joyn in killing that Lord of Life that so wonderfully came into and lived in the World to save their souls and therefore they have seemed almost ever since to have had so much a worse Captivity and scattering throughout the World and so much the more heavy wrath lying upon them than before and seem more like to be given up to a reprobate sense till the end of the Indignation as it is several times called Dan. 8.19 and Dan. 11.36 so that a more evident manifestation of the drift of this Vision to reach to the last end of the indignation as will also be manifest in all the following Mystical Numbers and when the end shall be and in the end as Chap. 8. v. 19. last words I say a greater manifestation thereof than this I know not hovv vvhere or upon what ground vve can in reason expect to find The Second is from the years revealed to Daniel for the benefit of his own people the Jews namely The 1290 days of years the Epocha whereof should be from the time the publike daylie Sacrifice was last and most effectually taken away and the Abomination of Desolation set up after our Saviour Jure by his death had put an end to it being the Anti-type of all such Sacrifice it was again done providentially by many steps afterwards and that not only at the great Desolation by Titus and Vespatian but as we shewed in the Abridgment on Dan. 9.27 at several times afterwards as by Adrian the Emperor about 130 years after Christs birth Again by Constantine the Great vvhen he drave the Jews from Mamre and set up a Temple for Christians there But most remarkable in Julian the Apostates time when the wonderful hand of God about 366 or as learned Dr. Vsher 363. shewed it self in causing the Jewish publike Sacrifice especially at the Temple at Jerusalem efficaciously to cease even until there be an awakening of the Jews or Israelites to their Civil and Spiritual resurrection foreshewed Ezek. 37. unto which said Epocha if we add the 1290 years they will reach to 1656. about which time or sooner relations were made by Travellers of their private actings by a secret character sending to their Brethren in many parts upon some supposed design probably conceived to be that in Dan. 11.44 of their rising to seek their Land c. the effect whereof we have had many times confirmed this year 1665. So that from their beginning to look towards Sion in hearkening after the tenders of Christs Grace as by late information there seems to be hopes of in some measure whereunto if we add again the blessed time of Christs perfecting such a work about the 13 35th year after which is 45 years more Dan. 12.11 12. when Dan. 12.1 Michael their Prince should stand up for their full deliverance at the ruine of the Turk in the end of chap. 11. So these and the late Authors computations agree together about An. Dom. 1700. Thirdly We may add another concurrent Account of the Turks time in Rev. 9. who is reckoned the second Wo Trumpet upon the Roman Empire whose hour day month and year Mr. Mede sums up to be 396 years beginning soon after 1300 as Chronologers compute his beginning so by that reckoning about 35 years from this 1665th year his time will be out at or about 1700. Fourthly The like reckoning may probably be made from the Popes rise and ruine and from the probable proceeding of the pouring out the Viols and the killing and rising of the Witnesses First From the Popes rise at one hour with the ten crowned Horns Rev. 17. about 406 as Excidium Antichristi makes to appear very probable and accordidgly his ruine likely eminently to begin about 1666. To which purpose further take notice That Pope I nocent the first at 406 or sooner as some conceive did not only challenge Appeals to be made to him from all Churches Secundum Patrum illorum inflituta c. upon a pretence of a Decree in the Council of Nice which afterwards proved but a falsification as divers Authors witness but being Pope saith Helvic An. Dom. 402 also exalted himself above all that is called God manifest by his Excommunicating the Emperor Arcadius in the East See Dan. Pareus in Medulla Historiae Ecclesiae Vniversal and the Eastern Churches with him See Rosse History of the World lib. 3. ch 3. He also is storied to have obtained of Honnorius Emperor of the West an Exemption of the Clergy from the Civil Jurisdiction making them a distinct Body with the Pope their Head as the two Horned Beast Rev. 13. as in respect of the ten crowned Horns that arose with him he was the ten Horned Beast also besides many other badges to discover him both before and about 406 and before in many things as Idolatry in worshipping Images Saints and their Reliques c. See Wolfius Cent. 4. forbidding Marriage Simson Hist Lib. 4. Cent. 4. in â—d Councel of Carthage An. saith Helvic 396. Siricius saith Melanct. on Carion Lib. 3. forbad the married Clergy to company with their Wives else to be deprived of their Offices abusively citing St. Paul's words They that are in the flesh cannot please God About 398. With sundry other Superstitions and Traditions