Sixthly, and lastly (which seems to be the most peculiar and characteristical note of all the rest), that his number should be 666; that is, as most of the ancients understand it, that the numeral letters of a certain word or name, should, being computed, amount to that number; and it is expressly said to be the number of a man. Ver. 18. "Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man." And, in the verse before it, it is said to be the number of his name.* Now, to whom all these characters do agree, and especially the last, concerning the number of his name, I shall not presume to conjecture, much less positively to determine, whether he be now in being, because it is said to require a particular wisdom and understanding to find it out. "Here is wisdom: let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast." However, the event, when the thing is fully accomplished, will clearly discover it. Thus much is certain, that this extreme persecution, whenever it shall be, will forerun the final destruction of Babylon, which will not then be far off. And unexampled, which he did by the Milan and Berlin decrees, and what he was pleased to term the Continental System. *This, the number of the beast, has been so repeatedly pointed out, as applying to Napoleon, that it needs no repetition in this place. : concerning this it is that St. John speaks, xiv. 12, when he says, "Here is the patience of the saints here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus ;" and then he immediately adds, as it is in the text, "And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write; Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do accompany them." Thus much may suffice to have been spoken to this text. MIRACULOUS PROPHECIES, PREDICTIONS, &c. PART THE SECOND. Note of the Original Editor. Ir is usual to say Prophecies and Oracles are best understood when they are accomplished, as many have complained of their ambiguity, and imagined no mortal man could even give the proper sense of an Oracle or Prophecy, except the same Divine Spirit were given him as the first authors of our religion possessed: so far may be just-But what I have endeavoured in the present Treatise is, to manifest to the world, the unquestionable events of very many English Prophecies, long delivered unto us, and still remaining the sacred monuments of far departed time, which so clearly declare the actions of the times wherein we live; and with all that lively portraiture, that it would be the highest incredulity to question other persons' abilities in the gift of prophesying. |