of GOD casting off the yoke of discipline and licenceous liberty in all kinde of vngodlinesse yea meiting of the Lorde our God with extreame vnthankfulnesse in respect of his graces offered so long to both the Nationes Falsehood oppression murthers harlottries and all other such kinde of mischieuous dealing without hauing anie punishmente Yea filthie Swine and Dogges eating their owne vomite as was prophecyed in PETER and IVDE in their Epistles and namely such prophaine mockers of all religion hauing once professed the trueth aud now turning to Epicureisme develish Atheisme tanting at the promise of the coÌ„ming of the Lord Iesus to judgement saying that all worldlie things continue in the same estate they were froÌ„ the beginning so supposing the world never to haue ende that there shall neither be punishment for evill doing nor reward for wel doing after this life To whom Peter answered accordingly as in his second Epistle we may read howe they willinglie misknow howe the first worlde was destroyed by water and it resteth that the next which we are in be destroyed by fyre and that the long suffering of the Lord is if it were possible to bring al men to repeÌ„tance and howe a thousand years is with him as one day and one daye as a thousande yeares as indeede what is the time if wee shall reckon all the ages from the beginning of the worlde vnto this present but as it was not sixe daies expleit for giueing to everie age a thousand yeares as some do the six thousand vet it wil lack foure hundreth forty fiue years if we count by hundreths the ages of the worlde which is now commonly the longest time of mans life there will be but fiftie fiue ages paste and we are now in the fiftie sixtage wherein all tokens of the latter times appeares for the most parte to be fulfilled whereof we haue spoken in our Treatise before and if we shall beleeue the Astrologues Saturne being Lorde of the revolution of the great Circle this yeare signifieth Sectes changing of estates and Kingdomes Seeing then all these things threatten vnvnto vs the hastie cumming of the Lord to judgment it becoÌ„meth vs now not to neglect the occasion offred vnto vs so long as wee are in this present shorte life to do well for we know how occasion is paynted as the verse sayeth Fronte capillata est post hac occasio calva Occasion on the fore-head hath haire But ay behinde she is naked and baire Wishing al men therefore earnestlie as our Maister fore-warneth vs to lift vp their heades and waite for their approching redemption when the Lord shal appeare in the clowdes to the comfort of the faithfull And seeing there is no perpetuall remayning for vs in this world but after a certaine shorte space of time we all must needes change our dwelling place and compeare before that celestiall Iudge that wee learne to addresse our selues for that heavenly life while we haue time for it shall come to passe that time shall bee no more when as the seaventh Angel shal begin to blowe his trumpet For then as Iohn speaketh in his Revelation the mysterie of God shall be finished Let vs not therefore be like the foolish virgines but wheÌ„ the bridgroome commeth let vs haue our Lampes reddy prepared with oyle to meet him and the more thornie and dangerous the way of the jorney of our life is in these euil dayes let vs be the more diligent warily taking heed to the steppes of our feet that we may walke as in lighte and not in darknesse the Lord will come shortly and put an ende to our labors receauing vs in his everlasting kingdome euen the Lord Iesus Christ. To whome with his heauenly Father and the holy Ghost be al honour and praise for euer Amen Gen. 2. 〈◊〉 Exod. 2â— 11. Leuit. 2â— Exod. 1â— Gene 6. 7. 11. 12. 15. That to Exod. 12. Gal. 3. 1. King 4. Gal. 4. Lib. 4. â— 26 〈…〉 〈◊〉 C. Vâ—ige 〈◊〉 before ciâ—ed C Quemadmodum vb S. 1 Cor. 10. 1. Tim. 4. â— Pet. 3. Daâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 15. Iob. 3. â— Genâ— Propositiâ—â— 37. Gal. â— Col. 2â— Cor. 5. â—â—cles 1. Act. 1. Luk. 〈◊〉 Mat. 〈◊〉 Genesâ— Genes Gen 6 7. 8 Genes 1◠〈…〉 Aened 6. â—word 10 Apoc â— Exod. â—5 Zaâ—h 3. â— Act. â— Luk. ◠〈◊〉 12. Luke 11 〈◊〉 119 〈…〉 Apoc ◠〈…〉 Chap. 〈◊〉 Apoc. 〈◊〉 Mat. 〈◊〉 Mark 13. Luke 21. Matth. 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Act 〈◊〉 â—â—od 10. â— Tim. 3. Apocal. 7. Apoc. 8. Apoe â— Apoe 10. 11. Chap. 16. Psal. 1◠〈…〉 Phalm 〈◊〉 Rom. 〈◊〉 Colloss â— Math. 24 1. Tim. 4. 2. Pet. â— Iude. Math. 〈◊〉
A NEWE TREATISE OF THE RIGHT RECKONING OF YEARES AND AGES of the World and mens liues and of the estate of the last decaying age thereof this 1600. yeare of Christ Erroniouslie called a yeare of Iubilee which is from the Creation the 5548. yeare Conteining sundrie singularities worthie of observation concerning courses of times and revolutions of the Heauen and reformations of Kalendars and Prognostications with a discourse of Prophecies and signes preceeding the latter daye which by manie arguments appeareth now to approch With a godlie admonition in the end vpon the words of the Apostle to redeeme the time because the dayes are evill By M. ROBERT PONT and aged Pastour in the Kirk of Scotland The heades are set downe in certaine Propositions in the Page following LVKE 17. As it was in the dayes of Noe so shall it be in the dayes of the Sonne of man EDINBVRGH PRINTED BY ROBERT WALDE-GRAVE PRINter to the Kings Maiestie Anno 1599. Cum Priuilegio Regio The propositiones and heads to be handled in this Treatise 1. THat the most sure reckoning of the ages of the worlde is by Sabbathes or weekes of yeares and that they who count without respect thereof are in an errour and that by iust account this 1600. yeare of Christ is from the beginning of the world the 5548. yeare 2 That this yeare of Christ 1600. by right reckoning is neither a Sabbaticall yeare nor yet a yeare of Iubilee and that the true Iubilee of Christianes is alreadie accomplished with detection of the abuse of the counterfaited Iubilees holden at Rome 3 That the Iubilee of the Papisticall Romanistes neither doth rightly counterfaite the Iewes neither the Seculare yeares of the auncient Romanes And of diverse manners of reckoning the ages of the Worlde and of mens liues 4 That in our time the signes and revolutiones of the heaven are changed and remooved from the olde accustomed places And therefore the vulgare Prognosticators reckoning by the olde rules are in an errour 5 That the Iulian or Romane Kalendare might receiue an easier