KNOWLEDGE OF THE TIMES OR The resolution of the Question how long it shall be unto the end of WONDERS By JOHN TILLINGHAST a Servant of Jesus Christ Dan. 12. Vers 8 Then I said O my Lord what shall be the end of these things Vers 9. And he said unto me Go thy way Daniel for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end Vers 10. Many shall be purified and made white and tried but the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand but the wise shall understand Chap. 7.21 I beheld and the same Horn made war with the Saints and prevailed against them Vers 22. Until the Ancient of days came and judgement was given to the Saints of the most high and the time came that the Saints possessed the Kingdom Printed at London by R. I. for L. Chapman and are to be sold at the Sign of the Crown in Popes-head Alley 1654. Knowledge of the Times TO The faithful VVitnesses of CHRIST Within the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland Dearly beloved in our Lord IT was not doubtless without a special and most wonderful design of Heaven in order to the making of Christs Kingdom and the Administrations thereof the more welcome to the World when the Fathers appointed time of setting the same up should be come That the power of the Fourth Monarchy in its second state should be in all respects but chiefly in its rise worse more odious and abominable than ever was power in the World before it for as for all the three first Monarchies and the Fourth also considered in its first state before the Antichristian Beast was Mid-wived into the World they did receive their power from God upon which account the Apostles in the New Testament urge obeto the ruling Powers of the World that then were telling Beleevers to whom they wrote that there was no power i. e. then standing but what Originally in respect of the derivation of the power was of God and ordained by God Rom. 12.1 1 Pet. 2.13 14. But now the power of the Roman Monarchy in its second State as subjected to Antichrist which Beast was not then risen but to ascend to the Throne afterwards Revel 17.8 is as in many other respects so especially in this viz. of the first rise or derivation of the power made to differ vastly from all those preceding powers which were parts of the Great Image as well as it for those though their power was abused yet had they it originally from God but of the Antichristian Power the contrary is expresly declared namely That when the Ten-Horned blasphemous Beast should arise he should receive his power from the Dragon or Devil Revel 13.1 2. And I saw a Beast rise up out of the Sea having seven Heads and ten Horns and upon his Horns ten Crowns and upon his Heads the name of Blasphemy And the Beast that I saw was like unto a Leopard and the Dragon gave him his power and great authority Hence Revel 11.7 and again Chap. 17.8 where his rise is spoken of he is said not to have a descent from Heaven as had the former powers but an ascent out of the bottomless Pit i.e. from Hell noting as before that the derivation of this Power should not bee from God but from the Devil Which Position is yet more clear if wee consider how that Jesus Christ all the time of the Beasts Kingdom doth set up a two fold power viz. a power Magisterial and Ministerial which he calls his two Witnesses Revelation 11.3 For this very end to oppose the Beast by bearing constant witness against and smiting so farre as in them lyes the Beast and his Powers This witnesse-bearing Power set up in direct opposition to the Beast though in respect of their outward condition they are at and under all the time of the Beasts Kingdom he till his day is out ruling the rost for which cause they wear Sackcloth yet being declaredly of Divine appointment and ordination I will give power to my two Witnesses hence it necessarily followeth that the power of the Beast cannot be such too unlesse we should suppose Divine appointments to be manifestly contradictory within themselves and to fight the one with the other which to say would be rather a blasphemy than an absurdity And it is for this reason because the Beast receives his power from the Dragon that the Worshippers of the Beast are said to worship the Dragon Revelations 13.4 And they worshipped the Dragon that gave power to the Beast and they worshipped the Beast From all which it appears That Power considered as Antichristian is not of divine institution but Diabolical This Antichristian power is that which of all the Powers of the Four Monarchies takes last place closing up the Worlds day and standing next to Christs Kingdom in regard of time God seeing it best in his infinite and unsearchable Wisdom to suffer things before he will erect his own Kingdom of righteousness and holiness to grow to such a height of unparalelled impietie in the World as that the principal affairs thereof which in all Ages and Generations formerly had ever been ordered and disposed by men as his Substitutes should in this last time namely the time of Antichrists Kingdom bee disposed of and governed by men as Substitutes of the Dragon In the ruines of this Power Christ begins his own Kingdom for as the Persian Monarchy had its beginning in the ruines of the Babylonian and the Graecian in the ruines of the Persian the Roman afterwards in the ruines of the Graecian so the Kingdom of Christ or the Fifth Monarchy hath its first rise in the ruines of the Antichristian Kingdom with which the Antichristian Kingdom being the Fourth Monarchy in its second and last state the Fourth Monarchy it self goes to ruine and way is made for the rise of the Fifth which succeeds it This thing is most evident in the two first of Daniels Prophecies viz. That of the Great Image Chap. 2. and that of the four Beasts Chap. 7. for the one tells us that Christs Kingdom ariseth by smiting and breaking the feet of the Great Image the other that it ariseth by judging casting down the Throne taking away the Dominion of the Little Horn either of which are the same both pointing as the future Discourse proveth at large at the Kingdom of Antichrist and Christs judging thereof Now that this Kingdom of Christ which Daniel speaks of as succeeding the Kingdom of Antichrist taking its beginning in the others ruines cannot be a meer Spiritual Kingdom as many would have it but must bee an outward and visible Kingdom is manifest enough though wee had no other proof thereof but what is couched in these two Prophecies though yet I might say it and speak truth that this Doctrine of Christs visible Kingdom is that great Truth of which all the Prophets of the Old Testament more plentifully than of any one besides it
the time when this began Our next Question is What time are we to pitch upon when this was done Ans The year before fixed 396. 1 Because at this time the Roman Empire upon Theodosius death became divided betwixt Arcadius and Honorius his two sons of which see my Key Thesi 22. This division was such that Carion treating upon the fourth Monarchy doth hereupon prefix to the reign of Arcadius and Honorius this title The spoyling of the fourth Monarchy 2 Because about this very time did the Goths and Vandals invade the Roman Empire coming in as an overflowing deluge upon divers parts of the Roman Empire A better testimony hereof I cannot produce then by transferring hither what by the learned Mede is gathered together out of the Ancients relating to this time and thing in his Comment upon the Apocalyps Chap. 8. upon the first Trumpet He begins from the time of Theodosius death which was A.D. 395. which because the current year we are in our account to let fall and begin with the year following 396. and saith thus In this very year Alaricus with a huge host of Goths and other Barbarians did first break in out of Thracia upon Macedonia sparing neither Towns nor men Thence marching forward through Thessaly and possessing himself of the Straits of Thermipolae he enters Greece i.e. Achaia the Cities whereof besides Thebes and Athens he razeth to the ground He rusheth into Peloponnesus wasteth Corinth Argos and Sparta Thence he marcheth into Epirus where he proceeds to make the same devastations and destructions In the following year quitting Epirus he invadeth Achaia and it together with Epirus and the adjacent Provinces he laboureth four full years cruelly to destroy with fire and ransackings when thus for five years he had afflicted the East with mercilesse ransackings he set his mind to invade the West he passeth into Dalmatia and Pannonia those Regions he wasteth far and neer Hear saith he Jerome who then lived bewayling the state of this deplorable time the tempest hitherto raging In his third Epistle the Roman blood is daily poured out between Constantinople and the Julian Alps The Goth the Sarmatian Quadus Alanus the Huns the Vandals the Marcomanny do force and take by violence Scythia Thracia Macedonia Dardania Dacia Thessaly Achaia Epirus Dalmatia and all Pannonia How many Matrons how many godly Virgins and beautifull noble bodies were mocking stocks to these Monsters The Bishops taken the Presbyters slain The Roman Empire goeth to ruine What heart thinkest thou have the Corinthians now the Athenians Lacedemonians Arcadians and all Greece whom these Barbarians command But in the year following viz. Anno Dom four hundred and one the same Alaricus followed by the Goths Alans and Huns about to wage Warre in Italy also brake through Noricum and came through the Forrest of Trent into Venice those Cities in a short time he subdued the Emperour Honorius he besieged at Hasta so as that all Italy thought upon quitting their Habitations But here at length 〈◊〉 the General of Honorius having gathered 〈◊〉 Army stopped his fury and compelled him living once and again vanquished and wearied with 〈◊〉 Battels to retire into Pannonia whence he came out of which a while after a League being 〈◊〉 and be honoured with a Military government 〈◊〉 Honorius be departed into Illyricum a Proâ—â—â—â— of the East â—â—â—â—icus being quiet a little while lest henceâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 or any time the West should bee vacant of 〈◊〉 presently in the year four hundred and four another mentorable breaking in of the Barbarians upon Italy is attempted Radagiso a Scythian being Captain who with an Army of Goths Sarmatians and Germans to the number of two hundred thousand the Forts in the Alps being beaten down hee passeth into the Region of Venice Aemilia and Hetruria he besiegeth Florence where being by Stilicho vanquished with a great slaeughter is taken and beheaded This enemy how soever terrible in a little time and with lâ—sse losse being taken away forth with Anno Dom. four hundred and six the third and that the most grievous and deadly inrode of the Vandals and Alans taking with them the Marcomanni Heruli Swedes Alemans Burgundians with a rabble of other Barbarians is made upon the West whereby first France then Spain lastly Africa are taken and afflicted with all kind of calamities Which destructions Hierom in his eleventh Epistle hath thus partly expressed partly implied Innumerable saith he and most fierce Nations have taken all France whatsoever is betwixt the Alps and the Pyrenaean Mountains which is inclosed with the Ocean and the Rhone the Quadus the Vandals Sarmatians the Alans Gipides Heruli Saxons Burgundians Alemans and Pannonian enemies have destroyed Mentz is taken and plundered and many thousand slain in the Church the Vangions with strong siege destroyed the strong City of Rhemes the