in Vain Even for the understanding of the Prophecies of my Word And in the very same Chapter God Encourages to Ask of Him Things to Come Even as his Spirit is said to shew to his Servants Things to Come All which I hope will appear a sufficient Answer to the Suspicion That God gave the Prophesies of his Word and so Eminent a Part of them Numbers of Time and did not intend they should be understood If it be taken as in this very Joinct and Objected How câ—mâ— it to pass That All who hitherto have Writ on Prophet … Scripture have much differed one from another and they 〈◊〉 Fix'd Time have either liv'd to see themselves mistaken 〈…〉 hath appear'd after their Death They have been so I des … 〈◊〉 should be considered Those who as the Holy Servants of Christ and Ministers of his Word have Sett Themselves to Understand have Given Great Light and Broken the Way for Those who have Followed and Their Memory and Services are precious to All Wise and Good Men notwithstanding some Mistakes and thereupon Differences which are yet not more or Greater than Those we Find in most Points not Fundamental and in All Interpretation of Scripture And as to their Mistakes in Point of Time It is to be Allowed Their Distances some of Them from the Time of Completion might be their Disadvantage God not vouchsafing such Light concerning that Time till nearer upon it as not to Daniel but upon the very Year of the 70 Years Ending It is further to be considered That there are some Eminent and Learned Persons who have though upon somewhat Different Grounds yet concentred upon this very 97. and some so near it as upon 98 99 and especially 1700. That their Expectations are yet as I may say in Abeyance and Things most probably will be so Conducted as easily to Reconcile so small Disagreements by the First Breakin gs out of Light and further Illustrations But Herein I Humbly Magnifie and Adore the Freeness of Grace and Divine Assistance to his Unworthiest Servant That He hath Granted to me to Lay before me the Whole â—nd Entire Prophetical Table of his Word which is the Greatest Security against Mistake that can be vouchsafed Because by the View and Survey of things together They are seen in â—heir Just Scituations and Allowances of Room and placed â—qually one in proportion to another That there may be no croud Confusion Justle upon or Interfere one with another Whereas if this be not a plausible Semblance or Sound of Agreement may mislead If such a Scheme be Reflected upon as Imaginary and the Work of Fancy I make an Humble Challenge to all the Wit â—he Fancy the Learning that is in the World to Give a Pa … el Scheme in such an Agreement with the Word of God and 〈◊〉 Providential Events in Concert with it By which I am … ed It is not nor cannot be my own but as Found in Sa … Writings seeing Fancy and Imagination cannot create in … f-subsistent Things or Erect into undoubted matter of Fact As it is That there are such and such Prophetical Emblems and Representations Such Examples of the Way and Manner of Interpretation as that Nâ—buchadnezzar was the Head of Gold the King of Persia the Ram the King of Grecia the He Goat The Babylonish Woman the City on Seven Mountains that at the Time of the Revelation Given was then Reigning over the Kings of the Earth All These Give such a Pattern of the Manner of Interpreting Prophetick Images and what way the Spirit of God means They should be Expounded and Discypher'd that They are Equal to Matter of Fact That there are such Numbers as 2300 Eves Morns 70 Weeks Time Times Half a Time Three Days and an Half 1260 1290 1335 Days 42 Moons And all these to be multiplied by the Prophetical Standard of Time or Days for Years And that These are some of Them Repeated variously plac'd is plain Matter of Fact To find therefore the Concert of these and to place Them in their Just Order one towards another and in the Greatest Friendliness Peace Harmony and Beautifull â—ymmetry and with the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Admirable Air and Mien of the Divine Wisdom finding out the Knowledge of All Witty Inventions herein and then Supervening or Coming upon All These Substantial Undoubted Matters of Fact the Greatest Events that have been in the World Adjustable to these Numbers of Time Comprobated and Assured by the most Valuable History and Chronology that are in the World All Make up such a Plerophory a Fullness of Assurance that must needs deliver from the Scruple that Fancy and Imagination have had the Architecture of such a Triangular as I may call it Compage of Things in such a Justice of Respect one to another such a Trine or Threefold strongest Combination one with another For to give a Summary Delineation on what Grand Pillars of Event the Emblems of Prophecy are Planted or drawn and what Proportions of Time are adjusted to them and then 〈◊〉 well it is known That such Events and within some General Ken of such Allowances of Time are own'd by History 〈◊〉 Chronology to those Events is the Greatest