in the Red Horse of War in the Apocalypse and given in Daniel but in the way of Appendage to the Cutting off the Messiah But most fully given Ezek. c. 16. c. 23. To Conclude as I humbly Beg the Prayers of All who have Favour for Endeavours in the Clearing of Prophecy So I most Humbly and Ardently Pray for Blessing from Above upon what is here Presented that we may Read and Understand this Prophecy and may wait and come to the End of the 1335 Days For the Time is at Hand A TABLE OF THE GRAND EVENTS Relating to the Kingdom of Christ and the States of his Church from the Kingdom of David begun to his own Glorious Appearance in his Kingdom given in this Song AFTER the general Argument Solomons Preface and the Expositors Preface p. 1. p. 2. Years of the World 2949 Davids Reign began and with Solomons Reign made eighty years p. 3. p. 4 5. Years of the World 3029 Jeroboams Reign and the parting of the Kingdoms p. 6 7. Rehoboams Reign p. 8. Asaes and Jehosaphats Reign p. 9. The Reign of Ahaziah Joash Amaziah omitted in the Genealogy of Christ compar'd to a bundle of Myrrh in the Night p. 10. Abiiam Joram Ahaz Manasseh before Repentance Amon those worst Kings bundled with Uzziah and Jotham and Manasseh after Repentance as Camphire or Cypress giving some sweetness p. 11. Hezekiahs and Josiahs Reign p. 11. The Reigns of Jehoahaz Jehoiakim Jeconiah Zedekiah p. 12 13. Years of the World 3389 The Captivity of the seventy years beginning in Jehoiakims sixth and seventh years p. 13 14. The return of the Captivity p. 15 16 17. Years of the World 3459 The setled State of the Church under Ezra and Nehemiah p. 17 18. The division of Time by the Mountains of Bether before and after the Captivity p. 19 20. Antiochus Epiphanes making the Sanctuary desolate according to Daniels Prophesie and the History of the Maccabees p. 21. The Recovery of the temple-Temple-Worship and Christ in it till the Incarnation p. 22. Years of the World 3987 The Incarnation of Christ p. 24. Years of the World 4020 The Death and Resurrection of Christ p. 25. Year of Christ 33. 34. A Description of the Apostolick Church p. 26 27. The Ascension of Christ p. 28 29. The sending down of the Holy Spirit p. 29 30. The Gentiles call'd and becomming a Sister Church p. 31. The Gentile Church becoming as the only Church and the Jews under silence with the Scripture Admonitions in that case p. 32. The sealed Time entring wherein the Kingdom of Christ is stay'd and the State of the Churches under the Apocalyptick Symbols of Ephesus and of Smyrna under the Heathen and under the Christian Emperours p. 33 34 35 36. Of the World 4424 Year of Christ 437 The Apostacy of the Christian Church under the Church of Pergamus symboliz'd in the Revelation p. 37 38 39 40. The distribution of the 1260 Days of the Witnesses Sackcloth the Woman in the Wilderness under the Gentiles 42 months and the Beasts 42 months knitting one into another and becoming equal with the 1260 dayes p. 41 42. Year of Christ about 1400. The Description of the Churches true Beloved in the Church of Thyatira in opposition to Antichrist p. 43 44 45 46. Year of Christ 1527 and forward The Churches of the Reformation Thyatyra Sardis and Philadelphia searching for the Beloved and call'd Protestants p. 47 48. World 5684 Christ 1597 The State of the Philadelphian Churches Interval or the last 75 years of the 2300 p. 49 50 51. The calling of the Jews of the two Tribes p. 56. The Spouse praises the Jewish Body coming into Vnion with it p. 58 59 60 61 62. The Jews return thus distinctly plac'd the Song returns to the one Spouse so grac'd who now speaks p. 63 64. The earnest desire of the Church for the Personal Appearance and Reign of Christ in Humane Nature p. 64 65. The Appearance of the Ten Tribes as on the sudden p. 65 66. The Spouse concerning those Ten Tribes newly return'd and the Answer of the Ten Tribes p. 67 68. Year of the World 5759 Year of Christ 1772 A Description of the supreme Kingdom of Christ under the Parable of Solomons Royal Vineyard with a Conclusion comprizing Christs Incitation of his Church to desire his Appearance and the Churches Prayers for it like the end of the Revelation p. 69 70. Cant. 8. 