reformation and that the late attempted reformation thereof is not well taken vp but giveth occasion of errour in reckoning 6 That there is a merveilous sympathie of periodes of times in reckoning by seuens by Sabbatical yeares and of the manifold mysteries of the number of seauen 7 That there is an appearant dangerous alteration to fall out this yeare within few yeares hereafter and of the Prophecies and signes declaring to vs the world to be neare an end 8 An admonition to all men to prepare themselues and to redeeme the time because the dayes are evill TO THE RIGHT REVERENDâ— NOBLE LORD ALEXANDER SEYTON L. Vrquhard and Fyvie President in the Senate of Iustice and Provest of Edinburgh c. All health and felicitie in Christ. YOur Lordshippes gentle humanitie toward all honeste and well-hearted men and namely towards me since my first acquaintance hath mooved mee to dedicate to your honour this parte of the fruite of my studies knowing that amongst the rare Mecenases of this Land your name is with the highest ranke vnder his Maiestie to be mentioned The first cause I confesse that mooved mee to publish this Treatise in our English tongue was to disswade the too curious conceites of certaine men desirous to be at Rome this approching 1600. yeare commonly called a year of Iubilee wherof they shuld receiue no profit but rather domage with losse of time expenses For your L. knows wel ynough the maners of Rome as I am perswaded allowes not of that pompose superstition yet if your L. wil take paines not being fashed with more weighty matters to reade this whole discourse I trust you shall finde other heads whereof you shal like verie well that haue troubled the heades of learned men and not bene so exactly found out Wishing your L. to accept of this smal token of my good fauor towards your honor and to accept of me amongst the clientele of your friendship wherfore God-willing ye shall not finde me vnworthie To whose almightie protection I commit your L. This last of October 1599. Your L. ever ready to power in God ROBERT PONT TO THE READERS HAVing in hand a more large workâ— concerning controllment and examination of times by occasion of this incident 1600. yeare of Christ which is reckoned by the Papistes and others applauding to their superstition to be a yeare of Iubilee I thought good to prevent that errour by this little Treatise discevering thereby the vanitie of divers men of this Ile of others far cuntries who with great los of time and hazard not onely of their substance and liues but also of their soules and consciences minde to visite that Idole the Pope and to be present in Rome onely to see his yeare of Iubilee falsely being counterfaited to the imitation of the Iubilees of the Iewes but indeede derogatory to the true Iubilee and spirituall libertie purchased vnto vs by our Saviour Christ. And for-as-much as this instante yeare is the ende of a great Period of time to witte sixteene hundreth yeares from Christ his nativitie wherein there appeares diverse great mutationes to fall out aswel in the estate of Religion as in civill affaires and common wealthes I haue herewith not onely discovered diverse erroures in reckoning of times and ages of the Worlde and laboured to finde out the right reckoning but also touched the revolution of the heauen and reformation of Kalendars and Prognostications and declared my iudgement concerning the Prophecies and signes of the latter day appearing nowe shortly to approche If any be not satisfied with the brevitie of this Treatise I reâ—â—itte them to my more ample discourse to be set out in Latine if GOD graunt me abilitie and time wherein the proofe of these propositiones with other matters of the like arguments will be conteined at large Read learne-well and try Then judge advisedly OF THE DECAYING ESTATE OF THE worlde this instante 1600. yeare of Christ. FIRST PROPOSITION That the most sure reckoning of the age of the worlde is by Sabbath's of yeares and they that count not considdering the same are in an errour and that by iust account this 1600. yeare from Christ his birth is from the beginning of the worlde the 5548. yeare IN The beginning as the Spirite of God recordeth by MOYSES after that the Lord in sixe dayes had created the Heaven Earth with all the furniture thereof Hee rested vpon the seventh day Therefore hee blessed it and hallowed it This is also repeated in the fourth Commandemente for the perpetuall observation of that daye and because the number of seauen by that reason is a sacred nomber and most meete for al kinde of reckoning It was ordained also in the lawe that amongst the people of God everie seventh yeare should be holden holy wherin the land should rest froÌ„ labor so that therin there shuld neither be sowing of cornes nor cutting
bring not the 11. yeare of ZEDEKIAH to a juste Sabbaticall yeare with out any superfluous odde yeares And so for the backe reckoning of yeares to the beginning of the worlde from it to the 11 yeare of Zedekiah we haue not onely the just reckoning of Sabbaticall yeares but also the Scriâ—â—ures for our warrant And for further confirmation the agreement of the Sabbatical yeares yeares of Iubilee with the 6. yeare of Iosua from the which the Israelites made that reckoning as was declared before That yeare being from the Creation the 2499. yeare As also by this our counte the yeare of the promise made to Abraham being of the world the 2023. wilbe found a Sabbaticall yeare And likewise the year of the birth of Moyses being the 2373. yeare And this much for the back-reckoning Now to count forward from this our staie of time to 〈◊〉 the 11. yeare of Zedekiah being from the creation the 3360. yeare first we shall adde thereto the 70. yeares of the captivilie of Babylon which we reckon from the 11. yeare of Zedekiah being the yeare of desolation and so there will bee 3430. yeares from the beginning of the World The which yeares we shall take for our second stay or roote of reckoning to wit the first yeare of the raigne of Cyrus wherein libertie was proclaymed to the people to returne this 3430. year of the world divided by seavens hathin the quotient 490. Sabbathes or weekes of years leaving no odde yeares And the quotient againe being packed by seavens hath justlie 70. Iubilees of years and there remaine no odde yeares nor oddes weekes of yeares So this 3430. yeare of the world is a most perâ—fite stay of time and roote or grounde to reckon vpon And hath as