The ruin of Rome, or, An exposition upon the whole Revelation wherein is plainly…The ruine of Rome, or, An exposition upon the whole Revelation wherein is plainly…

Now John heareth the number of them that were sealed; and he reckoneth up the whole Church militant, consisting both of the Jews and Gentiles: He saith, that of the Church of the Jews there were sealed 144000. Wherein he putteth a certain number for an uncertain, and a definite number therewithal also for an indefinite; for his meaning is not that there were just so many, and neither moe nor less sealed: but this number doth arise of 12. times 12. in that he saith, of every Tribe twelve thousand: for twelve times 12. thousand, make an hundred forty and four thousand. Neither yet may we think, that of every Tribe there were an equal number sealed, not moe nor less of ⟨p. 107⟩one Tribe then another, but this number of twelve, is used as the perfect and full number; in as much as the Church of the Jews was founded upon the twelve Patriarchs: unto which our Saviour had respect, when for to gather the dispersed and lost sheep of the house of Israel, he chose twelve Apostles.

Now John heareth the number of them that were sealed; and he reckoneth up the whole Church militant, consisting both of the Jewes and Gentiles: He saith, that of the Church of the Jewes there were sealed 144000. Wherein he putteth a certaine number for an uncertaine, and a definite number therewithall also for an indefinite; for his meaning is not that there were just so many, and neither moe nor lesse sealed: but this number doth arise of 12. times 12. in that he saith, of every Tribe twelve thousand: for twelve times 12. thousand, make an hundred forty and foure thousand. Neither yet may we thinke, that of every Tribe there were an equall number sealed, not moe nor lesse of ⟨p. 107⟩one Tribe then another, but this number of twelve, is used as the perfect and full number; in as much as the Church of the Jewes was founded upon the twelve Patriarkes: unto which our Saviour had respect, when for to gather the dispersed and lost sheepe of the house of Israel, he chose twelve Apostles.

Now here we are to observe, that notwithstanding the horrible persecutions and calamities which fell out upon the opening of four of the Seals, yet God had his Church even of the Jews, which in the judgement of reason, a man would have thought long ere now, had been utterly extinct and abolished. But the Apostle saith: