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

Thirdly, there is this recorded of this number of the name, that the choicest christians and the best christians, they gave God thanks for victory over the number as well as over the Beast, Rev. 15. 2. They got victory over the Beast, and over his Image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, so that they sung the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, great and marvellous are thy works Lord God almighty, &c. They had got the victory over the number of the name of the Beast, and they are more abundant in thanksgiving for deliverance, then they that had only victory over the mark, and that is their Priestly order or profession of Roman Catholic Religion; so that this will come near some Churches, conformed to the Image of the Beast, that is, National, Diocesan, or Cathedral Churches; but these have got victory over that, not only over the Beast and his Image, and his mark, and his name, but also the number of his name.

Thirdly, there is this recorded of this number of the name, that the choicest christians and the best christians, they gave God thanks for victory over the number as well as over the Beast, Rev. 15. 2. They got victory over the Beast, and over his Image, and over his marke, and over the number of his name, so that they sung the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, great and marvellous are thy works Lord God almighty, &c. They had got the victory over the number of the name of the Beast, and they are more abundant in thanksgiving for deliverance, then they that had onely victory over the marke, and that is their Preistly order or profession of Roman Catholick Religion; so that this will come neare some Churches, conformed to the Image of the Beast, that is, National, Diocesan, or Cathedrall Churches; but these have got victory over that, not onely over the Beast and his Image, and his mark, and his name, but also the number of his name.

The fourth observable thing in Scripture is (I am occasioned to gather up little bea•s of wisdom which the holy Ghost hath scattered that so we may gather up this account) that this number of his name is not said to be the number of his years; It is neither the number of his years when he began, nor the number of his years when he shall end: They cannot make it the beginning of his years; for though there be some that thought that Antichrist did first arise to a name in the year 606. yet they cannot clear it by story. It is […], in 606. or rather 604. Boniface took upon him the title of chief Bishop, that is, spiritual advancing, which was a part of Antichrist, yet Antichrist was begun; and 606 is not 666. there is 60. years difference; and it is like the holy Ghost would not have varied so much in such an express number, therefore this number is not for the time of the beginning of this beast. Neither is it the end of his years, for the beast continues still to this time, which hath been almost a thousand years since 666. But some say in this round number, something is omitted, as when we say 88. we mean 1588. yet in Scripture phrase such small numbers are not regarded, we speak to those that know what we speak.