manie Weekes of yeares as the 70. weekes mentioned in Daniel whereof wee are to speake haue of yeares that is 490. which laketh not a mysterie Then to goe forwarde with this our second staying of time I holde with some of the best learned that from this first yeare of Cyrus to the Nativitie of Christ are 518. yeares and from the creation of the World 3948. yeares by adding to 3430. these 18 yeares And so the yeare immediatly preceeding the birth of our Saviour Christ to be a Sabbatical yeare conteining in the qâ—otient 524. weekes of yeares and leaving no odde years Nowe to prooue the forwarde reckoning to be right we shall take two warrandes out of the Scripture the one out of the ninth Chapter of Daniel and the other out of the â— Chapter of Iohn his Revelation As to the former out of Daniel it was revealed to him by the Angel that talked with him that 70. weekes of yeares were determined or as the Hebrew word properlie signifyeth decided and cutte in partes concerning Danieâ—l his people and his holy Citie And thereafter the Angell divideth these 70. weekes in seauen weekes and 62. weekes and finallie in one weeke It is out of question that this Prophecy is ment of the returning of the people of Israell from the captivitie of Babylon and of the building againe of the Cittie of Ierusalem after the captivitie and it cannot bee without a speciall cause that the Angel divided the first seven weekes of years from the 62. weekes and finally speaketh of the laste weeke of the seaventy by the self I therefore thus take it vp that as there was foure diverse liberties graunted to the people at foure severall times so this prophecie hath respect to them all and divideth the time according thereto The first libertie was granted by Cyrus in the first yeare of his raigne over the Babylonians wher of mention is made in the first of Ezra The second libertie to proceede in building of the Temple which worke was impeded a certaine time was given by Daâ—â—â—â— called Longimanus whom Ezra in his fourth Chapter nameth King of Persia. The third and fourth liberties were graunted by Artaxerxes the Great the one to Ezra and the other to Nehemia As wee reade in Ezra the 7. and in Nehemiah the 2. Chapter Nowe where it is said in Daniel that from the going out of the Commaâ—dement to bring againe the people and to builde Ierusalem vnto Messiah the Prince there should be seaven weekes and 62. weekes and that after 62. weekes Messiah should be slaine c. Of these weekes I take the first seaven to begin immediatly after the first libertie graunted by Cyrus to the people to returne and to end at the 6. yeare of Darîus who in the second yeare of his raigne gaue new libertie to build the Temple which was finished in his sixt yeare And this is called the going forth of the commandement to bring againe the people conteining the space of 49 yeares which make an Iubilee The other 62 weekes of yeares I take to beginne betweene the two liberties graunted by Artaxerxes the one to Ezra in the 7. yeare and the other to Nehemia in the 20. yeare of his raigne To wit the beginning of these 62. weekes to be the 14. yeare of the King Artaxerxes and to ende the 28. yeare of our Saviour Christ his age The which two last liberties concerne the maintenance of the service of GOD in the Temple of Ierusalem being alreadie builded and the building againe of the Cittie and Walles thereof by moyen of Nehemiah and his assisters For the Angell maketh a distinction betweene the bringing againe of the people and bulding of the Temple ascribing there to the first seaven weekes and betweene the building againe of the Cittie and inhabiting therein which he ascribeth to the other 62. weekes Then I saye having the beginning and endings of these weekes so distinguished there will bee founde an intervall of time betweene the end of the seaven weekes and beginning of the 62. weekes conteining the space of 63. yeares that is 9. weekes of yeares the which space and interruption of yeares is most probably meante by the Angell where hee sayeth seven weekes and 62. weekes â—ere decided or cutte in partes concerning the bringing againe of the people on the one part and the building of the Cittie and Walles thereof on the other parte so that there is a discontinuance of time betweene the one and the other As toward the last weeke of these 70 weekes of Daniel it is to be reckoned from the 28. yeare of Christ his age as may be taken vp by the text wherein it is said that after 62. weekes Messiaâ— should bee slayne And a little thereafter that hee should confirme the covenante with manie for one Weeke and in the middest of the Weeke shoulde make the Sacrifice and oblation to cease The which thing Christ accomplished indeed by offering his owne precious bodie in sacrifice about the middest or neere the ende of this last weeke of Daniel which endeth in the 35. yeare of Christ his age And as to the confirmation of the covenant it is meant no doubt of the Preaching of the Gospell which hee begouth
neere the middest of this last weeke about the 31. yeare of his age Now to come to the yeare before the birth of Christ we must take off 35. yeares which will be fiue weekes of yeares and so there will remaine of the 70. weekes of Daniel 65. weekes which make 455. yeares and adde thereto the 63. yeares interlaced betweene the 7. weekes and 62. weekes The summe of yeares then from the first yeare of Cyrus or from the captivity to Christ wil come justlie to 518 yeares as I set downe in the beginning of this reckoning and adde these 518. yeares to 3430. yeares which was our ground and second staie of time The whole summe of yeares from the creation to the birth of Christ are 3948. yeares Nowe wee haue further to verifie this forwarde reckoning from the captivitie to Christ to be iuste and agreeable to the trueth which I shaâ—â— do both by reason and count of Sabbatical years and yeares of Iubilee and also by Scripture and beste approoved Histories of these times First for Sabbaticall reckoning it is manifest that Daniel hath respecte thereto in the count of his 70 weekes which make 10 Iubilees of yeares counte Now it was proven before that the 3430. yeare of the Worlde endeth in an Iubilee to witte counting 70. Iubilees from the beginning and 490 Sabbathes of yeares which is the same number that Daniell comprehendeth in his 70. weekes to wit 490 single yeares so that there bene as manie years in this Periode of Daniell as were weekes