Ambians Attrebates Morini Tornacus Nemete Argentoratus translated into Germany Aquitane and the Provinces of Novem Populorum Lions and Narbone a few Cities excepted all are ruined I cannot make mention of Tolose without tears which that it is not yet ruined is for the sake of that holy Bishop Exuperius Spain it self now ready to perish trembles Rome buyes her life with gold Hitherto Master Mede p. 71 72 73 74. Now upon the whole observe it being a thing expresly fore-told Revel 13.1 that the Antichristian Beast should have his rise out of the Sea i. e. from a confluence of People and Nations the rise of Antichrist cannot more aptly be applied to any time then this of these barbarous Nations over-flowing in this wonderfull manner the Roman Empire 3 Because suddenly after the year three hundred ninety six as the issue of this invasion the Civil power of the Empire began by little and little to bee transplanted from the seventh Head and to be seated in the Horns Now as it is an evident Argument that the Empire was going to decay when there began to be a removall of the Civil power and authority from the Head to the Horns so is it also as clear an Argument that the Beast was now rising for it is the Beasts Horns that have Crowns upon them the Dragons have none But of this more in my next From the whole I frame this Argument The forty two Months and the one thousand two hundred and sixty days are there to begin where the Civil power of the Roman Empire began to go to decay or to be taken away But this was Anno Dom. three hundred ninety six Ergo. CHAP. IV. Proving and confirming yet farther our Position laid down in the former SECT 1. A Fourth Argument to prove that wee are to begin the time of the Beast in all likelihood with the year before stated may be taken from the time of the rise of the Horns some of the Horns did suddenly after this year appear For this see Alsted in Chronologia regnorum veterum Rosse History of the world Lib. 3. Cap. 3. Sigonius as I finde him
to the Roman Monarchy in general 3 Because the fourth Beast in Daniel is diverse from all the Beasts before it Dan. 7.3 7. but now the description of the Beast Antichrist Rev. 13.2 argues him to be in some things like them all For first he is like a Leopard And the Beast which I saw was like unto a Leopard which is the similitude of Daniels third Beast or the Grecian Monarchy Dan. 7.6 Secondly He hath feet as the feet of a Bear And his feet were as the feet of a Bear which is the similitude of Daniels second Beast or the Persian Monarchy vers 5. Thirdly His mouth is as the mouth of a Lyon which resembles Daniels first Beast or the Babylonian Monarchy so that Antichrist hath the similitude of all the former Beasts but Daniels fourth Beast is diverse from them all 4 Because there should be no distinction betwixt the fourth Beast and the little Horn in case the fourth Beast be to be understood of Antichrists Kingdome for that is the thing set forth by the little Horn. 5 Because the rise of Daniels fourth Beast is clearly and plainly noted to be before the rise of Antichrists Kingdome for the rise of Antichrists Kingdome begun in the rise of the little Horn but the fourth Beast with all his Horns was risen before that how else is the little Horn said to rise among and after the other Horns I conclude therefore that Daniels fourth Beast is the Roman Monarchy in general as Johns Beast Rev. 13.1 2. is the same only as under Antichrist Now this being so it is to be noted that the Roman Monarchy from its beginning take it either as it was in its pure Civil state or as it now is in its mixt Antichristian state had ever ten Horns As it was a pure Civil state so was it exactly divided into ten parts in the dayes of Augustus Cesar as Strabo witnesseth And for this reason the Dragon which represents the old Empire hath as well ten Horns Rev. 12.3 as the Beast Chap. 13.1 yet with this difference the ten Horns of the Roman Monarchy in its first state had no Crown i.e. the Kingdomes subjected to the Roman Empire whilst it remained a pure Civil state had not Legislative power within themselves but rather were kept in the nature of Provinces over whom the Roman state did set titular Kings as Herod in Christs time was the titular King of Judea and for this reason because so in title they are called Kings Dan. 7.24 but yet did still reserve to it self the power of making and giving laws as in Christs time besides Herod the titular King there was Pilate the Roman Governour set over the Land to execute Laws which Laws executed were only the Laws of Rome and hence Christ is said to be crucified in Rome because he suffered by the Law and Power of Rome Rev. 11.8 And also it is for this reason that the Dragon representing the old Empire is said to have his Crowns not upon his Horns as the Beast Chap. 13.1 but upon his seven Heads that is the Legislative power all the time of the old Empire is continued at Rome built upon seven Mountains which are these seven Heads Rev. 17.9 Yea farther it is for this reason that John speaking of the ten Kings as having a being even then when he wrote saith Chap. 17.12 that as yet they had received no Kingdome but were afterwards to receive power as Kings namely with the Beast i.e. though all the ten Horns were then in being yet were they then onely titular Kings who had no power of making or giving Laws this power as yet abiding upon the Heads i.e. at Rome it self But now the Horns of the Beast Antichrist i.e. the Roman Monarchy as under Antichrist have Crowns upon them i.e. that Legislative power which was before upon the Heads is now translated to the Horns every particular Kingdome which before were but as Provinces governed by no other Laws but such as came from Rome hath now a power within it self to rule and to make Laws therefore saith John Rev. 17.12 the ten Horns receive power as Kings with the Beast that is when the Roman Monarchy which then was in the hands of Emperors and the whole governed by the Laws of Rome shall fall in the hands of the Beast then shall those several Kings which before were titular only receive Kingly power or power as Kings to make and give Laws within their own Dominions without receiving their Laws from any foreign place or power Now consider the ten Horns in the first respect as they are the Horns of the Roman Empire in general which is clearly Daniels sense the ten Horns he speaks of being the Horns of the fourth Beast i.e. the Empire in general for saith he vers 7. It that is the fourth Beast had ten Horns and it is most clear the rise of Antichrist the little Horn was among and after these Horns And therefore observe the words narrowly it is said that at the time of the little Horns rise three of the first are plucked up by the roots vers 8. what is the meaning why this the Roman Monarchy in either state as I have said had ten Horns now upon the little Horns rise three of the first i.e. three of the Horns of the Roman Monarchy as considered in its first state were plucked up And hence vers 24. The little Horn is said to be diverse from the first that is from all the Horns of this Monarchy in its first state For of the Horns of the Monarchy in its second state how is the little Horn diverse when as the ten Horns in this state are but a part of this little Horn i.e. of the Roman Monarchy as governed by Antichrist And thus to understand it unties that great knot vers 8. of three Horns being plucked up by the roots before the little Horn at the time of this rise for taking three to signifie not strictly three but divers or many three being used because a number of perfection and how clear is it from all Histories that upon the invasion made by the Goths and Vandals with which the Beast rose as before a considerable part of those Provinces which were before subjected to the Roman Empire and ruled by its Laws were now broken off and grew up into particular Kingdomes ruled by Laws of their own and so by degrees the whole Legislative power crept off from the seventh and last Head to the Horns And thus interpreted this place in Daniel doth excellently point out the time of the Beasts rise and I take it that it is left us by the holy Ghost as a divine Character to guide us where we should end the first state of the Roman Monarchy and begin its second where we should put a period to the Roman Monarchy as a pure Civil state and begin it as an Antichristian namely with the time when a remarkable breach or rupture should be made
yet take him at some times when he is in his best mood hee is convinced in his Conscience are of God yea and fears maugre all his opposition that these things will prove his undoing to tyrannize over the Nations by continuing those unrighteous Laws Customs c. which were at first imposed by the Beast that by these he might like an imperious Whore sit domineering upon the waters Revel 17.1.15 that is bee a Tyrant over the People Now I say considering that all these things are in being unto this very day yea and that in all the ten Horns to him that hath but half an eye to see it cannot be that the forty two months the one thousand two hundred and sixty days which are the limited time of the Witnesses wearing Sackcloth the Womans being in the Wilderness the Beasts rage against the Saints treading under foot the Holy City his blaspheming God and his Truth his Tyranny over the Nations should be begun higher then our aforesaid beginning for then should we see a perfect end of those things in part i.e. in some of the ten Horns at least which yet wee see to have being and exist yea to be maintained in every one of them I therefore conclude That the forty two months the one thousand two hundred and sixty days cannot be begun higher then the year I have stated That they cannot be begun lower is clear and manifest because it is a monstrous absurdity to say That all the Beasts Horns should spring up before yet the Beast was brought forth but as I have proved at large in the fore-going discourse all the Horns were come forth but a few years lower then the stated year therefore must the time of the Beasts rise who naturally hath being before his Horns be as I have stated it and cannot without that grosse absurdity of placing the Beast after his Horns bee placed lower Again All that begin lower do not begin from the time of Antichrists Infancy or from the time of his first rise which none can or do deny but it was as early as we have stated it the testimonies of all the Ancients being so full as touching the wonderful defection that was in the Church about that time but rather they begin from the time of his growth either his full growth his perfect maturity or his growth in part only but now this beginning is expresly against the Prophecy of the Beast which points us to the time of the Beasts first rise as the time whence we are to reckon his forty two months This we may see Revel 13. in vers 5. It is said Power was given to him to continue forty two months Whence are we to reckon these forty two months Ans From the day he first received his power and authority from the Dragon vers 2. The Dragon gave him his Power and his Seat and great Anthority And when was that Ans At the time of his first rise vers 1. I saw a Beast rise up out of the Sea having seven Heads and ten Horns and the Dragon gave him his power c. Farther Let it be considered that the second Beast or the Ecclesiastical state of Antichrist is set forth under a three-fold representation in the Book of the Revelation suitable to his three-fold State viz. of Infancy Maturity Old Age. 1 In his Infant state He is a poor despicable Beast creeping out of the earth but not able as yet to make the Nations crouch to him and therefore he borrows the power of the first Beast i.e. of the Civil Magistrate thereby to carry on his own designs Rev. 13.11 12. 