Rome

ROME. The City of Rome was founded by Remus and Romulus, according to Usher, in the Year 3966 of the Julian Period, in the Year of the World 3256, before Christ 744, before the vulgar Era 748, towards the End of the Reign of Hezekiah King of Judah. This City is so well known, that it is needless to give any Account of it here; nor I believe will any one expect it in a Dictionary of the Bible. The Sacred Authors of the Old Testament have never once mention’d it, as we know; but it is well known in the Books of the Maccabees, and of the New Testament. St. Peter in his first Epistle, v. 13. has mark’d it out by the figurative Name of Babylon. The Church that is at Babylon elected together with you, Rev.xiv.8. xvi. 19. xvii. 5. xviii. 2,10, 21.saluteth you. St. John in his Revelation, points it out more than once by the same Name, and describes it in such a Manner, as can only agree to Rome; by its Command over all Nations, by its Cruelty towards the Saints, and by its Situation upon Seven Hills. Rev. xvii. 9.

The Rabbins commonly give to Rome the Name of Edom, and think that the Prophesies pronounced against Edom, shall have their Accomplishment in the Destruction of this great City.

Some Protestants have deny’d, against the concurrent Testimony of all Antiquity, that St. Peter the Apostle ever was at Rome. They pretend that the City of Babylon, mentioned by him in his first Epistle, is the Babylon of Chaldea, or that of Egypt. They reject as so many Fables, all that has been published concerning the Voyages of St. Peter to Rome, his Opposition to Simon Magus, and his Martyrdom in this City. But surely if this Fact is not to be depended upon, I do not know any thing that can, in all Ecclesiastical History. We have all Antiquity to attest it, which consequently affirms it, nor has any one till now ever deny’d it. Lastly, we have Monuments, Tombs, Statues, Paintings, publick Places, which give Testimony to the Imprisonment and Martyrdom of St. Peter at Rome. The Authors may be consulted who have spoken of this Matter, and our Dissertation upon this Subject, printed in the last Tome of our Commentary.

St. Paul came twice to Rome. First, in the 61st Year of Jesus Christ, when he appeal’d to Cæsar. And, secondly, in the Year 65, a Year before his Martyrdom, which happened in the Year 66 of the vulgar Era.

St. Peter was also at Rome more than once. ‘Tis thought he went thither in the Year 42, and that then he fix’d his Episcopal Seat there. He might return thither again about the Years 45, 58, and 65, of the vulgar Era. He suffer’d Martyrdom there in the Year 66.

St. John the Evangelist was banished from Ephesus, and sent to Rome, during the Persecution of Domitian, in the Year 95 of the vulgar Era. He was there plunged¹ into boiling Oil, without receiving any Hurt from it, but on the contrary, came out more Hale and Vigorous than he was before.

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