destroie their work by thunder and lightning from Heaven with terrible earthquakes and fire-bals and totally overthrew the foundation of the Temple insomuch that Cyrillus then Bishop at Ierusalem was forced to confess and to acknowledg that now the words of Christ which hee spoke of the Temple unto his disciples Matthew 24. vers 2. were fulfilled That there shall not bee left one stone upon another that shall not bee thrown down Hereof may bee further read Ammianus Marcellinus lib. 23. Socrates lib. 3. c. 17. Theodoretus lib. 3. c. 17. at the end Sozom. lib. 5. cap. 21. Tripart lib. 6. cap. 44. and others more 7. The one thousand two hundred sixtie years must for the space of thirtie years bee protracted and begin later and at lest with the year of our Lord three hundred ninetie five becaus they expire together with the one thousand two hundred ninetie years Here wee must observ and look whether the Characters and Tokens which are set upon the beginning of the one thousand two hundred sixtie years may bee applied to the three hundred ninetie fifth year Wee have three several Characters 1. The Division of the Romane Empire into two parts Revel chapter 12. vers 14. 2. The beginning of the treading under foot of the holie Citie Chap. 11. vers 2. 3. The rising of the Beast out of the Sea chapter 13. vers 2. The first Character is described in the Revel 12. vers 14. in these words And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle that shee might flee into the wilderness into her place where shee is nourished By the great Eagle is understood the Romane Empire by the two Wings is meant the division of the same into two parts Constantine the great though hee removed the Imperial Seat from Rome to Byzance or Constantinople yet hee reteined to himself the Government over the whole Empire during his life after his death it was divided among his three Sons into three parts But this Division did not last long but did soon determine for Constantius did reign after his Brother's death over the whole Romane Empire himself alone as also after him Iulian and other Emperors following But after the death of Theodose the Great who died the 17. of Ianuarie 395 the Romane Empire was divided between his two sons Arcadius and and Honorius so that Arcadius reigned in the East and Honorius in the West And thus this Character may bee well applied to the three hundred ninetie fifth years 1. Becaus of the division of the Romane Empire into two parts whereby the wings of the Eagle are spread 2. Becaus the Barbarous Nations did invade and over-run the Romane Empire on all sides in the verie same year whereby the holie Citie was horribly trodden under foot and the Woman put to flight in the wilderness The second Character is expressed in the Revelations 11. vers 2. in these words It is given unto the Gentiles that they shall tread the holie Citie under foot By the Conversion of Constantine the Great was the Child which the Woman the christian Church had brought forth established upon the seat of God and by that means the Christian Emperors came to the Government and the Heathenish service of the Dragon got thereby a huge great downfal But in the daies of Theodosius the Great the great Dragon in the Romane Empire was quite overthrown and cast to the ground At that time the Church of God did triumph and was gloriously built and propagated But after Theodosius in the year of our Lord three hundred ninetie five in Ianuarie was dead and his two sons Arcadius and Honorius had entred into the Government the treading under foot of the holie Citie did soon begin when the Goths Huns Alans with other barbarous Nations under the Command of their King Alaricus invaded first the Oriental other made an irruption into the Occidental Empire and took the Citie of Rome in the year four hundred ten Now by these desolations how the Christian Churches were destroied the Countries spoiled the Christians persecuted and reduced to a most pitiful condition may bee gathered from the lamentation of the old Father Ierome whereof you may read in his first Tom. the Epist 3d pag. 18. and Epist 11. pag. 44. Likewise Augustine in his books of the Citie of God doth give a further information hereof and especially Ludovicus Vives in his Preface upon the same 3. The third Character is set down in the Revelation chap. 13. vers 2. in these words And a beast rose up out of the Sea having seaven heads and ten horns and upon his horns ten Crowns The Old Heathenish Empire is compared to the red Dragon which hath seven heads seven Mountains in the Citie of Rome and ten horns Provinces and upon his heads in the Citie of Rome seven Crowns seven sorts of Government namely Reges Consules Dictatores Decemviros Tribunos militum Caesares 10. Reges Here the new Romane Empire under the Christian