2 In his Mature state the Beast sits as a rich proud imperious Whore upon the Nations Revel 17.1 compared with 15. and rides upon the back of the first Beast or the Magistraticall power of Nations ver 3. ruling them and the Nations under them making them do even what this Beast lists 3 In his declining state or Old Age hee is a false Prophet i.e. hee counterfeits abundance of Holiness more then indeed he hath or ever before professed the reason where of I take to be the first Beast through his long riding and galling of him now begins to kick and will by no means endure his Rider any longer the Nations begin to see that this Beast is not indeed as they have been all along held in hand and made beleeve the Woman the true Church but a very Strumpet that by Whoring and Juggling hath in all Ages made her self rich persecuted the Saints enslaved them this makes the Nations begin to spurn likewise at this Beast This Beast now fearing a downfall and knowing full well that if there be not some way found out to keep up his esteem with the first Beast and the Nations he is undone he Proteus-like for indeed he is a Monster never heard of in the world till Antichrists Kingdom began changeth shapes and as at first of a poor ragged Beast became opportunity serving him a proud Whore so now the Beast when he can be a ruling commanding Whore no longer transforms himself into a false Prophet pretending abundance of Holinesse that hereby he may keep up that esteem still with the first Beast and the Nations which once he had but hath wel-nigh lost through his domineering pride and imperiousness This is the true state of the second Beast or of Antichrist as considered in his Ecclesiastical state throughout the Book of the Revelations And of this I have more fully treated in my discourse upon the Vials p. 101. to the 112. Now observe those who begin the Kingdom of Antichrist from the time of Antichrists growth or maturity leave out the first state of the second Beast and begin their account with his second which certainly we must not do but must carry our beginning so high as to take in all the three as the Holy Ghost hath laid them down I therefore conclude that wee may not begin lower then the aforesaid year three hundred ninety six Seeing therefore that we may not begin either higher or lower it necessarily follows that wee must begin with the year we have fixed upon viz. three hundred ninety six to which number adding one thousand two hundred and sixty the whole makes up one thousand six hundred fifty six The result of my whole discourse in this Second Part is That the utmost period of the Beasts continuance the treading under foot the Holy City the Womans being in the Wilderness the Witnesses Prophecying in Sackcloth all which things are concurrent will in greatest probability be Anno Dom. one thousand six hundred fifty six Thus Iohns one thousand two hundred and sixty days expire in the same year with Daniels one thousand two hundred and ninety Thus likewise in that very year in which from the Creation the Flood came upon the corrupted old World in that very year from our Redemption cometh the flood of Gods wrath upon the Idolatrous Antichristian world The end of
these things nor stickled in such a Cause or Controversie as the Saints now do it was then no part of their work but it is now the Master-peece of ours And in case any then at that time did stickle yet they brought nothing to perfection because they attempted Gods Work before his time But now the time being come as God hath in a more wonderful manner than ever stirred up the hearts of his Saints to bear witnesse so shall not their Witnesse-bearing as to this great thing be in vain for let the Devil and the World do their worst the outward visible Kingdom and Dominion and the greatnesse of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall revolve and that suddenly into the hands of the people of the Saints of the most High who shall then take them Captives whose Captives they were and shall bear rule over their Oppressors Amen Daniels Description of the Four Monarchies in Four Prophecies and Christs Kingdom succeeding them shewed in the following Table First Monarchy First Prophecy Chap 2. Second Prophecy Cha. 7. Third Prophecy Chap. 8. Fourth Prophecy Cha. 11. Golden Head vers 32 38 First Beast vers 4. Â Â Second Monarchy Silver Breast and Arms ver 32 39. Second Beast vers 5. Ram with two Horns verse 3 4. with 20. The matter delivered by voyce verse 1 2. Third Monarchy United Divided Belly of the Image ver 32. Third Beast as swift and winged ver 6. Hee-Goats great Horn ver 5 6 7 8. with 21. Mighty King ruling with great Dominion vers 3. The Images Thighs vers 32. Third Beast as having four Heads ver 6. Hee-Goate four notable Horns vers 8.22 The matter delivered by voyce vers 4 5. to 14. Fourth Monarchy Second State First State Iron Leggs vers 33.40 Fourth Beast as Warlike subduing Nations ver 7. Little Horn in its first waxing great ver 9. King of the North described vers 14. to 21. Feet of Iron and clay ver 33 41 42 43. Little Horn ver 8 20 21 24 25 26. Little Horn in its second waxing great ver 10 11 12.24 25. Vile Person ver 21. to 40. and King of the North ver 40. to end Christs Kingdom or 5. Mon. Begins as a stone in the days of the ten Roman Kings Chap. 2.34.44 Becomes a Mountain filling the earth upon Christs appearance and total dissolution of the Fourth Monarchy Chap. 2.35 Chap. 7.13 14. with 26 27. A TABLE OF The most material things handled in this Book Part I. HAndling some things of more general concernment as to the whole discourse Chapter 1. Shewing the justifiableness of the enquiry p. 1. to 9 Chap. 2. Proving That the mystical Numbers of Daniel and the Revelations do hold forth a certain definite and determinate time p. 9. to 14 Chap. 3. Clearing and confirming our General distinction That the end of the Beasts tyranny relates to one time the end of the Fourth Monarchy to another p. 14. to 21 Part II. COmputing the time of the Beast and shewing where the limited time of his tyranny ends Chap. 1. Discussing some things of more general concernment as to this particular Question Sect. I. Stating the Question and shewing the ground we are to go upon for answering it viz. The forty two Months the one thousand two hundred and sixty Days wherein these differ and why the one number reckons by months the other by days p. 21 22 Sect. II. Proving that both days and months are Prophetical p. 23 Sect. III. Shewing that the forty two Months the one thousand two hundred and sixty Days signifie one and the same time and also begin and end together p. 24 to 28 Chap. 2. Disproving the sundry false beginnings of this Epock Sect. I. That the forty two Months the one thousand two hundred and sixty Days are not to be begun with the time of Constantine the Great p. 28. to 37 Sect. II. That they are not to be begun with the year four hundred forty two p. 37 38 Sect. III. That they are not to be begun with the time when Boniface was made universal Bishop by Phocas p. 39 40 Chap. 3. Stating and confirming the true beginning Sect. I. The true beginning fixed Anno Dom. three hundred ninety six This to be the true is proved by two Reasons 1 Taken from the Harmony of mystical Numbers 2 From the eminent Apostacy about this very time p. 41 to 48 Sect. II. A third reason of our beginning taken from the devastation of the Roman Empire Two things proved 1 That our account is to begin from the time this devastation began 2 That this was in the aforesaid year p. 48 to 56 Chap. 4. Proving and confirming yet further our fore-going beginning Sect. I. A Fourth Argument of our beginning taken from the time of the rise of the Beasts Horns wherein is shewed First When the Horns began to appear Secondly That the rise of the Horns must necessarily be a little while after the rise of the Beast p. 56 to 61 Sect. II. An Objection made Daniel saw the rise of the little Horn after the rise of the ten Here by way of digression is discoursed of Daniels Little Horn and it is proved That Daniels little Horn cannot signifie Mahomet or the Turkish power p. 61. to 69 Here also occasionally Daniels King of the North and King of the South chap. 11. is discoursed of p. 69. to 77 Sect. III. Proving That by Daniels Little Horn cannot bee meant William the Conqueror taking in with him the whole Norman Race of Kings sitting on the English Throne nor Charls Stuart the last of that Race p. 77. to 83 Sect. IV. A returning to the Objection to which answer is given p. 83. to 89 Sect. V. Three Arguments more to prove our beginning 1 Taken from the great likelihood there is of the Witnesses lying dead at this day which thing the aforesaid beginning doth necessarily infer p. 89 2 Taken from the visibility of those very things at this day which the Scripture hath fore-told us shall occur within the last three days and a half of the one thousand two hundred and sixty Five things are instanced in which the Scripture hath fore-told shall happen within that time all which are visible at this day p. 90 91 92 3 Our beginning may not be fixed either higher or lower therefore must be as it is stated proved p. 92. to 98 Part III. COmputing the time of the Fourth Monarchy Chap. 1. Of Daniels two thousand three hundred days Sect. I. That the two thousand three hundred days do not belong to the time and Story of Antiochus Epiphanes where is shewed at large that Antiochus Epiphanes cannot be he of whom so much is spoken in Daniels Prophecies p. 98. to p. 120 Sect. II. Proving that the Little Horn spoken of Dan. 8. signifies the whole Body of the Roman Monarchy p. 120. to p. 127 Sect. III. Shewing that the two thousand three hundred days are not to be understood of
