The life of our blessed Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ an heroic poem, dedicated to Her Most Sacred Majesty : in ten books / attempted by Samuel Wesley ... ; each book illustrated by necessary notes ... also a prefatory discourse concerning heroic poetry ; with sixty copper plates.

NOTES ON The LIFE of CHRIST. BOOK VII.

5. SAW through the Shades, nor durst directly see — Left that should dazle him.] The Description we have left us of this Temple, is indeed very glorious, O∣pus omnium quae unquam vidimus aut audivimus mirabilissimum, says one concerning it, the most prodigious Work I ever saw or heard of. And Tacitus in Lib. 5. calls it, mirae Opulentiae Templum, a Temple of wonderful Riches. And Iosephus tells us, that not only the Front was gilded, but, as I understand him, the Outside was co∣vered with Plates of Massy Gold, which dazled the Beholders Eyes, and to Strangers, at a distance, made it appear like a huge white Mountain.

12. The mighty Gates, heavy with Loads of Gold.] The Gates of the Temple were all covered with Silver and Gold, except one with Corinthian Brass, of more value than any of the other. See the forementioned Author.

13. Twice ten robustous Servants there attend.] One of the Gates of the Temple, as Iosephus tells us, was so large, that it employed twenty Men, every Night and Morning to shut and open it. The same Gate, which also he says, opened prodi∣giously, about Midnight, of its own accord with a great Noise, not long before the Destruction of Ierusalem.

16. To the third Gate, of rich Corinthian Brass.] vid. supra.

20. Loud answer'd by the Full-mouth'd Quire within.] I think there's no great doubt but this was the manner of the Temple-service, there being several of the Psalms which seem to have been sung alternatim, between Priests and People. He∣man and Ieduthun, as we find, singing an Anthem of David's composing, and therein praising the Lord because his Mercy endures for ever; to which all the People said Amen, and praised the Lord. 1 Chron. 16.36,41. But the most lively Description of the Temple-Service, which will much illustrate what follows, is that in 2 Chron. 5.11, 12. When the Priest were come out of the Holy place, also the Le∣vites, which were the Singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, and Ieduthun, with their Sons and their Brethren; being array'd in White Linnen, having Cymbals, and Psalteries, and Harps, stood at the East end of the Altar, and with them an hundred and twenty Priests sounding with Trumpets. The Trumpets and Singers were at once to make one Sound, to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord. They lift up their Voices with Trumpets, and Cymbals and Instruments of Musick and praised the Lord, saying, for he is good, for his Mercy endureth for ever.

26. The Consort first sweet Aijeleth begun.] I here insert most Sorts of Musical Instruments, mentioned in David's Psalms, according to the usual Inter∣pretation of 'em. The first is Aijeleth, from the 22. Psalm, which is inscribed, Aijeleth Shaber, generally rendred the Hind of the Morning, a sort of Musick, as some think, of the Nature of our Waits, going about in the Courts to wake the

Priests; but 'twas also, we are sure, from David, us'd in God's immediate Service.

29. Alamoth, chast Virgins best Delight.] They are thought a sort of Virginals, and mentioned in Psal. 46.

30. Grave Ionath.] See Psalm 56. inscrib'd Ionath Elem Rechochim, rendred, The dumb Dove in silent places; like Mahalah afterwards, I suppose, a sort of grave Musick, fit to compose their Minds to Attention and Devotion.

31. And melting Harps.] The Sheminith, and all other sort of string'd In∣struments.

35. Lofty Hallelujahs sing.] A reverend Person, now an Honour to our Church and Nation, is of Opinion, that this 135 Psalm was us'd at Morning Service, the Priests, Levites, and all the People inviting each other to praise God.

91. Mean while rich Incense feeds the sacred Fires.] This was done twice a day, vid. Exod. 30.7, 8. Aaron shall burn sweet Incense every Morning. When Aaron light∣eth the Lamps at Even he shall burn Incense. See also Ioseph Antiq. lib. 3.

94. A Milk white Lamb, the Morning-Sacrifice.] Exod. 29.38, 39. This is that which thou shalt offer, two Lambs of the first Year, day by day. The one Lamb thou shalt offer in the Morning, &c.

