Chap. 2.32 That third Beast considered as winged and swift in motion Dan. 7.6 which swiftnesse of march is noted as peculiar to Alexander Dan. 8.5 and is here excellently set forth by giving four Wings i. e. two pair of Wings to this Beast noting his swift march and speedy conquests the Great and notable Horn of the rough Goat Dan. 8.5 compared with vers 21. and what is spoken to Daniel of that mighty King Dan. 11.3 XX. The divided state of the Graecian Monarchy is set forth by the thighs of the great Image Dan. 2.32 the four Heads of the third Beast Dan. 7.6 the four Horns of the He-Goat coming up in the room of the great Horn Dan. 8.8 with vers 22. and what by voyce is delivered to Daniel chap. 11. ver 4 5 c. to ver 14. XXI The Fourth and last Monarchy is of the Romans which Monarchy in either Prophecy is set forth in its two-fold state First its state before Antichrists rise Secondly its state afterwards the one I have formerly called its pure Civil State the other it s mixt State XXII The Roman Monarchy in its first State wherein it chiefly attended to the work of Conquering and subduing Nations is set forth by the Iron Leggs of the great Image Dan. 2.33 which Iron-legged Kingdom or rather this fourth Kingdom considered as Iron-legged is said to break in peeces and subdue all things vers 40. By the fourth Beast Dan. 7.7 but yet considered only as a warlike Beast most dreadful and terrible to the Nations devouring the whole earth treading it down and breaking it in peeces vers 23. By the Little Horn considered in its first waxing great Dan. 8.9 by which waxing it becomes exceeding great pushing down all standing in its way towards the South and towards the West and towards the pleasant Land and by what is spoken to Daniel of the Conquests of the King of the North vers 14. to 21. XXIII The Roman Monarchy in its second State wherein the work it principally attends to is oppressing the Nations subdued already persecuting the Saints treading under-foot the Holy City is set forth by the feet of the great Image of Iron and Clay Dan. 2.33 by the Little Horn Cha. 7. by the Little Horn in its second waxing great Chap. 8.10 11 12 24 25. by the vile Person or that proud King Chap. 11. whose description we have at large vers 21. to vers 40. and afterwards goes under the title of the King of the North ver 40. to the end of the Chapter XXIV All the aforesaid Prophecies though their beginnings are different yet have they but one and the same general end XXV This end is the final dissolution of the Fourth Monarchy and the establishment of the Fifth contemporary with both which is the Personal appearance of Christ XXVI The two last Prophecies conclude with the destruction of the Fourth Monarchy the two first with the greatnesse and glory of the Fifth yet are not for this reason their ends different because though the things themselves are two yet both shall be performed by that one act of Christs Personal appearance It is the appearance of Christ that destroys the Fourth Monarchy establisheth the Fifth XXVII The admirable Harmony in every title betwixt these so antient Prophecies and the events or betwixt the things fore-told so many Ages ago and the things transacted in the Ages since is a strong and convincing Argument of the infallibility of the Prophecies themselves and of the certainty of the performance of the things yet to bee accomplished XXVIII The glorious work of setting up Christs outward visible Kingdom which is the thing pointed at in all the fore-going Prophecies is the great work of the present age and time we live in XXIX The mystical Numbers of Daniel and John both which direct us to the time in which this Kingdom is to be set up all which expire as the fore-going Discourse proveth within the compasse of this Age the visible dispensations of God which in our days have been very wonderful all tending to such a thing the cries of Saints and their faith and expectations generally looking this way the opposition of the Devil and the World against and the malignity of men of worldly Principles unto this glorious truth and blessed work do all speak that we are come to the dawning of that day in which Christ will in despite of Satan and the Worlds rage and all the Carnal policy of men of earthly Principles establish his own Kingdom XXX The former being true it is in its self no strange thing nor ought to be matter of stumbling or offence to any that the Witnesses of Christ in this our day direct their testimony against Civil Powers as they are in their present constitution bearing forth evidently the excellent brightnesse and the terrible form of the Great Image Dan. 2.31 which yet Saints of formet Ages subjected themselves unto and never medled with because the case with them and us is vastly different They lived within the compasse of that time in which the Great Image was to stand the World and worldly Powers were to bear rule which that they might do till their day should come to an end it was necessary that Saints in all Ages heretofore should subject themselves to them and never bear a testimony simply and directly against Civil Powers of a worldly constitution nor indeed could it be any part of their testimony because God having set a time how long worldly Powers should continue it behooved not them to attempt before the time to take from the World what by Divine permission for such a time was allotted them But now the case is otherwise for we being come to the beginning of that day in which the Great Image must be smitten