Others who begin with the time when Boniface was created universal Bishop by Phocas As for the first viz. the opinion of those who begin from the time of Constantine the Great some of that opinion fixing upon the year 304. others differ as to a few years yet keep within the compasse of 300. and 316. I say not in answer to it that the very foundation of this opinion is a mistake viz. That the two Witnesses are the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament But my reasons against it are 1 Because by this opinion the Harmony of the mystical numbers is destroyed for if the one thousand two hundred and sixty dayes and the two and forty months begin with Constantines time then is it not possible to bring the one thousand two hundred sixty dayes the two and forty months to concur in their end with Daniels one thousand two hundred and ninety which must be upon the grounds laid down in our Key Thesi 17. unlesse we shall finde some action which may be accounted a fit Head for the one thousand two hundred and ninety daies thirty years above Constantine and in case this should befound yet then will not the one thousand three hundred thirty five which begins from the same Head with the one thousand two hundred and ninety concur in their end with the two thousand three hundred which also must be for our reasons Key Thesi 34. unlesse some other beginning and carrying on of that great number may upon approved grounds be found which will notwithstanding bring the two thousand three hundred dayes to end at the same point with the one thousand three hundred thirty five 2 Because setting the Harmony wholly aside by this computation the seventh Government in the Roman Empire viz. by Christian Emperors which is that John calls a Government yet to come Rev. 17.10 There are seven Kings i.e. distinct kinds of Government five are fallen one is and the other is not yet come is either wholly cut off or else confounded with the Beasts For this Government did not begin till Constantines time now if we thence also begin the two and forty months of the Beast then do we I say leave no room for the seventh kind of Government so that either it must be cut off or confounded with the Beasts That it should be cut off cannot be for the Text saith expresly it was to come i.e. as really to have a being as the five fallen had had and the sixth then in being had That we should confound it with the Beasts may not be First because this Government is to continue a space before the rise of the Beast And when it cometh it must continue a short space This short space must either be meant of the time before the Beasts Kingdome or the time of his Reign If the time of his Reign be meant and so the seventh Government and his Reign be made one how then is it called a short space seeing the time allotted to the Beast is a long time two and forty months one thousand two hundred and sixty years yea how is it called a short space comparatively with the sixth or former Government which continued not half nay not one third part of this time this Government therefore must be distinct from the Beasts Secondly because the Beasts Government as relating to this is called the eighth vers 11. And the Beast that was and is not even he is the eighth Though the Beast in respect of his Seat and the Civil power he exerciseth which power did reside in all the former Governments is said to be of the seven and accordingly hath seven Heads i.e. Rome the Seat of and the Civil power of all the former Governments yet is he not called the Seventh but of the seven because successively and in order he followeth the seventh and his Government comes in as the eighth being a Government distinct from the seventh and all theseveral Governments before him For which reason we may not confound the Beasts Government with the seventh which yet this opinion either doth or shuts wholly out neither of which can stand with truth 3 Because according to this supputation the time is expired above a hundred years since And being so 1 How comes it to passe that yet of late yeers the Holy City hath been so trodden underfoot Saints for Religion sake driven to flight as it hath been with us here in England yea so many killed and put to death as have been in Germany the Low-Countries France and all this within much lesse time then one hundred yeers yea the greatest part of it not half the time Certainly whilst the Woman is driven from one corner of the world to the other to hide her self and her children are cruelly killed massacred we cannot look upon her as come out of the wildernesse whilst Antichristian injunctions and superstitions are set up and imposed instead of the pure worship of Christ who will say the treading underfoot of the Holy City is at an end and have not these things been more or lesse within lesse then twenty I may say within lesse then half this twenty years I would I could not say at this present 2 How also comes it to passe that so many years since the expiring of this time the Beast hath escaped and neither been killed with the sword nor led into captivity seeing it is said of him that at the end of his Reign his two and forty months expired He that leadeth into Captivity shall be led into Captivity he that killeth with the sword shall be killed with the sword Rev. 13.10 If it be said Christ hath these many yeers ever since Luthers time in a spiritual manner with the sword of his mouth been killing and captivating the Beast I answer true But what hath been done against him by a Civil sword or towards a Civil captivating of him which is the Sword and Captivity here spoken of For observe such a Sword as he hath killed the Saints with and such a Captivity as he hath exposed them unto such a Sword and such a Captivity it being brought upon him by God in a way of retaliation shall himself suffer by and be exposed unto but the one hath been Civil therefore shall the other also If it be replied was not this done some years since in Germany by Gustavus Adolphus Answ Grant it so to be Yet doth that fall many years too late the one thousand two hundred and sixty according to this opinion being expired long before his time but now no sooner is the time expired but instantly Hee that leadeth into Captivity is led into Captivity Hee that killeth with the Sword is killed with the Sword Neither the German War therefore nor any that hath been since will at all help this opinion 2. If the Wan of the Swedish King in Germany were a killing the Beast with the Sword a leading him into Captivity then most certainly since he is
risen and come out of Captivity again but let us assure our selves that when Christ kills the Beast with the Sword he shall have no resurrection when he leades him into captivity no return Obj. But it may be objected That we must of necessity begin this Epock of one thousand two hundred and sixty years as high as Constantine if not higher for Rovel 12. it is the Dragon with seven Heads and ten Horns and seven Crowns on his heads which is the embleme of the old Roman Empire and not the Empire of the Beast who hath ten Crowns and those upon his Horns Revel 13.1 that drives the Woman into the Wilderness I answer This cannot be for what hath been proved already viz. That the forty two Months and the one thousand two hundred and sixty days are one and the same time which begin and end together and how could this be in case the one thousand two hundred and sixty days were to begin before the rise of the Beast whilst yet the Roman Empire was ruled by the Dragon 2 Observe the Text it self and it will appear That the act of the Dragon there mentioned is not the driving of the Woman into the Wilderness but another thing viz. a lying in wait to devour her childe so soon as born v. 4. And the Dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered for to devour her childe so soon as it was born The meaning whereof is That the faithful the true members and children of the Church which because one Body are here represented by one Childe and for dignity sake or else to represent their strength in their head Christ a Man-childe that in the time of Paganism had been oppressed by the Dragon the Divel perceiving them now through Constantines means to be in a rising way and ready as with a Rod of Iron to crush in peices his Heathenish Worship he therefore labours by stirring up the power of the old Pagan Empire to oppose Constantine to stifle this work in the beginning but this he cannot do Constantine prevails and the faithful in despight of him are caught up to God and to his Throne i. e. set out of the reach of the Dragon through Constantines prevailing The Church now after her sharp fiery Trial under the Pagan Emperours coming to enjoy great peace and prosperity under Constantine it comes to passe that shee abusing her prosperity and Jesuron-like now waxing fat beginning to kick and grow wanton her good is turned into evil and within a short time afterwards shee begins to Apostatize from her first Principles and instead of being cloathed with the Sun as was the Primitive Church ver 1. and having the Moon under her feet she neglects the Sun i. e. Christ crucified for Justification and true Holiness through his Death and Sufferings and arrayes her self with the Moon i.e. worldly ornaments as Dignities Preferments outward Riches c. which things a while after Constantine began to bee mightily stickled for by the Clergy generally yea in Councels also Now when it came to be thus the Woman i. e. the true Church vanisheth away and retires her self into the Wilderness and as shee retires so in her room stands up the Beast i. e. the false Antichristian Church But this is not done instantly but after the Church had had prosperity some time and abused it and thereby provoked Christ to with-draw his presence and Spirit which gone the Church straightway degenerates and shee that was before the Spouse of Christ becomes an Antichristian Harlot Hence the Womans flight into the Wilderness is noted in the Text as the very next thing after the childes being caught up to God and his Throne ver 5. And her childe was caught up to God and to his Throne ver 6. And the woman fled into the Wilderness Now observe as the childes being caught up to God and his Throne was successive to the Dragons gaping to devour the childe which was whilst yet the child was but in the birth So the womans flight into the Wilderness whence begins the one thousand two hundred and sixty days is to be looked upon as a thing successive as well in time as place to the childes being caught up to God and to his Throne And so the Objection is indeed a reason for us that we may not begin the one thousand two hundred and sixty days either before Constantine or with him but must some time afterwards The Arguments brought from History Civil or Ecclesiastical to prove this fall to the ground upon the account of these two reasons 1 Because History is only a Human testimony and therefore to be tried by the Divine but the Divine testimony or testimony of Scripture cannot be made to agree to this beginning as our two first Reasons prove 2 Because all that is said from History as viz. the Story of Constantines donation of Rome Italy c. to Pope Silvester the story of Queen Helens Crosse c. have only the authority of Popish Writers and not any of the Ancients to countenance them yea are exploded by Protestant Writers as Fables as see Melancthon in his review of Carions Chronicle lib. 3. Johan Wolf cent 4. Simpsons History of the Church lib. 2. cent 4. The Argument urged by some from the Indictions which of all Arguments from meer History is the most plausible tends only to prove that the Papists reckon the beginning of their Kingdom from about this time But doth it follow that therefore we are so to do What Scripture warrant is there for such a thing that there wee should begin the time of the Beasts reign where the Beasts own followers begin their Kingdome Certainly were this a rule to walk by there would be no difficulty at all in making up our account of the forty two Moneths the one thousand two hundred and sixty days yea take it at best it is but an uncertain Argument for some end the Olympiads and begin the Indictions sooner some later and what strength this Argument hath in it which in my account is but feeble will as wel agree according to some to a more likely time as to this for Rosse in his History of the World saith Lib. 3. Chap. 3. that about the year three hundred ninety five the Olympiads ceased and the Indictions were instituted The conclusion of all is That that opinion which begins the forty two Moneths and the one thousand two hundred and sixty days with Constantine is not that we are to cleave unto as truth in this thing SECT 2. THe opinion of a late Writer who hath bestowed much labour upon our Question is that we are to begin this Epocha with the time of Pope Leo the first and the particular year pitched upon by our Author is the year four hundred forty two But though I honour the Author yet cannot I receive his opinion 1 Because according to it the one thousand two hundred and sixty days cannot bee made
