to the Roman Monarchy in general 3 Because the fourth Beast in Daniel is diverse from all the Beasts before it Dan. 7.3 7. but now the description of the Beast Antichrist Rev. 13.2 argues him to be in some things like them all For first he is like a Leopard And the Beast which I saw was like unto a Leopard which is the similitude of Daniels third Beast or the Grecian Monarchy Dan. 7.6 Secondly He hath feet as the feet of a Bear And his feet were as the feet of a Bear which is the similitude of Daniels second Beast or the Persian Monarchy vers 5. Thirdly His mouth is as the mouth of a Lyon which resembles Daniels first Beast or the Babylonian Monarchy so that Antichrist hath the similitude of all the former Beasts but Daniels fourth Beast is diverse from them all 4 Because there should be no distinction betwixt the fourth Beast and the little Horn in case the fourth Beast be to be understood of Antichrists Kingdome for that is the thing set forth by the little Horn. 5 Because the rise of Daniels fourth Beast is clearly and plainly noted to be before the rise of Antichrists Kingdome for the rise of Antichrists Kingdome begun in the rise of the little Horn but the fourth Beast with all his Horns was risen before that how else is the little Horn said to rise among and after the other Horns I conclude therefore that Daniels fourth Beast is the Roman Monarchy in general as Johns Beast Rev. 13.1 2. is the same only as under Antichrist Now this being so it is to be noted that the Roman Monarchy from its beginning take it either as it was in its pure Civil state or as it now is in its mixt Antichristian state had ever ten Horns As it was a pure Civil state so was it exactly divided into ten parts in the dayes of Augustus Cesar as Strabo witnesseth And for this reason the Dragon which represents the old Empire hath as well ten Horns Rev. 12.3 as the Beast Chap. 13.1 yet with this difference the ten Horns of the Roman Monarchy in its first state had no Crown i.e. the Kingdomes subjected to the Roman Empire whilst it remained a pure Civil state had not Legislative power within themselves but rather were kept in the nature of Provinces over whom the Roman state did set titular Kings as Herod in Christs time was the titular King of Judea and for this reason because so in title they are called Kings Dan. 7.24 but yet did still reserve to it self the power of making and giving laws as in Christs time besides Herod the titular King there was Pilate the Roman Governour set over the Land to execute Laws which Laws executed were only the Laws of Rome and hence Christ is said to be crucified in Rome because he suffered by the Law and Power of Rome Rev. 11.8 And also it is for this reason that the Dragon representing the old Empire is said to have his Crowns not upon his Horns as the Beast Chap. 13.1 but upon his seven Heads that is the Legislative power all the time of the old Empire is continued at Rome built upon seven Mountains which are these seven Heads Rev. 17.9 Yea farther it is for this reason that John speaking of the ten Kings as having a being even then when he wrote saith Chap. 17.12 that as yet they had received no Kingdome but were afterwards to receive power as Kings namely with the Beast i.e. though all the ten Horns were then in being yet were they then onely titular Kings who had no power of making or giving Laws this power as yet abiding upon the Heads i.e. at Rome it self But now the Horns of the Beast Antichrist i.e. the Roman Monarchy as under Antichrist have Crowns upon them i.e. that Legislative power which was before upon the Heads is now translated to the Horns every particular Kingdome which before were but as Provinces governed by no other Laws but such as came from Rome hath now a power within it self to rule and to make Laws therefore saith John Rev. 17.12 the ten Horns receive power as Kings with the Beast that is when the Roman Monarchy which then was in the hands of Emperors and the whole governed by the Laws of Rome shall fall in the hands of the Beast then shall those several Kings which before were titular only receive Kingly power or power as Kings to make and give Laws within their own Dominions without receiving their Laws from any foreign place or power Now consider the ten Horns in the first respect as they are the Horns of the Roman Empire in general which is clearly Daniels sense the ten Horns he speaks of being the Horns of the fourth Beast i.e. the Empire in general for saith he vers 7. It that is the fourth Beast had ten Horns and it is most clear the rise of Antichrist the little Horn was among and after these Horns And therefore observe the words narrowly it is said that at the time of the little Horns rise three of the first are plucked up by the roots vers 8. what is the meaning why this the Roman Monarchy in either state as I have said had ten Horns now upon the little Horns rise three of the first i.e. three of the Horns of the Roman Monarchy as considered in its first state were plucked up And hence vers 24. The little Horn is said to be diverse from the first that is from all the Horns of this Monarchy in its first state For of the Horns of the Monarchy in its second state how is the little Horn diverse when as the ten Horns in this state are but a part of this little Horn i.e. of the Roman Monarchy as governed by Antichrist And thus to understand it unties that great knot vers 8. of three Horns being plucked up by the roots before the little Horn at the time of this rise for taking three to signifie not strictly three but divers or many three being used because a number of perfection and how clear is it from all Histories that upon the invasion made by the Goths and Vandals with which the Beast rose as before a considerable part of those Provinces which were before subjected to the Roman Empire and ruled by its Laws were now broken off and grew up into particular Kingdomes ruled by Laws of their own and so by degrees the whole Legislative power crept off from the seventh and last Head to the Horns And thus interpreted this place in Daniel doth excellently point out the time of the Beasts rise and I take it that it is left us by the holy Ghost as a divine Character to guide us where we should end the first state of the Roman Monarchy and begin its second where we should put a period to the Roman Monarchy as a pure Civil state and begin it as an Antichristian namely with the time when a remarkable breach or rupture should be made
yet take him at some times when he is in his best mood hee is convinced in his Conscience are of God yea and fears maugre all his opposition that these things will prove his undoing to tyrannize over the Nations by continuing those unrighteous Laws Customs c. which were at first imposed by the Beast that by these he might like an imperious Whore sit domineering upon the waters Revel 17.1.15 that is bee a Tyrant over the People Now I say considering that all these things are in being unto this very day yea and that in all the ten Horns to him that hath but half an eye to see it cannot be that the forty two months the one thousand two hundred and sixty days which are the limited time of the Witnesses wearing Sackcloth the Womans being in the Wilderness the Beasts rage against the Saints treading under foot the Holy City his blaspheming God and his Truth his Tyranny over the Nations should be begun higher then our aforesaid beginning for then should we see a perfect end of those things in part i.e. in some of the ten Horns at least which yet wee see to have being and exist yea to be maintained in every one of them I therefore conclude That the forty two months the one thousand two hundred and sixty days cannot be begun higher then the year I have stated That they cannot be begun lower is clear and manifest because it is a monstrous absurdity to say That all the Beasts Horns should spring up before yet the Beast was brought forth but as I have proved at large in the fore-going discourse all the Horns were come forth but a few years lower then the stated year therefore must the time of the Beasts rise who naturally hath being before his Horns be as I have stated it and cannot without that grosse absurdity