flee p. 105 The signification of the one thousand six hundred furlongs ib. The Conclusion of all Generation-work OR ANEXPOSITION Of the Prophecies of the Two Witnesses From the 11 12 and 14 Chapters of the Revelations Shewing yet farther what the designs of God abroad in the world may in all likelihood be at this present day and in the dayes near approaching To which is added A Key to unlock the Mystical Numbers of Daniel and the Revelations tending to resolve this Great Question How long shall it be to the end of Wonders The Third and last Part. By John Tillinghast Minister of the Gospel Isa 26.20 Come my people enter thou into thy Chambers and shut thy doors about thee hide thy self as it were for a little moment until the indignation be over-past 21. For behold the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the Inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity the earth also shall disclose her blood and shall no more cover her slain LONDON Printed for Livewell Chapman at the Crown in Popeâ—-head-Alley 1655. To his Highness the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland MY LORD IT is an Apocryphal saying but yet a true one Truth is greatest of all those who have others in Subjection unto them are themselves to become Subject to it We yeeld up our outward man to men and they can command no more but Truth commands our inwards This glorious Truth dwels not in the wisdom of the wise nor in the godliness of the godly nor in any creature-impulsions though ever so forcâ—ble which have no rule but their own but in the blessed word alone where truth hath pitched its Tabernacle and the way to be acquainted with it is through the help of the Spirit of Truth unsealing the Book opening our understandings to understand the Scriptures The knowledge of this Truth The great Revealer of secrets hath thought good to impart to his people not all at once but by degrees and so the several ages of the Church have had their several manifestations of truth a peece of truth coming forth in one age a peece more in the age following a peece more in the age following that God thus by degrees enlightning his people as they are able to bear it who should the Sun rise upon them all at once would be dazled not enlightned As the workings of the mystery of iniquity on the one hand or Gods dispensations of providence on the other have risen higher in any age so have also Gods dispensations of truth to the end his in every age might from principles of truth be led up to renounce the one and own and imbrace the other Hence those things which later ages look upon as low and poor things not worth contending for were great things in former ages because the Truths of that age And contrariwise those things which former ages could not have born with had they been revealed may be the necessary discoveries of ages since because the Truths of these times Hence likewise it is a marifest with holding the truth in unrighteousness and a declaration to the world of a compliance with Antichrist to confine either by penal Laws threats or practices the people of God in this age to the Truth or Truths of the former age Yea those that love the Truth ought not to suffer themselves fâ—r love or fear of men in this case to be confined Had the people of God in the age before us contented themselves to have preached the precious truths of Christs Priestly Office and out of obedience to the Wills and Commands of the then Ruling Powers surceased any farther enquiry how had the blessed Truths of Christ as King in his Churches been discovered If Christ hath yet farther and higher Truths to make known and the dispensers of truth shall suffer Bonds to be laid upon them how shall the will of God at this day in the revelation of truth be performed The wisdom of a Christian man who would serve God in his Generation is to enquire into the particular Truth of the age he lives in for it is a thing much more acceptable to a Friend when he haâ—h some great design in hand to serve him in that than to serve him in another thing but he that neither knows his friends mind nor his design cannot serve him in it The Truth of the age although the matter of it is to be looked for in the Word and no new thing contrary thereunto to be admitted the word without any additions being compleat in all knowledge able to make the man of God perfect throughly furnished unto all good works and if there appear to us to be a defect in this thing or that the defect is in our understandings not in the word yet in regard the word hath no where told us that the revelation of this truth belongs to this age the revelation of that to that We are therefore by some other Rules to make up a judgement which amongst the manifold truths of the word is the Truth of the age we live in Now among many I could name those which I judge the safest are 1 An observation of the time and a comparing therewith the Prophecies relating to that time 2 The dispensations of the age Gods truth and his workings going together 3 The general opposition that is made by men of the world carnal Professors yea Saints themselves so far as they have espoused a sinful or worldly interest against this or that truth for it is a thing of universal observation that the most opposed truth in any age hath ever been the truth of that age Neglect of looking into this Truth of the Generation is that fatal Rock upon which many worthy Instruments in all ages have split themselves and should search be made after instances of this kind the names of not a few might be produced who did run well at first and were lights and helps to others yet after all have concluded like the bright Sun setting in a cloud That the great truth of Christs Kingdom over the world judging the Beast c. is the truth of this Generation is so manifestly clear the former Rules with others of a like nature being seriously considered as that it would be but an adding light to the Sun here to give demonstration of it It being so I shall take the boldness craving leave a while not to know your power or greatness nor any private or personal engagements which yet I remember with thankfulness having begged it of the Lord and it is still my request that neither fear nor favor might make me unfaithful in the dispensation of truth according to my talent to be plain with your Highness not in mine own behalf nor in the behalf of any party at this day in England whom to gratifie in a case of this nature is a thing my soul desires to abhor for he that pleaseth men cannot be the servant of Christ but in the
them and also to the Great Turk to encourage and heart him on to engage with them in a quarrel that is his as well as theirs together with all others of whom they have either hope that they will or may be drawn to joyn with them that by one general Randezvouze of all their force together they may venture the whole sink or swim upon the event of one battel Which battel is here called for the remarkableness of it both in regard of the multitude of enemies and the glorious appearance of Christ with his Saints who will fight this battel for them in such a way as never before the battel of that great day of God Almighty which is I conceive the same battel with what is spoken Psal 110. Isa 63.1 to 7 chap. 6.15 to the end Ezek. 38.39 Dan. 12.1 Joel 3. Zech. 14.1 2 3 4 5. Mal. 4.1 2 3. Of which terrible yet glorious day to mention all that in the foregoing Texts and elsewhere is recorded of it would call for a Treatise of it self and therefore I think it meet rather to leave the same to the sober and pious meditations of the Reader than here to add any thing further upon so large a Subject Concerning the Agents and Ambassadors of the Dragon Beast and false Prophet who are said to be three though possibly they may be multitudes because a threefold number denotes perfection and said to come out of the mouth of the Dragon and out of the mouth of the Beast and out of the mouth of the false Prophet not as if one came out of the mouth of the one another out of the mouth of the other and another out of the mouth of the third but because their sending is by the common consent of the aforesaid three parties who or what they shall be I look upon it as a part of curiosity to enquire any further into then what is here by the Holy Ghost determined of them 1 That they shall be Spirits viz. for their subtilty nimbleness and activity 2 Unclean Spirits for the filthiness and impurity of their principles and conversation 3 Like Frogs for their bold impudency and continual croaking in the ears of those they are sent to giving them no rest till they have drawn them forth to battel withall creeping into every hole and corner of the world to carry on their design 4 Spirits of Devils for their dissembling lying and cunning craft in deceiving above all that ever were imployed before them 5 Working Miracles and that as it were in way of imitation of the great and wonderful things God either hath done or is then doing for his people by this not onely to gain credit to their Ambassage making the Kings of the Earth the more ready to receive it but also to blind the eyes of those they are sent unto and harden their hearts against the apparent works of God at this day when they shall see things somewhat like to what God is doing in the world done by these as the Magicians of Egypt did blind Pharoah's eyes harden his heart by doing like things before him by Diabolical art as Moses did by the finger of God And here I cannot but in the way take notice of that which is the spiritual Engine of the old Serpent and one of his most politick Stratagems and Devises to blind others to the truths and dispensations of God in the world making them very odious and to be loathed of many which is when he perceiveth that God hath any great Truth to make known or any great Design to drive on in the World which he cannot hinder he will now become an Angel of light and be of the foremost by setting his own instruments about it either in discovering this truth or putting forward this design that so from a just cause of suspition being laid a prejudice being begotten in peoples hearts against these things the things though discovered ever so clearly might find no acceptation but rather a general dislike from those that should receive them as at the time of Christs coming he raised up false Christs as a blind that the true might not be received At the first preaching of the Gospel by the Apostles he vaised up false Apostles that the true might not be beleeved which is a thing hath been worthily observed by a godly man of late and I here mention it onely by way of remembrance that none of us may be taken in this crafty and hidden snare Thus much of the first thing preparative to the pouring forth of the seventh VIAL 2 The Personal coming and appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ Verse 15. BEhold I come as a Theef That Christ shall personally appear before the last and General Judgement is a thing that seems to me to have much footing both throughout the Old and New-Testament without granting of which I my self cannot as yet possibly others may reconcile one Scripture with another And truly to take notice of this Opinion here I am necessarily put upon it unless I should either wholly pass over these words or be false to my own perswasions and that which as yet I cannot think otherwise is the main thing intended by the Holy Ghost in them Though yet as the Argument it self in this place doth more concern the time of his coming viz. that his coming shall be betwixt the sixt and seventh Vials than the coming it selfe So that I may keep to the Argument I must here let go several Reasons I might make use of to prove this personal coming and confine my self to such onely as will clear up this viz. That the time of his personal coming is here spoken of to be between the sixt and seventh Vials Now that Christs Personal coming and not a coming by his Power and Spirit onely is the thing here intended which will fall out in this Interval or space of time betwixt these two Vials though yet at the end of it so as that it may indifferently be referred either to the conclusion of this time or the beginning of the seventh Vial is clear to me for these Reasons 1 ARGUMENT Christ shall personally appear at the time in which the remarkable battel of Armageddon shall be fought But that shall be about this time That the battel of Armageddon shall be about this time is clear in the words That Christ shall then appear I prove Isa 66.16 For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh and the slain of the Lord shall be many That this is the same with the battel of Armageddon hinted in the Text and more fully described Rev. 19. vers 17. to the end of the Chapter appears 1 Because the battel of Armageddon shall bee about the time of the Jews coming in This our Discourse at large under the sixth Vial proves So shall this For vers 7.8 we have their conversion spoken of Before shee travelled shee brought forth before her pain came shee was