95. With these the Priests their holiest Mincha join, A chearful Blaze of Flour, and Oyl, and Wine.] Vid. Exod. 29.40. A tenth-deal of Flour mingled with an hin of Beaten-Oyl, and the fourth part of an hin of Wine. This Mincha, Meat-offering, as we render it, with its Drink-offering, is called most holy of all the Offerings of the Lord. Bread and Wine is the most antient Sacrifice; that which Mel∣chisedech brought forth seems to have been sacred. This is still retain'd by our Savi∣our, who was a Priest of the same Order. Vid. Mede on the Jewish Offerings.

115. Some in the Cloysters gain••ul Shops unfold.] The three Courts of the Temple, which are all included under the same Name, because we want two distinct Words for the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, being all consecrated Ground, took up a considerable room each of 'em having Cloysters round, and a void space in the middle. In the space were the Sheep and Oxen; under the Cloysters, I suppose the Money-Changers and Dove-Sellers. The Roof of these Cloysters, if I understand Iosephus aright, ser∣ved as Foundations for those sumptuous Galleries round the Temple, which Sabinus burnt down in an Insurrection of the Jews; for they could not be on the Cover'd Part, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, since 'tis not probable they could have burn'd the Top and left the Bottom standing. Vid. Ioseph. Antiq. lib. 7. cap. 12.

128. Driv'n with more Ease from Carmel's fruitful Hill.] Because, tho that's further from Ierusalem, their Tails were not so cumbersome, which were incredibly large in the Asiatick Sheep, and therefore I say before, Drag their pond'rous Train.

135. Blushes, at once, of Shame and Anger rise.] Shame for his Country-men, not himself.

136. A just Resentment sparkling in his Eyes, &c.] St. Ierom says here, Igneum quicquam ex Oculis radiabat, &c. there were certain fiery Rays came from our Saviour's Eyes, which they were not able to endure.

146. He does, of strongly-twisted Cords, prepare.] We never find our Saviour, in all his History, so angry as he is here, but once before, and that on the same Occa∣sion; for it's thought he drove these sacrilegious Wretches two several times from the Temple. Nothing, I say, ever made him so angry as their thus confounding things sacred and profane. The Jews, 'tis plain, made no distinction, and believed not any Holiness in this Place: after Prayers once over, all Places were, it seems, a∣like to them. The Distinction was our Saviour's own, and must still hold, if a Christian Church is still the House of God.

153. Yet here great Solomon.] That noble Tower or Porch, which tho Herod re∣edified, it seems, still retain'd the Name of its first Founder; was built by Solomon, and its Foundations laid so deep and firm, that the Babylonians could not destroy 'em, tho no doubt they ruined the Superstructure. If I mistake not, here was the East-Gate, the Golden-Gate, the Beautiful-Gate of the Temple, all different Names for the same thing. 'Twas built over the Vale of Kidron, and from the top of its Towers to the bottom of that Valley, such a vast depth, that Iosephus says, 'twas

horrid to look upon, and would almost dazle the Beholders. This Porch of Solomon I wonder how Capellus happen'd to place on the South of the Temple, which he does, unless Fuller mistakes him; whereas 'tis seated in the East, by Iosephus, and, I think, all others. This Gate and Courts about it cost more Pains and Time than all the Temple; Solomon began to bring Earth and even the Valley, but 'twas not fi∣nished in several Ages. Vid. Ioseph. lib. 6.

157. The Workmen mined deep, wondrous deep.] Iosephus says, the Foundations of the Temple were three hundred Cubits deep (sacred Cubits we are to understand, in a sacred Work, twice as much as the Vulgar) and in some places more, and that great part on't was built upon the solid Rock.

159. Of Tyre they were.] Solomon had Carpenters from Hiram of Tyre, and he might have Masons too; who, I here suppose, had formerly been Miners in Bri∣tain. See Lib. iii. and vi.

