the just and honourable Revenues of it to shrink into the poor arbitrarious Pittances of either the appointment of the State or uncertain benevolence of the fickle People That Scene of things I say cannot but harden their hearts against listening to never so just a Reformation for the further enlargement of Christ's Kingdom and hazard the very Being of the Reformed Churches Whenas this way I wish may obtain would silence Atheism and Fanaticism at once and be the readiest means of bringing on those happy Times of the Church which God has promised and predicted by the mouth of his holy Prophets But this is the gross iniquity and madness of the Sectaries that they think so goodly and choicely every one of their own Party that they think it worth the while to hazard the safety of Reformed Christendom to support any how and keep up for the present the small freaks and conceits of their own self-chosen Way and Sect. Than which nothing can be conceived more enormous and outragious amongst the dealings of the Sons of men to bring into imminent danger so solemn and sacrosanct a Constitution as the Reformation for the Dreams and Opinions of private Spirits which no sober Christian would hazard for small indifferent dispensable things though they had the stamp of publick allowance upon them which it is and ought to be in the hand of the Sovereign Power to alter for the common good And verily this Fanatical distemper is so heinous and abominable that they that are on the right side ought to take heed how in the least shew they imitate it For a man may be factiously affected in a right Cause and bear an over-proportionated zeal for things of smaller concern out of an over-heightned Animosity against the present Sects to the hazarding the quiet settlement of the whole And if any one be so affected I appeal to the sober if he may not justly be reputed to play the Sectarian himself though it be against the Sectaries No such Cure for our Breaches and Wounds as the most profound Humility in all Parties and unfeigned mutual Love and Charity Of which Vertues or Graces whosoever is found destitute let him call himself of whatever denomination Christian as loud as he please be has really in him not one spark of saving Christianity This or to this sense at least and most what in the very same words I wrote and published about two or three years ago to fence Peoples minds from Popery and reclaim them from Schism and perswade them to adhere to the ancient Primitive Church according to which our English Church is reformed and whose Principles she professes and hath ever practised as to the point of the Primitive Christians their not resisting the Sovereign Power though with undaunted Courage they professed the Truth of Christianity against the Vanities and Idolatries of Paganism and now for its present seasonableness and usefulness I have here transcribed it if the sincere vehemence wherewith I writ it may but have a suitable effect for the perswading the Sectaries to leave off their Schism and reconcile themselves to the Church of England Whereby besides the Purity and Decency of Divine Worship and soundness in the Faith Loyalty and Monarchy may be secured and they become good Christians and good Subjects at once Thus much I thought fit to write by way of Preface to intimate the more particular Usefulness of this present Treatise Other things are taken notice of in the Introduction in which then I was not aware that I should have so much to do with those affected Rationalists who pretend that Prophecies especially those of Daniel and the Apocalypse are utterly unintelligible In which conceit though they may applaud themselves as more special Admirers of dry Reason yet I cannot see how their Opinion can well comport with serious Piety and a sound Mind For in their thus oddly adhering to their imagined Reason in this thing they point-blank contradict the Scripture which declares Dan. 12. That the wicked indeed shall not understand but the wise shall understand And that is but a sorry Triumph of Reason that is pretended to be over true Wisdom And then for the Apocalypse let us but consider what Pomp and Applause the Communication of the Visions of the Book-Prophecy to our Saviour from his Father is set out by Apoc. Chap. V. and then judge of the unreasonableness of this Imputation of Unintelligibleness And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the Throne a Book written within and on the back-side sealed with seven Seals And I saw a strong Angel proclaiming with a loud voice Who is worthy to open the Book and to loose the Seals thereof And no man in Heaven nor in Earth nor under the Earth was able to open the Book neither to look thereon And I wept much because no man was found worthy to open and to read the Book neither to look thereon But at last the slain Lamb v. 7. came and took the Book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the Throne and thereupon the four Beasts and four and twenty Elders fall down before the Lamb and to their Harps chant out this new Song v. 9. Thou art worthy to take the Book and open the Seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God c. And immediately upon this v. 11. there is heard the voice of many Angels about the Throne even of ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands saying with a loud voice Worthy is the Lamb that was slain c. Let us therefore in the fear of God consider not only how ridiculous but how blasphemous a thing it is to think that this pompous Introduction than which nothing can be contrived more highly solemn and pompous should be to a Book of Prophecies that are utterly unintelligible As if the incarnate Wisdom did not only sport with the Children of men but delude and mock them What can be conceived more horrid and impious Wherefore without doubt the Visions of the Book-Prophecy are clearly