fancy of yesterday muchlesse savouring of Popery have thought and published concerning this opinion Besides the irrefragable judgement of the Divine Tycho Brahe that singular ornament both of the Heavens and his owne Denmarke and with him the termination herein of Carolus Gallus omitted by Asted and not long agoe one of the States Professors of Divinity in their University of Leyden If thou finde any discrepancy in their resolutions about this matter perswade thy selfe that time and the holy Spirit will more and more enlighten the deepe mysteries of Godâ— word and of its unspeakable goodnesse of the Saints of God will yet in these latter times make us all of one heart and one mind in Christ Iesuâ— That all we that doe confâ—sse his holy Name may agree in the truth of his holy Word and live in unity and godly love which is the prayer of our Church In the meane time good Reader consider that it is as lawfull for men yea for good Christians themselves to differ in circumstances of opinions as it is requisite and seemely that they should grow up together like m fellow branches in matter of good correspondence and affection Farewell SCRIB LIMNOPOROPOLI Antiquorum Saxonum five Regiovici in Regniâ— X. ab V.L. Ad Jamissam Ptolomaei si non omnes depravati codâ— In {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} quod Iohannes Loukinn LONDINI IV. Mater 39. Edw. R. 3. P. Elizabethâ— Regina {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} SCHOLPUBL GR. LAT. LL. E. V. Regni sui III. To the Christian Reader THere are three things necessary for him who takes upon him to expound Prophecies published by the Holy Ghost And first truely the light and Grace of the holy Spirit is requisite For seeing that Prophecie proceedeth from the holy Spirit It is necessary that by the same also it should be expounded Next Apious and diligent reading of Prophecies and conferring them one with another much avayleth hereunto Lastly The fulfilling of any Prophecie and an experience in a manner thereof is as it were the Key with which it is unlockt and opened Wherefore that saying of Irenaeus is true Every Prophecy before it is fulfill'd is a Riddle But when it is fulfill'd it hath a plain exposition and understanding of it self These three things as in all holy Prophecies so in the Divine Revelation may be joyned together and namely in this piece thereof which now according to my Ability I am about to Illustrate and at this day too Wherein to the light of the Gospel there is added a great Catastrophe or Issue of many things foretold by God himself except indeed any one happily chance to be bewitched with a prejudicate opinion Let us set sail therefore in the Name of God and comfort the desolation of Germany with this pious meditation Revelation Chap. 20. ANd I saw an Angel come down from heaven having the Key of the bottomelesse pit and a great chain in his hand 2. And he laid hold on the Dragon that old Serpent which is the devill and Satan and bound him a thousand yeers 3. And cast him into the bottomlesse pit and shut him up and set a seal upon him that he should deceive the Nations no more till the thousand yeers should be fulfilled and after that he must be loosed a little season 4. And I saw thrones and they sate upon them and judgement was given unto them And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of Iesus and for the Word of God and which had not worshipped the beast neither his image neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand yâ—ers 5. But the rest of the dead lived not again untill the thousand yeers were finished This is the first resurrection 6. Blessâ—d and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power but thâ—y shall be Priests of God and of Chrâ—st and shall reign with him a thousand yeers 7. And whâ—n the thousand yeers are expired Satan shall be loosed out of his prison 8. And shall goe out to deceive the Nations which are in the four quarters of the earth Gog and Magog to gather them together to battell the number of whom is as the sand of the Sea 9. And thâ—y went up on the breadth of the earth and compassed the campe of the Saints about anâ—â—he beloved Citie and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them 10. And the dâ—vill that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false Prophet are and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever 11. And I saw a great white Throne and him that sate on it from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away and there was found no place for them 12. And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the books were opened and another book was opened which is the Book of life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works 13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them and they were judged every man according to their works 14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire this is the second death 15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire PROLEGOMENA OR THE PREFACE Concerning The Author and Subject of this Chapter and the Connexion thereof with the foregoing and following Chapters 1. Of the Author of this Chapter THe Principall Author of this Chapter is the same who is Author of the whole Book namely Iesus Christ who as a faithfull Steward of our Salvation received this Revelation from God the Father and sent the same by his Angel to Iohn the Evangelist Revel. 1.1 Wherefore the Principall Author is the Spirit of God the Minister or Messenger partly the Angel partly Iohn who Chap. 1.1 and 4. setteth down his name in generall but a little after in the ninth Verse restraining that generality He doth as it were with his finger point at it I John your brother and companion in the affliction and Kingdom and patience * which is in Jesus Christ was in the Island which is called Patmos The history which Eusebius relates tells us That Iohn the Evangelist and Apostlé was banished into the Island of Patmos by Domitian Whence it is collected that Iohn the Evangelist and Apostle was Gods Poâ—-man in the delivery of this Prophecy and hence That the Authority of this Book and so of this Chapter which we intend to expound is Divine Wherefore deservedly we most highly esteem of this Revelation as a part of Scripture which hath God for it's Author But especially this Prophecy ought in this respect to
the false Prophet who is the great Antichrist being thrust down a little before the beginning of the thousand yeers do endure their punishment There they shall be tormented day and night without intermission for ever and ever that is For all ages so that for the time to come they shall never scape forth again 11. I saw also a great cloud like a great white Throne and Christ the Son of GOD the Judge of the living and dead sitting thereon with great Majesty and prepared to give Judgement From before his face the Earth and the Heaven fled away and there was no place found for them For this earth and this heaven shall passe away at the coming of Christ and all things shall be made new 12. I saw also all the dead small and great standing before God and ready to hear the sentence of the Judge What happens then The books of mens Consciences are opened the counsells of all mortell men and the secrets of their hearts being brought to light Now lest the elect children of God should be disheartned every one by the particular survey of his own book or conscience behold another book is opened for them I mean the Book of Life in which according to the fatherly acceptance of God in Christ their names are written from everlasting These books being thus opened the dâ—ad are judged out of those things which are written in the books according to their works and that after such manner that the works of the Saints are judged out of the book of life which contains the books of their Consciences washed and cleansed with the Blood of Christ But the works of the ungodly are numbred and surveyed and so judged out of the books of their own consciences not cleansed from sins nor purged with the Blood of Christ 13. Hereupon then the Sea gave up its dead which had been concealed in the bosome thereof Death also and the Grave that is The fire ayr and the earth and indeed all the Elements dâ—livered up their dead which