of yeares from the beginning of the World to the beginning of his reckoning And seeing he counteth by Sabbathes of yeares and Iubilees his count vpon 490. yeares muste needes follow immediatly the other reckoning of 490 weekes of yeares from the beginning of the world so must proceed from the 3430. yeare of the World consequently from the first yeare of Cyrus Secondly we haue to remember the seconde authoritie which I alleadged out of the 8. Chapter of the Revelation for the second warrant of Scripture to confirme this our reckoning In that Chapter mention is made of seaven Angels to whome seaven Trumpets were given by God to blow and to declare thinges that were to fall out in the World thereafter The blowing of Trumpettes being figuratiuely spoken hath respect to the blowing of the Trumpets at the ende of every Iubilee as is mentioned in the Law the 25 â— Chapter of Leviticus whereby it may be gathered that the distinct times wherein these Trumpets figuratiuely were blowen that is the Angels and Ministers of God declared his will concerning the estate of the World his Church therein after every Trumpet blowing were yeares of Iubilee For Iubilee taketh the name from Trumpets we know that the Preaching of the word of God is also figured by blowing of Trumpets Esay 27. and 58. And in the beginning of that 8. Chapter of the Revelation it is declared that at the opening of the seaventh seale of the closed booke of the counsell of GOD the first Angell prepared him to blow his Trumpet Now the opening of the seaven seales of the Booke signifyeth as all godly writers expone it the revelation and declaration of the hid counsels of GOD which was when he sent his beloved Sonne in the worlde first to Preach the Gospell by himselfe and his Apostles and thereafter by the lawfull Pastours and Ministers of his VVorde declarers of his holy will vnto the world the space of opening of these seales as they were seaven in number so everie Seale opening comprehendeth the space of seaven yeares And the first seavent year of the first Seale is the last weeke of the 70. weekes of Daniel called The fulnesse of time by Paule wherein the Gospell begouth first to bee preached From the which counting by seauens we finde the opening of the seauent Seale to fall vpon the 71 yeare after the birth of Christ as likewise the blowing of the first Trumpet consequently the 70. yeare to compleate a Iubilee of yeares whereanent who would know further let them reade that learned and divine worke of IOHN NAPER in the exposition of the Revelation the 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. propositions Now having found the 70. yeare of Christe to be the 49. and last yeare of Iubilee let vs count backe from the 71. yeare of Christ to the first yeare of Cyrus by Iubilees and we shall finde by our former reckoning the space of 588. yeares which make 12. Iubilees compleete and leaue no odde yeares For the 70. weeks of Daniel make ten Iubilees and the 63. yeares interjected betweene the 7. weekes and 62. weekes together with 35. years that are betweene the end of the weekes of Daniel the 71. year of Christ being joyned together makâ— 98. years two just Iubilees So that they ar 12 Iubilees in the whole froÌ„ the 3430. year of the world to the 71. yeare of Christ. And from the beginning of the VVorlde to that 71. yeare 82. Iubilees Yet further to make this reckoning good by Histories of the time we finde by count of the Kings of the Persian and Babylonian Monarchie by Megasthenes corruptly called Metasihenes the Persian Historiographer whervnto Philo the the Iewe in his Chronologie aggreeth counting by the yeares of the Hie-Priestes and governours of the house of David to witte from Iehosua the Hie-Priest Zorobabel Prince of Iuda and first Governour after the Captivitie that betweene the first yeare of Cyrus and the first yeare of Alexander the Great conquerour of the Persian and Babylonian Empire were 191. yeares VVhereof 49. yeares are reckoned from the first of Cyrus to the 6. yeare of Darîus Longâ—manus who was the seconde that gaue libertie to build the Temple as was declared of before For Cyrus raigned 22. yeares Assuâ—rus Prisâ—us 20. yeares Then there was the inter-reigne of one yeare Then adde to those 6. yeares of Darîus they make vp these 49. yeares And from the 6. yeare of Darîus Longimanus to the 14. of Great Artaxerxes called Mnemon are 63. yeares thus reckoned Darîus reigned yet 31. yeares Darîus Nothus 19. yeares adde 13. of Artaxerxes the summe is 63. years And from Cyrus 12 yeares So there resteth from the 13. of Artaxerxes to Alexander 79. yeares thus reckoned Artaxerxes yet raigned 42. yeares Artaxerxes Ochus 26. Aâ—ses 4. and Darîus the last vanquished by Alexander 6. yeares The summe is 79. yeares completing the 191. yeares before mentioned Now least any should derogate the authoritie of Megasthenes and Philo in counting of these yeares of the Persian Monarchie I will affirme for my part them to be most authentick of all that I haue read whatsoever be said against them And that they are to be preferâ—ed to all the Greeke authors who are of light credite and full of Fables as I intende to declare at large in my more ample discourse For as to Combyses whom they make one of the Persian Monarches if wee reade diligentlie the
is more then the space of a Moneth what errour it may growe to by proces of time it is easie by this example to perceiue And so wee must confesse indeede that the olde Kalendare in this poynt hath neede of reformation As also that Cycle or count called the Paschall Cycle of Dionysius Now Lilius in his new Kalendar to restore that Cycle of Dionysius to the right reckoning maketh his counte by hundreths because every 304. yeares which is the space of sixteene Golden numbers one day being added to the Golden number of nineteene yeares supplieth the houres and Minutes of the course of the Moone But this counte by hundreths hath divers imperfectiones Namely because in his Epactes counting by hundreths no exact methode can be observed yea the variety of the course of the Moone can not so formally bee counted thereby as by the Golden number which conteineth lesse space besides that the Paschal tearms aggree not oftimes thereto wheranent you may reade Ioseph Scaliger in the end of his learned woork De emendatione temporum where also he setteth downe a more perfite reckoning by a Table of equall Epactes where-anent because it is hard to be conceived