One of its heads, being wounded, is healed again.

451

and his seat, and by solemn delegation, his power, and his throne, SECT. great authority. and great authority in his kingdom; so that xvi. this beast seemed to be constituted his vicegerent; however he might pretend to represent xiii. 2 a very different person.

3 And I saw one And I saw one of his heads wounded, as it 3 of his heads, as it were, to death; that is, in such a manner, that were wounded to

death: and his dead. a recovery seemed impossible; to signify those ly wound was heal. early efforts, which should be made, to put a ed; and all the stop to the usurpation, cruelties, and blaspheworld wondered af- my, represented by these heads, and the names

ter the beast.

written on them. And yet its mortal wound, as one would have thought it must have proved, was unaccountably healed. And the whole earth wondered at so strange an event, [and] they [followed] after the wild beast, thinking a greater argument of its extraordinary power arose from its cure, than could have taken 4 And they wor- place, had he never been wounded at all. And 4 shipped the dragon they, that is, the inhabitants of the earth, worwhich gave power unto the beast: and shipped the dragon, who gave his authority to they worshipped the the wild beast; and they worshipped the wild beast, saying, who beast, even as with Godlike adoration, saying, beast? who is able Who, that pretends to Deity in heaven, or earth, to make war with [is] like unto the beast? or who can ever presume to make war against him, since his power

is like unto the

him?

is so well established, without hazard of imme5 And there was diate or certain destruction? And there was 5 given unto him a given to it, that is, to this monster, a mouth speakmouth speaking great things, and ing great things, and blasphemies, as with a hublasphemies; and man voice; to signify that it was influenced by power was given that being, who assuming the form and organs unto him to con- of a brute, had used the power of speech for tinue forty and two months. the most mischievous purposes. And there was also given unto it power to make ward with the saints with some apparent advantage, for the term above mentioned, of forty two

Rev.

making them; and may afterwards be productive of better fruits and consequences. « Power to make war : πολεμον ποιησαι.] Our transiators have followed those copies, which omit the word, woxeμov, and have rendered womσas continue: a sense which, it must be owned, it sometimes bears. particularly, Acts xv. 33; xx. 3, but I have chosen to rely on those copies which retain the word ou. See ver. 7.

452

It makes war with the saints.

SECT. months; that is, one thousand twelve hundred

Rev.

7 And it was giv.

and to overcome

xvi. and sixty prophetic days or years. And he 6 And he opened opened his infernal mouth to utter blasphemy his mouth in blaspheiii.6 against God, even to blaspheme his holy and ven- my against God, to blaspheme his name, erable name, and his tabernacle pitched among and his tabernacle, men; and, not only did he speak malignant and them that dwell things against the inhabitants of the earth, but in heaven. even against those that dwell in heaven. (Com7 pare Dan. xi. 36.) And it was, by Divine permission, given unto him to make war with the en unto him to make saints, and to overcome them for a time; and so war with the saints, universal was the success of his pernicious un- them and power dertakings, that it seemed, as if there was given was given him over to him power over every tribe, and tongue, and all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 nation. And all the inhabitants of the earth 8 And all that shall be so deluded with his artifices, or intim- dwell upon the earth idated by his terrors, that they shall worship shall worship him, him, that is, all whose names are not written in written in the book the book of life of the Lamb, who was slain, for of life of the Lamb, some were registered in that book even from slain from the founthe foundation of the world: and they shall, dation of the world. by a secret energy, be preserved in the

midst of so general and ruinous a defection.

whose names are not

9 If any one has an ear to hear, let him at- 9 If any man have tentively hear this; for it is a matter of a an ear, let him hear. most important nature, and the most surprising phenomenon which can be imagined, that such an idolatrous and persecuting power should arise in the Christian church, and that

• Those that dwell in heaven.] It is very with those which immediately precede injurious to the saints and angels, when them; but, after all, it is very harsh to they are represented as desirous of attract- say, Christ was slain from the foundation of ing to themselves that worship which ought to be appropriated to God; and nothing worse can be imagined of them, than that they should be delighted with such services as are paid them in the Ro. mish ritual.

the world. He is in another place called simply, the Lamb slain, Rev. v. 12, and a kingdom is said to be prepared for good men from the foundation of the world, Mat. xxv. 34. And, laying these things to. gether, I think it abundantly sufficient to The inhabitants of the earth shall wor- justify the interpretation I have here giv "ship him.] The extravagant idolatry here en, especially when compared with anothmentioned, is very suitable to the temper er passage in this book, chap. xvii. 8, and practice of those, who, in order to whose names were not written in the book of avoid persecution, comply with the claims life, from the foundation of the world. Mr. and demands of the papal power, contrary Peirce thinks it is an allusion to the custo their conscience; for, it is the lan- tom of registering the actions of worthy guage of such a compliance, that the persons, as Mal. iii. 17, undoubtedly is; wrath of men is more to be dreaded than and, that this book of life is, as it were, that of God himself. the catalogue of good men that have lived in all ages. Peirce on Phil. iv. 3. But I cannot be of opinion, that this exhausts the full meaning of the expression.