having received formerly they had partly consumed partly yet preserved They were therefore all judged and every one in particular none at all excepted and they were judged justly for the judgement was according to every ones works of which their consciences bare them record 14. And this being performed ungodly men Death and Hell that is Men deserving both were cast into that lake of fire that there for ever they might swallow up waters running with fire and there suffer the second death that is by dying the second death never to die 15. For whose name soever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into that lake of fire both by the just Judgement of God and by the heynousnesse of his own deservings V. The Questions arising in this Chapter THe chief Questions of this Chapter are these 1. Whether these thousand yeers severall times here mentioned are alwayes to be understood literally 2. Whether they be already finished 3. What year ought to be put for the beginning of them 4. What is to be understood by the first Resurrection 5. Who are to be understood by Gog and Magog 6. Whether the Martyrs with Christ shall reign here on Earth All which Questions I will bring into this one Whether there shall be any happinesse of the Church here upon earth before the last day and of what kinde it shall be This question I will handle somewhat more largely both by way of confutation and confirmation I will in the first place therefore by certain Classes or ranks of Arguments confirm the truth to be maintained herein After that I will confute the Objections of the adversary part I. The Confirmation of the Truth THere shall be three Classes or ranks of Arguments for the maintaining of this Truth which we comprehend in the following Thesis or Position The happy estate of the Church in this life shall consist of the Resurrection of the Martyrs and their kingdom here on earth of the freedome of the Church from the persecution of the enemies of the Gospel by an utter overthrow of them of a lasting peace which shall arise from thence of the encrease of the Church or the multitude of the believers by the conversion of the Iews and Nations not yet converted of the Reformation of Doctrine or a greater enlightment and life among all estates of men of the Majesty also and great glory of the Church and lastly of the sincere joy thereof Now this happinesse shall begin in that very year wherein it shall come to passe That the kingdom of that great Antichrist shall be destroyed and it shall last for a thousand years The truth hereof we will make good 1. Out of the Context and Coherence of this Chapter 2. Out of other sayings of the Scripture 3. Lastly by Arguments taken from reason and the consent and agreement of some holy and learned men The first Classis of Arguments From the Context of the Chapter we draw these Arguments THe first Argument is taken from the connexion of this Vision with the former which is described chap. 19. verse 19 20 21. For Iohn saith in the first verse of this Chapter And I saw that is Afterwards to wit After I had seen the Beast and the false Prophet cast into the Lake of fire Now lest any one should think that this casting of them in shall be in the end of the world Iohn doth presently adde and the rest were slain with the sword of him that sate on the horse and all the fowls were filled with their flesh From which words it is manifest That it is spoken here concerning the destruction of Antichrist and his followers which shall not happen in the last and Universall Judgement but shall be a particular Judgement by it self which is thus demonstrated The coming of Christ to the last Judgement shall at length happen after the Warre of Gog and Magog which is a distinct War from that which is described chap. 19. ver. 19. For the Warre of Gog shall be against the Saints having now enjoyed a long-lasting Peace But the Warre of Antichrist shall be against the Saints being now brought almost to nothing by some great persecution Again in this 20â—h Chap. vers. 10. it is said That the Devill should be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone after the Warre of Gog where the Beast and the false prophet * WAS which words have a plain respect to those chap. 19. ver. 20. These both the Beast and the false prophet were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with Brimstone The second Argument is from the Connexion of this Vision with the following which is set down in the 21 Chapter For saith Iohn in the first verse thereof After that I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth that is The thousand yeers being finished the Warre of Gog and Magog being ended and the execution of the last Judgement of which in the
or Dragon and his two companions the Beast and the false-Prophet Day and night Continually without intermission For ever and ever A description of all Eternity 11. And I saw a great white Throne By this Throne a cloud is understood and being termed a great Throne the Universall judgement is figured out and being also called a white one Truth Equity and Justice are thereby signified And one sitting thereon Namely Christ God and Man Now he is said to be seen to sit there that hereby we may be taught That he is prepared and ready to passe judgement From whose face Being both most refâ—lgent and full of austherity The Earth and Heaven fled away That is the fashion of this world passed away and was consumed with fire which went before this Judge and the Creatures the Inhabitants of earth and heaven did all tremble at the sight of him And there was found no place for him By reason of the resplendenâ—y and Majesty of the Judge which no creature could endure without being changed into some other state and condition Therefore there shall be an Universall change of the whole world in that Judgement day 12. And I saw the dead That is Those who had been dead but were now raised and restored unto life Small and great A Dichotomy or division naturally to be understood in regard of quantity morally in regard of quality or dignity So that all must be placed before the Tribunall of Christ Standing before God As expecting his definitive sentence And the Books were opened Books not devised or written by any other then by every one in his own private conscience dictated according to his severall thoughts words and deeds These Books therefore thus written have hitherto been reserved shut up and not taken notice of as it were in some private closet or place of account But now they are opened so that they may be plainly read by every particular man And another book was opened That onely book written by God himself Which is the book of Life That is The secret and hidden Decree of God concerning our Election which there shall in publike be exhibited and made manifest Now it is called The book of Life because therein God hath as it were set down the names of them who through his grace and favour shall become heirs of eternall life Compare Luke 10.20 And the dead were judged A definitive sentence passing upon all acquitting some and condemning others Out of those things which were written in the Book To wit In the books of mens consciences Now these books shall be opened after a severall manner For the books of the Consciences of godly men shall not be so opened that their sinnes shall rise up in judgement against them for in this respect they are still sealed up but they shall be so opened that they may read indeed their sinnes there many and gâ—eat ones but so as they are covered by Christ and the power of them more and more weakened by the Spirit of Christ through repentance and the study of good works Therefore the godly shall reade in their conscience the justice of Christ covering their sinnes and through him bringing forth good works But the condition of the ungodly shall be farre otherwise For they shall read in their consciences their sinnes not pardoned by Christ According to their works Which shall give testimony either of their faith in Christ or else of their impiety and unbeleef 13. And. Tâ—ansitively for After that that is After the sentence of the Judge now passed and published The sea gave up her dead that were in it Bâ—ing drowned or devoured of fiâ—nes And death That is The Fire Aire and Beast of the Earth and