THE Work of the Age OR The sealed Prophecies of DANIEL opened and applied VVherein is plainly proved that all the Governments in the World except the Government of Christ are but Images or parts of Nebuchadnezzars Image and shall be suddenly broken in peices by the little Stone cut out of the Mountain without hand Together with the means how Christ will effect all this Shewing also that Image-Government and Image-Worship have always been Companions Explaining likewise Daniels mystical Numbers and discovering some Misprisions about the Little Horn both in the Translation and Application of the same Amending sundry places in our Common Translation and clearing some Chronological points from the common errours By WILLIAM ASPINWALL LONDON Printed by R. I. for Livewell Chapman and are to be sold at the Sign of the Crown in Popes-head Alley 1655. The Preface MOses thought it uncomely for Hebrews and follow Brethren to strive together Exod. 2. 13. And when Joseph dismissed his Brethren and sent them back to Canaan to his Father he imposed this charge upon them See yee fall not out by the way Gen. 45. 24. So me thinks it ill becomes Christians and Co-witnesses for Christ to bandy Arguments as men tosse Balls forward and backward drawing black lines one upon another as if they did fearfully and shamefully stretch both the text and reason if they dissent from what is held forth by them This savours not of a Spirit of Christ it is not the language of Canaan Wee may rest our selves satisfied when we have born witness to the truth and held forth the light we have received For this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world to bear witness to the truth Joh. 18. 37. This was Christs work and it should be ours also It is the nature of Light to expel Darkness We shall need to do no more but hold forth the word of truth with as much clearness as we can and apply all other interpretations thereunto and it will appear what is strait and what is crooked For Rectum est index sui obliqui And truly if we pass these limits it is a thousand to one that instead of bearing witness to the truth wee shall bear witness against some truth or other We may possibly with mistaken Arguments beget Disciples to our selves but seldom or never with such Carnal weapons shall we beget Disciples unto Christ or to his Truth The Sun hath no need of Candles or other adventitious lights to inlighten the same or to augment the light thereof Let us hold forth the truth with all clearness and if any thing be obscure in regard of the Dialect wherein it was originally written let it be our care with all faithfulness to explain the same and leave it to the blessing of God a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gen. 2 to perswade and to the breathings of the Spirit whose office it is to b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 convince Job 16. 8. Which were it duly attended unto would spare a great deal of precious time and tedious writing which many times is fruitlesly spent in Answers and Replies that tend little to the honour of Christ or the advantage of his Cause I know it often fares with Christians as with little Children that make haste to their Father sometimes they catch a fall or a knock Peter though he was most resolved and most forward fell foulest And if we look narrowly into the matter we shall ordinarily espy a spice of Spiritual pride as well as a strong affection to our Lord and Master secretly couchant under our precipitancy and prefidence of spirit Whereby it now and then comes to pass that we write crooked or walk crooked and besides our rule The advice therefore which I would give to others which also I desire to take my self is briefly this Let us lye low before the Lord in all our studies and inquiries into the holy Counsels of God especially these mystical Scriptures and seriously weigh every word and every IOTA in the text comparing Scripture with Scripture For holy men of God spake and writ as they were acted by the holy Spirit 2 Pet. 1. 21. And the Lord keep our spiriâ—s humble For God will teach the humble his way Psal 25. 8. The Apostles advice is singularly useful in this case Let each esteem other better than themselves Phil. 2. 3. And in all our explications of dark and Prophetical Scriptures let there run through all the veins thereof a spirit of love and Self-denial Not in word alone but in deed and in truth for oftentimes there lyes much of Self secretly hidden under verbal Self-denial This in summe is the advice I would give to others and to my self also Let me only adde a word more by way of Cauâ—â—on when we come to treat of sealed Prophesies such as Christ hath commanded to seal until the time of the end a Take heed of ingaging too far Of which â—d Daniels â—phecies are Master Tilâ—ghast well serves p. 157 â—â— and beware of pre-occupating Christ in opening the Seals lest we discover our own nakedness and out live our own interpretations Stay we but a little till Christ in a way of Providence open the Seal and then wee may with safety make particular applications of such Prophetical Scriptures as we see the Saints of old have done in applying that which is written of the Little Horn as it is called Dan. 8 9. 25. unto Antiochus Epiphanes To which end you may read the Story of the Maccabees Josephus and others In like manner I doubt not but the Little Horn Dan. 7. 8. may rightly and without injury to the truth be applied to Charls Stuart the late King For as much as there are so many remarkable Characters which Christ in a providential way hath delineated even to the very last stroke as I may say which are applicable all of them unto Charls Stuart and cannot suitably bee accommodated unto any other of the Ten Horns besides him as I suppose But I shall speak more fully of that when I come to treat of that Little Horn the Lord assisting Weigh therefore and consider what is written and the Lord give a right understanding in all things Sixth Month commonly called Febr. 1655. WILLIAM ASPINWALL Daniels Prophecies in the 2 7 8 9 and the 11th Chapters unsealed and opened in some brief exercitations upon those Chapters DANIEL II. Vers 31. Thou O King was contemplating and behold one great Image this Image which was so great and his brightness excellent was standing before thee and the sight thereof terrible 32 This Image the head of it was good gold his breast and his arms of silver his II Or Bowels belly and his * Or Side thigh of brass 33 His leggs of iron his feet part a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of them of iron and part b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of them of clay 34 Thou was contemplating until a
