one Cainan Arphaxads supposed Son haply misprised or misplaced for Enos Son Grandson to Adam giving him 130. yeers yer he begot Salah but Moses mentions no such Man nor doo the Chronicles name 1 Chr. 1. 18. Luke 3. 36. him St. Luke whos transcribers folow the septuagints cites him yet haply not the Original for neither Philo nor Josephus nor St. Jerom or any of the Antients writing on his Genealogy take notice of Cainan in the seventy or Evangelist therfore 't is probable that both are vitiated since their times Yea Beza saith Cainan is cashired in an old Manuscript of his yet did il to omit him in his translation being generaly received in al Copies Howbeit sith Moses and the Chronicles exclude him he may not be included in sacred Chronology For if Moses lost him wher did the 70. find him who had al their light from him being but his Torch-bearers or Translators Salianus saith Moses suppressed him to make the Patriarchs two Decads before and after the Flood equal as St. Matthew omits three Kings of Juda to keep his Tessera Decad of fourten Generations intire See the Mans wit Matthew and Luke intended Genealogy wherin it matters litle to cut off som links of the Chain so the succession be kept sound but Moses Chronology which would be utterly uncertain if any one generation be conceled St. Matthew names the number of Mat. 1. 17. fourten but Moses cals them not Patriarchs nor casts them into Decads as he doth the divine Decalog nay he that looks aright shal see eleven in the first Age inroling Sem the first born and but 9 in the last nor can any reason be rendred to transpose Sem into the later Decad sav that it so pleased the Painter A greater rub results at what age Terah begot Abram becaus 't is said He lived seventy yeers and begot Abram Nahor Gen. 11. 26. and Haran viz. the eldest of them which many misdeem to be Abram becaus first named So is Sem in Noahs Of-spring Gen. 5. 32. but both for their personal dignity being Stock-fathers to Christ and series of the History intended by Moses yet Japhet and Haran indubitatly eldest though last named For Haran came of Terahs first wife who was father to Loc Sarai and Gen. 20 12. Milcah as appeers by Abrams answer to Abimelech That Sarai was his Sister or Neece being Daughter i. Grandaughter of his Father but not of his Mother For he and Nahor maried their half Brothers daughters This is the stone wherat Chronologers stumble cutting off Atropos like 60 yeers of the Worlds age but a short Enthymem shal soon remov it Terah died at 205 when Abram was but 75 Ergo he was 130 at Abrams birth for 75 and 130 make 205 Quid brevius vel quid certius esse potest The proof is irrefragable and indeniable but the shifts devised to delud or disguise it sottish and sensless for if Abram was begot at Terahs age of 70 then Gen 11. 31. Gen. 12. 4. What briefer proof can be Or surer to agree was he 135 at his death if so then was he in Canaan and Egypt overcam the four Kings had Ismael and Isaac his Sons with many mo acts mentioned from Gen. 11 to 22 wherin Moses should be most preposterous to set Terahs death 60 years before it befel and record such gests after it as were doon in his life time To elude or evade this evidence Scaliger and his Sectators fain two Journies into Canaan one of Abram at 75 in Terahs time another of Abraham when his name was changed at 135 after his death This is vented or invented gratis without grounds and flatly repugns St. Stephans saying he cam out of Chaldea to dwel at Charan and when his Father Acts 7. 4. was dead never before went into Canaan How or when did he return with a numerous Family beside al Cattle Cariages Gen. 22. 20. and Lots company into Charan or why did one tel him as news that Nahor had a large â—ssu Vz Buz and others if he had bin so latly among them Scaliger brands and blames Annius as first brocher of this novity which is a known Verity that Terah begot Abram at 130 who though a forger of som Fables speaks truth in this point nor is he the Inventer of a novity for Tertullian St. Austin and other Antients held it Ob. He objects That Abram admired how he should beget Gen 17. v 17. a Son at 100 which som doo even in our dais Ergo 't is not credible that Terah begot him at 130 yeers Sol. His doubt rose from Sarais age of 90 becaus it ceased to Gen. 18 11. be with hir after the maner of Women not from his own decrepit disability for he had sundry Sons by Keturah after 140. Ob. If Abram was not born at Terahs age of 70 ther is no certainty of the time for connexion of sacred Chronology Sol. Yes his age 75 at Terans death who was 205 provs Gen. 11. 