intelligible And for the Epistolar Prophecy the Epistles to the seven Churches that they are also clearly intelligible may appear from the Introductory Vision there also For Christ in his Pontifical Habit there dictates them And therefore they are as so many Oracles given out from the Urim and Thummim of our High-Priest Christ Jesus which the Seventy interpret 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is clear declaration and certain Truth in counterdistinction to the obscure and ambiguous Answers of the Heathen Oracles and the Uncertainty of their Event And this is an Argument for the Intelligibleness and Truth of the whole Book of the Apocalypse it being all the Revelation of Jesus Christ the true High-Priest with his Urim and Thummim 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 clear Declaration to them that understand the Prophetick Stile Synchronism and History and such as will be accompanied with Truth and certainty of Event
words seem naturally to imply such a seeing of him as S. Paul had by Vision from Heaven whereby he was converted and forced to say Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord to recant his Judaism and sing Hosanna to Christ the Son of David and profess himself a Christian And accordingly which is the third place pointed at by Mr. Mede S. Paul 1 Tim. 1.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But for this very reason says he I who out of ignorance had been a Blasphemer a Persecuter and Injurer of Christ obtained mercy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that in me first as the Primitiae of the Jewish Nation that is to be converted in such a miraculous manner as I was Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not as our English has it for a pattern to them for then it should have been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but for a representative Figure or Type of them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting This seems to be the natural sense of the place For why should he say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in me first if others were not to follow that should be converted in such a miraculous manner as he was by Vision and Voices from Heaven For in other ways of Conversion he was not the first of the Jews that were converted Wherefore there must be a Conversion of the Jews by such a mean as S. Paul was converted and of which the manner of Paul's Conversion was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Prophetick Type or Figure These three Scriptures may incline a rational man to believe that some chief of the Jews the most able the most noted and most zealous of them for the Jewish Religion may be called as Paul was Whose Testimonies will awake all the Jewish Nation and cause them more impartially to consider the Truth of Christian Religion And the Completion of Prophecies and their genuine Interpretation the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church and the lives of the Reformed Christians a sort of them at least may be so considerably perfected by that time those few Names in Sardis by that time being well increased that things being so fitly prepared it may seem a Miracle for any honest sincere Jew in those days not to be converted These are my own proper thoughts on these three places of Scripture But for fuller satisfaction you may consult Mr. Mede I do not love to dwell long on an Argument that I cannot so certainly and assuredly master CHAP. XIX The last part of the Letter The Reinforcement of his Objection against the literal or physical sense of the first Resurrection from two parallel places of Daniel and John An Answer to that Reinforcement from those very parallel places The Genius of the Prophetick Stile in Daniel and John in intimating one Antitheton by another What Antitheton to those awakened into Eternal life in Daniel is to be found in the Apocalypse What is meant by the Devil's detrusion into the Abyss That the first Resurrection is Physical not Political proved from the Text it self Apoc. 20. v. 4. That the Judgment there did pass upon those that were either naturally or politically dead before the Millennium when the wicked were not politically so and therefore cannot be those revived in a Political sense after the Millennium Further Arguments that the first Resurrection is Physical THUS far I wrote before I received your last which contains a Reinforcement of your former Objection against the taking the first Resurrection Apoc. 2◠in a literal or Physical sense and not in a Political What you add I confess is sober and ingenious and may suit with some mens palates the best but though I have thought several times of this very thing afore of my self yet mine ever refused it I will set it down in your own words that I may not disadvantage the strength of the sense you aim at You ask Whether since my self make that place of Daniel Chap. 12. parallel to that of Apoc. 20. the first Resurrection mentioned there by S. John may not be understood rather in a Political sense of the state of the Church in the Millennium than in a natural and Physical concerning the Martyrs For those others say you in Daniel which awake to shame and everlasting contempt perhaps may be answerable to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Apocalypse and the awakening there parallel to the living here c. And whereas it is said by S. John The rest of the dead lived not again till the thousand years were finished what hinders say you but it may be understood of the wicked getting into Political power again after the expiration of the Millennium That is briefly your sense if not your very words To this I answer That though the attempt be ingenious to object thus from those two parallel places yet the places themselves that are parallel will jointly bear off the force of the Objection and show that a mere Political sense for these places is harsh and forced For what can be more violent and harsh than to interpret Dan. 12.