175. Those Everlasting Gates.] I'm inclin'd to think that Phrase in Psal. 24. (which should seem to have been compos'd on the Dedication of the Temple, or some such Occasion) of Everlasting Gates, relates immediately to the vast Heighth and Bigness of the Gates of the Temple; as the Everlasting Hills, in another place, in the same sence. Tho I believe the whole Psalm has a further respect, and is pro∣phetical of our Saviour's Ascension into Heaven, in which sence I take it at the End of Lib. x.

178. The glittering Pillars, and the Vine of Gold.] Iosephus reckons above 100 of these Pillars, all gilded, and describes this Golden-Vine as one of the most noble sacred Ornaments in the World.

It reach'd, says he, all along under the Cha∣piters of the Pillars, whereon hung Bunches of Grapes, all of Gold, each Cluster as long as a Man.

To which Vine our Saviour might allude, when preaching near it.

181. The stately Porch 'twixt two vast Columns rose.] So Iosephus describes it, and says, "These, as well as all other Pillars were of the Corinthian Order; the tallest and most beautiful of any other.

185. The Stones so huge they scarce dar'd trust their Sence.] Nor I; Iosephus, in the Account he gives of them, making them so many Cubits long and broad, that one would think they needed as many Workmen to raise and manage 'em, as that which Acosta tells us of in America, drawn cross the Mountains, at the Command of one of their Inca's, by no less than an hundred thousand Men; however, un∣doubtedly they were very large: for so the Apostles to our Saviour, who not only shew him in a general, St. Mark 13.1, 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, those great Buil∣dings; but, in St. Luke, take notice of the Stones in a particular manner, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, what manner of Stones, what goodly Stones, as we very well render it. And they had need be firm, when as Iosephus tell us, lib. 7. cap. 9.

The Romans were six days battering the East Galleries of the Temple (with their prodigious Rams) but prevailed nothing against them. They then endeavoured to dig up the Foundations; but could only pull out some of the outer Stones, with a great deal of fruitless Labour.

He further tells us, these Stones were all fastened to each o∣ther by huge Clamps of Lead and Iron, I suppose he means, the Iron was sodered unto them.

207. Not one but by a Force superiour, &c.] The Romans did at last prevail, and tore up the very Foundations of the Temple, ploughing the Ground whereon it stood, which was performed by Terentius, or Turnus Rufus, left there by Titus, for that purpose, on the 19^th day of the Month Abib, as Maimonides; so says Eleazar, after∣wards in his Speech to the Iews, when he exhorted them to kill themselves,

The Temple, says he, they have raz'd to the very Foundation, and hardly the Memory thereof is now left.

And Iosephus says, even of the City,

That 'twas beat quite flat and plain to the Ground;

exactly according to our Saviour, They shall lay thee even with the Ground, and thy Children within thee.

220. How they the World's and Temple's End might know.] They seem to con∣found 'em in their Question, as if they supposed both should be together. And our Saviour's Answer does not, I think, as left recorded by any of the Evangelists,

distinctly and orderly separate 'em. The Reason of which might be to keep 'em more on their Guard. In the following Discourse of our Saviour, the Reader will see, I have joined several of his Prophesies, which we find in different places; expatiating as the Subject led me.

237. As heat and warmth the Royal Eagle brings.] So 'tis in Deuteronomy, whence this Simile seems to be taken. Our Translation indeed renders it Hen, but the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 will reach the other Sence, which seems more Poetical and Noble.

252. The Plague denounc'd an Hundred Years before.] The most natural Sence of those Words, Gen. 6.3. Yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty Years, seems to be, that the World should have so much respite before its Destruction: Which is favour'd by S. Peter, in his Reflection on Gods Long-suffering at that time. I say an Hundred because 'tis a round Number.

267. Then many a vile Impostor shall pretend—My Name.] Iosephus tells us of many of these false Prophets before the Destruction of Ierusalem.

276. My very Name, and yours, shall Crimes be made.] Indeed their Persecutors cou'd find 'em guilty of no other Crimes, and therefore made the very Name their Accusation. Hence the famous Christianos ad Leones. &c.

293. Nation with Nation.] Galilee against Samaria and Iudaea, Simon against Iohn, &c. And the very Words Iosephus makes Jesus use in his Oration to the Idumaeans against the Zealots, are,

That they rejoyced to see Nation against Na∣tion.