stone but not with hands was cut out and it smote the Image upon his feet of iron and clay and brake them in peeces 35 Then were broken in peeces as one the iron the clay the brass the silver and the gold and they became as the chaffe of the Summer threshing-floors and the wind carried them away that no place of them was found and the stone that smote the Image became a great Mountain and filled all the earth 36 This is the Dream and wee will tell the interpretation thereof before the King 37 Thou O King art a King of Kings that the God of Heaven hath given to thee a Kingdom Power Strength and Glory 38 And every where that â—he children of men are dwelling the Beast of the field and the Fowl of Heaven hath he given into thine hand and hath made thee ruler over them all thou art he the head of it that is of gold 39 And after thee shall arise another Kingdom the land inferiour in comparison of thee and another third Kingdom of brass which shall bear rule in all the earth 40 And the Fourth Kingdom shall bee strong as iron for as much as iron doth break in peeces and subdueth all things and as iron that breaketh all these shall it break in peeces and bruise 41 And whereas thou didst contemplate the feet and the toes part c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of them of Potters clay and part d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of them iron the Kingdom shall be divided but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron for as much as thou didst behold the iron mixing with mirie clay 42 And the toes of the feet were part e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of them iron and part f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of them clay in part the Kingdom shall be strong g Chald. of it and in part shall be broken 43 In that thou didst behold the iron mixing it self with mirie clay they shall mixe themselves with the seed of men but they shall not cleave this with that even as iron cannot bee mixed with clay 44 And in the days of them of these Kings shall the God of Heaven cause to arise a Kingdom that shall never be destroyed and the Kingdom thereof shall not be left to other people it shall break in peeces and consume all these Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever 45 For as much as thou didst contemplate that the stone was cut out of the Mountain but not with hands and it brake in peeces the iron the brass the clay the silver and the gold the great God doth make it known to the King what shall be after this and the dream is certain and the interpretation thereof faithful NOw ere I come to the explication of these ensuing Prophecies and Visions let mee premise these few things to be considered There be some Prophecies in Scripture that are sealed by a Divine decree or command as it is written Dan. 12. 4. But thou O Daniel shut up the words and seal the Book even to the time of the end And Rev. 5. 1. I saw in the right hand of him that sate on the Throne a Book written within and on the back side sealed with seven Seals Though they bee written in the Mother Tongue as I may say and the words intelligible yet they are sealed Now that I may express my self briefly yet plainly as I can to the meanest capacity let me propose these few Questions with their Answers Quest 1. What is the Seal whereby God is wont to Seal that is to ratifie and yet to conceal his holy Councels Q. 2. What are the ingravings of this Seal Q. 3. Whar is the effigies or impression made by this Seal Q. 4. What is meant by the Book or writing sealed Q. 5. How or after what manner doth God seal this Book Q. 6. How doth Christ open the Seals Answ 1 To the first I answer That the Holy Spirit of God is the Seal for so he is called Ephes 1. 3. and God useth no Seal but this Answ 2 To the Second I answer That the ingravings of this Seal as I may speak are the secret Counsels of God which are known only to the Spirit of God and by him revealed to us as it is written 1 Cor. 2. 10 11. But God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man which is in him Even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God Answ 3 To the Third I answer That the written Word of God and the holy Councel of God revealed therein is the effigies or impression made by this Seal For holy men of God spake as they were acted by the holy Spirit 2 Pet. 1. 21. Answ 4 To the Fourth I answer That the Book sealed is the Book of Providence wherein is portrayed as I may say in a most lively manner the persons and things with such distinguishing Characters and Marks as do exactly answer the minde and Counsel of God revealed in his Word as appears by the opening of the Seals Rev. 6. Answ 5. To the Fifth I answer That the spirit of God seales the writing by expressing himself under such darke representations Hierogliphicks and metaphors as it passeth all humane and angelicall capacities to make a perfect and particular application thereof untill Christ Jesus the Lyon of the tribe of Judah who only is worthy to open the book and unloose the seals Rev. 5. 