which Histories record then to be received and promoted by the Popes in those times shewing the Beast to be risen at that time whereof many Authors give large Evidence Secondly From the pouring out of the Viols the third whereof Mr. Mede conceived to be the Laws against the Popes Emissaries in Qu. Elizabeths days with other like actings elsewhere since which begun that 3d 4th and 5th are conceived to have passed in almost 100 years and the 6th to be begun both by drying up the Popes Euphrates of the German Emperors Dominions by the Turk lately and thereby so preparing the way for the Kings of the East the Israelites and Jews as is now more then probable and so to the Popes utter ruine remains the time for gathering to the Battel of the great God to be at the end of the 6th Viol Rev. 16. which may probably be about the said time between 30 or 40 years Lastly The rising of the Witnesses will precede the falling of the tenth part of the Dition of the great City wherein will be slain 7000 Names of men at the Popes eminent beginning to fall Now with the Date of the Beasts 42 Months or the Womans time times and half a time in her wilderness condition or the witnesses 1260 years will probably be those great changes about 1666. which the Holy Ghost seems to make the ending term or number of the Beast Rev. 13. the last ver as Belshazzar's Kingdom was said to be numbred when it ended Dan. 5. when Antichrist will have probably accomplished to have scattered the power of the holy people the Saints but then Christian Churches both of Jews and Gentiles will be able to stand up and maintain their open conflicts
An Additional Supplement to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 OR Peaceable Considerations of Christs peaceful Kingdome to come upon the Earth in the Thousand years Rev. 20. lately published 1665. The PREFACE Christian Brethren I Having in my late 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pag. 2. declared my purpose to make some parallels of part of the Prophesie of Daniel with the things contained in the book of Revelations of Jesus Christ which is plainly a Divine Mystical Comment upon the particulars of the 4th and 5th Monarchies contained in Daniels Prophesie that is of what was more fully to be performed under the Roman and Christs Monarchy both before the Stone cut out of the Mountain without hands had so strucken the Image on the feet and toes thereof that it was wholly destroyed and also afterwards when the Stone was become a Mountain and filled the whole earth But by the hand of God upon me then shewing me my mistake in respect of the manner of Christs coming and of Christs Kingdome that it was not Mystical but personal as before I apprehended until I found that coming was the beginning of the day of Judgment and likewise upon occasion of those other parallels of the three Babels which I at first thought not of until by Gods guidance led unto them I was so far thereby taken off from my former purpose That onely in the 5th Chapter concerning those three Babels I did but briefly touch upon that intended parallel of the Books of Daniel and the Revelations But since through Gods merciful goodness having further discovery of the usefulness of such an endeavour I have accordingly by his grace set upon that business in this ensuing order First to set down a brief and plain Abridgment of the sum of the Prophetical Visions in Daniel contained First in Nebuchadnezzars dream of the great â—mage Chap. 2 and Daniels Vision of the same matter namely of four Earthly Monarchies under four Beasts to pass before Christs glorious Kingdom take place Chap. 7. wherein is shewed to Daniel a Jew the beginning of the Judgment at the destruction of the fourth Beast which was not shewed to Nebuchadnezzar a Gentile as Mr. Mede observe though he saw the Kingdome of the Stone A Second Prophetical Vision was given unto Dan. c. 8. of the subduing of the second Monarchy for the ruine f the first to wit of Babylon had been shewed before to Daniel chap. 7.4 namely of the Kingdome of the Medes and Persians by Alexander the Great the founder of the Grecian Monarchy with the dividing thereof to his four Captains jointly succeeding him towards the four winds as the Text speaketh where the Spirit of God passing by the Greek affairs for a long time unto that one King of fierce countenance Antiochus Epiphanes at last rising out of one of them whose wicked actings against the Church of the Jews is shewed should be short and his death terrible towards the end of that 8. chap. In chap. 9. Daniel had a third Vision of the 70 weeks of years till Christ had finished his work of Redemption and confirmed the Covenant with many both Jews and Gentiles for that time But his fourth and last Vision chap. 10.11.12 sets forth before him again the Persian the Greek and the Roman Kingdoms with the beginning of Christs Monarchy yet chiefly in the 11 chap. he speaks of the intestine wars and thereby the decaying of the Kingdome of Grecia under two