CAP.,:. , touchìngAnti'chrift.`` 65.1 firme the firft Out of four Scriptures. Among which the three firft, namely, Dan. a.7. Revel. 17. rely upon the interpretation of Ireneus, Book S. But T pray you let us let Authorities of men go , and let us weigh the matter it felf in the ballance of the truth. If the matter were tobe fifted out with the opinions of men, that are contrary each to others, and whereof many might -be brought in thefe mefi darke and obfcure places, we (Mould never make an end. Let us worke it rather out of thofe principles , by the condutI whereof wee may bee lead to fomewhat that is cer- tain. As touching therefore the fecond of Daniel, and that fuccefíi- on of the chief Kingdoms, which were tobe on earth to the end of the world, which the Image fheweth, that noteth out by the headof Cold, thebreaff of Silver, the Telly of braffe, the boles of iron,and the feet partly of iron, partly of clay the fourprincipal) Kingdoms,thatfbould be on earth; namely , Of the 4ffyrians, the Perfians, the Grecians, the Romans ; Whereof that of the Tvnanes, Which is the lall,Was as you fay, divided intotvvoparts for a moll long time, ag the leas are tvvo, andAngel? of ail the parts. Be idcs,that therefprion7 up ten toes out of thofe tvvo legs, and that the vvhole Image ended wthem, because the Romane Empire vvas to be di- videdat length into ten Kznys , bccaufe there (hall be no King of the Aomanes, as no toe is a leg. As touching there things I fay, what one word is there in this whole vifion, whereby Antichriftscom= Ming may be intimated, after the utter defacing of the Empire of Rome ? I hearof two legs, and feet divided into ten Toes, but net a whit touching Antichrill, whether he fhould come or no, or whether he fhould come after this divi(ion or before it, or in the time of it.- Do you thus go on tobuild demonftrations, or rather caftles in the aire, without any leaít fhew of a ground for themtoftand on ? Nay what if the contrary may be moll timely concluded from hence,that Antichrifl fhould come before the univerfall deflruetion of this Em- pire ? For he (hall come before Chrifl (hall come; but the Romane Empire 1h all not be wholly defiroyed before Chriflcome. Forthe feet of iron and clay (hall endure, .till the ftone that is cut out of the mountain without hands fhall finite, and beat them in peeces, as it is fpoken exprellely, verf. 34. Thou, favvefh till the fione vvas cut out, vvhich is not in any hands, and it fmote the Image on his feet of iron and clay.,fo that he did beat them inpeeves. And again,verf q1.
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