Emperours and Kings is brought in which hath not seven Crowns upon the seven heads upon the Mountains in the Citie of Rome but hath ten Crowns upon the ten horns that is in the Kingdoms into which the Romane Empire is divided But wee must not seek the beginning of this beast in the time when it had already fully his horns Kingdoms but but when it rose up out of the Sea that is when it invaded the Romane Empire by force of Arms and made such a progress in it that it subdued the Citie of Rome And although the Barbarous Septentrional Nations have manie times invaded the Romane Empire with great power yet they could never so far prevail that they could take Rome Alaricus was the first who as was mentioned already in the second Character in the year of our Lord three hundred ninetie five made an irruption into the Romane Empire with two hundred thousand Goths Huns Alans prevailed against the Romans and at length took Rome in the year four hundred ten About the same time som other Nations invaded the Romane Empire which they tore into so manie pieces that in the year of our Lord four hundred fiftie five and also sixtie years after the first Invasion ten Kings each by himself reigned in the Romane Empire Wherefore the beginning of the Beast with ten horns or the rising of the same out of the Sea is referred to that year when Alaricus with his Nations invaded the Roman Empire namely to the three hundred ninetie fifth year since the birth of Christ Wee see also that all the three Characters are incident into the three hundred ninetie fifth year as 1. The spreading of the two wings of the great Eagle by the division of the Romane Empire into two parts whereby the Woman the Christian Church doth flee into the wilderness 2. The rising of the Beast with ten horns out of the Sea by the Invasion of Alaricus with his Nations 3. The beginning of treading under foot the
holie Citie the Christian Church The Historians also make a singular observation of that time which followed the death of Theodosius the Great and refer unto the changes of the Roman Empire Carion in his Treatise of the four Monarchies printed in the year one thousand five hundred thirtie one doth prefix before the description of Arcadius and Honorius this title the Destruction of the fourth Monarchie Philippus Peucerus writeth in his reviewed Chronicles of Carion under Theodosius p. 302. Theodosius hath been the last Emperor who possessed and maintained the whole Romane Empire both in the East and West For immediately after his death under the reign of his son Honorius the Franconians entred into France took the same and their Duke Warmundus named himself King of France and reigned as King without anie hinderance In like manner was Rome taken of Alaricus King of the Goths And pag. 306. After him Theodosius the great was the Empire pitifully torn and divided by the Goths and Vandals into Hungarie Italie and Spain but France was possessed partly by the Franconians partly by the Burgundians Under Honorius pag. 313. The beginning of the Kingdom of France is derived from the taking of the Citie of Trier in the year of our Lord four hundred three This hath been the beginning and occasion of the division of the Romane Empire towards France The second breach or diminution of the Romane Empire from the Hungarians towards Italie happened by the Goths And hereunto agreeth Munsterus in in his Cosmographie printed in the year one thousand six hundred fourteen pag. 381. and of the Edition of one thousand six hundred twentie eight pag. 356. sub quaestione How and when the Citie of Rome was taken again where hee writeth thus When the Goths had rebelled against the Romane Empire and set up Alaricus for their King they subdued and reduced not onely the Provinces of Thracia and Anglia under their power and plucked two strong Feathers out of the High-flying Eagle's wings but attempted also to cut off his head quite Daniel Pareus writeth thus in Medulla Hist. Eccles universalis pag. 195. Fuit mors Theodosii verè fatalis ad ruinam interitum Imperii Occidentalis ut secum abstulisse pacem Ecclesiae Reip. penè omnem videatur Seeing now the Characters of the beginning of the Apocalyptical one thousand two hundred sixtie years are applied to the three hundred ninetie fifth year since the birth of Christ As also the Character of the beginning of the one thousand two hundred ninetie years of Daniel applied unto the three hundred sixtie fifth year And the difference of thirtie years betwixt the one thousand two hundred sixtie and one thousand two hundred ninetie years are punctually found out And contrariwise it doth not appear by the histories where such two times may bee found which have thirtie years with such accidents following one to another whereunto the aforesaid Characters can bee more suitably