principal heads of Egypt and Syria called the Kings of the South and North mutually battering down each other and yet both of them sadly oppressing â—he poor Jews that lay between them from v. 4 to 21. and from thence to 36. is set down a more full discription of that vile and wicked Antiochus Epiphanes before the Roman Kingdom took place who at last was said to come out of one of the four heads chap. 8.9 being that wicked little horn that probably may well be reckoned as a type of the great Antichrist in whose ruine the Grecian Kingdome and Javans rage together ended Now after the brief consideration of these Visions I shall endeavour in such a said Parallel respecting the 4th and 5th Monarchy in Daniel according as our blessâ—d Saviour by his divine wisdom hath been pleased to open and set them down for the use of his Christian Church in his very useful book of Revelations for these last times and leaving particular observations and applications to Christians in their private Meditations aiming herein at brevity and clearness I shall satisfie my self onely Thirdly To set down somewhat in general to those purposes if God will in the last place N w in considering of these I have to the said purposes or brevity and clearness profestedly avoided all those perplexing controversies whereby some have unhappily obscured both the scope and meaning of the Visions as likewise some commonly mistaken expressions as That the Thrones were cast down 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—onec throni eâ—ati sunt as Aâ—â—â— Moâ—â—nus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sept for the Thrones were set Chap. 7.9 having enâ—eavoured as God hath enabled me to seek out the most genuine sense and the most clear and evident drift of these Visions in the main of them with divers natural explications from the matter and subject of them which by the assistance of Gods spirit together with the Rule of his Word I either have or shall observe to be most consonant unto truth Yet in the intended Parallel between the Fourth or Roman and Christs Kingdom held out in Daniel and the Revelation ye may with me take notice of what Mr. Mede sets down of their different handling thereof namely that it is done in Daniel more darkly summatim in genere summarily and in general onely but in the Revelation Particulatim in specie more particularly and specially Or saith he in another place Daniel speaks of the Roman â—mpire in imaginè confusa But Christs Revelation contains the series rerum gerendarum the order of things to be done according to the diverse fates and states of the Church in which respect many things in Daniel were said to be sealed up and shut up till the time of the end as Ch. 12.9 till Christ Jesus the true and faithful Witness had so Divinely made them known for his Churches great advantage by his Servant John This further beloved Brethren I would advertise you of that besides Daniel's Visions we shall beyond former intentions endeavour to represent somewhat of Ezekiel's Visions and especially from Chap. 37. to the end of that Book who bâ—ing a Prophet of the same time of the Captivity though not in the same place with Daniel yet by the same Spirit was guided into the same truth then made known to Gods people for their comfort yet one explaining the other in some things Therefore after Ezekiel chap. 37. had the Vision of the Jews last and great Restauration when both they and the rest of the twelve
such a glory as becomes the Son of God to have Dominion and Glory as was said and which he willed before his death the Vision of to his Saints John 17.24 that they should be where he was to behold his own glory not which he had with the Father but that which the Father had given him as Mediator at the Beasts destruction Dan. 7.12 14. and accordingly Rev. 1. there is a glorious description of his coming at his Kingdom and likewise Rev. 19.11 12 13 c. At his First coming there was no form nor comeliness seen by most in the World either in his person or outward condition when the Son of Man had not where to lay his head Es 53.2 He was called a King in scorn at his death and arrayed like a King in mockery a crucified King in contempt and such was his Kingdom outwardly in most mens eyes in regard of his Subjects of his Officers of his Laws of his Ordinances in the World most of the many hundred years of the first state thereof by the varieties of Persecutors both Paganish and Popish c. 7thly As Christs Kingdom in the first State of Patience is outwardly weak and oppressed therefore resembled by a Woman in a Wilderness condition 1260 years or a time times and the dividing of a time in wearing out Dan. 7.25 and having her power scattered ch 12.7 yet inwardly even then it is spiritual and strong to consume and break in pieces and subdue as Dan. 2.34 it smites and breaks in pieces the feet and toes of the Iron and Clay and v. 44. it shall consume and break in pieces all those Kingdoms and c. 7.23 it shall devour the whole Earth and tread