13e Thewithof theAntient Churchofthe 9 ems . committing Fornication with it,which is the rife afsigned unto Antichriflian Power in the Revelation. This then is that which intheir way theyaim at The1#irJhip ofimages in Churches, begun and promoted at Rome, furthered by the content of the Nations (hall bring forth that Roman Power which fhall Peek to destroy the /poet of God: 4- 13. And I ant' the rather endined unto this conje6ture; becaufeI fad that they are Tomeof them not utter ftrangers unto the Book of the Revelations ; as thofe of them who are Cabbaljical have a great delire to be enquiring into things Mjftical which they underftand not, which they weft and corrupt unto their own imaginations. ' Betides, tit may be they are pleafed with that defcription that is in it of the New 7e- rufalem, which fome Judaizing Chriltians of old wseftcd unto a reftauration of the earthly City of yerufalem, and the renewed `obfervation of the Law ofMoJes. , Thus the Author of the Queltions and Anfwers publifhed by Brenius, 914.26. enquires how Chriftians.interpret thofee- words of the Revelation, Chap. 13. r. 18. bere is Wifilom , let him that bathunderflanding count the number of the Beaft, for it is thenumber of a man, and hisnumber is 666. towhich he adds, I have heard of none who Math: clearly inter- preted this place , but I can give' a good interpretation of it.. It is very likely he had conhdered. it, though pofsibly his interpretation, which he.was not pleafed todeclare, was littleworth.. And the Vifons of Rabbi Joflsud about the Heavenly Paradife, with the, gates of it made ofprecious loner ; wherein are mixed many Fables not unlike thole aboutMabomets entrance into Heaven in theAlcoran were originally taken from the Allegorical defcription given us of the New 3erufalem in that Book, and abufed to their fuperflitions. And'itom the fame fountain it. is that they have got a great Tradition among them, that they fhall not be delivered until Rome be deftroyed. For undcrftandingRome. by Bábylon.inthat Prophetie, they apply that unto themfelvess which is foretold upon its deliruétion, concerning the Church of Chrift. So Rabbi in 117JtI 1113, or'Bundle ofMyrrh, a Commentary on the Law, fayes more thanonce Ln51zss 7trir1 Tn [stall j11í11 , upon the deflruelion of Rome , our Redemption Thal enfue out of band ; And it is by many obferved that an Alteration is made in the later, Editions of the Commentarie of David Ilimebi, on Obad.,1. in thole words. í1t17191 nun 'let) ICJ lltlts 4011 Lip C]' 'ri:Timm ?=14s piro l=11Nt1) rowmg, 52Z1tD1 ilt7i 'r i +[5ít ua11 71rtriw+1 t=it) 111. That which the Prophetsfpea, cou,rrning the deftruteion of Edom in the latter dayes; they fpake it of Rome ;, as I have expoundedit on that of lfaiah; draw nighye Nations to bear , (Chap. 34.v. i. ) for whenRomefhall be deltroyrd thenfhall be the Redemption ofIfraél ; but the naine of lieme is left out in the latter Editions, though it abide in that of Robert Stephens, which he publilhed on the Minor Prophets. Sayings al-9 unto the ',fame purpofe are cited out of Rabbi Bechai in Cad Hakkemach, Rabbi Solomon on Levis. 6. and fundry others. i 4 14, And this will yet farther appear, if we confider the account-they give concerning the Original and tirft building ofRome its feT Mention is made air, in the Talmud, Trace. Saned. and moré largely declared in Midrafh habba Carrie. Cantico cap. 1.v. 6. as it is from thence reported by Buxtorfe in his Lexicon Talmud. Rad. Can. And their words are to this 'purpofe. Rabbi Levtifaid, that on the day that Solomon was married unto the Daughter of Pharaoh, Michael the great Prince defeended from Heaven, and fixed a reed in the Sea, fo as that mud and dirt might on all fides be gatheredunto it. And this place afierwards bec,moeea a wood, mar that place where Rome was afterwards built. For at the time that Jeroboam the Son ofNebat made the two Golden Calves, there were two [mallHoufes built at Rome, which prefentlyfell down; and being again let up, imme- diately they fell down again. But there was then prefint an old man whole name war j1í57 N1t4 Abba Kolon, who Jàid unto them, that unlefl you .bring water hither out of the River ofEuphrates, andmix it with [bin clay and buildthe houfis therewith, thywill never (land. They Paid therefore, unto him, and who /hail bring it unto us ; Heanfwered that be trouble He went therefore and took on him the habit of one that carries Wine to fill, and fo went from one City unto another, from one Countrey unto another , until be came at length unto Euphrates. 'Whenbe came thither, he book water out of the River ; which whenbe bad brdúght unto them they mixed it with their Clay, and therewithbuilt . up the bottle's, tnhichflood firm and fiable. From that time it war a Proverb amonoft men; 'Every City or Province where there is not Abba Kolon deferves not the name ofa Cityor Pro- 'vince, or a Metropolitical City ; and they called that place Rome, Babylon ; and the Globiadds, this is the placd where Rome that áfiCeth Ifrael was l ui/i. Cartwright in his Mellifîciuen
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