till the same is crumbled to dust and finally carried away with the wind of Gods Wrath and that Kingdom and Dominion which before the Great Image did hold as it s by right to bee translated and given to the Saints of the most High as every Work of God must have light for its Basis because God leads his people to the execution of his will not blinde-fold but by light therefore of necessity must the Witnesses of Christ in this Age bear forth such a testimony of truth as may lay a foundation in the hearts of Gods people for such a work And indeed as the work that God is now about to do is a new thing in the World viz. the regaining that Kingdom which hath been in the hands of the World for now upwards of two thousand three hundred years viz. ever since the beginning of the Seventy years Captivity in Babylon so by the same reason that truth which must be laid as foundation to this work can bee no other but a new thing in the World It is therefore no Argument against the truth of Christs visible Kingdom that Saints our predecessors in the Ages before us medled not with
among the first ten horns or the ten horns of the Monarchy as in its first state with this time and among the horns thus broken should the little Horn creep up i.e. from thence should the translation of the Monarchy be or from thence should Antichrists Kingdom begin so that indeed these words are so farre from weakning what we have asserted that they are a strong confirmation of our beginning that wee have stated it aright in stating the rise of the Beast Antichrist to be with the time of the invasion of the Goths and Vandals Thus notwithstanding the Objection our Argument stands firm viz. That the rise of the Antichristian Beast is a little before the rise of his Horns and therefore his Horns rising suddenly after the beginning of the one thousand two hundred and sixty days the forty two months the rise of the Beast himself is stated rightly with the year three hundred ninety six SECT 5. To the Arguments already laid down I shall adde an Argument or two more Arg. 1. The aforesaid ending of the one thousand two hundred and sixty days agrees most fitly to the time of killing the Witnesses The time of the Witnesses killing which is to be reckoned the last three days a half of the one thousand two hundred and sixty as see Generation Work Part 3. Chap. 1. Sect. 4. falls under the third Vial and a little before the first stirring of the Jews as is also there proved Sect. 5. in the first and third conclusions now as the third Vial is the Vial wee at present stand under as my discourse upon that Vial manifests so the first stirring of the Iews fals to be in the year one thousand six hundred fifty six as is proved Key Thesi 20 therefore it agrees well to the one and the other to end the one thousand two hundred and sixty days with the year one thousand six hundred fifty six Arg. 2. Taken from the visibility of those very things at this day which the Scripture hath fore-told us shall occur within the last three days and a half of the one thousand two hundred and sixty To give some instances First The Scripture fore-tels that within this time the Witnesses shall lie dead Their death shall be civil and Spiritual Civil in being stripped of Religion and Liberty Spiritual in subjecting themselves through a spirit of cowardize upon them to this Tyranny of the Beast rather then to run the hazard of life in opposing him The place of their lying dead shall be Germany the one to be their death the other the place I have proved Generation Work Part 3. Chap. 1. Sect. 7 8. whether considering the thing time and place have we not more then a little ground to conjecture that the present day is the day of the Witnesses killing and if so then considering that this time is the last three days and a half of the one thousand two hundred and sixty doth it not speak that the year we have stated as the end of the one thousand two hundred and sixty is the right viz. Anno Dom. one thousand six hundred fifty six Secondly The Scripture fore-tels That within the last three days and a half of the one thousand two hundred and sixty A war shall bee attempted First by the invisible Dragon then by the visible of which read Generation Work Part 3. Chap. 2. Sect. last against a remnant of the Womans Seed that shall stand up for Christ in the World within the day that their Brethren the Witnesses lie dead which shal be known by these two Characters 1. They shall walk in Gospel institutions 2. Have amongst them a Spirit of Prophecy Now whether the beginnings of the first War and probabilities of the second be not at this day more visible upon a people having the aforesaid Characters then ever heretofore I propound as a Quaere Thirdly The Scripture fore-tels that there shall be within this time a people in the World that shall favour the Witnesses and withall be so potent as to awe the Beast of whom mention is made Generat Work Part 3. Chap. 1. Sect. 9. Who yet setling themselves upon a worldly interest as their highest ayme shall neither openly declare for the Witnesses Cause nor against the Beast These are called They of the People and Nations and Kindreds and Tongues Revel 11.9 which cannot be interpreted the Popish party though Rev. 17.15 they are so described because in this place they are distinguished from the Popish party which in the following verse are set forth by another name viz. The dwellers on the earth Whether or no such a people be not now to be found I also put the question Fourthly The