296. Unhappy Solyma shall fly to thee.] If the Galilaean Zealots had not fled to Ierusalem, Iosephus thinks it might have been sav'd.

300. Shall with a fourth thy Three Proud Walls surround.] The Romans not on∣ly cast up a Trench, but even built a Wall round Ierusalem, to keep in the Iews▪ after which no more cou'd escape. Ioseph. Lib. 6. Cap. 13.

306. Which Heav'n-Lov'd Daniels piercing Eyes foresaw.] The Abomination of De∣solation I think were these Zealots, because it cou'd be nothing else, that I ever yet saw, assigned. Not the Destruction it self, because 'twas to be the Sign of it. Not the Statue or Idol placed, or designed to be placed in the Temple, by Cains, or Tiberius; because either not done at all, or too soon to be a Sign for this De∣struction. Nor the Roman Ensigns, Titus, or Adrian, because these all too late; and the Effect not a Sign of the Judgment. On the other side, the word Abo∣mination exactly hits those Zealots, who, as Iosephus, Lib. 2. Bell. Iud. Cap. 9.

Drest themselves like Women, fell to unnatural Lusts, and profan'd the whole City with their execrable Impiety.

They were a Desolation too, or such an A∣bomination as made Desolate. So Jesus in his forementioned Oration,

Houses, says he, they have Ruinated and made Desolate, by their Robberies.

And Io∣sephus tells us,

That at one time the Idumaeans and they, murdered 8000 in the Temple, and 12000 young Men in the City. They stood in the Holy-Place, or where they ought not to stand.

So Anamis in his Oration, lamenting that he shou'd live to see the Sanctuary, where nothing ought to come but the High-Priest, profan'd by the wicked Feet of these Impious Persons. And Iosephus, in his Speech to the Iews, of these Zealots,

That having their Hands embru'd in the Blood of their Countreymen, they presum'd to enter into the Sanctuary; where, says he, none ought to come.

Nay, they were here before the Romans besieged the City, and therefore were properly a Sign of its Destruction, and a warning to others to leave it, as many did; and flying to Titus, saved their Lives. There remains but one thing more, which will almost demonstrate, that the Zealots were meant by this Abomination of Desolation; and that is, to enquire who it was caus'd the Daily Sacrifice to cease. But this the Zealots too did; Iosephus in the forementioned Oration, who says,

That Iohn and the Zealots, had not only robb'd the Temple of all the Ornaments given by Augustus and others, telling the People, That Sacrilege was no Sin, because they fought for the Cause of God:

But, as he adds expresly, "They had deprived God of his daily Sacrifice in the Temple. All this, is one of the most clear and unanswerable Proofs of a Prophesie exactly fulfill'd, that I ever met with. Which, for that reason, I've enlarg'd upon, and which I challenge all the Atheists or Deists in the World to answer.

312. A deep, a mournful Voice,—"Let us depart.] The famous 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Our Saviour we know did Prophesie of great Signs and Wonders before this Destruction.

315. The high in Heaven a bloody Sword.] Vid. Ioseph. Bell. Iud. Lib. 5. Cap. 12. Where he says,

A Comet in the fashion of a fiery Sword had hung over the City for a Year together; before the Siege.

319. Thunders and Earthquakes then they'll scarcely mind.] Lib. 4. Cap. 7. He says, "When the Edomites Encamp'd by the Walls of Ierusalem, there arose a terrible Tempest of Wind, Rain, Lightning and Thunder, with an Earthquake, and several very strange and dreadful Voices. Notwithstanding which, their Friends within the Gates saw'd the Bars in sunder, and admitted them into the City.

322. But the beginning of their hopeless Pains.] Our Saviour says, All these are but the beginning of sorrows. And so it will appear to any who reads the whole History.

329. The half starv'd Citizens like Ghosts shall meet.] Iohn and Simon having in their Rage at one another, burnt the City Granaries, enough to have supply'd 'em for a long time, the Famine soon raged amongst 'em. Of which Iosephus gives many terrible Instances, Lib. 6. Cap. 11. &c.