of Christ at Northwalsham in Norfolk walking in fellowship with the Churches of Christ in this Country sendeth Greeting Dearly beloved in the Lord AS the Lord the mighty God hath done great things and unsearchable marvelous things without number for his great Name and peoples sake within the space of a few years so certainly there shall not be an end of Wonders until his peoples full Redemption be accomplished And although the wicked of the earth regard not the works of the Lord neither consider what he hath already done or shall do hereafter yet they are observed and diligently sought out of the Saints that have pleasure therein And they shall speak of the might of his terrible Acts and shall declare his greatness they shall abundantly utter the memory of his goodness and sing of his righteousness they shall speak of the glory of his Kingdom and talk of his Power and make known to the sons of men his mighty Acts and the glorious Majesty of his Kingdom When we consider what a company of poor weak and unprofitable creatures we are having such dead dark and unsuitable hearts and spirits to the extraordinary appearances and dispensations of God towards us we might think it most meet that we above all others should sit down in silence and shame at such a time as this but while we are musing of the former wayes and dealings of God with his people and of those glorious things which must shortly come to pass our hearts do burn within us and having this opportunity we cannot but speak and declare a few things which are upon our spirits As touching our dear and worthy Brother the Author it may be expected something by us should be spoken but his desire as concerning himself hath laid silence upon us Yet this we shall say As we conceive him to be one who hath received much light from the Lord and esteems it a choice and special mercy to be taught of God the things of Christs Kingdom so we are his witnesses how holily and justly and unblameably he hath and doth behave himself amongst us and many others that beleeve As for the Treatise it self it needs not mans commendation because Truth commends it self Yet this we say It hath been a great refreshment to our spirits and we hope will be to the spirits of Gods people elswhere It is the Authors desire that things may not be received on your parts without trial yet in case any who fear the Lord be in this matter otherwise minded it is our desire they would not rashly condemn that which was neither rashly undertaken nor published But to come to what we have further to say It is an undeniable truth confirmed by long experience that the Devil hath ever had a great design against the Kingdom of Christ that holy City and hath so far prevailed as by his instruments to tread it underfoot for a long time though not able to destroy it So that those that have appeared and witnessed for Christ have been forced to do it in sackcleath in a very mean and low condition yet however they do it they will do it though in sackcloath And this hath been such a trouble and torment to the Beast and the dwellers on the earth that like men or rather Devils full of rage and fury against them they make War against them overcome them pull off even their sackcloath strip them kill them And whether this hath been already done or is yet to do is the great Question which this Treatise will give some light into and a little time will more fully determine And that those that dwell upon the earth Christs enemies should rejoyce and make merry when they see Christs Witnesses who tormented them by witnessing lye dead is not to be thought strange But that the Lord should be so tender and mindful of those that appear and witness for him as after a little while to give life unto them and not only to set them upon their feet but to raise them up to an high and glorious condition and that in the sight of their enemies greatly fearing and trembling to behold it is very affecting and comfortable to our hearts to consider And Dear Brethren having had some serious thoughts both of the spirits and wayes of Gods professing people at this time we cannot apprehend that the LORD hath yet performed his whole work upon Mount Sion but that he hath yet much to do yea though the Lord hath been a long time purging his people and hath cut off two parts and left onely a third yet there is so much filth and dross in that that surely he will bring the third part through the fire and will refine them as Silver is refined and will try them as Gold is tried And what condition the Lord hath yet to bring his people into to take away their dross in is best known to himself And may not the people of the Lord even after he hath done much for them in them yet polluted with several abominations expect some hour of temptation to be tried and purged in which may also be at hand And seeing we are speaking and speaking to Brethren that know how to bear with our weaknesses though we be poor stammering creatures we shall take liberty and boldness to speak a few things to you as plainly as we can it being now high time to deal faithfully and plainly with one another and to tell you more particularly what we fear And indeed Brethren we are afraid from a sad experience of the coldness and remisness of our own hearts that the charge of Christ against Ephesus will not fall upon us onely but upon other of the Churches and Saints of Christ that they have left their first Love We are afraid because we are so earthly minded our selves that some of you may be tempted also to seek other things before the Kingdom of God and to take too much thought what you shall eat and what you shall put on what profits preferments and incouragements you shall have in the world which are the things the men of the world seek after for the obtaining of which you may be prone to seek to please and serve men rather than Christ We are afraid because we have so little our selves that a spirit of self-denial should be wanting among you and that you should not have hearts to rejoyce when Christ doth increase if you should decrease and so lie open to that great and common evill of neglecting at least Christs interest to uphold and maintain your own We are afraid because of the drowsiness of our own bearts lest a spirit of slumber should fall upon you and you become mindless and regardless in comparison of what you formerly were and now ought to be of the voyce and works and coming of Christ We are afraid because we our selves are not Virgins chast and faithful to the person and interest of the Lord Christ lest your hearts should
cause of his people against him shall the power of this fourth Monarchy stand up and by him without the help of any Creature shall it be destroyed therefore said in the following words to be broken without hand i.e. without mans hand by Christ alone agreeing to other places which speak of the same time Isa 63.3 I have trodden the Wine-press alone and of the people there was none with me Chap. 66.16 The slain of the Lord shall be many Rev. 19.21 the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat on the Horse with many others The final destruction also of that proud King spoken of chap. 11. viz. the fourth Monarchy is by the personal appearance of Christ as compare chap. 11. ult He shall come to his end and none shall help him with chap. 12.1 And at that time shall Michael or Christ stand up So that the utmost point of either Prophecy or the concluding act of that long Tragedy which we have First Rehearsed in brief chap. 8. Secondly More fully declared in that last and great Prophecy chapters 10 11 12. is the standing up of Michael therefore the 2300 days which bring us to the end of the first and the 1335 which bring us to the end of the second must both expire at one and the same point viz. with Christs personal appearance THESIS XXXV The point of time at which either ends is A.D. 1701. THESIS XXXVI The true beginnings of either number do necessarily infer this year to be the end THESIS XXXVII The 1335 days are to be begun at the same Head with the 1290 therefore but one Head of account is laid down to both which is the taking away of the daily Sacrifice and setting up that abomination that maketh desolate vers 11. Onely it is to be extended so many years farther as there are more days in the 1335. then we have in the 1290 which is 45 years now 45 years being added to the year 1656 where as hath been proved endeth the 1290 the 1335 wil expire with the aforesaid year 1701. THESIS XXXVIII The 2300 days are to be begun with the beginning of the Persian Monarchy namely with the first year of Cyrus The reason is because the eighth Chapter of Daniel is as I have said a Prophecy of the three last Monarchies onely viz. Medes and Persians Grecians Romans therefore may we not go upward into the Babylonish Monarchy for a beginning because in so doing we exceed the bounds and limits of the Prophecy but we are to begin with the first year of Cyrus with which year begins the Prophecy it self THESIS XXXIX That the Heads of either number which yet both end at one and the same point are so stated as that the greater begins with the beginning of the Persian Monarchy and so with the Head of the Vision it self running down quite through it the lesser not till near a 1000 years after about the midst of the Vision a little before the coming forth of the Beast is no less than the most glorious result of the wonderful wisdom of the All-wise disposer of all things who for divers reasons hath thought good so to order it 1 That hereby the Mysteries of these two Prophecies yea all Daniels Prophecies might be the greater for observe there being not above three years betwixt either Vision Daniel having the first of these two in the third of Belshazzar chap. 8.1 which year was the last of the Babylonian Monarchy his second in the third of Cyrus chap. 10.1 the third year of the Persian had both been to be begun from the time of the Visions then would the number of dayes in either have been equal to about three dayes which little time too the Text hath clearly determined to pass betwixt Vision and Vision and if so this one thing alone would have been so great a Standard of light into both these Prophecies yea all the Prophecies of Daniel his 70 weeks excepted all the rest having dependance on these as could no way stand with the design of the Holy Ghost which was to have the Book sealed up until the time of the end for hence it would have been obvious and evident to every eye 1 That either Prophecy were the same and had one and the same beginning and ending 2 That the thing spoken of the little horn chap. 8. and of the vile person chap. 11. were not to be applied to the time of Antiochus rage which very opinion hath been a cloud upon the Prophecies of Daniel for a long time for as Mr. Parker in his Daniels Prophecies expounded pag. 37. hath well proved the 2300 days are no way appliable to the time of Antiochus persecutions 3 That all Daniels Visions and Prophecies viz. That of the great Image chap. 2. That of the four Beasts and the little Horn chap. 7. together with these chap. 8 and chap. 10 11 12. do terminate at one and the same point and this point to be no other but the end of the 2300 the 1335 days for if these two be the same and terminate at one point then by a parallel of reason the other two also viz. that of the great Image and that of the four Beasts for either of those conclude with work of a like nature and glory of a like kind with these And if so then is that other clouding opinion which darkens all Daniels Prophecies at this day viz. That the little Horn chap. 7. is to be understood either of the whole Norman Race here in England from William the Conqueror the first of that Race as some conceive or of the late King Charles onely the last of that Race as others shaken off for that Race hath been extirpated root and branch these five years already whereas to the end of the 2300 days the 1335 it is near 50 years yet to come and therefore we must of necessity unless we deny that which from the scope of each Prophecy is so clear as that it is undeniable viz that Daniels Prophecies have but one and the same end conclude that either the little Horn Chap. 7. is no such thing as many now adays suppose or affirm that the final destruction of this little Horn is come upon him upwards of fifty years before the determined time Now this one beam of light followed being such as that it discovers most of those by-wayes that men have gone in and thereby darkned the truth of Daniel it could not I say stand with Gods design of sealing this Book to make Revelation of so great and clear light as would have come in had the heads of each number been placed with the time of each Vision 2 Reason Because hereby the latter Prophecy which is the clearer and intended by the Lord as a farther and more particular light into those things that in the general had been revealed before should have been as dark as the other in regard of making up any account of time had the same began as