of placing the Beast after his Horns bee placed lower Again All that begin lower do not begin from the time of Antichrists Infancy or from the time of his first rise which none can or do deny but it was as early as we have stated it the testimonies of all the Ancients being so full as touching the wonderful defection that was in the Church about that time but rather they begin from the time of his growth either his full growth his perfect maturity or his growth in part only but now this beginning is expresly against the Prophecy of the Beast which points us to the time of the Beasts first rise as the time whence we are to reckon his forty two months This we may see Revel 13. in vers 5. It is said Power was given to him to continue forty two months Whence are we to reckon these forty two months Ans From the day he first received his power and authority from the Dragon vers 2. The Dragon gave him his Power and his Seat and great Anthority And when was that Ans At the time of his first rise vers 1. I saw a Beast rise up out of the Sea having seven Heads and ten Horns and the Dragon gave him his power c. Farther Let it be considered that the second Beast or the Ecclesiastical state of Antichrist is set forth under a three-fold representation in the Book of the Revelation suitable to his three-fold State viz. of Infancy Maturity Old Age. 1 In his Infant state He is a poor despicable Beast creeping out of the earth but not able as yet to make the Nations crouch to him and therefore he borrows the power of the first Beast i.e. of the Civil Magistrate thereby to carry on his own designs Rev. 13.11 12. 2 In his Mature state the Beast sits as a rich proud imperious Whore upon the Nations Revel 17.1 compared with 15. and rides upon the back of the first Beast or the Magistraticall power of Nations ver 3. ruling them and the Nations under them making them do even what this Beast lists 3 In his declining state or Old Age hee is a false Prophet i.e. hee counterfeits abundance of Holiness more then indeed he hath or ever before professed the reason where of I take to be the first Beast through his long riding and galling of him now begins to kick and will by no means endure his Rider any longer the Nations begin to see that this Beast is not indeed as they have been all along held in hand and made beleeve the Woman the true Church but a very Strumpet that by Whoring and Juggling hath in all Ages made her self rich persecuted the Saints enslaved them this makes the Nations begin to spurn likewise at this Beast This Beast now fearing a downfall and knowing full well that if there be not some way found out to keep up his esteem with the first Beast and the Nations he is undone he Proteus-like for indeed he is a Monster never heard of in the world till Antichrists Kingdom began changeth shapes and as at first of a poor ragged Beast became opportunity serving him a proud Whore so now the Beast when he can be a ruling commanding Whore no longer transforms himself into a false Prophet pretending abundance of Holinesse that hereby he may keep up that esteem still with the first Beast and the Nations which once he had but hath wel-nigh lost through his domineering pride and imperiousness This is the true state of the second Beast or of Antichrist as considered in his Ecclesiastical state throughout the Book of the Revelations And of this I have more fully treated in my discourse upon the Vials p. 101. to the 112. Now observe those who begin the Kingdom of Antichrist from the time of Antichrists growth or maturity leave out the first state of the second Beast and begin their account with his second which certainly we must not do but must carry our beginning so high as to take in all the three as the Holy Ghost hath laid them down I therefore conclude that wee may not begin lower then the aforesaid year three hundred ninety six Seeing therefore that we may not begin either higher or lower it necessarily follows that wee must begin with the year we have fixed upon viz. three hundred ninety six to which number adding one thousand two hundred and sixty the whole makes up one thousand six hundred fifty six The result of my whole discourse in this Second Part is That the utmost period of the Beasts continuance the treading under foot the Holy City the Womans being in the Wilderness the Witnesses Prophecying in Sackcloth all which things are concurrent will in greatest probability be Anno Dom. one thousand six hundred fifty six Thus Iohns one thousand two hundred and sixty days expire in the same year with Daniels one thousand two hundred and ninety Thus likewise in that very year in which from the Creation the Flood came upon the corrupted old World in that very year from our Redemption cometh the flood of Gods wrath upon the Idolatrous Antichristian world The end of
Chap. 2.32 That third Beast considered as winged and swift in motion Dan. 7.6 which swiftnesse of march is noted as peculiar to Alexander Dan. 8.5 and is here excellently set forth by giving four Wings i. e. two pair of Wings to this Beast noting his swift march and speedy conquests the Great and notable Horn of the rough Goat Dan. 8.5 compared with vers 21. and what is spoken to Daniel of that mighty King Dan. 11.3 XX. The divided state of the Graecian Monarchy is set forth by the thighs of the great Image Dan. 2.32 the four Heads of the third Beast Dan. 7.6 the four Horns of the He-Goat coming up in the room of the great Horn Dan. 8.8 with vers 22. and what by voyce is delivered to Daniel chap. 11. ver 4 5 c. to ver 14. XXI The Fourth and last Monarchy is of the Romans which Monarchy in either Prophecy is set forth in its two-fold state First its state before Antichrists rise Secondly its state afterwards the one I have formerly called its pure Civil State the other it s mixt State XXII The Roman Monarchy in its first State wherein it chiefly attended to the work of Conquering and subduing Nations is set forth by the Iron Leggs of the great Image Dan. 2.33 which Iron-legged Kingdom or rather this fourth Kingdom considered as Iron-legged is said to break in peeces and subdue all things vers 40. By the fourth Beast Dan. 7.7 but yet considered only as a warlike Beast most dreadful and terrible to the Nations devouring the whole earth treading it down and breaking it in peeces vers 23. By the Little Horn considered in its first waxing great Dan. 8.9 by which waxing it becomes exceeding great pushing down all standing in its way towards the South and towards the West and towards the pleasant Land and by what is spoken to Daniel of the Conquests of the King of the North vers 14. to 21. XXIII The Roman Monarchy in its second State wherein the work it principally attends to is oppressing the Nations subdued already persecuting the Saints treading under-foot the Holy City is set forth by the feet of the great Image of Iron and Clay Dan. 2.33 by the Little Horn Cha. 7. by the Little Horn in its second waxing great Chap. 8.10 11 12 24 25. by the vile Person or that proud King Chap. 11. whose description we have at large vers 21. to vers 40. and afterwards goes under the title of the King of the North ver 40. to the end of the Chapter XXIV All the aforesaid Prophecies though their beginnings are different yet have they but one and the same general end XXV This end is the final dissolution of the Fourth Monarchy and the establishment of the Fifth contemporary with both which is the Personal appearance of Christ XXVI The two last Prophecies conclude with the destruction of the Fourth Monarchy the two first with the greatnesse and glory of the Fifth yet are not for this reason their ends different because though the things themselves are two yet both shall be performed by that one act of Christs Personal appearance It is the appearance of Christ that destroys the Fourth Monarchy establisheth the Fifth XXVII The admirable Harmony in every title betwixt these so antient Prophecies and the events or betwixt the things fore-told so many Ages ago and the things transacted in the Ages since is a strong and convincing Argument of the infallibility of the Prophecies themselves and of the certainty of the performance of the things yet to bee