by them that are not wel acquainted with Astronomical reckonings I cease now further to speak Alwaies wee shall vnderstande it is very difficill to finde out ane Cycle that may make an absolute perfite reckoning of the course of the Moone to frame it to anie perpetuall Kalendar Yea as Io. Stoeflere wryteth in his greate Romane Kalendare no Paschall Cycle may exactly comprehend the same Which alwaise is best found out by the Epacts and by the Golden number receiving a juste correction Therefore for the instruction of the common â—orte of men best it is by Astronomicall counte to sette a Table or Almanacke conteining the right reckoning of the course of the Moone for manie yeares either by her midde motiones or by her appearing and true motiones as Io. Stoeflere did for certaine yeares in his dayes In the meane time it shall suffice for a grosse and common instruction of all men to place the Golden number in the Iuliane Kalendare vppon the precise dayes of the change of the Moone as it is nowe set downe in diverse Kalendars For that will serue to declare what daye everie change falleth out and whether it be before or after noone by adding of the letter B. or A. to everie particulare Golden number which maye serue for a long season without anie perceptible variation And who would knowe more exactlie the houres and Minutes of everie Change Full or quarter of the Moone let them gette once by ane Ephemeride or right Prognostication the chaunge of one Moone with the dayes houres and Minutes thereof and counte to the next change twenty nine daies twelue houres and fourtie foure Minutes And from the Change to the Full fourteene dayes eighteene houres and twentie two Minutes And for everie quarter seaven dayes nine houres and elleven Minutes proceeding so farre as you lyste it shall bee the true reckoning of the course of the Moone As to the Paschall Cycle we need not be carefull thereof But take heede to the first full Moone after the vernall Aequinoctium and ever the next Sunday thereafter should be Pasche or Easter day and thereby you may propagate an Almanacke for the moueables Feastes as farre foorth as ye please after the rule of the Nicene Councell But to bee too much curious concerning the observation of those Feastes it is not necessary for true Christians for wee know that concerning the resurrection of Christ which admonisheth vs to ryse in newnesse of life everie seventh daye in the yeare which wee call the Sundaie or Lordes day putteth vs in remembrance thereof And otherwise wee are forewarned by the Apostle Not to be supersititions in observation of times dayes and yeares that wee be not brought in Iewish bondage thereby And againe That no man shoulde iudge vs in Meate or Drinke or in respecte of an Holic-daie or of the newe Moone or of the Sabbothe dayes which were but shaddowes of thinges to come But the bodie is in Christe meaning the substance thereof was accomplished in Christe And wee haue no commandement nor ground out of the Scripture nor any example of Christ or his Apostles for observation of those daies For as to the typical Pasche or Passeover of the Iews it was finished in Christ when he our true Passeover or Paschal Lambe was sacrificed for vs And we as Paule sayeth haue now to keepe a feast spiritually al the days of our life putting away the olde leaven of malice and vvickednesse with vnleavened bread of sincerity and trueth And the other invented Paschetyde or Easter after the resurrection of Christe is but the invention of men how auncient soever it be So that the great contentiones and controversies that followed in the auncient Church for the day wherin the same was to be observed both before and after the Nicene councell are skarsely worthy to be recited And yet Victor Bishoppe of Rome as that seate was ever proude for not observing the same day which he and his adherentes kept did excommunicate al them of the churches of Asia that kept an other day For the which cause the godly Irenaeus Bishop of Lyons justly founde great fault with him Notwithstanding the Church agreeing to the observation of such a day as an indifferent thing in remembrance of the resurrection of Christ there is no necessity to counterfaite the lawe of Moyses in observing the time of the Moone but it may be fixed to a certaine day of the Moneth or else following the full Moone to finde it out after the maner before recited Alwaies our Christian libertye ought not to be prejudged herein And so I make an end SIXT PROPOSITION That there is a certaine merveilous Sympathie and aggreement of Periodes of times in reckoning by seauens and by Sabbaticall yeares And of the manifold mysteries of the number of seaven EVen as God the author and conserver of all things in a comely and decent order hath appoynted an succession and progresse of time for accomplishment of the naturall course thereof so hath hee appoynted certaine periodes and revolutiones of time wherein thinges returne to the same or like estate wherein they were of before So wee see in the motions of the heaven which are measured by time or rather which are the measures of time the Sunne the Moone and the starres to haue their peculiar and distinct revolutiones wherein they accomplish their courses and returne after a limitate and determinate space of time to the places from the which they did departe As the Sunne compleeting his course and revolution in the space of 365. dayes and neere sixe houres or the quarter of an day ascribeth vnto vs that space of time which we cal the yeare which returning in it selfe in Latine is tearmed Annus quasi annulus taking the similitude