5. 12 do in a way of providence first break open the Seals And then wee may be capable to discern the perfect Harmony that is betwixt the Prophecies and the persons there described and not til then Answ 6 To the last I answer That Christ opens the Seals by producing the persons intended to Act in a providentiall way according to the eternall Counsell of his Father revealed in his word Which is called the Decrees-bringing-forth Zeph. 2. 2 And I may not unfitly call it a providentiall description or exemplification of his Fathers Counsells Thus Christ breaks open the Seal and then if wee have spirituall eyes wee may discerne each lineament or ingraveing of the Seal imprinted as it were upon wax or clay answering line to line exactly Vntil which be done yea til Christ beginne to draw out the last line or character wee shall not be able to make particular Application of such Sealed Prophecies Wherefore I durst not attempt to make particular application of that litle horn in the seventh of Daniel unto Charls Stuart the late King tâ—ll Christ had first begunne to draw out the last line or Character in a way of providence Thus I have given you the summe of my thoughts touching Sealed prophecies as briefly and as plainly as I could Let mee only add this word of Caution more That Keyes were never ordained to
Alexander For so I understand the phrase to import in both the verses Vers 24. And shall corrupt or destroy the mighty even the people of Saints That is by corrupting them he shall destroy them For the word doth signify both to corrupt and destroy And how doth hee corrupt them Answ By peace and tranquillity vers 25. granting them a quiet possession of their outward estates so be it they will forsake the Lord and his pure worship to follow after Idolls This is the constant Spirit of Image-government to set up image-Image-worship of one kind or other such as suits their own fancies and their Government best Vers 26. Shut up the Vision because it is for many daies Not propheticall daies or years as hath been shewed but Naturall or Artificiall daies This phrase many daies hath given occasion to some to apprehend that the 2300 evenings and mornings must needs be understood of a longer tract of time than so many artificiall daies and nights or three years and two months But let this phrase of speech be weighed in these Scriptures following It is written Lev. 15. 25. If a woman have an issue of blood y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many daies c. And 2 Sam. 14 2. Be thou as a woman that had mourned for the dead many daies And Deut. 20. 19. when thou shalt besiedg a City many daies And 1 King 2. 38 39. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many daies And it came to passe at the end of three years c. So that it is apparent from these instances of Scripture and many more which might be given that in Scripture-language three years are accounted many daies and sometimes also they are used to expresse a shorter season Wherefore this phrase cannot argue the number 2300 to be the greatest Epocha in Scripture as some have apprehended Nor is it indeed the greatest number of daies in Scripture For 2300 evenings and mornings make but 1150 daies which falleth far short of 1260 daies in the Revelation and 1290 daies Dan. 12. 11. and of 1335 daies Dan. 12. 12. But let this suffice to remove away the occasion of stumbling from such as have not searched diligently the use of that phrase Many daies Vers 27. And I Daniel fainted and was sick some daies The sad calamities that were to befall Gods people did so deeply seize upon the Prophets spirit that hee fainted and was sick How long he doth not expresse but some daies Afterward Daniel being Ruler of the Province of Babylon and continuing in that place to this time as hath been shewed hee rose up and did the Kings businesse as ruler of the whole Province of Babylon Let this suffice to have spoken by way of interpretation of the words and now come with mee to consider the speciall characters of this Horn so much insisted upon in this Chapter And the Characters whereby hee is distinguished you shall find to be in number thirteen First It proceeded out of THAT successor of Alexander which was the brasen thigh of Nebuchadnezzars Image and raged most against the Church of Christ and was of longest continuance to wit Seleucus 2 Hee is not the first born of any of that race but a younger Brother vers 9. 3 Hee is a cruel Prince as it is written vers 23. hee is a King of hard countenance 4 He is a Prince of deep understanding vers 23. understanding dark sentences 5 Hee is a subtile politick Prince vers 24. through his policy hee shall cause craft to prosper in his hand c. 6 Hee corrupteth the consciences and conversations of many through Peace and tranquillity vers 25. 7 Hee makes great preparations against Egypt in the South and Persia in the East and against Judea the glory of all lands vers 9. 