accomplished XXVIII The glorious work of setting up Christs outward visible Kingdom which is the thing pointed at in all the fore-going Prophecies is the great work of the present age and time we live in XXIX The mystical Numbers of Daniel and John both which direct us to the time in which this Kingdom is to be set up all which expire as the fore-going Discourse proveth within the compasse of this Age the visible dispensations of God which in our days have been very wonderful all tending to such a thing the cries of Saints and their faith and expectations generally looking this way the opposition of the Devil and the World against and the malignity of men of worldly Principles unto this glorious truth and blessed work do all speak that we are come to the dawning of that day in which Christ will in despite of Satan and the Worlds rage and all the Carnal policy of men of earthly Principles establish his own Kingdom XXX The former being true it is in its self no strange thing nor ought to be matter of stumbling or offence to any that the Witnesses of Christ in this our day direct their testimony against Civil Powers as they are in their present constitution bearing forth evidently the excellent brightnesse and the terrible form of the Great Image Dan. 2.31 which yet Saints of formet Ages subjected themselves unto and never medled with because the case with them and us is vastly different They lived within the compasse of that time in which the Great Image was to stand the World and worldly Powers were to bear rule which that they might do till their day should come to an end it was necessary that Saints in all Ages heretofore should subject themselves to them and never bear a testimony simply and directly against Civil Powers of a worldly constitution nor indeed could it be any part of their testimony because God having set a time how long worldly Powers should continue it behooved not them to attempt before the time to take from the World what by Divine permission for such a time was allotted them But now the case is otherwise for we being come to the beginning of that day in which the Great Image must be smitten till the same is crumbled to dust and finally carried away with the wind of Gods Wrath and that Kingdom and Dominion which before the Great Image did hold as it s by right to bee translated and given to the Saints of the most High as every Work of God must have light for its Basis because God leads his people to the execution of his will not blinde-fold but by light therefore of necessity must the Witnesses of Christ in this Age bear forth such a testimony of truth as may lay a foundation in the hearts of Gods people for such a work And indeed as the work that God is now about to do is a new thing in the World viz. the regaining that Kingdom which hath been in the hands of the World for now upwards of two thousand three hundred years viz. ever since the beginning of the Seventy years Captivity in Babylon so by the same reason that truth which must be laid as foundation to this work can bee no other but a new thing in the World It is therefore no Argument against the truth of Christs visible Kingdom that Saints our predecessors in the Ages before us medled not with
these things nor stickled in such a Cause or Controversie as the Saints now do it was then no part of their work but it is now the Master-peece of ours And in case any then at that time did stickle yet they brought nothing to perfection because they attempted Gods Work before his time But now the time being come as God hath in a more wonderful manner than ever stirred up the hearts of his Saints to bear witnesse so shall not their Witnesse-bearing as to this great thing be in vain for let the Devil and the World do their worst the outward visible Kingdom and Dominion and the greatnesse of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall revolve and that suddenly into the hands of the people of the Saints of the most High who shall then take them Captives whose Captives they were and shall bear rule over their Oppressors Amen Daniels Description of the Four Monarchies in Four Prophecies and Christs Kingdom succeeding them shewed in the following Table First Monarchy First Prophecy Chap 2. Second Prophecy Cha. 7. Third Prophecy Chap. 8. Fourth Prophecy Cha. 11. Golden Head vers 32 38 First Beast vers 4. Â Â Second Monarchy Silver Breast and Arms ver 32 39. Second Beast vers 5. Ram with two Horns verse 3 4. with 20. The matter delivered by voyce verse 1 2. Third Monarchy United Divided Belly of the Image ver 32. Third Beast as swift and winged ver 6. Hee-Goats great Horn ver 5 6 7 8. with 21. Mighty King ruling with great Dominion vers 3. The Images Thighs vers 32. Third Beast as having four Heads ver 6. Hee-Goate four notable Horns vers 8.22 The matter delivered by voyce vers 4 5. to 14. Fourth Monarchy Second State First State Iron Leggs vers 33.40 Fourth Beast as Warlike subduing Nations ver 7. Little Horn in its first waxing great ver 9. King of the North described vers 14. to 21. Feet of Iron and clay ver 33 41 42 43. Little Horn ver 8 20 21 24 25 26. Little Horn in its second waxing great ver 10 11 12.24 25. Vile Person ver 21. to 40. and King of the North ver 40. to end Christs Kingdom or 5. Mon. Begins as a stone in the days of the ten Roman Kings Chap. 2.34.44 Becomes a Mountain filling the earth upon Christs appearance and total dissolution of the Fourth Monarchy Chap. 2.35 Chap. 7.13 14. with 26 27. A TABLE OF The most material things handled in this Book Part I. HAndling some things of more general concernment as to the whole discourse Chapter 1. Shewing the justifiableness of the enquiry p. 1. to 9 Chap. 2. Proving That the mystical Numbers of Daniel and the Revelations do hold forth a certain definite and determinate time p. 9. to 14 Chap. 3. Clearing and confirming our General distinction That the end of the Beasts tyranny relates to one time the end of the Fourth Monarchy to another p. 14. to 21 Part II. COmputing the time of the Beast and shewing where the limited time of his tyranny ends Chap. 1. Discussing some things of more general concernment as to this particular Question Sect. I. Stating the Question and shewing the ground we are to go upon for answering it viz. The forty two Months the one thousand two hundred and sixty Days wherein these differ and why the one number reckons by months the other by days p. 21 22 Sect. II. Proving that both days and months are Prophetical p. 23 Sect. III. Shewing that the forty two Months the one thousand two hundred and sixty Days signifie one and the same time and also begin and end together p. 24 to 28 Chap. 2. Disproving the sundry false beginnings of this Epock Sect. I. That the forty two Months the one thousand two hundred and sixty Days are not to be begun with the time of Constantine the Great p. 28. to 37 Sect. II. That they are not to be begun with the year four hundred forty two p. 37 38 Sect. III. That they are not to be begun with the time when Boniface was made universal Bishop by Phocas p. 39 40 Chap. 3. Stating and confirming the true beginning Sect. I. The true beginning fixed Anno Dom. three hundred ninety six This to be the true is proved by two Reasons 1 Taken from the Harmony of mystical Numbers 2 From the eminent Apostacy about this very time p. 41 to 48 Sect. II. A third reason of our beginning taken from the devastation of the Roman Empire Two things proved 1 That our account is to begin from the time this devastation began 2 That this was in the aforesaid year p. 48 to 56 Chap. 4. Proving and confirming yet further our fore-going beginning Sect. I. A Fourth Argument of our beginning taken from the time of the rise of the Beasts Horns wherein is shewed First When the Horns began to appear Secondly That the rise of the Horns must necessarily be a little while after the rise of the Beast p. 56 to 61 Sect. II. An Objection made Daniel saw the rise of the little Horn after the rise of the ten Here by way of digression is discoursed of Daniels Little Horn and it is proved That Daniels little Horn cannot signifie Mahomet or the Turkish power p. 61. to 69 Here also occasionally Daniels King of the North and King