Chronologia Conciliorum So also in the year 326. It was endeavoured in the Councel of Nice That Bishops and Elders should refrain from their wives But Paphnutius opposed himself to the whole Councel urging that of the Apostle Mariage is honourable among all men and so far prevailed as to bring forth a decree of liberty that for chastity sake such might accompany with their wives Alsted in Chronologia testium veritatis But now though Antichrist was more early thrusting himself forth yet are we not thence to reckon his rise but from that time when the Apostacy grew eminent the Councels and Ministry being more generally corrupted which was about the aforesaid year 396. And certainly if at this time after all these things before mentioned were come forth we cannot yet see the Beast in the world but must come down lower to find him it argues that we either shut our eyes or are blind whilst we look for him The Argument then lies thus If that falling away which is foretold should be at the time of Antichrists Revelation were A.D. 396. then are we there to place the Beasts rise and accordingly thence to reckon the two and forty months and the one thousand two hundred and sixty dayes but the Antecedent is true therefore the consequent SECT 2. 3 Reason A third Reason of the foregoing Position may be taken from the following words of the Apostle vers 6 7 8. And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time For the mystery of Iniquity doth already work onely he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way And then shall that wicked be revealed Out of which words I draw this conclusion viz. That the man of sin or the Antichrist was to be revealed when that which then did withhold and let viz. the Civil power of the Roman Empire which would not admit of any Competitor or the setting up of any other power equall with it or above it should be taken away i. e removed from the seventh Head which is the last Head of the ancient Roman Beast i.e. of Rome as it was a pure Civil state and placed some where else Now before we can frame any Argument that shall have in it a concluding force here are two things to be cleared viz. 1 Whether this taking away be to be reckoned from the time that the Civil power of the Roman Empire was wholly taken off the seventh Head and fixed some where else or whether from the time when this began to be 2 In case we incline to the one or the other what time are we to pitch upon in which this was done Concerning the first We are as I conceive to account from that time when this began to be done My Reasons are 1 Because it is proper and agreeable to the phrase of taking away to say a thing is then taken away when as such a beginning is made as irresistably causeth a total removing or taking away It is said Dan. 9.2 That seventy yeers were to be accomplished in the desolations of Jerusalem These seventy yeers are to bee reckoned from the first Captivity which was in the third yeer of Jehoiakim Dan. 1.1 2. 2 Chon 36.6 7. as is clear 1 Because the Scriptures speaking of the seventy years Captivity point us to Jehoiakims reign as the time from whence we are to begin our account Jerem. 25. vers 1. compared with vers 11 12. Chap. 29. vers 1 2. compared with vers 10. 2 Because Israel was to serve the King of Babylon but seventy years Jer. 25.11 12. These Nations shall serve the King of Babylon seventy years And after seventy years are accomplished I will punish the King of Babylon Now Israels servitude to the King of Babylon beginning in the dayes of Jehoiakim in case the seventy years were not to be begun till afterwards then should they serve the King of Babylon above seventy years 3 Because Israel was to be in Babylon but the terme of seventy years Jer. 29.10 For thus saith the Lord that after seventy years be accomplished I will visit you and perform my good word towards you in causing you to return to this place But Israel for a considerable part of them were carried into Babylon in the dayes of Jehoiakim if therefore we begin the seventy years afterwards then seeing that untill the seventy years were expired they came not out of Babylon their being in Babylon should be upwards of seventy yeers therefore I say that the seventy yeers of Jerusalems desolations are to reckoned from the first Captivity yet observe their desolations then were onely begun not perfected till nineteen years after in the eleventh of Zedekiah when City and Temple were destroyed 2 Chron. 36.19 yet notwithstanding doth the Holy Ghost reckon their desolations and captivity from the time the same was begun though the compleating of it was not till some yeers after So Dan. 7.26 It s said concerning the little Horn the judgement shall sit and they shall take away his Dominion And when is this taking away Ans When the Ancient of dayes begins to sit and the Thrones of the Beast begin to be cast down though yet the final destruction of this little Hâ—rn is not till afterwards vers 11. And observe if the ruine of the Roman Empire in its second state under Antichrist be to be reckoned from the time when this begins why not in its first likewise In Scripture Phrase therefore a thing is said to be taken away when the desolating and removing time is come and the work begun though yet the compleating of it be not till some time after 2 Because the Beast did not take up and exercise all the Civil power of the Roman Empire together or at once but did by little and little ingrosse the same into his own hands as the same by degrees fell off the seventh Head And if so then of necessity must the Beast who pills the seventh Head and robs him of his power have a being before as yet the seventh Head had lost all his power or was totally destroyed 3 Because if we begin not till this work was compleated then of necessity must we extend the forty months the one thousand two-hundred and sixty dayes beyond Daniels two thousand three hundred and his one thousand three hundred thirty five both which expire A.D. 1701. but so will not the one thousand two hundred and sixty dayes if we find not a beginning for them till the compleat devastation of the ancient Roman Empire To say some middle beginning may be found must be grounded upon some such substantial reason as may enervate the force of ours and withall be so carried on as that the admirable Harmony betwixt Daniels numbers and Johns may be preserved The conclusion therefore is That we are not to reckon this taking away from the time that the Civil power of the Roman Empire was fully removed from the seventh Head but rather from
quoted by Mr. Mede cl p. 79. of the Western Empire Lib. 10. 11. To these let me adde Our German Author in his Cla. p. 127. testifieth that Anno Dom. four hundred and three some Horns did appear Mr. Archer in his Personal Reign p. 44. saith That about the year four hundred or four hundred and six some of the ten Kingdoms in Europe began to rise Mr. Woodcock of the two Witnesses p. 81. saith That Anno Dom. four hundred and ten when Alaricus took Rome severall of the ten Horns even in that very year began to appear Mr. Medes own opinion is That all the ten Horns were in being in the year four hundred fifty six the Empire in that year appearing divided into ten Kingdoms which together with the names of the People and of the Kings and Provinces over which they reigned are by him laid down in this following Table Cl. p. 80. A Type of the rending of the Empire or Roman Dominion in the year of Christ four hundred fifty six and thence forward The Kingdoms The Provinces wherein they reigned The names of the Kings reigning in this year 1 Of the Britains  Vortimer 2 Of the Saxons In Britain Hengist 3 Franks First In Gallia Belg. suddenly after in Celtica also Childerick 4 Burgundians In Gal. Sequan and Lions Gunderick 5 Wisigothes In Aquitane part of Spain Theodorick 6 Swedes and Alans In that Tract of Spain which is contained in Gallecia and Lusitania Riciarius 7 Vandals In Africa but a little before in Spain Gensericus 8 Alemanes In that Tract of Germany which was called Rhetia Sumanas 9 Ostrogoths In Pannonia the Huns being subdued neither was that age run out when they did enlarge their Kingdome into Italy also Theodemirus 10 Grecians In the residue of the Dominion of the Empire for the Empire of ancient Rome being dissolved the Kingdome of the Grecians is to bee reckoned among those Kingdoms into which the Dominion of the City reigning sometimes farre and near was divided Marcianus Some things by way of explication of the Table are added by Mr. Mede which I omit referring the Reader where any doubt ariseth to the Author himself for satisfaction Now to make our Argument the more firm let it be observed That we are to place the rise of the Beast before the rise of the Horns the Horns therefore having being some so early as the years four hundred four hundred and three four hundred and six c. yea being compleat having their perfect number Anno Dom. four hundred fifty six the rise of the Beast must be placed somewhat more early and therefore it is not amisse that I have pitched upon the year three hundred ninety six Now that the rise of the Beast must be before the rise of the Horns is evident 1 Because the ten Horns with Crowns upon them are the Horns of the Antichristian Beast and no other This being so the Antichristian Beast must necessarily be before his Horns for how improper yea absurd would it bee to say That Horns should grow before or without a Beast To say The Horns are the same which were grown before only the Beast puts Crowns upon them which before they had not helps not the thing for if the Beast crown the Horns then is he before any of the Horns are crowned that which is not cannot adde to another thing 2 Because the rise of the Beast is to bee reckoned from that point of time in which the Civil power of the Roman Empire began to be taken away as hath been proved already but now none of the Crowned Horns arise till a while after the Horns getting Crowns i.e. a Civil power to themselves by the devastation of the seventh Head i. e. pilling the Empire of its Civil power 3 Because the words of the Holy Ghost Rev. 17.12 import as much for speaking of the Beast and his Horns it s said These receive power as Kings one hour or in one hour so Pareus in his Comment upon the Revelation reads it with the Beast Observe not the Beast receives power with them but they with the Beast intimating clearly that notwithstanding the Beasts rise is not long before the Horns therefore both rise as it were in one hour that is within a little time of each other yet the Beast hath being first and is instrumentally the cause of helping the Horns to their Diadems or Kingly power to whom therefore as ingaged they adhere giving their power and strength to him again vers 13. i.e. laying it out for him who was a special means of helping them to it SECT 2. Ob But it may be objected That Daniel saw the rise of this little Horn namely Antichrist after the rise of the other Horns Dan. 7.8 I considered the Horns and behold there came up among them another little Horn vers 24. And the ten Horns out of this Kingdom are ten Kings that shall arise and another shall arise after them Ans Three opinions there are of this little Horn which if either of them might be admitted would easily quit our hands of this Objection The first is that which interprets it of Antiochus Epiphanes but as touching this I shall say nothing til I come to my Third part Two other opinions there are embraced at this day by men of great light learning and worth whom I would not thwart were it not but that this Prophecy of Daniels little Horn is so materiall that an error here turns the streams of all Daniels Prophecies out of their proper channel and because the best men and men of greatest Light may have their particular mistakes I hope it will not be grievous or offensive to any if for truths sake I bring the principles of those whose light in other things I esteem above my own as to this particular thing to the touch-stone Yet ere I come to examine either opinion I shall in order thereunto premise these few things 1 That all Daniels Prophecies viz. That of the great Image chap. 2. Of the four Beasts and little Horn chap. 7. Of the Ram Hee-Goat and little Horn chap. 8. Of the Kings of the North and Kings of the South chap. 11. have but one and the same end 2 That the last thing in each of these is the description of the Fourth or Roman Monarchy These two Principles are so clear and unquestionable upon the grounds that not my self only but also those good men go from whom yet as to their opinions of the little Horn I vary yea from the plain scope and expressions of each Prophecy that to insist upon particular proof were but to multiply words 3 That the Fourth or Roman Monarchy consisting of two States 1 A pure Civil State 2 A mixt State partly Civil partly Ecclesiastical hath therefore in each of Daniels Visions and Prophecies a two-fold representation suitable to its two-fold state In that of the Great Image the Roman Monarchy which is signified by the leggs and feet