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a Political sense This is the main place that the Jews alledge for their Article of the Resurrection in a Physical sense as also the Christians And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the very Gospel-phrase again and again inculcated that signifies a blessed Immortality in a glorified body And besides this as Apoc. 20.12 there is mention of Books being opened at the general and Physical Resurrection as all well in their wits must needs understand it so before this Resurrection in Daniel there is mention of the Book in which those whose Names are written are to be saved as it is said Apoc. 20.15 that those whose Names are not found in the Book of Life were cast into the Lake of fire These things considered methinks make it certain that the awaking here in Daniel into everlasting life signifies not a Political but Physical Resurrection let Porphyrius and Grotius phansie what they please And therefore in this parallel place of the Apocalypse the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their living and reigning with Christ must have a Physical sense not a Political and signifie their Vivification into celestial bodies and their reigning with him in Heaven And so those that had not worshipped the Beast nor received his mark c. they answer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in eodem genere that is to say in a Political sense to those that in Daniel are to be in shame and everlasting contempt one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 implying the opposite thereto and the opposite to that in Daniel is here made choice of in the Apocalypse For it is the Genius of the Prophetick stile in these two Prophets Daniel and John to intimate one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by another I have observed several Examples though I have not the command of them in my memory for the present That in
with very solid Reason from History See his Recensio cap. 6. And consentaneously to this he cites that Famous Historian and Antiquary Hubertus Golizius who in his Annalis Historia of Augustus mentions the Numerousness of his Souldiers at that time and the distribution of his ordinary Legions throughout the Provinces and the Institution of the setled Revenue in the Consulate of Aelius Lamia and Servilius Geminus which immediately precedes that of Aelius Catus and Sentius Saturninus in which the middle Tax was finished as appears out of Dion From whose Authority alone it is evident that this middle Tax ended the next year following that of Aelius Lamia and Servilius Geminus How easie is it then to conceive that it began at least that very year if not the year before Whence it will be plain that this is the Tax and time when Christ was born viz. in the year of Lamia and Geminus according as the right Epocha of Daniel's Weeks requires and the Age of Christ when he was baptized of John demonstrates to be true See Chap. 8. When the thing is brought so near even by profane History we may be sure the exquisite truth of it will reach to that which we know to be true by Testimony Divine But Secondly It is observed out of the same Dion that such was the Policy of Augustus that he made a show as if he would keep the Government such as he received of the Senate which was to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Magister Correctorque Morum which was look't upon as a more fair and plausible Title than 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Censor and so for his being Emperour that he used to resume this Censorian Power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as he did the Imperatorial 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 only for a set time namely from ten years to ten years Now the times of these resumed Powers at a complete decennial interval follow the first of them the first Tax of Augustus begun Agrippa being then his Collegue but the latter viz. the Resumption of his Imperatorial Power follows the said Tax transacted and begins in the year when Augustus was the seventh time and Agrippa the third time Consuls and ends with the year when P. Cornelius Lentulus and Cn. Cornelius Lentulus were Consuls as the other with the year before Saturninus and Vespillo being Consuls Wherefore reckoning on still by complete Decenniums the third Decennium from Saturninus and Vespillo of the Censorian Power will end in the year before the Consulship of Silius and Munatius but the third of the Imperatorial in that very year In which Dion says that Augustus did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he then entred upon the fifth ten-years of his Imperial Reign or Government But now count backward from the year before inclusively his last ten years of Censorian Rule will reach into the year of Aelius Lamia and Servilius Geminus the middle year in all likelihood of this middle Tax Thirdly The Time-eaten Names of the Consuls in that Monumentum Ancyranum above-mentioned as riddled out by T. L. fairly confirms that the midst of this middle Tax was in the Consulship of Aelius Lamia and Servilius Geminus For as he notes well Censorum Sinio cos and a little after this in consulatu Fi the former of these cannot be understood of Asinius Gallus as some would have it who was ten years before Vinicius and Alfinius because in Dion lib. 55. neither in the Consulship of Drusus and Crispinus immediately before his nor in Tiberius and Piso's that immediately follows nor in his own is there any mention of any Tax or Lustral Sacrifice wherewith they wont to be concluded To which I add it being said in that Monument of this middle Tax Nuper lustrum solus feci legi censorum Sinio cos it being at least twenty years