The Seditious, says he, in this Famine, broke up Houses for Corn and Meat; if they found any, they beat Per∣sons for denying it; if none, for concealing it; if strong and likely, they Kill'd 'em, on presumption they had some secret Stores; if weak, because they'd soon Die of themselves. Wives snatch'd the Meat from their Husbands; Children from Parents; Mothers from Infants; nay, one Miriam, boyl'd and eat her own Son. Babes were dashed on the ground by the Souldiers, when found with meat in their mouths. The young Men, pale as Ghosts, walk'd about till they dropt Dead in the Streets; and some, striving to bury others, fell Dead over 'em.

And so he goes on with such a dreadful Description, as almost shocks Humanity to read it.

340. And like a Deluge over all come pouring in.] The end of it shall be with a Flood, says Daniel: and accordingly it was, universal and irresistible.

352. Till—See—the Temple fir'd.] Iosephus says,

After they had been Fight∣ing many days about the Temple, a certain Souldier, contrary to the Order of Titus, moved as it were with a certain Divine Fury, got some of his Compa∣nions to help him up, and set Fire on the Temple, by one of the Golden Windows, which happened on the 10th of August; the same Day, he says, that it was burnt for∣merly by Nebuchadnezzar.

The manner of which, and circumstances whereof, the Historian Describes like one who was no unconcerned Spectator. He tells us,

Many whose Eyes were just closed with Famine, got strength to bewail the Temple, as they saw it Burning; and an innumerable Multitude being kill'd about it and in it, fix'd their Eyes thereon, in the very Agonies of Death; whose dead Bodies roll'd down the Temple-stairs in streams of Blood. All was filled with dismal Shrieks and Lamentations, eccho'd by the Mountains round the City. The Hill of the Temple now appeared all on Fire, tho there was Blood enough shed to have quenched it. Some of the Priests be∣ing kill'd Fighting, others leaping voluntary into the Flames, and the rest Burnt alive, resolving not to survive the Temple.

Indeed, through the whole, Io∣sephus has done it so admirably, that I'm not asham'd to own I cannot reach him.

360. Till Heav'n has clos'd the Gentiles destin'd Reign.] From that of our Sa∣viour, Till the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

373. And in the Church usurp my Throne and Name.] Our Saviour Prophesies of those that should come in his Name, saying, I am Christ. So did some of the little Antichrists, particularly Ionathan in Cyrene, who said expresly, Ego sum Mes∣siah. But this was to be eminently and remarkably fulfilled in the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the great Adversary or Antichrist. And that some such is foretold in the Scriptures, Bellarmin himself, and all the Papists believe. He then that usurps the Throne, the Power, the very Divinity of our Saviour, wherever we

find him, must be The Antichrist. This the Pope does his Throne, for he's car∣ried by his Slaves, after he's chosen, plac'd upon the High Altar, and there actu∣ally Ador'd. His Power, for he'll forgive Sins, and rule Kings and Nations, with a Rod of Iron. His Divinity, for not content with being the Vicar of Christ, his Flat∣terers have given him the very Name and Power of God; for which, we cou'd never hear, that he was so angry with 'em, as to put them into his Anathema against all Heretical Kings and Princes.

389. The World for the Elect was chiefly made.] 'Tis a Notion of the Rabbies, that the World was only made for the Elect, which I've somewhat soften'd.

417. Ten furious Tyrants.] The Ten Persecutions.

424. To them a Foe, as to your sacred Race.] Nero was the Wretch who stirr'd up the first Persecution against the Christians, which occasioned that sharp and just Remark of Tertullian; Non nisi grande aliquod bonum quod à Nerone damnatum, "It must needs be some extraordinary good Thing if Nero condemned it. This Mon∣ster was justly Voted by the Senate a Parricide and Enemy of Mankind. And accordingly his Memory has been ever detested by all Men, unless by the Parthi∣ans, and a few other Heathens.

