when Daniel was to rise and stand in his lot But go thy way till the end be for thou shalt rest and stand in thy lot at the end of days But this cannot agree to Antiochus Epiphanes whose Kingdom expired many years before Christs first coming Nor did Daniel arise and stand in his lot at the end of those days viz. the days of his Persecution which yet is promised to Daniel at the end of the days here spoken of Further this Prophecy is said to be for many days Chap. 10. ver 14. I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days for yet the Vision is for many days For a long time chap. 10.1 in the third year of Cyrus a thing was revealed to Daniel and the thing was true but the time appointed was long Now it is not ordinary in Scripture Phrase a thousand years with God being but as a day to call so short a time as was the time betwixt Daniel and Antiochus Epiphanes many days a long time 3 Because he who appears to Daniel Chap. 10.5 6. Chap. 12.7 being the same who appeared to John Revel 10.5 6. and also the time times and a half Dan. 12.7 being a time peculiar to the Gentile Saints Revel 12.14 it thence follows that this Prophecy is to be brought down into the Apocalypticall times and therefore could not have its fulfilling in the days of Antiochus Epiphanes To these let me adde some few of the very many Arguments all which would be tedious here to repeat that are laid down by Mr. Parker in his Daniels Visions and Prophecies expounded p. 91. to 97. and again p. 111. to p. 116. in opposition to this opinion 1 How saith hee was Antiochus Epiphanes a vile Person to whom they gave not the honour of the Kingdom seeing he was the lawfull Son of Antiochus Magnus who to use the words of Graserus was so great even from his Infancy that then in the world known unto us there was scarce another to be compared with him 2 I require saith he a sufficient reason if this be Antiochus Epiphanes why as many or rather more words should be spent upon him then were spent upon all the Kings of Syria and Aegypt before him whereof some were farre more notable in exploits then he If any say that it is so because he was more notable in afflicting the Saints I still demand But why are so many words spent upon these Warlike exploits that concerned not the Church Besides others before afflicted the Jewish Church not alittle and yet their afflictions are not here mentioned If his persecution did exceed yet why should the description thereof exceed so much being but short in duration and not to be compared with those of Nebuchadnezzar precedent or those of the Romans in the time following But if it bee said The reason is because Antiochus is described as the type of Antichrist I answer again That the Type howsoever must be according to truth and the words of description answerable to the things contained therein the Holy Ghost would not represent Antichrist by a type excessively described above the verity and proportion thereof 3 He proves at large that the Warres of this King and the severall expressions the holy Ghost useth in describing them vers 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32. cannot be applied to Antiochus Epiphanes p. 93 94 95. 4 What should I speak saith he of the great afflictions of the Church by sword flame captivity and spoyl and that for many days ver 33. at certain gusts succeeding after interruptions The Church now and then rising and prevailing vers 32 33 34. and then at certain fatall revolutions set by God exposed again to fire and sword vers 35. How can these passages bee exhausted in the narrow and short persecutions of Antiochus 5 That Phrase ver 36. He shall do what hee lists is usually applied to irresistable and uncontroulable Monarchs vers 3.16 Chap. 8.4 and cannot be applied to Antiochus over whom the Romans were so imperious that at the threatning look and command of the Ambassador Popilius he was forced to retire out of Aegypt and leave his prey Adde to this That he was inwrapped with many difficulties at home Lastly Our aforesaid Author proveth largely p. 112 113 c. that those Characters ver 37 38 39. as He shall not regard the God of his Fathers neither shall he regard the desire of Women neither shall he regard any God but shall magnifie himself above all He shall honour a God whom his Fathers knew not and a strange God he shall divide the Land for gain are not any one of them appliable to Antiochus Epiphanes which things who desires to see I refer him to the Author as judging what I have already said enough if it be not of some thought more then enough From the whole it appears That the aforesaid opinion of the little Horn neither doth nor will agree to Daniels great Prophecy Fourthly and lastly For the Prophecy it self Chap. 8. This opinion of Antiochus doth no way agree to it Take here likewise some of Mr. Parkers Arguments in answer to it Daniels Visions and Prophecies expounded p. 36 37. 