8 Registered from the foundation of the world.] I am well aware of what has been said to justify the sense which these words must have, if taken in connection

the sword. Here

saints.

Another beast ariseth out of the earth:

458

Rev.

10 He that lead- God should suffer it so far to prevail. Nev- SECT. eth into captivity, ertheless, God will not forget the injuries his xvi. shall go into captivity: he that killeth people sustain; but, if any one lead [them] into with the sword, captivity, he shall be led into captivity himself xiii. must be killed with by a superior power, which he shall not be able 10 is the patience and to resist; and, if any one slay others with the the faith of the sword of injustice and cruelty, he shall himself be slain with the sword of Divine vengeance, when God comes to make inquisition for blood. In the mean time, while they are waiting for his appearance, here is a sufficient exercise for the patience and the faith of the saints: it is the greatest trial to which they were ever brought; let them therefore consider themselves as call. ed out by God to it, and be assured that he will limit it both as to its duration and degree, in a manner answerable to the purposes of his infinite wisdom, and of his peculiar love to 11 And I beheld them. And, to represent a very crafty and 11 another beast com- insiduous power, which should join with the ing up out of the earth and he had former, and greatly abet its sanguinary perse two horns like a cutions, I saw another beast ascending out of Lamb, and he spake the earth; and it had two horns like a lamb ; as a dragon. but, whatever gentleness there might be in that circumstance of its appearance, it spake like a dragon. And such is the nature of their alli. 12 of the first beast be- ance, that it exercises all the power of the first 'fore him, and caus- beast, in its presence; and it makes the earth, them which dwell and those that dwell in it, to worship the first therein, to worship beast, whose deadly wound was healed, whose the first beast, whose interest, which seemed so much endangered, deadly wound was was greatly revived, being thus powerfully 13 And he doeth abetted and supported. And he, in order to 13 great wonders, so confirm his subtile pretences, to lord it over that he maketh fire the consciences of men, does great miracles, heaven on the earth, so as even to make fire come down from heaven in the sight of men. to earth before men; strange artifices he has,

12 And he exer

ciseth all the power

eth the earth, and

healed.

come down from

Another beast.] As I look upon the former to be the papal power, I am ready, with the best critics I know, to interpret this of the religious orders of the church of Rome, (particularly that of the Jesuits,) who have many of them temporal estates and jurisdictions added to their spiritual, and thus have greatly supported the papacy.

Out of the earth.] This beast is said to ascend from the earth, whereas the other ascended from the sea, to make the

distinction between them the more remarkable; but what other mystery may be suggested, I cannot conjecture.

* Great miracles.] The artful impostures, which the regular clergy, that is, the several orders of monks, and especially the Jesuits, have used to persuade the people of the truth of their pretended miracles and revelations, seem to be finely delineated by this otherwise amazing description.

454

xvi.

And causeth all to receive his mark.

SECT. to persuade them of his being endowed with 14 And deceiveth more than natural powers, and that the ven- them that dwell on the earth, by the geance of heaven will be armed against all that Rev. means of those miraxiii. oppose him! And he deceiveth the inhabitants cles which he had 14 of the earth by the signs which it is given him power to do in the to do before the beast; commanding the inhabit- sight of the beast: saying to them that ants of the earth to make an image of the beast, dwell on the earth, that had the wound of the sword, and yet lived; that they should that is, he teaches men to extol, and almost make an image to the beast which had adore, that, which in itself is most contemptible the wound by 15 and detestable. And it was given to him, by sword, and did live. a Divine permission, to give spirit and breath, 15 And he had as it were, to the image of the beast, that the power to give life unto the image of image of the beast might speak with an audible the beast, that the voice. And, so zealous and powerful is he in image of the beast abetting this cause, that by this its oracle, he should both speak, and cause that as should cause as many as will not worship the many as would not 16 image of the beast, to be put to death. And he worship the image causeth all, of every rank and condition, both of the beast should small and great, rich and poor, freemen and 16 And he causeth slaves, to receive the mark of this detestable all, both small and power, on their right hand, or their foreheads, great, rich and poor, in token of becoming its subjects and property. receive a mark in 17 And, so rigorously is this enforced, that no one their right hand, or should be able to buy, or sell, but one who has in their foreheads. 17 And that no some such trace of the mark," or the name of the beast, or the number, which is equivalent to sell, save he that had man might buy or the numeral letters of his name, and which I the mark, or the thought, in the vision, I saw impressed on the name of the beast, or 18 hands and foreheads of many. the number of his Herein is name.

