( J57 )
his own ungodly Prejudices, and endeavours todeceive others, without being deceived himself. Itis to no Purpose to tell us, that whilst some An-cients quoted the Revelations , others doubted, un-less it could have been truly said, that the latterwere as early as the former, which is far from be-ing the Cafe. Jerom had an Eye to the Writersof the second Century, in which no EcclesiasticalMan doubted the Genuineness of this Book, andtherefore he had no Obstacle little or great to re-move out of the Way of his Conclusion in Favourthereof. He adds, p. 70. " This Father makes a“ glorious Encomium on the Revelations in ano-“ ther Place, so far as to fay that there is not a" single Word in them which does not compre-" hend seven Meanings, if we, fays he, can but" have the good Luck to find them out .” Answer.He must have good Luck indeed, who can sindout any such Saying as this in St. Jerom’s Writings.The Passage aimed at, and which the Discourserhas here most scandalously abused under the Pre-tence of citing it, is in an Epistle to Paulinus , andhere follows. Apocalypsts Joannis tot habet Sa cramental quot verba. Par urn dixi pro merito Vo~luminis, laus omnis inferior est. In verbis fingulismultiplices latent Intelligentice. The Revelation ofSt. John has as many Mysteries as Words. I donot speak up to the Merit of the Book-, no Praisecan reach it. Every Word conceals many Meanings.So that the precise Number of seven Meanings,and the good Luck at finding them out , areThings that belong not to 'Jerom, but arethe wilful Additions of our Author. But he hasmore Tales to tell of this learned Father. " He
" discovers