Scripture fore-tels That within this time there shall be a great League and combination of Nations the Beast now gathering together his Powers to defend himself the time being come that his Dominion is to be taken away as the Fourth Monarchy afterwards at the end of the one thousand three hundred thirty five dayes when it is to go to ruine gathers together all its power to that dreadful Battle of Armageddon to uphold it self Whether a Work like this be not now on foot likewise I propound as another Quaere Fifthly The Scripture fore-tels That within this time there shall be in the World a wonderfull triumph over the dead and suppressed Witnesses as supposing they and their Cause likewise to be now dead and sunk for ever Revel 11.10 Chap. 18.7 Whether doth the present time afford nothing that hath a look like this If all these things bee found true at this day have they not in them the weight of an Argument to prove That wee are upon the very ending time of the one thousand two hundred and sixty days Arg. 3. The forty two months the one thousand two hundred and sixty days may not be begun either higher of lower therefore they must bee begun with the aforesaid year That they may not bee begun any time higher is clear because from such beginnings the time is expired but this cannot be because the Witnesses to this very day my opinion is throughout all Europe but all must confesse in most places as Germany France c. do yet wear their Sackcloth the Woman as to this day abides in the Wilderness the Beast as to this day I really think in all the ten Horns but as to the greater part of them it is undeniable doth yet continue to rage against the Saints by persecuting them under the Notion of Hereticks or Schismaticks or Enemies to Civil Government because they cannot but declare That the day is come in which God will destroy as well his Monarchical Power as his Spiritual and Ecclesiastical to tread under foot the holy City by establishing Powers not of Christ but his own creating to bee Lords over Gods heritage to blaspheme God by blaspheming as did the wicked Pharisees those very Works and Truths of God counting them Erroneous Diabolical which
the Second Part. PART III. Computing the time of the Fourth Monarchy and shewing where the date of all worldly Kingdomes expires and when the Fifth Monarchy or that glorious Kingdome of Christ and the Saints which is to bear rule over all the Earth shall be set up CHAP. I. Of Daniels two thousand and three hundred dayes THe times that the Prophetical and Apocalyptical Numbers are conversant about are either the time of the Beasts Tyranny or the time of the fourth Monarchy The time of the Beasts Tyranny we have treated of in our Second Part and shewed where the date of his Commission ends It now remains that we enquire into the time of the fourth Monarchy to the end we may know how long that is to continue and when or by what time we may expect the total and final dissolution thereof Two mystical Numbers ending at one and the same point afford us light into this Question the one is Daniels one thousand three hundred thirty five dayes Chap. 12.12 the other his two thousand three hundred Chap. 8.14 I shall say no more as touching the first then what I have already written in my Key judging what I have there laid down Thesi 20. and Thesi 37. to be sufficient as to it My present Discourse shall therefore proceed upon the latter viz. of the two thousand and three hundred dayes SECT 1. The common-road opinion is that the little Horn mentioned in this eight of Daniel is to be understood of Antiochus Epiphanes the two thousand and three hundred days to be natural dayes a day consisting of four and twenty hours so the whole making up six years three months and twenty dayes which the Authors Favourers of this opinion apply to the time of Antiochus rage against the Jews Now in order to our answer hereunto let us premise That the Feet and Toes of the Great Image Chap. 2. The little Horn Chap. 7. The vile person Chap. 11. who is described from vers 21. to vers 40. and the little Horn in his second state or second waxing great in this eighth Chapter are one and the same the very same state or person if a particular person be here meant is signified by all these And this needs no proof because the common opinion hath granted it by making application of all that the Holy Ghost hath spoken as touching either of these to that horrible Monster Antiochus Epiphanes thereby plainly confessing that one and the same thing is signified in the aforesaid parts of each Prophesie This premised let us examine what truth there is in this principle so much hugged and contended for by many as the onely door of light into Daniel And although more can hardly be said in answer hereunto then what hath been already by some worthy men of later times who have opposed themselves to this opinion as Mr. Archer in his Personal Reign The Author of Clavis Apocalyptica ad incudem revocata but above all the learned Parker in his Daniels Visions and Prophesies expounded yet because in principles that men are wedded too as ordinarily they are to all be they right or wrong that have but a crowd of learned men to Patronize them they had rather to use the Popish Proverb beleeve as the Church beleeves then look out for an Author that is contrary to their mind I think it worth my pains in opposition to this opinion to present here though I shall but multiply whilst I so do things already published some of those Arguments that are and may be brought