of the South chap. 11. is discoursed of p. 69. to 77 Sect. III. Proving That by Daniels Little Horn cannot bee meant William the Conqueror taking in with him the whole Norman Race of Kings sitting on the English Throne nor Charls Stuart the last of that Race p. 77. to 83 Sect. IV. A returning to the Objection to which answer is given p. 83. to 89 Sect. V. Three Arguments more to prove our beginning 1 Taken from the great likelihood there is of the Witnesses lying dead at this day which thing the aforesaid beginning doth necessarily infer p. 89 2 Taken from the visibility of those very things at this day which the Scripture hath fore-told us shall occur within the last three days and a half of the one thousand two hundred and sixty Five things are instanced in which the Scripture hath fore-told shall happen within that time all which are visible at this day p. 90 91 92 3 Our beginning may not be fixed either higher or lower therefore must be as it is stated proved p. 92. to 98 Part III. COmputing the time of the Fourth Monarchy Chap. 1. Of Daniels two thousand three hundred days Sect. I. That the two thousand three hundred days do not belong to the time and Story of Antiochus Epiphanes where is shewed at large that Antiochus Epiphanes cannot be he of whom so much is spoken in Daniels Prophecies p. 98. to p. 120 Sect. II. Proving that the Little Horn spoken of Dan. 8. signifies the whole Body of the Roman Monarchy p. 120. to p. 127 Sect. III. Shewing that the two thousand three hundred days are not to be understood of
Chronologia Conciliorum So also in the year 326. It was endeavoured in the Councel of Nice That Bishops and Elders should refrain from their wives But Paphnutius opposed himself to the whole Councel urging that of the Apostle Mariage is honourable among all men and so far prevailed as to bring forth a decree of liberty that for chastity sake such might accompany with their wives Alsted in Chronologia testium veritatis But now though Antichrist was more early thrusting himself forth yet are we not thence to reckon his rise but from that time when the Apostacy grew eminent the Councels and Ministry being more generally corrupted which was about the aforesaid year 396. And certainly if at this time after all these things before mentioned were come forth we cannot yet see the Beast in the world but must come down lower to find him it argues that we either shut our eyes or are blind whilst we look for him The Argument then lies thus If that falling away which is foretold should be at the time of Antichrists Revelation were A.D. 396. then are we there to place the Beasts rise and accordingly thence to reckon the two and forty months and the one thousand two hundred and sixty dayes but the Antecedent is true therefore the consequent SECT 2. 3 Reason A third Reason of the foregoing Position may be taken from the following words of the Apostle vers 6 7 8. And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time For the mystery of Iniquity doth already work onely he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way And then shall that wicked be revealed Out of which words I draw this conclusion viz. That the man of sin or the Antichrist was to be revealed when that which then did withhold and let viz. the Civil power of the Roman Empire which would not admit of any Competitor or the setting up of any other power equall with it or above it should be taken away i. e removed from the seventh Head which is the last Head of the ancient Roman Beast i.e. of Rome as it was a pure Civil state and placed some where else Now before we can frame any Argument that shall have in it a concluding force here are two things to be cleared viz. 1 Whether this taking away be to be reckoned from the time that the Civil power of the Roman Empire was wholly taken off the seventh Head and fixed some where else or whether from the time when this began to be 2 In case we incline to the one or the other what time are we to pitch upon in which this was done Concerning the first We are as I conceive to account from that time when this began to be done My Reasons are 1 Because it is proper and agreeable to the phrase of taking away to say a thing is then taken away when as such a beginning is made as irresistably causeth a total removing or taking away It is said Dan. 9.2 That seventy yeers were to be accomplished in the desolations of Jerusalem These seventy yeers are to bee reckoned from the first Captivity which was in the third yeer of Jehoiakim Dan. 1.1 2. 2 Chon 36.6 7. as is clear 1 Because the Scriptures speaking of the seventy years Captivity point us to Jehoiakims reign as the time from whence we are to begin our account Jerem. 25. vers 1. compared with vers 11 12. Chap. 29. vers 1 2. compared with vers 10. 2 Because Israel was to serve the King of Babylon but seventy years Jer. 25.11 12. These Nations shall serve the King of Babylon seventy years And after seventy years are accomplished I will punish the King of Babylon Now Israels servitude to the King of Babylon beginning in the dayes of Jehoiakim in case the seventy years were not to be begun till afterwards then should they serve the King of Babylon above seventy years 3 Because Israel was to be in Babylon but the terme of seventy years Jer. 29.10 For thus saith the Lord that after seventy years be accomplished I will visit you and perform my good word towards you in causing you to return to this place But Israel for a considerable part of them were carried into Babylon in the dayes of Jehoiakim if therefore we begin the seventy years afterwards then seeing that untill the seventy years were expired they came not out of Babylon their being in Babylon should be upwards of seventy yeers therefore I say that the seventy yeers of Jerusalems desolations are to reckoned from the first Captivity yet observe their desolations then were onely begun not perfected till nineteen years after in the eleventh of Zedekiah when City and Temple were destroyed 2 Chron. 36.19 yet notwithstanding doth the Holy Ghost reckon their desolations and captivity from the time the same was begun though the compleating of it was not till some yeers after So Dan. 7.26 It s said concerning the little Horn the judgement shall sit and they shall take away his Dominion And when is this taking away Ans When the Ancient of dayes begins to sit and the Thrones of the Beast begin to be cast down though yet the final destruction of this little Hâ—rn is not till afterwards vers 11. And observe if the ruine of the Roman Empire in its second state under Antichrist be to be reckoned from the time when this begins why not in its first likewise In Scripture Phrase therefore a thing is said to be taken away when the desolating and removing time is come and the work begun though yet the compleating of it be not till some time after 2 Because the Beast did not take up and exercise all the Civil power of the Roman Empire together or at once but did by little and little ingrosse the same into his own hands as the same by degrees fell off the seventh Head And if so then of necessity must the Beast who pills the seventh Head and robs him of his power have a being before as yet the seventh Head had lost all his power or was totally destroyed 3 Because if we begin not till this work was compleated then of necessity must we extend the forty months the one thousand two-hundred and sixty dayes beyond Daniels two thousand three hundred and his one thousand three hundred thirty five both which expire A.D. 1701. but so will not the one thousand two hundred and sixty dayes if we find not a beginning for them till the compleat devastation of the ancient Roman Empire To say some middle beginning may be found must be grounded upon some such substantial reason as may enervate the force of ours and withall be so carried on as that the admirable Harmony betwixt Daniels numbers and Johns may be preserved The conclusion therefore is That we are not to reckon this taking away from the time that the Civil power of the Roman Empire was fully removed from the seventh Head but rather from