Epiphanes are by Chronologers generally reckoned as a part of the third or Grecian Monarchy 3 Because the fourth Kingdome is that which breaks in peeces all the foregoing Kingdomes and Monarchies i.e. it subdues to it self whatsoever was before subject to any of the other Monarchies vers 40. for as much as Iron breaketh in peeces and subdueth all things and as Iron that breaketh all these shall it break in peeces and bruise This also appears from vers 35. because the stone that smites upon its smiting breaks the Brasse the Silver the Gold as well as the Iron and Clay though yet it smites no other but the feet of Iron and Clay which shews that whatsoever was in the three first parts of Gold Silver Brasse was now by succession come to the Iron and Clay which smitten the whole is broken But this was never done by the Seleucidae in general nor Antiochus Epiphanes in special therefore cannot relate to him or them but had a punctual fulfilling in the Roman Monarchy which succeeded the Grecian and swallowed up whatsoever the foregoing Monarchies possessed 4 Because in the dayes of these Kings the God of Heaven sets up his own Kingdome vers 44. But this Kingdome according to the principle of those who are our Opponents who begin it not till Christs Birth was not set up in the dayes of the Seleucidae nor of Antiochus Epiphanes for the whole Kingdome of the Seleucidae yea the whole Greek Empire lower then which this opinion looks not was utterly dissolved many years before Christs Birth 5 Because it is Christs Kingdome represented by the Stone which by smiting breaks in peeces that Kingdome which by the Feet and Toes of the Great Image is set forth vers 34. Thou sawest till that a Stone was cut out without hands which smote the Image upon his feet that were of Iron and Clay and brake them to peeces But it was not Christs Kingdome but the Pagan power of the Roman Empire that destroyed and brake in peeces the Kingdome of the Seleucidae of which Antiochus Epiphanes was a limb therefore cannot the Seleucidae or Antiochus Epiphanes be understood by the Feet and Toes of the Great Image 6 Because the stone that smiting the Great Image breaks it to peeces cannot be Christs spiritual Kingdome set up upon his first coming which this opinion as it doth say so must it or say nothing 1 Because this Kingdome take its rise where the Feet and Toes are smitten but Christs spiritual Kingdome did not rise till many years after the Feet and Toes in the sense of the Patrons of this opinion were wholly dissolved and in being no longer 2 Because this Kingdome cannot become a mountain filling the whole earth so long as the Great Image i.e. Worldly powers stand which is clear because upon the totall dissolution of the Great Image it becomes a Mountain and not before vers 34 35. But now Christs spiritual Kingdome may be a Mountain filling the earth in a spiritual sense though the Great Image be not broken in peeces i.e. though worldly powers are standing 3 Because such a Kingdome is signified by the Stone as was represented by the Great Image for the Kingdome of the Stone takes the place of the Great Image upon its dissolution But the Kingdome or Kingdomes signified by the Great Image were not spiritual but outward therefore such must be the Kingdome of the Stone 4 Because such a Kingdome is here meant as must answer to Daniels scope in his answer to the Kings Dream But if this Kingdome were spiritual only then Daniel had missed the soope much for Nebuchadnezzars thoughts run of his Monarchy according to which thoughts the Dream was directed and Daniel interpreting it undertakes to resolve him fully For in a word as saith Mr. Huet whose Argument this is Daniel intends two main points 1 To comfort the Jews in the losse of their Kingdome and Liberty shewing that after many changes it should be restored to them again 2 To convince the King of his Tyranny over them by which his third Heir should be nothing the warmer another should take it from him a third from him and a fourth from him which at length maugre all their despight should be returned to the Jews in greater glory then ever they lost it Now whether the Spiritual Kingdome of Christ doth answer this scope or no I leave saith he to the judgement of the godly wise 5 Because such a Kingdom is here intended as was to be continued to the Jews after once they should be possessed thereof without alteration So the Text It shall not be given to another people i.e. from Daniels people but when Christ came and brought his Spiritual Kingdom whiles to be meerly Spiritual he first preached the Gospel to the lost sheep of the house of Israel from whom notwithstanding the Gospel was taken away and given to the Gentiles 6 Because the proper work of the Stone to which it is appointed is to break in peeces earthly Kingdoms vers 44 but Christs Spiritual Kingdom set up upon his first coming was not appointed to any such end for then would not Christ have commanded a subjection of the Subjects thereof to worldly powers 7 And lastly What prerogative and advancement had it been for the Kingdom of Christ Spiritual to have broken down the Seleucidae and other Horns of the Greek Empire so long as another Kingdom the Kingdom of the Romans succeeded in their place to beat down the Church by the Heathen Emperours and Antichrist for longer space of time and with greater and more terrible persecution then ever was before This opinion therefore cannot agree to Daniels first Vision of the Great Image Secondly for Daniels second Vision of the four Beasts Chap. 7. it no way agrees to it for it cannot be that the fourth Beast having ten Horns vers 7. should be the House of the Seleucidae or that the little Horn vers 8. should be Antiochus Epiphanes as this opinion holds I shall here oppose only the Arguments alledged by Mr. Parker from the learned Graserus in answer to it as judging them sufficient though yet if need be there is more to be spoken Arg. 1 The Kingdom of the Seleucidae belongeth to the Third Beast and is one of the four Parts into which the Grecian Kingdom was divided after Alexanders death expresly represented in his four wings and four Heads vers 6. the truth of which interpretation will clearly appear by comparing with chap. 8.8.22 chap. 11.4 for the King of Grecia is expresly distinguished from Alexander as the whole from the part comprehending both him and the quadrupartite division among his Successors chap. 8.21 22. therefore both he and the Seleucidae with other his Successors are included in the third Beast and cannot be extended to the fourth 2 Because these four Beasts arose successively to subdue the world vers 2 3. but the Seleucidae and other Successors of Alexander succeeded into it already subdued by
the elder and as some think Uncle to Cyrus things might go mostly under his name by reason whereof the name of Cyrus whilst Darius lived might be somewhat obscured therefore Daniel mentions him who of the two was vulgarly looked upon as the leading man in ordering affairs and doth not take so much notice of the other though yet he were in power equall with him And surely there might be a glorious design of Providence in obscuring the name of Cyrus about the time Babylon was taken through that of Darius for the name of Cyrus by reason of Isaiahs Prophesie was grown so famous amongst the Jews that had they but heard the name of Commander inchief before Babylon to be Cyrus they had not been so surprised with their mercy as it is ordinary with God to deal by his people in his more glorious appearances to be upon them before they are aware but whilst they little think of a Cyrus and hear a great noise of a mighty Darius Babylon is taken and instantly unlooked for appears a Cyrus as a first and leading man amongst the Conquerors which certainly could not but so soon as discovered which in all likelihood was presently as Babylon was taken when now the Jews within Babylon by converse with them come to have a more true understanding of the people themselves the state and affairs of the Conquerors wonderously affect the hearts of Gods people And whether or no as the perceiving on the one hand the seventy years to be out so some such amazing Providence as this concurring on the other might not be a whet to Daniels spirit the more to be earnest in striving with God for his People City and Temple I shall not the Scripture being silent therein take upon me to determine And this consideration of Cyrus being manifested and known to Gods people last doth well solve those words Chap. 8.3 The Ram had two Horns and the two Horns were high but one was higher then the other and the higher came up last Which words seem to have in them matter of objection against the thing we are speaking of and they seem to import as if that Cyrus who is the higher Horn of the two did succeed Darius and if so Then how is it true that hath been said They did both Reign together Now from what hath been said the Answer is easie that Daniel speaks not of the being of the two Horns but of their appearance the two Horns were both in being upon the head of the Ram when he pushed down the Babylonian Monarchy but now as to Gods people they did not both appear at once but Darius the lower Horn appears first and Cyrus the higher Horn after him so did they not to Daniel in the Vision first Daniel beholds the lower Horn then the higher But if this suffice not because there seems weight in the Objection it may be otherwise answered that Cyrus's coming up last is not to be understood in respect of his being a Horn but in respect of his being a Horn greater and higher then the other Horn A Horn he was of power and authority equal with Darius whilst Darius lived but a Horn of higher and greater authority then ever his fellow Horn had so he was not till after the death of Darius when the whole Monarchy which before was shared between them fell to him alone