Generation-work OR A Brief and Seasonable Word offered to the view and consideration of the Saints and People of God in this Generation relating to the work of the present Age or Generation we live in Wherein is shewed I. What Generation-work is and how it differs from other works II. That Saints in the several Generations they have lived in have had the proper and peculiar works of their Generations III. That it is a thing of very great coâ—cernment for a Saint to aeternal to and be industrious in the work of his Generation IV. Wherein doth the work of the present Generation lye V. How each one in particular may find out that part or parcel of it that is properly his work in his Generation VI. How Generation-work may be so carried on as that God may be served in the Generation The first part By John Tillinghast an unworthy Minister of the Gospel at Trunch in Norfolk Gen. 6.9 Noah was a just man and perfect in his Generations and Noah walked with God LONDON Printed by R. Ibbitson for Lâ—vewell Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head-Alley 1655. To the Supream Authority the Parlament of the Commonwealth of England Right Honorable AS the Lord Jehovah when he first chose Israel to be a peculiar people to himself out of all the Nations of the world did give unto them righteous Judges Moses Joshua Gideon Sampson Samuel c. such as were after his own heart and of his own raising up So is it his promise to his people in the last days before the dross of Sion shall be taken away and her tin purged and she called the City of righteousness the faithful City that he will restore their Judges as AT THE FIRST and their Counsellors as AT THE BEGINNING Isa 1.25 26. How high the faith and expectations of Gods people of late years have been as to the accomplishment of these things is known to many and what uncessant prayers have been put up to the Throne of Grace for the same is best known to the Lord. That you are raised up this day to be the repairers of our breaches and the restorers of paths to dwel in is we hope the long expected and much looked for fruit of this our faith and prayer which as it doth cause rejoycing within many hearts so hath it fixed the eyes of most upon you to observe what great thing that is which God by you is about to do for his poor people Not to teach you Right Honorable what is your work but to declare what that is which the Lord in the age we live in is about to do and expects his people should eye and follow him in is the design of this little Treatise which although it had its conception some months since and was then designed for other hands yet could it not be brought forth until this day in which it casts it self into yours not so much seeking protection for what is truth will stand of it self and what is not shall fall though by men protected as that it might hereby become the more serviceable to that great interest it pleads for in doing of which the Author hath obtained whatsoever is herein his end desire or joy And now Right Honorable God having raised you up and put into your hands so great an opportunity let not the same be lost for want of any improvement which may be made thereof this is your day to honor God and serve your Generation let this day slip and it may be hereafter when you would do the thing you shall not have a day to do it Men wise men good men have fallen before you by putting off and neglecting the work of their Generation take Feed lest ye also fall through the same example of neglect THE MORE EMINENT GODS HAND HATH APPEARED IN RAISING OF YOU THE MORE NAKED AND REMARKABLE WILL IT BEE IN THROWING OF YOU DOWN IN CASE YOU FAIL HIM AS OTHERS BEFORE YOU HAVE DONE But I am perswaded better things of you Right Honorable and things that accompany diligence though I am bold thus to speak for surely the Lord who in an extraordinary way hath brought you together hath some work more than ordinary to do by you wherein if you shall observe making it your business to follow him â—â—ing justly relieving the oppressed helping the fatherless â—eading the cause of the Widow and walking humbly before him though the Nations may rush against you as the rushing of many waters yet the Lord will rebuke them and you shall be as a burdensome stone to all your Enemies round about who shall weary themselves with you though all the people of the earth should be gathered together against you for behold the day is coming in which the hand of the Lord shall be known towards his people and his indignation towards his Enemies which when you shall see your hearts shall rejoyce and your bones shall flourish like an herb and your tongue shall speak and say Lo this is our God we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his Salvation and when the light of this day is come and the glory of the Lord shall be risen upon you it shall then never repent you that you have put your hands though with your lives in them to the work of Christ but whatsoever you have herein done or suffered shall now be your glory joy and Crown of rejoycing which that you may at this day from Christ obtain and in the mean time be faithful in his work he shall continue to pray for who is Your Honors humble and unworthy Servant John Tillinghast July 8. 1653. To the Saints and people of God in England Children of the same Father Members of the same Body partakers of the same Spirit having the same hope Grace and Peace be multiplied DEarly beloved in the Lord It is not many years since that this poor Nation and you in the same did sigh and groan by reâ—son of that bondage both Civil and Spiritual which we were in to the will of tyrann cal unjust oppressors and the superstitious innovations and injunctions of Antichristiâ—n Task-masters What your fears and prayers yea resolutions to do for God in case of deliverance were at this time the casting your eye a few years back again taking a view of the state of things without according as the wheel did then move and the frame and carriage of your souls within under all will better remember you of than I can tell you How suitable the spirits and actings of many of you who in this day were Gods remembrancers and Sions mourners have since the time God hath cast off the heavy yoke and broken the bonds of our oppressing persecutors been to your past prayers and resolutions I fear and yet I hope when the violence of your distemper shall be over and you so far recovered as to weigh things in the ballances of righteousness love and impartiality not so much others as your selves
talking with them especially to Moses as never man befides him enjoyed the like yet these two so choise and worthy instruments because they failed a little in the work of that Generation which was as before was shewn to beleeve in God and trust his power and goodness although their failing was at such a time which one would judge might render them excusable at least less guilty wherein the whole Congregation erred with them and as it were did hurry them into it yea and for Moses he never fayled but this time so that this once excepted he all along had followed God fully Yet I say because they failed God in that work which was the work of the Generation they for that and no other reason are laid by as to the perfecting of that work viz. bringing of Israel into Canaan which most happily and prosperoufly was begun and carried on a great way under them as instruments as Numb 20.12 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron because ye believe me not to sanctifie me in the eyes of the children of Israel therfore ye shall not bring this Congregation into the land which I have given them So exceedingly displeasing to God are errors in the work of our generation that he will not let such things pass no not in his dearest children without some signal manifestation of his displeasure And which I cannot let pass without a further mark yet set upon it as a thing most worthy the serious thoughts of every one and such in especial whom God above others hath used and honoured in the work of the Generation is how that one single failing in the work of the Generation may cause a Moses to be laid aside 4 Danger of stumbling at the work of the Generation and all the dispensations of God about it The Jews in Christs time neglected the work of their Generation which was to beleeve in Christ receive him as the true Messiah whose coming their Nation was in expectation of and the very work it self through this neglect became a stumbling stone to them they stumble at it to think they should receive this man for their Messiah and stumbling at the work they likewise stumble at the several dispensations of God about it Christ comes of mean Parentage they stumble at that appears first from Galilee they stumble at that works miracles they stumble at that is followed by Publicans and sinners they stumble at that commits the Gospel to poor Fishermen they stumble at that Neglect the work of thy Generation and stumble at it Stumble at the work of thy Generation and stumble at all the dispensations of God about it 5 Danger of being blinded in or shut out of the work of the next Generation in case thou live to see it For God in his just judgement when men have shut their eyes against and withdrawn their hands from the work of the present Generation doth blind these persons to and will not honor them in the work of the following Generation though yet they may live to see it The Scribes and Pharisees wilfully shut their eyes to the work of Johns Generation and what followed they see afterwards the work of Christ in his Generation and of the Apostles in theirs and through the just judgement of God upon them their eyes are shut and they are blinded thereto A most pregnant place to our purpose we have Ezek. 44. vers 9. to 17. where under legal phrases and allusive termes the Holy Ghost setting forth Gospel-worship speaks very pathetically of two sorts of Priests belonging to that Gospel-state One were such as had defiled themselves with the pollutions of the former Generation by going astray to Idols when Israel went astray vers 10 12. who by way of punishment are to bear their iniquity which is not wholly to be turned out of the work of God who will still use them in the general and more common acts of his worship as vers 11 14. but to be set by as to the more special and peculiar acts of his worship in the Generation because they polluted themselves with the Idolatries and Superstitions of the former Generations as vers 12 13. Another sort of Priests there were who when Israel and their fellow-labourers went astray and defiled themselves by Idolatry did notwithstanding walk closely with God keeping their Garments pure from the defilements of that Generation these are privileged to draw neer to God in the more special acts of his worship to come into his Sanctuary and perform the service not of the outward Court only but of his Table as vers 15 16. The difference betwixt these is worthy yet a more narrow search The one have the charge of the gates of the house vers 11. the other Gods charge in his house vers 16. the one shall only kill the burnt offering and sacrifice for the people vers 11. the other shall stand before God to offer the fat and the blood vers 15. The one shall stand before the people to minister to them vers 11. the other shall come neer to Gods Table to minister to him vers 16. The one shall bear all this as their shame for their former abominations vers 13. the other shall receive all this honor as a reward for their not partaking in the abominations of the former age vers 15 16. The result of all is clearly this That such persons who have plaid loose with God in the former Generation though live they may to see the next Generation and be imployed in some common works yet will not God use them in the special works of that Generation except such of them that shall renounce their former pollutions of which more hereafter 6 Danger of becoming an Apostate and an open enemy to the truths of God Demas forsakes Paul and the work of his Generation and what follows he becomes an Apostate and exchangeth Heaven for Earth imbracing this present world In the Apostles dayes the great work of that Generation was the constituting of Churches and Saints assembling themselves together for mutual edification in Christian societies and if you mind it the Apostle lays the rise of that Soul-damning sin of wilful Apostacy in a neglect of this Heb. 10.25 26. Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is For if we sin wilfully And which I cannot here pass over that unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit which our Saviour himself chargeth the Scribes and Pharisees with took as is apparent its rise hence For first they neglect the work of their Generation viz. of receiving Christ this neglect draws on an opposition this opposition malice against Christ this malice brings forth blasphemy against those very works of Christ calling them Diabolical which their consciences now and then convinced them were wrought by the power of God this malicious and deliberate blaspheming of what their Consciences I say now and then for they had apparent stumbling-blocks before them with which undoubtedly
glory to him for the hour of his judgement is come Chap. 12.12 Therefore rejoyce ye heavens and ye that dwel in them Wo to the Inhabiters of the Earth and of the Sea for the Devil is come down unto you having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time Chap. 11.18 And the Nations were angry and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be judged and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the Prophets and to the Saints c. LONDON Printed by R. Ibbitson for Livewell Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head-Alley 1655. The Epistle Dedicatory To all those who love and patiently wait for the Appearing and Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ Grace and Peace be multiplied Dearly beloved in our Lord IT is reported of the Primitive Saints that these words the KINGDOM OF CHRIST the KINGDOM OF CHRIST were so frequent in their mouths that their malicious Adversaries willing to mistake the simplicity of their meaning and intention did make the words matter of Fact charging them hereupon with Treason as if they had driven on some design to get for themselves the Kingdom Whether the simplicity of the Saints in the age we live in who being come to the very dawning of the day and beholding the Lord going up to his Kingdom cannot hold their peace but must cry out HOSANNA TO THE SON OF DAVID HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST may through the subtlety of the old Serpent have any such abuse put upon it or no I wave at present But this I am sure of the first ages had not the Kingdom of Christ so much in their mouths but after ages had it as little their hearts were not so warm to it but the generations since have been as cold And indeed it was necessary it should so be for the Beast Antichrist being to rise in the world who after his rise must continue to reign two and forty months Rev. 13.5 it was needful therefore to the end he might be revealed that there should be as the Apostle tels us 2 Thes 2.3 a falling away which falling away above all things was necessary that it should be in the Truths of Christs Kingdom no Truths being so diametrically opposite to Antichrist as these others shake off his leaves these pluck him up by the roots If therefore the policy of the Dragon had not found out a way to brand these Truths and by making them odious to hold them down his Kingdom must have fallen many ages since for he should have had no Beast to resign his Power Seat and great Authority to It stood him greatly in hand therefore by some means to cloud these which by continuing to shine would have nipped Antichrist in the bud and this the wisdom of God permitting to accomplish thereby in the end a more glorious design which he effectually did Hence within the fourth Century at the end of which the Beast arose the Truths of Christs Kingdom before generally received began to be condemned and to go under the odious name of Heresie Hence also we finde not in the Revelations any mention made of Christs Kingdom nor any noyse of such a thing in the world all the time of the Beasts reign but the great cry of the dwellers on the Earth is The Beast the Beast who is like unto the Beast yea the whole world wondereth after the Beast Rev. 13.3 4. But now in the latter days as the Beast begins to go down so do the precious Truths of Christs Kingdom again begin to revive and have a resurrection Hence we finde that as the world by degrees gets rid of the Beast so is the cry in it still louder and louder of Christs Kingdom First Amongst the Saints in the world who no sooner have got so much footing as to stand and face the Beast which before trod them down and trampled upon them but presently they make the world ring again with the noise of Christs Kingdom Rev. 15.2 3 4. And I saw them that had gotten the victory over the Beast and over his Image and over his Mark and over the number of his Name stand on the Sea of glass having the Harps of God And they sing the Song of Moses the servant of the Lord and the Song of the Lamb saying Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty just and true are thy ways thou King of Saints Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy name for thou onely art holy for all Nations shall come and worship before thee for thy judgements are made manifest Secondly After this the Beast having received a more fatal blow the cry of Christs Kingdom that was before among some Saints onely is now more general and runs among the multitudes yea the great ones too of whom till this day we hear little as Rev. 19.6 And I heard as it were the voyce of a great multitude and as the voyce of many waters and as the voyce of mighty Thunderings saying Allelujah for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth Thirdly and lastly Yet after this upon the sounding of the seventh Angel when Christ comes to take his Kingdom it is then openly proclaimed with a great voyce Rev. 11.15 The Kingdoms of this world are beâ—ome the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and â—e shall reign for ever And as an echo to this voyce â—he hearts of Gods faithful ones reply v. 17. We give thee â—hanks O Lord God Almighty which art and wert and â—rt to come because thou hast taken to thee this great â—ower and hast reigned Thus the noyse and cry in the world towards the latter end of Antichrists reign is very different to that which was in the time of his reign then the cry was The Beast The Beast now the old cry is up again The Kingdom of Christ The Kingdom of Christ Yet notwithstanding the cry of Christs Kingdom shall at this day be so loud shall not the ears of all no not of the Saints themselves be open to hear it but some of them as well as others shall be so deeply wedded to the sweetness of Antichristian wordly interests that to maintain these they shall rather choose to sit by the waters of Babylon than with the loss of them to stand with the Lamb upon Mount Sion else what need would there be of any such Proclamation to be made as we read is immediately before Romes ruin Rev. 18.4 Come out of her my people that yee be not partakers of her sins and that yee receive not of her plagues And these who thus shall do are not to be reckoned among those who in this great business followed not the Lamb at all but among those who followed the Lamb some part of the way towards Mount Sion but upon some turn or falling in with some worldly pleasing interest by the way did quit his company before they came thither For this cause the hundred forty and four thousand which
the House of Austria or rather as he is doing of it he shall give a powerful call to the Witnesses that by the power of that House at this instant time shall he dead which is the voyce from Heaven whence all the Angels of the Vials comes Chap. 15.5.6 saying to them Come up hither Rev. 11.12 which voyce no sooner shall they hear but in the view and faces of their enemies they shall straightway in a Cloud i.e. under the wings and protection of this Angel who by his power shall be unto them as a Cloud by day to shelter them from the burning heat of the now inslamed Sun i.e. the rage of this incensed House ascend to Heaven They ascended up to Heaven in a Cloud and their enemies beheld them Object If it be said But there is somewhat here which seems directly to oppose such a thing as thâ—s viz. That the Witnesses rising can be aimed at in this place because in the following words it is expresly said They blasphemed the God of Heaven and repented not to give him glory but at the rifing of the Witnesses we have the contraâ—y chap. 11.13 The remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of Heaven I Answer That the 16. Chapter speaks of those onely upon whom the Vial did directly fall who being no other than incorrigible enemies devoted to destruction as our fourth Proposition proves they are by them still more and more hardned to their fatal ruin But that Remnant spoken of chap. 11. are such upon whom God doth not poure out the Vial I mean the wrath of it although as to common and outward calamities they may feel it with the rest but rather such who though through ignorance they stand in the croud amongst those the Vial fals upon yet hath God special grace and mercy in store for which by pouring out this Vial upon the rest they come to partake of having their eyes hereby opened to see Gods hand and their hearts in truth turned to acknowledge the same and give him glory or at leastwise such they are who seeing Gods hand do so far acknowledge the same as wholly to relinquish and have nothing to do with that Antichristian party they formerly sided with The EFFECTS 1. EFFECT Scorching with great heat Vers 9. And men were scorched with great heat The Antichristian faction seeing this that the Witnesses whom they reckoned they had killed and made sure of are now in the very faces of them got upon their feet to torment them and that under such Protection as that though stand and look upon them they can yet hurt them they are not able they shall hereat be so inraged as that they shall scorch themselves even with the fire of their own rage for indeed nothing torments a man inwardly like this to see his deadly enemy rising to rule over him and he no way able to hinder or prevent it 2 EFFECT A blaspheming the God of Heaven who had power over these plagues instead of repenting to give him glory And blasphemed the God of Heaven who had power over these plagues and repented not to give him glory The Papals i.e. that incorrigible Crue upon whom this Vial falls shall now themselves begin to see that the hand of the God of Heaven is manifestly against them in these Plagues by whose power and command alone they are ordered to fall upon them yet shall not this