13 14. Revel 22 17 20. compar'd Cause me to hear the Companions Hearkning to thy Voice Make haste my Beloved and be thou like a young Roe on the Mountain of Spices The Spirit and the Bride say Come Let him that heareth or hearkneth to this Voice say Come ALL SAID Come Lord Jesus come quickly The Argument AN Exposition of the Divinely Prophetick Song of Songs which is Solomons The Epoch or Beginning of which is to be Fixed at David's Unction Year of the World about 2950. or Annointing into the Kingdom of Judah and Israel who was the Grand Typical Messiah The Period of this Song is in The Glorious Kingdom of Jesus Christ the True Solomon King of Peace King of Glory the Son of David the Only True Messiah In a Prayer for this Kingdom This Song of Solomon Jedidiah the Beloved of the Lord Ends Thus Make haste my Beloved And be Thou as a Roe or a young Hart on the Mountain of Spices chap. 8. ult Even as the Beloved Daniel Ends in the Blessedness of that End of Dayes Dan. 12. ult And the Beloved Disciple John in that Prayer Even so come Lord Jesus shuts up his Revelation The Exposition is compos'd into Verse in Imitation of the Divinely Inspired Poesie in which the Holy Spirit Dictated it to Solomon The Persons speaking are The Spouse of the King The True Church The King himself Jesus Christ God-Man The Chorus or Quire The Saints of every Age. The Sacred Text with the Times of each Stanza or Canticle of this Song Adjusted to the Expositor's Line of Time and Illustrating it is given with short Marginal Notes for the Explication of any Difficulties in Words or Sense Solomon 's Preface Chap. 1 ver 1 The Song of Songs which is Solomons THis Divine Song of Songs To Solomon belongs The Type to Solomon The Life to Christ alone The Preface of the Expositor MAy th' Holy Breath now fill my humble Sails That swell'd King Schelom's Thoughts with first born Gales While Sp'rite Divine did th' Royal Phant'sy steer He sung the Song the World of Songs can't Peer A Song that Sacred Senses Enterweaves With Prophecies so high that Sybils leaves So fam'd to Ballads dwindle in Compare Or silenc'd Oracles This does declare That Princely Stem whom David's Kingly Root From Low Beginnings did in Schelom shoot 'Bove Earthly Kings and still in David's Son And Lord much higher lifts true Solomon Till Heaven opens and on Skies he rides Triumphant and all
and Hinds of the Field The Awes therefore of their Salvageness was to keep them from Murmuring and Repining at Gods Hand in their Captivity and to wait his appointed time And this is thus Poetically Express'd I Charge you c. Notes explaining Words. 1 The Captivity yet allow'd Peace and Quiet The Voice of my Beloved Notes explaining Words. 2 The Cell and the Mountains are oppos'd one signifying Captivity the other Liberty Behold he cometh leaping upon the Mountains skipping upon the Hills Notes explaining Words. 3 The Earth it self seems to fly in the Airy leaps of those Creatures Notes explaining Words. 4 The Churches moves upon the Mountains in return from Babel are set out by the Motions of her Beloved even as Christ is Resembled with the Churches Condition My Beloved is like a Roe or a young Hart Behold he standeth behind our Wall He looketh forth at the Windows shewing himself through the Lattise Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. a There Cannot be a more exact Description of the state of the Church when Cyrus Proclaimed its Liberty Ezr. 1. And the Adversaries of Judah hinder'd the Progress of Things till Darius Ezr. 1. And Darius Retriv'd all Ezr. 5. and Artaxerxes fully settled them in their former state Ezr. 7. and throughout his and Nehemiah's History Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. b It seems on all accounts of Scripture and History most probable Artaxerxes called Longimanus was by Esther the Son of Xerxes Ahasuerus spoken of Esth 1. c. Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. c The Word here fully went forth according to Ezr. 6. 14. compared with Dan. 9. 23. 25. Notes explaining Words. 1 Artaxerxes last Decree Ezr. 7. My Beloved spake and said unto me Rise up my Love and Fair one come away Notes explaining Words. 2 All the Tokens of the Spring are made use of to set out this Liberty For lo the Winter is past the Rain is over and gone The Flowers appear on the Earth The time of the Singing of Birds is come and the Voice of the Turtle is heard in our Land Notes explaining Words. 