and in this respect Daniel sees him come up last If it be asked how long these two Darius and Cyrus did reign together I answer Two years at the end of which Darius who was sixty two years old when Babylon was taken Dan. 5.31 by death which is most probable or else by resignation devolves the whole upon Cyrus Now that they did reign together two years and no more is clear if we compare Dan. 1.21 with Dan. 10.1 Daniel Chap. 1.21 is said to continue till the first year of King Cyrus i.e. so long Daniel did survive In Chap. 10. Daniel sees a Vision in the third year of King Cyrus How may we reconcile these places did Daniel behold this Vision two years after he was dead No we may not think so but that which doth and onely can reconcile the places is this Chap. 1. speaks of Cyrus's sole reign i.e. reckons from that time he began to reign alone but Chapter 10. speaks of the whole of the time that he reigned from the taking of Babylon now that was three years until the time Daniel saw this Vision two of which he reigned together with Darius and the third which is called Cyrus's first Chap. 1.21 he reigned alone Here in our close it may be observed 1 That the first year of Cyrus Dan. 1.21 is not the same year with that called the first of Cyrus 2 Chr. 36.22 Ezra 1.1 The one signifies the first year of his reign after Babylon was taken the other the first of his sole reign which was not his first year but his third from the taking of Babylon 2 That Daniel dyed in the self-same year in which he saw his last and great Vision which was in the third year of the Persian Monarchy for he continues but till the first of Cyrus viz. of Cyrus's sole reign which I say is the same year with that called the third of Cyrus in which he saw his last Vision for therefore as I conceive doth Daniel who before had all along dated his Visions by the reign of Darius date that last by the reign of Cyrus to signifie to us how that in this third year of the Empire Cyrus did reign alone Daniel therefore continuing but till the first year of Cyrus his sole Reign and the year in which Daniel saw his last and great Vision being that year I therefore conclude that Daniel dyed in that very year in which he had his last Vision which neer approach of Daniels death seems to me to be hinted to him twice in the end of the Vision Chap. 12.9 Go thy way Daniel And again in the very last words of all But go thou thy way till the end be for thou shalt rest and stand in thy lot at the end of the dayes The summe of all our whole discourse in this Section is That Darius the Mede did not belong to the Babylonian Monarchy but the Persian and that the first year of Darius the Mede and the first of Cyrus the Persian are one and the same year CHAP. II. Wherein in order to a more full clearing up of the foregoing account viz. of two thousand and three hundred dayes Daniels seventy weeks are discussed SECT 1. HAving in the fore-going Chapter fixed the Head of our Account viz. with what time we are to begin the two thousand and three hundred years I shall now through the Lords assistance go on and as that which necessarily comes next to be handled in order to the making up our Computation enter upon Daniels seventy weeks Chap. 9.24 25 26 27. This seventy weeks is a lesser Epock comprehended
to Ezra Ezra 7.11 to the end 4 Of Artaxerxes to Nehemiah Neh. 2.7 8 9. Upon some one of these four must the Head of our account be fixed The most general opinion is that we are to fix on the first viz. The Edict of Cyrus in the first year of his reign But with this cannot I accord My Reasons are 1 Because this beginining can never bring the two thousand and three hundred daies to concur in their end with the one thousand three hundred thirty five unlesse we find a Head higher for the one or lower for the other and in case either of these be found yet must the Head be such as shall also produce a concurrency in their ends betwixt the one thousand two hundred and sixty and the one thousand two hundred and ninety daies upon the grounds we have more then once referred to already 2 Because the Angels pointing out to Daniel a certain Head for the beginning of this account viz. the going forth of the Commandement to restore and to build Jerusalem vers 25. is to me an Argument that the seventy weeks were not to be begun from the time of the Vision which in case we begin from the first of Cyrus was Daniel having this Vision in the first year of Darius the Mede which year was the same as I have made appear with the first of Cyrus the Persian for the Prophetical manner is when an account is to be begun some or many years after the time of the Vision to fix upon some certain Head for the beginning of it as Chap. 12.11 but now when the account is to take its beginning streight-way from the time of the Vision to fix upon none for which reason the two thousand and three hundred years which begin from the time of the Vision have no particular Head assigned in the Text. 3 Because the determination of the seventy weeks is expresly upon Daniels Holy City i.e. the City Jerusalem Seventy weeks are determined upon thy Holy City But Jerusalem was not the Holy City nor could it properly be so called until many years after the first of Cyrus as shall appear in our next Section therefore are we not from thence but from another time to begin the Seventy weeks 4 Because the Head of account laid down in the Text will not allow this beginning for observe the Text in plain words hath laid down the Head of our account to be this the restoring and building Jerusalem vers 25. Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the Command to restore and to build Jerusalem But now there was not the least word in all Cyrus Decree that did concern Jerusalem but the whole ran upon the building of the Temple as is clear Ezra 1.2 3 4. where we have the substance of his Decree in these words Thus saith Cyrus King of Persia the Lord God of Heaven hath given me all the Kingdomes of the Earth and he hath charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah Who is there among you of all his people his God be with him and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and build the house of the Lord God of Israel he is the God which is in Jerusalem And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth let the men of his place help him with silver 〈◊〉 and with gold and with goods and with Beasts besides the free-will offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem Here is not one word in the whole that doth authorise the Jews to any farther work then what concerned the Temple but now the building of Jerusalem which is the Head laid down in the Text was another and a farther work Object But though the building Jerusalem be not expressed in Cyrus Decree yet it is clear such a thing was intended and the Jews by him authorised to such a work as appears Isaiah 44.28 That saith of Cyrus He is my Sepherd and shall perform all my pleasure even saying to Jerusalem thou shalt be built And Chap. 45.13 I have raised him up viz. Cyrus mentioned vers 1. in righteousnesse and I will direct all his wayes he shall build my City and he shall let go my Captives not for price nor reward saith the Lord of Hosts Yea also from the very deportment of the Jews themselves in this businesse who upon this Decree of Cyrus before yet any other Decree was given forth did assay the building of the City which surely they would not do without a Commission Ezra 4.12 13. Be it known unto the King that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem building the rebellious and the bad City and have set up the walls thereof and joyned the foundations Yea from the very news brought to Nehemiah by Hanani Neh. 1.2 3. that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down the gates burnt with fire which therefore surely had been built betwixt their coming out of Babylon and Nehemiahs dayes for it could have been no news to Nehemiah to have reported to him of the breaking down of the walls of Jerusalem and burning the Gates by Nebuchadnezzar Ans I must confesse the Objection seems to have great strength in it and for truths sake I have brought it forth in its full and utmost strength But to come to an answer In doing whereof I shall First give some particular Answers to the Texts themselves Secondly Lay down some Scripture-considerations which may be an answer to the whole Objection First for the Texts themselves And first that of Isaiah Chap. 44.28 That saith of Cyrus he is my Shepherd and shall perform all my pleasure even saying to Jerusalem thou shalt be built I take it the latter words in which lyes the force of the Objection even saying to Jerusalem thou shalt be built may be very fitly according to the scope of the place interpreted to be the words of the Lord himself not of Cyrus for observe in the foregoing verses we have God brought in by the Prophet assuring his people upon his word of many great things he will do for them vers 24. Thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer and he that formed thee from the womb I am the Lord that maketh all things that stretcheth forth the Heavens alone that spreadeth abroad the Earth by my self vers 25. That frustrateth the tokens of the Liars and maketh Diviners mad that turneth wise men backward and maketh their knowledge foolish vers 26. That confirmeth the word of his Servant and performeth the counsel of his Messengers That saith to Jerusalem Thou shalt be inhabited and to the Cities of Judah Ye shall be built and I will raâ—se up the decayed places thereof vers 27. That saith to the deeps be dry and I will dry up thy Rivers vers 28. That saith of Cyrus He is my Shepherd and shall perform all my pleasure Hitherto it is most evident that the words have relation to God as speaking Now