10. him to be born at his Fathers age of 130 as Sems age is notified by his Son Arphaxads birth both obliquely yer infallibly that Sem was 100 yeers old 2 yeers after the Flood Here al Note personal Calculation of Times by particular Patriarchs ages ceased and other guids or marks are set to comput by as the Promist Exod Temple Reigns of Kings Captivity of Babylon and prophane Aera's or Epoches the Olympiads and Rome which must be the future Chronical Cynosure wherby to steer our Ship in this surging Sea The third from Abrams birth to the Promist is 75 yeers 3 Stage 75. Gen. 12. 4. a plain pregnant place beyond al cavillation or contradiction yet St. Stephan saith God appeered to him in Acts 7. 2 3 4. Chaldea before he dwelt in Charan bidding him go eat of his Country and com into the Land which he should shew him So the apparition and invitation or injunction was at Vr in Chaldea before he cam to Charan but the Promiss not promulged til his age 75. when he began his peregrination into Canaan The fourth from the Promiss to the Exod and Promulgation 4 Stage 430. of the Law 430. Exod. 12. 40 Gal. 3. 17. particularized thus Abram out lived the Promiss 100. dying at 175. from his Gen 27 7. Gen 35. 28. Gen. 25. 26. Gen 47. 28 Gen 41. 46. Gen 45 6. Gen 47 28. Gen 50 26. Acts 7 23. 30 death to Isaacs 105. who was 75. when Abraham died and lived 180. which 75. and 105. make 180. from his death to Jacobs 27. for Isaac was 60. at Jacobs birth and dying at 180. his Son was 120. who lived 27. more dying aged 147. from Jacobs death to Josephs 54. who was 39. when Jacob cam into Egypt viz. 30. when Pharaoh dreamed of the Kine 7. yeers of plenty and 2. of famin and Jacob lived ther 17. So Joseph was 56. at his death and
first day of inchoation cal it the first yeer So King James reigned 22 yeers and 3 dais which is caled 23 current Now the whol time from Salomons fourth yeer A. M. 2994 to Zedekiahs captivity A. M. 3425. is just 431 and no more The frequent fractions of Co-reigns Inter-reigns and Anarchies are handled by Sir Walter Raleigh Four Babylonish L. 2 C 22 § 11 Captivities are cited 1 of Manasses by Merodach 2 of Jehoichim and Daniel but neither of thes controverted 3 Of 2 Chr. 33. 11. 2 Chr 36 6◠2 Kings 25. 8. Jeconiah and Ezekiel 4 Of Zedekiah and al the People al three last by Nebuchadonosor but Zedekiahs the grand one Catexochen wher the 70 yeers foretold by Jeremy commence in the ninetenth of Nebuchadnezar when both City and Temple were demolished Many maintain specialy Scaliger That thos yeers begin at Ezekiels captivity becaus he saith in the twenty fifth of our Captivity fourten yeers after the City was smiten which infers that it began 11 before Jerusalems destruction Indeed his did but Jeremies 70 yeers commenced at the final desolation not 11 yeers before St. Matthew saith Mat 1. 11. 12. They were caried to Babylon in Jeconiahs time this only provs it to be a Captivity but not that of 70 yeers For Jeremy is most exact herin deciding the debate beyond al dispute Behold I wil send al the families of the North saith the Lord and Jer. 25 9. c. Nebuchadnezer King of Babel and wil bring them against al Inhabitants of this Land and the Nations round about and wil destroy them and make them an astonishment or hissing and a continual desolation I wil take from them the voice of mirth and gladnes the voice of Bridegroom Bride the nois of Milstones light of the Candle thes Nations shal serv the King of Babel 70 yeers but after thes 70 I wil visit the King of Babel So the 70 yeers begin not when this Prophecy was uttered nor when Jehoiachim then reigning was captived nor in Jeremiahs time but with the utter deluge or devastation of City and Country This is evidently evinced by the event wher 't is said They burnt the hous 2 Chr. 36. 19. c. of God and broke down the Wal of Jerusalem and thos left he caried Captiv to Babel who were servants to him and his Sons til the Persians had Rule to fulfil the Lords word spoken by Jeremy til the Land had hir fil of Sabbaths For al the days she lay desolat she kept Sabbaths to fulfil 70 yeers but in the first of Cyrus when Jeremies word was accomplished God stirred up Cyrus spirit c. Both places plainly prov that they began at Zedekiahs grand Captivity Yea Daniel declares That God would accomplish Dan 9. 