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For the two horned Beast is the founder, or erector of that seaven headed Beast, wearing crownes upon his ten hornes; which after his deadly wound, to the great hurt of the Saints he
anew restored according to the image of a certain former estate wherein he was to rule full 42. moneths, chap. 13. v. 3, 5, 12, 14, 15. which being done, he doth exercise all his power in his pre∣sence; and also doth shew (or worke) great wonders in his sight, verse 12, 13. and chap. 19. verse 20. At length this very same two horned Beast (which Iohn calleth elswhere the false prophet) together with that other Beast, in whose presence hee had done the wonders, as inseparable companions are taken, and both cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone, Chap. 19. v. 20. when therefore the ten horned Beast (give me leave, for plain∣nesse so to call the seaven headed Beast restored) and the two horned false prophet are not separated one from the other, either in their rising, or in their ruine; Moreover, whereas the one ex∣crciseth the power of the other 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, in his pre∣sence, who seeth not that they necessarily contemporize through their whole time? But that the whole matter may bee rightly perceived, it is to be understood, that there is no other state of the seven headed Beast described, cha 13. then that of the instau∣ration, or of the last head, which was tenne horned; that which the whole order of the description doth make evident. For whatsoever evill the Beast is said to have committed, whatsoever worship or adoration is given unto him by the inhabitants of the earth, all that is said to be done after his instauration, or healing of his wound. Furthermore, that the ten hornes doe belong to the last head or state of the Beast (which is the state of his ••staura∣tion) is manifest by the interpr••tation of the Angel. Chap. 17. For there when five heads had fallen, that is, had fulfilled their, * 1.2 courses, and the fixt even then in Iohns time was in being; yet the time of the hornes is said not to be as yet come. Therefore of ne∣cessitie it must belong unto the seventh or last head.
For of both these the title of the Synchronisme did admonish, and first, that the two horned Beast, and the false prophet be the same, Iren••us, one amongst the most ancient interpreters of the Apocalyps hath observed. Which by the comparing of the 13. 14, 15, and 16, verses of the 13. chap. with the 20. verse of
the 19. Chap. is so cleare and manifest that it needes no further proofe.
But that which the title further seemeth to intimate, that the ten horned Beast is wont also to be called by the name of the image of the Beast, that is not so evident, and which the reader except very attentive, will scarce at all perceive. But that the same is so, I think that I have observed upon good ground; and there∣fore, wheresoever the Beast and the false prophet are mentioned together (which I finde three times) there by the surname of the Beast, is understood no other then the ten horned beast; when by the false prophet, it is evident there is meant the two horned. Contrarily, where with the Beast thou seest coupled the image of the Beast [as chap. 14. ver. 9.11. chap. 15. ver. 2. chap. 16. ver. 2. chap. 19 ver. 20. and chap. 20. ver. 4.] there by the Beast is to be understood the false prophet; and by his image the ten horned Beast, or the seven headed restored: for this Beast seeing hee ac∣knowledgeth the false prophet to be his restorer, and that he suf∣fereth himselfe to be guided by the will of him, as of his supreme Lord [chap. 13. verse 12, 14, 15.] he is not without cause called his image; not whose similitude hee representeth, the genitive being passively taken (for in that respect he is the Image of an∣other, happily of the seven headed dragon, or of the state in in which hee flourished before the wound, according to whose example he doth afresh blaspheme God, and make warre against the Saints) but that image which that two horned Beast speak∣ing like the Dragon did restore and challengeth for his owne, the genitive, to wit, signifying the Agent or Posseslor; even as in the self-same places that is not the marke of the Beast, which is stamped upon the Beast himselfe, but wherewith that same Beast doth brand those that worship him.
And that it is so, as I have said, concerning the image of the Beast, that which is said in the 13. chap. Verse 15. is for an argu∣ment in the first place, that that very image of the Beast, which the false prophet did give life unto, did cause that whosoever shall not worship the image of the Beast should be slaine; likewise else where (that thou mayest know him to be the Beast) hee is almost ever put after a verb which signifies to adore, as an object of worship: when as therefore the Apocalyps doth pourtray onely two and no more Beasts; this so wicked a majestie with
like power either of commanding or compelling, cannot but agree to either of them. Furthermore, where the Beast is pre∣sent together with the false prophet, the image of the Beast in the same construction of words is not to be found, as if there the appellation of the Beast should serve the turne.
To conclude, of that self-same is the image of the Beast said to be, of whom is the name and number, chap. 15.2. But the name and number seeme not to be called the name and number of any other beast chap. 13. then of the two horned, therefore it is like that he is also called the image of him (as of his principall founder or chief Lord.) But this image, whether it be, or be not that tenne horned Beast, it nothing hindreth our purpose: for the Synchronisme of the Beasts is not built upon this foun∣dation.
Chap. 13.
Verse 10.