it down and break it in pieces Observe the expressions For that which is spiritual is prevalent and strong above that which is outward and temporal Hence Zac. 4.6 when the Candlestick had its Lamps supplied with Oyle from the two Olive Trees Christ there declares his Church should overcome not by Power nor by Might but by his Spirit Hence also he saith That he will give Power to his Two Witnesses that is prevalency to prophesie though in sack-cloth 1260 dayes of years to consume the Beast and bring him low Rev. 11. the Saints also overcome having washed their Robes in the blood of the Lamb by a spiritual powerful Victory hence the faithful are stiled Overcomers having spiritual Power from God derived unto them against all Spiritual and Worldly Adversaries therefore saith our Saviour He that overcometh shall inherit all things Rev. 21.7 Rev. 2.7 11. Rev. 12.13 Rev. 15.2 But the second state of that Kingdom is not onely spiritually prevalent but also outwardly powerful to subdue and destroy and therefore as it had spiritually smitten the Iron Kingdom in the feet and toes before Dan. 2.34 So by it and for it shall the Beast be slain and his body destroyed and given to the burning flame Dan. 7.11 Rev. 19.11 to the end Rev. 14. latter end and 16. at the end and after that there is given to Christ Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him Dan. 7.13 14. which is the same with Christs Reign with his Saints a thousand years Rev. 20.4 and spoken of the same time in the same order of Affairs to be accomplished by Christ for himself and his Church and likewife Rev. 11.15 relates to the same time of the sounding of the seventh Trumpet when the Kingdoms of the World will be the Kingdoms of our God and of his Christ as there he is praised for by it the twenty four Elders And then Judgment that is judicandi potestas power of Judging will likewise be given to the Saints of the Most High as it is said Dan. 7.22 and the Kingdom and the Dominion and the Greatness of the Kingdom shall be given to the People of the Saints of the Most High Dan. 7.26 27. Answerable whereunto is that Promise of our Saviour in reference to that state and time as Mr. Brightman in his Observations noted Rev. 3.21 That to him that overcometh he will grant to sit with him on his Throne even as he before had overcome and was set with his Father on his Throne Now having set down those previous Observations in general and 2dly those Several Considerable Particularities contained in Daniel and all expounded in the Book of Revelations respecting Christs Kingdom on Earth we shall further by Gods assistance endeavour to proceed and to explain and illustrate the most material things that we have but hitherto briefly touched upon VVHerein we may first observe how Daniel describes the first State or Kingdom of the Stone which is the Kingdom of Patience wherein the Saints by Faith and Patience overcome and inherit the Promises as the Apostle speaks and shall inherit all things as our Saviour further promiseth and here we shall endeavour to shew how this Kingdom of the Stone hath in and from the time of Christs life and death been carried on accordingly both before the Beasts time under the persecuting Heathenish Dragon and since the Beasts forty two Months began and to shew how the Saints have spiritually and powerfully prevailed for above 1600 years past by the word of Christs Testimony which in several respects in several times they have been enabled by his Spirit to give witness and testimony unto and to this purpose Daniel shews chap. 2. when he had set a summary of Nebuchadnezzars dream before him in v. 33. he proceeds to the Fourth Metal figuring the Fourth or Roman Monarchy wherein were the legs of Iron and feet and toes part of Iron and part of Clay and in the two next ver he minds him of the confusion of all those Kingdoms set forth by the four several Metals though it was a long time to come and therefore he tells him Thou sawest until the Stone was cut out of the Mountain without hands which time until he more particularly explains v. 44. saying In the dayes of those Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed that is saith Mr. Mede In the dayes of one of those Kings and while the broken parts of the other Kingdoms remained so that they had some life left to them though their Dominion was taken from them as it hath been since the time of the Roman Kingdom which hath had great Contests by the broken parts of some of the former as Persians Armenians Grecians as Stories witness of their wars and even sometimes been foiled by them too c. as might be shewed but the former Text respecting the time of the beginning of this Kingdom which the God of Heaven would set up is more fully explained in v. 12. and chap. 7. which hath reference to that last Text named and other places of Dan. 2. where he shews That the Stone should at last after it had long before smitten the feet and toes of Iron and Clay