Fowls yeelded up their dead which had not been buâ—yed And Hell That is The Grave In these words then is contained partly a description of the generall Resurrection partly a distribution of the bodies of them that were dead into three sorts One of them that were drowned in the Sea Another of those which were not drowned in the Sea but being dead had no buriall as being brought to ashes either by the fire or aire or else devoured by beasts of the earth or by flying fowls A third sort of those who were laid in their graves Gave up their dead By the command and appointment of God Which were in them The very same and not others the same in number And they were judged every man Not any one being excepted According to their works So that no man shall have cause to complain of any injury done unto him 14. And death And for But adversatively Death that is some and indeed most of the dead but not buryed And Hell The Grave which is here put for them that were buryed therein And again not all the buryed are here to be understood but some and indeed most Now by Death and Hell may be understood men deserving both Were cast into the lake of fire That is made subject and slaves to eternall damnation so that the Saints for the time to come need not stand in any danger or fear of them Which is the second Death Or Eternall This Relative Which may either be referred to the word Lake or else may be taken collectively In the former acception the Lake is called the second death that is a signe or Symbol of the second or eternall death In the latter the judgement of condemnation committed to execution is called the second death Now this is called the second death because the bodies and souls of the damned do in very deed dye twice For the body dyeth both when it is separated from the soul and also when being again joyned to the body it is seperated from God And the soul dyeth both when in this life it separateth it self from God by sinne and when after this life it is separated from God by everlasting punishment Lastly This punishment is called Death because it taketh away the life of grace and glory with which if the life of nature be compared it is rather to be called death then life 15. And whosoever was not found And for For a copulative particle for a declarative Finding is here applyed to God by an {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or by attributing of humane actions passions and affections to the unlimited power and unsearchable operations of the Deity Written in the book of Life Both in the former book as well through the love and election of God as in the latter by faith hope and charity Was cast into the lake of fire Through the just judgement of God and by his own default 2. A Logicall-Theologicall Analysis This Chapter is divided into five parts I. THe Description of the Angel Vers. 1. II. The Effects or operations of the Angel that is what the Angel did In part of the 1. Verse 2.3 III. The happy estate of the Church which followed upon what the Angel had effected In part of the 2 3 4 5
other reformation ought to be expected The Antecedent may be proved from hence because the Doctrine of the Fundamentalls of our Salvation is proposed so that it cannot be done more cleerly or with greater light Answ. The great Reformation which we declare shall come to passe shall concerne matter of Life as well as Doctrine As for matter of Doctrine the foundation thereof shall remain But as for those infinite contentions whereby the Body of Christ is torn in pieces an end shall be put unto them Again many places of Scripture whose expositions have hitherto troubled the most learned men shall more cleerly and better be understood As for matter of life what should I say The matter it selfe speaks loud enough that in the whole course of our lives as good and as great as we are we have little or no Divinity at all There is great need therefore of a Reformation XXXVI Object It was an ancient Distinction that the kingdome of God is either of Power Grace or Glery But this Distinction is taken away by this Millenary so much pleaded for because it cannot be referred either to the Kingdom of Grace or to the Kingdome of Glory Answ. It belongs to the Kingdome of Grace which doth consist of divers degrees Neither is this opinion any way prejudiced because in the former discourse I have sometimes made mention of glory and Majesty as part of the happinesse of this Millenary For this glory is only inchoative or in it's beginning and shall be broken off by the War of Gog and Magog But the Glory of the Life Eternall is perfect and never at all to be interrupted V. The Doctrines arising out of this Chapter 1. According to the Order of the Heads in the Catechisms I. THe XI and XII Articles of the Creed concerning the resurrection of the flesh as also concerning the last Iudgement and eternall life are treated of II. The first and third precepts of the Decalogue or Tenne Commandments are here illustrated in the 4 verse where mention is made of Godly Confessors who worshipped not the Image of the Beast III. The second and sixth Petitions of the Lords Prayer may be explained out of this Chapter 2. According to the Order of Common-places This Chapter makes mention of Gods Providence of Angels of Predestination of the Church and it 's enemies of Martyrdome of the Resurrection of the flesh of the last Iudgement of Life and Death Eternall 3. Doctrines out of the severall Verses Vers. 1. 1. God instructeth men sometimes and teacheth them extraordinarily by Visions as also by divine Extasies or Raptures 2. The Angels are ministring Spritis who receive their commands at God's hands 3. Good Angels are endowed with great power and strength Vers. 2. 1. Good Angels have power over evill Angels or Spirits 2. The Devill is stronge and crafty as being both a Dragon and a Serpent 3. The onely and continuall work of the Devill is to calumniate and falsly accuse both God and Man and to endeavour the hinderance of the Glory of the one and the Salvation of the other 4. The Militant Church hath severall and differing times here on earth namely both of oppression and refreshment after the divers degrees thereof according to the dispensation and good pleasure of God Vers. 3. 1. The Devill is bound and tyed up by the reines of God's Providence 2. The Devill is the author of the generall seduction of mankinde 3. Warres shall cease for a thousand years 4. The Warre which shall begin after these thousand yeers shall not last long Vers. 4. 1. Christ is a Iudge appointed by God to whom the holy Angels are joyned as Assessors or inferiour Iudges 2. The Professors of the Gospel are hated in the sight of the world 3. Constancy is required in the Profession of the Truth 4. They are Idolators who worship Antichrist and follow his doctrine 5 The Martyrs shall reign with Christ for a thousand years in the Militant Church Vers. 5. 1. The generall resurrection shall be in the end of the world 2. The first resurrection and particular of the Martyrs is the proeme unto the second or universall resurrection Vers. 6. 1. As the children of God in this life have one above another prerogatives of gifts works and sufferings so shall they also have prerogatives of blessings both in this life and in that also which shall be hereafter 2. The common happpnesse of the godly among other things consists in this that the second death hath no power over them 3. We must certainly resolve that there is a second or eternall Death 4. Though all Christians are Kings and Priests yet in a morâ— speciall manner the Martyrs raised at the beginning of these thousand years shall be Kings and Priests in the Militant Church Vers. 7. 1. The happynesse of the Church which shall continue for theâ—â—thousand years must not be confounded withâ— or mistaken for the happynesse of life eternall 2. Satan can do nothing except by Gods leave he be let loose out of his prison 3. God alone can restrain Satan as if he had him shut up in some prison Vers. 8. 1. Satan when soever he gains power playes over his old pranks again 2. Satan is delighted with the shedding of mans bloud especially of the Godly and therefore useth to seduce and entice men to Warre 3. Whatsoever is said in the Old Testament of Gog and Magog is to be understood partly literally partly typically 4. The Enemies of the Church are in number many Vers. 9. 