conviction bring them to repent and give him the glory of but rather they shall blaspheme that hand they now behold lift up against them and as it was with Pharoah when God plagued him he hardened himself so shall they by these Plagues become the more obdurate and hardened to a wilfull persisting in their iniquity Thus much as touching the fourth VIAL VIAL V. 1 The Subject of it The Seat of the Beast AND the fifth Angel poured out his Vial upon the Seat of the Beast Vers 10 That by Seat of the Beast should here be meant Antichrists Kingdom in general as some conceive seems inconsistent with the very words themselves which speak not of destroying the whole but rather a darkning of the whole by ruining some eminent part yea according to this interpretation no need would be unless we suppose this Vial alone too weak of any more Vials to be poured forth upon the Kingdom of the Beast which yet notwithstanding after this hath a greater storm falling upon it and that to its final ruin than ever any before Those who by Seat of the Beast understand the Popes Supremacy The Angel pouring forth this Vial to be King James in that Paraphrase of his upon this Book but chiefly his premonition To all most Mighty Monarches Kings Free-Princes and States of Christendom James by the Grace of God c. are certainly mistaken as appears by our second Proposition A man whom Gods people in this age are much beholding to doth by Seat of the Beast understand Episcopacy his principal reason is because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is sometimes in Scripture put for that form of Government and Authority which a person of State sitting upon the Throne may administer the pouring out this Vial to be about the year 1639. when the Scots entred into Covenant to withstand and abolish Episcopacy but though I highly honor the memory of the pious and grave Author of this opinion yet canl not receive it 1 Because this Vial speaks wholly of things to come not past as this is 2 Because we have already seen the downfal of Episcopacy under another Vial. 3 Because although the downfal of Bishops in our Isle was a blow to be noted yet not such a blow as filled the Kingdom of the Beast with darkness making the Papals to gnaw their tongues for pain as this doth 4 Because not this but another thing is yea must be the subject of this Vial namely The City Rome The very thing here intended a is evident 1 Because the original word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Seat is but once more used in all the Revelations where the same is applied to the Beast chap. 13.2 The Dragon gave him his Power and his Seat and great Authority and that there it cannot in the former sense but must in this latter be understood is manifest because Seat is distinguished from Power and Authority as being a thing distinct from them therefore the Beasts form of Government or Authority cannot be the thing intended thereby but it must be interpreted of his place of residence namely the City Rome 2 Because the order that the Holy Ghost observes afterwards in declaring more fully what under the Vials is but briefly hinted at agrees most exactly to this sense but by the other is broken to pecces for Chap. 18. relates to Romes ruin and Chap 19. concludes with the battle of Armageedon accordingly the City Rome is the Subject of this Vial and suddenly after Ver. 16. comes in the battle of Armageddon whereas if the ruin of the
particular States and Kingdomes with their Heads and Rulers The fourth upon the German Empire or House of Austria The fifth upon the City Rome The sixth upon the Turk or Ottoman Family But this seventh and last is general reaching all things whatsoever that stand in the way of Christs Kingdome And this the change of speech used in this Vial different from all the other noteth also as it seems to me for whereas the other Vials are poured out upon such and such things the first upon the Earth the second upon the Sea the third upon the Rivers and Fountains of waters c. This seventh and last is said to be poured out into the Air noting hereby the spreading and dilating of it self as far as the Air spreads in such manner as that thereby all and every part is filled with the effects of it Now a Vial might be poured out upon the Air yet not dâ—late it self into every part to fill the whole with it as the first Vial poured out upon the earth did not so dilate it self as to destroy those earthly dregs of Popery in every part of the Papal Kingdome neither did the second upon the Sea destroy the Antichristian Hierarchy but in some Kingdoms only the third upon the Rivers and Fountains of waters not the ten Horns in general but some of them only did as to the overturning of their present Government and Constitution feel it yet each of these Vials are truly said to be poured out upon these subjects because they had effects to destroy some part that which they fell upon though they did not dilate themselves into every part but now this seventh is poured out INTO THE AIR noting a dilating and diffusing of it self as far as the Air goes which I have said before is general filling all things and places accordingly this Vial reacheth 1 The whole Kingdome of the Dragon or Devil who is called the Prince of the power of the Air Eph. 2.2 who upon the pouring out of this Vial with all his Host shall be bound and shut up in the bottomless pit for a thousand years as Rev. 20.1 2 3. And here indeed it had been more orderly to have placed our fore-going Discourse of the thousand years but because truth is to be preferred before order which when it tends to the obscuring of the truth is but curiosity and to be shunned I have therefore because in my judgement it stands more for the advantage of truth where it is than it would do here chosen to be a trespasser in points of nicety 2 The whole Kingdome of Antichrist or the Papacy 3 The remaining Powers of the Great Turk which were not destroyed by the sixth Vial. 4 The Kingdomes of this world i.e. such as neither have dependance upon the Papacy nor the Great Turk all shall come under this Vial and be utterly ruined and broken in peeces by it 3 The Adjunct A great Voyce And there came a great voyce out of the Temple of Heaven from the Throne saying It is done This Voyce is Christs Rev. 21.5 6. Hee that is Christ that sate upon the Throne said unto mee It is done The meaning of the words It is done I have formerly shewed to be only this NOW is the New Jerusalem established now is my Kingdome set up the work now is done and compleated for this work had its beginning before under the former Vials and that from the first day that the little stone began to smite the great Image and therefore Daniel Chap. 2.44 speaking of this Kingdome of Christ saith In the dayes of these Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom i.e. Christs Kingdome shall have its beginning as the same is a stone in the dayes of the Fourth Monarchy before yet the same is destroyed and it shall grow up by little and little smiting the great Image and still as it smites be increasing in strength and greatness but yet the same is not a Mountain filling the whole Earth till it hath broken in peeces the Great Image in such sort as that the place thereof is no more found vers 34 35. i.e. this Kingdome of Christ shall not be compleatly set up it shall not be the Fifth Monarchy though yet it shall be in a rising way until the seventh Vial be poured out which breaks in peeces and wholly removes the Fourth Monarchy and all worldly powers And this is clear Dan. 7.12 who there tells us that the rest of the Beasts had not their Dominion taken away i.e. the Kingdoms of this world are not compleatly the Lords and his Christs as Rev. 11.15 until such time as the Thrones of the Fourth Beast i.e. the Roman Monarchy as under Antichrist are cast down vers 9. the Beast himself slain his body destroyed and given to the burning flame vers 11. Then shall it be said as here with a great voyce It is done Then shall be verified what is said Rev. 10.7 The mystery of God is finished as he hath declared to his servants the Prophets that is now all things spoken of by the Prophets as touching my Kingdome and the setting of it up are finished for it is done the New Jerusalem is established And truly here let me adde that although some godly men whose thoughts I have an esteem of look every day for the setting up of this Fifth Monarchy and that by having the Powers of the world laid down and let fall out of the present hands they are in who hold them as they judge by right of the Fourth Monarchy and left free for Saints to come take up and execute yet must I needs say being convinced of the contrary in this I am not of their mind conceiving their mistake to lye in this viz. a not considering which too comes from a non-acknowledgement of Christs Personal coming before it by whom how and when this Fifth Monarchy is to be set up And for my own part as I greatly rejoyce to see so much power in Saints hands already and beleeve more will be every day as the Stone by rolling grows greater so do I also wait for that which some presently expect till that day wherein our Lord shall appear who himself will do this work viz. Destroy the Beast cast him into the burning flame and then give the Kingdome and Dominion and greatness of the Kingdome under the whole heaven unto the people of the Saints of the most High When that which but now is rising and shall rise every day growing still greater and greater as an augmenting stone shall become a huge and great Mountain filling the whole Earth And of this Kingdome as to the first rise of it which is little in an unlikely way in the midst of many difficulties I take it Davids Kingdome was a Type But as to the glory of it when the same shall be a Mountain filling the earth the Kingdome of Solomon was rather a Type for which reason Psal 62. which is a
King with acclamations which is all that such poor creatures as we are can do for him Nay if it be a duty to expect from God returns of our prayers then it is also a duty to have inspection even into publick affairs so far as the managing of these may have a tendency to the furtherance or hinderance of those good things which we hope we have been graciously holpen by the Lord and also had some favorable smiles of his acceptance in seeking his face for Nay if it be a duty to observe and follow God in the way of his visible dispensations or on the contrary a sin to be of a sluggish temper not regarding the works of the Lord nor considering the operation of his hands then of necessity must there be a reflection upon the publick actings of instruments either in a way of owning or disowning without which no observation can be made of Gods dispensations or our duty in this respect Nay lastly If it be a duty to mourn for the sins of Rulers to mourn when Christs cause lies bleeding then certainly it cannot be evill to have inspection into the one and the other And notwithstanding it is a more precious thing in a Christian to be found watching in his own heart and ways than to be prying into the waies and actings of others for which cause so far as this is neglected the common accusation laid to the charge of those who contend for the Kingdom of Christ without as if they did neglect the Kingdom of Christ within is a thing most just Yet let it withall be considered that the doing of the one layes no necessity upon a man of a neglect of the other for if there be but any thing of truth in that opinion it will be hard to say God hath laid a necessity upon us to neglect our hearts whilst which yet is a thing he wills us to do we are seeking after his truth And if through that corruption that is within any man should so do doth not this evill attend him as well in other studies as this by consequence therefore from this principle no truth must be inquired into But I have observed in this day a close design of the Devil driven on under this vizard and no wonder for Satan himself is now transformed into an Angel of light and I can the better speak it having felt when time was this temptation and thereby learned these who Lessons 1 To discern somewhat of the depths of Satan viz. That he perceiving the work that God is about to do in the world and knowing full