3 The Summer is like the setting out of a Royal Navy The Fig-tree putteth forth her green Figs and the Vine with the tender Grapes give a good smell Arise my Love my fair One and come away O my Dove that art in the clefts of the Rock in the secret place of the Stairs Notes explaining Words. 4 The delay of the Jews returns is most Elegantly set out by Clefts of Rocks and secret Stairs and by Haggai and Zechariah were given out and by Ezra and Nehemiah the continued Calls of Christ to come away Let me hear thy Voice Notes explaining Words. 5 By the Churches Voice and Countenance we may understand the Order of the Temple Worship so taken care of by Artaxerxes and Ezra commissioned by him Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. l There cannot be a clearer Explanation of this part of the Song than the compare of it with the History of Ezra and Nehemiah Let me see thy Countenance for sweet is thy Voice and thy Countenance is comely Notes explaining Words. 1 Sanballat Tobiah c. Nehem. 6. Take us the Foxes the little Foxes for our Vines have tender Grapes Notes explaining Words. 2 Ezra the ready Scribe in the Law of God Ezr. 7. 6. Notes explaining Words. 3 Nehemiah the Tirshatha Nehem. 7. 65. Who were Rais'd up by God under the fore-nam'd King â—rtaxerxes called Longimanus to restore the Temple and the whole Order of the Jewish Law Notes explaining Words. 4 While the fore-said Sanballat and Tobiah by a Fox-like Cunning pretended to Build with them as is to be seen in the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah Notes explaining Words. 5 This is the Circle He is mine I am His. My Beloved is mine and I am His He feeds among the Lillies Notes explaining Words. 1 Feeding among the Lillies represents the Churches pure state in Faith Worship and Life wherein Christ delights Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. a When Nehemiah had settled the Jewish State according the Law of God then was this mutual Affiance betwixt Christ and the Church Vntill the Day break and the shadows fly away Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. b The Church prays for the speedy returns of Christ foreseeing times of his Absence as Daniel calls them Troublous Times which as Christ and his Apostles especially the Revelation assure us are to continue till his Coming Turn my Beloved And be thou like a Roe or a young Hart on the Mountains of Bether or Division Notes explaining Words. 2 As the Equinoctial-Line divides the Year into its two halves of Summer and Winter before each of which the Sun comes upon that Line so the two halves of the Worlds time are in Cyrus divided into the times of old and the latter times Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. c There could not be a more Elegant Description of the last half of time then by the Mountains of Bether and of the state of that Time as a time with Troubles then by such a desire of Christs sudden Visits after some short Absences nor of the end of it then by Christs Glorious Appearance then by Shades flying away and the bright Morning Star appearing and shaded no longer by such wav'd Dicisions of Absence and Presence or of Eves and Morns Notes explaining Words. 3 The last half is fitly signified by the Mountains of Bether or of Division and Dissection viz. of time parted and cut asunder from its self and also divided betwixt Christs Absence and Presence as Eves and Morns Notes explaining Words. 4 The end of this last half of time is that all shades fly away and the Day of the Glorious Kingdom of Christ appears Notes explaining Words. 5 Whole Time being compar'd to a Globe the two halves may be compared to two Hemispheres or half Globes while Eternity as before and after Time flows round the whole Globe of Time Esay 45. 1. Notes explaining Words. 1 Among all the Heathen Kings named in Scripture Cyrus alone is called Gods Annointed Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. a The Years from the Creation when the Womb of Eternity brought forth Time computed first by the Patriarchs Lives to the Flood thence to Abraham's Sojourning at Terah's Death thence to the going out of Aegypt thence to Solomon beginning the Temple thence to Solomon's Death thence to Cyrus by Ezekiel's 390 and 40 Prophetick Years arise just to 3459 years as will appear on Tryal Notes explaining Words. 