of that Image is first represented as a pure Civil State by the leggs of Iron breaking in peeces and subduing all things vers 40. as a mixt State by the feet and toes of the Image which are part of Iron part of Potters clay ver 41. In the second Vision of the fourth Beast the Roman Monarchy signified by the fourth Beast is represented in two States 1 As a Civil State and so it is a Beast dreadfull terrible strong exceedingly having great Iron teeth devouring and breaking in peeces vers 7.2 As a mixt State and so a raging blasphemous little Horn ver 8.21.25 In the third chap 8. the Roman Monarchy represented by the little Horn vers 9. hath two States 1 A Civil State and so it is a little Horn waxing great in a way of conquest subduing Nations to it self vers 9. 2 A mixt State and so it is a little Horn waxing great in a way of opposition to the truths people and worship of God ver 10 11 12.24 25. In the fourth and last Prophecy the Roman Monarchy hath two States 1 A Civil State and so it is that terrible potent King of the North chap. 11. vers 14. to 21. 2 A mixt State and so it is that vile Person vers 21. whose description and acts are continued to ver 40. This I take to be and I doubt not but he who thorowly weighs each Prophecy will yea must in this be of my minde the true state of the Roman Monarchy as the same is set forth in all the Prophecies of Daniel Hence fourthly It follows upon the former That the little Horn chap 7. signifying the mixt State of the Roman Monarchy and the mixt State of the Roman Monarchy being also the thing signified chap. 2. by the feet and toes of the great Image chap. 8. by the little Horn there mentioned in his second waxing great chap. 11. by the vile Person Hence I say it follows That the feet and toes of the great Image chap. 2. the little Horn ch 7. the little Horn in its second waxing great chap. 8. and the vile person cha 11. are all one and the same thing What therefore is affirmed of the little Horn chap. 7. must bee of all the rest This premised I come now to the opinions themselves The first opinion is that which interprets this little Horn of Mahomet at least-wise as to the special accommodation The rage of this little Horn against the Saints to be specially meant of the Turks Tyranny over and oppression of the Jews But this opinion cannot I receive because it seems to me to be inconsistent with all the four foregoing Prophesies 1 for the Prophesie of the great Image its inconsistent with that for the feet of the great Image the same with the little Horn are to be understood of such a power as First is made up of a mixture and that of things contrary as iron and clay Secondly it is such a power as consists of ten parts which ten parts are represented by the ten Toes vers 42. Now neither of these Characters either do or will agree to the Empire of the Great Turk but both are punctually fulfilled in the Kingdome of Antichrist which first is made up of a Civil and Ecclesiastical power moulded together secondly consists of ten Horns i.e. so many Kingdomes Rev. 17.12.16 2 For the Prophesie Chap. 8. The proud He there spoken of who is the same with this little Horn is said to cast down some of the host of heaven and of the stars to the ground and to stamp upon them vers 10. to take away the daily sacrifice throw down the place of his Sanctuary cast down the truth to the ground vers 11.12 Yea he is also said to understand dark sentences vers 23. to be mighty but not by his own power to destroy wonderfully to destroy the mighty and holy people vers 24. None of these Characters which are all the Characters of the little Horn either will or can agree to any act of the Turk put forth towards the Jews for 1 The Jews in the state they are in and have been in these many years cannot be called The Host of Heaven i. e. The true worshippers of God as the phrase signifies Neither secondly can the casting down and trampling the Jews be called A casting down of stars and trampling upon them The Officers of the Christian Churches are called Stars Rev. 1.20 The seven Stars are the Angels of the seven Churches but where in any Prophesie relating to the Church of the New Testament from the day the Jews were broken off till this day are the Jewish Doctors and Rabbins called Stars Neither thirdly can the Turks sitting over the material Temple viz. the place of it at Jerusalem be in a true sense called the taking away of the daily sacrifice and a throwing down the place of his Sanctuary If it be said by sitting there he hinders men from embracing the Messiah so he doth by sitting in Constantinople and therefore his sitting there may as properly in that sense though Jerusalem were not under his power be called a taking away of the dayly sacrifice and casting down the place of Gods Sanctuary Neither fourthly can his opposing the Mosaical worship be termed a casting down the truth to the ground seeing God hath cast down that already and owns it for his truth no longer Neither fifthly will it agree to Mahomet to entitle him a King understanding dark sentences whose birth and education was poor and mean and so far was he from learning and high speculations which Antichrist not onely pretends to but is also furnished with as that indeed he had nothing lesse Neither sixthly doth it agree to the Turk to term him mighty but not by his own power seeing his might lies in no other power but his own but it is an excellent description of the Romish Antichrist who whilst he would make the world beleeve that he is Christs Vicar and a spiritual creature doth yet lift up and exercise and becomes mighty thereby a Civil sword which indeed he hath nothing to do with Neither seventhly can it be said of the Turk that he hath destroyed wonderfully i.e. more then any before him and this wonderful destruction to be a destruction of the mighty and holy people seeing it is a thing rare with the Turk upon a meer account of Religion what to increase his Empire he hath done is but what others have done to destroy men But now what the Romish Antichrist in this kind hath done is notoriously known If it be said he hath destroyed by the poyson of his Religion more then ever any before him It s answered but not the holy people the holy people are kept by God and therefore safe from the inchantments of Satan To understand it of the Jews will neither agree to them either in the state they were in when Daniel saw this Vision nor the state they are in at present Not
Roman Monarchy 1 As a Civil state onely in which state it subdues Nations to it self and particularly the Land of Canaan it waxed exceeding great towards the South and towards the East and towards the pleasant land 2 As a Mixt state or a Civil and Ecclesiastical state both in which period the great thing it doth is to make war with the Saints and tread underfoot the Holy City vers 10. And it waxed great even to the host of Heaven and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground and stamped upon them To this twofold waxing great doth most excellently agree that double title given afterwards to this fourth King vers 23. 