from the erection of this Monument by Augustus to Asinius Gallus his Consulship Nuper would be very improperly applied in this case and circumstances but more naturally to ten years later the true time of this middle Tax And therefore this Sinio T. L. does not rashly phansie to be for Sentio for the Consul Sentius Saturninus Which haply may proceed from hence that he that read this Monument to the Scribe that was to write it fair for the Carver in stone pronounced the E in Sentio like an I as one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Hebrew of old served for both E and I and in sundry words we may observe how E is changed into I. Thus the Ionians for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in derivations of words out of Greek as for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we say Sicilia for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tingo for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 animus and the like which shows how easily E runs into the sound of I. Whence we may fairly conceive how either the Reader sounded Sintio for Sentio or they being so near in sound the Scribe took it for Sintio And if we remember that it is a false Pronunciation to sound S for T but that they pronounced it like the Greek Tau in old time before I as well as before other Vowels and that this T after N was usually sounded like D it follows then that it was sounded by the Reader Sindio Which D in this word makes so faint an impress on the ear that the Scribe might very well think the Reader to him to say Sinio and wrote so accordingly And now for the latter in consulatu Fi which all Antiquaries look upon as a desperate business to make sense of T. L. conceives the whole word is either Alfinii or Vinicii as if it were Finicii For F and V consonant have muchwhat the same sound the Digamma Aeolicum that is F being rendred by V consonant in Latine words derived from the Greek as from the Aeolick 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are the Latine Vis Vinum Vespera and so the Scribe might phansie him that read to him to have said Finicii not Vinicii and so to have wrote accordingly I must confess that the picking out sense out of old over-worn Marble Monuments from an eager desire of serving some Hypothesis may justly too often seem like the disease of young Maids that have the Green-sickness and pick strange stuff out of mud Walls to satisfie their longings so that these ingenious Conceits alone of T. L. would little avail with me but that they fall in with other manifest indications in the same Monument as when it says cum nuper lustrum solus feci legi that is to say transigi vel condi which is very harsh to refer in things of this nature to the distance of twenty years before whenas the Lustrums were every fifth year Wherefore it can be no Tax in Asinius Gallus his Consulship And besides this it is observable in the first Tax of these three though it was begun in the year when Sext. Apuleius and Augustus was the fifth time Consul
belonging also to the Emperours though they mainly intrusted the Hierarchy with it and they giving no check by any Edict or Rescript from Theodosius M. his time to Leo Isaurus as I noted above this not forbidding is plainly encouraging commanding or assuring them in this erroneous way as he that rides an Horse and has the reins in his hands is supposed to approve of the way the Horse goes if he checks him not with the bridle and so direct him into the right way So that the Apostasie thus begun under the Emperours it is manifest they stand guilty thereof and so became Apostatical or Pagano-Christian Heads of the Beast so soon as the Apostasie began Which is the thing that was to be demonstrated 6. And that the forty two months War of the Beast commenced as early as the Apostasie may be easily understood by any body that understands the Genius of the Apocalyptick Stile which is highly figurative and of a lofty vigorous sense-striking strain using the fullest and strongest Metaphors and therefore it is no wonder that all the Contest and Tug betwixt the Apostatizing Empire and the Witnesses from the beginning to the end of the Contest is set out by that one high-sounding Word or Phrase of War though at first it was only a Dispute and Contest in words as in the Case of S. Jerome and Vigilantius And the Metaphor is so easie and natural though so grandisonant that our Theological Controversies and Disputes are ordinarily called Polemical Divinity that is in plain English Warring or Warlike Divinity And this War is not said to be betwixt the Head of the Beast and the Witnesses as if the War could not begin till the Head of the Beast positively opposed the Witnesses but betwixt the Beast and the Witnesses so that even while there was no Edict of the Emperours against the Witnesses yet the War might be begun and continued betwixt the Beast and the Witnesses unless a man will be so humoursom as in the Fight of an Horse with a Bear because the Horse bites not with his head but only kicks with his heels to deny he fights with the Bear And yet how positively the Emperours did concur with the Apostatizing part of the Empire has been declared above 7. That the Beast was in being before the ten Kings rose in the Empire is demonstrated from your own Concession viz. That the Apostasie of the Empire was before the ten Kings rose in the Empire For the Apostasie into Pagano-Christianism is that very Form or Essence that turned the Empire into that state which the Prophetick Stile calls The Beast that was is not and yet is And its being divided into ten Kingdoms confers no more to its being a Beast than quartering a slain Mutton into four quarters by a Butcher contributes to its being a slain Mutton which it was as fully before So that this Division in neither case is a Causa sine qua non of the thing being so Nor