8 Hee is a Prince of a proud Spirit according as it is written vers 11. hee magnified himself 9 Hee opposeth the people of God in a speciall manner vers 10 11. hee magnified himself against the Host of heaven and against the Prince of the Host 10 Hee profaned the Temple and Ordinances thereof vers 11. By him the dayly sacrifice was taken away from the people of God and hee cast away the place of the Sanctuary 11 All these things were transacted in the after-part of the Kingdome of Alexanders successors vers 23. And in the after-part of their Kingdom shall arise a King of fierce countenance c. 12 The manner of his death was by some divine stroak from Heaven and not by warre or treachery vers 25. he shall be broken without hand 13 The durance of this Horns prevalency against the people of God is expressed by the certain number of artificiall Nights and Daies and the determinate cloze of that number vers 14 unto two thousand and three hundred Evenings and mornings then shall the Sanctuary be cleansed Now haveing opened the most obscure places in the Text and collected the Characters of this Horn let every judicious Reader see and consider whether they do best suite unto Antiochus Epiphanes or to the Roman-Civil or Antichristian state And let us not hastily condemn the Macchabees and Saints of that age who living whilst things were transacted applyed this prophecy unto Antiochus Epiphanes nor Josephus and after him Tremellius and Junius and others who have done the like For who can deny that this Antiochus Epiphanes descended of Seleucus whose posterity continued longest and was most outragious against the people of God of all other the successors of Alexander And is it not manifest in stories that hee was younger Brother of Seleucus Philopater son of Antiochus the great Is it not notoriously know that he was a most cruel Prince of deep understanding and policy Did he not corrupt and destroy many through Peace and tranquillity Did not hee make great preparations against Egypt in the South Persia in the East also against Judea Was not hee excessively pround Insomuch that hee thought the very waves should obey his command Did hee not invade Iudea and prosper through his policy And did hee not pollute the Temple and Temple-worship And was not all this done in the latter part of the Kingdome of the Selencidae And was not hee cut off by Gods own hand without any hand of man As for the durance of this Kings rage and prevalency wee may gather it very neer out of the story of the Macchabees though they principally note out the flux of time from setting up the abomination of desolation untill the purifying and cleansing of the Temple which was exactly three years and ten daies or 1103 daies not giving us the exact day when Antiochus entred the Citty yet it may be probably collected that it could not be lesse than 1150 daies which makes 2300 Evenings and Mornings as Daniel did foretell And who would not conceive that this Prince unto whom all these Characters do so exactly agree is the Horn intended by Daniel Let the indifferent Reader judge Now
open Seals Wherefore since the wisdome of God saw it not good to set Looks upon Prophecies but Seals and since none hath prevailed nor was judged worthy to open these Sealed Books but the Lamb Let us waâ—t with faith and patience till Christ open the Book and then wee shall see him delineate the persons and things intended in the Actings of his providence And so doing wee shall neither be deceived our selves nor mis-lead others For which end it is that I have thus opened my self in these poor broken expressions ere I proceed to the unfolding of Daniels Prophecies Intending to speak briefly to those Prophecies only which are already accomplished or in accomplishing and shall proceed no further than Christ hath gone before mee in the Actings of his Providence This being premised I shall briefly come to speak of those Prophecies which are unsealed and first of this Dream or Vision of Nebuchadnezzer The Explication Dan. 2. 31. 31. Vers One great Image It is very remarkable that in this Dream God represents to Nebuchadnezzar the true and proper nature of all earthly formes of Government which should be in the world during the time of the four great Monarchies after Nebuchadnezzar had demolished that Government which was of Christs own institution untill the time that he would restore the same and deliver the Kingdome and greatnesse thereof unto the Saints of the most high under the representation of an h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Signifies any form or figure which we make or fancy to our selves An invention of our own or according to our own minds IMAGE even the Image of a Man Which doth denote unto us thus much that all the governments instituted and erected in the world under these four Monarchies by men or by humane policy ever since the Government of Christâ— own institution was laid aside even to the time of the i Acts 3. 21. restitution thereof are in Gods account but very Images or all of them put together do but make up this one Image as it is here called And though I cannot say these Images and Formes of Government of mens devising are those Images forbidden in the second command for the word is not the same nor do civil formes of Government imediatly concern the worship of God yet this is observable that in the next chapter Nebuchadnezzar frames to himself a Golden Image for divine worship Semblable thereunto Which hath ever since been the wofull Concomitant and bitter fruit or result of such â—mage Government Wherefore Paul taking notice hereof that it hath been the constant practise of Gentile Nations to modle their Divine Worship and Church Administrations according to the form of their Civil Governments he advertiseth the Romans not to be conformed to the world Rom. 12. 2. His meaning is as Mr. Cotton hath often observed he would not have the Saints in Rome to modle their Churches and Church-Administrations according to the Pattern of the Roman Civil Power This IMAGE is here called k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one Image although it comprehended all the Four great Monarchies and Kingdoms under it To shew that all of them are but parts of this one Image And their Governments are but Image-Government Now the Characters of this IMAGE are these four 1 It was so great to wit it comprehended the Four Monarchies or Kingdoms as it is interpreted Verse thirty eight thirty nine forty 2 It is described by the outward Pomp and Splendor not only of the Head but all the parts of it his splendor or brightness excellent And this is a common Character of all the Four Monarchies and Kingdoms under them they all affect worldly pomp and glory 3 It is said to stand before him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which imports the acceptance that this Image-Government found in the hearts of all the Kings and Monarchs And so the word is used Psal 1. 