Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	judge_v	open_v	see_v	2,927	5	3.9041	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A75736	The work of the age: or, the sealed prophecies of Daniel opened and applied. VVherein is plainly proved that all the governments in the world, except the government of Christ, are but images, or parts of Nebuchadnezzars image, and shall be suddenly broken in pieces by the little stone cut out of the mountain without hand: together with the means how Christ will effect all this. Shewing also that image-government, and image-worship have always been companions. Explaining likewise Daniels mystical numbers, and discovering some misprisions about the little horn, both in the translation and application of the same. Amending sundry places in our common translation, and clearing some chronological points from the common errours. / By William Aspinwall.	Aspinwall, William, fl. 1648-1662.	1655 (1655)	Wing A4010; Thomason E832_1; ESTC R207510	48,246	60

open Seals Wherefore since the wisdome of God saw it not good to set Looks upon Prophecies but Seals and since none hath prevailed nor was judged worthy to open these Sealed Books but the Lamb Let us wa●t with faith and patience till Christ open the Book and then wee shall see him delineate the persons and things intended in the Actings of his providence And so doing wee shall neither be deceived our selves nor mis-lead others For which end it is that I have thus opened my self in these poor broken expressions ere I proceed to the unfolding of Daniels Prophecies Intending to speak briefly to those Prophecies only which are already accomplished or in accomplishing and shall proceed no further than Christ hath gone before mee in the Actings of his Providence This being premised I shall briefly come to speak of those Prophecies which are unsealed and first of this Dream or Vision of Nebuchadnezzer The Explication Dan. 2. 31. 31. Vers One great Image It is very remarkable that in this Dream God represents to Nebuchadnezzar the true and proper nature of all earthly formes of Government which should be in the world during the time of the four great Monarchies after Nebuchadnezzar had demolished that Government which was of Christs own institution untill the time that he would restore the same and deliver the Kingdome and greatnesse thereof unto the Saints of the most high under the representation of an h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Signifies any form or figure which we make or fancy to our selves An invention of our own or according to our own minds IMAGE even the Image of a Man Which doth denote unto us thus much that all the governments instituted and erected in the world under these four Monarchies by men or by humane policy ever since the Government of Christ● own institution was laid aside even to the time of the i Acts 3. 21. restitution thereof are in Gods account but very Images or all of them put together do but make up this one Image as it is here called And though I cannot say these Images and Formes of Government of mens devising are those Images forbidden in the second command for the word is not the same nor do civil formes of Government imediatly concern the worship of God yet this is observable that in the next chapter Nebuchadnezzar frames to himself a Golden Image for divine worship Semblable thereunto Which hath ever since been the wofull Concomitant and bitter fruit or result of such ●mage Government Wherefore Paul taking notice hereof that it hath been the constant practise of Gentile Nations to modle their Divine Worship and Church Administrations according to the form of their Civil Governments he advertiseth the Romans not to be conformed to the world Rom. 12. 2. His meaning is as Mr. Cotton hath often observed he would not have the Saints in Rome to modle their Churches and Church-Administrations according to the Pattern of the Roman Civil Power This IMAGE is here called k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one Image although it comprehended all the Four great Monarchies and Kingdoms under it To shew that all of them are but parts of this one Image And their Governments are but Image-Government Now the Characters of this IMAGE are these four 1 It was so great to wit it comprehended the Four Monarchies or Kingdoms as it is interpreted Verse thirty eight thirty nine forty 2 It is described by the outward Pomp and Splendor not only of the Head but all the parts of it his splendor or brightness excellent And this is a common Character of all the Four Monarchies and Kingdoms under them they all affect worldly pomp and glory 3 It is said to stand before him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which imports the acceptance that this Image-Government found in the hearts of all the Kings and Monarchs And so the word is used Psal 1. 5. to stand with acceptance And this shews the complacency and content they take both in their pomp and splendor and in the Government new Modelled by them This is the Third Character 4 This Image is described by the Tyrannical spirit that appears in all of them from the first to the last from the highest to the lowest His visage l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 terrible dreadful or formidable This is not here put for a Character of the Little Horn Dan. 7. but for a common Character of the great IMAGE and all the Four Monarchies comprized therein and the several Kingdoms appertaining thereunto and this ever hath been and ever will be the close of all Image-Government of mens devising Terrour and Tyranny are indelible and inseparable Characters of all worldly Governments whatsoever Pleasing indeed are their new devised Governments to themselves as was shewed before else they would not indure that they should stand before them But terrible dreadful and tyrannical are they to others that cannot comply with them nor fall down and worship them These are the Four Characters which are common to all the Four Monarchies and the parts thereof and they are true of the whole Image and every part thereof The next thing remarkable in this IMAGE or Image-Government Vers 32. is the progress they make from evil to worse they are always best at first At first they are good gold they themselves pretend so and many others think so And comparatively they may be called good gold because their Actions at their first rising are more just and righteous than afterwards they prove to be A kinde of necessity putting them upon it that they may ingratiate themselves and their New Image with the people And it is most natural that the Head which is the most noble part should first be brought forth but this continues not long The durance of the Babylonian Monarchy or head of Gold was but seventy years the special Character of this Monarchy is the unity of it in which respect it is called the Head which is but one In the next place it degenerates from Gold to Silver which is a Mettal of a baser alloy and this is interpreted vers 39. of another Kingdom and Government succeeding the Babylonian and inferiour to it This Government for the nature was meaner and baser more formidable and obnoxious to the Church of Christ but of longer durance and so was the Persian Monarchy The Character of this Monarchy is Union and Division together it is one Breast but two Arms Medes and Persians Dan. 6. 8. Thirdly from Silver it becomes Brass which shews the worsness of the Third or Graecian Monarchy which more bitterly infested the Jews with Warres and set up the abomination of desolation as Daniel shews at large in his eighth Chapter The division of this Monarchy is expressed when he saith his Thigh of Brass He doth not say thighes of Brass for that would imply only a two-fold division of Alexanders Successors which was Four-fold Dan. 8. 22. but he saith its thigh of brass

