deferring his baptism to be baptized in Jordan where Christ was baptized Constantine had three sons to whom he divided his Empire First Constantine whom he made Emperour over the Western parts of his Empire in the 10. year of his reign Secondly Constantius whom he set over the Eastern parts of his Empire in the 20. year of his reign Thirdly Constans had his Empire assigned to him in the 30. year of his fathers reign The division of the Roman Empire is given more particularly Thus 1. Constantine had the Alpes France Spain England Ireland the Isles of the Orchades and Thile 2. Constantius had the Countries of Asia and Thracia 3. Constans had Italy Affrick with the Isles Sclavonia Macedonia Achaia Peloponnesus and Grecia Of all the Empire Constantine the great delighted in Byzantius a City in Thracia which he made the Emperial seat and called it Constantinople In the 65. year of his age and the 31. of his reign Constantine fell sick and for the recovery of his health went to the hot Baths in Helenopolis But finding his sickness to increase he left the Baths and came to Nicomedia and without the walls of the City was baptized into the faith of Christ by Eusebius Pastor of the Church in Nicomedia Constantine greatly rejoyced in his baptism and after made his Will and the 22. day of May in the 65. year of his Age and the 31. of his reign he departed this life An. 340. Though the Empire was divided by Constantine in his life time to his three sons and each had large Dominions Yet as ambition can keep no bonds Constantine made War upon his brother Constans and invaded some of his Countries This stirred up Constans who went against his brother where Constantine the Elder brother lost his Army and life together This gave encouragement to Constans who past the Mountains and in two years possessed himself of all his brothers Dominions But upon the death of Constantine the Souldiers chose Magnentius Emperour who prosecuted the War against Constans and in a short time had him murdered by conspiracy Thus in a little time the Eldest and youngest of Constantines sons came to sudden if not sad ends Constantius the only son of Constantine now living having knowledge of these things left Gallus his brother in law his Lieutenant in Asia and with a great Army came into Italy against Magnentius Upon the first Battel the Army of Magnentius was totally routed but himself escaped away with life Magnentius in this low condition sent Ambassadours to Constantius for peace But that being refused by Constantius Magnentius resolved to try his fortune in another pitched battel which also proved unhappy to him and not finding now a way open to save his life he slew himself and so the whole Empire came into the hand of Constantius But in the absence of Constantius Gallus rebelled and set up himself Emperour of the East Yet Constantius by a wile got Gallus into France and when he had him there soon took off his head and so ended that strife Constantius then took Julian his brothers son into Government and left him in France Julian prospered in War and growing into the affection of the Souldiery they elected him Casar Augustus The news of this sorely displeased Constantius who was drawing down his Army against Julian But in the way Constantius died of an Apoplexia the 3. day of November in the year 45. of his age when he had reigned 11. years with his father Constantine and 25. years after him An. 365. Julian now succeeded in the Empire and the 11. day of December following the death of Constantius was proclamed Emperour At Julians first coming to the Empire he found the people greatly divided but being unsound in Religion to which he much pretended to please his Uncle and get the Crown now he set himself to please men In Policy he applyed himself to every sort and framed his behaviour to every humor He slattered some he allured others with gifts and places of preferment and gave all their liberty in Religion to establish himself Julian's hypocrisie and dissembling of the Christian Religion was undiscovered until this time But now having got his design and setled in the Throne he manifested himself a desperate Apostate soon opened the Idol Temples and offered sacrifice therein After this the Christians were banished his Court and the vilest persons taken into favour Julian now persecuted the Christians with bitter hatred and studyed how to root out Religion He would not put Christians to death because Martyrs had so great honour but as Learning was a great help to maintain the Doctrine of the Gospel Julian made a Law that Christians should not be trained up in the Schools of Literature And further to trouble the Christians he called in again the Jewes and gave them Authority and supplies to build the Temple in Jerusalem there to offer sacrifice The unbelieving Jewes rejoycing in this opportunity set themselves busily to work But though the seasonable word of Cyril was slighted by them yet the righteous hand of God was upon them by which the word of the Lord was fulfilled In that very night following the Lord caused an Earthquake by which the very foundations of the Temple was cast up and fire as lightening which burnt the Tools of the Work-men c. About this time Julian drew his Army into Persia where he was shot with a poysoned Arrow of which wound he died the 26. of June the 31. year of his age in the 3. year of his reign alone An. 367. Jovinian was next chosen Emperour by the Army He gave some liberty to the Christians but died the 17. of February in the 33. year of his age when he had reigned but 7. moneths Valentinian was chosen Emperour by the Souldiers the 25. day of February This Emperour being married and yet having a minde to a beautiful Maid that pleased him much he made a Law That as many men as would might have two wives and so took Justina to be his second wife After this he broke a Vein in his Lungs whereat the bloud streamout until he died thereof which was the 16. of November in the 45. year of his age and the 13. of his reign An. 380. After the death of Valentinian there arose great strife between his sons Some chose Gratian who came by the first wife and some chose Valens who was by the second wife But the bastard carryed it Valens was an Arrian by profession and sadly persecuted the Christians In his reign the Goths driven out of their own Country by the Huns were taken into protection by the Roman Emperour and placed in Thracia But soon after the Goths laid siege against the Imperial City of Constantinople and the Emperour coming against them in battel was slain the 9. of August in the 3. year of
and changes and over-turnings can bee expected in Churches and States till he come and be lift up whose right alone it is to rule as King of Saints and King of Nations As yet the Lords people see little into this great Mystery of the Prophets and if you find slips and failings in my Computations of years or application of Prophecies cover them or correct them in love considering my love to Christ and his Saints hath ingaged me in this Work and as yet it is neither dark nor light I confesse the whole Book is little more than a Transcript of Divine and prophane Histories in all which I have been faithful to God and Men which Mite I now cast into the poor Saints Treasury and if the Lord Jesus Christ shall make it a seasonable word of truth to Saints it will bee the comfort and crown of him who waites and prayes for the promised Redemption of Sion T. P. A MAP of MONARCHY LIB I. ALL the dealings of God with man are works of wonder As the Lords electing Love hath been cast upon a few of old Adams children to evidence the freedome and riches of his grace So the infiniteness of his Almighty power is manifest in his guidance preservation and protection of these chosen ones through the oppositions and difficulties they meet with in this world For the sake of these was Christ promised Laws Ordinances and Government given For the first 2000. years sin reigned and there were few persons whom the Lord approved of as godly About which time the Lord singled out Abraham and made a special Covenant with him and his seed after his faith Abraham had one Isaac descending from him Isaac had but one Jacob coming out of his Loynes but from Jacob came the twelve Patriarchs I will omit many passages of Gods providence in those times yet it 's manifest that the Church of God then was contained in one Family and though Jacobs Family had in it seventy souls at his going into Egypt amongst themselves these were onely under houshold-Government The time of Israels bondage until their full deliverance was 430. years all which time till neer the end Israel in civil things were under the Government of the Kings of Egypt But when Israels oppressions brought them to their prayers the Lord heard their cries and made provision for their deliverance by the hand of Moses to whom the Lord gave the Government of his people Israel as Judge I cannot here let pass the glorious appearance of God in the multiplying of these people that in the Land of their sad afflictions and hard bondage the number of seventy souls entering Egypt were multiplied to six hundred thousand and 3000. and 550. men of War besides the Tribe of Levi. The Lord now having made good his promise to Abraham in so great a measure that from a Family they were increased into a Body Politick or Commonwealth For the well-ordering of whom God in his wisdom gave to them a sweet fatherly Government under the name and title of Judge many or most of which were Prophets and High-Priests elected by the people not to have a violent proud arbitrary or absolute dominion over them but to minister justice and guide them by the counsel of God Under this happy Government the Lord blessed this people about 450. years It is too manifest that upon the corruptions of some in Government the people would not be satisfied until they had cast off that Government the Lord had given them and blessed to them and would have a King to Judge them like all the Nations This Heathenish request sadly grieved good Samuel and much displeased the Lord yet God in his unsearchable wisdom having great designes to accomplish in the world granted Israel their desires though to be a scourge and a curse to them and commanded Samuel to tell them what oppressors and Tyrants these Kings should be to them And Israel groaned wofully under this Kingly Monarchical Government for about 517. years which ended with the last and great Captivity in Babylon but upon their restauration and return they again set up the Government by Judges according to the institution of God and so continued it many of which Judges ruling after the Captivity as before were High-Priests Now as Kingly Monarchical Government hath been most general in the world and these Kings and Emperours implacable enemies and bloudy persecutors of Christ and the interest of the Saints yea and such as have been the great instruments of the Devil to keep down or keep out Christ from his Kingly Monarchical visible Government over the Saints and Churches which God the Father hath promised to him and conferred upon him I will therefore spot a little Paper and spend a little time to run down the line of Monarchy to give a touch upon the enterance reign and ends of some Kings Emperours and Kings again in the latter times I will begin with the Kings of Israel at their ending I will come to Daniels four Kings and fall in with the Histories of the Kings of England until that name was taken away at White-hall West-minster The Map of Monarchy WHen nothing but a King would Saul content Israel Samuel caused all the Tribes of Israel and all the People to gather to Mizpeh where they chose Saul the son of Kish for chief Captain This was a free election of the People and no secret combination of any party Yet I cannot but note the modesty of the young man seeming to judge himself unfit for so great an honour and high trust hid himself from the Crown If we may judge affections by actions Saul sought the Asses with more desire then a Kingdom And possibly if he had continued in his Native imployment his life might have been longer and his sin less But being now lift up to the Throne Saul ruffles in the world and did something while God was with him yet when the Lord took from Saul the spirit of Government and courage he fell into gross wickedness in the life-time of Saul David was anointed King over Israel I will not insist upon the vile practices of this ungodly man which came to miserable end for not finding a man willing to separate his distracted soul from his miserable body he fell upon his own sword and became his own executioner But this I must further add the lusts of Saul cost Israel dear for he spent much treasure spilt much of their bloud and reigned with Samnel 40. years about Anno mun 2888. For the wickedness of Saul the Lord rejected him took away the spirit of Government he had and commanded Samuel to anoint David the son of Jesse when Saul had reigned but a few years yet David was not set upon the Throne until
reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab King of Israel he walked in all the waies of Asa his father and took out of the land those Sodomites that remained in his fathers daies In his time he made peace with Israel by matching his son with Ahabs daughter and by that neer affinity to that wicked King joyned with him to fight his battles which sin of his was deeply threatend and soundly reproved from the Lord. This good man had great infirmities yet did more in reforming his people then any King after Solomon to his time and reigned 25. years about Ann. mund 3045. Nevertheless the High places were not taken away Jehoram succeeded his father Jehoshaphat in the Kingdom but not in his piety when he was settled in the Throne he murdered his six brethren the sons of his father and divers Princes This was a woful beginning and yet the holy Pen-man gives this account of him that he walked in the waies of the Kings of Israel like as did the house of Ahab for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife Marriage with Idolatrous wives hath been the ruine of many men and Nations And to all the rest of this wickedness Jehoram set up Idols and compelled Judah to worship them I shall omit some things but I may not pass the miseries God brought upon his people and this vild person as the just reward of his sin yet less then he deserved though eternity may pay for all In his time the Edomites revolted and set up a King amongst themselves at the same time also Libnah revolted because Jehoram had forsaken the Lord. But Jehorams sad doom was sent to him in writing from the Prophet Elijah possibly it might be in this extraordinary way either to give the full certainty of the sad judgements determined against him or rather to prevent some bloudy design of of this wicked King against the Prophet for the discharge of his duty But soon after the Lord stirred up the Philistines and Arabians who came to judah and carryed away all the substance that was Jound in the Kings house and his sons and his wives so that Jehoahaz the yongest son was saved And after all this the Lord smote Jehoram with an incurable disease in his bowels of which he languished for the space of two years and in the end his bowels fell out and so died but Judah buried him not in the Sepulchres of their Kings Thus he lived wickedly dyed miserably and was buried shamefully when he had reigned or rather raged 8. years About Ann. mun 3053. In the 12. year of Joram King of Israel the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Azariah the youngest son of Jehoram who was lest alive King of Judah This is the general account the Holy Ghost gives of him That he walked in the waies of the house of Ahab for his mother Athaliah the daughter of Omri King of Israel was his Counsellor to do wickedly In 2 King 8. 26. it's said Azariah was 22. years old when he began to reign but 2 Chron. 22. 2. it 's said he was 42. years old when he began to reign This deserves further thoughts to reconcile yet in both places it is said he reigned but one year Azariah had but a short reign and the Holy Ghost adds this as a further reason which is worth observing he did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab for they were his Counsellors to his distruction About Anno mund 3054. Ahaziah going to visit Joram King of Israel son of his grand-father Ahab when Jehu came to execute judgement upon Ahabs house he found Ahaziah King of Judah hid in Samaria and put him to death with the rest this news being brought to Athaliah his mother she set up her self Queen of Judah and at first she murthered the seed Royal of her own son to sit quietly in the Throne Yet to make good his word to David the Lord preserved Joash who was secretly stole away from amongst the Kings children by Jehosheba Ahaziahs sister and hid five years with his Nurse in the house of the Lord. Jehosheba was wife to Jehoiada the Priest by whose Counsel and help Joash was saved alive In the seventh year Jehoiada made Joash known to the Captaines of the Army and taking an Oath of them Guards were appointed the Kings son was brought forth and Crowned at which there was great rejoycing when Athaliah heard the great noise in the Temple she came forth to know the matter But seeing the King stand by the Pillar according to the usual manner of the Kings of Judah at their Coronation she rent her cloaths and cryed Treason Treason But Jehoiada commanded to lay hold on her and to have her out of the range of the Temple and to kill her which they did when she had reigned 7. years about Anno 3061. Joash or Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign which was the seventh year of Jehu so soon as Joash was Crowned King Jehoiada caused a Covenant to be made between the King and the people and between the King people and the Lord and presently all the people went into the house of Baal and they destroyed it thoroughly Joash reigned well while Jehoiada lived yet the High places were not taken away but after the death of Jehoiada the Princes of Judah had full recourse to the King and by their flatteries the King was drawn to Idolatry that both the King and his Courtiers left off to worship God in the Temple and served Groves and Idols The Lord in mercy sent Prophets to reprove their sin and bring them back again but they would not harken to these then the Lord sent Zachariah the son of Jehoiada the Priest who dealt plainly both with the King and people he told them Because yea have forsaken the Lord the Lord also hath forsaken you and that was the reason they could not prosper This home preaching they could not digest and by the command of the King the good man was stoned to death in the Court of the Lords house though he was an extraordinary Prophet sent by God and the son of Jehoiada It 's a known truth Tyranny can know no relations when they are not any thing yet Zachariah left his bloud at their doors and appealing to the righteous God and Judge of all the earth who upon his death said The Lord look upon it and require it And the Lord did so For about the end of the year the Syrians came to Jerusalem with a small company and the Lord delivered a very great Host into their hand because they had forsaken the Lord God thus God executed his judgement against
exceed in sin those who had gone before him yet we must give credit to the sacred word But it is manifest the Lord brought dreadful judgements upon Israel in Ahabs reign and Ahab being seduced by false Prophets was slain at Ramoth-Gilead according to the word of the Lord by the Prophet Micaiah when he had reigned 22. years about An. 3053. Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel the 17. year of Jehoshaphat King of Judah He walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin But the judgement of God was upon him for he fell down from an upper Chamber in Samaria and was sick In which sicknesse he sent to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether he should recover of his sickness As the Messengers were going the Lord spake to Elijah the Prophet and bad him go meet the Messengers and say to them Is it not because there is not a God in Israel that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the God of Ekron Now therefore thus saith the Lord Thou shalt not come down from that bed which thou art gone up to but shalt surely die So Ahaziah died according to the word of the Lord when he had reigned two years about An. 3055. Ahaziah King of Israel had no son and so Joram or Jehoram the second son of Ahab reigned in his stead Jehoram did evil in the sight of the Lord yet not like his father and mother for he put away the images of Baal though he clave to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin In the 23. year of his reign and in the first year of Ahaziah King of Judah Joram perswaded Ahaziah his brother in law to go out to War with him against Hazael King of Syria at Ramoth-Gilead In that battel Joram was wounded and went to Jezreel to be healed But the measure of the sins of Ahabs house being now full the Lord called out Captain Jehu and makes him King of Israel to be his executioner upon Ahabs family The Souldiers had a grudge in their hearts against Joram and so soon comply'd with Jehu and Jehu as readily conspired against Joram his Master Yet Jehu consulted his confederates and presently gave charge when he was proclaimed King that none should go to tell the news at Court but Jehu himself drives on furiously to Jezreel to put Joram to death When Jehu came neer to Jezreel Joram went out to meet him but discovering treachery Joram turned and fled yet Jehu drew a bow with all his might and sent a speedy messenger of Death after him and the arrow went out at his heart Thus Joram died in the 12. year of his reign about An. 3067. In the first year of Ahaziah King of Judah Jehu came to be King of Israel and effectually fulfilled the word of