2 Numbred Numbers are Numbers plainly set down in the Scripture Calendar or Account of Time Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. b Ezekiel's 390 Years accounted by the Reigns of the Kings of Israel till their Captivity as they ought to be because this Sin of Israel was born in them then by the Kings of Judah till the City Smitten then by the 14 years after the City Smitten rise exactly so many at the Vision of the New Jerusalem which Vision accomplished they shall be Restored and their Sin no longer borne The 40 Years of Judah being the remainder of the 70 Years Captivity from that Vision run to their Redemption by Cyrus when their Sin no longer borne and so ought to be joyn'd to the 390 as is said in the Verses Ezek. 4 5 6. Ezek. 41. 1. c. Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. c Daniel's 2300 Even Morn and the thousand Years make the other half of Time together with the little Time after Satan loosed at the end of the thousand Years Notes explaining the SenÅ¿e. d The thousand Years are an entire
Eighth and is of the Seven Notes explaining the Words and Senſe together. 5 Here the Times of the Gentiles that the Scripture especially design'd begin and with them the Gentile Pest before spoken of viz. The treading under foot the outward Profession of Christianity and abusing the Name of the Catholick Church by those who pretended to be Christians that is Adopted Jews but lyed and were Antichristians Together with this Apostacy begin those repeated Characters of Time the 1260 Days for Years The Gentiles 42 Months into which are engrasted the Beasts 42 Months Ann. 47◠the three Days and a half and Time Times Half a Time Now joyning the Gentiles and the Beasts 42 Months one into another all these begin and end together Notes explaining the Words and Senſe together. 6 The times of Apostacy are fitly described by the time of the Night in this Song and of the Moon in the Revelation as the Kingdom of Christ by the Day and the full Glory of his Kingdom by the Day Breaking and all Shadows flying away Notes explaining the Words and Senſe together. 7 The Smiting Wounding and taking away the Veil by the Watch-men Keepers of the Wall does most remarkably correspond with the Death of the Witnesses that I date to the Beasts Number 666 in the Year of the Vulgar Account 725. * Curses of Excommunication Notes explaining the Words and Senſe together. 8 There were continual strugglings to rise out of the Apostacy from the Year 1400 till Luther rose 1517 when the Daughters of Jerusalem began to enquire after the true Beloved of the Church the Reformation Notes explaining the Senſe. 1 From Ann. Christ Seven hundred twenty five or six on which that so famous Year of the Beasts Number fell to 1727 when the Witnesses Protested I look upon as the time of Witnesses deep state in Death after the manner of our Lords being in the Grave Notes explaining the Senſe. 2 The Enquiry after the true Knowledge of Christ was the very beginning of the Reformation viz. of his Death and Redemption Notes explaining the Senſe. 3 It is most observable Here is given a full Description of Christ and not of the Church as throughout this Song in other Parts of it the Church is described it not agreeing with its Beauty of which two Reasons may be given 1. The Church is not described from the beginning of the Apostacy till the end of it 2. Because nothing does more detect the Falshood of the Papacy and its Antichristianism than to set the Description of Christ part by part in opposition to it * From Head to Foot Notes explaining the Senſe. 1 There is nothing in which the Opposition is made more notorious than in the Flourishing Youth of Christ as it were Reproaching the Papal Old Age. The Chorus by the Daughters of Salem Notes explaining the Senſe. 2 The first beginning of the Reformation was the Acknowledgment of the Beauty of the sincere Profession of Christ and that Then was the True Church Notes explaining the Senſe. 