Tribes of Israel should be united into one stick that it might not be doubted how it should be done chap. 38 39. he shewed how the Gog and Magog of the preceding times then namely the Pope and the Turk should be destroyed and that the happy consequents of this might be known then to the faithful Jews he hath another Vision of the New-Jerusalem suited much unto the Jewish state but very excellent and in this especially that the Name thereof should be Jehovah Shamma the Lord is there chap. 40. to the end of the Book which our Saviour in a manner more suitable to the Christian Churches excellency sets forth as coming out of Heaven from God Rev. 21. which he shewed to Saint John was to succeed upon the destruction of Antichrist and his Complices in the Armageddon Battel chap. 19.11 to the end when so great joy had been v. 6 7 for that Brides making ready of Jews and Gentiles so largely celebrated in the beginning of that Chapter The like I may briefly hint of Christs Spouse in that Song of Songs which as Mr. Cotton judiciously observes all along to be Prophetical to the calling of the Jews with the Gentiles more abundant coming in at their rising as the Prophets phrase is Es 60.3 4 5 6 c. and whose fulness shall be the greatest riches of the Gentiles Rom. 11.12 which Spouse will then in the New-Jerusalem Rev. 21. be the Lambs Wife in that holy City where she and Christ will be made perfect in one and one member with another who since the Apostles believed through their Word till all these should so be perfect as our Saviour prayed John 17.20 21 23. that then in the time of the New-Jerusalem the whole world might both believe and know that God had sent him into the world when his glory in his Kingdom on Earth should be so eminently set up there which Kingdom at his death he willed to them as a Legacy or birth-right with his Fathers Consent and Grant the Apostles being Witnesses thereto as v. 24. of the same Chapter that they might all have their part with him there and that as our blessed Saviour further teacheth for a thousand years Rev. 20.4 to which purpose tends likewise the 45 Psalm Thus having briefly given you an Account of this my poor endeavour for the benefit of faithful Christians and for the greater evidence and clearness of these amongst many so little believed mysteries of such Christs coming to begin the Judgment and such manner of his raising up the Saints in the time of his said visible glorious Kingdom on Earth in the thousand years I shall endeavour by the further assistance of his Grace and Spirit and by the evidence of his Sacred Word of Truth and in the further explication whereof Christ Jesus himself hath above what was afforded Daniel in this Book as the true and faithful witness so unsealed and opened to his Church in that Divine Book which was so gloriously given unto him in that Vision which St. John saw Rev. 5. concerning things to come and hereupon in reference to such a future Parallel we have premised this ensuing short Abridgment of the whole that the particular branches thereof might the better be made use of to their several due intendments by such as are rightly conversant in them and the greater light of truth might so be made evident to all serious and impartial seekers thereof by the blessing of God thereupon as God may order their Meditations for their own and others edifying Now as that short comprisal in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on the fifth Chapter of the Revelation pag. 27. as likewise in the Letter May 20. 1664. in the Fore-runner are as it were an A. B. C. for some Christians to learn to spell out the meaning of the substance of things contained in that Book of the Revelations which were to come So may the following short Abridgment of the Visions of Daniel be for this Book when they come to be a little acquainted with it and by the help of both which together I hope by Gods blessing both great clearness of the truth and of the necessity of the substance of the Doctrine of Christs Kingdom upon earth may unto many sorts of men in due time be undeniably made evident to be such Divine Truth as is both profitable and necessary appearing so infallibly and strongly grounded upon both those Divine and blessed Books of holy Scripture which being once rightly understood will manifest them to be as indeed they are the sure key for the right opening of many other Prophetical Scriptures in the Old Testament and sundry other pertinent Texts in the New which otherwise are little rightly understood by most sorts of men But after all such outward means to boused with humble and faithful prayer meditation and conference of them must then be likewise inwardly done by him who is said to open the understanding of his Disciples together after his resurrection Luk. 24.35 to make them understand the Scriptures To whose most gracious guidance and teaching I commend both you and all truly Christian and teachable Spirits seeking for a blessing to you and all such in my prayers upon this my poor and weak endeavours with all other good means