests were changed which change was the first great and remarkable degree of the great Antichristian Apostasie into 25 Cardinals so became the Basis and foundation of a then newly erected Romish Hierarchy which hath ever since continued clayming and usurping supreame power and authority in the Church And this Romish Hierarchie properly and essentially consists of the Pope and Cardinals onely who are a different kinde of goverment from all that ever were before them pretending themselves to be the sea Apostolique and resembling an ancient goverment of Rome but being nothing else in the truth of their being but a reall and continuall emulation and opposition of Christ and his Apostles even in respect of that transcendencie of Authority infallibilitie of Doctrine which was proper unto Christ and his Apostles onely and absolutely incommunicable to any of their successors And herein especially as I conceive consisteth the very soule and essence of Antichristianisme in pretending to be what they are not by imitating Christ and his Apostles in those things wherein they are unimitable And howsoever the Romish Clergy are more properly the servants and vassals of Antichrist then the Laietie and both Cleargy Laiety of that Church then any other Christians yet I believe that the very body and essence of that great Antichrist which was to come into the world is to be confined to the Colledge of Cardinals onely of which Colledge the Pope is head and he together with them maketh one corporation of false Prophets sitting properly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is as those words are and may be divers waies interpreted not only in or against or over the Church of God but also pretending themselves to be the Church of God a The Romish Prelats assébled in the Vniversity of Prague against Iohn Husse and others doe affirme in their fourth Decree or Article That the Colledge
Catularia 3 Porta Minutia 4 Porta Mugionia 5 Porta Sanqualis 1 Porta Naevia 2 Porta Randuscula 3 Porta Lavercalis 4 Porta Libitinensis 5 Porta Triumphalis These 25 Gates Onuphrius setteth down as such as were altogether actually existing betweene the times of Pliny Justinian which doth very well agree with that time in which Marcellus did erect 25 Cardinalships in Rome There were anciently 7 other Gates of which Pliny writeth that they ceased to be before his time and therefore they are mentioned by Onuphrius as such as cannot nor ought not to be numbred with those above named But as touching these 25 Gates above specified it is not materiall to enquire how long their number continued whether untill the time of Justinian or how long afterward For as those that affirme the number of the Gates of Hierusalem to have been 12 doe not mean that there were so many precisely at all times but that there were so many at that time in which the City most flourished or that there were so many plus minus so that taking one time with another and considering all things there is no one number by which the number of the Gates of Hierusalem can be more truly expressed then by the number 12 so in like manner it may be said of the Gates of Rome and of the number 25. For as the Gates of Hierusalem so is it certaine that the Gates of Rome especially in these latter times have been much altered and changed which hath caused a great variety of opinions among many writers as well concerning their names as their number But thus much may be observed that although the new addition unto Rome called urbs Leoniana hath brought 7 other Gates with it yet some of the former decaying the same number 25 may still remaine and so much is expresly witnessed by Severinus Binius in his first Tome of generall Councels pag. 261. where speaking either of his own time or of that time in which Georgius Braunius writ his Theatrium urbium orbis he hath these words Portas suburbiorum urbis 24 fuisse refert Plinius Livius tamen 27. Nunc sunt turres 365 portae 25 super sunt that is pliny relates that the Gates of the City and Suburbs were 24 yet Livy saith 27 now there are 365 Turrets and there remaine 25 Gates Thus I have now shewed that which way soever the 12 Gates of the new Hierusalem are to be understood whether literally for material gates properly so called or spiritually for Churches in which Baptisme was administred which are as properly Gates of the Church universall in a spirituall sense as the other are of the materiall City in the sense literall I say which way soever these are to be understood J have shewed that as there were 12 Gates of Hierusalem so there were 25 of Rome I may now therefore conclude in generall concerning the 4 first particulars above specified that in what sense soever the new Ierusalem may be said to have had 12 Gates twelve Tribes twelve Angels and twelve Apostles who were the first remarkable foundations of the Church of Christ and all Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction in the same sense the Romish Babylon may be said to have had 25 Anti-gates 25 Anti-tribes and 25 Anti-angels and 25 Anti-apostles which were the first remarkable foundations of