1 This little Horn riseth when the transgressors are come to the full and in the end of the Graecian Empire chap. 8.23 whereas Antiochus was in the midst and far from the time of the great and full degree of transgressors 2 The Horn here spoken of is in respect of his beginnings called a little Horn whereas Antiochus was not so low at first as to be called a little Horn for Antiochus in respect of his Parentage and condition of Fortune which he had thereby was so great even from his infancy that then in the world there was scarce another to bee compared with him being the undoubted Son of Antiochus the Great and after Seleucus Philopater his elder Brother right Heir of the Kingdoms of Asia Babylon and Syria 3 This Horn is said to wax very great in comparison of the former Horns vers 9. whereas Antiochus although he was great from his beginning yet did not attain unto a condition greater then his Fathers Concerning which let the words of Graserus be observed He saith he never had full possession of the whole Kingdom of his Father Antiochus the Great which hee possessed before the Roman War the sinews of War also failed him not once And as for that which Junius alledgeth concerning his taking of Aegypt if that were true yet would it little help his cause seeing it is manifest that his Father Antiochus did not less exploits against AEgypt Indeed Antiochus Epiphanes did the second time invade Aegypt but with such a successe that he got more dishonour then honour thereby Neither in other Wars was he so happy and fortunate that therein he might be so farre preferred above his Ancestors In sum Antiochus Epiphanes had little or nothing more then the meaner sort of
repent to be arraigned as such before his Throne another day who will then passe a Judgement of persons and things not as they are in mens interpretations but according as he hath left them in his Word yea let it be seriously considered and laid to heart whether or no the condemning this blessed Doctrin the glorious truth of the Age viz. of the Fifth Monarchy or Christs visible Kingdom considering that no five Parties this day in England have so much to say from the Word for their particular opinions though all they have to say be put together as may be said for this be a thing justifiable before Gods people or rather in the sight of God and out Father especially too when as the persons condemning have never to this day given the truth a fair hearing by using such endeavours for the finding out the minde of God in this thing as they might and as lies in their power to do and which were there nothing else but the dis-satisfaction of Gods people God declares from Heaven that he calls upon them to do yea whether or no is not this very act of theirs a dealing more injuriously with the blessed Truth of Christ the least ïota of which is of farre greater worth than Men and Angels than ever did the Pagan Powers of the Roman Empire in the Apostles days with the persons of particular men though Malefactors who always refused to pass a Sentence till they had heard what the accused could speak Acts 25.16 yea whether or no such persons whose words and actions are Patterns unto Multitudes will not have much to answer for unless they repent if so be Christ shall one day finde it that by their slight speeches or frowning carriages towards the truth of the Generation the generality of poor souls that know nothing but are meerly led by example shall be emboldned encouraged to slight revile oppose persecute that truth in which his honour is more nearly and immediatly concerned than in any other truth besides it And is it not possible that a man with a faithful and upright heart but considered as mistaken or darkned in his Principles may do all this Did not Paul act with an upright heart considering he acted zealously according to his light whilst yet he persecuted the Church and the true way of the Lord And in such Cases is it not the better and safer way for a man to fear his own heart and to be jealous that it acts under some distemper and so makes not a judgement of it self in the light of the Lords Spirit but in the darkness of temptation than to bee confident of it especially too when a general fear of such a thing dwells upon the hearts of Gods people David concluded himself then for certain to be under a temptation when he saw that otherwise hee must condemn the generation of the righteous Psal 73.15 Much more I could say but that it is no delight to dig into a Wound To conclude therefore seeing the visage of our times both in respect of the great opposition this day made to the truth of the age and in many other respects is grown pale and black and that blessed Cause of Christ that of late looked with a fresh and amiable countenance begins now to appear wan with Death in the face of it is it not high time for the Saints and all those who wish well to Sion to cry mightily to the Lord and to give him no rest to humble themselves greatly before him for those manifold abominations committed in the Land especially that Pride Luke-warmness Wantonness unthankfulness for Mercies past love of this present World open licentiousness gross Apostacy that superabounds even among those that bear upon them the Name of the Lord which things have given our Father just cause not only thus to frown but to depart from us for ever Yea is it not high time if wee have a tongue for Christ now to speak for him if bowels now to sympathize with him if tears in our eyes now to pour them forth before the Lord if groans in our hearts now to send them up into Heaven if faith in the Word and promise of God now to act it if exhortations in our Breasts now to bring them forth and speak often one to another and will not the Lord hearken and hear and shall not a Book of remembrance be written before him for them that now fear the Lord and call upon his Name Yea will not God say concerning them and they shall bee mine in the day when I make up my Jewels and though they are Children full of failings yet for this service sake I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him surely he will And should not this consideration added to all the rest that the set time of our Redemption is at hand which dwelling every day more and more upon my heart hath caused mee to speak work up our hearts to all these things and beget in us noble resolutions to hazard whatever is precious to us in the World for the sake of Christ and his now despised Cause which though trampled upon at present yet shall it suddenly arise with Power and great Glory and then shall all its enemies melt away before it as the Snow before the Sun then shall the Armies of Heaven march forth with the Lord in the Head of them and the Princes shall bee afraid of his Ensigne whose fire is in Sion and his furnace in Jerusalem The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this So beleeves he and so he prays who is From my Study in Trunch this 4th day of the 9th Month 1654. A poor sinful Creature unworthy to make mention of the name of the Lord John Tillinghast Errata PAge 2. line 10. for so even this also read so even in thâ—s also p. 3. l. 26 27. for such knowledge also is the root of grace r. such knowledge is the root of grace p. 4. l. 14. for apace this way r. apace this way p. 6. l. last for be with Jew and Gentile r. betwixt Jew and Gentile p. 17. l. 18. for are the same r. both which are the same p. 22. l. 15. for at r. as l. 16. blot out which p. 37. l. 20. for current r. concurrent p. 43. l. 29 r. Bishop of Rome Purgatory p. 45. l. 25. r. they are to be p. 77 l. 27. for consists r. insists p. 82. l. 31 32. for terrible to the Saints r. tetrible to the Nations p. 85. l. last r. Crowns p 87. l. 11. for in r. into p. 89. l. 13. for the beginning r. our beginning l. 21 22. for the aforesaid ending of the 1260. days r. the ending of the 1260. days from the aforesaid beginning p. 109. l. 24. for eleven r. eleventh p. 129. l. last for 1230. r. 1150. p. 137. l. last forhurt r. hurts p. 14 1. l. 29. for also v. 3. r. v. 3. also I. p.
183. l. 25. for forth came r. came forth p. 160 l. 9. for who are r. which is p. 213. l. 3. for mollifie r. mollifies p. 232. l. 26. for four r. fourth p. 239. l. 234. for one r. once p. 265. l. 11. for Hester ten r. Hester the 10th p. 291. l. 29. for account r. accounts Epist p. 2. l. 8. r. obedience p. 3. l. 25. r. are at an under Page 121. lines 27 28 29 30 31 32. Let the words which are printed greatly out of place be read thus Yea by consequence many hundred years should here be leaped over which is not in any of the other Prophecies 2 Because the rise of this Little Horn is in the latter time of the Graecian Monarchy verse twenty three and in the latter time c. Directions for the Book-binder Place the Title to the Appendix before Page 311. Knowledge of the Times OR The Resolution of the Question How long it shall be unto the end of Wonders Divided into three Parts PART I. Handling some things of more General concernment as to our whole Discourse CHAP. 1. Of the Justifiablenesse of this Enquiry AMongst the many Questions that this Age abounds with The Great Question that we find in Daniel Cha. 12.6 How long shall it be to the end of Wonders is neither of the least of those Gods people at this day are seeking resolution in Nor may it be ranked among those we call Unnecessary seeing the Age it self we live in hath been and is an age of Wonders And truly that I once and now again have assayed it doth not arise I hope from any confidence I have of my self that there is in me above others an ability to resolve it the thought of which thing I desire to abandon but having been moved of late to wait upon the Lord for light as in other things so even this also and hoping that a door of light as to the Question propounded hath through the Lords merciful guidance of a sinful unworthy creature been set open to me I have judged it a duty and indeed the greatest peece of service that I find my self in a capacity to do for Christ in my generation to set this light on a Candlestick that Gods people may see it Yet in regard the Enquiry it self is such as lieth under the censures of some the reproaches of others and the general neglect almost of all it will be necessary that something be spoken in the first place by way of Justification of the thing it self which I shall do in two or three Conclusions laid down and proved 1. CONCLUSION That this Enquiry is no enemy to a mans own grace or the grace of God in others but rather a special help and advantage to the increase and