satisfaction th … can be given For either small Petite or Obscure Events 〈◊〉 Disgrace any Prophetick Scheme And to be out of all Bounda … of Time is as Dishonourable The Root therefore of Prophetick Time I make that Stupendious Failure of the so Illustrious Types of the Kingdom of Christ the Reigns of David and Solomon at the Death of Solomon and the Incredible Depression of Them had not Sacred Writ assur'd it in the Division of the Tribes into the Two Houses of Israel and Judah Till Both Involv'd each in a dreadful Captivation distinct to Each The Rescue and Deliverance of the Two Tribes from their Captivity in Babylon was by the Destruction of that Monarchy the First of the Four and the Decree of Cyrus the Founder of the Persian Monarchy at the End of the 390 and 40 Years of the Visional Bearing of Iniquity for them and settling the Prophetical Standard of a Day for a Year by Ezekiel In Cyrus his Universal Monarchy so Favourable to the people of God and so Great a Type of Christ as to be called Messiah or God's Annointed Begin the 2300 Eves and Morns That staple Line of Time that Reaches to the very Glorious Kingdom of Christ In the First Hundred Twenty Four Years of them there is though with Interruptions a Gradual Restoration of Judah and Jerusalem Entring within the First Seven Weeks or Forty Nine Years of that so Famous and by Christians Universally Agreed Character of Time confirming the Prophetick … ndard of a Day for a Year to 490 Years Viz. The 70 Weeks Through these runs the very Dwarf-like and Tributary Condition of the Jews besides some horrible Inroads upon them under the latter part of the Persian the whole of the Grecian Monarchy and
over The Objections and Solutions I shall very much in short thus Account for First It will be pretended against it It is a Presumptuous Curiosity to undertake to Pry into Prophetick Times and that it ought to be immediately check'd with that of our Lord It is not for you to know the Times and Seasons which the Father hath Set in his own Power But as to that Particular Scripture it is evident it was an Importune Enquiry of the Apostles not in the order of Scripture Researches nor in the due waiting for of the promise of the Spirit which was the Duty of that very Juncture And therefore tho our Lord is quick upon their disorderly question yet he implies there would be a Gracious method for their Resolution in it and commands them to Jerusalem to wait for The promise of the Spirit from the Father which saith He you have heard of me One Branch of which was The shewing them things to come Joh. 10. 14. And in general we find the search of Prophetick Times is much more under the Favour then the Displeasure of Scripture It is recorded with Honour to the Children of Issachar that they had understanding of Times and knew what Israel was to do Particularly 1 Chron. 2. 32. concerning Davids Kingdom which was the concernment of that Time And in which I doubt not they laid together the Prediction of Jacob and other Revelations of God peculiar to that People and those Times by which they were able to give a Judgment And it is observed Their Brethren were at their Command This sway'd no doubt in the Union of Israel in David The Prophet Daniel was not satisfied with what he found by Immediate C. 9. 1. Revelation but understood by Books of Scripture and civil Records It is a Recommendation of that method the Number of Years God had Determin'd for the Desolations of the Sanctuary The Prophets in the same manner search'd What and what manner 1 Pet. 1. 11. of Time the Spirit which was in them did signify The Apostle by the Spirit Praises the Giving heed to the sure Word of Prophecy as doing well Seeing then the Account of Time is one eminent Branch of that sure Word It is Praise-worthy to give heed to that and no Presumption to do so Our Lord charges it as Hypocrisy not to discern the Signs of the Times those Characters and Notes of Impression God hath set upon them by Prophecy How often is there Encouragement given in that Great Prophecy of the Now Testament Blessed is he that Readeth and they that hear the Words of the Prophecy of this Book Let Him that hath Wisdom Count. Here Rev. c. 1. 3 is the Mind that hath Wisdom Let any one now Impartially lay these things together and it will plainly appear There is waranty for searching Times revealed in Scripture And They are still in the Fathers Power when the Knowledge of them is waited for by the assistance of his Spirit in the understanding of his Word It may be further Argued against the Defining of Time from Scripture-Prophecy That the Scripture-Prophecies are so Dark and Enigmatical that it appears most probable The Spirit of God did not intend They should be understood or Laid Open till the very End of All Things at the Day of Judgment or in the Kingdom of Heaven in Eternity And therefore The Soberest Gravest Men though very Learned and of Great Sagaciousness do not engage themselves therein and Least of All in the Accounts of Time To This I would by way of Defence Rejoyn in the First Place That it is most True That in the Darkness of the Present State while the Apostacy of the Papal State so much Eclipses the Glory of Christianity There is a Great Indisposition and a Great Inability to Interpret Scripture-Prophecies The Vnlearned Esa 29. 