House of David erected in the midst of Gods peculiar in time of old and bearing rule over the Nations about it Hence Christ as King goes frequently under the name of David Ezek. 34.23 24. Chap. 37.24 25. Hos 3.5 III. This Kingdom became in time subjected by Nebuchadnezzar and after that wholly removed the Scepter being taken away by the Romans at the time of Christs first coming so that from Nebuchadnezzars time until this day no outward visible Kingdom which may bee called Christs hath been in the world IV. Yet an outward visible Kingdom Christ shall have else could not the Promise have its fulfilling nor the Type its Anti-type V. But yet as Davids Kingdom the Type was very little in its beginning and afterwards became a Monarchy bearing rule over the Nations about it so doth this Kingdom of Christ begin as a Stone afterwards becomes a Mountain VI. Further as Davids Kingdom went to decay before Christs first coming its absolute Sovereignty being taken away by Nebuchadnezzar yet had not the Scepter wholly removed untill the time of his coming So doth this Kingdom begin to recover as it is the Stone before Christs second coming therefore said to be set up in the days of the ten Kings Dan. 2.44 yet shall it not be compleatly a great Mountain or a Monarchy bearing rule over all the earth untill this coming VII Yet as God is swift to take Vengeance for his people but slow to take vengeance upon them So when God comes to recover this outward Kingdom by breaking in peeces all worldly Powers that now possesse it the time betwixt the beginning of this work which begins with the time where the Stone begins to smite and the compleating of it is by the determinate Counsel of God much shorter than was the time betwixt the subjecting and total removing of that foregoing outward Kingdom which was the Type of this VIII As the people of God in the time of the Old and New Testament both did and do by faith expect this Kingdom and shall accordingly when the same shall be set up be Joynt-heirs and Inheritors thereof So hath God given us perfect assurance of it and how and when the same shall bee erected and what should befall the people of the Old Testament and of the New also throughout all Ages till the erecting of it and that out of the mouthes of two infallible Witnesses viz. Daniel a Prophet of the Old Testament and John an Apostle of the New IX The scope of Daniels Prophecies which begin some with some suddenly after the time where the Kingdom of the Type was subjected and terminate with the compleat setting up of the Kingdom of the Anti-type is to give full assurance of the thing it self viz. That this Kingdom which for many Ages together before Daniels time had had being in the Type should also after many days have being in the Anti-type and also to give certain knowledge that thereby the faith of Gods people throughout this long time might be the better born up in a patient expectation of this Kingdom how and by whom the Scepter of the World should be swayed from that day in which the Kingdom of the House of David was subjected until the time the same should be restored with greater Power and Glory and more Dominion than ever before it had under Christ the true David And for this reason it is that Daniel takes notice of no worldly Monarch before Nebuchadnezzar by and under whom Davids Kingdom was subjected X. As this outward visible Kingdom throughout this long Period was by Divine appointment to fall into the hands of four great Monarchies viz. 1 The Babylonians 2 Medes and Persians 3 Grecians 4 Romans which one after the other should possesse the Kingdom and bear rule over all the earth till in the end that Ruler should come whose goings out have been from everlasting and whose right by Purchase Promise and Donation of the Father the Kingdom is and take the same from the last of these into his own hands So answerably in the Book of Daniel wee have in four Prophecies his Seventy weeks excepted which treat of another thing these described the time of their reign determined and their final ruine and therewith the revolution of the Kingdom into the hands of Christ and his Saints fore-told XI The Four-fold Repetition of the same things or the speaking of the same things over in four Prophecies was to the end Daniel might have light let in by degrees as he was able to bear it and also that it might be set home more strongly upon his heart and the hearts of Gods people in general to whom these glorious Discoveries were made that the things themselves were established by God and should most certainly be fulfilled in their season Gen. 41.32 XII The Prophecies themselves are 1 That of the great Image Chap. 2. 2 That of the four Beasts Chap. 7. 3 That of the Ram Hee-Goat and Little Horn Chap. 8. Lastly Of the King of the North and King of the South Chap. 11. the matter contained in the three first of these is represented to Daniel by way of Vision in the last by lively voyce XIII The two first of these viz. That of the Great Image and that of the four Beasts comprehend within them all the four Monarchies the two last the three last only the reason whereof is because Daniel had not his two last Visions till the expiration of the first or Babylonian Monarchy Now Prophecies being not of things past but to come therefore the Babylonian Monarchy being passed at the time of the two last Visions no mention at all is made in them of that Monarchy XIV The succession of these four Monarchies is excellently set forth in that golden Method and Order that is observed in each of the aforesaid Prophecies the description of them in that wonderful suitablenesse and harmony that is in the matter XV. The Babylonian Monarchy is the first to which the Images head of fine Gold Dan. 2.32 compared with 37 38. and that first Beast Chap. 7.4 do relate XVI The Medes and Persians succeed the Babylonian to whose Monarchy belongeth the silver Breast and Arms of the Great Image Chap. 2.32 The second Beast chap. 7.5 The Ram with two Horns Chap. 8.3 4 compared with vers 20. and what by lively voyce is spoken to Daniel Chap. 11. vers 1 2. XVII The two Arms joyned to one Breast which is the Persian resemblance Chap. 2. and the two Horns growing upon one Head which is their resemblance Chap. 8. are a most lively embleme of two powerful Nations viz. Medes and Persians either of which hath an Arm a Horn of strength uniting into one to make a Monarchy XVIII The third Monarchy is of the Graecians which is considered in Daniel First as united in one Secondly as divided and broken XIX To the Graecian Monarchy in its united state doth belong that devouring belly which gathers all to it self
Chap. 2.32 That third Beast considered as winged and swift in motion Dan. 7.6 which swiftnesse of march is noted as peculiar to Alexander Dan. 8.5 and is here excellently set forth by giving four Wings i. e. two pair of Wings to this Beast noting his swift march and speedy conquests the Great and notable Horn of the rough Goat Dan. 8.5 compared with vers 21. and what is spoken to Daniel of that mighty King Dan. 11.3 XX. The divided state of the Graecian Monarchy is set forth by the thighs of the great Image Dan. 2.32 the four Heads of the third Beast Dan. 7.6 the four Horns of the He-Goat coming up in the room of the great Horn Dan. 8.8 with vers 22. and what by voyce is delivered to Daniel chap. 11. ver 4 5 c. to ver 14. XXI The Fourth and last Monarchy is of the Romans which Monarchy in either Prophecy is set forth in its two-fold state First its state before Antichrists rise Secondly its state afterwards the one I have formerly called its pure Civil State the other it s mixt State XXII The Roman Monarchy in its first State wherein it chiefly attended to the work of Conquering and subduing Nations is set forth by the Iron Leggs of the great Image Dan. 2.33 which Iron-legged Kingdom or rather this fourth Kingdom considered as Iron-legged is said to break in peeces and subdue all things vers 40. By the fourth Beast Dan. 7.7 but yet considered only as a warlike Beast most dreadful and terrible to the Nations devouring the whole earth treading it down and breaking it in peeces vers 23. By the Little Horn considered in its first waxing great Dan. 8.9 by which waxing it becomes exceeding great pushing down all standing in its way towards the South and towards the West and towards the pleasant Land and by what is spoken to Daniel of the Conquests of the King of the North vers 14. to 21. XXIII The Roman Monarchy in its second State wherein the work it principally attends to is oppressing the Nations subdued already persecuting the Saints treading under-foot the Holy City is set forth by the feet of the great Image of Iron and Clay Dan. 2.33 by the Little Horn Cha. 7. by the Little Horn in its second waxing great Chap. 8.10 11 12 24 25. by the vile Person or that proud King Chap. 11. whose description we have at large vers 21. to vers 40. and afterwards goes under the title of the King of the North ver 40. to the end of the Chapter XXIV All the aforesaid Prophecies though their beginnings are different yet have they but one and the same general end XXV This end is the final dissolution of the Fourth Monarchy and the establishment of the Fifth contemporary with both which is the Personal appearance of Christ XXVI The two last Prophecies conclude with the destruction of the Fourth Monarchy the two first with the greatnesse and glory of the Fifth yet are not for this reason their ends different because though the things themselves are two yet both shall be performed by that one act of Christs Personal appearance It is the appearance of Christ that destroys the Fourth Monarchy establisheth the Fifth XXVII The admirable Harmony in every title betwixt these so antient Prophecies and the events or betwixt the things fore-told so many Ages ago and the things transacted in the Ages since is a strong and convincing Argument of the infallibility of the Prophecies themselves and of the certainty of the performance of the things yet to bee accomplished XXVIII The glorious work of setting up Christs outward visible Kingdom which is the thing pointed at in all the fore-going Prophecies is the great work of the present age and time we live in XXIX The mystical Numbers of Daniel and John both which direct us to the time in which this Kingdom is to be set up all which expire as the fore-going Discourse proveth within the compasse of this Age the visible dispensations of God which in our days have been very wonderful all tending to such a thing the cries of Saints and their faith and expectations generally looking this way the opposition of the Devil and the World against and the malignity of men of worldly Principles unto this glorious truth and blessed work do all speak that we are come to the dawning of that day in which Christ will in despite of Satan and the Worlds rage and all the Carnal policy of men of earthly Principles establish his own Kingdom XXX The former being true it is in its self no strange thing nor ought to be matter of stumbling or offence to any that the Witnesses of Christ in this our day direct their testimony against Civil Powers as they are in their present constitution bearing forth evidently the excellent brightnesse and the terrible form of the Great Image Dan. 2.31 which yet Saints of formet Ages subjected themselves unto and never medled with because the case with them and us is vastly different They lived within the compasse of that time in which the Great Image was to stand the World and worldly Powers were to bear rule which that they might do till their day should come to an end it was necessary that Saints in all Ages heretofore should subject themselves to them and never bear a testimony simply and directly against Civil Powers of a worldly constitution nor indeed could it be any part of their testimony because God having set a time how long worldly Powers should continue it behooved not them to attempt before the time to take from the World what by Divine permission for such a time was allotted them But now the case is otherwise for we being come to the beginning of that day in which the Great Image must be smitten till the same is crumbled to dust and finally carried away with the wind of Gods Wrath and that Kingdom and Dominion which before the Great Image did hold as it s by right to bee translated and given to the Saints of the most High as every Work of God must have light for its Basis because God leads his people to the execution of his will not blinde-fold but by light therefore of necessity must the Witnesses of Christ in this Age bear forth such a testimony of truth as may lay a foundation in the hearts of Gods people for such a work And indeed as the work that God is now about to do is a new thing in the World viz. the regaining that Kingdom which hath been in the hands of the World for now upwards of two thousand three hundred years viz. ever since the beginning of the Seventy years Captivity in Babylon so by the same reason that truth which must be laid as foundation to this work can bee no other but a new thing in the World It is therefore no Argument against the truth of Christs visible Kingdom that Saints our predecessors in the Ages before us medled not with