1. Men seduced by the Devill set slip no occasion so watchfull herein they are of persecuting the Godly 2. The Churâ—h is the beloved City of God 3. It is the duty of Christians continually to be exercised in Christ's warfare 4. God executes wonderfull judgements against the enemies of his Church Vers. 10. 1. The Devill and his Instruments are cast into Hell and shall be tormented there for ever 2. Eternity is nothing else then a continuation of Age to Age for ever 3. Hell is a place full of horrour Vers. 11. 1. The Mâ—jesty of Christ coming to Iudgement shall be very great 2. Heaven and Earth in the day of the last Judgement shall passe away in respect of the fashion of this world Vers. 12. and 13. 1. The last resurrection shall be universall 2. Men in the last Judgement shall be judged according to their works 3. The Conscience of a man is like a book in which all his thoughts words and deeds are as it were set down 4. The book of life or Predestination shall be opened in the last Judgement for then shall it appear plainly who are the Elect and who the reprobate who have truely beleeved in Christ who hypocritically who have truely worshipped God who according to appearance onely 5. The last Judgement shall be universall infallible and just Vniversall because it shall be of the dead and living of great and small Infallible because God is all-knowing and hath
THE BELOVED CITY OR THE SAINTS REIGN ON EARTH A THOVSAND YEARES Asserted and Illustrated from LXV places of Holy Scripture Besides the judgement of Holy Learned men both at home and abroad and also Reason it selfe Likewise XXXV Objections against this Truth are here answered Written in Latine by Ioan. Henr. Alstedius Professor of the University of Herborne Faithfully Englished With some occasionall Notes And the Judgement herein not onely of Tycho Brabe and Carol â—â—â—â—ltus but also of some of our owne famous Divines Si aqua strangulat quid insuper bibendum est M. Antonin. Imp. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Lib. 4. Sect. 17. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Could he say of Athens Thou louely City of Cecâ—ops And shalt not thou say of the CHVRCH OF CHRIST Thou Lovely City of GOD Apoc. xx 9. LONDON Printed in the yeare of the last expectation of the SAINTS M.DC.XLIII To the Right VVorshipfull Sir Iohn Cordwell Knight and Alderman Master of the Company of the Mercers Mr. Lybbe Chapman Surveyor Captaine Thomas Chambrelan Mr. George Burrish Wardens And to the Worshipfull the Assistants and Communalty of the same Antient and flourishing Society of MERCERS in the Famous City of London RIGHT WORSHIPFVL MY ordinary employment being of late for some time interrupted and the usuall course of my studies not so much diverted as quite stopt by the late generall and miserable distractions of the Kingdome and especially of the place I live in I bethought my selfe of some meanes whereby I might mitigate my apprehension of the miseries issuing from these present distempers When I thinke God so directing it this Treatise with some others of the same nature came to my hands The Author is of as generall repute among us for learning as any late Writer we have received from beyond the Seas these many yeares and the Worke is an Explanation of the xx Chapter of the Revelation The Subject thereof is The assertion of the Glorious Kingdome of Christ here on earth a matter no doubt of great comfort and consolation to the Church of God And as I am not ignorant that Apocalypticall Discourses in generall are liable to many censures and that this Divine Prophecy it selfe is as yet a sealed book in so much that the great Calvin was forced to acknowledge if the reportes wrong him not that he knew not what so difficult and obscure a Writer as the Author thereof meant so I am sure this part thereof hath beene subject to most divers and contrary interpretations that what Hierome saith of the whole may well be said of this passage thereof So many words so many mysteries Yet receiving my selfe much satisfaction and seâ—lednesse of mind from this exposition thereof I thought that Gods people also might reape some benefit and fruit thereby And this is the maine cause that I have made it publique Now that I have inscribed it onto Your Names I have dealâ— but right and 〈◊〉 therein For owing the first groundes and foundation of my studies to Your large bounty and benevolence I must acknowledge the first fruites thereof communicated abroad and indeed I ever intended them so whatsoever they had been to be Yours by â— due claime and challenge of them The Persians in whose Schooles gratitude was taught as Letters and Arts in ours whose * Laws punished the contrary almost as deepe as wee doe Homicide had an Order in their * Colledges which were for the education of them whose service was appointed for the King that after their greatest promotions and abilities in publick attendance they were to acknowledge all as received from the Classis of their first institution My naturall propension to thankfulnesse makes me confesse I owe all that I am in good letters I best know how little that is to the foundation I laid thereof in Your excellent Seminary of learning and to your extraordinary favour and encouragement to good studies and endeavours I pray God lead You alwaies along by the hand in all Your affaires and occasions I am Your very respectfull servant to be commanded William Burton To those who shall light upon this Booke TO prefix a word or two by way of preface may concerne thee Reader perhaps as well as my selfe That I might not therefore be censured for the onely idle person in these busie times in which GOD in Mercy looke upon us every man either with his Sword or Pen strives to make the noise and tumult greater I have thrust out this booke into the publique in the generall crowd of those many but with expectation of a better blessing I hope from God then some of them can looke for And although I am not ignorant that there are a generation of men in the world 〈…〉 alabaster â—â—guent is plenns putere videtur a 〈…〉 having tâ—eir understanding corrupted by their fancy can relish and judge aright of nothing yet so arrogant and self-conceited that they 〈…〉 exterminate all learning and kno 〈…〉 â—â—â—eth not just with their owne 〈…〉 humours with farre more super 〈…〉 Plato ejected Homer out of his Common-wealth Sed quid suibus cum amaracino They love the miâ—e best Notwithstanding all this I say the generall welcome and long entertainment which the other learned workes of this same Authour have had in our Schooles as well as in those beyond the Seas where he professed with admirable applause seemed to me not to deny this piece an endenizing or freedome from some hands of a better note Yet perhaps if thou hadst any acquaintance with me thou wouldst wonder to see a subject of this nature to come forth into the light of learned men by my meanes and assistance True it is I have under my command some Discourses I will not say of greater consequence but I dare say that cost me greater labour and longer enquiry to which these times doe deny a propitious birth And having lost almost my employment for the time through the present distractions and my bookes and I being in a manner quite severed from one another I thought I could doe nothing better by way of lâ—ffning my apprehension of these publique calamities which Gods justice and our owne unthankfulnesse by repining at his Mercies have brought upon us I had no intent hereby to impose upon any one or abuse mens beliefe by forcing their assent to an Heresie condemned in the Church as some would perswade us so many ages agoe Yet I know well enough that nothing pleaseth the fancy and feedeth the humour of this age so much as novelties men no lesse inquiring now after new Doctrines and opinions then of old the Athenians did after new Deities {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} must I say to these I took not this paines for them Neither indeed do I my selfe goe about to assert or maintaine any un-grounded Doctrine knowing well that opinion that Holy Disease how great soever her admires and a betters are