the Babylonicall Tower of their Antichristian Hierarchy CHAP. 21. That as 12000 furlongs are the solid measure of a Cube whose perimeter is equall to the compasse of the new Hierusalem so 25000 furlongs are the solid measure of a Cube whose perimeter is equall in compasse to the City of Rome THE next degree of application which remaineth yet to be proved concernes the measures of the Circuit and compasse of the City of Rome and by that which is already above said this point is driven unto this issue that if the Pope be Antichrist and Rome that City in which Antichrist was chiefly to erect his kingdome then the measure of the compasse or circuit of Rome must be plùs minùs between 116 and 117 furlongs that is 14 miles and an halfe and almost halfe a quarter of a mile and certainly this measure fitteth so justly and is placed so exactly in the midst of that latitude which is admitted by diversity of the opinions of divers Writers concerning the compasse of this City since the Pope ruled in it that I doe not believe it to be possible by any one other measure more truly to expresse it J need not in so cleare a matter set downe many mens opinions especially being I shall have occasion to say more of it when I come to speak of the Figure of this City of the Figure of the number 666. But briefly it may be observed what a Commentationum Apocalyps par 2. pag. 152. Cantabrigiae 1632. a late Writer in his Commentaries upon the Revelation hath already observed out of Lipsius concerning the compasse of Rome his words are these I am verò Roma hodierna seu pontificia ambitum habet non nisi 13 aut 15 milliarum ut nôrunt inquit Lipsius qui dimensi sunt And of these two measures the same b Admir lib. 3. Author supposeth 15 miles nearest unto the truth But Georgius Braunius and Franciscus c In indice tertio Appendicis ad Civitates Orbis Hoggenbergius write thus Quòd si urbem ad nostrae aetatis consuetudinem metiri volemus vix passuum millia quatuor decem omnis Romae I aniculae transtiberinae regionis Vaticani ambitus implebit And d De descriptione urbis lib. 7. pag. 28. Onuphrius to the same purpose in these words Vrbis moenia aetate nostrâ vix quatuor decem millibus passuum complectuntur Other Authors there are which make the compasse of Rome to be 16 miles and more and some that affirme it to be lesse then 13 miles but where diversity of times and divers mens opinions have made such a diversity of measures I leave it to any mans judgement whether the measure of 14 miles and an halfe and somewhat more above mentioned be not more probable then any of them because it is placed as it were in the very middle between them I conclude therefore that as an imaginary Cube whose solid measure is 12 thousand furlongs is equall in compasse to that City in which Christ erected his kingdome so an imaginary Cube whose solid measure is 25 thousand furlongs is equall in compasse to the City in which Antichrist hath erected his kingdome CHAP. 22. That the Popish Creed consists of twenty five Articles as the Apostles doth of twelve I Come now unto the sixt and last point of application which concerns the faith and doctrine professed by Antichrist and the number of heads and Articles into which it is or may be conveniently divided and to this purpose I have already mentioned the Councell of Trent of which the acclamations above mentioned testifie saying Haec est fides
in the Scripture that the mystery of the number consists in the application of the root of it But that the mystery consists in numerall letters of any name it cannot be proved either by reason or Scripture but only by the event interpretations that any Writers have hitherto set forth concerning the number 666. But being the same root or number doth not only shew the first originall number of Cardinals or anti-Anti-apostles but doth also intimate that they are according to divers spirituall senses the Gates Angells and Foundations of the Popes mysticall City State and Hierarchy and doth also shew how many furlongs in compasse the City of Rome should be how many Gates it was to have about it how many Churches for Baptisme in it how many Pastors did first exercise Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction over it into how many Titles or Parishes it was first divided and unto how many heads and Articles Christian religion should be there augmented being I say this one number 25 doth not in one nor in two nor in three onely but in all these particulars and in all senses in every one of these particulars truly and evidently Number Measure Describe and Characterise the City State and Hierarchy of Rome and that state and City onely so that it is not so fitly applicable to any other state and City no not in any one thing fitly answering any one of those six particulars above mentioned then how can any man desire a more essentiall and exact description of the Papacie then the right application of this number 25 plainly exhibits to him that doth fully understand it or how can any one which understandeth these things justly say that I have spoken hyperbolically whereas I have above said that the