A treatise, touching Antichrist VVherein, the place, the time, the forme, the workmen, the vpholders, the proceeding, and lastly, the ruine and ouerthrow of the kingdome of Antichrist, is plainly laid open out of the word of God: where also manie darke, and hard places both of Daniell and the Reuelation are made manifest. By Lambert Danæus.

ƲƲhy Paule calleth Antichrist a man.

The seauenth Chapter.

PAule proceedeth further, and addeth, and that man of sinne: heere he speaketh directly and plainely of Anti∣christ: as first of his name, and then of his person, or of his qualitie and doctrine. Touching his name, he tearmeth him, The man of sinne, and Sonne of perdition. And héere againe, that is called into question, whereof I haue alreadie disputed, namely, where as Paule calleth Antichrist a man, whether it be to be vnderstoode of any one priuate man that should liue in the world at some one time or other, or else of the whole rabble of men in their successions, which in that Apostacie should beare a swindge for many yeares, whome Paule likeneth to a man, and so tearmeth it in the singular nomber: although in truth it be a troupe and crewe, gathered and compact together of many men, yea, of all the nations & kingdomes of the world. In like manner as Paule, 1. Cor. 4.1. by man in the singular nomber vnderstandeth many, which kinde of speache is vsuall and familiar to such as follow the Hebrew phrase, the which Paule in his writings doth greatly affect and imitate.

But withall, this is diligently to be obserued, which Da∣mascen

affirmeth, namely, that Antichrist should not be one of the Diuels that should take vpon him the flesh and substance of man (euen as our Sauiour tooke vnto him our humane nature) although notwithstanding such as should become Antichrists, should be possessed with a diuelish disposition, and caried in enmitie against God. Truth it is, the Papists will haue it vnderstoode of one singular and priuate man, who one day should liue and kéepe a stirre, and further, that he should arise out of the tribe of Dan: but in this their dotage, they relie vpon no ground of Scripture, and therefore they are vn∣méete in this point to be dealt withall. Others there are (and that learned men to) that are of opinion that this is to be vn∣derstoode indéede of one man, but such an one, as among all the route of Apostates, should be the most peruerse, the chiefe, and ring-leader of all the rest: for (say they) there is one head of the godly and faithfull, euen Christ Iesus. And touching the name of this one principall, & arch-Apostata: they thinke it is as well couertly insinuated in this place of Paule, as also especially bewrayed in the 13. of the Reuelation, vers. 18. where the figures & letters of the said name are said to make vp the nomber of 666. And (to say the truth) this opinion is generally receiued, and seemeth to be somewhat likely. Vnto these points I will addresse mine answere. And first touching the first. Although it be very true, that there is one principall head of all the vnfaithfull, yet he is not any perticular & mor∣tall man (such as it appeareth Math. 24. that famous Anti∣christ should be) but euen Sathan himselfe, that old Serpent, who also is called the Dragon. And as for the second opini∣on, me thinks it is weake and wauereth in it selfe, in as much as that place of the Apocalypse, cap. 13. vers. 18. is wrongly interpreted of any certaine name, title, or calling of any one man, the letters whereof should conteine the nomber of 666. For the Spirit of God in that place medleth not with the A∣rithmeticall signification of letters wherewith any word is framed: but of the time and nomber of yeares wherein those things should be accomplished that are there spoken of. For

the Scripture neuer vseth to deale in such manner of Sorcers & foolish mystery by letters, which is but flat iuggling of the Cabalists, and damned dotages of the Magicians: but, it v∣seth to speake very plainely, when it fore-telleth of the com∣ming of any, as namely, when it fore-sheweth the comming of Cyrus and Iosias, and that an hundred yeares before they came indeede. Therefore looke what men are any where by the Spirit of God spoken of, they be mentioned vnder their plaine, proper, and peculiar names, and not by such circum∣stance of words: as, Cyrus, Iosias, Iesus Christ &c. as I said before. And to the end we may the better see into the mat∣ter, let vs examine the words of the text it selfe, Reuel. 13. vers. 18. Heere is wisedome. Let him that hath vnder∣standing, coumpt the nomber of the Beast, for it is the nomber of a man, and his nomber is sixe hundred three∣score and sixe.

