VI. Pyle Condemns Grotius’ Attempt to Compromise Protestantism

THOMAS PYLE (1674-1756), son of a rector, was educated at Cambridge, from which he received the B.A. and M.A. degrees. In 1697 he was ordained by the bishop of Norwich. Whiston, chaplain to the bishop, notes that Pyle was one of the two best scholars he ever examined. He served as minister at St. Nicholas Chapel, Lynn, and then as rector of Outwell and Watlington. An impetuous but eloquent preacher, he gained some popularity, and wrote The Scripture Preservative Against Popery (1735).PFF2 680.3

1. EXACT DATING OF 1260 YEARS STILL SECRET

Discussing the Antichrist, symbolized;by the Little Horn of Daniel 7 and Revelation 13, and the problem of the exact placement of the 1260 years, Pyle declares it to be—“of the highest Concern to Christians to attend to, whether they can precisely fix the Beginning and End of this remarkable Period, or not. Idolatry, Saint Worship, Image Worship, Persecution, Monkery, and forged Miracles, are Marks clear enough to warn us against the Danger of being seduced into the Apostacy, tho’ the Date of its Rise and Continuance remain yet a Secret.” ^{47Thomas Pyle, A Paraphrase With Notes on the Revelation of St. John, Preface, p. xiii.}PFF2 680.4

Condemning Grotius’ attempt to effect a compromise between Protestant and Catholic interpretation, he says:PFF2 680.5

“That great Scholar racked all his Inventions and Ingenuity in order to explain those odious Characters not of Rome Christian, but of Heathen Rome.” ^{48Ibid., p. xvi.}PFF2 680.6

In support he cites Mede, More, Jurieu, and Vitringa. ^{49Ibid., p. xvii.}PFF2 681.1

2. FOLLOWS STANDARD PATTERN FOR TRUMPETS AND BEASTS

On the trumpets Pyle follows the now standard pattern—the first four upon Western Rome (Goths, Vandals, Visigoths, Huns, Heruli), ^{50Ibid., pp. 58-61.} and the fifth and sixth the Saracens and Turks. The Beast of Revelation 13 and 17 he maintains to be the same as the fourth power of Daniel 7.PFF2 681.2