against it not doubting but that those who sincerely love truth will see reason enough to be of my mind as for others who following the genius of this age which is to be sick sullen and humorsome when any truth crosseth those principles they have received by tradition from their Fore-fathers have a principle or a will I know not which I may call it that they will not see any thing but with the eyes of their Fore-fathers or the multitude of the learned Doctors of the time let Scripture or right reason speak ever so clear or punctual I leave such to the judgement of being yet farther blinded But to come to the opinion it self the Question is Whether doth this Prophesie Chap. 8. run upon Antiochus Epiphanes or no This resolved it will be easily determined whether the dayes are Natural or Prophetical To this I answer That Antiochus Epiphanes notwithstanding Commentators have fearfully and shamefully stretched the Text Reason and the very sinews of the ancient Histories to gather up something that might colourably make the whole to agree to him cannot be the person here meant unlesse we look upon him as a common Tyrant and Persecutor and so I deny not but that many things spoken of Antichrist that Grand Tyrant and Persecutor of the Saints may very fitly be applied to him Yea I think withall that there might be a special design of God in it that many of the things here mentioned should be fairly appliable to him and others that so thereby doors of mistake might be left open and by it the Prophesie kept sealed which otherwise in an ordinary way could not have been untill the appointed time And the same design seems to me to run also through the Book of the Revelations in opening which it is very easie to mistake if every thing which hath a plausible look and fair colour outwardly may presently be taken up as an Interpretation But to passe this and come to the thing That this Prophesie as holds the common opinion should terminate in Antiochus Epiphanes and so have its fulfilling before the first coming of Christ cannot be My Reason is Because it will not agree to the mind of the Holy Ghost in any one of Daniels four Prophesier before mentioned First To begin with that of the Great Image Chap. 2. This opinion doth no way correspond with the truth of that Prophesie 1 Because that Prophesie runs down into the latter dayes or the end of dayes as our new Annotationists upon the Bible render it vers 28. But there is a God in Heaven that revealeth secrets and maketh known to the King Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter dayes But this cannot be should the whole have its accomplishment two hundred years before Christs birth as this opinion doth and must necessarily maintain for Antiochus Epiphanes whose Kingdome they will have to belong to the Feet and Toes which are the extreme and utmost parts of the Image and therefore the close of the Prophesie reigned two hundred years before the birth of Christ 2 Because the Iron legs are called the fourth Kingdome or Monarchy vers 40. And the fourth Kingdome shall be strong as Iron but this opinion which applies the legs and feet to the Race of the Seleucidae and Antiochus Epiphanes one of that Race makes the Iron legs and feet a part of the third Kingdome or Monarchy for the house of the Seleucidae and Antiochus
observe God having assured his people of many great things already he shuts up all with this as the crowning mercy to all the rest Even saying to Jerusalem Thou shalt be built and to the Temple thy foundation shall be laid As to say Over and above all I have promised already I do also give particular assurance That Jerusalem shall be built and the foundations of my Temple there shall be laid And to this our last English Annotations agree interpreting them to be the words of God himself by rendring the words Even saying to Jerusalem thou shalt be built thus and saying to Jerusalem thou shalt be built so by the copulation and put for even making in effect the words to have relation not to Cyrus but to God himself who had said thus and thus before and now over and above saith Jerusalem shall be built and the foundation of the Temple there shall be laid Now looking upon the words thus it doth not necessarily follow because Cyrus gave Decree for the one the building of the Temple that therefore he did for the other also viz. the building Jerusalem but it proves that God would do both and as he afterwards raised up Cyrus to do the one so would he also raise up Cyrus or some other to do the other when the time for doing it should be come Object If it be said But the building of Jerusalem cannot but be included in that of Jerusalems being inhabited vers 26. therefore if these be the words of the Lord also there seems to be a Tautologie he should speak the same things twice Ans Not so for seeing to inhabit is one thing and to build a place in order to its being inhabited is another the things though spoken apart may both very well be spoken by the Lord himself and that without any Tautologie and by how much the Jews had their eye chiefly upon this the building their City Jerusalem by so much doth the Lord give them greater assurance of it by doubling the thing in a manner yet without Tautologie because set forth in several and divers expressions Object But Cyrus is said to perform all Gods pleasure vers 28. and this he could not do if he did not as well give command for the building Jerusalem as the Temple Ans The Phrase of performing all Gods pleasure neither can nor must be stretched