1 A King of fierce countenance such is the fourth Kingdome Dan. 2.40 and the fourth Beast Dan. 7.7 2 Understanding dark sentences such is the Roman Monarchy at least pretending to abundance of wisdome learning and high speculations in its second state under Antichrist This twofold waxing great and this double title will agree to no opinion neither to that of Antiochus nor that of Mahomet nor that of the Romish Antichrist nor that of Charles Stuart or the Norman Race in general as it doth to this I conclude therefore that the little Horn here mentioned is the whole body of the fourth Monarchy and not the same in its second state only Now the Roman Monarchy is here called the little Horn the name before given to Antichrist Chap. 7. for one or both these Reasons 1 Because there is a likelihood in their rise The Roman Monarchy as I have said when it first began to creep up was but little and therefore Daniel Chap. 7.7 beholds the fourth Beast creeping up in the night visions i.e. this Beast was obscure and in a manner unseen at first none dreamed he would grow so terrible a Beast such was Antichrist and for this reason called the little Horn Chap. 7. Or 2 Because Antichrist in the last dayes was to weild the Scepter in this Monarchy and the sequel of the Prophesie was to go on chiefly upon him And hence observe we have in the Vision and explication both onely a word as it were to bring on the other of the Civil state of the fourth Monarchy the main of the Prophesie looking to its Antichristian state Now as this is I suppose the very cause and ground of their mistake who interpret all this of Antichrists Kingdome onely so may it be the reason why the name proper to Antichrist should here be given to the whole Monarchy because his Kingdome being a part of that Monarchy was the thing chiefly in the following Discourse to be insisted on What I have said confirms our former opinion that this Prophesie belongs not to Antiochus Epiphanes but another thing and consequently the two thousand and three hundred dayes are not to be understood of Natural dayes but Prophetical SECT 3. Having already proved that the two thousand three hundred dayes cannot be natural dayes but must be Prophetical In the next place a Question will arise whether by the two thousand three hundred dayes we are to understand so many dayes or years compleat A very worthy and learned Author reading according to the Hebrew two thousand and three hundred mornings and evenings which make but half so many compleat dayes will have but half so many dayes at most viz. one thousand one hundred and fifty to he here accounted upon But to this opinion I must give my dissent 1 Because this way of computing by morning and evening a part is no where else found in all the Prophets 2 Because its the ordinary Scripture-phrase to put morning and evening for one day Gen. 1.5 the evening and the morning were the first day vers 8. the evening and the morning were the second day vers 13.19.23.31 And therefore it s more consonant to Scripture-phrase to conceive that the Holy Ghost by two thousand and three hundred mornings and evenings doth intend so many compleat dayes then that he should mean onely so many mornings and evenings which make but half the number of dayes 3 Because by this Computation the very Prophesie it self becomes useless to us who cannot from it make up any account For untill some Head is found out where we are to begin there can be no supputation of years Now I ask if the two thousand and three hundred years are to be understood of but half so many years viz. one thousand one hundred and fifty Where are we to begin them If we begin from the time Daniel had his Vision how will one thousand one hundred and fifty years bring us thence to the time of the end when as two thousand and two hundred years and upwards are passed already since that time and yet the end is not If we shall begin lower as we must by above a thousand years let the head of our account be shewed in the Text. Daniel in all his other mystical Numbers hath still some clear head of account laid down His seventy weeks have for their Head the going forth of the Commandement to restore and build Jerusalem Dan. 9.25 His one thousand two hundred and ninety and his one thousand three hundred thirty and five have for their Head the taking away of the daily sacrifice and setting up of the abomination that maketh desolate Dan. 12.11 12. Now let a Head of account be shewed in the Text for this If it be said It is implied though not expressed vers 13. to be the taking away of the daily sacrifice trampling the Sanctuary and Host underfoot Ans If this be the Head of account then must the Head of this account and the Head of the one thousand three hundred thirty and five dayes Chap. 12. be one and the same for that is the taking away of the daily sacrifice And if so then let a sufficient reason be given to reconcile these places why the account there which begins with this should have one hundred eighty and five dayes or years more in it then this here for who reckons shall find the one thousand three hundred thirty five to have in it so many years more then one thousand one hundred and fifty especially considering too that the one thousand two hundred and thirty dayes and the one thousand three hundred thirty five dayes do both end in the full restauration of the Church and through-cleansing of the Sanctuary as is clear from the scope of either Prophesie If it be said some other taking away of the daily sacrifice is here to be sought for as Head to this Number then that which was in Julians dayes Ans Grant it yet must the time when this was done be so stated as that the one thousand one hundred and fifty years may concur in their end with the one thousand three hundred thirty and five years For the Prophesie Chap. 8. and that Chap. 12. bring us both to one and the same point viz. the last most full and glorious restitution
among the first ten horns or the ten horns of the Monarchy as in its first state with this time and among the horns thus broken should the little Horn creep up i.e. from thence should the translation of the Monarchy be or from thence should Antichrists Kingdom begin so that indeed these words are so farre from weakning what we have asserted that they are a strong confirmation of our beginning that wee have stated it aright in stating the rise of the Beast Antichrist to be with the time of the invasion of the Goths and Vandals Thus notwithstanding the Objection our Argument stands firm viz. That the rise of the Antichristian Beast is a little before the rise of his Horns and therefore his Horns rising suddenly after the beginning of the one thousand two hundred and sixty days the forty two months the rise of the Beast himself is stated rightly with the year three hundred ninety six SECT 5. To the Arguments already laid down I shall adde an Argument or two more Arg. 1. The aforesaid ending of the one thousand two hundred and sixty days agrees most fitly to the time of killing the Witnesses The time of the Witnesses killing which is to be reckoned the last three days a half of the one thousand two hundred and sixty as see Generation Work Part 3. Chap. 1. Sect. 4. falls under the third Vial and a little before the first stirring of the Jews as is also there proved Sect. 5. in the first and third conclusions now as the third Vial is the Vial wee at present stand under as my discourse upon that Vial manifests so the first stirring of the Iews fals to be in the year one thousand six hundred fifty six as is proved Key Thesi 20 therefore it agrees well to the one and the other to end the one thousand two hundred and sixty days with the year one thousand six hundred fifty six Arg. 2. Taken from the visibility of those very things at this day which the Scripture hath fore-told us shall occur within the last three days and a half of the one thousand two hundred and sixty To give some instances First The Scripture fore-tels that within this time the Witnesses shall lie dead Their death shall be civil and Spiritual Civil in being stripped of Religion and Liberty Spiritual in subjecting themselves through a spirit of cowardize upon them to this Tyranny of the Beast rather then to run the hazard of life in opposing him The place of their lying dead shall be Germany the one to be their death the other the place I have proved Generation Work Part 3. Chap. 1. Sect. 7 8. whether considering the thing time and place have we not more then a little ground to conjecture that the present day is the day of the Witnesses killing and if so then considering that this time is the last three days and a half of the one thousand two hundred and sixty doth it not speak that the year we have stated as the end of the one thousand two hundred and sixty is the right viz. Anno Dom. one thousand six hundred fifty six Secondly The Scripture fore-tels That within the last three days and a half of the one thousand two hundred and sixty A war shall bee attempted First by the invisible Dragon then by the visible of which read Generation Work Part 3. Chap. 2. Sect. last against a remnant of the Womans Seed that shall stand up for Christ in the World within the day that their Brethren the Witnesses lie dead which shal be known by these two Characters 1. They shall walk in Gospel institutions 2. Have amongst them a Spirit of Prophecy Now whether the beginnings of