5. to stand with acceptance And this shews the complacency and content they take both in their pomp and splendor and in the Government new Modelled by them This is the Third Character 4 This Image is described by the Tyrannical spirit that appears in all of them from the first to the last from the highest to the lowest His visage l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 terrible dreadful or formidable This is not here put for a Character of the Little Horn Dan. 7. but for a common Character of the great IMAGE and all the Four Monarchies comprized therein and the several Kingdoms appertaining thereunto and this ever hath been and ever will be the close of all Image-Government of mens devising Terrour and Tyranny are indelible and inseparable Characters of all worldly Governments whatsoever Pleasing indeed are their new devised Governments to themselves as was shewed before else they would not indure that they should stand before them But terrible dreadful and tyrannical are they to others that cannot comply with them nor fall down and worship them These are the Four Characters which are common to all the Four Monarchies and the parts thereof and they are true of the whole Image and every part thereof The next thing remarkable in this IMAGE or Image-Government Vers 32. is the progress they make from evil to worse they are always best at first At first they are good gold they themselves pretend so and many others think so And comparatively they may be called good gold because their Actions at their first rising are more just and righteous than afterwards they prove to be A kinde of necessity putting them upon it that they may ingratiate themselves and their New Image with the people And it is most natural that the Head which is the most noble part should first be brought forth but this continues not long The durance of the Babylonian Monarchy or head of Gold was but seventy years the special Character of this Monarchy is the unity of it in which respect it is called the Head which is but one In the next place it degenerates from Gold to Silver which is a Mettal of a baser alloy and this is interpreted vers 39. of another Kingdom and Government succeeding the Babylonian and inferiour to it This Government for the nature was meaner and baser more formidable and obnoxious to the Church of Christ but of longer durance and so was the Persian Monarchy The Character of this Monarchy is Union and Division together it is one Breast but two Arms Medes and Persians Dan. 6. 8. Thirdly from Silver it becomes Brass which shews the worsness of the Third or Graecian Monarchy which more bitterly infested the Jews with Warres and set up the abomination of desolation as Daniel shews at large in his eighth Chapter The division of this Monarchy is expressed when he saith his Thigh of Brass He doth not say thighes of Brass for that would imply only a two-fold division of Alexanders Successors which was Four-fold Dan. 8. 22. but he saith its thigh of brass
the stone cut out of the Mountain and breaking in peeces these former Governments Touching which stone let these things bee inquired Quest 1. What is meant by this Stone Quest 2. What is meant by that phrase cut out but not with hands Quest 3. How doth it smite the Image upon his feet of Iron and Clay and how doth it break them to peices and when Quest 4. What will be the effect of this Stones smiting of the Image Answ 1 To the first I answer That by Stone is meant a Kingdom as may appear by comparing verse thirty four with verse forty four where it is so called The word there used for s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Kingdom is the same that is used to express the Civil Power and Government of the other Monarchies vers 39 40 41. which argues that the Kingdom here spoken of is not as some apprehend it to be a Spiritual and internal Kingdom whereby Christ reigns in the hearts and Consciences of his people but it is an external Kingdom whereby hee rules and guides the World with Righteousness and Judgement Psal 98. 9. He comes to judge the earth with righteousness shall he judge the world and the people with equity Of this Kingdom it is spoken That the t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Government shall be upon his shoulder The word there used is always put for Temporal Government as we call it not for Spiritual for a Dominion over the bodies and estates and outward actions of men not for a Dominion over their Consciences and Spirits Of this Kingdom and Government it is said to begin in the days of the ten Kings or Toes of the Fourth Monarchy vers 44. And in the days of them of these Kings shall the God of Heaven cause to arise a Kingdom that shall never be destroyed c. The words are very observable hee had spoken of the toes of the feet and their unequal mixture in the next preceding verses and now in this verse he saith u 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the days of them that is in the days of these Toes as the Pronoun relative doth necessarily infer And then by way of Exegesis addeth a description of the dignity of those Toes they were Kings Now in the days of these Kings he saith The God of Heaven x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shal cause to arise a Kingdom which doth inferre that the Kingdom here spoken of is such as had not a being or to use the Prophets words was not caused to arise until the days of these Ten Toes or Kings Whereas the Spiritual Kingdom of Christ and his Regiment in the Souls and Consciences of his people was begun many years before the time of these ten Kings yea long before any of all the great Monarchies even from the beginning of the world The Kingdom therefore here spoken of cannot bee meant of an inward and Spiritual Kingdom but of an external Kingdom over mens bodies and outward actions This Kingdom is here described First By its Divine original It is cut out but not with hands vers 34. 