quickning of grace both in the person enquiring and the person reading and hearing 1 Because it is included within that general Command John 5.39 Search the Scriptures now God doth not command that which is prejudicial to our grace 2 Because the word of blessing goes along with sincere and faithful endeavours of this nature Rev. 1.3 Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this Prophesie and keep those things which are written therein Rev. 22.7 Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the Prophesie of this Book The original word in either place translated keep comes from a verb that signifies to reserve or to observe noting That this keeping which hath a blessing twice annexed to it first in the beginning then in the end of the Apocalyps is such a keeping whereby a man layes up the things here written in his heart observes how they are fulfilled and acts towards God and man accordingly and therefore I take it is this Book fenced in with Gods blessing so as no other besides it to deliver us from such a conceit as this viz. That by studying of it our grace would either suffer decay or be lost 3 Because we have a particular promise of fruit and successe annexed to such an Enquiry Dan. 12.4 Many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased This knowledge here mentioned being a fruit of the Promise is not to be looked upon as head-knowledge only but heart-knowledge also and such knowledge also is the very root and watering of grace and therefore can be no enemy to it 4 Not to multiply Reasons which of the two whether to be ignorant of the times of Christs glorious appearances and his coming or to know them if this knowledge be a thing attainable especially for persons living in the last dayes who are neer the times and in a manner bordering upon them be the most likely thing to make a heart secure lull it asleep in sin love of this present world forgetfulnesse of God make it negligent in the holy Christian duties of faith patience watchfulnesse prayer c. I call not Reason onely but such Christians also who knew their own hearts fifteen or twenty yeers ago with a principle then that Christs coming was at hand and who know them now but it may be with a contrary principle to be Judges And truly to say no more how Christians though they may rub and chafe their hearts will yet be able seeing that the Sun is coming up with the beams of his light and vigor apace this way to keep them alive or warm long if they too come not up to truths of this nature I do not know 2. CONCLUSION That the Holy Ghost hath expresly foretold that Saints at the time of the end shall make diligent enquiry into these things This I take to be the thing noted in those words Dan. 8.13 Daniel in the foregoing Vision had had the three last Monarchies viz. 1 Medes and Persians 2 Grecians 3 Romans represented to him The Roman Monarchy which is the last is represented in its twofold state 1 In its pure civil state 2 In its mixt Antichristian state All which things occasion will be offered to handle more fully in the following Discourse Now observe after all these things had passed before Daniel in the Vision then as the very last thing of all Daniel hears a discourse of Saints upon our Question Then I heard one Saint speaking and another Saint 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 The particle then denotes the thing to be successive in time as well as in place that is after Daniel had seen the whole Vision first the Medes and Persians come forth and for a while make a great noise in the world but in the end vanish Then the Grecians who also for a time make some stir and then vanish After them the Romans who first conquer Nations as they were a civil state then secondly rage against the true worship of God the holy City and the inhabitants thereof as they are
years reign of Christ and the Saints all which things are concurrent falls to be Anno Dom. one thousand seven hundred and one about forty seven or forty eight years hence Yet whether or no Jesus Christ who tells us that for the Elects sake those days that is the days of the sore trouble which will befall the Jews more especially towards the ending-time of the last forty five years shall be shortned may not appear some years sooner and so cut short this determined time is a question too hard for mee to decide but the appearance of our blessed Lord the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ will put an end to this and all other Controversies When we shall see no more as all our sight now is through a Glasse darkly but face to face Now wee know in part but then shall we know perfectly even as we are known In faith of which blessed day let us rejoyce in expectation of it let us always bee found waiting and watching That whensoever our Lord cometh whether at even or at midnight or at the Cock-crowing or in the morning he may not coming suddenly finde us sleeping And what I say unto you I say unto all watch Mark 13.37 So enable us Lord to do and come O Lord Jesus come quickly Amen Amen The Calculation of Daniels 2300 Years shewing their beginning their end and the Harmony of other Mystical Numbers with this The several Periods The years of each Period The Harmony of other mysticall Numbers The total Sum. 1 From Cyrus first to Artax Muemons 20. 