2. 70 yeers in Jerusalems desolation So though his own Captivity be reckoned with Jehoiachims and Ezekiels with Jeconiahs the People accounting their own severaly yet the last Uuniversal of 70 yeers began with the general desolation of that Nation therfore the Scaligerians seem they never so acut Lynces begin it 11 yeers too soon and abridg the Worlds age so much as they doo 60 mo at Abrams birth The seventh from the Captivities commencement or inchoation 7 Stage 70. to its accomplishment or solution compriseth 70. yeers warranted by Jeremies prophecy but to light a Candle in the Sun it may be proved by the reigns of 3. Babylonish Kings as Jeremy foretold That al Nations shal serv him his Son and Jer. 27. 7. Sons Son til the time of his Land com also and then they shal serv themselfs of him Now tho it skils litle how the 70. yeers be sorted or shared among them yet most probably thus Nabuchodonosor sacking Jerusalem in his 19. reigned 25. more in al 44. Evilmerodach 26. Balthasar 17. Darius Medus almost 2. which make 70. Then Cyrus in his first over al Asia having reigned 23. in Persia before released the Jews to rebuild the Temple Many advers Opinions occur chiefly Josephus and his numerous Sectists who reckon 5. lineal descents Nabuchodonosor Evilmerodach Niglisar Labosardach Balthasar but others make the 3. last Brothers and Evilmerodachs Sons which sounds neerer to Jeremies words yet untru For Balthasar was his only Son and next successor Som make Evilmerodach and Balthasar Brethren becaus Daniel cals Balthasar Nebuchadnezers Son for Grandson which is Dan 5 2. usual in Scripture and al Eastern languages As to Niglisar he seems to be Husband of Nicotris another Semiramis Nabuchodonosors Daughter who ruled as Regent part of his 7. yeers madnes when he ran wild among Beasts and Labosardoch their Son a short space of 9. moneths but Evilmerodach as tru Heir enjoied the Crown after his death and Balthasar succeded This is the naked truth but how the 70. yeers are divided betwen them is not much material but the gross sum from the grand Captivity to Cyrus certain Scaliger led by Annius whom he rejected before about Abrams birth in a truth and now folows him in error alots to Evilmerodach but 2. yeers which is far short of verity for Jeremy Jer. 52. 33. shews how highly he favored Jeconiah who eat bread before him al dais of his life which implies no short space for Evilmerodach outlived him being 55. when he was released and begot Salathiel Father to Pedaiah Zerobabels Father afterward so his reign must needs be much more Scaliger to justify his opinion that the 70. yeers began 11 before Jerusalems ruin allows Balthasar caling him Labosaroach Nicotris Son but 5. yeers making his Father Niriglisoroar Protector for 4. which neer agrees with the 9. months assigned by Annius to Niglisars Son by Nicotris but both Father and Son ruled som part of Nabuchodonosors wildnes or woodnes not soly and singly after him therfore he meerly mistakes the matter being no infallible Oracle His last King supposed to be Balthasar is one Nabonidus whom he cals Darius Medus but differs from his Author Annius whos Nabonidus was a Babylonian like Balthasar That which deceived him to deem the Berosian Nabonidus the same with Darius is becaus Daniel saith Darius took the Kingdom not won it by force but 't is meant that his Son in Law Cyrus got it in his absence who entred quietly and enjoied it during life So tho he magisterialy condemns the whol Nation of Chronologers for holding Darius to be Partner who was Principal in the Conquest yet are they in the right and he in evident error For the Medes were Cheiftains Persians only assistants Darius defraier of the charges and Cyrus manager of the wars So the Acquest belonged to Cyaxares Daniels Darius Medus for 3. reasons 1. Becaus he was Dan 5. 31. elder and Father in Law to Cyrus 2. Becaus he began the quarel and bore al the costs 3. Becaus the Medes then were more famous then the Persians Yet the glory is given to Cyrus for three other causes 1. Becaus the