the Lord in the destruction of Ahabs house But he kept Ahabs sin which also proved his ruine Jehu was mighty zealous to fulfil the word of the Lord in the total destruction of Ahabs family as it concurred with his own interest for the establishing the Crown in his Posterity But when Jehu had got the Crown he took no heed to walk in the Law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart but play'd the hypocrite and hug'd the sins of Jeroboam which made Israel to sin So though he was the Lords executioner yet the Lord charged that bloud upon him as a Murtherer In his sin he died when he had reigned 28. years about An. 3095. In the 23. year of Joash King of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel Here is a difference in sacred accounts to be considered Joash began his reign in the 7. year of Jehu Jehu reigned 28. years And Jehoahaz son to Jehu began not his reign till the 23. year of Joash By which it appears Jehoahaz the son of Jehu came not to the Crown for two years after his fathers death And when he was set up Jehoahaz followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat which made Israel to sin he departed not therefrom In his time the Lord delivered Israel into the hands of the Syrians so that of the great Armies that Israel had formerly raised now the King had only 50. horse-men 10. Chariots and 1000. foot For the King of Syria had destroyed them Now Jehoahaz sought to the Lord and the Lord raised them help pitying their woful oppression but yet Israel departed not from the sins of Jeroboam and kept the Grove in Samaria Jehoahaz reigned 17. years about An. 3114. Between Jehu and Jehoahaz there was an inter-reign for two years which were to be placed above but I have added those two years to the 17. of Jehoahaz In the 37. year of Joash King of Judah Jehoash son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel Jehoahaz began to reign in the 23. year of Joash and reigned 17. year which makes 40. years yet it 's said Jehoash began his reign the 37. year of Joash By which it appears Jehoash was Crowned in the life of his father and so those years accounted to his reign Little is said of this King but this is recorded that he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam but walked therein and run out 16. years about An. 3130. In the 15. year of Amaziah King of Judah Jeroboam the son of Jehoash or Joash reigned in his stead here again is a different account as thus Joash began to reign in the 37. year of Joash King of Judah who reigned 40. years and Jeroboam began to reign in the 15. of Amaziah which are 18. years whereas Joash King of Israel reigned but 16. years here are two years difference which time Amaziah did reign with his father Joash Jeroboam departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin yet the Lord made him victorious for the delivery of Israel from very bitter afflictions and restored them to much liberty he reigned 41. years about An. 3171. In the 38. year of Azariah King of Judah Zachariah the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel here again is the like case as before Azariah King of Judah began to reign the 27. year of Jeroboam King of Israel Jeroboam reigned 41. years from 27. to 41. is 14. years of Azariah's reign and in the 38. year of Azariah Zechariah began his reign So that Israel was 24. years without a King 3195. Zechariah followed his fathers and departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin and Shallum flew him before the people and reigned in his stead when
Zachariah had reigned but six moneths about An. 3195. Now sin was high and judgement neer Shallum had lost shame and Conscience to murder the King openly yet this was the fulfilling the word of the Lord and the end of Jehu's race In the 39. of Azariah or Uzziah King of Judah Shallum began to reign over Israel and Menahem smote him and flew him when he had reigned a just moneth Now it was ordinary to murder Kings for a Crown and the people wofully slaved by Tyranny yet all the fruit of sin An. 3195. In the 39. year of Azariah King of Judah Menahem began to reign over Israel I may not omit to mention the bloudy beast-like cruelty of this wretched Tyrant which was great When Menahem came up from Tirzah which was formerly the chief City and the seat of the Kings of Israel with purpose to murder the King at Samaria the City Tizrah refused to open the gates to him Thereupon he destroyed the City and all the Coasts thereof and ript up all the women who were with child But though he murdered the King to sit on his Throne yet he departed not all his daies from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin It doth appear this bloudy Tyrant sat not quietly in his new aspired seat for upon discontents amongst the people Pul King of Assyria took the opportunity of that division to bring up his Army against Israel In this strait Menahem gave Pul 1000. Talents of silver to be on his side to confirm the Kingdom in his hand And Menahem exacted it of the people especially of the wealthyest of them Oh the woful bondage and slavery Israel were now brought to A bloudy Tyrant kills their King and exacts money from them to confirm himself in the Throne he got by murder yet thus he reigned 10. years about Anno 3205. In the 50. year of Azariah King of Judah Pekaiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin But Pekah the son of Remaliah a Captain of his conspired against him and killed him when he had reigned two years about An. 3207. In the 52. year of Azariah King of Judah Pekah began to reign over Israel he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin In his daies came Tiglah Pilneser King of Assyria and took from him a great part of his Kingdom even eight Cities and Countries and Hoshea the son of Elah conspired against Pekah and slew him when had reigned 20. years about An. 3220. In the 12. year of Ahaz King of Judah Hoshea began to reign over Israel He was bad but not so bad as the Kings that were before him This we must believe because it 's sacred Scripture But the Lord would let us know that many of the Kings of Israel were more then bloudy Murderers It is plain Hoshea did murder Pekah yet stands nine years before he took the Crown of Israel and became King about Anno 3229. In his time Shalmanezer King of Assyria came up against him and Hoshea subjected to him and paid him tribute as a sub-King but the King of Assyria not having his tribute paid for some years and finding that Hoshea did hold confedracy with the King of Egypt Shalmaneser shut up Hoshea in prison After which he brought up his Army and besieged Samaria three years The siege was laid in the 7. year of Hoshea continued the 8. year and Samaria was taken in the 9. year of Hoshea which was the 6. year of Hezekiah King of Judah This was the final Captivity of the Kingdom and people of Israel and the sad fruit of their own doings which is largely exprest by the sacred Pen-man of this History so that Israels destruction which they brought upon themselves by their vile abominations was finished about Anno mun 3238. What dreadful miseries these desperate Idolaters and vile Murderers called Kings brought upon this people Israel who were the Lords peculiar people I leave to sad and serious thoughts But to gather the better account of these times which seem greatly to differ I will here put down a very brief Chronology of the beginning and time of the reign of the Kings of Judah and Israel c. Kings of Judah IN the 18. year of Jeroboam Abijam son of Rehoboam began to reign 1 King 15. 1 2. and reigned 3. years In the 20. year of Jeroboam Asa son of Abijam reigned 1 King 15. 9 10. he reigned 41. In the 4. year of Ahab Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign and continued 25. years 1 King 22. 41 42. In the 5. year of Joram Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat was crowned in his fathers life-time and reigned 8. years 2 King 8. 16 17. In the 12. year of Joram the people crowned Azariah the youngest son of Jehoram King who reigned one year 2 King 8. 25 26. Athaliah destroy'd the seed Royal and set up her self and continued 7. years 2 King 11. 1 4. In the 7. year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign and reigned 40. years 2 King 12. 1. In the 2. year of Joash Amaziah son of Joash King of Judah began to reign and continued 29. years 2 King 14. 1 2. and was then kill'd by a conspiracy vers 19. In the 27. year of Jeroboam all the people took Azariah and made him King in his fathers stead 2 King 14. 21. he reigned 52. years 2 Chro. 26. 3. Before him Judah had no King for 12. years In the 2. year of Pekah Jotham the son of Azariah or Uzzah began to reign and continued 16. years 2 King 15. 32 33. Consider 52. and 2. of Pekah In the 17. year of Pekah Ahaz the son of Jotham began to reign and continued 16. years 2 King 16. 1 2. In the 3. year of Hoshea Hezekiah the son of Ahaz began to reign and reigned 29. years Kings of Israel IN the 2. year of Asa Nadab the son of Jeroboam reigned 1 King 15. 28. he reigned 1. year In the 3. year of Asa Baasha set up himself King 1 King 15. 28. he reigned 24. years vers 33. In the 26. year of Asa Elah the son of Baasha reigned 1 King 16. 8. he reigned 2. years In the 27. year of Asa Zimri set up himself 1 King 16. 10. seven daies vers 15. In the 31. year of Asa Omri set up himself and reigned 12. years 1 King 16. 23. In the 38. year of Asa Ahab son of Omri began to reign and continued 22. years 1 King 16. 29. In the 17. year of Jehoshaphat Ahaziah son of Ahab began to reign and continued part of 2. years 1 King 22. 51. and had no son In the 18. year of Jehoshaphat Jehoram the