does it follow because the Apostatized Empire is represented by the Beast with ten Horns crowned that therefore it was not a Beast before those ten-crowned Horns no more than it follows that the Apostatized Hierarchy represented by the Whore Chap. 17. so drunk with the blood of the Saints and so gorgeously apparelled was not a Whore till she was grown so extremely sumptuous in her Ornaments and barbarously cruel in her Persecutions The use of the ten Horns crowned in the Representation of the Beast Chap. 13. is not to signifie it was not a Beast till those actually crowned Horns but to distinguish him from the Dragon with ten Horns uncrowned Chap. 12. and so to intimate that this Beast Chap. 13. is a Representation of the Empire after it had degenerated into a Pagano-Christian State For the Division of the Empire into ten Kingdoms was not till after it had become Christian 8. And lastly As for your Postscript I do not ground my distinction of the Beast's forty two months prosperous Reign from his Reign at large upon the different Readings of Rev. 13.5 but prove that their Reading that read v. 5. That power was given him to make forty two months War with the Saints or that he was to proceed prosperously or do prosperously forty two months and not to continue at large is the best and truest sense As is proved in the Preface to the Answer to the Remarks I say that Reading or sense I contend for is not supposed but proved forasmuch as the issue even the final issue of that War is but a partial Fall of the City and correspondent Rising of the Witnesses I pray consider the sixth seventh and eighth Queries and the Notes on them and I think it will be impossible for you not to be convinced CHAP. XXIX Hints of an Answer to a fourth Letter That the Rising of the Witnesses Rev. 11. denotes a partial Regaining only of the Kingdom of Antichrist into the hands of Christ A further Enforcement of the same Truth The Event of the forty two months War of the Beast in what sense partial in what final The whole Event of the Rising of the Witnesses the Object of the Prediction The Times and Half reach not beyond the sixth Trumpet The Object and Subject of the three Wo-Trumpets not the same The continued Conflict betwixt the Antichristian and Evangelical Party with the Effects thereof to what Visions referrable Passages in Daniel Chap. 7. amply explained That even from our Antagonists Epocha the Reckoning not by Years but Semi-times in the Medial Visions is necessary No hopes of foretelling from the Medial Numbers to a year or thereabout when the Church's Affliction shall cease proved by many Arguments The danger of forcing out pleasing Interpretations of the Prophetical Visions when they will not afford them 1. TO your first Paragraph I say That which falls out after the War of forty two months equal and Synchronal to the three days and an half to the three Times and an Half and to the rest that synchronize with these and is the issue of this forty two months War is the final issue thereof But the Rising of the Witnesses falls out as the issue of that War betwixt the Beast and them after the three days and an half equal and Synchronal to the forty two months according to the express intimation of the Text Chap. 11.11 Wherefore the Rising of the Witnesses commensurate to the partial Fall of Babylon or of the great City is the final issue of the forty two months War of the Beast against the Saints and Witnesses according to the express indication of the Vision This is the final issue of the forty two months War which closes with the Exit of the sixth Trumpet which the Vials follow and are intended for a further Ruine of the Beast afterwards So that this so plain a Truth is not inconsistent with the regaining of larger shares nay the whole Kingdom of Antichrist into Christ's own hands again
mentioned even in the fifth Vial. And when so horrible a War was raised against the Evangelical Party here in England in Eighty eight and that by the great Providence of God they were so defeated this is referrible to the third Vial. And if in the midst of the sedulous Attacks of the Antichristian Party some mighty Potentate in Christendom should by God's Providence be raised up in their behalf the hearts of Kings being in the hand of God this were referrible to the fourth Vial. But according to the Apocalyptick Stile this is to be accounted neither any part of the forty two months War nor of the Rising of the Witnesses It is something tedious to insist on things so plain 6. In your sixth Paragraph you lay great stress upon that Passage Apoc. 17.17 touching the ten Kings that God has put into their hearts to fulfil his Will and to agree and give their Kingdom to the Beast until the words of God shall be fulfilled which words of God you understand of Daniel's Prophecy of the little Horn having the Saints given into his hands until a Time and Times and dividing of a Time And of those other words of Daniel where he says I beheld and the same Horn made War with the Saints and prevailed against them until the Ancient of days came and Judgment was given to the Saints of the most High and the time came that the Saints possessed the Kingdom Dan. 7.21 22. and then you skip from v. 22. to v. 27. adding And what Kingdom that is he tells in the following words but they follow a great way off The Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven And you say you suppose I will not say this Kingdom is so given and possessed yet and if not how can you say the little Horns making War with the Saints and prevailing against them for a time and times and half a time is expired I pray you Sir think seriously on this Answ Well I have thought seriously on it and find what you lay such great stress on has no strength in it at all I easily admit those words of Apoc. 17.17 may allude to these passages of Daniel But there