be killed.

free and bond, to

a great effort of wisdom; let him, therefore, 18 Here is wisdom. whoever he be, who hath an enlarged and Let him that hath penetrating understanding, beyond what is the number of the common, compute the number of the beast; for beast: for it is the

Image of the beast.] What the image of the beast is, distinct from the beast itself, I confess I know not; and therefore interpret the expressions, making an image, and giving it breath, &c. of idolizing the power of the Pope, and compelling persons to pay homage to it, and obey the edicts it published. And all the enormous fury of the inquisition, which is managed by one of the regular orders included in this interpretation, namely, the Dominican, is a remarkable verification of the following part of the prophecy, of its causing all that would not worship it to be put to death.

m Receive the mark.] I have elsewhere observed, (Serm to young people, Serm. iv. p. 79,) that it was customary to mark soldiers and slaves with some impressions, either on their hands or foreheads, by which they might be known to belong to their respective masters or commanders; and idolaters, with the signature of the god they worshipped. Perhaps this may particularly refer to the sacraments which the people are obliged, on the highest penalty, to receive from the Romish priests, and which none can receive without such superstitious and idolatrous rites, as are, in efleet, worshipping the image of the beast.

Reflections on the two beasts.

455

number of a man; it is the number of a man," or the numeral letters sECT. and his number is in the name of a man, and his number is, and xvi. six hundred three amounts on the whole, to six hundred and sixty six; which I leave to the intelligent reader to xiii. decypher.

score and six.

Rev.

18

IMPROVEMENT.

WHOEVER is the beast intended, and whatever be meant by verse his image, his character, beyond all controversy, is very odious and detestable; for he is represented as blaspheming the name of God, and his tabernacle, and as making war with the saints. 6,7 There have arisen such impious monsters in the Christian church, and none among them have been more openly and enormously wicked and profane, than those who have made the loudest pretensions to be the vicegerents of Christ, and invested with his whole authority. Many of the saints of God have seemed to have been overcome by this antichristian tyranny; many have 10 been led into captivity; many have been slain with the sword: but those who took them captive, continuing impenitent, shall be taken, and the slayers slain. O, may our names be written in the Lamb's book of life! then shall we be secure in the midst of all 11 these formidable evils; and, from every trial of our faith and patience, shall come out as gold seven times purified. Let us not be troubled and offended, to discern these usurpations in the course of Divine Providence prevailing, and the time actually come, in many parts of the world, in which men can neither buy nor sell, 17 nor are permitted to enjoy any other natural or civil privilege, if they will not give up their names to the beast, receive his mark, and implicitly submit to his authority. The prophecy justly removes all offence which might be taken at the event; and, discerning its accomplishment, we may embolden our hopes, that the triumphs of Divine justice over these ministers of the dragon, as 11

The number of a man, &c.] Of all the various interpretations given to this text, which it would be endless to enumerate, and much more to canvas, I find none that pleases me so well, as that of Sir Isaac Newton; that the words λalers and up, the man of Latium, or of Rome, whose numeral letters, taken together, make 666, are here referred to. And I suppose this number is mentioned to signify, that the appearance of that power, whose efforts were to continue 1260 years, (compare chap. xii. 6, note 4,) was to happen about 666 years after the date of the revelations, A. D. 96. And this I take to be the grand key by which the era of the fall of Babylon is to be calculated,

as it fixes the rise of the beast to the year 756, or thereabouts, when, upon the destruction of the exarchate of Ravenna, the Pope became a temporal monarch; that is, in prophetic language, a beast. See many other conjectures in Limborch's Theol. 7. xi. 19 Mr. Potter thinks the number referred to is the cube root of 666, namely, 25, (which has led Dr. More to fix upon number 12, relating to the church of Christ, and number 25, relating to antiChrist ;) and concludes further, that the exact cube is not mentioned, to prevent too sudden a discovery. Compare More's Theol. p. 134. Grotius's referring it to Trajan is very ungrounded, in every view.