City State and Hierarchy of Antichrist is by this number 25 most evidently and miraculously described J have as yet applied the number 25 unto the Papacie only in such things as are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is answerable and opposite to such things as are mentioned in the description of the new Hierusalem But as the number 12 is in many other respects besides these applicable to the true Church and to such things as pertaine unto it So J am now to shew as I have also above promised that this number 25 is in many other things applicable to the Papacie and to such things as doe pertaine unto it But first there are some observations concerning that part of the application which is already proved which may in this place be interposed First it may be observed that although the root of the number 666 were applicable to the Papacie in no other things saving only in these above proved Yet these are sufficient because by these the Papacie is evidently distinguished from all other states of goverment and because there are no other things in the Papacy more essentiall and remarkable then these Secondly that although the description of the new Hierusalem were of a City in all respects meerely imaginary as perhaps in some things it is and were not applicable either according to a sense of allusion to that materiall Hierusalem which once was or according to a sense of prediction to the last state of the new materiall Hierusalem which for all that we know may be yet for to come yet such an imaginary City being so exactly and in so many divers respects measured numbred and described by the root and figure of one number onely may be purposely set downe as a rule and patterne by which the root and figure of another number given ought to be applied to a City not imaginary but really and actually existing for God who sometimes chuseth things that are not to bring to nought things that are may also by things that are not bring to light things that are and by the opposition or juxta-position of supposed and imaginary measures numbers of a heavenly Hierusalem may discover the true and reall numbers and measures of all things remarkable in the City of Rome Thirdly it may be observed that although the description of the new Hierusalem had not exemplarily directed this application chiefly unto those particulars above mentioned yet the things themselves are such that it is probable that the wisdome of God would rather have foretold those things of Antichrist then any other For God by his Prophets in the old Testament intending to fore shew and foretell the kingdome of Christ did not foretel what nuÌ„ber the letters of Christs name or any name of his Church or kingdome should containe as the Papists would make us believe S. Iohn doth concerning Antichrist but did foretell by divers types the number of Christs Apostles and their office and quality as appeares by divers Types in the Scriptures and especially by the Type of the 12 Oxen under the brasen sea by which not onely the number of the Apostles was foretold but also their condition as that the Sea of Grace and Laver of regeneration should by them be supported and carried into all quarters of the world and that they should goe and baptize all nations c. Since then the Cardinals of Rome are those persons in that Antichristian Hierarchy which are answerable to the Apostles and those to whom the administration of Baptisme was originally most remarkably committed it is therefore more probable that their Number Nature and Condition should be typed in the Scriptures then any other one thing concerning Antichrist Lastly it may be observed concerning the compasse of the Area or platforme of the City of Rome and concerning the first number of Churches at once and the same time instituted that they are things fatall and mysticall in themselves as Onuphrius Panvinius concerning both these things hath observed of the first he writeth thus Pomaerii autem urbis Romae terminos non sine Augurum consilio poni mutari ac restitui potuissesatis constat innuâ—tque haec inscriptio Collegium Augurum Autore Imp Casare Divi. Trajani Parthiciterminos Pomaerii restituendos curavit Of the number of Churches he writeth thus Cur autem non plures neq pauciores Ecclesiae simul institutae fuerint quae his nominibus decorarentur operae pretium erit explicare huicque instituto maximè consentaneum cùm haec res insigni mysterio celebratasit For although a Onuphrius in the 2 chap. of his book De praecipuis urb Rom. B silicis wilnesseth that there were 25 Titles at â—nce instituted that this number was afterwards augméted succeâ—sively some Popes adding one Title and some another untill they came to â—8 in number which as he coâ—â—eâ—lures was abâ—ut the Time oF Lâ—o the first in the yeare 44â— Onuphrius speaketh these words of other Churches in Rome also not only of these 25 which were first called Titles yet his words can be verified of these Churches onely because even himselfe being judge and that cloud of witnesse which I have above alleaged there never was any other Totall number of Churches which were