Persians magnified their own Monarch and from them the Greecs hav it 2. Becaus he was present and President 3. Becaus Darius dying within two yeers he was seated in the Throne yer remot Nations heard of it therfore Darius cannot be the Berosian or Babylonian Nabonidus but he must be Balthasar It is worth observing obiter that Nabuchodonosor conqueror Note wel of the first Monarchy had only two successors of his own loins Evilmerodach and Balthasar Cyrus next but one Cambyses Alexander third scars one for Aridaeus was his base Brother and his Son Alexander by Roxane unborn at his death barely proclamed by his Grand-mother Olympias as our Edward 5. but slain by Cassander and never Crowned Caesar the fourth none but adopted his Sisters daughters Son sirnamed Augustus and he his Wifes Son Tiberius to whom a Nephew Caligula succeded and to him an Uncle Claudius who adopted his Wifes Son Nero the last of Caesars linage aswel Adoptitial as Natural Sic transit gloria mundi Thus al four Monarchies soon transmigred from the Purchasers progeny or posterity to Aliens or Allies Man disquiets himself Ps 39 7. in vain heaping up riches and knows not who shal gather them Here ends Canonical Chronography wherin we had the cleer Sun-shine of sacred Scripture to guid our steps though somtimes shadowed with thick clouds which hav bin dispelled but must henceforth walk by Moon light in the paths of Human Histories having two blazing Torches of the Olympic Aera and Rome to direct us Most Men make Daniels Vision of 70 weeks Annarian ech Digression of Daniels Vision or Vaticiniation containing a Sabbath of 7 yeers in al 490 the golden Chain of Chronology from the Captivity to Christ but agree like Samsons tail-tied Foxes drawing divers wais both about the initiation and termination for they are at Daggers point in divers Points 1. What commandment is meant whether that of Cyrus to reedify the Temple which Cambyses hindred or of Darius Hystaspis to finish it or of Artaxerxes long hand one in his seventh yeer when he maried Esther to offer in the Ezra 1. 2 c. Ezr. 6. 1. c. Ez 7. v. 8 c. Neh. 2. 1. c. Temple another in his twentieth when Nehemiah repaired the Wals and City 2. Whether the 7 weeks and 62 483 yeers from going forth of the Decree to Messiah the Prince determin at his birth baptism or death 3. How the last week wherin he shal confirm the covenant with many and in the midst caus the Sacrifice to ceas can be continuat But leaving contention let us survey the Vision so much as concerns this intention by a short Paraphrase to the present purpose Daniel in the first of Darius Conquest finding the 70 yeers Dan. 9. per totū foretold by Jeremy neer finished praied and confessed his sins At which time the Angel Gabriel informed That at beginning of Vers 22. 23. his Supplications the Commandment cam forth not actualy for al four were promulged afterward but by divine Decree which is Yea and Amen that 70 weeks 490 yeers are determined on Vers 24. his People the Jews and holy City Jerusalem to finish transgression seal up sins reconcile iniquity bring in everlasting righteousnes Vers 25. seal up Vision and Prophecy and to anoint the most Holy al applied to Christ by most Orthodox-Divines Then he divides thes weeks Know that from going forth of the Commandment to bring again the People this seems to imply that of Cyrus and to build Jerusalem this rather intends another of Ataxerxes to Messiah the Prince shal be 7 weeks and 62 the Vers 26. street shal be built and the wal in troublous times this Nehemiah performed and after 62 Messiah shal be cut off but not for himself which seems to imply his death and the People of the Prince that shal com the Romans shal destroy City and Sanctuary and the end shal be with a Flood and to the Wars end desolations are determined This befel 38 yeers after Christs crucifixion And he shal confirm the Covenant with many for one week Vers 27. the last and in the midst of it shal caus the Sacrifice to ceas haply at Christs Passion 3 yeers and half after his Baptism and for the overspreading of abominations he shal make it desolat til the consummation determined be poured on the desolat This denots the Cities fatal destruction and Temples final demolition in the other half week for from Vespasians entry to repress the Rebellion til Titus took Jerusalem were 3 yeers and half caled by our Saviour the abomination of desolation spoken by Mat. 24 15. Daniel the Prophet Lo here the literal Eloquy of this Enigmatical