gathered the revpon with sobrieâ—ie of inquisition For our Saviour Christ himselfe in an other place willeth his Apostles to take heed when they shall see Ierusalem besieged with souldiers for then they shuld vnderstand that the desolation thereof was nere And againe as it is in an other Evangelist When ye shal see the abhomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet standing in the holy place Then let him that readeth meaning him that readeth the Prophecie considder And thereafter he giveth his Disciples a signe Saying learne ye the similitude of the Figge-tree when her bough is yet tender and bringeth foorth leaues ye know the Summer is neere So likewse yee sayth he when ye see all things which I haue foretold know that the Kingdome of God is neere euen at the doores With many other sayings to the like purpose Where hee vnderstandeth by the Kingdome of God his spirituall Kingdome and not as the Apostles in their question meant of a Temporal Kingdome For he came not to restore any such Kingdome Likewise Daniel and the rest of the Prophets are oftimes warned to marke the times when such things as were reveiled to them should come to passe And Iohn in his Revelation to write the same And expressely in Daniell wee haue set downe the periode of time whereof was spoken in the first proposition of the standing of the policie of the Iewes after the captivity of Babilon to wit of those 70. weekes which were prefixed to that people and to their cittie of Ierusalem to stand Now this space of 70. weekes of years set down by the Angel in Daniel for the time of the standing of the common-wealth of the Iewes after the restauratioÌ„ thereof so that thereafter it should come to a determinate desolation being a greate periode of time about 500 yeares to wit 490. yeares appeareth plainly by a certaine fatal lawe appoynted and determined by God to bring to all other kingdomes and great Empires a merveilous mutation as is evident and founde out by aggreemente of many examples not sticking vpon the precise daye nor year but about or neere such a revolution of time either kingdomes fall and are turned vp side downe or else are transferred and changed from their former estate in other newe formes for the moste parte And also other most notable accidentes fal out in the world both concerning the estate of the Church and earthlie policies either about such a time I saye which I call the great or more periode of 490. yeares conteining 70. weekes of yeares that is the space of ten Iubilees or else about the halfe space thereof which I call the lesse periode conteining 35. weekes of yeares and fiue Iubilees that is 245. yeares which is the space of the blast of everie trumpet reckoned by IOHN in the Revelation So that hereinto also the reckoning by seavens and by Sabbaticall years bringeth out a great sympathie and agreement to count the changeing of times thereby of the which I haue thought good here to shew many examples And first we do finde in the Scriptures and concerning the estate of the Church of God and of the olde Worlde that in the first halfe periode of time to witte about 245. yeares after the creation after the birth of Enosh the name of the Lord begouth to be called vpon that is the hearts of the godly begouth then to be mooved to restore the purity of religion which by Cain and his wicked seed before had bene suppressed About the end of the second great periode of time to wrtte from the creation 987. yeares Henoch was translated by God from this mortal life to immortalitie to coÌ„fort the faithfull of that age confirme them against the vngodlines of the world in hop of the general resurrection About the end of the third great periode when fell out in the 1470. yeare from the creation the world begouth vniversally to be corrupt when the seede of the godly begouth to be mingled with the vngodly For the which cause within the half period of time therafter God in his just judegmeÌ„t destroyed the whole race of man-kinde except Noah and his familie by that feareful invndation of waters Not many yeares after the fourth great period which ended in the 1960. yeare of the World was Abraham called out of his natiue cuntry by God to whom and his posteritie God promiseth the Land of Canaan that in his seede al nations should be blessed From the promise made to Abraham to the departing of the Isralites out of Aegypt we know were 430. yeares to the which adding 60. yeares of the former age of Abraham they will make out the fift great periode So that the next yeare after the departing of the people out of Aegypt to possesse the Land of Canaan will compleite the same which falleth in the 2450. yeare after the â—â—â—ation of the world We do know likewise that froÌ„ the departing out of Aegypt to the building of the teÌ„ple by Solomon ar 480. yeares which lack only 10. or 11. years of an other just great period For the sixt great period from the creatioÌ„ endeth in the â—940 year of the world which was the 15. yeare of the raigne of Solomon neere the time of the dedication of the Temple The seventh great period by exact calculation commeth justly to the yeare of the Worlde 3430. which was the first year of Cyrus wherein the people of the Iewes were delivered from the captivitie of Babylon in the which yeare there was a great concurrence of Sabbathes and Iubilees as was shewen before And if we wil count forward from this yeare we shall finde the eight great periodes to extend to the 3920. yeare of the world which is but 28. yeare before the birth of Christ. So wee see and gather by the Scriptures howe about the ende of these great periodes of 490. yeares or 70. weekes of yeares mentioned by Daniel greate accidents fell out in the Worlde and amongst the people of God even from the beginning vnto the birth of Christ. We shall finde also that about the space of one of these great periods the people of Israel were ruled by Iudges and thereafter about the like space by Kings And so long lasted the restored policie of the Iewes And to come to profaine histories many the like periodes of Empires and Kingdomes and great mutations may be founde out and commonly the greater dominions haue the more suddaine changes according to the saying of the Poet Summisque negatum stare diu It is not granted to highest things to haue long standing Concerning this matter we read of the Philosopher Cratippus that he being demanded by Pompeius after that hee was vanquished by Caesar at the fielde of Pharsalia If there were any divine providence seing that he who had the more just cause was so over-come The Philosopher answered that there were certaine fatal periodes of Empires whereby then the common-weale of Rome