is nothing here that infers that the forty two months War of the Beast with the Saints extends any further than the partial Fall of the great City and the then commensurate Rising of the Witnesses Which Time I call the prosperous Reign and War of the Beast which are the Time and Times and half a Time here mentioned in Daniel and in which Fall the last Semi-time current he made War and prevailed against the Saints as Daniel also has foretold And this was till the Ancient of Days came and Judgment was given to the Saints of the most High v. 22. which is further explained v. 26. which you wisely skipped over But the Judgment shall sit and they shall take away his viz. the little Horn's Dominion not all of it at once as it was not at the Fall of the tenth part of the City and commensurate Rising of the Witnesses but leisurely by degrees Which Apocalyptick Vision therefore is an excellent Commentary on this Text of Daniel God has adjudged the Cause to the Evangelical Party by this partial Fall of Babylon and the then Rising of the Witnesses This taking away part of the little Horn's Dominion is a Pledge of the having it consumed and destroyed even to the end But this destruction and consumption is not the issue of the forty two months War wherein the Beast prevailed for such a time against the Saints but at last he was partially vanquished but it is the result of the Effusion of the Vials so that things that lay so close wrapt up in Daniel are thus distinctly and explicitely set out in the Apocalypse and the Explication found to be the easie and natural sense of Daniel Do not wink wilfully against Truth and you will easily discern it See my Exposition of Daniel's second Vision on this place v. 26. And though this is so easily answered yet you are earnest with me again at the close of your Letter to observe that the Time Times and half a Time reach as far as till the Ancient of Days shall come and till the Judgment shall be given to the Saints c. Which thing I grant you viz. That the Time and Times and half a Time of the Horns prevailing War against the Saints did reach so far till the Ancient of Days gave him so notorious a check and counterbuff in the partial Fall of the City and the then Rising of the Witnesses This was the final issue of the forty two months once prosperous War of the little Horn or Beast against the Saints Which Time and Times and half a Time is no where mentioned in the Vision of Daniel Chap. 7. but in v. 25. then comes that in the 26. verse which is evidently to be expounded as I have above expounded it That upon the Judgment being set his Dominion in part was taken away in the partial Fall of the great City to which the Time and Times and half a Time do reach and comprize in the last Semi-time This is the issue of the three days and an half 's War or seven Semi-times War of the little Horn or the Beast with the Saints But the consuming and destroying his Dominion to the end that is the work of the seven Vials which being done then it follows v. 27. And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the Saints of the most High For then is the descent of the New Jerusalem in opposition to the great City of Babylon now quite abolished and after comes in the blessed Millennial Reign of Christ upon Earth which is the greatness of his Kingdom under the whole Heaven All which glorious Providences you would crumple up within the three Times and an half whenas it is demonstrated in Mr. Mede that the three Times and an half reach but to the Exit of the sixth Trumpet which you acknowledge the seven Vials to follow Consider seriously these things But to proceed to the seventh Paragraph 7. Here I only briefly advertise you that the first appearance of the Rising of the Witnesses falling some eighteen years short of the last Semi-time according to your Epocha or not reaching it by eighteen years that this is a greater Argument against the truth of your Epocha than against my Hypothesis that a Semi-time is the only Authentick Vnite in the Eventual Computation of the Medial Visions For according to your Epocha the Rising of the Witnesses will not begin after the seventh Semi-time current but before it which is expresly against the Text After three days and an half which absurdity cannot be salved but by making the entire Resurrection of the Witnesses the adequate Object of the Prediction and so it will reach about seventy years at least
Prophetick Visions by Premiss the second But this State commenced at least fifty years before the ten Horns that is the ten Kings were all risen up in the Empire Wherefore the Beast under the seventh Head was in being before the ten Kings or ten Horns were risen up in the Empire Which was the thing to be demonstrated and which I conceive can never be confuted nor solidly answered by any one that acknowledges the Apostasie began at least fifty years before the ten Kings appeared in the Roman Empire In the interval indeed betwixt the Pagan and Pagano-Christian Caesars there was no Head of the Beast but that was the time wherein there was no Beast It was that time in which that part of the Name of the Beast was made good viz. Is not was and is not as that part is made good under the Pagano Christian Caesars or at large under the seventh Head viz. Is not and yet is For then it is rightly said of him He is not that old Pagan Beast and yet being again then revived into the Image of the former Pagan Beast in this Pagano-Christianity it is rightly said of him that he is and so the whole is fulfilled Is not and yet is But certainly when-ever he was either in his primitive or revived state he was not without an Head by Premiss the second And thus we have seen how solid and unexceptionable their Opinion is that place the Epocha of the forty two months War of the Beast with the Saints or Witnesses as high as the Apostasie of the Empire