well how acceptable a thing iâ— is to God as well as advantagious to the work it self to have his Children following him in his great designs and how provoking the thing will be if by any sleight he can but make them like Peter cross the Lord in his way and thwart God in his work God as a man in like case would do resenting one error of this nature worse than forty of another kind and knowing also that to say to them in plain language neglect this or oppose that without some very specious and glorious pretence would be no boot he therefore now comes forth as the most glorious Saint that ever came into the world and tels them that they must look to their own hearts for this is a blessed thing and therefore they must beware of such and such things for if they once meddle with them then farewel their hearts and to set a better face upon the business whilst he disswades these he sets on work some that are marked in their fore-heads for his children giddily and furiously to broach and set on foot those very things and designs he disswades the other from and then saith he now see whether this generation of men go and where you had been had you followed them 2 I have learned likewise to discern somewhat of the depths of the heart which would exercise the highest pride under a pretext of great holiness and humility for it being indeed a most blessed thing to attend to inward purity and mortification wherein lies the glory of a Christian now saith the heart how strangely do such and such contend for this outward thing and the other well I will follow none of them but I will attend to the mortification of the inward man I am sure in that I shall be right Now with this conceit the man goeth on secretly blessing and lifting up himself and he turns him and looks him round and loe all are out of the way but he Pride as it quickly grows upon such a root so is it more abominable to God by how much it is more spiritual then that which may yee discover it self more outwardly Yet let me say thus doth the Devil and mans heart at this day marvellously deceive many precious Saints in this thing who are apt to think that they cannot mind these things and as they should study and look to their hearts too Whereas indeed it argues a Childish temper in a man to think that he cannot learn the things of his heart or keep the same up for God any longer then it is exercised in those truths which more immediately concern the heart and life and have their foundation in Christian experience as if those truths which lie out of the reach of my experience as a Christian and more imediately concern Gods Cause and Glory without had not in them as natural a tendency to give a soul a sight of God and as great an efficacy to cause the heart to cleave to God and walk humbly with him as truths that lye within the râ—ach of my experience Nay I will here be bold to say that that soul who faithfully followeth God in those things wherein his glory is more immediately concerned shall learn more of his heart as it were by the by and have the same better ordered then shall that man who neglecting this makes that his continual study for it is not by our poring that we come to know our hearts nor by our struggling to mend them so much as indeed by laying them in that path where Christ in this or that day more commonly goes and waiting there to receive life and strength from him And farther My Lord as for contenting themselves with their own liberty which is the great thing objected to us our injoyment whereof as yet is indeed a mercy beyond what the people of God far more deserving in former ages have had the people of God could at this day do it were it not but that the sufferings of Christs cause their prayers having been long going forth and their hopes raised are now more unto them than any sufferings of their own And as Daniel first and Nehemiah afterwards though they for their own particulars were well in the Court of the King of Persia yet could not be well because it went not well with Gods cause at that day so notwithstanding Gods
yee have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the promise For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Now the just shall live by faith but if any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him That you and we continuing in all well-doing and suffering may be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ is the prayer of Your poor unprofitable Brethren and Companions in the tribulation and Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ Signed in the name and by the appointment of the Church RICHARD BREVITER Pastor Generation-Work The Third and last part Wherein is yet further shewed what the designs of God abroad in the World may in all likelihood be at this present day and in the days near approaching Being an Exposition of the Prophecies of the Two Witnesses THE PREFACE TWo Prophecies there are which above all others do cast a look upon our times First the Prophecie of the Vials Secondly The Prophecie of the Witnesses The first of these according to that measure of light given me I have lately written my thoughts upon The pleasure I found in that journey and the refreshment I had from the matter of those discoveries together with a leading Providence to such a work attending my finishing that part did put me presently upon another enquiry viz. Concerning the time when those things should be or How long it should be unto the end of those wonders Being upon this enquiry and called by it to make a more thorow search than ever before I had done into the Prophecies of Daniel and the Revelations first to find undoubted Principles for a foundation and then fit matter to build upon them I had upon the way many hints of truth in reference to the Witnesses presented to my thoughts which after a while seeing truth daily to come in at that door I turning to view saw as I thought a method laid before me which did seem to me to take off and that in a great measure the veil from many of the principal Apocalyptical visions Which observing and perceiving the same would be very conducible could the thing it self be made out to the clearing up of many mysteries chiefly relating to the Witnesses and also be a good foundation for many other Truths which where a right order is not found must needs lye buried seeing there can be no sound interpretation of the Apocalyps nor any certain conclusion drawn from the whole or any part of it till first the true order and proper place of each Vision is found out Crder being the foundation of all Interpretation and not Interpretation of it I did therefore examine the thing it self comparing such grounds as I had in my eye for my own with the grounds of others laid down in their writings for theirs Having done this I speak it not in the least to my own commendation nor the disparagement of such good and worthy men whose labors are extant on this Prophecy of whose grace and abilities I have a far greater esteem than either I have or would have of my own I found my self much more confirmed in my conceptions than when I began finding in most no other Argument besides what lay in their bare Interpretations which as I have said before being themselves to be founded upon Order can be no Argument of Order And as for the Arguments of others which seemed at first to carry weight I found them upon examination either too weak to conclude the thing or else to be misapplied And indeed such as that the method and order rightly stated there would be little need of giving particular answers to them for they would fall of themselves Hereupon I began to put my thoughts into such an order as seemed to me most to conduce to the making clear something appertaining to this great mystery of the witnesses which I have done in three Chapters Whereof the first Chapter represents the state and condition of the Witnesses chiefly as to their prophecying and killing time and that from part of the Eleventh Chapter of the Revelations the undoubted and as is generally conceived the onely Prophecy of the Witnesses The second Chapter confirms many of the Pofitions laid down in the former by opening of the Twelfth Chapter and proving it to run parallel with so much of the eleventh as relates to the Witnesses prophecying and killing time The third Chapter is a representation of the happy condition the Church of Christ shall be in about the time of the Witnesses resurrection shewing also how the work shall go on from that time untill the Day of Christs Appearance and this from opening the fourteenth Chapter which is proved to be a Prophecy of the state of the Church and that from about the time of the Witnesses rise untill the Second coming of Christ Now although the subject it self leads me to treat of many things in a prophetical manner the accomplishment of which I conceive to be near at hand yet do I not in the least assume to my self the title or thought of such a thing as being a Prophet onely by weighing Scriptures and comparing one place with another I draw up conjectural grounds that in all likelihood such and such things will shortly be done And although I judge my self that I may be deceived so far as it is a thing possible that the discovering time may not be come or that there may be after the most diligent and impartial inquiry yet a missing of the time to which a Prophecy relates which if missed the mistake must needs be totall and all Interpretations false Or if not a nussing of the time which it is hoped in this little peece is not my care having been above all to attain a right principle herein it being the onely foundation stone yet an ignorance of the time or a falling short of the true mind of the Holy Ghost in such or such a particular phrase or in such or such terms it useth which though it cause not a total yet may occasion a partial mistake Or if neither of these yet an adding or mixing even in the Interpretation somewhat of mans with the mind of God which kind of deception attends as well the interpretation of other Scriptures as those which are Prophetical yet have I published nothing without such grounds as I suppose will even in the eye of an Adversary if throughly weighed be judged sufficient to build a conjecture upon And possibly another upon the like grounds might be as incident to a mistake of this nature should the event so prove it as my self Yet that I may not any way for the sake of my own name disown or expose to disadvantage the blessed Truth of Christ which must and shall live when the names of men shall rot I shall be bold concerning this Discourse humbly to say That I am verily perswaded that as to