Prophecy the Rack of learned wits wherin thes points are cleer 1. That Messiah shal expiat sins bring in everlasting Righteousnes or Salvation and fulfil al Prophecy 2. That he shal com within thos 70 weeks and in the last be slain 3. That the Jewish Law and Sacrifice shal ceas 4. That both City and Temple shal be destroied 5. That this desolation shal be perpetual til the consummation of al Things and Times This confuts Chiliasts who say Christ shal in Person reign at Jerusalem 1000 yeers but much more the Jews who gape for a Messias For let them begin the 70 weeks wher they wil it must needs be that al thes things are already accomplished and the Messiah com long ago who hath abolished al Lawish Ceremonies For the limits of thes weeks som begin and end too soon Opinions as Origen who reckons 70 yeets for 7 to a week viz 4900 extends them from the Creation to Christs Birth Som begin and end too late as Scaliger and Junius from Josephus who comput from Darius Hystaspis Decree to Jerusalems downfal Som begin too soon and end too late as Hippolitus who takes rise 50 yeers before Cyrus til Doomsday and R. Salomon who reacheth from the first Temples demolition to the secunds destruction Som begin too late and end too soon as Melancthon who sets his But at the twentieth of Longimanus and Basis at Christs Baptism Som begin right and end too soon Som begin wel and end too late Som end right but begin too soon Som end wel but begin too late as particular instances prov Most probably by Commandment is meant Cyrus first Commission or Proclamation which Zerubabel executed for so soon as the 70 yeers of Captivity expired the 70 weeks of liberty which exced sevnfold commenced and both saith Calvin are certainly conjoined 'T is no less credible that by abomination of desolation at end of this Vision Jerusalems ruin by the Romans is understood but from one to the other intervened 606 yeers 116 abov 70 weeks which is caus that none could ever make their accompts agree though they racked the Text on tainters wors then Procustes tortured his Prisoners For in truth the premisses infer this result That 't is no
when he cam as a revenging Judg and the rest relat to the last Judgment For what better concent can be then that his spiritual reign over al Nations by the Gospel preached should commence when al Lawish Ceremonies ceased Or that the Heavenly Kingdom should begin when the Earthly ended and al Jewish Government expired Or the inward subjection of Gods new People the Elect among Gentils and his spiritual service should com in stead of the Jews outward worship Or that Celestial Sion new Jerusalem should succed when the old Terrestrials hav no more being This Isaiah foretold It shal be in the last dais that the Isai 2. 2. 3. Mountain of the Lords hous shal be prepared on the Mountains top and exalted abov the Hils and al Nations shal flow to it and they shal say com let us go to the Lords Mountain who wil teach us his wais and we wil walk in his paths for the Law shal go forth of Sion and the Lords Word from Jerusalem By the Mountain of his Hous Sion and Jerusalem is meant Christs Church caled the Gospel not any real City which St. Paul cals High Heavenly Gal. 4. 26. Heb. 12. 22. new Jerusalem abov Mother of us al. This began when the Jews dispeopled or disparkled not before Indeed Christ preached the Gospel 40 yeers before the Disciples continued it but the Jews civil Government or Commonwealth with Ceremonial Law-worship remained stil so the preceding preaching seemed rather a preparation to Christs Kingdom then a Mat 4 17. Mat. 10 7 23 perfect imitation as he self said Amend your lifes for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and taught his Apostles so to doo implying that his Kingdom was shortly to com yer they should finish al the Cities of Israel So the ful beginning of his spiritual reign is reckoned when the old government and outward service expired For then Christ reigned alone by his Gospel not in any material City without partnership of the Law nor could both concur or coexist Thus Daniels words of ending sin and making attonement may be applied to this time tho ended before becaus Christ then by a kind of excellence or eminence sanctified his Church from sin and reconciled sinners when he did it by the Gospel alone without Law purifyings and the shadow being gon the body cam in place of it The bringing in of everlasting righteousnes may apply to Christ himself as Jeremy and St. Paul cal him and sealing Jer. 23 6. 