12. say They are not Learned and the Learned say The Book is Sealed And This Begets a Prejudice against Any Undertakers herein and they are Charged with Boldness and Presumption or with Madness or Enthusiasm It is said to Them Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from us to you How come you to be wiser than others And this will in a very Great Measure continue till the Kingdom of Christ come into its Succession that the Ears of the Deaf shall hear the Words of this Book and the Eyes of the Blind see out of obscurity But yet in the second place it is undeniable That which is most Enigmatical and under what we call Riddle if it be wisely contriv'd and design'd must have sense under it tho not so open but that it shall require close Attendance the most Exercised Thought And on those Terms it is so prepar'd that it may be understood and excellent Sense found under it tho a Riddle Samsons Riddle had a very certain Determinate sense and if we knew fully the meaning of it advances beyond the First Unriddling very admirable Instructions All retired Parts of Knowledge in Anatomy Astronomy Mathematicks Algebra Call for Understandings speculiarly fitted to them and most attent Application and Curious Instruments Microscopes Telescopes and yet the Knowledge and Assurance that rises from them when understood is the most Refined and Satisfactory And so it is in Prophecy of Scripture altho it does not offer it self at so easie a Rate as some other Points of Scripture-Knowledge Yet by deep and fixed Meditation by comparing of its parts one with another and especially waiting upon the Spirit of Prophecy for its Illumination we shall find it is prepar'd and weigh'd out with the greatest Severity of Truth Divine Sense and leads into very sublime Discoveries of Divine Wisdom in the Government of the World in Relation to his Church the Times and Seasons of it And tends to the Greatest Aws of God and obedience to the Supreme Majesty of Heaven and Earth and to know That he is God In the Third Place It is affirm'd by the Spirit of God that it is intended it should be understood For it affirms 2 Pet. 1. 19 20. It is a Light that shines in a Dark Place Now if it be darker than the Dark Place How can it be call'd a Light Or how can it enlighten such a Dark place And it is not of Private Interpretation as I have heretofore given an Account publickly The very meaning is It is not of a Reserv'd or Apart-Interpretation As it is said Christ privately or apart Interpreted his Parables to his Disciples God says of Himself Esa 45. 19. I have not spoken in secret or in a Dark Place of the Earth like the Dark dubious Oracles of Devils I Jehovah speak Righteousness I declare the things that are Right of Greatest Sincerity Vprightness and Truth not perplex'd but plain to them that understand most Right Straight and direct to Him that understandeth Right to them that find knowledge And I have not said saith our God to any of the Seed of Jacob Seek ye my Face
or Punishment of the House of Judah clasps Fast with the 390 of Bearing Israel's Sin because God commanded Ezekiel when He bad Born the sin of Israel on the Left side without any Intermission to Turn on the Other side and to Bear the sin of the House of Judah on the Right side and the Bearing the Sin of the House of Israel goes back to the Division of the Tribes into Two Houses at Solomon's Death In the Last Place I dare Appeal to the Greatest Chronologers â—â— Historians whether our General Accounts do not within â—ome Fair Proportion Allow the Years of the Papacy of the Paâ—â— Power of the Roman Empire of the Grecian Persian Babyâ—â—sh Kingdoms to serve these Prophetical Accounts and so â—â—ward by the Kings of Israel and Judah to the Death of â—â—lomon Now all these Things were there Room to Represent Them clearly particularly and in Full would Give such certainty â—â— these Points according to the Exactness of Scripture-Time as â—ould amount to the Justification of the Great Hope I so pubâ—â—ly make Offer of and against which in every minute Parâ—â—ar I Humbly Pledge my self to be Ready to Receive Exceptions and to Return Due Satisfaction and therefore shall â—ow Return to the more General Objections This way of Endeavour to Justify every Thing by Plain â—â—counts and Arguments of Reason Approachable by every â—â— Reason and Subject to the Examination of every Man â—oever will take so much Thought and Care of Tryal and â—â— Judgment upon Himself may take off much of that Exceâ—â— Why should All This be Reveal'd to you more than to Any â—er For The Answer I would give is Because God hath â—ngaged my Heart and Thoughts to this Inquiry And it hath been the Principal Subject of my Intellectual