applied Wee have reason to stand firm to this opinion so long as wee are not convinced of a better and conclude That the one thousand two hundred ninetie years of the Prophet Daniel 12. vers 11. begun with the last abominable desolation of the Temple at Ierusalem in the year of our Lord three hundred sixtie fifth and the Apocalyptical one thousand two hundred sixtie years with the Invasion of the Roman Empire by the Goths in the year three hundred ninteie five and that both together do exspire with the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year which is now shortly at hand 2. With the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year since the birth of Christ do exspire the six thousand years since the Creation of the world The Chronologer's supputation in general is this that this present one thousand six hundred fiftieth year since the birth of Christ is the five thousand five hundred ninetie ninth year since the Creation of the world But if wee do well consider the Chronological numbers expressed in the Scripture it will evidently appear that in this present one thousand six hundred fiftieth year of our Lord the five thousand nine hundred ninetie fifth year since the Creation of the world doth exspire and the six thousand year of the world will end with the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year of our Lord. According to the vulgar Supputation of years the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year of our Lord will bee the five thousand six hundred fourth year since the Creation of the world Unto these add the years which either by the Chronologers have been omitted or made too few and left out 1. One year whilest the Flood lasted Genes c. 7. vers 11. and chapter 8. vers 14. after the supputation of Funccius Reusnerus Partiltius and others 2. Sixtie years until the birth of Abraham who was not born in the seventieth but in the one hundred thirtieth year of Terah For Terah died in Haran Gen. 11. vers 32. when hee was old two hundred five years Immediately after the death of Terah Abraham departed out of Haran Gen. 12. vers 4. Acts 7. 4. beeing old seventie five years From thence it doth follow that Abraham was born when Terah was old one hundred thirtie years 3. Two hundred fifteen years of the sojourning of the Children of Israel in Egypt In Exodus 12. vers 40 41. wee read these words The sojourning of the Children of Israel who dwelt in Egypt was four hundred and thirtie years Which the aera vulgaris or the common supputation doth derive from the time of Abraham's calling when hee was seventie five years old Genes 12. vers 4. in this manner as followeth Until the birth of Isaac Gen. 21. vers 5. twentie five years Until the birth of Iacob Gen. 35. vers 26. sixtie years Iacob was old when hee went into Egypt Gen. 47. vers 9. one hundred thirtie years Which make up two hundred fifteen years The Children of Israel dwelt in Egypt two hundred fifteen years Which is against the clear text which doth not speak of the times of the Fathers but of the children of Israel not of the pilgrimage but of the sojourning and bondage not without and in Egypt but onely in Egypt Abraham indeed went down into Egypt Gen. 12. vers 10. but sojourned there not long and was not in anie bondage Isaac came not at all into Egypt beeing forbidden Gen. 29. vers 2. Jacob was one hundred thirtie years old before wee went down into Egypt So that the four hundred thirtie years of the sojourning of the Children of Israel who dwelt in Egypt Exod. 12. vers 40. and when the seed of Abraham was a stranger in a Land that was not their's and served them and was afflicted there Genesis 15. vers 13. are to begin their supputation from the one hundred thirtieth year of Jacob and his entrance into Egypt unto which must bee added here two hundred fifteen years 4. One hundred years from going forth out of Egypt
14. 2. Before this hous and Temple of God were two Courts whereof you may read in the second of Kings 21. vers 5. 2 Chron. 4. vers 9. 1. The Inner Court first of Kings 6. vers 36. which was called the Court of the Priests 2 Chron. 4. vers 6. into which none was permitted to enter but the Cohanim and Priests according to the appointed order there they served God with sacrifices and praiers In the middle of this Inner Court stood the Altar for the Burnt-Offerings which was twentie cubits long and broad and ten cubits high This whole place of the Inner Court is called here Thysiasterium 2. Without this was the great Court 2 Chron. 