into Paganish Superstition and Idolatry that is to say about three hundred ninety three or four hundred years after Christ According to which Epocha the Reformation begun by Luther which is the partial Fall of Babylon and the then commensurate Rising of the Witnesses will commence about the middle of the second month of the last Hexamenon or Semi-time and reach into the middle of the fifth if not into the sixth month which is a wonderful easie natural and congruous completion of the time of the Event of that Vision But if the Epocha of that forty two months War be placed fifty or sixty years later viz. at the Rising up of the tenth King or tenth Horn in the Roman Empire the Rising of the Witnesses will begin about twenty years before the last Semi-time which is harsh and incongruous Besides that it would not reach the end this Epocha is intended for viz. to shew there will be a further fulfilling of this Vision of the Rising of the Witnesses even to a full ruine of the City of Babylon or the Beast so that the deliverance of the Church will be fully completed before the Expiration of the forty two months Which is plainly repugnant to express indications in the Vision it self For first The partial Fall or Fall of the tenth part of the City is plainly said to come to pass after the three days and an half which is the same with a Time and Times and half a Time or forty two months So that it is as evident as if it were writ with a beam of the Sun that the final issue of the forty two months War of the Beast with the Saints or Witnesses is no other than the partial Fall or Fall of the tenth part of the City and not of the whole City and a Rising then of the Witnesses commensurate thereto And then in the second place If the completion of this Vision of the Fall of the City and Rising of the Witnesses were within the forty two months space extended to a full deliverance of the true Church and an utter Ruine of Babylon or the Beast since the fulfilling of this Vision of the Rising of the Witnesses is before the Exitus of the sixth Trumpet Apoc. 11.14 and that it is confessed on both sides that the Vials all of them follow the sixth Trumpet and are in the seventh and that yet these Vials are to be poured upon the Beast by this reckoning there will be no Beast left for them to be poured upon Which is a most manifest Repugnancy CHAP. XXXI The Ichnography of Ezekiel 's Temple according to Villalpandus with two ways of computing the proportion of the Outer Court to the Inner thereby THE right and assured understanding of the Extent of the Symmetral Times of the Church being of so good use and great moment and that depending upon the knowledge of the proportion which the Outer Court has to the Inner which proportion is to be understood out of the Ichnography of Ezekiel's Temple which that learned industrious and judicious Writer on this Subject Johannes Baptista Villalpandus has delineated I shall first set down this Ichnography of the Temple so far as is useful to this purpose according to the mind of Villalpandus and after prove the truth and solidity thereof SW Africus NW Caurus SE Eurus NE Aquilo The entire Area of the whole Temple on which it is built viz. a. b. c. d. is five hundred Cubits long and as many broad and therefore is a perfect Square A perpetual Porticus noted with three Lines of which the middle is punctulated or made by points fifty Cubits broad divides this whole Area into seven equal square Area's SW NW X. Y. SE. Z. NE and into one oblong Area α. β. γ. δ. having the length of two hundred and fifty Cubits but the breadth of an hundred Cubits And there is a perpetual middle Ambulation or Walk in this perpetual Porticus And the middle Line viz. that which is punctulated drawn through the midst of this Walk doth fitly and that perpetually divide the Porticus in respect of the said Area's into exteriour and interiour Which being done it will be manifest that the oblong Area with the interiour Porticus lying about it and appertaining to it viz. ε. ξ. η. θ. will bear precisely a double proportion to each of the seven Area's with their interiour Porticus's belonging to them and looking into them single as in ε. ι. χ. λ. and so of the rest For the interiour Porticus's look into their own proper Area's or Courts the exteriour into their neighbouring Courts or Area's excepting the outmost of all as μ. ι. Ï. ν. and the rest which are placed on the Perimeter For these look out into the fields But from hence we may understand how naturally all the Porticus's which have Courts and Area's placed on both sides as σ. α. γ. ν. and φ. χ. ψ. ω. are divided long-wise into two equal parts and that those parts only which look into the next Area are to be reckoned to be the Porticus of that Area And therefore whenas that long Porticus which on all sides compasseth the rest of the space of the Temple can be rightly thought to look into a neighbouring Area only by one half of it self divided long-wise it is very reasonable that that interiour half part only of the Porticus should