Inquiries though I hope not in a Neglect of other Points of Theology and Scripture-Knowledge But by this means I have been looking every way into All the Advertisements of Scripture-Prophecy comparing Prophetical Things with Prophetical and any of the most Accurate Memoirs of History and Chronology I could Attain And This is no other than what Any Other Studious in these Things might have Attained and much Higher according to the Advantages of Learning more enlarged Capacities of Mind Clearness of Expression as is most experimental in that Excellent Person The Annotator on the Reâ—elation and his Annotations Published about Four Years ago The Only Thing that I pretend to of Peculiar Favour herein from the Most High is That he hath thus engaged my Heart and Thoughts to separate my self and to Intermeddle with this Wisdom and Assisted me so far therein When any one vouches any Immediate Revelation that cannot be disprov'd by its plain Disagreeableness to other Sealed Parts of Divine Revelation though indeed from God Hâ— and his Revelation are Inaccessible but by the same Spirit of Revelation in some suitable Efficacy of the same Spirit enabling to discern or to feel the Vertue of it As in the Apostles Days When the Prophets spake one by one 1 Cor. 14. 29. Then the Rest Judged that is Discern'd the Divineness of the Revelation by the Participations of the same Spirit in themselves But when Any offer the Interpretation of written Prophecies or Prophecies of Scripture by the Assistance of the same Spirit that gave them this Interpretation if Just and True and according to the Sense of the Divine Spirit is the Spirit of Proâ—â—cy Because it is the Testimony of Jesus which is the very Essence of the Spirit of Prophecy Now this is plainly Approvable by All who wait upon the same Word of God by the Assistance of the same Spirit I do not therefore in Any of these Prophetical Discourses offer at any such thing as in which the Spirit of the Lord passing by others should have spoken to me but what every one hath the same Right and Open Door to and Freedom of and what every one hath a Riight to Examine and Accept or Reject according to the Evidence he sinds of an Agreeableness with the Sure Word of Prophecy or not That onely I stand up for is That He Judges as a Prophet according to the measure of that Dispensation of the Blessed Spirit now vouchsefed to his Servants That is that he Judge by the Due Compare of Prophecy with Prophecy by Attendance to every Hint and Indication of the Prophetical Mind Flowing from that Spirit and that he lay this First as a Foundation that the Prophecies of Scripture ought to be Given Heed to and that they may be understood as a Light shining in a dark place And whoever doth not thus address himself can no more Judge then any one could of the Revelations then made by the Spirit to the Prophets of those First Times when they met in those Prophetical Exercises without the Communication of the same Spirit to themselves or then an Illitterate or unknowing Person in any Science or Art Can Judge of the Exercitations of the most knowing Persons or Artists when they meet together for the Communication of their most Elaborate Exercitations therein And so I do indeed Claim and Insist on this Priviledge That none undertake to Judge of what I have offered in these things but by such Prophetical Preparations and Attendances upon Scription Prophesies that are indeed open to every one that Desires to â—nter by the Key of Scripture Prophetical Knowledge and shut to others And this is no more Presumption then what every one thinks his Priviledge that no one Judge of his Art but He that Understands it first Himself And this I hope Vindicates from any undue Assumption of any more then the Gracious Direction of my Heart and Thoughts to that Book of Scripture Prophecy that Lies open to every one that draws nigh with due Preparation And that every one may Judge of by the same Preparation It may be further Objected that yet it is very hard if not Impossible to attain the Sense of the Divine Spirit to a Year or any such Precise Definitive Account of Time To this I Answer It will easily be allowed that the Divine Spirit hath Determin'd and knows according to that its Expression of it self to the very Self same Day And therefore seeing it hath given Numbers of Time it must be to the very Self same Day For the end of every Number is so Precise and Definite That It must needs be to the very Self same Year and even Day if we could have as Punctual Account of Days as of Years But I find not the Holy Spirit ordinarily is more particular then Years By therefore a due Poize of that Trine Aspect of Prophetick Emblems Prophetick Numbers and Providential Effects in Event and Matters of Fact of the Records of which It hath taken Care by General History and Chronology we may come to know to a Year And of this Besides several other Assurances that Require more Discourse There is that Time of the Reformation more Easy and Immediate to every