6. Verses IV. The troubled State of the Church Vers. 7 8 9 10. V. The Description of the last judgement From the 11. Verseâ—â— the end Of the first Part. The Angel is described 1. From the Person imployed therein who is Iohn the Evangelist whose effect illustrated by the time added is expressed in these words After that I saw 2. From the proper Person or Subject An Angel 3. From the effect which is illustrated by the place Coming down from Heaven 4. From the double adjunct illustrated by a threefold similitude Having the kâ—y of the bottomelesse pit and a great chain in his hand Of the second Part. Five effects of this Angel are recited 1. The first is illustrated by an allegoricall description of the object thus And he laid hold on the Dragon that old Serpent which is the Devill and Satan The second is illustrated by the circumstance of time And he bound him for 1000. years 3. 4. 5. The other three are set down with a manifestation of the end for which this was done And cast him into the bottomelesse pit and shut him up and set a seal upon him that he should deceive the nations no more Of the third Part. The happy estate of this Church hereon Earth is either common or proper The common estate of the Church is that of all the godly then living in these words That he should not seduce them any more And it is discribed thus 1. From the extent of the Subject Thaâ— he might not seduce the Nations 2. From the adjunct of time Till the thousand yâ—â—rs should be fulfilled 3. From the destructive cause of their felicity And after that he must be loosed Now as well the efficient cause of the corruption of this felicity is declared namely The decree of God He must be loosed As the manner and forme Be loosed And lastly the adjunct of time For a little season The Proper estate of the Church is that of the Martyr and is consists of their Resurrection and Kingdom The Resurrection of the Martyrs is described 1. From the Person imployed Then I saw 2. From the impulsive procuring cause to wit the Judgement of those heavenly powers which is illustrated from an adjunct and effect metaphoricall thus Thrones and they sate upon them and judgement was given unto them 3. From the recipient subjects which is described from the adjunct passions as also from the its effects And the souls of them who were beheaded for c. The procuring cause also of these passions or sufferings is declared to wit Their confessing of Christ and their refusing of Idolatry 4. From the manner of their Resurrection And they lived agaiâ— The Kingdom of the Martyrs is described from the effect connâ—â— and adjunct time And thâ—y reigned with Christ for a thousand years The Resurrection of the Martyrs is again described 1. From the unlike condition of others But the rest of the dead lived not again untill c. 2. From it's Epithite This is the first Resurrection 3. From four adjunctâ— of which the first second and fourth are peculiar the third common For the Martyrs are described from their particular happynesse Blessed From their particular holinesse And holy From their holy security On such the second death hath no power From the dignity of their Priesthood But they shall be Priests Their Kingdom with the durance thereof is the second time also set down in the 6. Verse Of the fourth Part. The happy estate of the Church shall be troubled by the extreme persecution of the wicked that is to say by the warre of Gog and Magog the cause whereof and the event is described The cause is as well efficient as formal The efficient is either principall The seducing of the Devill or instrumentall The wicked Nations The seducing of the Devill is described 1. From the time When the thousand years shall be finished 2. From the permissive cause Satan shall be loosed out of his prison For he shall be let loose by the Angel God permitting and commanding it 3. From the manner and end And he shall go forth that he may deceive the Nations and gather them to battlâ— The wicked Nations are described 1. From the subject place The Nations which are in the four corners of the earth 2. From the comparison with their like Gog and Magog 3. From the adjunct That he might gather them to battle 4. From the multitude added which is set forth and illustrated by a simile whose number is as the sand of the Sea 5. From a double effect And they came up on one breadth of the earth and encompassed c. The event of this warre of Gog and Magog is in respect 1. Of the Nations But fire came down from heaven 2. Of the Devill whose action is described And the Devill who seduced them and his passion He was cast into the Lake And this punishment is described from his company Where the Beast and the false prophet are And from the durance of time added And they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever Of the fifth Part. The last Judgement is described 1. From the efficient cause which is the Iudge who is described partly from the limited place to wit The Cloude Then I saw a Throne c. partly from adjunct to wit His Majestie And one sitting thereon before whom the Earth and the Heaven fled away 2. From the Object which are the guilty or the persons to be judged They are described both from their past condition The dead both small and great as also from their present state Standing in the sight of God as likewise from their future condition And they were judged From a tripartite distribution also from the distinct places And the sea gave up no dead and death and helâ—gave up their dead which were in them 3. From the Rule observed in the Judgement thereafter as their works are According to their works This rule is declared from the infallibility thereof which is signified by the books that is the Consciences of men And the books were opâ—ned And by the Book of life also And another book was opened 4. From the execution of the sentence of which one part here is onely mentioned namely the casting of the wicked into the Lake of fire Vers. 14. the other is related in the following chapter Now this casting into the Lake is described partly from what went before And Death and Hell Partly from the forme and manner of it Were cast into the lake of fire which is the second Death And partly also from the impulsive cause And whose names were not found in the book of life were cast into the lake of fire If you like better of it divide this Chapter into four particular Visions Of which the 1. Is concerning the Angel Vers. 1.2.3 2. Is concerning the State of the Church here on Earth as well In a most happy condition Verse 3 4 5 6. As in a most afflicted
〈◊〉 for ever Here again is promised the conversion of the Jews which alike belongs to the happy condition of the Church of the New Testament The 26 place is Ezek. 36.26 and the following Where the Prophet saith that it should come to passe That God would give them a new heart and put a new spirit within them By which words no doubt the conversion of the Jews is signified â— which having not been it remains it shall be The 37 place is Dan. 11.33 34. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many yet they shall fall by the sword and by flame by captivity and by spoil many dayes Now when they shall fall they shall be â—olpen by a little help This Prophesie is to be understood according to the letter of the affliction and deliverance of the Church in the time of Antiochus and the Maccabees typically and mystically of the affliction and deliverance of the Church under Antichrist Which deliverance indeed is part of the happinesse of the Church under the Gospel Now that Antiochus was a type of Antichrist appears by comparing Dan. 11.36 and 2 Thess. 