reign of the Kingdom of Persia 3435. The Monarchy of Media and Persia. MEdia and Persia are two Regions in in Asia Media is limitted on the East with Parthia on the West with Armenia on the South with Persia on the North with the Caspian Sea The chief Cities of old in this Country were Laodicea Appannia Rhaga Tauris Persia is bounded on the East with the River Indus on the West with the Persian Gulf on the North with the Caspian Sea on the South with the main Ocean Persia hath 10. several Provinces and many Cities of which as chief were Persepolis Casbin and Susis Media and Persia were distinct Kingdoms but were united under Cyrus King of Persia which after became the second Monarchy This Kingdome is signified by the breast and arms of Silver in Nebuchadnezzers image But in regard Cyrus was the chief King and Monarch and yet the taking of the Kingdom of Babylon is given to Darius King of the Medes it 's necessary to reconcile this in the first place Darius of the Medes call'd Cyaxares the son of Astyages or as Daniel nam'd him Ahasuerus the eighth King of the Medes being old and having no son and withal finding his Souldiers unconstant to him Darius gave Mandana his daughter unto Cyrus King of Persia who was his sisters son and joyned him in the Government with him and so united the Kingdoms of Media and Persia but how long time they reigned together is not certain Darius called to his help Cyrus his son in law and at that time won the most mighty City of Babyon and so brought the Empire to Media and Persia. This Victory is given to Darius as the chief in Government and aged about 62. years who it's thought lived not passing one year after this Victory and then Cyrus came to be sole Emperour of Persia where began the second Monarchy Historians agree not about the Kings of Persia neither for number names or times of their Reigns neither need we much to seek after them sith now the Computation of times falls into Daniels Numbers Therefore I will forbear to set down any of them but refer the Reader to a further view of these in the Annotations I give upon Dan. 9. But all Writers with one consent agree That Alexander son of Philip King of Macedon made War against Darius and overcame him in three Battels where Alexander took Darius his Mother his Wife and Children but Darius himself was murthered by his own Souldiers in flying to save himself So the Empire of Persia had its end and was translated to Grecia The Monarchy of Grecia GRrecia or Greece is a Country in Europe bounded on the East with the AEgean Sea the Hellespont on the West Italy and the Adriatique Sea on the North with Mount Hemus on the South with the Jonian Sea Greece is parted into Provinces Peloponnesus Athalia Epirus Albania Macedonia Migdonia and Thracia Peloponnesus is in compass 600. miles and rounded with the Sea only it joyns to the main Country by a neck of land of five miles in breadth 1. Peloponnesus contains five Countries and many Cities of which were Lacedemon in Laconia and Corinth 2. Achaia contains seven Countries and beautified with many Cities of which was famous Athens in Attica Thebes in Boetia Delphos in Phocis Lepanto in Lacris 3. Epirus was famous amongst other things for Mount Pindus 4. Albania 5. Macedonia had also Countries and Cities This Province was famous for the Birth of Alexander the great 6. Migdonia this Province hath many Cities of which are Apollonia Neapolis and Thessalonica 7. Thracia in which are the famous Cities of Adrianopolis and Constantinople Grecia continued a Kingdome for the reign of 22. Kings to Alexander the great who became Monarch of the World Alexander son to Philip King of Macedonia in the 7. year of his reign fully overthrew Darius of Persia and brought the Empire to Grecia and after reigned Monarch 5. years some say 7. years It is said that Alexander reigned 12. years but it 's supposed 12. years as King of Macedon not as Emperour of Grecia But Alexander going to Babylon there died of an Ague others say of Poyson at 30. years of age However in this sickness perceiving he should dye He called his servants such as were honourable and had been brought up with him from his youth and parted his Kingdom among them whilst he was yet alive Of which the chief are these four Seleucus had Syria Ptolomeus Egypt Antigonus Asia the less and Cassander had Macedonia All these put Crowns upon themselves and each affecting Soverainty over the rest they soon fell to great and continual Wars amongst themselves but the main conflicts were between the Kings of Syria Egypt call'd by Daniel The Kings of the North and South Dan. 11. This was the third Kingdom represented in Nebuchadnezzer's image c. and in Daniel vision by c. But amongst all these I will only mention the Race of the Syrian Kings as most sit for us to consider and giveth the most light to understand the 11. Chap. of Daniel Syria hath on the East Euphrates on the West the Mediterranean Sea on the South Palestine or Canaan and on the North Cilicia and other parts of the lesser Asia This Country is thought in part or in whole to be the very place of Paradise the Garden of Eden Syria contains three Provinces 1. Phoenicia lying upon Canaan where are these Cities Ptolomais Sarepta Sidon Tyrus 2. Province is Coelosyria the chief City of which was Damascus the Royal seat and of these Kings of Syria Scriptures speak much The 3. Province is Syro-Phoenicia whose chief Cities were Beritus Aleppo or Sabab Biblis Tripolis and Antiochia There was also Palmyra which was a City and Province The Kings of this Country were as follows Seleucus Nicanor was the first King of Syria and reigned 32. years 2. Antiochus Soter 19. years 3. Antiochus Theos 15. years 4. Seleucus Gallinicus 20. years 5. Selences Ceraunius 3. years 6. Antiochus Magnus 36. years 7. Seleucus Philopater 12. years 8. Antiochus Epiphanes son to Antiochus Magnus succeeded his brother Seleucus and is the vile person Daniel speaks of Dan. 11. 21. and that wicked root Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes son of Antiochus the King and he reigned in the 137. year of the Kingdom of the Greeks 1 Mac. 1. 10. On the 15. day of the month Casleu by the Romans November in the 145. year of the Grecian Kingdom they set the abomination of desolation upon the Altar and burnt the books of the Law 1 Mac. 1. 54. c. Joseph Antiq. 12. lib. 7. chap. Dan. 8. 9. to 12. Thus Antiochus prevailed against the Jews and fulfilled the word of the Lord spoken by Daniel but the Lord again appearing in mercy to a few of his own people who had kept themselves from the abominations of those evil
times and deeply mourned over the sins and sufferings of their brethren and especially the woful desolations of the Temple and worship of God gave them a glorious deliverance from the Armies of Antiochus and liberty again to restore the pure worship of God This news being brought to Antiochus he was astonished and lying down upon his bed fell sick with grief and in his trouble lamented his cruelty against the Jewes whom he destroyed without cause acknowledging the just hand of the Lord was upon him for it So giving order for the education of his son he died in the 149. year of the Kingdom of Grecia and in all reigned 12. years 9. Antiochus named Eupater succeeded Antiochus Epiphanes his father in the Kingdom and reigned two years 10. Demetrius son of Seleucus came from Rome and gathered an Army whereby he surprized Antiochus in his Palace and reigned in his stead 9. years 11. Alexander the son of Antiochus Epiphanes got an Army and came against Demetrius who had slain his brother Eupater and possessed the Kingdom and in a set battel Alexander overthrew the Army of Demetrius where he also was slain and Alexander sat upon the Throne When Alexander was now established in the Kingdom he sent Embassadours to Ptolomy King of Egypt to make a league of amity with him and to give him Cleopatra his daughter to wife Ptolomy King of Egypt seemed to rejoyce in the motion and appointed Ptolomais to be the place of their meeting for to accomplish the Marriage which was done with great glory But both these Kings hearts were to do mischief and according to Daniels Prophesie they spake lies at one Table for Ptolomy went about through deceit to get Alexanders Kingdom and joyn it to his own 12. In the 165. year Demetrius Nicanor son of Demetrius who was overcome by Alexander came out of Crete with an Army against Alexander but Ptolomy King of Egypt having by deceit got into many of Alexanders Cities left Garisons therein and in the mean time offers a league with Demetrius and to give his daughter Cleopatra to him whom he had given before to Alexander which was done Thus Ptolomy quieted Demetrius and so took the opportunity to set the Crown of Asia and Egypt both upon his own head When Alexander heard of this he came with his Army out of Cilicia and made War with Ptolomy but was worsted and flying into Arabia Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexanders head and sent it to Ptolomy but Ptolomy died the third day after and so Demetrius came to the Crown in the 167 year of the Kingdom Demetrius Nicanor came thus to the Kingdom yet injoyed little peace for Tryphon who had been of Alexanders party finding Demetrius his Army murmuring against him set up Antiochus the son of Alexander and lav sore upon Sinialcus the Arabian to deliver young Antiochus that he might reign in his fathers stead At last Tryphon got Antiochus Crowned and drawing unto him many Souldiers who were discontented from Demetrius won Antioch and so got much power All this was done in policy by Tryphon for when opportunity served he kill'd Antiochus and set the Crown upon his own head by this means Demetrius was full of trouble all his days and going with his Army towards Media to get help to fight with Tryphon Arsaces King of Persia smote his Host and took Demetrius prisoner in the year of the Kingdom 172. 13. Antiochus Sadetes son of Demetrius the King gathered a great Army in the Isles of the Sea to recover his Kingdom from Tryphon He came up in the 174. year at which time most of Tryphons forces left him and joyned with Antiochus Tryphon seeing troubles coming upon him fled to the City Dora where Antiochus laid siege against him with an Army of 120000. foot and 8000. horsemen and beset the Town by Land and Sea But Tryphon got away and went by Sea to Oethosias and the King pursued him At this time Antiochus brake his Covenant with the Jews and made War upon them where Judas was slain Yet John his brother pursued the Victory and gave an utter overthrow to the Army of Antiochus How long Antiochus reigned is not left certain but he is thought to reign 3. years 14. Antiochus Pius 12. years 15. Demetrius Nicanor 4. years 16. Alexander 2. years 17. Antiochus Gryphius 29. years There now arose much strife amongst the Nations which continued about 10. years but the Syrians to end the strife amongst the Princes chose Tygranes King of Armenia to govern them who reigned about 18. years And now the Syrian Monarchy being thus weakened through strife and division Pompey the Roman General came up with an Army overcame Tygranes conquered Syria and brought all in subjection to the Roman Empire about Ann. mund 3902. A View of the Roman Empire THis Empire had it's Original from Rome as is well known Italy is a Country in this part of the World called Europe and lies thus Italy is rounded with the Ionian and Adriatique Seas except towards France and Germany from whom it is parted by the Alps. This Region was distinguished into four parts 1. Hesperia 2. Latium 3. Ausonia and 4. Oenotria Of all the Cities wherewith Italy was beautified Rome had the first place and became Mistress of the World This City is supposed to be founded by Romulus and Rhemus in the reign of Hezekiah King of Judah about Ann. mund 3230. This City in her glory spread her lines to the compass of 50. miles But this City felt the fury of the Gaules and by them was laid in heaps So that now Rome standeth lower upon the Bank of Tiber and is drawn into narrower bounds This Empire hath according to Daniels Prophesie differed greatly from the other three and in nothing more then in the several changes of Government yet as the Lord described to Daniel this fourth and last earthly Kingdom in several parts and properties it is apparent that no City or Empire of the World hath answered the Vision like this of Rome Daniels fourth beast is described with 10. horns but John in the Revelation having a Vision of the same beast saw him with seven heads and ten horns where the Holy Ghost there interpreteth the seven heads to be seven mountains and the ten horns ten Kings Both which time hath proved true in Rome First Rome in her plantation was built upon seven hills which are thus named and numbered 1. Palatinus 2. Capitolinus 3. Viminalis 4. Aventinus 5. Exquilinus 6. Caelius 7. Quirinalis Secondly Rome hath been eminent for seven changes in the Government of the Empire every of which in their time had Supreme Authority 1. By Kings 2. Consulls 3. Decemviri 4. Dictators 5. Tribunes 6. Senate 7. Emperours or Caesars But though ambition and avarice did cause these changes in the Roman State yet the word of the Lord
