Hexapla in Danielem: that is, A six-fold commentarie vpon the most diuine prophesie of Daniel wherein according to the method propounded in Hexapla vpon Genesis and Exodus, sixe things are obserued in euery chapter. 1. The argument and method. 2. The diuers readings. 3. The questions discussed. 4. Doctrines noted. 5. Controversies handled. 6. Morall observations applyed. Wherein many obscure visions, and diuine prophesies are opened, and difficult questions handled with great breuitie, perspicuitie, and varietie ... and the best interpreters both old and new are therein abridged. Diuided into two bookes ... By Andrevv Willet Professour of Diuinitie. The first booke.

3. Controv. That Nero the Emperour shall not be the great Antichrist.

Severus Sulpitius writeth, lib. 2. sacr. histor. that it was the opinion of some, that Nero should come againe in the ende of the world to be that great Antichrist: his words are these, Nero creditur, etiamsi seipsum gladio transfixerit, curato vulnere eius servatus, Nero is held, although he did thrust himselfe through with a sword, beeing healed of his wound, to be preserued: and to that purpose they alleadge that place, Apoc. 13. 3. I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death, but his deadly wound was healed: which they vnderstand of Nero his wound healed againe.

But the same Sulpitius dialog. 2. reporteth an other opinion, that Nero should come a∣gaine in the ende of the world, and tyrannize in the West parts, compelling men to worship the idols of the heathen: and Antichrist should rage in the East, whose seat should be at Ie∣rusalem, commanding men to be circumcised, and making himselfe the Messiah.

Augustine likewise remembreth this opinion of the comming againe of Nero in the ende of the world: Nonnulli Neronem resurrecturum & futurum Antichristum suspicantur: alij ••um non occisum putant sed subtractum potius, &c. diuers doe thinke, that Nero shall be raised againe to be that Antichrist: some thinke that he was not slaine, but rather taken a∣way, and preserued in the same state of yeares, &c. lib. 20. de civit. Dei. c. 13.

But Augustine misliketh this opinion, and saith it is mira praesumptio, a wonderfull pre∣sumption for any so to thinke. And beside there is no probabilitie of it: for it is not like that God would worke such a miracle for so notorious a wicked man, as either to raise him from the dead, before the generall resurrection, or to preserue him aliue: we read onely of two that were translated, Henoch and Elias, both holy men: for such a wicked man to be transla∣ted, it neither hath probabilitie, neither yet is there any example for it.

That place in the Revelation is indeede vnderstood of Nero, but not in that sense: in him the stocke of the Cesars was extinguished, and so the Imperiall succession receiued a dead∣ly wound: but it was cured, in that the dignitie of the Empire was restored in the Emperors succeeding, though not lineally descended from Cefar.