Now I would demaund of what tongue, or language that word or name should be, the letters whereof must be searched after, whether it should be an Hebrew, Gréeke or Latin word: for (as August. affirmeth, lib. 12. de Genesi ad literam) these three languages were alwaies accoumpted principall among al men. Truely they that first brought vp that interpretation, whereof I speake (as namely Irenaeus lib. 5.) do euen folter in the matter, and labour their wittes in deuising any one word, whose letters would amount vnto the number of 666. And yet Eusebius (lib. 5. histor. cap. 8.) followeth that which he saw Irenaeus to haue set downe before him: I could my selfe deuise many such wordes, but it would bee to no purpose. For this name Claudius Ruber, containes the like number that these do, Italica, Ecclesia, & Lateinos, & Teitan: the which neuerthe∣lesse Irenaeus thinketh should be the very names of this egregi∣ous Antichrist. Agayne, the ancient writers before y^e daies of Irenaeus fetching the matter out of the Greeke, affirme: that this word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and these two 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 should be meant, which should make vp the number 666. namely the letter λ: to signifie 30. α: 1. τ: 300. ε: 5. ι: 10. υ: 50. ν: 70.

ς: 200. For these numbers being added together amount vn∣to 666. And that somme also is contained in the two other words, according to the Greekish manner of supputation or numbring by letters. ι: 10. τ: 300. α: 1. λ: 30. ι: 10. κ: 20. α: 1. ε: 5. μ: 20. μ: 20. λ: 30. κ: 8. σ: 200. ••: 10. α: 1. Al which likewise being put together make 666. And no doubt but the truth of the thing, bred and fostered this opinion in them. Far in the Italian Church (the head whereof the Citie of Rome alwaies was) they sawe before their eyes, that the very kingdome of Antichrist began then to be reiected, and so by such beginnings as then appeared, the Spirit of GOD guided those good men to fore-see and fore-shewe, that there also in time it would grow to his height and perfection. And as touching Jrenaeus himselfe, he rather thought that the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, should bee the proper name of Antichrist. Hereunto may bée added the Hebrew word Romuth: which signifieth a Romain: whereof the letter ר: signifieth (in their manner of numbering also) 200. ו: 6. ט: 40. י: 10. י: 10. ת: 400. But these are but quiddities: and come not néere the true exposi∣tion of that place of the Apoc. which I alleadged: the which that wee may attaine vnto, wee must make recourse vnto the holie Scriptures, and vnto such like places as this is, as namely vnto that of Daniell, cap. 7. where not only one per∣ticular man, but a whole and vniuersall state of a kingdome, is set foorth vnder the name and shape of a Beast, as here of a man. So the kingdome and all the Kings of Persia are sha∣dowed vnder the figure of one Beare: of the Macedonians vnder the shape of a Leopard. So also all such as should bée the principalles and hold the helme (as you would say) in that Apostacie, are resembled by the name of a Beast in the singu∣lar number. Whereby it appeareth, that this place of the A∣poc. is to be referred vnto the whole manner and continuance of a certaine succession, and not vnto any one man. Lastly, it is not to bee doubted but that by these wordes (the man of sinne, &c.) the prerogatiues and Potentates in this Aposta∣cie are poynted out.

What the true and proper meaning is of this place (of the Reuel. touching the number of 666.) I will hereafter dis∣cusse, when I come to talke of the time which the Spirit of God did set before the comming of Antichrist.

Now the purpose of Paule in setting of him out in this place with such ouglie and fearefull names: was to the end, that all men should the more readilie, flie from him, and that the godlie and faithfull ones, should euen tremble to heare the very name of him.

Notes

• Cap. 20.