3 This stirs up to that Inquiry that was made after Christ and the true Knowledge of Him and does very illustriously describe the Reasonableness of the Reformation What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved Oh thou Fairest among Women that thou dost thus Charge Vs My Beloved is White and Ruddy Notes explaining the Senſe. 1 The true Doctrine of Justification by Christ and of Sanctification by his Spirit who came by Water and by Blood very lively Expressed by his being White and Ruddy The Chief or the Standard among Ten Thousand or Myriads Notes explaining the Senſe. 2 The great Excellency of such a King and Saviour as Christ is Emblem'd by the Excellency of Personage Standard-bearers are chosen out of many and wherein Christ Excells Ten thousands His Head is of most fine Gold Notes explaining the Senſe. 3 To speak Christ a Head of Eternal Life his Head is compared to the finest and most substantial Gold and not like the Golden Bowl or Shell that breaks at the Well Eccles. 12. 6. His Locks bushy and black as a Raven Notes explaining the Senſe. 4 The Compare of his Locks as bushy and black as the Raven is certainly allusive to the Strength and Vigour of Youth and to the known long Life of the Raven His Eyes as of Doves by Rivers of Water Notes explaining the Senſe. 5 The chast Eyes of the Dove reflected by the purest streams and wash'd with Milk are most fit Resemblances of the Purity Mercy and Grace of Christ so contrary to the impure and bloody Eyes of Antichrist Notes explaining the Senſe. 1 Retines are that Net-work Coat of the Eyes that catch the Objects for sight Even as the gracious Eyes of Christ take Souls with those Rays of Light as of Jewels set in Rings that draw them in Fitly set or sitting in Fulness as precious Stones in the Foyl of a Ring Notes explaining the Senſe. 2 The Cheeks of Christ as Beds of Spices and Flowers Expressing all the Grace and Salvation of the Gospel are justly oppos'd to wither'd and faded Antichristianism His Cheeks are as a Bed of Spices as sweet Flowers Notes explaining the Senſe. 3 The Truth of Christ in his Word into whose Lips Grace is powred is most contrary to the Impurity and Falshood the Cursing and Bitterness in Antichristian Doctrine and Censures that Breath Sulphur Fire Blood and Death like the Lake of Sodom called Asphaltites His Lips are like Lillies Dropping sweet smelling Myrrh Notes explaining the Senſe. 4 The Truths of the Gospel are like gracious Enclasping of Hands set off with Beams of Light as Rings of Gold and attemper'd to Reason and Understanding as the light and pleasant Green of the Beryl Whereas the bold and unreasonable Falshood of Antichristianism forc'd on by Infallibility and secular Punishments are like Iron gripes His Hands are as Gold Rings Set with the Beryl His Belly is as bright Ivory overlaid with Sapphirs Notes explaining the Senſe. 5 There is a Fruitful Hill where ever True Christianity is planted and Flourishes Emblem'd by a Belly of Ivory overlaid with Sapphirs as Veins of purest Water enriching a cleanest Soil whereas Barrenness and Cruelty are the very Nature of Antichristianism and Countries over-powered by it His Legs are Pillars of Marble set upon Sockets of fine Gold Notes explaining the Senſe. 1 The Feet of Marble upon Sockets of Gold are a very fair Opposition to the Legs of Iron upon Feet of Clay in the Image Dan. 2. which Feet of Clay being struck the Image falls and all its Metals are beaten to the Dust of the Threshing Floor Shewing the certain Ruine of all other Monarchies and the stable Kingdom of Christ His Countenance is as Lebanon Excellent as the Cedars Notes explaining the Senſe. 2 The whole Administration of the Gospel is like the lofty Cedars of Lebanon rising to Eternal Glory and Papal Falshood like the Chaff that the Wind drives away * Greatness His Mouth is most sweet Yea He is altogether lovely Notes explaining the Senſe. 3 The sweetness of Christs Mouth is a plain Signification of the Excellency of his Word * The sweetest of Foods This is my Love and this is my Friend oh ye Daughters of Jerusalem Notes explaining the Senſe. 4 Christ is Loveliness it self to every Spiritual discerning Eye Notes explaining the Senſe. 5 The constant Descriptions of Antichrist are as if he were an abstract of Evil the Wicked One the Man of Sin the Beast * Antichrist Notes explaining the Senſe. 6