in all ages periodes of time the beginning of the Preaching of the Gospell yet continue in ouâ— daies For the end is not yet come And the estate of the Church is like to the selfe almost in all ages But by the blowing of the seaven trumpets alluding to the Iubilâ—es of the lewes we vnderstand the particular estate of every periode of time since the first Preaching of the Gospel as partly was declared before Of the which periodes wee are now into the seventh and last to wit in the beginning thereof which hath affinitie and similitude with the ende of the former sixt periode and blast of Trumpet Therefore ceasing now to make discourse in particular of the first foure blasts of the Trumpet wherin the first plague of haile fyre mingled with bloud doth signifie a certaine vnmeete temperature of colde and heate of men in receiving the Gospell with mingled bloudy persecution of the tyrantes of the earth And the seconde of the burning mountaine cast into the sea may signifie the greate persecutor Diocletian being last of these emperors with his fierie rage against the wavering multitude of christians of whoÌ„ the third part were either destroyed or yeelded to his tyrannie The third truÌ„pet likewise making mention of a greate star falling from heaven doth properly signifie Arius who with his bitter heresie against the divinity of the Son of God infected the pure fountains of the word of God And wher it is said that at the blaste of the fourth trumpet the third parte of the Sunne the Moone and Starres were smitten Wee vnderstand the light of the pure Gospel with the Ministers therof to haue bin in a great part obscured in that foure periode of time Of these things I say I wil not nowe intreate in particular but come to the last three blastes of trumpet conteining three woes that is three more fearefull plagues then the former So commeth the fift blast and first woe about the 1051. yeare of Christ wherein a greate starre falleth from heaven to whom was given the â—eye of the bottomlesse-pit out of the which arose a great and dark smoke and out of the smoke Locustes which are described at length in the text This starre I take vndoubtedly to signifie the Pope with his feyned keyes whereby he pretendeth to haue power to hinde louse not only in the earth but also to deliver mens soules out of Purgatorie with the smoke of false doctraine and the â—ocustes to signifie his corrupted Clergie and swarmes of Cloysters who are set foorth with their liuely colours properties that no man can deny to agree wel vnto them This star may also signifie Mahomet that false prophet with his corrupted Alcoran and 〈◊〉 of his secte Alwaies the remanent of this first 〈◊〉 â—et troubleth the world albeit this Antichristiâ—â— and Papisticall kingdome in a parte hath gotten a great fal Therefore we come to the sixt trumpet which begouth to be blowen about the year of Christ 1296. wherein the foure Angels were loused from the floud Euphrates which is most conveniently interprete of the four great Mahometane nations comming from the East to witte the Arabianes Saracenes Turkes and Tartarianes with the infinite number of their Horsemen ay ready for battel with a furious and fyrie rage namly that bloudy Nation of the Turkes who now hath the dominion over the rest and over a great parte of the Earth This is the second woe whereof this day still we haue experience IOHN therefore sayeth hee saw these horses long before in a vision with them that sate vpon them having fyerie habbergeons and of Iacynth brimstome that of the fyery smoke brimstone the third part of men were killed which may wel signifie their goodnes artillery by the which devillish inventioÌ„ a great part of men of the world are daily murthered shutt out at their mouthes fyered at their tayles This plague then being one of the last plagues signifyed also in powring out of the sixt Viole vpoÌ„ the great river Euphrates to dry it vp that is to take away all impediments to giue place in the wrath of God to the kings of the East to invade Europe ceaseth not this day to continue is appearant to continue with great rage this instant 1600. yeare certain years hereafter concurring with the threatning signes of the heavens whereof I haue already spoken And the cause thereof is evideÌ„t Because as it followeth in the text The rest of men which are not already killed by these plagues repented not of their workes of their hands that they should not worship divels Idoles of God and of silver of brasse and stone and of wood which neither can see neither heare nor goe expressely damning the Papistes which yet remaine in their Idolatrie As also these repenteth not of their murthering of the Saints of God nor of their sorceries neither their fornications nor of their thieft In the which they and other feyned Christians amongs vs still are involved For the which causes followeth the third last woe with the blast of the 7. trumpet which begouth to blow about the 1541 year of Christ. But before this last woe fal out the Lord by the Angel of his covenant Iesus Christ of his great goodnes offreth to the world the book of his new Testament willeth the same to be preached by his Ministers with that to our great coÌ„fort the true church is measured the elect ar marked so that Satan the tyrants of the world caÌ„not hinder their salvation TheÌ„ finally commeth the last plague woe vpon infidels impenitent sinners suddenly vnlooked for when they with then head the divell shall passe with manie woes vnto everlasting torment but this shal not be till the second woe be vtterly consumed past with the dependances therof which aâ— signifyed in the seaventh blast by a wounderfull great Earth-quake with lighenings and voyces and thundrings with much haile The like whereof is repeated in powring of the seavent viole of Gods wrath where it is said also that the hail was great like talents that fell out of heauen vpon men so that thâ—y blasphemed God because of the plague of the haile it was so great By which figures the Spirite of God will vtter vnto vs the great destruction of his enemies with such as hold stil the beasts mark haue no grace to repente in these last daies For of before the thundring of Gods word called all men to repentance and to obedience of the Gospell with an amiable and loving voyce But now finally such as will not come out of Babylon nor repent their wicked lines by Gods just judgement are threatned with an other kinde of thundring to witte with horible punishmeÌ„t alluding by these similituds to the over throw of Sodome to the words of the Psalmist where he saieth vpon the wicked God shal raine snares fyre