45. Jesus Christ the y Gen. 49. 24. Stone of Israel received this power from the Father actually in the days of these ten Kings towards the end of the Fourth Monarchy Dan. 7. 14. And to him was given absolute Soveraignty and Glory and Dominion and all People Nations and Languages shall serve him c. Secondly This Kingdom is described by the perfect constitution of it it is such a Kingdom that shall never z 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bee destroyed or as the word signifies shall never be corrupted the Constitution being Divine and the Administrators thereof Saints it can neither be corrupted nor destroyed as it is said Dan. 7. 14. where the same word is used Thirdly The perpetuâ—ty of it is set forth in these words Shall a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 never be destroyed and therefore it is called an everlasting Kingdom Dan. 7. 14. These are the Three principall Characters of the Kingdom of Christ or the Fifth Monarchy as it is called Answ 2 To the Second I answer That the cutting out of this Stone but not with hands doth deny that it is from any Human policy or contrivement and therefore the Dominion and Soveraignty thereof is from above My Kingdom is not of this world Joh. 18. 36. And therefore his Servants would not then fight for it till the time was come which the Father had appointed And then he goeth forth to Warre and his Servants with him vers 12. 7. 17. 14. Answ 3 To the Third Question I answer He smites the Image or Image-Government by the Ministry of his Word Rev. 19. 15. Out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword that with it he should smite the Nations This is the first Act as I may say of this Stone Which argues that when the season comes for Christ to challenge his Kingdom his Servants first prepare his way by publishing to all the world his Royal Power and Soveraignty and declaring the incroachments of worldly Powers upon his Royalty whereby the free passage of Judgement and Justice hath been obstructed and the inhabitants of the Nations deluded with an Image-Government And having thus sent his Heraulds before to advertise the People and Nations hee then comes to break and crush them with his Iron Scepter and rules them with a rod of Iron Rev. 19. 15. Psal 2. 9. And who is it that doth not see or at least may that Christ hath already begun to break the Nations and Governments in the World and in these our Nations also in the late Warres and revolutions of State And is not this some beginning of his Kingdom As for the time when this shall be done it is said in the days of them of these Kings that is Christ will first send abroad his Heraulds and such as will not stoop to him he will break in peeces whilst yet these Kings and Kingdoms or various kinds of governments have a Being And hath not Christ made good all this before our eyes The Servants of Christ as Heraulds have gone before to publish the Royalty of this only and blessed Potentate witness Mr. Archer M. Tho. Goodwin and many others and some to this day suffer for their boldness in that behalf And that Christ hath ruled with his Iron Rod is manifest to our own experience We all know what strange Revolutions and overturnings of this Government after that hath been already made Answ 4 To the Fourth I answer That the effects of this Stones smiting the Image-Government of the Fourth Monarchy upon its feet are clearly expressed to be two First by the Ministry of his Servants he so smites them with the word of his mouth that they become as the chaff of the Summer Threshing-floors The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here signifieth such an action as reduceth this Image of Gold Silver Brass Iron and Clay into most fine and subtil dust
or powder whether by rubbing filing pounding or the like as the next word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth import which properly signifies in pulverem tenuissimam redigere And Daniel himself was one of Christs Heraulds that filed the Golden head of this Image to limell Dan. 4. 25. and 5 25 26 27 28. and yet hee was honoured by Belshazzer Dan. 5. 29. The meaning I conceive is this that Christs heralds do so smite and thrash these Image Governments consisting of Heterogeneal parts to wit iron and clay but now become more clay than iron that they bruise them to dust In so much as now men grow to be awakened more and more to see the vanity of all humane forms of politick governments and more to relish and admire and affect the purity and simplicity of Christs righteous administrations So that now they beginne to perceive the Levity of these worldly Governments and beginne to grow weaned from them The Second Act or effect of this Stone upon the Image and all the parts thereof thus broken to pieces as dust in the Summer threshing floor is the utter removall of these powers Which is here elegantly expressed the wind z 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 carried them away or lift them up as the word signifies they were become such light dust by the ministery of the word that no place was found They will be totally removed and forgotten as it is written Isa 65. 