Now the Question is how this latter which is Pontifex Romanus can be said to be the beast, that was, and is not, and yet is? My conceit of this is Singular, but such as it is, I will not conceal from you; The Pontifices among the ancient Rom. (as Dionysius Halicarnassaeus, noteth in his second Book of Roman Antiquities) were obnoxious to no other jurisdiction, neither were bound to render account of their doings to any, they were only at the command of the Pontifex maximus, whose authority was so great that the Emperors thought it inconvenient that this Supremacy should be committed to any other, therefore by assuming it to themselves, and annexing it to their imperial Crown, they did by this means extinguish the Spiritual Magistracy, and in a sort extinguish the solemn Magistracy, ⟨p. 16⟩which (under the 5. former heads) was distinguished from all other superior Governments, and prosecuted with special regard and reverence. That as if now for example in our state, one should Prophesy of the Government of the Dukes of Lancaster under the like Type, he might say of them in this manner; The beast that was (for the Dukes of Lancaster in their time have been great) and is not (for by annexing of the Duchy to the Crown, there is now no speech of any Duke) and yet i• (for the Duchy still remaineth with the several offices appertaining thereunto, though the state of the Duke lieth as it were drowned in the person of the King) So in like manner, the Angel might speak of these Pontifices Roman•, the beast that was (for he was in former time of special account) And is not (Being ⟨p. 17⟩now confounded, and, in a manner, swallowed up with the state of the Emperor) And yet is (for the Priest-hood remained still,) the Title and Dignity thereof resting in the Emperor. This Beast, this Pontifex Romanus shall hereafter appear in his Pontificalibus, and by his creatures (the false Prophet) induce the world to accept his Pontifical power for the highest upon earth, as before they did the Imperial, the image whereof is in this perfectly revived.
Now the Question is how this latter which is Pontifex Romanus can be said to be the beast, that was, and is not, and yet is? My conceit of this is Singular, but such as it is, I will not conceal from you; The Pontifices among the ancient Rom. (as Dionysius Halicarnassaeus, noteth in his second Book of Roman Antiquities) were obnoxious to no other jurisdiction, neither were bound to render account of their doings to any, they were only at the command of the Pontifex maximus, whose authority was so great that the Emperours thought it inconvenient that this Supremacy should be committed to any other, therefore by assumeing it to themselves, and anexing it to their imperial Crown, they did by this means extinguish the Spiritual Magistracie, and in a sort extinguish the solemne Magistracy, ⟨p. 16⟩which (under the 5. former heads) was distinguished from all other superiour Governments, and prosecuted with special regard and reverence. That as if now for example in our state, one should Prophesie of the Government of the Dukes of Lancaster under the like Type, he might say of them in this manner; The beast that was (for the Dukes of Lancaster in their time have been great) and is not (for by annexing of the Dutchey to the Crown, there is now no speech of any Duke) and yet i• (for the Dutchey still remaineth with the several offices appertaining thereunto, though the state of the Duke lieth as it were drowned in the person of the King) So in like manner, the Angel might speak of these Pontifices Roman•, the beast that was (for he was in former time of speciall account) And is not (Being ⟨p. 17⟩now confounded, and, in a manner, swallowed up with the state of the Emperour) And yet is (for the Priest-hood remained still,) the Title and Dignity thereof resting in the Emperour. This Beast, this Pontifex Romanus shall hereafter appear in his Pontificalibus, and by his creatures (the false Prophet) induce the world to accept his Ponti•ical power for the highest upon earth, as before they did the Imperial, the image whereof is in this perfectly revived.