to any like purpose Amen An. Dom. 1665. Therein remaining yours and their faithful Servant in him our great Lord in what I may be useful MVNVS An Endeavour of a short and plain Abridgment of the Prophetical Visions in Daniels Prophesie in reference to a Parallel of what is foretold of the 4th or Roman Monarchy and of Christs Kingdome on earth further explained by Christ in the book of Revelations for the use of the Christian Church IN the second Chapter Nebuchadnâ—zzars dreamexpounded Nebuchadnezzar a Gentile as Mr. Mede observes had in a dream represented unto him a great Image shaddowing forth tâ—e four worldly Monarchies the first of which was his own Caldean Kingdom whereof he was the head of gold to contirue after him in Evilmerodack his Son and Beishazzar his grandchild unto which was then to succeed the breast and arms of silver begâ—n by Darius and soon after by Cyrus in the Monarchy of the Medes and Persians to which succeeded the third of brass as Daniel expounded namely the Grecian Impire begun in Alexander the Great and the fourth after that of Iron stronger then all the former breaking all the other to pieces namely the Roman of long continuance under many forms of Government but especially long in the feet and toes thereof all the Popes time with the ten crowned horns as appeared more to Daniel a Jew Chap. 7. unto which the Kingdome which the God of heaven would set up in the Stone cut out of the mountain without hands should succeed which should never be destroyed but should break in pieces and contume the four former Kingdoms and then become a great mountain filling the whole earth it self and should
Secondly That they may really endeavour to make their due improvements of them to which purposes we may if God will afford some brief hints at least by reason of many present restraints from enlarging as judicious persons will easily apprehend First then to speak something more particularly concerning the 2300 days Dan. 8. in the Original Evening-mornings which may as well yea better appear as I doubt not after is manifest to be intended for so many natural days whereby we are prophetically to understand so many dayes of years as is usual in this kind allowing an Evening and Morning to every day rather than to put them as some seem to do for half the time And they evidently appear from divers passages in the Context to have a further intention than to be limited to the wicked Tyranny of Antiochus Epiphanes or about his time which before in the Abridgment we made mention of which evil time happily might be typical of the long dispersion and miserable bondage of both Jews and Israclites through all their whole captivity that is from the time that the captivity of both took place to wit from Nebuchadnezzars beginning of the seventy years of his Kingdoms Tyranny over that captivated people Anno Mundi 3398. and through a great part of the Persian Monarchy to the beginning of Daniels Weeks Anno Mundi 3549. which was 80 years more which with the former 70 of the Babylonian captivity amount to 150 years thus reckoned Cambyses with the Magi 8 years Darius Histaspis 34 Xerxes 20 Artaxerxes Longimanus current 20 not compleat which with some other deductings of one year makes in Chronology 80 years from Cyrus his taking of Babylon Ann. Mundi 3469 to the beginning of Daniels Wecks An. 3549. when the Decree to build Jerusalem not the Temple that being built before that time was set forth as Neh. 9.25 in the 20th year of Artaxerxes Longimanus as Neh. 1.2 4. and 2.1 2 3 c. unto which if we add the 490 in Daniels Weeks extending 34 years after Christs Birth besides the last half Week after his death in both which namely 150 and 490 are contained 640 years where by the way take those 34 years from Christs ascention and add them to this present Anno Dom. 1666. and according to what is observable from our four Scriptural Numbers respecting both Jews and Gentiles they reach just to 1700 and so there will be 1666 years from Christs ascending to his descending the second time of his coming when will be the final ruine of the Beast by the said numbers and as far as we can guess by the Series of Daniel and Revelation which seems remarkable in the wonderful Numberers Accounts c. according as the Angel told the Disciples when he was taken by the Clouds out of their sight Acts 1.11 12. that he should so come again and not onely in the clouds of Heaven Rev. 1.7 but probably then also his feet may stand again on Mount Olivet to fulfil that Prophesie Zach. 14.4 when the great things there spoken of largely may be fulfilled and the Nation of the Jews born in a day Es 66.8 Zac. 3.9 Now that the whole time from the beginning of the compleat captivity of all the twelve Tribes at the carrying of the two last Tribes to Babylon was the time thenceforward to be measured out by the 2300 years Dan. 8.14 may appear evident from the context thus as is further explained in ver 17 and 19. and considered with the former and that both first for the matter or