24. The 38 place is Dan. 11.44 45. But rumors out of the East and out of the North shall trouble him Therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to make away many And he shall plant the Tabernacles of his Palace between the Seas in the glorious holy mountain yet he shall come to his end and noâ—e shall help him These three things are unfolded in this Prophesie 1. The Protasis or beginning of these tumults wherewith Iudea in old time and Europe at this day is most grievously afflicted 2. The Epitasis or busie part so wondrous full of troubles and contention 3. Lastly the Catastrophe or issue of these tumults so much desired and wished for by the Church How every one of these severally are fulfilled in Antiochus as a type of Antichrist it is nothing pertinent to our purpose to enquire Neither indeed is the matter so obscure or unknown Let us examine how they will suit with Antichrist The Protasis or first Act as they say is in these words At length rumors from the East and from the North shall trouble him The rumour from the East sounded loud in the year of Christ M. CCCC.LIII when Constantinople was taken also in the year M. CCCC.LXXXI when * Geduces the Bassa broke into Italy The same rumour was renewed when the House of Othoman having quite overthrown the Sultans power turned his Arms the second time upon Europe and taking a Belgradâ— and the Island b Rhodes began to invade the Territories of the Latine Church This rumor from the East was followed with a rumor from the North in the yeer of Christ * M.D.XVII and so forward The Epitasis or busie part is in these Therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to make away many And he shall plant the Tabernacles of his Palace between the Seas in the glorious holy mountain At this day Antichrist in the performance thereof goes on under full Sail wanting no favour of windes For after he was troubled with the rumor out of the North with great and high Spirit he assaulted all them who either began this rumour or since favoured it or do at this time any way cherish it Neither doth he slack in these his attempts for he hath destroyed and utterly made away with many of Gods people Moreover he hath planted the Tabernacles of his Palace between the Seas in the glorious holy mountain that is He hath propagated his Religion among those people who had a long time professed the purity of Religion But it is well that the Catastrophe or last act is not answerable to the Epitasis or middle part of the Tragedy This brave Planter in the midst of his Plantation will have some unlucky chance befall him For when he shall come to his end none shall help him On the sudden a tempest shall arise which shall bring shipwrack upon this bold Steers-man But see more of this in Conrodus Graserus his History of Antichrist The 39. place is Dan. 12.1 And at that time shall Michael stand up the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a Nation even to that same time and at that time thy people shall be delivered every one that shall be found Written in the book I interpret this prophesie of the last persecution or the warre of Gog and Magog which shall immediately go before the last Judgement I am perswaded hereto by these two Reasons 1. Because the time of this trouble is said to be such as hath not been * since there was a Nation Which Notâ— of time cannot agree with any persecution but that which was most grievous such as was that of Gog. 2. Because in the 2. verse of this Chapter after that time of trouble vers. 1. the Resurrection and the last Judgement are immediately treated of The 40 place is Dan. 12.11 12. And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away and the abomination that maketh desolate set up there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety dayes Blessed is he that waiteth and commeth to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty dayes Here these words But from the time c. are to be understood of the last destruction of the City Hierusalem by TITVS because then the daily sacrifice was taken away and the * abomination of desolation was set up as appears by comparing this place with the 9. chap. of Daniel vers. 26 27. Again propheticall dayes are here to be understood that is years Because these dayes are homogeneall or of the same kinde with the weeks chap. 9. But those weeks are propheticall therefore also these dayes Now Daniel carries us on to the end of the world by proposing two Periods or limited times of the New Testament and by joyning them to his seventy weeks in this manner The 70. weeks are terminated with the destruction of the City that is with the year of Christ 69. Here begins the Epocha or account of 1290 dayes that is of so many years So shall we come to the year of Christ a 1359. At which we must begin the Epoâ—â—â— of 1335 dayes or years And so we shall be brought to the yâ—â—â— of Christ b 2694. in which the Thousand years in the Revelation shall have end and they being ended the warre of Gog and Magog shall begin to which also the last Iudgement shall put an end See more in my Thesaurus Chronologicus pag. 51 c Compare also the Annotations of Lucas Osiander on Daniel 12. The 41 place is Hosâ— 1.11 Then shall the Children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together and appoint themselves as head and they shall come up out
Egyptian bondage Exod. 12. and 14. by the deliverance of Hierusalem from the siege of Sennacheri◠2 Kin. 19. by the deliverance from the hostile invasion of the Ethiopians under King Asa. 2 Chro. 14. by deliverance from the invasion of the Moabites and Ammonites under King Iehosaphat 2 Chron. 20. And lastly by deliverance from the oppression of Antiochus Epiphanes 1 Mac. 1. and following chapters Adde unto these divers examples of the Church of the N. T. which when it's condition hath been granted as desperate and quite lost hath had deliverance by the * unexpected handy-work of God See the Ecclesiasticall History at large From hence we may very well gather that the Church at this time oppressed on every hand and left destitute of all humane assistance shall by the power of God be asserted and vindicated when Antichrist in the full course and carrére of his happynesse shall little think of any such matter IV. The downfall of Antichrist and the binding of Satan for a thousand years do without any intermission meet together It is very probable therefore That the beginning of these thousand years is at hand For Antichrist at that very time wherein he shall make the greatest boast of his victories shall suddenly fall Revel. 18.7 8. V. The severall Phaenomena or Apparitions in the Heavens namely new Starres and Cometes also Earthquakes and the like taken notice of in these latter times do without doubt portend and manifestly foretell some notable and extraordinary change VI The Period or limited time for the Kingdom of Antichrist to continue is almost expired and at an end as appears by the Revelation and History VII Daniel Chap. 12. declares an end of his prophesie when he expressely sets down that 2625. years shall be finished after the end of his Lxx. Weeks that is from the year of Christ 69. which years if they be added to the other the sum of 2694. years is made up In which current of time all things shall happen out which are foretold except the last Judgement and what follows thereon Wherefore if from 2694. years 1000 be subducted we shall come by the year of Christ 1694. In this year then or sooner our THOUSAND years shall take their beginning The consent of Godly and learned Men IN the forefront we place the fourth book of Esdras For there many passages occurre concerning the conversion of the Jews and the deliverance of the Church of the N. T. from Antichrist Especially That is a notable place Chap. 13.39 40. And whereas thou sawest that he gathered another peaceable multitude unto him Those are tenne Tribes which were * carried away prisoners out of their own Land in the time of Hoshea the King What the same Author writes concerning the Eagle and Lion is severally expounded by severall interpreters Out of the Sibylls also some things are brought about the downfall of Antichrist and the happy estate which the world shall enjoy after that shall come to passe Very much mention is made of that Rome shall become a street or high way All the Fathers were of this opinion that Elias should come and restore all things Some as you may see in Alfonsus Conradus in his Commentary on the Revelation between the coming of Christ in the flesh and his coming in Majesty do maintain a certain middle coming which they call his coming in the power and effiency of his Spirit to destroy the great Antichrist to reform his Church This coming they say shall be in the end of the sixth Millenary or 1000 years of which coming they make Enoch and Elias the forerunners They say that Antichrist shall be destroyed by their preaching and his Kingdom abolished After whose downfall peace shall be granted to the Church and Satan