farther then this viz. That whatsoever God hath determined to be done by Cyrus that he should freely and cheerfully do and accordingly so he did First He destroyed the Babylonian Monarchy which were the oppressors of Gods people Secondly He freely without price or reward gave full liberty to the Jews who before were captives to return to their own land Thirdly He made a Decree that they come thither should set upon the work of building the Temple Fourthly He laid a happy foundation as I am now coming to shew for the perfecting the whole work of God both concerning the Temple and Jerusalem also More then this I mean in reference to Gods cause and people cannot be proved that ever God determined Cyrus should do and all this he did and accordingly performed all Gods pleasure 2 Granting these words Even saying to Jerusalem thou shalt be built to have relation to Cyrus yet may the meaning of them be onely this That God would make Cyrus the principal instrument as of laying the foundation of the Temple which was actually done by his decree so also of building Jerusalem but how Ans By removing the great impediment namely the Babylonian Monarchy which had ruined Jerusalem and was a professed enemy to it out of the way and setting the Jews who whilst Captives could never do it free from their Captivity which accordingly was done by Cyrus God making him instrumental to ruine Babylon by which as the Jews are thereupon by him set free to build the Temple for present so also the supreme power came now to be in the hands of a Nation who were more friendly to the Jews and inclining to hear their complaints and redresse their grievances for future And in this sense it may well be said of Cyrus that he should say to Jerusalem thou shalt be built i.e. set open a door which before was shut for the building of it afterwards And to this well agrees that other Text Chap. 45.13 I have raised him up in righteousnesse and will direct all his wayes he shall build my City and shall let go my Captives not for price nor reward The building Gods City the Objectors themselves will never say was done actually by Cyrus Decree The meaning therefore can be no other then this That Cyrus should set open a door for the doing of it by destroying the Babylonian Monarchy that had desolated Gods City setting the captived Jews at liberty and laying a foundation for such a work afterwards by putting forth a Decree to build the Temple which might be and was an inducement as appears from Ezra 6.1 2 3. compared with verses 6 7 8. to his Successors after him to follow their noble Leader in kindnesse and respect to this Nation And indeed it is a thing observable that for the general of all the four Monarchies the Persians were ever the most friendly to the Jews and most ready to do them right and favour following doubtlesse herein the example of their famous Founder Cyrus to whom therefore as being the leading man whose example became a provocation to his Successors the whole work in Scripture and that not amisse is attributed As for the other place in Ezra Chap. 4.12 13. it being onely the allegation of Judahs Adversaries and written to Artaxerxes for this end to put a stop to the work of God I rather conceive them to be words of meer accusation then of truth by which those crafty enemies endeavour to make the case of the Jews as foul as may be and to beget in the King the greater dislike of their proceedings they suggest such things to him on purpose which might breed jealousie and cause a discountenancing of the work and therefore they set before him how potent a City bearing rule over Kings in former times Jerusalem had been and how that now the Jews were re-edifying of it had set up the walls and joyned the foundations And some colour there was for this for the Jews had now laid the foundation of the Temple as appears Chap. 3.11 and the malicious subtill enemies seeing a work on foot and being willing to mistake so they might incense the King and hinder the work call this the building of the walls of Jerusalem Now the Reasons perswading me that this was onely the enemies false accusation and that indeed there was no such thing in reality are 1 Because in Chap. 3. vers 8. to the end where mention is made of the Jews building and the progresse made in the work there is not one word spoken of building any thing but the Temple only 2 Because the
Now observe the Dominions of Ahasuerus over which the Iews were scattered were so vast and large that when upon Esthers Petition a Counter-decree was to be sent forth to put stop to the Decree of Haman although the sending of it fotth was seven or eight Months before the time Hamans Decree was to have been put in execution as will appear by comparing Chap. 8.9 with Chap. 9.1 yet lest through the length of the way it should come too late Mordecai sends Posts on Hors-back every way and that upon swift Beasts Chap. 8.10 and withall they go forth hastned and pressed on vers 14. Now if in seven Months time by swift running Posts there could hardly be a conveyance of a Message into all parts of Ahasuerus Dominions how can we imagine that afterwards when Letters were sent forth not thus hastned but more leasurely they should be conveyed all over Ahasuerus Kingdom and the Iews thereupon from several parts meet together hold a Council institute a Day to be kept by themselves and posterity and the report of this when done returned again to the Court from all parts and upon this new Letters by way of ratification of their proceedings