4. vers 9. Iosephus lib. 8. c. 3. compassed with a wall of white Marble The Outward Court Ezekiel 40. vers 17. called the Court in the Temple of the people or of the Israëlites This place did contein in it's circumference four furlongs and none durst enter into it but the Israëlites which were purified according to the Law The unclean Jews and Gentiles durst not com into it It is called in the Greek text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Outward Court 3. About this Court Herod caussed yet another great place to bee inclosed with a wall for the Gentiles and unclean which was called the Court of the Gentiles whereof here no mention is made By this Iewish Temple doth the Angel represent unto John the condition of the Church and Congregation of God in the New Testament giving him a reed and commandeth him to measure By the measuring is signified the building and propagating of the Church Ezech. 40. and following Zach. 2. vers 1 2. Revelations 22. God's Fatherlie providence and faithful care and how exactly and narrowly hee doth observ the actions and sufferings of his believing people Iohn should measure 1. The Temple of God that is the Christian Congregation the true invisible hidden Church which God will build up in the hearts of Believers 1 Cor. 3. vers 16 17. and 16. vers 9. 2 Cor. 6. vers 16. 1 Peter 2. 5. Ephes 3. 17. Iohn 14. vers 23. 2. The Altar 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the place where the Sacrifices were offered the place of oblations which was the inner Court where the Altar of burnt-offerings stood where the Priests did sacrifice and performed their service and praiers That is Becaus the Christian Church will bee exposed to afflictions and persecucutions and is to suffer manie grievous torments and tribulations in regard the true Professors and servants of God shall bee delivered up and killed like sheep appointed for the slaughter therefore hee causeth the sufferings and miseries which they should undergo to bee measured out unto them whereby hee setteth certain bounds to the Tyrants beyond which they cannot go and when they are com so far then must vengeance overtake them Hence it is that the sacrificed souls of the Martyrs who were slain for the word of God and lie under the altar as slaughtered sacrifices crie with a loud voice to the Lord holie and true for vengeance Revel 6. vers 9 10. 3. And them that worship therein Them therein not in the Altar but in the inner Court in the Court of the Priests as Kings and Priests Revel 1. vers 9. and 5. vers 10. as the Roial Priesthood 1 Petr. 2. 9. in the beauties of his holiness Psal 110. pure and undefiled Worship serv God with perseverance until the end and stick close to him in all sorts of persecutions even to the yielding up and sacrificing of their bodies and lives Now followeth the Description of the condition of the Church in the second Period in the time of Poperie from the three hundred ninetie fifth untill the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year in two Synchronisms or concurrences of times 1. The first of the treading under foot the holie Citie vers 2. But the Court which is without the Temple leav out and measure it not for it is given unto the Gentiles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wee read in the old greek versions which doth agree with the above-mentioned description of the Courts of the Temple For the Inner Court is in the first vers intimated by the world Thysiasterium But by the Outward Court here is understood the Outward worship or service of God which consisteth but in the Outward appearance and Ceremonies whereof God will take no notice and therefore rejecteth it Leav it out and measure it not saith the Angel For it given unto the Gentiles and the holie Citie they shall tread under foot Here wee must reflect and look First upon the invasion of the Heathenish Barbarous Nations For from the three hundred twelfth year of our Lord when Constantine the great was converted unto the Christian Faith until the three hundred ninetie fifth year when Theodosius the great died the Church of God did triumph over the Gentiles and destroied the worship of the Dragon and their idolatrous Temples But immediately after the death of Theodosius the Great the Goths Huns Alans with other Barbarous Nations invaded the Romane Empire ruined and destroied the same on all sides whereby the Church as the holie Citie begun to bee troden under foot and the Antichrist had an occasion given to break forth and shew himself vid. Hieron Epist 3. 11. 