the substance hereof there is more in it than barely my private conjecture And although this buiâ—ding may have in it much Wood Hay and Stubble which shall be burnt up yet is there also in it some Mines of Gold and precious Stones not hitherto found out which will abide the fire and the day is not far off which will make experiment of both And if in that day it shall appear that to a pound of dross but a grain of truth which before lay hid and buryed is here dug up and brought to light I shall judge Truth is of so great worth the Lord in this Dispensation to have been gracious to me and my labour notwithstanding many mis-apprehensions to be well bestowed Gold at first digging never comes forth without its dross And truly since I composed the same and saw that a very little time waiting would either prove the things asserted to be false Or if true bring them forth with a more general acceptation and conviction of the Truth thereof than I either now do or can expect it should meet with I judged it a point of prudence to forbear a while this enterprize But two considerations at present are upon me which over-ballance my resolutions the contrary way First A perswasion some part of my grounds for which are offered in the Discourse it self that a very cloudy day is to befall the Church of Christ under the Vial we at this day stand under some shadowings of which cloud though not the dismal storm it sends forth will even reach us here in England either in one way or another to which perswasion I have likewise and that from some ground this consideration added That God hath a special design to the end the faith of his people might not wholly fail them in this day upon the brink or beginning of it to let out such a light as to the great things he is doing in the world as shall wonderfully support the hearts of a remnant of his people and that quite through it Secondly That the very thing which shall set on foot that glorious work of Christ against Antichrist which is the principal part or the subject of this discourse shall be a letting out of light into the world a little before the time comes that the work is to be set on foot Hence Revel 18.1 immediately before the ruin of Rome as the principal leading cause thereto the Earth which before was covered with darkness as to the glorious designs of God as touching his work in the world is upon the sudden enlightned and what is the issue hereof why a speedy and irresistable judgement upon Babylon as the whole Chapter shews us These Considerations have made me think that as the people of God cannot in any way perform a more acceptable peece of service to the Lord Jesus in this day than by giving forth that light the Lord either doth or shall give them so likewise can they not in any work they shall put their hand unto do Antichrist a greater mischief next to his destruction it self than they may in this The Author acknowledgeth himself altogether unworthy of the first unfit and unable every way in himself to the second yet willingly would to the measure of his Talent be found in both He confesseth that neither in this nor any thing else that he doth hath he or can he attain thereto to have his heart and aimes so pure and spiritual aâ— it is fit they should and as he would they were yet resolveth that through grace assisting him neither the Devil no noâ— his sin shall make him throw aside that work in which he may do Christs cause or people any service Antichrist any mischief Which that it may be the fruit of this little peece is and shall be his prayer CHAP. I. Wherein is set forth the state or condition of the Two Witnesses within their Prophecying time and the time of their being killed and that from Rev. 11. ver 3. to 13. SECT 1. HAving in the fore-going Preface delivered so much as I judged meet by way of Preamble unto this our Discourse I shall here without spinning out the time or tiring the Readers patience whilst I detain him upon the way about things of lesser concernment enter strait way upon the thing it self That the Two Witnesses are the Magistracy and the Ministry appears to me a thing without dispute the allusion is so clear to Zerubbabel and Joshua compare Rev. 11 4. with Zech. 4 11 14. of which two one was chief Magistrate the other chief Priest and both these Prince and Priest were Sons of Oyl i.e. anointed in times of old therefore by Zechary and John both called two Olive trees Onely there is as Mr. Woodcock in his Treatise of the Two Witnesses hath observed this twofold difference betwixt the Type and the Antitipe 1 Zeâ—hary sees two Olive Trees but no Temple But John sees first a Temple ver 1. and then two Olive trees The reason is they in Zecharies time had as yet no Temple built but were to begin the world anew But now the work of Johns two Witnesses is not to build a Temple anew so much as to preserve and keep that they had 2 Zechary seeth two Olive trees and but one Candlestick John two Olive Trees and two Candlesticks the reason is this Zechary wrote in the time of the Law whilst the Church was National and so the two did belong to one Church John in Gospel-times when Churches were Congregational and so the two might be of several Churches Now the thing which doth yet further perswade me to hold to this Exposition is That excellent Analogie it carries with it to that of the two Beasts Chap. 13. which two Beasts as I have made appear upon the Vials p. 101 to 108. are no other but Antichrist in his Civil and Ecclesiastical State or the Magistracy and Ministry of Antichrist Now observe it as Antichrist by a twofold power a power Magisterial and Ministerial doth all the time of the Two and forty moneths oppress the Woman drive her into the Wilderness tread under foot the Holy City i.e. the People Truths and Worship of Christ so doth Christ all this time by the very same twofold power comfort and nourish the woman bear witness unto and maintain his own truth and worship alive in the world So that in short Christ raiseth up his Two Witnesses in opposition to Antichrists two Beasts Antichrist for Forty two moneths or One thousand two hundred and sixty days stands up with two Beasts to blaspheme God persecute the Saints tread under foot the Holy City Christ against him stands up with Two Witnesses to maintain his name and honor cherish his people uphold his cause and worship in the world And as Antichrists two Beasts are no other but the false Magistracy and Ministry so contrariwise Christs two Witnesses are his true Magistracy and Ministry SECT II. THey are called Witnesses their name being
But I say now they shall want this courage choosing rather cowardly to lye down though stript of Liberty and Religion both as men quite bereaved of spirit and life then boldly as did their famous Predecessors stand up for Christ and protest against the Beast And such a day as this is by far a worse day then to see Saints killed with the sword for whilst it is thus with them they are honouring their Lord and Master by bearing testimony though with their bloods but now they are shaming of him yea Religion it self by deserting their Colours And the Reasons why I conceive of the thing after this manner are 1 Because they cannot in any other way be said to lye dead as witnesses which must be because otherwise as I have said there is no distinction at all betwixt their Prophecying and their Killing 2 Because their resurrection at the end of the three dayes and a half is by a spirit of life from God entring into them vers 11. i.e. a spirit of courage and boldness now to stand up for Christ and Protest against the Beast put into them by God which before was wanting Therefore I say the death here spoken of is not a corporal but another manner of death and the wee of the day shall lye more in being forsaken of God within this time then in being tormented or martyred by man SECT VIII THe place in which the Witnesses lye dead is not the whole Papal Kingdom but some particular Nation or some one of the ten Horns The Reasons are 1 Because as our German Author in his Cl. p. 73. hath well observed they are said to lye dead not in the streets of the Great City in the plural number but in the street in the singular Rev. 11.8 And their dead bodies shall lye in the street 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Great City Noting that their killing shall be in one street not in all the Papal Kingdom 2 Because upon their resurrection the whole City i.e. all the Papal Kingdom is not overthrown but only a tenth part vers 13 And the same hour the tenth part of the City fell Now observe There where the witnesses lye dead three dayes and a half there this time expired they arise where they rise in that place doth the Papal power fall before them upon their rise or otherwise they could not rise for that power would keep them down so that look how far we extend the killing and rising again of the witnesses so far must we extend the ruine of the Papal power and that in the very same hour they rise But now the Great City or Papal power is not wholly destroyed upon the witnesses rise but a tenth part only falls therefore the rise of the witnesses and so consequently their lying dead which goeth before it is not to be looked for all over the Papal Kingdom but in a tenth part only Or thus we are not to conceive that all the witnesses Christ hath within any of the ten Horns shall at this time lye dead But Christs witnesses only in one of the ten Horns the death of a part being here put for the death of the whole and well may it considering how remarkable this death shall be for the nature of it It would therefore be inquired into seeing that this is to be but in one tenth part what part or place that is Answ I have in my Discourse upon the Vials Vial 4. affirmed the place to be Germany and I may truly say that what I then affirmed more doubtfully I am by looking more intently upon this subject of the witnesses much perswaded of and confirmed in One reason which swayes with me is because the Holy Ghost seems to speak of the place by way of eminency as being the most noted place of the whole Papal Kingdom vers 8. The street of the great City i.e. the noted street the Market-street or as I may say the Thorow-fare so vers 10. The tenth part of the City fell the Original reads the words with an Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That tenth part of the City i.e. the most eminent noted part of all the Ten. Now the place being spoken of by way of eminency it must be understood either in relation to the witnesses or the Beast that kills them that is it must be either the most eminent place for witnesses or the most eminent Kingdom belonging to the beast one of the two Now take either of these and it doth not so properly agree to any place in all Europe as Germany for 1 In respect of Witnesses Our Question now is not where at this present day are most Witnesses but the thing we must look after is what place that is which through all the time of the Beasts reign hath been the most noted place for Witnesses and there must we fix our Standard Now that is Germany which in this respect until at this present day hath ever excelled all the Nations in Europe The Witnesses there began to appear for Christ openly against the Beast before the year 900 against whom suddenly after was raised a most bloody persecution by the Beast which per secution is the highest I can find in any History that was made to speak properly by the Beast Notwithstanding this persecution the witnesses as Ecclesiastical Writers affirm grew and increased and like fire in a thatch spread themselves over Germany and neighbouring Countries Yea from that day to this there ever have been more or less witnesses standing up and sacrificing their lives for the cause of Christ against the Beast in Germany so that Germany it hath been in a manner the Seed-plot of truth and the very Nursery of witnesses throughout all ages 2 Look upon it in respect of the Beast and it is also the most noted place and above all deserves to be called the street that tenth part by way of eminency being indeed the principal street of the great City the first horn of the Beast the chief Kingdom of the fourth Monarchy as under Antichrist as saith my worthy German Author in his Cl. p. 78. giving these three Reasons for it 1 Because It is called the Roman Empire 2 Because It is as it were a figure and Image of the old Roman Empire having seven Heads in regard of the seven Princes Electors and ten Provinces in respect of the ten Circles into which it is distributed 3 Because The Head of the German Empire hath still the name of a Roman Emperor and hath the preeminence above all other Kings adhering to the Papal State And truly when I cast mine eie upon what hath about half a year or three quarters of a year ago been done in Germany and also how the Saints there seem at present bereaved of life lying down and couching under their burden it appears to me the time place and thing compared together to be more than an ordinary dispensation And farther let me say Though the Saints there at