147.   2. From Artax 20. to Christs Passion A.D. 34 486.  633. 3. From Christs Passion to Julians act A.D. 366. 332.  965. 4. From Julians act to Beasts Rise A.D. 396. 30. With the beginning of this Period begins Daniels 1290 1335 years 995. 5. From Beasts Rise to the end of his reign A. D. 1656. 1260. Johns 1260 years begin end this Period 2255.   Concurrent with the end of this Period is the end of Dan. 1290. days the 30 of the former Period added to the 1260 of this making up that number    Thus Dan. 1290. and Johns 1260. concur in their end  6. From the end of Beasts reign to the end of the Fourth Monarchy A. D. 1701. 45. Concurrentwith the end of this Period is the end of Dan. 1335 years the 45 years of this Period added to the 1200. of the two former making up that number 2300.   Thus the 1335 the 2300. concur likewise in their end  A General Rule for the right understanding of Prophecies together with a more full opening the great Mystery of Daniels little Horn. IT is a most certain truth That every Prophecy left us in the Word of God hath in it self sufficient Characters to lead us by comparing the Characters of it with the minde of God in other Prophecies to the knowledge of the substance of that truth that is in it held forth for otherwise the word should be imperfect and not able to expound it self These Characters are the Keys of this or that Prophecy which when found it will be easie to unlock it but if these be missed all mens endeavours in opening Prophecies will be in vain and their labours lost These Keys in some Prophecies where a man can hardly go any way but one are quickly and with ease found but in others where by reason of the various turnings and windings there seem to be as many ways to go in as there are words the finding of them is a thing most hard and the Searcher in case he have not a better guide than himself shall never finde them The knowledge of the true Keys of any Prophecie from Counterfeit ones ariseth from the fitness of the Keys to the Wards of the Lock i.e. to the several parts of the Prophecie it self and all other Prophecies concurrent with it for this is certain that if the true Key be found it will open whatsoever lyes within that Prophecy or any other that hath dependence upon it Hence those Keys how neatly soever they may be wrought which will open but a part of a Prophecy but not the whole are not the true Keys but counterfeit Two things there are that are absolutely destructive to the finding of these Keys 1 An Affection to any pre-conceived opinion that may bee in a man as touching this or that Prophecy before yet hee hath found the certain Key thereof So farre as any such thing is in any instead of seeking the true key hee will make a key and form it to his own opinion 2 A founding Conclusions which should all bee built upon manifest demonstrations taken from the naked Letter of the Text and no other foundation upon Allegories i. e. because many things in this or that Prophecy seeme fairly to allude to such or such an event therefore must that event needs be the meaning of the Prophecy This is the most fallible way of interpreting Prophecies of all other for how easie a thing is it considering that some Prophecies as Daniels for instance lead us through many Ages as many as amount to no lesse than two thousand years and upwards that within so long a time a man should finde more occurrencies than one that will in many things agree to what is fore-told in such or such a Prophecy Hence come those innumerable mistakes of Expositors both of former later and present times also they run without a due respect to the indubitable Characters of the text the meaning of this or that Prophecy upon this or the other likely event and so as many likely events as mens reading or wits can help them to so many interpretations shall we have of the Prophecy And this evil hath crept in by that in some sense good but as it is ordinarily understood and made use of greatly abused Saying viz. That the best Interpreter of Prophecies is the event It is a most dangerous thing therefore to run from the naked Letter of the text when the meaning of any Prophecy is sought after to Allegorical flourishes because where the Letter is set aside and the Allegory made the rule of interpretation there can be no certainty of truth in regard Allegorical interpretations are as various as mens inventions Now how a man shall ever bee able to judge of truth in variety in case he have not some other rule to walk by than that which produceth this variety I cannot tell Although therefore it is confessed that many phrases in this or the other Prophecy do require a Spiritual meaning to be put upon them yet I say the Characters themselves by which this or that Prophecy as to scope and time is distinguished from all others are ever to be looked for in the naked letter of the Text which is the only standing and fixed rule and not in any Mystical or Spiritual interpretations which are as variable and uncertain as mens