17. they shall not be remembred nor come upon the heart And as the ministery of the word and Spirit doth at first smite them and reduce them to powder so now it blows them away and blots out their memory Which argues it must be a continued Act of the ministery of the word that must effect this when the season is come of Babels ruine and a little before Now this Stone having broken to pieces and dissolved all other Governments hee proceeds to set up his own Kingdome according as it is said this Stone that smote the Image became a great mountain and filled all the earth This shews the universality of the Kingdome of Christ over all Nations which you may make a fourth mark or description of the fifth Monarchy And this may suffice to have spoken touching this Dream or Vision of Nebuchadnezzer wherein you may see how God represents to him not only what should ensue in his Monarchy and Government but what should come to passe a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after that even to the utter abolition and removall of Image-government unto the setting up of the Kingdome of Christ all the world over All which hee hath done in most exquisite and choise expressions and metaphors so as none could make particular Application of the same had not Christ first gone before us in his word and after that in his providence so opening the Seal Dan. Chap. 7. Vers 8. I was considering the horns and behold another little Horn came up among them and three of the first Horns were plucked up by the roots by his prerogative and lo eyes as the eyes of a man in this horn and a mouth speaking great things c. I have already writ an Explication and Application of this Chapter and in particular of this Little Horn. But because others apply it otherwise I shall add a few words in this place for further clearing of the same To which end I shall gather up what the Prophet speaketh of this Little Horn and give you the principall Characters by which this Horn is described and compare it with the providentiall accomplishment thereof in the late King And make some Queries upon the various interpretations which I have found made by others and so leave it to others to consider and judge as God shall please to cast in any Beam of Light Divers are the Interpretations which are made of this Little Horn. Some apply it to Antiochus Epiphanes Others to Mahomet Others to the Roman Civil Power or to the Antichristian power or both Others to the Norman Race or William the Conquerer And lastly I have made Application thereof to Charls Stuart the late King that was beheaded Some other Application I have met with which I judge not worth the answering or inquiring into being inconsistent in it self The little Horns Characters as they are given us by Daniel are these 1 Hee is a Horn Dan. 7. 8. which denotes Soveraignty vers 24. 2 Hee is one of the ten horns or amongst the ten horns of the fourth great Beast vers 7 8 24. 3 He is a little horn vers 8. which must be understood to be little in some scripturall sense 4 Hee plucks up three of the ten horns by his prerogative vers 8. 5 Hee is described by his vigilancy and carnall policy hee hath eyes as the eyes of a man vers 8. 6 Hee is described by the Bent of his spirit against God and against the waies of God and against his Saints expressed by his words vers 8 25. and by his actions wearing out the Saints vers 25. 7 Hee is described by the wilfulnesse of his Spirit expressed by his Countenance for vultus est index animi or if you will the Stoutness of his Spirit and aversness to be counselled by his Compeeres vers 20. his visage was more stout then his fellows 8 Hee is described by his ingagement in warre against his best Subjects namely the Saints vers 21. and that in all the three Kingdoms In respect whereof they are said to fall by his prerogative vers 20. 9 Hee is described by the advancement of his prerogative to the ruine of his Subjects Wherefore it is said that hee plucked three of the Kingdoms up by the roots by his prerogative but one of them more especially vers 8. and three of the ten Kingdomes of the fourth Monarchy fell by his prerogative but one above the rest vers 20. That is they were slain with the sword as that phrase imports Lam. 2. 21. Touching which see more in my Explication and Application of the 7 of Daniel formerly put forth 10 Hee is described by his oppression of his best Subjects here called Saints with taxes and tribute loans and Ship-monies as the word may import vers 25. hee shall wear out the Saints of the most high 11 Hee carrieth on a secret design to subvert the antient government of the nations expressed in these words hee shall think to change times and laws vers 25. 12 He is judicially tryed and sentenced vers 26. the judgement shall sit and vers 10. the Judgement sate and the Books were opened 13 He is divested of his Royalty in all the three Nations The Thrones were cast down vers 9. 14 He is beheaded vers 11. The Beast was slain by dismembring as the word imports 15 After this proceeding with the Beast or little Horn there follows a total removal of Sovereign Power by a publick Act of the State They shall take away his absolute Soveraignty v. 26. And they