431. You in his Festal Flame shall shine.] From these puzling Verses of Iuvenal, Tedâ lucebis in illa,—Qua stantes ardent qui fixo gutture fumant—Et latum me∣diâ sulcum diducit arenâ. Alluding, whatever the Grammar of 'em is, to Nero's Burning the Christians for Torches at his Night Revells.

436. The only Good the Wretch will ever do.] Almost Davids Words in Cowley, to Goliah.

438. Mankinds hate, his Brother their delight.] Domitian, who rais'd the second Persecution, one of the foulest of Men, (some think worse than Nero,) and as much detested, as his Brother Titus lov'd, who was stil'd, as all know, Deliciae hu∣mani generis.

442. By Martyrdom he'll purge his Blood.] History tells us, that he Murdered Flavius Clemens, his near Kinsman, and Banished his Wife Flavia, for being Christians.

446. Still shall the Son of Gods bright Form be near.] Alluding to the History of the Three Children.

451. Whilst our proud Foe an hasty Death shall seize.] Stabb';d by Parthenius and Stephanus. Concerning which, see the famous Story in Apollonius's Life.

452. And his mild Successor.] Nerva, who swore solemnly, no Senator should ever dye by his Order. See Aurelius Victor and Dion. He recall'd the Christians by an Edict, from Banishment; and amongst the rest S. Iohn, tho some wou'd fain have him dead a great many years before; and others that he never dy'd.

456. Some ev'n the Lord that bought'em shall deny.] Ebion, Cerinthus, and other Hereticks, who first deny'd the Divinity of our Saviour; against whom S. Iohn wrote his Gospel.

461. Nor he himself—Unplagu'd escapes a destin'd dire Event, &c.] Trajan, who began the third Persecution. The dire Event, here mentioned, is that of the Earthquake at Antioch; where, the Emperour being then present and a vast Conflux of People, the Earth opened, and devoured an incredible Number of Men, one of the Consuls perishing, and the Emperour himself hardly escaping.

467. But more the Jews.] Adrian, who began the fourth Persecution, Burnt a Thousand Towns of the Iews, for Rebelling against him under their false Christ Barcochab, to whom Rabbi Akiba was a sort of Elias, crying, Hic est Rex ille Messias! and Kill'd 500000 Men; then reedifying Ierusalem, &c.

472. How oft he'd fly to Death in vain for Ease.] Being sick of a languishing Distemper he wou'd often have kill'd himself, but was hindred by his Friends. A little before his Death, he is said to have made those pretty foolish Verses, Ani∣mula, vagula, blandula, &c. Which, Little, fluttering Soul, alludes to.

476. A Peaceful Prince and Pious more than Nam'd.] Antoninus Pius, who, on Iustin's Apology, made an Edict, that the Christians should not be Punished, but those who Accus'd 'em: As Orosius in his History.

479. A vain Philosopher.] Antoninus Philosophus began the fifth Persecution, stirr'd up by Crescens the Cynic, and continued with great Fury, till the Emperour be∣ing distress'd in War with the Quadi, for want of Water, and obtaining both that and Victory, by the Prayers of a Christian Legion, ordered it to be stopt; as P. Orosius tells us.

485. This a far fiercer Tyrant knows in vain.] Septimius Severus, who rais'd the sixth Persecution, under whom so many were Martyred, that some thought him Antichrist. His two Sons, Bassianus and Geta succeeded him, the Elder of which kill'd the Younger in his Mothers Arms.

489. Next a fell Wolf, who, the mild Shepherd slain.] The seventh Persecution under Maximin, who Murdered the good Emperour Alexander Severus; and was himself Kill'd, together with his Son, by his own Souldiers at the Siege of Aquileia.

493. The next an equal Guilt and Fate attend.] Decius, who rais'd the eighth Persecution, whose Son was kill'd by the Goths, and himself drowned in the Fens near the Danube, as he fled from the Enemy.

466. Cruel old Man.] Valerian, the Author of the ninth Persecution, at the Insti∣gation of an Egyptian Magician. He was afterwards conquered and taken by Sapores the Emperour of Persia, who made use of his Back to mount his Horse, and when he refused that Office, flay'd him alive, and covered him with Salt.