the guidance of the Spirit and whether that Voice Rev. 16.17 from the Throne It is done and the same Voice Rev. 21.6 do not answer to Time should be no longer c. Rev. 10.6 Answ The true sense out of the Original of that latter Clause of Rev. Chap. 10. v. 6. and of the following Verse is this That there shall be no longer time saving in the days of the voice of the seventh Angel when he shall sound c. This is made good in my Notes upon my Exposition of that Chapter and still further confirmed by the Answer to the Remarker on the place So that no man of any competency of Judgment can possibly deny the truth of that Exposition Wherefore if Time signifie the Political Order and Government of the World we are assured by the Oath of the Angel that such Government will continue all along the sounding of the seventh Trumpet which reaches to the end of the World For his swearing there will be no longer time saving what the seventh Trumpet comprizeth implies that Time which S. E. would have signifie Political Government will continue all that Trumpet long But now for the Voice It is done in those places mentioned how it can answer to this place let any man of sense consider unless it be such an impertinent Answer as is perstringed in that Proverb Which the way to London A poke full of Plums The mentioned Voice It is done though Time here signified Political Order and Government were nothing to the confirming that Notion For Rev. 16.17 it signifies nothing but assurance of success to the Ministers of Christ's Kingdom under the seventh Vial. And Rev. 21.6 the assurance of the truth of the Prediction of the glorious appearance of the New Jerusalem on Earth That the thing is as sure as if it were done already and therefore he presently adds I am Alpha and Omega c. as intimating his ability certainly to effect it Query 2. Whether the Plagues inflicted by the Witnesses were not inflicted during their 1260 days prophesying Chap. 11.6 and therefore the same with the six first Plagues there being no other actually inflicted Plagues prefigured but they This is taken out of the Answer to the Remarks pag. 119. Answ This is made a Query because the above-mentioned Letter pretends Allegations against the truth of the Affirmative thereof As that most of the first six Plagues were expired before the Witnesses began to prophesie and that also those Plagues belong to the Sealed Book-Prophecy which the prophesying of the Witnesses does not and are inflicted by barbarous Nations c. To which I answer That the prophesying of the Witnesses and the six first Plagues or Trumpets are Synchronal according to Mr. Mede and the Truth it self and therefore none of the Plagues could expire before the Witnesses began to prophesie And although the prophesying Witnesses belong not to the Sealed Book-Prophecy yet being Synchronal to the first six Trumpets of the Sealed Book-Prophecy they are so to the first six Plagues and therefore falling in to the same time bid fair for proving the Inflicters of the said Plagues and those six to be the Plagues the Witnesses are said to inflict during the 1260 days of their prophesying in which they must inflict them or never For the Scene of the Witnesses goes off at the close of the sixth Trumpet Nor do these first six Plagues being executed by the barbarous Nations hinder but that they may be inflicted by the Witnesses in that way they inflict any Plagues which if positively is only by denouncing them as Jeremy is said to do the things he denounces Jer. 1.10 The Objector also seems not to distinguish betwixt the Witnesses prophesying it self and the Plagues attending their prophesying nor betwixt their Power of inflicting Plagues and their actually inflicting them The thing therefore I say is this That there is no other positively and actually inflicted Plagues prefigured but those contained under the first six Trumpets to the close of the sixth whereof the Fall of the City and Rising of the Witnesses is referrible Upon which it is said the second Wo is past Chap. 11.14 And the Fall of the City or Conversion of so considerable a part of the Western Empire to the pure Gospel is referrible to the effect of the fire proceeding out of the Witnesses mouths Chap. 11.5 according to my Interpretation Query 3. Whether the opening the Temple Rev. 11.19 is just before the first Vial but the time of the seeing the Ark there not till the sixth Vial whenas yet the opening the Temple was for the immediate shewing the Ark and the sight thereof the first thing related upon the opening the Temple Answ Whoever reads considerately and unprejudicedly the 23. Chapter of these Paralipomena cannot but be fully assured that what follows the Doxologie of the Elders Rev. 11. and the joyful Annunciation of the Fall of Babylon Rev. 14. falls into the times of the Vials and is a more broken and defectuous Representation of them Wherefore whereas after the Song of Moses and the Lamb Rev. 15. which answers to the Doxologie of the Elders and joyful Annunciation of the Fall of Babylon the Opening of the Temple there v. 5. is in order to the going forth of the Vial-Angels and there being no pouring forth of the Vials but by the Vial-Angels nor they doing their work before they come out of the opened Temple it is plain that the Temple was open or stood open before the first Vial Rev. 11. though the mention of its standing open is not before the sixth Vial the opening of the Temple being not simply for the shewing the Ark but for the going forth of the Vial-Angels But the Temple standing all this time open the Ark is not said to be seen till some time after it denoting the time of the Calling of the Jews with whom God has made an everlasting Covenant as this Ark is the Ark of the Covenant Nor is it said that John saw this Ark but it is said indefinitely to be seen the eyes of all at that time being to be cast upon that Holy Covenant which God made to Abraham and his Seed for ever expecting that God himself will have an eye to it then and make good his glorious Promises to that long exercised and afflicted people Nor is the sight of the Ark the first thing related upon the opening the Temple but though the Temple stood open before yet it is not mentioned till now the more to set off the richness of this discovery of God's Mercy towards the Jews which the Apocalypse every where sets such an excessive value upon as if this were such a weighty Arcanum or Mystery as S. Paul also calls it that it were worth the opening the Temple though it were but for the discovery of that Mystery alone Query 4. Whether what happens in the allotted times of the Trumpet-Angels and Vial-Angels may be attributed to the Angel to whom