Flanders The Duke of Clarence followed the King to London where they set King Henry again at liberty after 9. years imprisonment and newly elected and crowned him King But soon after King Edward returned again to England with some Souldiers and then the Duke of Clarence his brother turned to him and so greatly increased the Kings strength that he came to London and took King Henry prisoner and then followed the Earl of Warwick whom he also overcame and slew with his brother the Marquess of Mountacute When Warwick was down the King pursued Queen Margaret wife to King Henry and getting the Victory in a battel at Tewksbury he took the Queen prisoner with Prince Edward her son And soon after King Henry was murdered in the Tower And after him the Duke of Clarence was murdered in the Tower a sad but just reward of a turn-coat To all other the bloud and Tyranny mention'd of this Usurper sad is the story recorded of Mr. Burdet of Arrow The King hunting in his Park with others kill'd one white Deer of which he set some esteem and for Mr. Burdets saying I would the Horns of the Buck was in the belly of him that shewed him the King the said Mr. Burdet was accused and condemned and executed for a Traytor and so lost both life and estate Indeed his words being a curse were sinful But yet a small offence to the King to have so sharp a censure But not long after the Lord shot the Dart of death at him summoning of him to appear before Divine Justice the 9. of April An. 1484. when he had reigned 22. years 1 month and odd days Edward the 5. about the age of 13. years was to succeed his father Edward the 4. But about 3. months after his fathers death his Uncle Richard Duke of Glocester caused him to be secretly murdered conveyed away that it was not known where he was buried and so set up himself An. 1484. Richard the 3. brother to Edward the 4. to get the Crown murdered Prince Edward and Richard Duke of York his brothers sons in the Tower with George Duke of Clarence his own brother also Henry Duke of Buckingham Hastings Rivers Vaâ—ghan Grey and very many others and his own wife Anne that so he might make way to marry his Couzen Elizabeth Yet this wicked Tyrant raged but a short time For Henry Earl of Richmond the heir apparent came out of France with the Earl of Pembrook his Uncle the Earl of Oxford many others to whom some of the Nobility joyned in England who gave battel to Richard the 22. of August neer Bosworth where Richard was slain when he had born his usurped Crown 2. years and 2. months Ann. 1486. Henry the 7. who was heir to the house of Lancaster when he came to the Crown married Elizabeth the daughter of Edward the 4. whom Richard intended to have taken and so united the houses of Lancaster and York Henry had also a strain of the British Race and of the French bloud In this Kings time were great Tumults Taxes and Taxes brought Tumults and the shedding of much bloud And when Taxes were not willingly paid the King craved or begged benevolence or something of their own good will Divers rebellions there were some from without and some within the Nation and it 's noted that Lambert was a chief rebel in these times The Scots also made inroads into the North parts But to quiet them the King gave his eldest daughter in Marriage to the King of Scots When Henry had reigned 23. years and 8. months he died An. 1510. Henry the 8. succeeded his father Henry the 7. He enjoyed the Crown in much quiet by union of the Families for which there had been fought 17. pitcht battels in which were slain 8. Kings 40. Dukes Marquesses and Earls besides Barons Knights and Gentlemen and about 200000. common people This King married his brother Arthur's widow which Arthur died before his father And so Henry began he was for Religion a Roman Catholike and in his zeal writ against Luther for which great act his father the Pope gave him the Title of Defender of the Faith which the Kings and Queens held to the last Yet when Henry the 8. grew great he cast off the Popes Supremacy over England and judged himself fit enough to be head in Church and State The King going to War in France James King of Scots came with a great Army into England but in a bloudy battel was repulsed About this time Mary the Kings sister was contracted to Lewis the 12. King of France but was before promised to the King of Castile Yet after Charles Duke of Suffolk wedded the Lady Anno 1516. About Ann. 1533. King Henry put off Katherine and married Anne Bullin and she was proclaimed Queen Upon this divorce many were discontented but the King sent out an Oath to be taken by all people especially to the Priests to swear fidelity to the King Queen Anne and their heirs But the Lord Chancellour some Bishops and many others for refusing this ungodly oath were committed to the Tower and other prisons But to the rest of this Kings sins when he had cast off the Popes Supremacy he became Pope of England and was made head of the Church of England having full authority over the same And withal took the first fruits and tenths An. 1535. In the next year the 2. of May Queen Anne was committed to the Tower and there beheaded Also the Queens brother with 18. of the Kings Privy Chamber were put to death the 17. of May and the 20. of May the King married Lady Jane Seymor The 12 of October 1537. Queen Jane brought forth Prince Edward and lost her life the 14. day The 3. of January 1539. the King married Anne of Cleve Thomas Cromwel Secretary to the King was a rising Favourite and promoted to places of trust and honour above any in his time beginning about An. 1536. and An. 1540. he was beheaded at Tower-hill and the new Queen Anne of Cleve divorced The King had another wife in good readiness if not already married for the 8. of August following the Lady Katherine Howard appeared openly as Queen But he made as speedy dispatch with her for the 13. of February following she was beheaded in the Tower yet after the King had cut off that Katherine the 12. of july following the King married the Lady Katherine Parr late wife to the Lord Latimer 1543. and the 35. year of the Kings reign All this Kings time were mutinies heading hanging and abundance of bloud-shed continually of all sorts Nobles Bishops Priests and people He cut down all that stood in his way who answered not his desires Thus this King spent 37. years 9. months and odd days An. 1548. Edward the 6. succeeded his father
Henry the 8. and was crowned at 9. years of age In the 2. year of his reign he did so much towards reformation that the Church-service was turned into English In the Kings Minority the Duke of Somerset was made Lieutenant Protector but not long after was committed to the Tower and after was beheaded at Tower-hill King Edward about 16. years of age fell sick and died when he had reigned 6. years 5. months and odd daies An. 1554. After the death of Edward Lady Jane wife to the Lord Clifford fourth son to the Duke of Northumberland was proclaimed Queen as given to her by Edward the 6. But Lady Mary eldest daughter to King Henry had the grater party and so came to the Crown She soon restored the Pope Cardinal c. to his former Supremacy over England and dashed the reformation begun and appointed the Church-service again in Latine To make sure Queen Mary beheaded the Lady Jano Clifford the Duke of Suffolk the Lord Clifford and others to take them off from laying claim to the Crown Yet she did not sit quiet in the Throne But to compleat her sin she drunk deep of the bloud of the Saints and sent many multitudes to heaven in fiery chariots The Queen married Philip Prince of Spain Yet the Lord shut up her womb that she had no child and cut her off when she had raged over the Saints in this Nation 5. years 4. months and odd daies Anno 1559. Elizabeth sister to Queen Mary now came to the Crown she again rejected the Pope and did something towards Reformation of Religion She had great honour in the hearts of the people and was a terror to forain Nations and reigned 45. years An. 1604. After Queen Elizabeth James King of Scots descended from Margaret daughter to Henry the 7. came to the Crown of England He was a man of much learning and writ divers Books But his practice answered not his light and professions How he passed over the death of his son Prince Henry was observed by many and how the Lord reached him at last many have said more then I will write King James sawyed the Scepter of England Scotland and Ireland 22. years 3. days An. 1626. Charles succeeded his father James Contrary to the counsel once given by King James to Heary his son Charles did marry with Henerietta Maria of France a Papist and gave her the liberty of her Religion by Articles of Marriage By her interest Popery was advanced through corrupt Bishops and the true worship of God was little known in England what the life of Charles was is yet fresh in the memory of most alive at this day He set all the three Nations on a fire that yet is not quenched nor is like to be In England Ireland and Scotland the sword hath spilt the bloud of many thousands and as he was worthy the Lord gave him bloud to drink who was beheaded at White-hall West minster January 30. An. 1649. when he had born the Crown 24 years 10. months and 7. days Thus as in a Map I have represented some remarkable passages in the rise and succession of Kings from Saul to our present Age. If this little be laid up in the minds of men by this taste you may judge much of all their Lives and Reigns that is vailed under the Curtain To my best skill I have only run down sacred and prophane History and have taken the relations of others and written their Stories But if so much wickedness came to light what was done in the dark that is open to the all-seeing eye of Heaven Surely a woful sad burden have this sort of men I may well say Monsters been to all People and Nations where-ever they were And that the Dragon the Beast and all their limbs shall be utterly destroyed by Jesus Christ who is King of Kings I question not I am perswaded the work is now upon the wheel and as Jesus