An exposition upon the thirteenth chapter of the Revelation by that reverend and eminent…

1. Some of our best interpreters pitch the beginning from the beginning of the Reign of Constantine, when the Man-child was brought forth, that is, advanced to Imperial dignity, which some make in the year 304 after Christ; though it be true, of later times, they will by no means grant his Reign ⟨p. 87⟩began then, but two or three years after, and an easy mistake grows there; for when they come to measure out a Princes Reign, they begin in such a time, and a whole year is allowed to it, and it may be the next begins in that year, and so they bring a variation in Chronologies; but you may not wonder in such mistakes, if there be four or five years variation, that makes no great difference; God knows certainly; but through reckoning the last year of one, and the first of another, applying the same to both, may sometimes make a years difference: But holy Brightman makes the beginning of that time to be in Constantine's coming to the Crown, and thence expires the authority of this Beast in the year 1546. Now though his pains have been most serviceable to the Church of all that have written of this Book, and God is to be exceedingly magnified for him, and his Learning esteemed; that having such a Prophetical spirit, he spake so homely and plainly, that without pregnant reason I would not prevaricate his judgment: Yet as it falls out ordinarily, there is something amiss in the best humane Writers that ever wrote; Therefore let me tell you what doth not satisfy me: The first is this, that neither in the beginning nor end doth it punctually jump and suite with all events described.

1. Some of our best interpreters pitch the beginning from the beginning of the Reign of Constantine, when the Man-child was brought forth, that is, advanced to Imperiall dignity, which some make in the yeare 304 after Christ; though it be true, of later times, they will by no meanes grant his Reigne ⟨p. 87⟩began then, but two or three years after, and an easie mistake grows there; for when they come to measure out a Princes Reign, they begin in such a time, and a whole yeare is allowed to it, and it may be the next begins in that year, and so they bring a variation in Chronologies; but you may not wonder in such mistakes, if there be foure or five years variation, that makes no great difference; God knows certainly; but through reckoning the last yeare of one, and the first of another, applying the same to both, may sometimes make a yeares difference: But holy Brightman makes the beginning of that time to be in Constantines coming to the Crown, and thence expires the authority of this Beast in the yeare 1546. Now though his paines have been most serviceable to the Church of all that have written of this Book, and God is to be exceedingly magnified for him, and his Learning esteemed; that having such a Prophetical spirit, he spake so homely and plainly, that without pregnant reason I would not pervericate his judgment: Yet as it falls out ordinarily, there is something amisse in the best humane Writers that ever wrote; Therefore let me tell you what doth not satisfie me: The first is this, that neither in the beginning nor end doth it punctually jump and suite with all events described.