2. Upon the Heathenish Idolatrie which in Poperie hath been brought in again The Heathen worshipped Saturn Jupiter Mars Apollo Hercules Juno Venus c. In the Popish Religion Marie Peter Paul George c. are set up instead of those and called upon in time of distress so that there is but little difference between them 3. Upon the horrible Sodomie and other abominable sins which in time past have been committed by the Heathen and then afterwards practised and in publick books defended and are as yet commended and permitted in the Popish Church by the Clergie and others without anie shame or restraint This treading under foot shall continue fortie two moneths that is one thousand two hundred sixtie years as doth appear in clavi Apocalypt 2. The second Synchronismus or concurrencie of times of the two Witnesses clothed with sackcloth c. while 's the Holie Citie is troden under foot God will not forget his own people but will faithfully care for them wherefore hee saith V. 3. And I will give power unto my two Witnesses and they shall prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore daies clothed with sackcloth By the two Witnesses are understood faithful Teachers and Governors of the Church both Ecclesiastical and Political To such hee will give that they may edifie and propagate the Church of God and preserv the same against all Heresies and hostile attempts The number of the witnesses is small beeing but two of them which is the least number yet sufficient for the testimonie of the truth For at the mouth of two or three witnesses shall the matter bee established Deuter. 19. vers 15. Matth. 18.
OF St JOHN DEscribeth the State of the Christian Church in the New Testament and also the things which shall com to pass in the Romane Empire or in the fourth Monarchie under which the Church of God doth subsist This description comprehendeth three periods or three sorts of times The first Period containeth Regnum Draconis Ethnicum the time of the Dragon until the three hundred nintie fifth year of our Lord. This is the time in which the seven Crowns stood upon the seven heads of the Dragon Revelations 12. vers 3. and the Dragon himself under the Heathenish Emperors was publickly adored and worshipped but the Christians persecuted banished and put to death till at last Constantine the Great came to the Imperial seat whereby the reign of the Dragon came to an end the Dragon was cast out of the Church Heaven the Church prevailed and triumphed until the death of the Emperor Theodosius at which time the Devil left his shape of a Dragon and resigned his Host his residence and seat with his great autoritie unto the Beast with ten horns when it rose up out of the sea Revel 13. vers 2. The second Period comprehendeth vicariatum Draconis Antichristianum or the time from the three hundred ninetie fifth until the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year of our Lord in which the Pope at Rome as the Antichrist and installed Lievtenant of the Dragon blasphemeth God and his name and persecuteth his Saints for the space of one thousand two hundred sixtie years Revel 13. vers 2. when the Dragon was overcom and cast out of the Church-Heaven hee did cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman Revel 12. vers 15. that is hee stirred up the Septentrional Nations to invade the Romane Empire intending thereby to root out and destroie the Church But the Earth swallowed up the flood in regard these Nations imbraced the Christian Faith remained in the Romane Empire and erected several Kingdoms in it Seeing then the Dragon saw that hee could not maintain the Heathenism wherein hee openly was worshipped and served hee resigneth to the Beast which riseth up out of the sea Revelations 13. vers 1. and is ridden and governed by the great Whore of Babylon 17. vers 3. c. that is to the Antichrist who in the time of these wars doth creep out in the Romane Empire his power and his seat and great autoritie chapter 13. vers 2. and so make's him his Vicar and Lievtenant by giving over to him his seat and residence the Citie of Rome and the whole Romane Empire Whence it came to pass that about this time the Bishops of Rome begun to oppose the marriage of Priests and to seek to have the Primacie and preeminencie both in Church and State The Dragon doth resigne to his Lievtenant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his whole Host for in this sens the LXX Interpreters do use this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Exodus 14. vers 14. and 15. vers 4. and in other places as Matthew 24. vers 29 30. c. The host of the Dragon are his Angels or Devils and the Idols in which the Dragon and the Devils are worshipped and served by the Heathen These viz. Idols the Antichristian Popedome hath received and worshipped under the name and shape of Saints the Dragon and his Vicegerent as hereof the text in the words following vers 3. and 4. doth speak The whole Earth did wonder at the Beast and they worshipped the Dragon which gave power unto the Beast and they worshipped the Beast c. The Dragon doth give also unto him great Autoritie and make's him a Head over great Countries whereof David did prophesie in the Psal 110. vers 6. The time of this Lievtenantship shall continue fortie two moneths that is one thousand two hundred sixtie years since then