1 Cor. 1. 30. of Vision and Prophecy to his glorious Kingdom not long after his death being not fully finished til that time Lastly the annointing of most Holy agrees best with his absolut reign so the Hebrews referring it to Jerusalems desolation complies with Scripture Now for Chronology the first of Cyrus Olymp. 60. 4. His Chronology when he proclamed the Edict and secund of Vespasian Olymp. 112. 2. when Jerusalem was spoiled which contain 606. yeers are generaly made the extrems of this Vision in which space som go higher som lower for the limits referring the rise to Cyrus Decree when he licensed Zerubabel to rebuild the Temple or to the 2 of Darius Hystaspis when he ratified the former or to the 7 of Artaxerxes Longhand when he permitted Ezra to offer in the Temple or to his 20 when he sent Nehemiah to reedify wals and City but the period to Christs birth baptism death or Jerusalems destruction as every fancy fashioneth the Accompts wresting words to their sens yet can make no coherence Mr. Livly begins at 2 of Darius Nothus and ends at 2 of Vespasian which he saith is 490 yeers as indeed it exceds but 4 which is neerest of any for concinnity of comput but far from truth For Hystaspis not Nothus licensed the Jews to expedit the Temple as Ezra evidently shews that when Zerubabel Ez 4 1 5 6 7 c. and the Jew began their Adversaries hired Counsilors to hinder it al dais of Cyrus being abroad in War and of Cambyses til the 2 of Hystaspis for Nothus did not initiat til 106 yeers after Cyrus and never made any Decree for the Jews Thes Men wrot to Artashaste so they caled al Persian Kings but properly Cambyses stiled before Ahasueros in Hebrew a Prince being his Fathers Viceroy who stopped the structure 7 yeers in his Fathers absence and 7 after His next Ez. 5. 1 2 3 c. Successor sav 10 months usurpation by the conterfet Magi was Hystaspis in whos 2 yeer Zerubabel incoraged by the Prophet Haggai and Zechary who were al dead yer Nothus Ez. 6. v. 6. 13. reigned retrived the work but Tatnai and Shetherboznai opposed til Darius charged them to further it which they sadly did So 't is cleer as Sunshine that Zerubabel began to build in the first of Cyrus and revived it in the 2 of Hystaspis after 15 yeers intermission but he builds on a fals foundation that Cyrus initiated and made that Edict Olym. 55. 1. for he began then in Persia as best writers witnes but not over al Asia til 23 yeers after Olym. 60. 4. which is his meer mistake or misprision However if it be granted that Nothus made a new Decree and from it to Mnemons 32 be 7 weeks or 49 yeers and 490 in al to Jerusalems devastation neither of which is exactly tru yet this provs not the Vision to be a continuation of sacred Chronology from the Captivity downward for ther is a vast Chasma of 115 yeers from the 1 of Cyrus to the 2 of Nothus not chalked out in thos 490 yeers but denoted by secular Authors according to the Olimpic Aera nor can any cleer certain Chronicism be collected from the Vision as is copiously proved Sir W. Ralegh and many mo begin thos weeks at the 7 of Artaxerxes Longhand Olym. 80. 2. and end at Christs crucifixion Olym. 202. 4. which make 490 yeers yet can be no continued Chronology from the Captivity sith neither the preceding time from Cyrus to Longimanus nor the subsequent from our Saviours suffering to Jerusalems subversion both which belong to the Vision is involved therin Mr. Livly seeks to confirm or countenance his novities by Opinions Contestees 1. Eusebius who by Messiah twise named understands a Successor of annointed high Priests which Ruled Regaly as the Machabees and others after their releas from Babylon so the Hebrews take the word and expound cutting off by expulsion or otherwise 2. Tertullian who begins the 70 weeks at the secund of Darius naming his 4 Successors Mnemon Ochus Arses Codomon which must needs be Nothus though he miscals him Medus The end of thos weeks he sets in the secund of Vespasian saying that the Jews by being subdued fulfilled Daniels 70 weeks 3. Sulpitius Severus St. Austins Contemporar who saith the Jews by Cyrus leav began the Temple but were hindred about 100 yeers recompting Cambyses Darius Xerxes Artaxerxes with another Xerxes