who walks there from the Center So those who travel in the large Circumference of mens Writings are farther from these principles than those who shunning this broad way betake themselves to the narrow path of the Word alone And it stands with reason it should so be though we had it not to say This way is the way of the Promise for the bringing forth of a Harmony being by comparing one thing with another a man may much better compare where he hath much laid down in a little as in the Word than where hee hath little in much as in the Writings of men for as Judgement Memory c. are greatly holpen by the one so are they confounded by the other Those principles are not without cause to be suspected which will not produce this Harmony for Truth being one and but one so far as the creature cannot make it one it s a manifest Argument of his falling short of the knowledge of Truth As it is ordinary for Gods people by inward hints to have first the light of thâ—se principles which followed up will produce this outward Harmony so must they in case they would walk safely and make right conclusions by this outward Harmony judge of their inward hints Hence inward hints are noâ— to the fleighted nor rably rejected for of entimes they carry that with them which were they followed up by those that have them would produce a glorious Harmony of Truth Nor contrariwise are they to be credited or received any further than by this out ward Harmony a testimony is given to them for it is most certain if the Spirit within be Teacher he will make manifest the hidden mysteries of his voyce without but never contradict them These principles I am speaking of could they be found out and brought to light the way to Truth would bee shorter the mystery of Truth cleerer the force of Truth to batter down Error by how much it would be more united greater and a close among the spirits of good men sooner attained than is like to be in any other way Withall whosoever would examine other mens principles upon any particular subâ—ect walking by this Rule shall find that work easie which might otherwise prove very difficult That I my self have attained this knowledge I cannot say nor is it likely seeing I am but uewly come unto this Lesson yet having made a discovery of such a way I am pressing after it and what I have attained I offer to thee Sober Reader Read and judge and try if thou pleasest A Key to the Mystical Numbers of Daniel and the Revelations Or. certain Theses tending to resolve the great Question of the present time How long shall it be unto the end of Wonders Added as a Motive to the several parts of Generation-Work THESIS I. THere is a certain definite and determined time that God in his Word hath set how long the Captivity and Sufferings of the Church of the New Testament shall continue beyond which they shall not be extended That such a determined time should be is a thing of special use both for the comfort of Gods Church under suffering the firengthning of their faith and the helping them in prayer and it cannot be thought that God who was so careful to measure out the time of his Churches sufferings under the Old Testament and that to a yeer yea a day seventy yeers in Babylon 430 in Egypt and in the self-same day the determined time was expired God brings them out Exod. 12.41 51. should be altogether careless as if his grace in Gospel-times were less of measuring out and determining the time of the Captivity and Sufferings of the Church of the New Testament THESIS II. The knowledge of this time is a thing attainable or otherwise there could be no advantage arising hence Yea the former ends should be fruitless and of no use yea otherwise why is there a promise left us of attaining knowledge as to this thing by running to and fro Dan. 12.4 if by running to and fro knowledge were not attainable Yea to what end are the mystical Numbers in the time of the end to be unsealed Dan. 12.9 if notwithstanding their unsealing no certain conclusion as to the things they hold forth were deducible THESIS III. This knowledge though attainable is not a discovery intended for al Ages but for the last only or those Saints which shall live immediately before the expiration of this time Therefore is the revealing time alwayes particulatly noted by this express Character The time of the end Dan. 12.4 But thou O Daniel shut up the words and seal the Book even to the time of the end Vers 9. Go thy way Daniel for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end Chap. 8.17 Vnderstand O Son of man for at the time of the end shall be the Vision which last words cannot respect the time of the Vision which was many Ages since in the third yeer of Belshazzar vers 1. nor the matter of the Vision as if the same did relate only to things done in the time of the end for the matter of the Vision is a Prophecie of the three last Monarchies First Medes and Persians Secondly Grecians Thirdly Romans the Babylonian Monatchy being omitted because it was in the expiration of that Daniel had the Vision and therefore the matter of it runs through all of them and may not be limited to the time of the end but they respect the revelation of the Vision which Daniel himself hath light into at present but with this Proviso that he shut it up Vers 26. Shut thou up the Vision for others must wait for the understanding of these things until the time of the end THESIS IV. The Persons in a capacity and that when the Book is opened to attain this knowledge are such only as make inquiry after it Therefore the determinative answer concerning the times is given forth to the inquiring Saints Dan. 8.13 14. Then I heard one Saint speaking and another Sain said unto that certain Saint which spake How long shall be the Vision concerning the daily Sacrifice and the transgression of desolation to give both the Sanctuary and the host to be trodden underfoot And he said unto me Vnto 2300 dayes then shall the Sanctuary be cleansed And also the promise of increase of this knowledge and that in the time when the Book is to be unsealed is not to all though persons otherwise qualified with abundance of grace and knowledge but to such onely as are runners to and fro Dan. 12.4 But thou O Daniel shut up the words and seal the Book even to the time of the end many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased THESIS V. The time it self is held forth in those Mystical Numbers that we find in the Prophecie of Daniel and the Book of the Revelation which must be because no determination of the time can be found in all the
the other from the time of the Vision for what is it that makes the 2300 days to be so hard to compute but this the ground we go upon to make up a right supputation of the years from the beginning of the Persian Monarchy until Christ is more dark perplexed and uncertain and therefore to find the vein of truth here is a thing more hard but now the 1335 dayes being begun as before with Julian the very beginning it self is below all the most difficult knots and therefore the computation made thence more easie Hence many have found the vein of truth that runs from the Head of the 1335 but the vein of truth that runs from the Head of the 2300 I may truly and modestly say hath not yet been found And indeed therefore God left that more clear this more dark because the way of God is to give his people first a little light afterwards more and also because that in the revelation of this light that after discovery might appear to be the greater light which before discovery was the thing most dark and obscure 3 Reason The Head of the 1335 is placed as it is because God in laying down that had a special design at another thing viz. To set up a light to shew us thereby the rising Beast as I observed before and therefore it was most necessary it should not be counted from the time of the Vision for then it could no way have served such an end but rather should be fixed as it is Which fixation is such and so wonderful that deny it and no other fixation can be which will first make the 1290 days end with the 1260. And secondly the 1335 with the 2300 both which must be for our fore-going reasons and by vertue of this fixation both are exactly performed as in part we have seen already and shall fully streightway And the number it self also hath as famous a Head for it self as any one number in Scripture What admirable wisdom therefore is there in appointing and disposing these heads as they are viz. That the 2300 days should begin where it doth and the 1335 where it doth And indeed were not the placing of the Head of the 1335 designed in the wonderful wisdom of God to be a Torch to give light to the time of the rise of the Beast we should have no Scripture ground but the bare report of History which leaves it so dubious as to many years that we cannot were we left to it alone know certainly which to chuse to build upon for the time of the Beasts rise and so consequently of his ruin though yet this is the great thing and as it were the very hinge of all the principal Apocalyptical Visions THESIS XL. The 2300 days as they end at the same point with the 1335 so also they determine the duration of all the three last Monarchies for they begin with the beginning of the Persian Monarchy and end with the end of the Roman This being therefore a divine determination the voyces of all humane Historians must here be laid aside and the reports of those only how many or few soever be acknowledged to be truth whose reports laid together will bring the 2300 days and the 1335 to end at the same point and also give to the three last Monarchies neither more nor less of years than 1300 which is the number of the years determined upon them THESIS XLI The calculation of this great number cannot be performed together but must be done by parts or by dividing it into several periods THESIS XLII The first part or period contains the number of years from the first of Cyrus to the 20. of that Artaxerxes whom the Greeks call Artaxerxes Mnemon with which year we are to begin Daniels 70 weeks or 490 years Chap. 9.24 THESIS XLIII That Daniels 70 weeks are to be begun from the 20 of Mnemon is clear from the Head of account that we have laid down in the Text vers 25. Know therefore and understand that the going forth of the Commandement to restore and to build Jerusalem shall be seven weeks and threescore and two weeks unto the Messiah the Prince i.e. 69 weeks of the 70 the other week we have ver 27. he shall confirm the Covenant with many for one week which added to the 69 makes up the 70 compleat Now observe the Head we are to begin upon is a command expresly for the building of Jerusalem but neither Cyrus command nor any command before this had relation to the building of Jerusalem for they concerned the Temple onely as the plain words of Cyrus Decree Ezra 1.1 2 3. do shew and again chap. 6.3 4 5. the copy of it which was kept in the Court Rolls and found many years after had not a word in it that concerned Jerusalem but the Temple onely nor had any following Decree untill the 20 of Artaxerxes so much as a tittle in it that concerned the building of Jerusalem but all still had reference to the building and beautifying of the Temple But now the Decree of Artaxerxes Mnemon granted to Nehemiah in the 20 year of his Reign did particularly concern the building of Jerusalem and indeed nothing else Nehem. 1.3 4. compare with chap. 2.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. verses THESIS XLIV The Objections from Ezr. 4.12 13 Isa 44.28 which at the first view seem to have in them weight against the thing I am speaking of may with ease and clearness be answered But I shall transmit the answer to a more full discourse THESIS XLV The number of years betwixt Cyrus first and the 20 of Artaxerxes Mnemon according to the account of the ancient Greeks who wrote the State and affairs of the Persian Monarchy are computable 147 which they reckon thus Cyrus 30 whereof we are to account upon but 3 Cambyses with the Magi 8 Darius Histaspes 36 Xerxes 21 Artaxerxes Longimanus 40 Darius Nothus 19 Artaxerxes Mnemon 43 of which we are to account upon but 20 THESIS XLVI This to be the account of the ancient Greeks is testified by Sir Walter Rawleigh History of the World Lib. 3. Chap. 4. Sect. 1. Carion in his Book of the four Monarchies in treating upon the second Monarchy Simpson Chronic. Catholic pars quarta p. 179. Onely Carion in his report differs from the other one year which falls within the number of those we are to account upon which is he gives to Xerxes but 20 years whereas the other give him 21. THESIS XLVII This account is followed by the best Chronologers namely Alsted in Chronologia Monarchiae Persarum Helvicus in Theatre Historico Sims Chron. Cath. Sir Walter Rawleigh in his History of the World who all of them with the limitation laid down in the next conclude upon the very same number of 147. years THESIS XLVIII The Greek Historians not accounting the first year of Cyrus from the time of his taking Babylon which they onely reckon amongst his noble exploâ—ts