things held out in the Vision Secondly For the time of it and that in two respects 1. For continuance thereof 2300 years 2dly Of the determination of the period thereof at the last end of the indignation the end shall be and for the matter of the Vision that is set forth ver 14. upon a question of one Saint to another How long concerning the daily Sacrifice and the transgression of desolation or making desolate as the Hebrew word denotes to give both the Sanctuary and the Host to be trodden under foot And further in respect of the time both for the continuance and period thereof as was observed there is further added What shall then be done ver 14. Then shall the Sanctuary be cleansed Hebr. justified as if it was said The purpose of all before set forth formerly in the Sanctuary will then be made evident when the mystery of God will be finished And afterwards one in the appearance of a man which it seems was Christ spake unto the Angel Gabriel to make Daniel understand the Vision as Rev. 10.7 to wit when the period thereof should be which first he saith ver 17. it shall be at the time of the end and ver 19. he saith further it shall be at the last end of the indignation which is again spoken of and further explained chap. 11.36 and also comparing v. 40. of that 11th chap. with chap. 12.4 9. and with these three last Verses compare the last ver of ch 12. when Daniel shall stand up in his lot And although the two Tribes to fulfil Gods promise were sent back in part from Babylon after seventy years yet never were those two of Judah or the ten Tribes of Israel in any great measure comparatively to the whole either any long time freed from their bondage and oppressions or had free Governors not tributary or subordinate unto others and what multitudes of them remained in the 127 Provinces of the Persian Dominions not much above 70 years afterwards in the time of Ahasuerus who is probably conceived to be Artaxerxes Longimanus from whom the Decree came to build Jerusalem as we shewed from Dan. 9.25 Besides they wanted the Ark where God formerly manifested his presence with them and his pleasure to them with many excellencies they formerly had yet God was pleased to uphold that unworthy people in their low condition divers hundreds of years until the Tyranny of three great Oppressors viz. the Persians Greeks and Romans till his time of Shiloh his coming when that blessed promised Seed of the Woman that Seed of Abraham Isaac and Jacob in whom all Nations should be blessed that off-spring of David according to the flesh should take our narure upon him from a pure Virgin being conceived by the Holy Ghost and in all other particulars foretold and promised to be the Great Messiah at that appointed time to come and take upon him so wonderfully and holily the humane nature that he might therein fulfil all righteousness make attonement for iniquity and bring in everlasting righteousness c. Dan. 9.24 And because neither Mercies nor Punishments wrought in any suitable measure upon those that were reduced but rather they grew for the most part worse and worse and did but more fill up the measure of their wickedness by abusing of such wonderful mercies from first to last even so that they with their Rulers against all light and conviction would
miracles And they not only do not own their Doctrine and not help to promote it but lay hold upon them and imprison them for preaching of it and this did not only befal them amongst the Jews at Jerusalem but in all places were they were sent as the Story of the Acts of the Apostles and other Writers of the Primitive times manifest Again The succeeding Primitive Christians both Teachers and Professors of the Gospel of Christ were not only not owned and encouraged by the Potentates and great men of the world But the great Red Dragon had gotten such strong possession of the highest seat of worldly Authority in the Roman Empire at the height of it having so mightily engaged them for all sorts of Heathenish Idolatry and to decline their imbracing of Christianity after such abundant conviction of the Divine Excellency of Christ Jesus the Son of God that in most places under that then most soveraign earthly Authority the Officers and Magistrates were engaged or encouraged to root out Christianity if it might be out of the world and how for the most part they acted to that purpose was so evident that as an Ancient records it was then observed that there was no day in the year whereupon five thousand Martyrs had not suffered save one in the Calends of February and what large Volumns have been written of the cruel and merciless deaths and martyrdoms of those primitive Christians wherein they were forced to undergo those strange devised tortures and torments besides all lesser sufferings may abundantly appear to those that are observantly conversant in them and even then by a Divine Power going along with this persecuted Gospel in the Preachers and Professors thereof as with the Israelites under Pharoah's Taskmasters