shall be bound so that he shall not be able to disturbe the tranquillity thereof Now this peace and happy progresse of the Church they say shall last for the whole seventh Millenary till the last time of her troubles by the persecution of the Nations Gog and Magog because Satan who they say shall then be set at liberty shall stirre them up against the Godly From hence it appears That our opinion concerning these 1000 years is not new and unheard of Alfonsus Conradus of Mantua in his Commentary on the Revelation published at Basil. An. 1574. writeth as followeth IN his Preface This one thing perchance will offend the ears of some because I seem to promise a more plentifull peace to the Church then that likenesse of the Crosse will allow of to which in this world it must be made conformable to Christ it's head But let them bethink themselves I entreat them that this is not so contrary to the Scripture that it should be objected against me or laid to my charge as fit to be reckoned in the number of those which are termed either impious or absurd Especially when as I cannot perceive by what means that happinesse which Iohn writes the Church shall enjoy Satan being bound can be made good except we acknowledge some rest of the Church her enemies being overthrown Which I think indeed ever happened as often as the enemies of God's people have been removed out of the way Now because the enemy which Iohn tells us shall be taken away is more dangerous then all that ever yet infested God's people it ought not to seem strange to any one if he being once overcome the Church enjoy a more plentifull peace then usually Vpon the 20. Chap. of the Revel. Vers. 1. God being about to bestow a more plentifull peace upon his Church then hitherto he had granted to it it sufficeth him not to have removed out of the way the Beast and those Kings of the Earth with a horrible slaughter who favouring the Beast had wholly disturbed his Churche's peace except also he restrain Satan the beginner of all these mischiefs So that he may not any more raise those usuall contentions and strife among men Wherefore the Angel comes down from Heaven who repressing the fury of Satan shuts him up in the bottomelesse pit and there forces him to remain so long as he pleases not to have the peace of the Church to be taken away And a little after Now he binds him and shuts him up into the bottomelesse pit for a thousand years that is for that whole time wherein God hath determined that the peace of his Church shall not be disturbed by Satan See more there to this purpose Lucas Osiander upon Daniel 12. I think the end of these years will fall in with that time in which the Popedome of Rome shall bodily be overturned although in some mens mindes it shall hiddenly remain even untill the last day Matthew Cotterius in his continued and demonstrative Exposition of the Revelation upon the 20 Chap. Satan began to be tyed in bonds when the restored Truth of the Scriptures began to take place on earth the witnesses being
raised and the dark miste of lyes being dispelled Then shall Satan be bound for a thousand years which must be expired before he scatter new errours through the world and by them seduce the Nations This this is the imprisonment this is the liberty or setting free of Satan In the same place upon vers. 2. But when began Satan to be bound In the year 1517. when the witnesses were raised From that time ALL people generally have not drunk any new poyson of heresie which might weaken or overturn their faith In the same place To 1517. adde 1000. years So you shall make 2517. at which time Satan shall again draw the Nations into abominable heresies In this Exposition of Cotterius the thousand years are rightly urged according to the letter But his Epocha or beginning of his account is not well placed in the year 1517. For then began onely the praeludium or proeme of this Millenary Iohn Piscator in his Commentary on the Revelations The happynesse of the faithfull who shall live upon earth after the downfall of the Papacy is their security from the hostile invasions of the wicked for 1000 years In the same place The singular happynesse of the Martyrs of Christ who before these thousand years indured persecution is their Resurrection which shall be before the generall Resurrection and their reign in Heaven with Christ for a thousand years before the Resurrection of the rest In this Exposition the literall interpretation is rightly urged But that he sayes the Martyrs shall reign with Christ in Heaven for those thousand years cannot be proved out of the Text Nay the contrary may thence be proved because the Resurrection of the Martyrs is part of the happinesse of the Church here on Earth Again The Kingdom which is limited by a certain number of years cannot suite well with eternall life See also Revel. 5.10 where the Saints in Heaven among other things sing thus And we shall reign upon the Earth But moreover the same Iohn Piscator maintains this opinion of the thousand years in his German translation of the Bible and a little before his death he wrote a short Treatise Of the future happinesse of the Church in this life Out of which I have made use of many things which I have transcribed into this Meditation for that Treatise of his hath not as yet seen the light Many Writers of the former and this present Age have published many things concerning Elias the Artist who is to come Of the Lion of the North who is neer at hand Of a fourth Northern Monarchy Of a great Reformation Of the Conversion of the Jews and the like See Theophrastus Paracelsus Michael Sendivogius in his Treatise of Sulphur Stephanus Pannonius Of the circle of the Works and Iudgements of God where among other things he writs thus Yet it shall come to passe that the pure Gospel of God shall be preached to the Americans before the end of the world Again Nothing is more sure then that the Reformation of the East and South drawing on some famous Emperour whose types Constantine and Theodosius both entitled Great were shall openly shew himself and granting liberty of Religion to them who professe the name of the Holy Trinity shall do some great matter in the world for the glory of God for the building up of the Church and for the downfall of Antichrist In the same place The Eastern Christians fired with the zeal of Christ shall make their way into Asia it self and provoke the Jews to jealousie Rom. 11. And the spirituall Babylon shall be a pray unto all Nations In the same place A refining of the Souldiers of God whereof there is mention Zach. 13.8 that is temptations and tryalls shall go before this Reformation that the light of God may arise out of the Crosse of Christ This Treatise was published in the year 1608. Iohn Dobricius also in the year 1612. did set forth a notable book entitled {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that is The Interpreter of times wherein both out of the Holy Scripture and from the new Star which appeared in the year * DC.IV. and the great Conjunction of the Planets many things are discoursed of concerning the reformation and future happinesse of the Church Peter du Moulin in his French Book intituled Du Combat Christien that is The Chrictian Conflict pag. 256. This persecution is a cruell tempest which cannot last awayes Either it will take us out of the world or God will take it away from us Pag. 353. Every one hath but a short journey whereby he must come to God and the time is at hand that we must commit our bodies to the earth our Souls to God and to the Church peace and the blessing of God For it shall come to passe even in our times that God shall be glorified in the great Congregations Yea even in those places where are horrible ruines the Word of God shall â—ound forth and God shall afford us matter of praise and thanksgiving Pag. 450. After that God shall have shewn us his deliverances on earth he will also shew us his riches in Heaven A CONFUTATION Of the Objections I. Object IS taken out of Matth. 