whereof is that hee cast some of the Host and of the Starres to the ground Which doth imply the Apostacy of some eminent ones in the Church through the subtile practises of this Prince Vers 11. He magnified himself to the Prince of the Host These words hold forth the inward pride of his Spirit together with the object thereof His inward pride is expressed in these words hee magnified himself The word here used in that t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 conjugation doth imply the great swelling pride of his heart and the great thoughts hee had of himself And the object against which hee thus magnifieth himself is the Prince of the Host Whereby you may understand the chief leader of Gods people in those daies or Christ himself in his vicegerent And from him the dayly sacrifice was taken away our translation reads it by him As who should say by the Horn here spoken of the dayly sacrifice was taken away And that is a truth For the Horn was an instrument of taking away the dayly Sacrifice But then it would have been more proper to have used a pronowne of the faeminine gender u 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and also it would have agreed with the word Horn which is of the same gender Now since the Prophet useth a Pronown of the Masculine gender w 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I conceive it is more properly rendred from him As if you should say the dayly Sacrifice was taken from this Prince of the Host by that Horn. And so there will be a congruity in gender betwixt the Nown and the Pronown In like manner the words following have reference unto the Prince of the Host when it is said the Place of his Sanctuary was cast away So then the meaning of the words is this That by this Horn this yonger Brother both the instituted worship of God was taken away from Christ and from the Prince of the Host and from the people and the place also of his sanctuary was cast away unto the service of Idols He doth not say it was cast down as our Translation reads it for wee know it stood untill the daies of our Saviour and some years after But it was cast away and converted or rather perverted to another use than Christ had ordained And this I conceive to be the true meaning of that phrase Vers 12. And thou O Host shalt be given up because of the dayly Sacrifice with trangressions These words contain the reason why God did permit this Horn to prevail so farre to the corrupting of his worship It was because of the dayly Sacrifice accompanied with trangression against Light as the word x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth properly signifie This reason is expressed by way of threatning unto the Host And thou O Host shalt be given up For so I conceive the words ought to be rendred and not as our translation reads it an Host was given him to wit unto this Horn my reasons are these First The word Host in all the rest of this Chapter is spoken of the people of God and not of the Militia belonging to the adversary 2 The word Host is of the Masculine gender and the Verb given if you take it to be the third person singular is of the Faeminine Gender which were in that language improper unless the Prophet had intended thereby to express the Faeminine Spirit of this Horns Militia which cannot be the Prophets meaning nor can it stand with the prevalency of this Horns Militia which cast the truth to the earth and prevailed and prospered Wherefore I take it to be more proper to render the word in the second person singular of the Masculine Gender and thou O Host shalt be given up As if the Prophet had spoken to the chief Captain of the Host and said that because of the iniquity of their Holy Offerings God would give both thee and them up into the hands of this Horn. And if you render the words thus there will be a congruity both in person and gender betwixt the Verb and the Substantive Vers 13. How long shall this Vision be concerning this dayly Sacrifice and this desolating transgression to give both the Sanctuary and the Host to be troden under foot The matter here inquired is how long God will permit the Sanctuary and the Host whereof hee had spoken vers 10 11. to be for a treading or to be troden under foot and let it be carefully observed For according to the Question so must wee necessarily understand the Answer to be The want of due attention whereunto hath given occasion as I conceive to some godly men to extend the Answer from the end of the first Monarchy unto the end of the Fourth which they esteem will amount unto 2300 Years But let it be kept in memory till wee come to speak of the next vers that the Question is not how long it should be from the time of this Vision in the third year of Belshazzar unto the end of the fourth Monarchy or to the begining of the Fifth For then wee might have expected the answer would have been proportionable But that was not the Question which the saints here makes His heart it seems was deeply affected with the sad calamities threatned against the Host and against the Temple and against the instituted worship of God and therefore hee makes inquiry how long this should continue Whereunto the answer is given in the next ensuing verse Vers 14. And hee said unto mee untill evening morning two thousand and three hundred then shall the Sanctuary be cleansed or justified Remember now what the Question was how long God would permit this Horn thus to prevail against the Host and against his instituted worship and Temple And here you have a plain and full solution of the Question which we may easily discern by the Angells answer if we mark narrowly his words For he doth not say then shall the Fourth Monarchy end or then shall the fifth Monarchy begin but then shall the Sanctuary be justified or cleansed which before had been cast away to Idols and polluted with the Image of Jupiter Olympius and with strange Sacrifices Now in this answer let two things be considered and they wil fully clear the Question 1 The durance or continuance of time to give both the Sanctuary and the Host to be troden under foot 2 The end and expiration of that time For the first to wit the durance of this calamity It is said untill two thousand and three hundred evening morning Which is as much as if he had said in our phrase of speech it shall continue for the space of two thousand and three hundred artificiall daies I know the Scripture useth not the word artificiall yet it owneth the distribution of the naturall day into two parts The light part and the dark part thereof John 11. 9 10. Are there not twelve hours in the day If a man walk in the day