the first War and probabilities of the second be not at this day more visible upon a people having the aforesaid Characters then ever heretofore I propound as a Quaere Thirdly The Scripture fore-tels that there shall be within this time a people in the World that shall favour the Witnesses and withall be so potent as to awe the Beast of whom mention is made Generat Work Part 3. Chap. 1. Sect. 9. Who yet setling themselves upon a worldly interest as their highest ayme shall neither openly declare for the Witnesses Cause nor against the Beast These are called They of the People and Nations and Kindreds and Tongues Revel 11.9 which cannot be interpreted the Popish party though Rev. 17.15 they are so described because in this place they are distinguished from the Popish party which in the following verse are set forth by another name viz. The dwellers on the earth Whether or no such a people be not now to be found I also put the question Fourthly The Scripture fore-tels That within this time there shall be a great League and combination of Nations the Beast now gathering together his Powers to defend himself the time being come that his Dominion is to be taken away as the Fourth Monarchy afterwards at the end of the one thousand three hundred thirty five dayes when it is to go to ruine gathers together all its power to that dreadful Battle of Armageddon to uphold it self Whether a Work like this be not now on foot likewise I propound as another Quaere Fifthly The Scripture fore-tels That within this time there shall be in the World a wonderfull triumph over the dead and suppressed Witnesses as supposing they and their Cause likewise to be now dead and sunk for ever Revel 11.10 Chap. 18.7 Whether doth the present time afford nothing that hath a look like this If all these things bee found true at this day have they not in them the weight of an Argument to prove That wee are upon the very ending time of the one thousand two hundred and sixty days Arg. 3. The forty two months the one thousand two hundred and sixty days may not be begun either higher of lower therefore they must bee begun with the aforesaid year That they may not bee begun any time higher is clear because from such beginnings the time is expired but this cannot be because the Witnesses to this very day my opinion is throughout all Europe but all must confesse in most places as Germany France c. do yet wear their Sackcloth the Woman as to this day abides in the Wilderness the Beast as to this day I really think in all the ten Horns but as to the greater part of them it is undeniable doth yet continue to rage against the Saints by persecuting them under the Notion of Hereticks or Schismaticks or Enemies to Civil Government because they cannot but declare That the day is come in which God will destroy as well his Monarchical Power as his Spiritual and Ecclesiastical to tread under foot the holy City by establishing Powers not of Christ but his own creating to bee Lords over Gods heritage to blaspheme God by blaspheming as did the wicked Pharisees those very Works and Truths of God counting them Erroneous Diabolical which
shall here oppose and that by laying down my own opinion which is That the little Horn Chap. 8. is not Antichrists Kingdome only but the whole body of the fourth or Roman Monarchy which is clear 1 Because in each of Daniels other Prophesies we have the Roman Monarchy set forth in its twofold estate 1 In its pure Civil state 2 In its mixt Antichristian state as I have before proved Part. 2. Chap. 4. Sect. 2. But if the little Horn in this Chapter signifie Antichrists Kingdome only then in this Prophesie we have the Roman Monarchy described only in its second state and so this Prophesie is made to differ from the other three Yea by consequence many hundred years 2 Because the rise of this little Horn in the latter time of the Grecian Monarchy should here be leaped over which is not in any of the other Prophesies vers 23. And in the latter time of their Kingdome a King of fierce countenance shall stand up What Kingdome is this Answ The Kingdome of the Greeks spoken of vers 22. which after Alexanders death was broken and divided into four Kingdomes This no wayes agrees to Antichrist whose rise was not till many hundred years after the dissolution of the third or Grecian Monarchy but it punctually agrees to the Roman Monarchy which had its rise according to the very words in the latter time of the divided Grecian Monarchy 3 Because the rise of this little Horn is out of one of the four Horns of the Grecian Monarchy vers 9. And out of one of them i. e. of the four Horns vers 8. came forth a little Horn. This cannot be applied to Antichrist who rose out of the Roman Monarchy not the Grecian But it agrees well to the Roman Monarchy which consider it as it was a Monarchy in the account of the Holy Ghost here in Daniel for by the way observe this Rule That the Holy Ghost accounts none of the Kingdomes succeeding one another to be Monarchies till they had swallowed up the whole or some considerable part of the foregoing Monarchy therefore though Cyrus before the taking of Babylon had obtained great Conquests yet his Monarchy in Daniels sense begins thence Alexander likewise had done great exploits before he encountred Darius yet his Monarchy begins from his overthrow of him In like manner we are to reckon the beginning of the Roman Monarchy from that time when it first began to bring under the Grecian Monarchy which was when it did subdue to it self the Kingdome of Macedon one of the four Horns into which the Grecian Kingdome after Alexanders death was divided when the Macedonian Kingdome which formerly had been the Seat of the third Monarchy was turned into a Roman Province then began the Roman Monarchy from which time the same did daily increase till in the end by degrees one after another it swallowed up the other Horns also Now observe the Roman Monarchy may well be said to rise out of one of the four Horns of the Grecian Monarchy in regard that that Kingdome which in the account of the Holy Ghost before was no Monarchy by swallowing up the kingdome of Macedon the Seat of the former Monarchy now takes place of it and becomes a Monarchy and therefore many make observation of that remarkable Ecclipse of the Moon which was total and happened the night before that fatal overthrow of Persius by Aemylius the Roman Consul through which the Macedonian kingdome was lost as a Prognostication of this wonderful change 4 Because this Horn in its first rise was a little Horn which fitly agrees to the Roman Monarchy consider it either first as it became a Monarchy as I said even now by subduing to it self the Kingdome of Macedon which though it had been the ancient Seat of the third Monarchy yet comparatively with some other of the four Horns in the Greek Empire viz. the Kingdomes of Egypt and Syria which were more potent then that of Macedon it was but a little Horn. Or secondly if we consider the manner of the Romans growth as they were a Monarchy which was different from the growth of all the former Monarchies For the former Monarchies had their perfection in a manner the first day they became Monarchies but the Roman Monarchy is a Monarchy whilst yet it is little and more imperfect and afterwards by a gradual growth through continuance of time it attains perfection Cyrus swallows up the Babylonian Monarchy Alexander the Medes and Persians as it were at a mouthfull and in so doing these Monarchies are at the top arrive to their perfect stature the first day of their birth But the Roman Monarchy otherwise it comes creeping on as 't were unseen and by little and little encroacheth upon the Grecian Monarchy till in the end it hath devoured all First it swallows up the little Kingdome of Macedon by this it becomes a Monarchy then about a hundred yeers after it swallows up the Kingdome of Syria and makes a Province of that then sometime after the Kingdome of Egypt then Palestina and the Countries adjacent making them Provinces and so by degrees it swallows up the whole Grecian Monarchy so that indeed we may say the Roman Monarchy comparatively with what it grew to through continuance of time was in its first