the more they oppressed them the more they multiplied so those showeâ—â— of blood of the Saints made the Gospel to grow more fertily and as was observed by the Ancients Sanguis Martyrum Semen Ecclesiae the Blood of the Martyrs was the Seed of the Church And this continued all along the Primitive times in the ten much noted Persecutions besides less noted ones which were like not to be a few wherein as by so many grievous and sore pangs and throws of the Woman the Church then with child through mercy by the faith and prayers of God's People till she brought forth that Man-child Constantine the Great under the fixth Seal Rev. 6. who threw down the Dragon with his heathenish Idolatry from the Throne with his Sun Moon and Stars about him of his worldly powers that had so long persecuted the Saints in their successions before And this was done by the Divine Power of God's Spirit converting that famous Emperour encouraging him against the Heathenish Opposers and prospering his proceedings to a wonderful subversion of those powers of darkness which for the terribleness of their downfal the Spirit of God decyphers much like a day of Judgment in regard of the execution thereof Rev. 6. latter end which though it was said to be from the Wrath of the Lamb yet there is no sitting of Judgment nor opening of Books which will be at Antichrist's ruine when the day of Judgment will begin and as will be at the last ruine of Gog and Magog Rev. 20. when the last accomplishment of the Judgment follows upon it at the end of the world Yet this seems to be the great undertaking of Christ to conquer his Enemies in the first Seal whose right hand should then teuch him terrible things Psal 45.4 5. whilst as is there expressed he rides on in his Majesty prosperously because of the Word of Truth Meekness and Righteousness for the first three hundred years till Constantines Reign by whom the Empire of Heathenish became Christian having cast off the Dragons Worship and Religion and owned and received Christ's Religion And this appears to be one eminent purpose of God the Father's giving of the Book to the Lamb that as it had been slain Rev. 5.6 but was alive again to open the Seals thereof and under the sixth Seal was 〈…〉 Commâ—â—â—on contained to execute this terrible Wrath upon those Paganish Powers which was the Stones eminent smiting of the feet and toes of the Imrge at that time as Dan. 2.34 and elsewhere to like purpose as was shewed And from thenceforward Christ the said Lamb as it had been slain had further in Commission both by reason of the wicked Apostacy of Church and State in sucâ—â—eding times and to revenge the cruel bloodshed and persecutions of the Saints with blasphemies and other wickednesse of that Roman Empire before when Paganish and after likewise when it would be poysoned with Heresie and again apostatized by Popery so that suitably thereunto he should bring down again the power of Satan and wicked men in their several orders and places as appears by the 7th Seal opened by him Rev. 8. wherein he was accordingly to reveal and execute God's further Wrath by his seven Angels with their seven Trumpets in the four first of them blowing out chiefly that Wrath and Judgment upon the Western Empire for the most part to take away him that letted there the revealing of the Man of Sin in the Western Empire as 2 Thess 2.7 that Antichrist might appear And the two following Wo-Trumpets to reveal and execute like Judgements upon the Eastern Empire Rev. 9. which since hath almost been fulfilled upon it by the Sarazens and Turks to this very day And afterwards by the sounding of the seventh Trumpet to destroy on the sudden all the wicked powers of Men and Devils from off the face of the Earth at the Son of Man's coming in the clouds and receiving his visible Kingdom on Earth from his Father over all Nations People and Languages Dan. 7.14 And the Kingdom and the Dominion and greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heavens v. 27. And then at once breaking in pieces the Iron and the Clay and therewith the Silver and the Gold and Brass and making the whole Image of the four Monarchies that is the broken parts of the three former with all that remained of the last Roman Monarchy viz. the last and lowest parts thereof the feet and toes partly of Iron and partly of Clay to become as the chaff of the Summer-threshing-floor Dan. 2.35 when the wind of that last wrath from that third Wo-Trumpet of the 7th Ange will carry them all away as was shewed before from Dan. 2. Dan. 7. Dan. 12. and as may be observed from those parallel places Rev. 16. toward the end Rev. 19.11 to the end Rev. 11.18 which agree with the Son of man's coming in the clouds and when Michael shall stand up for Daniels People and when Antichrist shall have finished his time times and a half to scatter the power of the holy People then all these things shall be finished Dan. 12.7 though it is made evident to Daniel that his People should have 〈…〉 troubles before all would be