502. Two Monsters shall the groaning World divide.] Dioclesian and Maximi∣nian.

506. The Idol Banners stoop and Cross must rise.] The very Signa or Ensigns of the Romans, have been thought by learned Men Idolatrous: Which Constantine chang'd, and bore the Cross in his Banner; according to the famous Story.

509. Once more the fatal Stone.] See Lib. 6. Note on the Baetylia of the Antients.

510. The Tyrants drop by Justice or Despair.] Dioclesian, some say, Poisoned him∣self; Maximinian, who had once Abdicated; but when his Mind changed, and he for recovering his Empire agen, being caught Plotting against Constantine, he was fairly Hang'd for his reward.

517. Those glorious Scars.] A known Story. Vid. Sozomen. Lib. 1. Cap: 11.

522. Yet still some Signs of antient Fraud remain.] From Virgil's Pauca tamen sub∣erunt, &c.

524. Nor yet my fated Reign. Vid. last Note on Lib. 10.

529. Fierce Magog's Sons.] The Scythians, as Sir Walter Rawleigh proves beyond contradiction.

531. Whilst all the West a fiercer Tyrant spoils.] The Turks give Liberty of Con∣science; the Pope denies it; for which Reason, I make him the more Cruel of the two.

537. The Earthly Gods this Monster shall Dethrone.] 2 Thess. 2.4.

541. But first what Lets must be remov'd away.] This the antient Christians In∣terpreted of the Roman Empire.

549. Chast Marriage shall the worst of Crimes be grown.] A Man may be a good Romish Priest tho he has half a Dosen Concubines, but not if he has one Wife. But amongst all the doughty Arguments against the Marriage of the Clergy, I think that of his Infallibility, S••ricius himself, carries the most weight;

They that are in the Flesh cannot please God.

553. A Swan in Gomers spacious Fields shall rise.] 'Tis said in the History of Iohn Huss, that at his Martyrdom he Prophesied, of a Swan to rise an hundred Years after, whom the Papists should not be able to Burn.

586. At a Friends House, which on the Road they knew.] Some such thing seems necessarily imply'd from the Oeconomy of the Parable. For its said in the 1 verse, They actually went forth to meet the Bridegroom. But ver. 5. While the Bridegroom tar∣ried they all slumbered and slept; which they can't be supposed to do in the open Air.

691. My Harbingers the sev'n Arch-Angels bright.] It has been generally be∣lieved in all Ages of the Church, that there are different Orders of Angels; and

there are great probabilities from Scriptures, that the Number of the Chief An∣gels is 7; which are also call'd, The Eyes of the Lord, running too and fro through∣out the whole Earth. That these Angels shall be principally employ'd in the Pre∣parations for this Judgment, appears, from comparing 1. Thess. 4.16. The Lord shall descend, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the Trump of God; with that of the 2 Thess. 1.7. The Lord Iesus shall be revealed from Heaven, with his mighty Angels; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: Which seems much the same with these Arch-Angels.

712. Ten thousand lesser Suns lie scatter'd round.] According to their Notion, who think all fix'd Stars Suns.

733. Hence holy Souls Refin'd and made more Bright.] This seems the only an∣cient Purgatory: Some of the Fathers being of Opinion, that the Souls of all Men, nay that of the Blessed Virgin herself, were to pass through this purging Fire at the last Iudgment. But this would do the Church of Rome no good, and therefore they have since altered the property on't, making it a Culinary Fire with a witness, and blowing it up some thousands of Years sooner than those good Fathers ever thought of.

798. With all the hast of Impudent Despair] They shorten our Saviours Accu∣sation, and say, ver. 44. Lord when saw we thee an hungred, or a thirst, or a stranger, or naked, &c. whereas the Righteous are more deliberate. Ver. 37. When saw we thee an hungred and fed thee, &c.

862. Refresht, beyond the reach of Pain or Vice, &c.] Agreeable to the No∣tion of the Primitive Churches, who constantly pray'd for this Refrigerium, or Refreshment of their Fellow Christians, departed this Life; they supposing them in a sort of Pain, by their thirsty and eager Desire for the final Consummation of their Happiness.