birth but an Infant and therefore is well called a little Horn. This gradual growth of the Roman Monarchy take it in its first or second state for herein one answers to the other the growth of both is gradual is livelily set forth by the terme Waxing it waxed great towards the South c and it waxed great even to the host of Heaven vers 10. which word notes a gradual increase whereas the growth of the other Monarchies was as I have said sudden Furthermore whereas this waxing great of this little Horn in its first state is said to be TOWARDS the South and TOWARDS the East and TOWARDS the pleasant Land it excellently sets forth the exploits of the Romans after they had subdued the Macedonian Kingdome For hereupon they assault the Kingdomes of Syria and Egypt whereof one lay towards the East of Macedon or if you will rather of Rome or Italy the other the South and withall they invade Palestina the Land of Canaan which is here called the pleasant Land So that in a word a more accurate description of the first rise and growth of the Roman Monarchy according to what Histories record hereof cannot be given then is here in this Vision of Daniel laid down in but a Line or two 5 Because this Horn though little in its first rise yet doth it in time wax exceeding great vers 9. greater then any of the Kingdomes that had been before it exceeding them all which agrees not to Antichrists Kingdome but exactly to what we have of the fourth Monarchy Dan. 2.40 Chap. 7.7 6 Because the twofold waxing great of this little Horn excellently sets forth the twofold state of the
imaginations and in case these general Characters which are deducible only from the letter are once found it will be then a thing more easie to give a right sense of particular Phrases and to determine concerning them in which we are to cleave to the literal in which to seek a Spiritual interpretation For an example I shall pitch upon Daniels little Horn which as it is one of the most famous Prophecies in all the Scripture so is there not any one I mean that is so considerable that hath fallen under more mis-interpretations then it which mistakes are multiplied daily through that earnest inquiry that by the Saints of this Generation is made after the minde of Daniel and though it may be thought enough as to it hath been already said in the precedent Discourse yet because some through weaknesse cannot others byassed with some particular affection to this or the other opinion will not apply those things as they ought to be applied I thought it not unmeet to take up this Prophecy here again and make it the example of my Rule Now the sure and certain Characters of this little Horn which are deducible from the letter of the text and which all put together cannot be made agree to any opinion but only that which is the truth are such as these 1 CHARACTER The Kingdom of the little Horn must be in the latter days the reason is because the extreme and utmost part of Nebuchadnezzars great Image viz. the feet and toes Dan. 2.41 42 43. are the same with the little Horn Chap. 7. This needs no proving because it is universally granted whatsoever interpretation is by any put upon the little Horn carries along with it this concession That the little Horns Kingdom cha 7. and the feet and toes of Nebuchadnezzars Image chap. 2. are the same at leastwise in respect of time Now the feet and toes of Nebuchadnezzars Image falls within the later days the reason is because the Image it self brings us down to the latter days vers 28. which cannot be in case the feet and toes which are the extreme and utmost part thereof were not to be extended as farre as the latter days To whose Kingdom this phrase is most properly appliable the Apostles use of the same phrase 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. doth clearly teach us 2 CHARACTER This Kingdom of the little Horn must necessarily appertain to the Roman Monarchy That it cannot belong to the Graetian is clear because the Graecian Monarchy whether we consider it as united under Alexander or as in its fourfold division afterwards is comprehended under the third Beast Dan. 7.6 but now the Kingdom of the little Horn belongs not to the third Beast for the Little Horn ariseth among the ten Horns of the fourth vers 8. That it cannot be any power distinct from and succeeding the Roman Monarchy is also clear 1 Because no place in Daniel or elsewhere doth so much as once countenance any such opinion as this viz. That there should be any worldly Government succeeding the Roman Monarchy Nay let me say the Scripture is clear against such a Notion for it is manifest Dan. 7.12 13 14. Revel 19.11 12. compared with vers 19 20. That the destruction of the Beast i.e. the Roman Monarchy as under Antichrist is upon the appearance of Christ if so where shall we then finde room for the Government of the little Horn to succeed the Roman Monarchy 2 Because the Beast is slain his body destroyed and given to the burning flame and that for the blasphemies of the little Horn Dan. 7.11 This Beast I say can be no other but the fourth and last Beast vers 7. which Beast is the Roman Monarchy Hence I gather two things 1 That the government of the little Horn cannot be a Government distinct from the Roman Monarchy a thing the Roman Monarchy hath nothing to do with for then why is the Roman Monarchy punished for the blasphemies of the little Horn 2 That the Government of the little Horn cannot be a government succeeding the Roman Monarchy for it is most clear from the words That the fourth Beasts Kingdom is in being and that at the time the little Horn blasphemes Now it would be improper to say That the little Horns Government succeeds the Fourth Monarchy and yet that Monarchy still in being even in the time of the little Horns Dominion 3 Because if the little Horns Kingdom or Government succeed the Roman Monarchy then have we in Daniel five Monarchies preceding the Kingdom of Christ and his Saints viz. 1 The Monarchy of the Babylonians 2 Of the Medes and Persians 3 Of the Graecians 4 Of the Romans 5 The Monarchy or Government of the little Horn. If so then must not Christs Kingdom hee called the Fifth Monarchy but the Sixth If therefore the little Horn can neither belong to the Graecian Monarchy nor succeed the Roman then must the same of necessity appertain to the Roman Monarchy 3 CHARACTER The Little Horn must be a power equivalent to the whole body of the Fourth Monarchy This is clear Dan. 2. which Prophecy considers the Fourth Kingdom 1 As an Iron Kingdom vers 40. 2 As a Kingdom of Iron and Clay vers 41 42 43. yet both but one Kingdom and therefore that which is called the Fourth Kingdom vers 40. is called the Kingdom vers 41 42. shewing us That the Holy Ghost was still speaking of one and the same Kingdom for otherwise he would for distinction sake have called the feet of Iron and Clay another Kingdom but calling it the Kingdom it hath a manifest reference to that Kingdom he had mentioned last viz. the Fourth which Kingdom is called an Iron Kingdom to set forth the state before Antichrist came in a Kingdom of Iron and Clay to set forth the state afterwards They that would see more reason hereof may consult with our fore-going Discourse 4 CHARACTER The little Horn signifies such a power as consists of ten parts which ten parts are so many Kings not succeeding in one and the same Kingdom but reigning in a Kingdom divided into ten parts This appears Dan. 2.41 42 43 44. for the Power here mentioned which is the same with the little Horn Chap. 7. consists of ten toes vers 42. which toes are called Kings vers 44. In the days of these Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom which words cannot have relation to all the Four Monarchies for the God of Heaven set up no Kingdom no not in a Spiritual sense in the time of any of the Four but the last only why should it then be said these Kings in the plural number if not to give us to understand 1 That the ten toes here spoken of are to be understood of so many Kings 2 That the Kingdom of the Stone should begin and that before the Roman Monarchy as consisting of ten Kingdoms should be ruined for it is the Kingdom of the Stone that smites the feet and