Christ is imbraced here will appear more and more to clear up to the Saints another way of governing his people then yet we see There is nothing hinders but our unworthiness But if I may discover what I see yet afar off I conceive the Governours call'd and set up by Jesus Christ shall be like Jesus Christ himself humble self-denying Saints such as shall set up a publike and not a self-interest Such as shall ease burdens and not oppress Such as shall deliver the poor and not seed upon them Such as shall guide the people by the rule of Gods sacred word and not make lust and self-will their law and force it by a long Sword For certain if the Lord did not leave wise-men to themselves they could not but easily reade their own ruine by multiplied examples in all times God is the same yesterday to day and for ever And in the same way that God did manifest his righteousness and justice under the sacred Scriptures the same hath been the Lords providences and dispensations in the world ever since the Scriptures were written and as the Apostle expresseth it These things were written for our examples upon whom the ends of the world are come I may say sin was the rise of Monarchy sin hath been the strength of Monarchy and Monarchy hath been the punishment of sin ever since it was Therefore when the sin of Kings grew high the Lord stirred up some to punish pull down these Kings by the shedding of much bloud and exhausting of treasure But when such had got into the Kings State they did the same that the King did before them when their sin again was full the Lord raised up others to destroy them and their Families And this is the track of times But when Jesus Christ is truly received there shall be an end of this proud oppressing sort of men the Saints shall rule then judgement and righteousness shall run down like mighty streams Now for the accomplishment of these blessed promises wait and pray till Christ say It 's done AN EPITOMY OF PAPACY THat there was a Gospel Church in the City of Rome in the times of the Apostles is clear by Divine authority And that this Church of Christ had ordinary Church Officers Bishops and Deacons I think there is no question But the better to discover the Roman Antichrist two things have been in debate amongst the godly 1 Whether the first Bishops of the Churches of Christ had and did exercise by power given from Jesus Christ a Lordly and Soveraign Jurisdiction over the Saints in their particular Churches 2 Whether the power of one Bishop or Pastor by the institution of Jesus Christ did extend to divers Churches The judgements of many learned men are published to the World upon these needful questions yet I desire to assert my thoughts in this place First That ordinary Church Officers
Firmament of all Bishops the Top of all Churches and Sericius in an Epistle to the Bishop of Arragon said It was not lawful for any Priest of the Lord to bee ignorant of the Decrees of the Sea Apostolick And Innocent would not so wrong Peters Chair as to let any Papal Dignity fall in him and therefore claimed Authoritative Censures in all greater matters to be only in the Apostolick Sea This Innocent begged what would not bee granted for fifteen years and ceased Anno 417. Zosimus was the Successor of Innocent and strongly followed his Plea for Supremacy He supposed having had three Predecessors before him that had begged hard for Supremacy hee might well require it In the first year of his Government was held the sixth Council of Carthage where were assembled two hundred twenty seven Bishops To this Council Zosimus sent three Legats requiring the Bishops of Africk to appeal to the Sea Apostolick But Zosimus obtained it not from the Council and dyed in the second year Anno 419. Boniface the First succeeded Zosimus He was also the first Bishop of Rome that assumed and exercised Kingly Authority over Secular people which he put out in banishing the Novatians and seizing their estates He pursued the claim of Zosimus in the Council of Carthage but obtained it not yet that I may the better discover the shamelesse impudence of the Bishop and the working of Antichrist in this age Zosimus pretended to the Council that this Supremacy was given to the Sea of Rome by the Council of Nice but the Bishops knowing of no such Canon past in that Council sent Letters presently to the Bishops of Constantinople Alexandria and Antioch desiring them to send the Acts of the Nicen Council sealed up In this interim Zosimus dyed and Boniface came to the Sea but the Council finding no such Canon in the Nicene Council it was not granted and so Boniface only pursued it yet saw no end of it and dyed in the third year of his Government anno 422. Coelestine was chosen next to the Episcopal Dignity now the Bishops of Rome exalted themselves exceedingly and affected great swelling Titles Coelestine blushed not to take into protection such Bishops and Priests as were justly excommunicate and banished for Heresie and Scandal out of Africk and other Countries and took up the names of Blasphemy that these flattering Parasites put upon him the very Titles of God himself yea and sent out his roaring Bulls much threatning those Churches if they did not again receive the banished Bishops Whereupon St. Augustine writ a tart Letter to Coelestine saying wee are threatned with a Posse comitatus and force of armes to put the sentence of the Apostolick Sea into execution Let not these things be so I doe conjure thee by the bloud of Christ and by the memory of the Apostle Peter who warneth those that are set over Christian Assemblies to be meek and humble not to domineer with violence over your brethren But Coelestine was above brotherly admonition and beat on boldly through all opposition to establish Supremacy in the Roman Sea yet after nine years deceased Anno 431. In this time Nestorius Bishop of Constantinople broached his Heresie against the union of the two Natures in Christ Cyril now Bishop of Alexandria opposed this Heretick but to determine the Controversie the Emperours Valentinian and Theodosius the second of the East called the General Council of Ephesus Anno 431. in which Council Nestorius was condemned and banished Sextus came next to the Sea of Rome he was accused of several Crimes laid to his Charge before the Emperour Valentinian and was put to purge himself in a Synod called at Rome This Bishop kept the Sea eight years Anno 439. Leo the first had the next turn and in his time hee mightily advanced the Supremacy of the Roman Sea In the Government of Leo a Provincial Council was called at Constantinople about Eutiches an Abbot who maintained the Heresie of Nestorius in which Council Eutiches was condemned and degraded yet by another Council of corrupt Bishops held at Ephesus Eutiches was again restored But after there was a general Council called at Chalcedon of six hundred and thirty Bishops to re-examine the Case of Eutiches in this Council the Heresie of Nestorius was again damned and Diascorus with other Bishops deprived the thirteenth of Octob. Anno 453. Unto this Council Leo sent his Legates to accuse Diascorus and the main matter of his complaint against Diascorus was that hee had rejected the Decrees of the Roman Church In this Council also it was ordered that no Clerk should bee admitted into two Churches By this time the Bishops of Rome had got some preheminence and in this Counil had the title of Pope The Empire of Rome was now in great confusion Enemies made invasions and to fulfill the Word of the Lord Leo took his time to raise the Episcopal Throne by the woeful distractions in the Civil State the Emperour had little power and all he could doe was to preserve himself But now Leo took his opportunity to advance the Sea of Rome and though hee could exercise but little Jurisdiction yet he took upon him the Title of Pope of the Roman Catholick Church and universal Bishop Thus Leo continued one and twenty years Anno 460. Hillary was Successor to Leo of whom I find little mentioned he had the Government six years Anno 466. Simplicius followed Hillary but now there arose much strife between the Church of Rome and the Church of Constantinople which should bee supream but Leo Emperour of the East gave the Supremacy to Constantinople as being his royal City Simplicius used his utmost endeavour to reverse the Edict of the Emperour and dyed in pursute of desired Supremacy when he had ruled fifteen years Anno 481. Faelix followed Simplicius in his Papal Dignity and in his eager pursute for Supremacy in the Roman Chair but left the Work undone and departed in his ninth year of Government Anno 490. Gelasius came next to the Chair but was a man of more modesty than many that went before him He neither pleaded his Supremacy from the Nicene Council or the antient custom of the Church but held to the text Tu es Petrus This goeth not said Gelasius by Synodal Decrees but by the very voyce of the Gospel Therefore hee spake it openly that the Sea of Rome might either absolve such as were wrongfully condemned by any Council or condemn such as deserved it yet after forgetting himself hee pleaded Synodal authority saying The Canon hath so ordained it that all Churches ought to appeal to this Sea and not from it Thus Gelasius laboured subtilly to advance the Roman Sea yet held it but four years Anno 494. Anastatius the second followed Gelasius To all other evils in