stone but not with hands was cut out and it smote the Image upon his feet of iron and clay and brake them in peeces 35 Then were broken in peeces as one the iron the clay the brass the silver and the gold and they became as the chaffe of the Summer threshing-floors and the wind carried them away that no place of them was found and the stone that smote the Image became a great Mountain and filled all the earth 36 This is the Dream and wee will tell the interpretation thereof before the King 37 Thou O King art a King of Kings that the God of Heaven hath given to thee a Kingdom Power Strength and Glory 38 And every where that ●he children of men are dwelling the Beast of the field and the Fowl of Heaven hath he given into thine hand and hath made thee ruler over them all thou art he the head of it that is of gold 39 And after thee shall arise another Kingdom the land inferiour in comparison of thee and another third Kingdom of brass which shall bear rule in all the earth 40 And the Fourth Kingdom shall bee strong as iron for as much as iron doth break in peeces and subdueth all things and as iron that breaketh all these shall it break in peeces and bruise 41 And whereas thou didst contemplate the feet and the toes part c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of them of Potters clay and part d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of them iron the Kingdom shall be divided but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron for as much as thou didst behold the iron mixing with mirie clay 42 And the toes of the feet were part e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of them iron and part f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of them clay in part the Kingdom shall be strong g Chald. of it and in part shall be broken 43 In that thou didst behold the iron mixing it self with mirie clay they shall mixe themselves with the seed of men but they shall not cleave this with that even as iron cannot bee mixed with clay 44 And in the days of them of these Kings shall the God of Heaven cause to arise a Kingdom that shall never be destroyed and the Kingdom thereof shall not be left to other people it shall break in peeces and consume all these Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever 45 For as much as thou didst contemplate that the stone was cut out of the Mountain but not with hands and it brake in peeces the iron the brass the clay the silver and the gold the great God doth make it known to the King what shall be after this and the dream is certain and the interpretation thereof faithful NOw ere I come to the explication of these ensuing Prophecies and Visions let mee premise these few things to be considered There be some Prophecies in Scripture that are sealed by a Divine decree or command as it is written Dan. 12. 4. But thou O Daniel shut up the words and seal the Book even to the time of the end And Rev. 5. 1. I saw in the right hand of him that sate on the Throne a Book written within and on the back side sealed with seven Seals Though they bee written in the Mother Tongue as I may say and the words intelligible yet they are sealed Now that I may express my self briefly yet plainly as I can to the meanest capacity let me propose these few Questions with their Answers Quest 1. What is the Seal whereby God is wont to Seal that is to ratifie and yet to conceal his holy Councels Q. 2. What are the ingravings of this Seal Q. 3. Whar is the effigies or impression made by this Seal Q. 4. What is meant by the Book or writing sealed Q. 5. How or after what manner doth God seal this Book Q. 6. How doth Christ open the Seals Answ 1 To the first I answer That the Holy Spirit of God is the Seal for so he is called Ephes 1. 3. and God useth no Seal but this Answ 2 To the Second I answer That the ingravings of this Seal as I may speak are the secret Counsels of God which are known only to the Spirit of God and by him revealed to us as it is written 1 Cor. 2. 10 11. But God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man which is in him Even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God Answ 3 To the Third I answer That the written Word of God and the holy Councel of God revealed therein is the effigies or impression made by this Seal For holy men of God spake as they were acted by the holy Spirit 2 Pet. 1. 21. Answ 4 To the Fourth I answer That the Book sealed is the Book of Providence wherein is portrayed as I may say in a most lively manner the persons and things with such distinguishing Characters and Marks as do exactly answer the minde and Counsel of God revealed in his Word as appears by the opening of the Seals Rev. 6. Answ 5. To the Fifth I answer That the spirit of God seales the writing by expressing himself under such darke representations Hierogliphicks and metaphors as it passeth all humane and angelicall capacities to make a perfect and particular application thereof untill Christ Jesus the Lyon of the tribe of Judah who only is worthy to open the book and unloose the seals Rev. 5. 5. 12 do in a way of providence first break open the Seals And then wee may be capable to discern the perfect Harmony that is betwixt the Prophecies and the persons there described and not til then Answ 6 To the last I answer That Christ opens the Seals by producing the persons intended to Act in a providentiall way according to the eternall Counsell of his Father revealed in his word Which is called the Decrees-bringing-forth Zeph. 2. 2 And I may not unfitly call it a providentiall description or exemplification of his Fathers Counsells Thus Christ breaks open the Seal and then if wee have spirituall eyes wee may discerne each lineament or ingraveing of the Seal imprinted as it were upon wax or clay answering line to line exactly Vntil which be done yea til Christ beginne to draw out the last line or character wee shall not be able to make particular Application of such Sealed Prophecies Wherefore I durst not attempt to make particular application of that litle horn in the seventh of Daniel unto Charls Stuart the late King t●ll Christ had first begunne to draw out the last line or Character in a way of providence Thus I have given you the summe of my thoughts touching Sealed prophecies as briefly and as plainly as I could Let mee only add this word of Caution more That Keyes were never ordained to