2. If Babylon be totally terminated in Rome Heathen, then the Book of the Apocalypse is of little use to the latter Ages of the Christian World: For if the whole Transactions relating to the Persecution of the Church, and the Slaughter and Destruction of God's Enemies, did end in Rome Heathen, then it served only to give a characteristical Account of a Beast and Whore that was grown old, and ready to go off the Stage; but hath wholly left us in the dark, and given us no notice at all of that horrible Confusion, and bloody Persecutions, which have reigned in the Christian World for more than a thousand Years last past; which for Length of Time, Numbers of Murders, and Manner of Cruelties, hath out-done all the Wickedness of Rome in its Heathen State. Which is not at all likely, that a Vision should be given, and a Revelation made, and called so, about a State that was almost expired, and the most great and principal Part wholly left out, and said nothing to. Who can imagine, that a careful Saviour should be so full in his Discoveries to the Jewish Church, concerning their Sufferings, and the Time under Egypt, and Babylon Literal; and be so short and lean to his Gospel-Church, to leave them altogether without any written Prospect, or extraordinary Prophet, to inform them what should come to pass in the World, from the going off of the Power of Rome Heathen, to the end of all the Churches Troubles, which have already lasted above a thousand Years? The Conceit of which is fit but for two Ranks of Men to receive, viz. the Roman-Catholics, and such Protestants as look for Antichrist to come at the end of the World, after the ⟨p. 303⟩Restoration of the Jews to their own Land, and building a material Temple at Jerusalem, where Antichrist shall sit three Days and an half, or Years, to kill two Men called the two Witnesses.
2. If Babylon be totally terminated in Rome Heathen, then the Book of the Apocalypse is of little use to the latter Ages of the Christian World: For if the whole Transactions relating to the Persecution of the Church, and the Slaughter and Destruction of God's Enemies, did end in Rome Heathen, then it served only to give a characteristical Account of a Beast and Whore that was grown old, and ready to go off the Stage; but hath wholly left us in the dark, and given us no notice at all of that horrible Confusion, and bloody Persecutions, which have reigned in the Christian World for more than a thousand Years last past; which for Length of Time, Numbers of Murthers, and Manner of Cruelties, hath out-done all the Wickedness of Rome in its Heathen State. Which is not at all likely, that a Vision should be given, and a Revelation made, and call'd so, about a State that was almost expired, and the most great and principal Part wholly left out, and said nothing to. Who can imagine, that a careful Saviour should be so full in his Discoveries to the Jewish Church, concerning their Sufferings, and the Time under Egypt, and Babylon Literal; and be so short and lean to his Gospel-Church, to leave them altogether without any written Profpect, or extraordinary Prophet, to inform them what should come to pass in the World, from the going off of the Power of Rome Heathen, to the end of all the Churches Troubles, which have already lasted above a thousand Years? The Conceit of which is fit but for two Ranks of Men to receive, viz. the Roman-Catholicks, and such Protestants as look for Antichrist to come at the end of the World, after the