that by the help of the Souldiery he kept his Chair and slighted the Emperor continued his government 13 years anno 701. John the sixth followed Sergius he still sought to promote the Papal Dignity as not having what was aymed at The better to perswade John to subscribe the General Councils Justinian sent to him a Confession of his Faith but John also refused it and gave this reason Because of certain Articles in them which were contrary to the Church of Rome This Pope ruled three years anno 704. John the seventh took the next turn but by this time the Popes of Rome began to grow great in the world and did cause others to know it The Eastern Empire was now brought low by the Lumbards in the West and the Saracens in the East that the Emperour was constrained quietly to put up all affronts from the Pope and speak him fair too It is said also that Aripert King of the Lumbards to keep John on his part gave to the Sea of Rome the Cottian Alpes Anno 705. yet John kept the Sea but three years anno 707. Zosimus the second came next to the Papal Dignity yet held it so little time that some Historians pass him by without naming Constantine followed next but did improve his time above many his Predecessors Upon offence given by the Patriarch of Constantinople to the Emperour he sent the Patriarch prisoner to Rome thinking thereby the more to please the Pope Anno 708. as yet the Emperours Exarchs at Ravenna kept the Pope under that he could not work his will but in this Popes time the Souldiers conspired against Justinian slew him and made Philipicus Bardanes Emperour By this means the Eastern Empire was brought near to ruine and a door was opened for the second Beast to enter Philipicus coming thus to the Empire thought to doe some eminent act to please the good people and so made an Edict That all Images should bee puld down in the Churches upon this the Pope took occasion to cast off the Emperor pronounced him an Heretick and forbad the people of Rome to receive the Emperours Commands his Image on their Coyn or mention him in their Service This was not so much an Excommunication as a final Deposition of the Emperour and soon after hee had his eyes put out and thrust out of the Empire This was the first Pope that proceeded so high against the Emperours and this doth sufficiently evidence that the Antichrist is now come and hath taken his Throne All this was accomplished by Constantine who governed seven years Anno 714. Gregory the second succeeded Constantine and was not inferiour to any that went before him in Pride Policy or Tyranny It is said that this Pope was so expert in Conjuring that he was called Gregory the Diabolist At this time Leo Isaurius General of the Emperours Army put down Theodotius from government and set up himself Emperour and having a little respit from the Saracens he renewed the Edict of the former Emperour against Images and hoped to maintain it in Italy But Gregory called in the Lumbards and by their help routed the Emperours Army now Gregory and the Lumbards shared Italy and by this means a huge Dominion was added to the Church Though the Lumbards had done the Pope great service in this expedition yet Gregory casts how to clear Italy to the Sea of Rome It seems the Pope feared a complyance of the Lumbards with Charls Martil of France who now grew great and to engage him for the Church Gregory sent an Ambassador to Charls with a present of the Keys of the Holy Sepulcher and St. Peters Chain These unheard of Relicks were greatly accepted and Charls Martil ratified an accord with the Pope Gregory did this for the Sea and after he had ruled seventeen years departed Anno 731. Gregory the third succeeded Gregory the first Hee Decreed in a Synod That whosoever would not doe religious honour unto Images should bee cut off from the Body and Bloud of Christ and the unity of the whole Church At this time Thrasamond Duke of Spoleto intending to revolt from Luitprand King of the Lumbards he fell in with Gregory and to ingage the Church on his Party Thrasamond delivered into the Popes handsome strong Holds which he had kept for the Lumbards and upon this ground the King of Lumbards raised an Army and came against the Duke and worsted him in that Battel The Duke fled to Rome and the King demanded him of the Pope but the Pope refused to deliver him thereupon he laid siege to Rome Gregory was now sore puzled and sent for Charls Martil to interpose upon the perswasion of Charls the King of Lumbards raised his siege and returned into Pavia and in that year Gregory dyed when he had ruled ten years Anno 741. Zachary next took place and carried on the main design stoutly and now an opportunity was offered to compleat the work Pipin Master of the Kings House to Childrick King of France had a great desire to get into the throne yet had some scruples how to be absolved from his Oath but in a little time Pipin was informed that the Pope had the power of Christ and St. Peter and could doe all things Pipin dispatches away Ambassadours to Pope Zachary about the businesse At first the Pope made a pause and thought the attempt vile but considering of what advantage this might be to the Roman Sea he put on impudence and exercised all his power Zachary deposed Childrick absolved the French people from their Allegiance and gave the Kingdom to Pipin This was such an ingagement upon Pipin that hee must not refuse the commands of his new Father the Pope and as a requital to Zachary Pipin drove the Lumbards out of Italy and gave the whole Dominion to the Church of Rome This Booty did so please Zachary that in token of thankfulnesse he confirmed Pipin in the Kingdom of France gave him the title of most Christian King and to answer this new kindness Pipin prostrated himself kist the Popes feet and sware Fealty to him Thus you have the advance of Antichrist and the ingagements of the French Crown to Peters Chair I need not seek further for the discovery of that Man of Sin that Son o Perdition spoken of by the Prophet and Apostles nor need any a sharp sight to discern him sitting in the Sea of Rome Now was that word of the Lord perfectly fulfilled spoken by the Prophets and Apostles who described the Antichrist by several marks some of which I will here observe These are the Prerogative Royal of God Almighty to dispose of Kingdoms and pardon Sin so that he who shall assume these out of the Hand of God is the Antichrist as described at large by the Apostle Paul and both these Pope Zachary took upon
him at this time when he absolved Pipin and the French people from their Allegiance to Childrick King of France and when hee deposed Childrick set the Crown upon Pipin I might give the particular Characters the Holy Ghost hath set upon Antichrist and shew how clearly they are fulfilled in the Popes of Rome above any other order of men in the world but this would swell my Discourse too much neither doe I need to go further than what I have here noted for though some Emperours have deposed Kings and disposed of their Kingdoms yet Emperours have not taken upon them to absolve from Oathes pardon Sin though some Priests have taken upon them to pardon sin yet they have not taken upon them power to dispose of Kingdoms these only have been assumed by the Popes of Rome and so the Pope is the Antichrist I have now attained my end in this Epitomy to wit to discover the Antichrist and therefore will not detain the Reader with any farther relation of this abominable blasphemous Beast yet these two things in general I may not passe which evidence the Popes Pride and fulfill the Word of God First when Zachary had brought about that design which had been so long in hatching hee was cloathed in his Pontifical Robes and caused himself to bee carried in Triumph upon mens shoulders to the Church of St. Lateran He appointed Lettanies to bee said in every Church of Rome He also caused the Sculls of the Apostles if you can beleeve it and other like Reliques to be openly shewed which were not before and from this time the Popes of Rome have been carried upon mens shoulders Secondly this is considerable the unsatisfied ambition of the Popes ceased not till they had perfectly inflaved the Roman Empire to make good tha Word of the Lord spoken by the Apostle John I saw a Woman sit upon a scarlet-coloured Beast full of Names of Blasphemy c. At the first the Bishops of Rome contended only for a priority of piace in Councils then for Jurisdiction over the Bishops of their Province but after they took upon them to call Councils to depose and translate Emperours and Kings at their pleasure so that while they bare the Title of Christs Vicars they blushed not to assume the Prerogatives of God Almighty and put upon their heads a Triple Crown as King of Heaven Earth and Hell All these things are published at large both by Protestant and Popish Writers to whom I referre those who desire a fuller relation in the particulars FINIS Gen. 15. 13. Exod. 12. 40 41. 1 Cor. 10 11. Mat. 24. 36 Rev. 11. 15. 2 Pet. 3. 13 Dan. 7. 26 27. Dan. 12. 10 Rev. 17. 3 Dan. 2. 28 29 31 32 33 34 35. Vers. 38. Vers. 44. Vers. 46 47 48. Isa. 11. 11 Vers. 12. Dan. 7. 1 Ver. 3 4 c. Ver. 17. Ver. 18. The Kingdom of the Saints begins with the fall of the four Monarchies Dan. 2. 38 Dan. 8. 20 21. Dan. 7. 7 Rev. 12. 3 The original of earthly Monarchy Rev. 13. 11. Rev. 17. 6 Rev. 18. 5 6. Eze. 21. 27 Psal. 2. 8 9 Rev. 15. 3 Hag. 2. 6 7 Rev. 10. 7 Acts 7. 2. 3. Gen. 12. 1 2. Gen. 17. 1 Rom. 4. 11 12. Gen. 21. 1 2 3. Gen. 25. 26. Gen. 49. 1 c. Israels going into Egypt Gen. 46. 26 27. Exo. 12. 40 41. Exo. 3. 7 11. Israels deliverance out of Egypt was about Ann. mun 2398. Gen. 46. 26. Num. 1. 46 47. Israels increase in Egypt The first institution of Judges Act. 13. 20 1 Sam. 8. 1 3 4. Vers. 5. The Original of kingly Government Heathenish Vers. 6. Kings first given with a curse Vers. 7. Ver. 11 12 c. Ver. 19 20. c. Note Rev. 12. Rev. 16. 13 15. Psal. 2. 12. c. Eph. 1. 21 22 23. Isa. 2. 2. c. first King of Israel 2848. 1 Sam. 10. 17 21. Kings by Election of the people Kingly Office hath made good men bad 1 Sam. 13. 13. 1 Sam. 31. 4. Act. 13. 21. 2888. David second King of Israel 1 Sam. 16. 12. Vers. 13. 2 Sam. 2. 4. Vers. 8. Ver. 12 13 16. Ishboshet set up by Abner 2 Sam. 3. 7. Vers. 12. Ver. 17. 20. Vers. 22. Abner kill'd by Joab Ver. 27. 2 Sam. 4. 1. Vile treason Ver. 2. Vers. 7. Vers. 8. Ishbosheth murdered Vers. 12. The due reward of treason 2 Sam. 5. 1. Psa. 51. 4. 1 Chro. 22. 8. 2 Sam. 5. 4. 5. Note 1 King 1. 2929. Solomon the third King of Israel 1 Kin. 6. 37. Vers. 38. The first Temple 7. years in building 1 King 10. 23. 1 King 11. 4. 5. Vers. 11. Vers. 12. Vers. 13. 2969. Rehoboam the first King of Judah after the division 1 King 12. 1 2 3. Vers. 4. Kings by agreement with the people Vers. 7. Vers. 8. Evil Counsel Ver. 10 11. Solomons Kingdom rent c. 1 King 14. 30. Vers. 25. 26. The first spoilling of the Temple Ver. 22 23. 2 Vers. 21. 2 Chro. 12. 2986. Chro. 12. 14. Abijah second King of Judah 2 Chro. 13. 1 2. 1 King 15. 1 2 3. Asa the third King of Judah 1 King 15. 9. Vers. 11. Vers. 13. Vers. 16. â— Vers. 10. 3020. Note Jehoshaphat the fourth King of Judah 1 King 22. 41 43. Vers. 46. 44. 2 Chro. 18. 1. and 19. 2. It 's ill siding with bad men 2 Chro. 17. and 18. and 19. 1 King 22. 42 43. 3045. Jehoram the fifth King of Judah 2 King 8. 16. 2 Chro. 21. 1 2 3 4. Vers. 6. Note Vers. 11. Idolatries commanded by the King Vers. 8. Vers. 9. The ground of revolt Vers. 12. Vers. 16. 17. Vers. 18. Vers. 19. Jehorams miserable end 20. 2 Chro. 21. 5. 3053. Azariah the sixth King of Judah 2 King 8. 25 26 27. 2 Chro. 22. 1. 2. 3. An observation for Kings An. 3054 Athaliah Queen of Judah 2 King 9. 27 28. 2 Chro. 22. 6 8 9. 2 King 11. 1. Cruel murder of children to get the Crown 2 King 11. 2 3. A Priest married the Kings sister 2 Chro. 22. 11. 2 King 11. 4. Ver. 11 12. 13. 14. 15. Ver. 20. An. 3061 Joash the seventh King of Judah 2 King 12. 1. 2 King 11. 17. Vers. 18. The King in covenant with the people 2 King 12. 2. The King corrupted by evil counsel the worship of God was laid down 2 Chro. 24. 17 18. Vers. 19. Vers. 20. They cannot prosper that forsake God Vers. 21. Zachariah kill'd for the discharge of his duty Vers. 22. Vers. 24. Vers. 25. 2 Chro 24. 23 24. Wicked Kings will undo a Nation to keep a Crown 2 King 12. 17 18. The Lord ordinâ—â—ily gives bloud for bloud 2 Chro. 24. 25. 2 King 12. 1. An. 3100 Amaziah the eighth King of Judah 〈…〉 2 King 13. 10. with the 14. 1. ver 3 5. 2 Chro. 25. 5 6. Vers. 7. Ver. 10 11 12 13. Vers. 14. Note 2 King 14. 8.