it did begin in the three hundred ninetie fifth year of our Lord therefore it doth end in the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year shortly to com Upon this followeth the third Period which bringeth Statum Ecclesiae tranquillum the true peace and quiet condition of the Church here on earth Seeing at the sound of the trumpet of the seventh Angel the seventh plague or the third woe doth com upon the Romane Empire and at the same time the seventh Vial of God's wrath is poured out wherewith the Enemies of the Church are wholly cut off and destroied yea even the Devil himself shut up in the bottomless pit Revel 20. vers 1 2 3. therefore now nothing but a true and constant peace can ensue Whence it is that the Church of God rejoiceth with a great voice Revel 11. vers 15. saying The Kingdoms of this world are becom the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Church and hee shall reign for ever and ever And in the v. 17. Shee giveth also thanks to the Lord God Almightie because hee hath taken to himself his great power and reigneth Unto these three times all the three parts of the Revelation of St Iohn are directed For the Son of God describeth in this Revelation the state of the Christian Church and the things befalling to the Romane Empire in a threefold manner as 1. By seven Epistles chap. 2. and 3. 2. By a book sealed chap. 4 5 6 7. 3. By a little book open chap. 10. And following Hee doth appear also to John everie time in an other shape As 1. In the likeness of a son of man chapter 1. who suffereth in the first period 2. As a Beast in the shape of a Lamb having seven horns and seven eies ch 5. which doth fight in the second period 3. As a mightie strong Angel clothed with a cloud chapter 10. who in the third period hath all things put under his feet and reigneth 1. In the likeness of a Son of man in the midst of the seven Candlesticks c. chapter 1. vers 12 13 14 15 16. Hee declareth the condition of the Church in general by seven Epistles whereof the first and second belong to the first period the third fourth fifth sixth and seventh to the second and the promises chap. 2. and 3. to the third 2. As a beast in the shape of a Lamb with seven horns and seven eies hee openeth the book sealed the secret and hidden Decree of God and intimateth thereby the things befalling to the Romane Empire under which the Church is built up and preserved chap. 4 5 6 7 8 9. and distinctly how things shall bee carried In the Political State In the first Period until the three hundred ninetie fifth year of our Lord which by opening of the first six seals is performed chapter 6. where in the first five seals the condition under the heathenish Emperors but in the sixth the fall of Heathenism under the Christian Emperors from Constantine the Great until the death of Theodosius who died the 17. of Ianuarie Anno three hundred ninetie five fifteen prefigured In
the second Period from the three hundred ninetie fifth until the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year of our Lord where the seventh seal is opened and seven Angels with seven Trumpets declare to the Romane Empire by seven judgments it's ruine chap. 8. which plagues have been fulfilled The first by the Invasions of barbarous Nations Anno three hundred ninetie five vers 7. The second by the destruction of the Citie of Rome which first hapned by Alaricus Anno four hundred ten ver 8. The third by taking away Imperial dignitie in Augustulus Anno four hundred seventie six vers 10. The fourth by the Abolition of all eminent publick charges at Rome Anno five hundred fiftie two vers 12. The fifth by the Saracens as the first wo. Chap. 9. vers 1. until the twelfth The sixth by the Turks chap. 9. vers 13. until the nineteenth and the abominable Idolatrie murthers sorceries fornications and thefts vers 20 21. of the Papists as the second wo. In the third Period when the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year doth begin the seventh Angel doth sound and withal the seventh judgment is executed upon the Enemies of the Church with the third wo whereby the Mysterie of God is fulfilled Revel 10. vers 7. 3. Appeareth the Son of God to John as a mightie strong Angel from Heaven clothed with a cloud having a little book open which Iohn swallowed down and thereupon prophesieth how things shall come to pass especially In the Ecclesiastical State In the first Period until the three hundred ninetie fifth year 1. The Church is built up under great persecution chap. 11. vers 1. 2. The Church is gloriously beautified and clothed with the Son of righteousness hath the Moon under her feet despiseth all worldlie and earthlie things and reigneth over the works of darkness and upon her head a Crown of twelv stars the Apostles and the wholsom Doctrine of the same Chap. 12. vers 1 2. 