1 Observations
upon the A Apocalypse of S^t Iohn 2

Chap. I.
Introduction, concerning the time when the Apocalypse
was writ

Irenæus introduced an opinion that the Apocalype |s|e
was writ in the time of Domitian; but he also
postponed the writing of some others of the sacred
books, and was to place the Apocalypse after
them: he might perhaps have heard from his
master Polycarp that he had received this book
from Iohn about the time of Domitians death; or
indeed Iohn might himself at that time have made
a new publication of it, from whence Irenæus might <f. 91v> imagin it was then but newly written. Eusebius
in \his/ Chronicle and Ecclesiastical History follows Irenæus; but afterwards ^a 3 in his Evangelical Demonstrations, he
conjoyns the D[illeg] banishment of Iohn into Patmos, with
the deaths of Peter and Paul: and so does ^b 4 Tertullian
and Pseudo-Prochorus, and the first author, whoever he
was, of that very ancient fable that Iohn was put
by Nero into a vessel of hot oyle, and coming out
unhurt, was banished by him into Patmos. Tho this
story be no more than a fiction, yet was it founded on
a tradition of the first Churches, that Iohn was banishd
into Patmos in the daies of Nero. Epiphanius repre-
sents the Gospel of Iohn as written in the time of Domitian
and the Apocalypse even before Nero's. ^c 5 Arethas in the
beginning of his Commentary quotes the opinion of Irenæus
from Eusebius, but follows it not: for he afterwards
affirms the Apocalypse was writ before the destruction
of Ierusalem, and that former commentators had expoun-
ded the sixth seal of that destruction.6

\Chap. I
/ The Introduction |concerning the time
when the Apocalypse was writ.|

Irenæus has set on foot an opinion that y^e Apocalyps
was writ in the reign 7 of Domitian: but he postpones the
writing of other sacred books & was to place the Apoca-
lyps after them. \Perhaps \his master/ Polycarp might say he had it from Iohn in y^e end of Domatian's reign \or Iohn might at that time put out a new edition of it/ & I [illeg] |ren|æus \might/ thence frame a notion of its being written then at that time./ Eusebius in his Chronicle & Ecclesiastical
History follows Irenæus: b |. B|ut afterwards ^a 8 in his Evangelical
Demonstrations he conjoyns the banishment of Iohn into Patmos
with the death of Peth |e|r & Paul: & so does ^b 9 Tertullian
& Pseudo-prochorus & whoever \he/ was the first author of that
very ancient story fable that Iohn was put by Nero into
a vessel of hot oyle & coming out without hurt was
banished by him into Patmos. \Tho this be but a fiction yet it was founded in a tradition of the first Churches that Iohn was banished into Patmos in Nero's reign Epiphanius represents the Gospel of Iohn written in
Domatian's reign & the
Apocalyps before Nero's./ Arethas in the beginning
of his Commentary mentions out of Eusebius the opinion
of Irenæus but follows it not: For ^c 10 afterwards (he affirms
that the Apocalyps was writ before the destruction of
Ierusalem & that former Commentators expounded the sixt
seal of that destruction. | ✜ | 11 With the opinion of the first
Commentators agrees the tradition of y^e Churches of Syria,
conserved |preserved| \to this day/ in the little of the Syriac Version of y^e Apo-
calyps |se|, w^ch \title/ is this: The Revelation of Iesus Christ w^ch
Io w^ch was made to Iohn the Evangelist by God in y^e
Island Patmos, into w^ch he was banished by Nero the Cæsar.
The same is confirmed by a story told by Eusebius12 out of
Clemens Alexandrinus, & others anc |t|ient authors, concerning
a youth, whom Iohn sometime after his return from
Patmos committed to y^e care of a certain Bishop of a
certain city. The Bishop educated, instructed, & at length
baptized him, but then remitted of his care. The young man
thereupon by degrees got into ill company, & began \by degrees/ first to
revell & grow vitious, & then to abuse & spoile those he
met in the night; & at length grew so desperate, that his
companions turning a band of High-way men, made him their
Capitain &, saith Chrysostom, 13 he continued their capitain for
a long time. At length Iohn returning to that city, &
hearing what was done, rode to the Thief; &, then the
Thief out of reverence to his old Master fled, rode after
him, recalled him, & restored him to y^e Church. This is a story