bee lovers of themselues boasters proude cursed speakers dissobedient to Parentes vn-thankfull vn-holie vvithout naturall affection truce-breakers false accusers intemperat fearce despisers of them which are good Traitours heady high-minded lovers of pleasure more then of GOD hauing a shew of godlinesse but denying the power thereof Turne away therfore sayth he from such Surely if ever there was any time since the beginning of the world or any age where-into such corruptions and maners of men abounded this may bee holden the principall wherevnto charitie is waxed could and all kinde of iniquity waxed hoâ—e and hath full libertie And albeit the Apostle in this place by the last times meaneth in a manner the whole estate of Christs kingdome that was to follow his dayes yet the nearer the Sunne draweth to an ende the more danger and greater troubles no doubt were to ensew For as Christ himselfe doth forewarne vs In these latter dayes shall aryse warres and tumultes of warres famine pestilence persâ—cution for the Gospell with other calamities and inconveniences which fall out against mens bodies but the corrupt and evill maners of men also should infect the soules of those that bee not ware with them and that which is worse the Apostle here meaneth not only that such vices shal reign in these latter times amongst the vngodlie and enemies that are without the Church but even of domesticall professoures with the same that would be reckoned amongst the members of his Church for GOD will haue the same so exercised that she shall be subject to beare albeit not to foster such pestiferous corruptions within her bosome for which cause we haue al great neede in these daies of this fore-warning that wee should learne in time to beare patientlie our estate and to eschew the evil example of those men who are now mingled amongst vs whose companie is declared to be the more dangerous that he shewed that such men polluted with so manie erroneous faults should neverthelesse professe outwardlie and haue a shew of godlinesse for so is the nature of Hypocrites to cloke their sinnes with extreame impudencie Of such sorte were the Pharisees of old and in our time the filthie Papistical Clergie and over-manie of those who pretend aye reformed Religion For the Apostle here maketh a catalogue of such signes as appeare not outwardlie incontinent but lurk and are hid vnder a certaine feined holinesse For where shall wee finde an hypocrite but he is proude a lover of himselfe and contemner of others yea fearce cruell and deceitfull but fo hee will not appeare to mens eyes vnlesse he be more narrowâ—ie espyed by them that haue the spirit of discretion to know them by their fruits Of these Hypocrites the Apostle Paule in his other Epistle to Timothee giveth two examples which hee declared also shall be in the latter dayes wherein some shall departe from the faith taking heed to deceivable spirites yea teaching devilish doctrine to witte forbidding mariage and commanding to abstaine from meates which God created and ordained to bee received with thanks-giving Noting in speciall besides vther heretickes the Papistes with their superstitious decrees wherby they binde the consciences of men with these two errovrs many vthers contrarie to the libertie of the Gospel persecute by fyre sword true Christians that wil not assent to their devilish decrees therefore wee may well conclude these are the dangerous dayes whereof Paule meant and that the faithfull haue great neede to take heede to them selues And by all appearance this same present yeare of Christ 1600. with certaine fewe yeares immediatly following are like to be yeares of great troubles to the Church of God and persecution intended by the Papisticall tyrannie against all true professoures of Gospell wherein they may be able to invade as may witnesse that late League made in Ferrar at the mariage of the King of Spaine and that mis-made Cardinal Albertus Arch-duke of Austria celebrate by Pope Clement the eight which hath bene interprysed to be begunne and to take execution in some parts of Almanie and of the Low cuntries and great vowes and preparationes made as we heare not onely against those cuntries but against this Ile of Brittaine and inhabitantes thereof the which the Lorde in his mercie turne to the confusion of the interprisoures thereof as he did before And giue vs grace that wee may with watching and prayer depend vpon his majestie trustling and waiting for his deliverance occupying the time and ocasion offered to vs of peace and quietnesse in such sorte that suddane destruction apprehend vs not before wee beware according as wee haue bene forewarned of our maister Christ and of his Apostle Peter declaring that his latter comming to iudgement shall be as in the dayes of Noah when as they were eating and drinking marying and giuing in Mariage vnto the day that he was entred into the Arke and then came the floude and destroyed them al. So shall the comming of the Sonne of man be sayeth he We see now the worlde is in as great and greater securitie then it was then and al the sins that reigned theÌ„ in the world abouÌ„d now more then they did Therefore the sinnes that we reade of them of that age were two in speciall the one was the vnlawfull conjunction in mariage of the children of God or the faithfull seede with the cursed posteritie of CAIN and that there were then Gyants in the Earth to witte mightie oppressoures vsurping â—yrannicall dominion over men such as was not seene in the worlde of before And haue wee not these and manie moe greater sinnes and enormities raignning at all libertie in our dayes for who now seeketh allyance of mariage with the Godlie for vertue or Godlinesse cause But be they Godlie be they vngodlie the first question is what may they spend how much men may giue with their daughters as to tyraÌ„ny oppressioÌ„ was there ever greater since the world stood But besides these specials kindnes fidelitie and loue true feare of GOD which is principal where be they to be founde But in place thereof craft doublenesse deceite insatiable greedines and such other sinnes as was recited before and prophecied by PAVLE beare the swinge in such sorte that it is marvell howe a common societie can stande anie longer amongst men And if this were onelie amongst the Romane sorte of prophane menne it were more to be borne with but even they who will be in account haue place in the Church of God are no better for the most part And to cease now to speake in particular of other forrayne cuntries comming to our selues in this Iland what is there in England and Scotland but a naked profession of Religion with out fruites following In England a proude ambition both in Church and amongst the whole multitude Yea proude profanitie with contempt and disdayne of others In Scotland a sluggish securitie and in both the Landes a loath-some haiting of the worde