3 The red Dragon the Devil stirreth up manie heresies persecuteth the Church Constantine the great cometh to the Imperial Seat the Dragon is overcom and Heathenism exstirpated vers 4. and following In the second Period from the three hundred ninetie fifth until the one thousand six hundred fiftie fift year these seven Synchronisms or concurrent times are described 1. The Holie Citie is trodden under foot by the Gentiles chap. 11. vers 2. 2. The two Witnesses clothed with sackcloth vers third until the tenth 3. The Woman fled into the wilderness and is fed there chap. 12. vers 6. until the fourteenth 4. The Beast with ten horns blasphemeth God and maketh war with the Saints chap. 13. vers 5 6 7. 5. The Beast with two horns at the same time drive's a trade with his pedling wares vers 11. until the eighteenth 6. The one hundred fortie four thousand sing a new song and live without blame chap. 14. vers 1. until the sixth 7. The Whore of Babylon the Popish Hierarchie ride's and rule 's the beast with ten horns the Princes and Potentates which adhere unto the Papacie at their own chusing and liking chapter 17. Herewith God causeth Babylon to bee forewarned Chap. 14. vers 6. with following Declareth and denounceth unto her the punishments and plagues Chapter 15. and 16. And when no Reformation doth follow hee passeth the sentence upon her and destroieth her Chap. 17. and 18. Whereupon in the third Period followeth the description of the great joie and Triumph of the Church over the total ruine and destruction of her enemies chapter 19. and the desired tranquillitie and peace of the Christian Church These things wee may see and learn in general out of the Revelation of St Iohn But seeing there bee manie particular and important things conteined therein which do relate unto our present times and are set down for the comfort of the Church which is now afflicted wee think good and expedient to make a collection of the same Now of these our times doth speak exactly and particularly the eleventh chapter in the Historie of the two Witnesses And the sixteenth chapter in the description of the seven vials of the wrath of God The eleventh chapter describeth the beginning of the third part of the Prophesie out of the little open book and and goe's through all the three Periods of the times of the New Testament and becaus it is as it were an abridgment of the whole Revelation and describeth the whole time of the New Testament wee will take the whole into our thought and consider the contents thereof Now it consisteth of two parts wherein is described 1. What is declared unto St Iohn by word of mouth how things shall com to pass 1. in the first period at the building up of the Christian Church 2. In the second period under the Antichristian Vicar in two Synchronisms or concurrencies of times Where 1. The Gentiles tread the holie Citie under foot for the space of fortie two moneths vers 2. 2. The two Witnesses are clothed with sackcloth one thousand two hundred sixtie daies vers 3. And following 2. What in the beginning of the third Period is represented to Iohn by a sudden change in a vision In the first period under the Empire of the Dragon the Son of God causeth his Temple and Church to bee built up The place of the Sacrifices to bee measured and doth faithfully protect his persecuted Christians For thus writeth Iohn Vers 1. And there was given mee a reed like unto a rod and the Angel stood saying Rise and measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein Mow seeing the building and gathering of the Christian Church is here commended to Iohn under the measuring of the Iewish Temple at Ierusalem therefore wee must consider the condition and form of the Temple that wee may attain unto the true proper meaning of this text 1. The Temple stood in the Citie of Ierusalem upon the Mountain Moria the length thereof was threescore Cubits the breadth twentie cubits and the height an hundred and twentie cubits 2 Chronic 3. vers 3. and 4. Iosep antiq lib. 8. cap. 3. It was divided into two parts 1. The hinder part towards the West was twentie cubits long and twentie cubits broad and called Sanctum Sanctorum the most holie place into which the High-Priest alone entred but once a year in his High-Priests attire first of Kings 6. vers 16. and 8. vers 6. 2 Chron. 5. vers 7. 2. The Forepart towards the East was fortie cubits long and twentie cubits broad and was called Sanctum the holie place into which onely the Priests entred 1. Reg. 6. vers 17. 2 Chron. 5 v. 11. and this is called here in the text The Temple of God Nota. Numerus cubicus dimensionum Templi Judaici exhibet Templi Mystici numerum Novi Testamenti 144000. Longitudo 60. cubitorum Latitudo 20. facit 1200. Altitudo 120. facit 144000. numerum signatorum cap. 7.