Ver. 11 12 13 14. Jerusalem sacked the third time The King slain for his wickedness 2 Chro. 2â— 27. 2 King 14 2. An. 3129 Between Amaziah and Azariah there was in internal of 13 years Ann. 3142. 2 King 14. 23. with 15. 1. 3142. Amaziah the ninth King of Judah 2 King 14. 21. 2 Chro. 26. â— 4 5. Vers. 9 10. Vers. 16. c. The King was judged by God for usurping the Prists Office Vers. 3. An. 3194 Jotham the 10. King of Judah was not crowned till a year after his fathers death 1 King 15. 52. with vers 27. An. 3200 Ahaz the 11. King of Judah Ruled two years with his father 2 King 15. 32 33. ver 27. with 2 Chro. 28. 2 3 c. Vers. 6. Judahs first Captivity Vers. 8. Vers. 9. Ver. 10 11. God useth bad men to punish they sin of others Ver. 16 17. The Captivity by Edom Vers. 18 19 Sin raiseth enemies round about Vers. 21. Note Ver. 22 23 24. When God leaves a man he knows not what he shall do None can save when God will destroy The Temple shut up 2 King 16. â— An. 3216 Hezekiah the 12. King of Judah ruled one year with his father 2 King 18. 1. with 2 King 17. 1. and 16. 12. 2. 3. 5. 2 Chro. 29. 3 4. A thorow Reformatition 3 King 18. 12 13. A low spirit the effect of sin Vers. 14. Vers. 15. The Temple pild to bribe the Assyrians Vers. 16. 2 King 19. 1 2 3 6 7. Straites drive to God Vers. 8. Faith and prayer doth much with God Vers. 9 10. 14 c. 1 King 20. 1 â— Vers. 1â— 13 c. The Captivity of Babylon threatned Vers. 14. 2 Chro. 32. 31. Prosperity tries mens hearts Note An. 3245 Note Manasseh the 13. King of Judah 1 King 12 1 2 3 4 c. Afflictions upon Gods people are to make them clean 2 Chro. 33. 11 12 13. No hiding from God Repentance doth much with God Bad Kings denied honourable burial 2 King 21. 1. An. 3300 Amon the 14. King of Judah 2 King 21. Amon kill'd by his own servants An. 3302. Note Josiah the 15. King of Judah 2 King 21. 24. and 22. 1 2. and 23. 3. ver 26 27. Repentance would not prevent judgement Veis 29. 2 Chro. 35. 20 21 c. 2. King 22. 3. An. 3333 Jehoahaz the 16. King of Judah Here again upon the former ground it 's probable was an interval 2 King 23. 30 31 c. Egppt. Jehoiakim the 17. King of Judah 2 King 23. 36. and 35. Sia makes great confusion and sad changes Note Vers. 37. 2 King 24. 12 c. Sin makes men slaves Bloud is punished with bloud ver 4. 2 King 23. 36. An. 3344 Jehoiachim the 18. King of Ju 1 King 24. 9 10. Ver. 11 12. Nebuchadnezzers 8. year ver 12 Jerusalem taken ver 13 14 c. Vers. 8. Zedekiah the 19. and last King of Judah 2 King 24. 18 19. 1 King 25. 1 2. Siege was laid to Jerusalem December 10. Anno 3353. and taken the 9. of June 3355. which was one year five moneths and 24. daies ver 2. 3. c. Vers. 7. Jerusalem burnt Vers. 8. 9. Ver. 10 11. Jerusalems last and great Captivity under Zedekiah An. 3355. 1 Sam. 8. 9 to 18. Israel under Kings 516. years from first to last 1 King 11. 11. 1 King 12. 4 5 c. Jeroboam the first King of Israel after the division 1 King 12. 20 26 c. Jeroboam gave the people liberty in Religion to preserve his Crown 1 King 22 52. 1 King 14. An. 2991 Nadab the second King of Israel kill'd 1 King 15. 25 26 c. Ver. 28. An. 2993 Baasha the third King of Israel 1 King 15. 28 29. Vers. 30. Ver. 33 34. An. 3017 Elah the fourth King of Israel ruled one year with his father 1 King 16. 8. Ver. 7. Gods rod is ost burnt when his work is done 1 King 16. 9 10. An. 3018 Zimri the 5. King of Israel 1 King 16. 11 12. Crowns were got and kept by bloud and murder Vers. 16. 17. 18. Observe the end of bloudy Tyrants Vers. 15. Israel had two Kings for four years An. 3023 Omri alone the 6. King of Israel 1 King 16. 23 24 25. Note An. 3031 Ahab the 7. King of Israel 1 King 16. 29 30. Vers. 33. 1 King 22. 34 c. 2 King 16. 29. An. 3053 Ahaziah the 8. King of Israel reigned in the last year of his father 1 King 22. 51 52. 2 King 1. 2. An. 3055 Joram the 9. King of Israel 2 King 3. 1. 2 King 3. 2 3. 2 King 8. 25 c. 2 King 9. 4 5 c. God makes one wicked man to be a scourge to another Ver. 13 14 c. Ver. 15 16. Joram kill'd by Jehu his own captain 2 King 3. 1. An. 3067 Jehu the 10. King 2 Kin. 9. 24. 2 King 10. 28 29. Sin will destroy the house of the destroier Vers. 13. Honour soon discovers hypocrites Hos. 1. 4. 2 King 10. 36. An. 3095 Jehoahaz the 11. King of Israel 2 Kin. 13. 1. 2 Kin. 12. 1. Here was an interval between Jehu and Jehoahaz for two years 2 King 13. 2 3 c. A wicked King brought misery upon the people 2 Kin. 13. 1. An. 3114 Jehoash the 12. King was taken into Government three years with his father 2 King 14. 13. 10. with 2 Kin. 13. 1. Vers. 11. Vers. 10. An. 3130 Jeroboam the 13. King 2 King 14. 23. This is noted in the reign of Amaziah Vers. 23. An. 3171 Zachariah the 14. King of Israel 2 King 15. 8. with Vers. 1. An interval of 24. years between Jeroboam and his son Zachariah Vers. 9 10. An. 3195 Zachariah murdered Vers. 22. Note Shallum the 15. King of Israel for one moneth 2 King 15. 13 14. Shallum killed An. 3195 Menahem the 16. King of Israel 2 King 15. 17. Bloudy beastly cruelty ver 16. Vers. 18. Vers. 19. Vers. 20. Wonderful slavery Vers. 19. An. 3205 Pekaiah the 17. King 2 King 15. 23 24 25. Pekaiah murdered An. 3207 Pekah the 18. King 2 King 15. 27 28 c. Here was murder upon murder Vers. 27. An. 3220 Hoshea the 19. King of Israel and last 2 King 17. 1 2. with 2 King 1. No King in Israel for 9. years 2 King 17 3 4 c. 2 King 18. 9 10 c. Sin the destruction of Israel Israels Captivity An. 3238 Thus the word of the Lord spoken by Samuel was made good to the ruine of Israel 1 Sam. 8. 10 11 c. After the Division Gen. 10. 8 10. Note Sleidan Jer. 25. 1. An. 3346 2 King 24. 1 7. 2 Chro. 36. 6. 2 Kin. 25. 1. Jer. 52. 5. 2 Chro. 3. 6. An. 3365 Sleidan Note Dan. 2. 38. 7. 1. 11. 26. which make 45. Jer. 17. 6. 7. 2 Chro. 36. 20. Dan. 5. 31 32. Heylin Dan. 2. 32. Dan. 8. 20. Dan. 5. 31 32. Dan. 9. 1. Dan. 5. 31.