sent again from the Court to the Iews thorow-out all the one hundred twenty seven Provinces and all this within the space of one year Adde hereto That the greatness of Mordecai under this Ahasuerus Chap. 10. his being accepted of the multitude of his Brethren his seeking and endeavouring as before their deliverance so now the wealth of his People his speaking peace to all his Seed seems clearly to argue that these things were not of one years continuance but of a longer time Such choyce mercies given of God to his people especially after such bitter storms are not usually so short lived This stone removed the building goes to decay for in case Artaxerxes Ahasuerus reigned but one year more then fourteen then will there bee found upwards of thirty seven years betwixt the first of Cyrus and the twentieth of Artaxerxes 3 Particular That Darius Ezra 6. and Artaxerxes Chap. 7. are one and the same only a change of the name and so consequently the seventh of Artaxerxes when Ezra went up to Ierusalem Ezra 7.7 was the year following that in which the Temple was finished which is called the sixth of Darius chap. 6.15 Answ This I can by no means give assent to 1 Because I finde Artaxerxes mentioned as a person distinct from Darius Chap. 6.14 And the Elders of the Iews builded and finished it according to the Commandement of the God of Israel and according to the commandement of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes King of Persia now by the same reason that Cyrus is a distinct Person from Darius by the same must Artaxerxes likewise Now the Artaxerxes here named cannot be that Artaxerxes we read of Chapter four 1. Because he was before Darius time but this seems by the order of placing to have been afterwards 2. He was a hinderer of Gods Work among the Iews yea put such a stop thereto that upon the very stop hee put it is said Ezra 4.24 The work ceased until the second year of Darius but this Artaxerxes is a furtherer and such a one as did further Gods work effectually as did Cyrus and Darius he must therefore be that Artaxerxes Ezra speaks of afterwards Obj. If it be said But how did he give command for building the Temple which work the text saith expresly was finished in the sixth of Darius which was before his time I answer 1. We may very well understand these words of something done by Artaxerxes with the vast sums of Money he gave himself and commanded his Treasurers Chap. 7.15 16 20 21 22. to give forth to Ezra either by way of reparation of the Temple which through many years time since the same was built was gone to decay or else by way of Ornament adding to the beauty of the building which is manifestly hinted vers 27. Blessed be the Lord God of our Fathers which hath put such a thing as this in the Kings heart to beautifie the House of the Lord which is in Jerusalem and also the very words of the Decree vers 20.23 import as much as one of these Or 2. I may answer That those words The Elders of the Jews builded and finished it according to the Commandement of Cyrus are not to be understood in so strict a sense as to limit each command to the Temple-work only but in a more large sense as having reference to those severall Commands given forth by the Persian Kings which concerned the Jews welfare and the carrying on Gods Work among them whereof one was given forth by Cyrus in the first of his reign another afterwards by Darius and two more after that by Artaxerxes and because Artaxerxes had in a more especial manner been Benefactor to Ezra and the Jews in his time therefore Ezra upon occasion of relating the story of the finishing of the House having made mention of the other two Cyrus and Darius will not passe over Artaxerxes but by anticipation names him before though his Story come not in till afterward not so much minding the curiosity of that particular Question whether all three had been forwarders of that particular work of building Gods House as being intent to expresse the truth of the matter in generall viz. That all three Cyrus Darius and Artaxerxes had been friends to the Jews and furtherers of Gods work among them 2 Because Ezra coming up to Jerusalem in the 7th of Artaxerxes findes a High Priest who was Grand-child to him that was High Priest in the 6th of Darius when the Temple-work was finished Jeshua being then High Priest but one Eliashib is now High Priest compare Ezra 10.6 with Neh. 3.20 21 True Ezra cals not Eliashib High Priest at this time as doth Nehemiah afterwards yet no other High Priest being mentioned and withall Eliashib being so aged that he had then a Son a Priest viz. Johanan Ezra 10.6 it is very probable he was at this time High Priest Now observe this Eliashib was Grand-childe to Jeshua who acted with Zerubbabel as Nehem. 12.10 And Jeshua begat Jojakim Jojakim also begat Eliashib All laid together can we imagine that in the space of one year for by Doctor Light-foots reckoning it is no more the Grand-father should be dead and the Father after him and the Grand-childe High Priest in the room of Grand-father and Father or suppose he were not High Priest till afterwards yet so aged as to have a Son grown up to be a Priest who can beleeve it 3 Because Nehemiah Chap. 5.15 makes mention of Governours to have been in Jerusalem before his time that had oppressed the people and that did not fear God for in this he opposeth himself to them he feared God therefore did not so as those former Governours Now amongst these we may not reckon Zerubbabel who was a righteous Prince one that feared