24.14 If after the Gospel preached in all the world the end of all things shall come that happinesse of the Church in this world shall not happen out between the end thereof and the preaching of the Gospel For the Gospel is already preached through the whole earth I answer 1. The Consequence is to be denyed for although this happynesse do come between yet it hinders not but that the end of the world should come after the Gospel preached over the whole earth Secondly The pro-syllogisme is to be denyed because the Gospel is not already preached over the whole earth II. Object Is taken from Matth. 24.29 30. If presently after the destruction of Hierusalem Christ shall come to Judgement then this happinesse of the Church shall not be before his coming to Judgement Answ. The matter it self speaks and experience witnesseth that this word Immediately or Presently is not here properly or simply to be understood but hyperbolically and according to what went before namely in relation to the foregoing Prophesie concerning the overthrow of the Iews which they were to receive by the destruction of Hierusalem So that this is the meaning that between this desolation of Hierusalem and the coming of Christ the Iews should receive no other overthrow III. Object Is out of the same Chapter vers. 37 38 39. If a little before the coming of Christ to Judgement the State and condition of the world shall be such as it was in the time of Noâ—h before the Deluge and that such a state of things is to be seen at this day It may be hence gathered that such a condition of the Church as is here described shall not happen out before the coming of
chosen his own from Eternity The Omnisciency or all-knowledge of God is signified by the books in which the works of every particular man are written His Election is signified by the book of life Iust because God shall judge according to every mans works without acceptance of persons 6. God knoweth in what place the particular body of every dead man is reserved Vers. 14.15 1. Hell is a place full of horrour 2. Reprobation from life eternall is nothing else but a not-writing in the book of life Election to eternall life is a writing of our names in the book of Life An Appendix BEcause in the handling of this Chapter I proposed to my self not onely to maintain that which mine own Conscience witnessed with me to be true but withall to furnish these times also with this not the least Consolation it was needfull for me to use this Method which in the Explanation of holy Scripture without doubt exceeds all others It will not be amisse therefore if I set down this Method in the following Table In every Chapter yea Verse of holy Scripture there are to be considered The Prolegomena or Praecognita that is the foregoing matter or things to be known before hand and they are either of the Author and authority thereof Subject or matter Connexion or Coherence The Text it self in which are to be considered the Argument or Summe thereof Analysis or Resolution either Philologically and Theologically or Logically and Theologically Paraphrase or larger upholding thereof Questions either Fundamentall proper to that place and necessarily arising or Lesse principall common with other places and honorary or accessory Doctrines according to The order of the Heads in the Catechisme Common Places The order of the Context Of these the Argument Paraphrase and Doctrines belong to the handling of the sacred Text in the way of Preaching the Analysis or Questions to the Scholasticall part of Divinity Glory be to God alone FINIS Testimonies concerning this worke of Alstedius Dr. Hukewill in his Apology c. lib. 4. cap. 12.5.6 ALstedius a famous Professour at Herborne in his Diatribe dâ— mille annis Apocalypticis published about two yeares since is of this opinion as also that the thousand years mentionâ—d in the 20. of the Revel. during which time Satan should be bound is yet to come which assertion he first builds upon a litterall interpretation of the number in as much as it is five severall times repeated within the compasse of seven verses and the foure last with a special article added {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the thousand yearâ—s Secondly upon a supposition that Satan as yet hath not been bound up a thousand yeares together since the delivery of that Prophecie by the Angell to St. Iohn and by him to the Church considering that ever since much and grosse idolatrie hath raigned among the Pagans obstinate blindenesse among the Iewes since the rising of Mahomet pittyfull defection seduction among the Saracens strang errors aâ—d heresies sects and schisms among the Christians and since the rising of Antichrist wonderfull ignorance supâ—rstition and persecution of the â—aints together with a generall prophanesse and corruption in matter of manners all which saith he cannot stand with the binding up of Sathan the principall actor of all these for a thousand yeares and consequently that the performance of that promise is yet to be expected and for confirmation of this opinion though the booke it selfe be but little he alleadgeth 66. passages of Scripture inforceth many reasons answereth 36. Objections pâ—oduceth the testimonies of sundry learned men either expresly defending it or at least wise favouring â—t And they are Iustus Heurnius Ioannes Keplerus Petrus Curaeus Ioannes Dâ—bricus Ioannes Piscator Petrus Molinaeus Ioannes Ferus Seraph Firmianus Remalcus dâ— Vaulx Martinus Cellarius vid apud Alstâ—dium Christoph Bâ—soldus Cael Sec. Curio Alf. Con Mantuanus Lucas Osiander Matthaeus Cotterias Michael Sâ—ndivogaâ—â— Stephanus Pan 〈…〉 Quosâ—mnes suâ—si 〈…〉 The Authâ—r of a book latâ—ly published in latine and inscribed Nuncius Prophâ—icus who in modesty conceales his name pag. 34.42 Diatribe de mille â—nnis Apâ—caâ— quem tractatum c. thâ—t is the treatise of Alstedium concerniâ—g the thousand yeares in the Revelation â— estâ—eme above the value of gold and precious stones it being full of secret wisedome And pag. 42 Alsâ—ed in his tâ—uely golden little work of the thâ—usand yeares in the Apâ—calypse Which work though small yet full of great sedulâ—tie takes away all scruple of doubt herein And it is much to be deâ—ired that some one or other that delights himselfe in Theologicall misteries so weâ— worthy of our knowledge would translate it out of the Latine and make it speak English {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Thou wilt straightway thinke Reader that this was no small incitemeâ—t to me to goe on with this Translation having before the edition of this booke taken it into mine hands Testimonies concerning the Opinion it selfe approved by some famous English Divines And first Dr. Hâ—kewill of Oxford in his Book intituled An Apology of the power and providence of God in the governement of the world Lib. 6. Cap. 12. v. 6. AS wee neede not doubt that Antichrist is long â—ince come into the world so many passages of holy Scripture and testimonies of learned men make us more then hope that notwithstanding his late victories and triumphs his downefall is not farre off and that thereupon the Church of Christ shall flourish more in peace and power in doctrine and manners in lustre and glory then hitherto at any time in former ages it hath done To instance in all the passages in Scripture which to this purpose are alleadged would prove I doubt me tedious and in some perchance impertinent mine endeavour then shall be to pick out the choisest and among them specially those which seeme to point at a fuller calling as well of the Gentiles as the Iews then heretofore hath been The particular places for brevitie I have set downe which Reader pâ—ruse at thy leasure Psal. 22.27 Esay 2.2 Matth. 24.14 Rom. 52.26 2. Cor. 3.15 Micahâ— 3 Esay 30.26 and 54.11 But you shall have them all in this treatise The Doctor goes on ANd all this peace â—nd glory shall arise from the subversion of Rome and Antichrist aâ—d his adherents so evidenâ—ly described in the 14.18 and 19. of the Revelation that the very Iesuits themselves Ribera and Vegas cannot possibly devise any jugling conveyance how to shift iâ— off And if for the effecting of this great worke we should grant that which all antiquity both Iewish and Christian much beates upoâ— that Elias shall come and restore all things I cannot see what great absurdity can from thence be inferreâ— or what Article of Christian faith it impâ—gneth Indeed our Saviour telleth his Disciples that Elias was then come meaning Iohn the Baptist whom he tearâ—eth Eâ—ias in regard of his zeale