parallel with the fifteenth of Hezekiah as is evident by the promise of adding fifteen yeers to Hekiahs life 2 Kings 20.6 which fifteen yeers being substracted from twenty nine yeers the space of Hezekiahs raigne 2 Kin. 18.2 leave just fourteen yeers in which fourteenth yeer therefore both Hezekiahs recovery and the ruine of Sennacherib fell out God delivering both the King Church and State in the same yeer 2 Kin. 18.13 according to his promise 2 Kin. 20.6 Let it be granted then that the fifteenth of Hezekiah and the seventh of Merodach Baladan ran parallel The great question now is how long before this time aera Nabonassaris began Before this Baladan there raigned over Babylon Dulilaeus alias Dilulorus five yeers before him Chinzerus and Porus five yeers before them Nassius two yeers and before this last Nabonassar raigned fourteen yeers who in the beginning of his raigne did institute this Epocha commonly called aera Nabonassaris in memoriall of the Chaldean liberty then asserted which aera is much in use with Ptolemy and other Astronomers Now supposing Hezekiah fell sick precisely at the end of his fourteenth yeer as the promise of his living fifteen yeers longer makes good the news of his recovery coming to Baladan together with the sending of Baladans Letters require some good space of time haply five or six moneths Babylon being farre from Iudea therefore his seventh yeer must run parallel with Hezekiahs fifteenth yeer Now adde all the raignes of the forementioned Kings of Babylon to these seven yeers of Merodach Baladan they make up just thirty three yeers the first of which thirty three yeers jumps with the eleventh yeer of Iotham Anno Mundi 3258. according to our account and the aera Vrbis Conditae being six yeers before that falls out Anno Mundi 3252 in the fifth yeer of Jotham and aera Iphiti or Olimpica beginning 24 yeers before aera Vrbis Conditae falls in with the thirty third of Vzziah Anno Mundi 3228. according to my account the difference of both which accounts that it may the more easily be observed I have set them both together in the ensuing draught    Nostra Vulg. Aera Olympica Anno Mundi 3228 3174 Vrbis Conditae 3252 3198 Nabonassaris 3258 3204 The distance between ours and theirs is the space of fifty foure yeers ours falling later then theirs just so many yeers The seventh difficulty is concerning the time of the yeer in which the world began which probably was not in Spring but Autumne the Sunne entring Libra the fourth descending signe of the Zodiack And that upon these grounds First because formerly the yeer began in September till it was changed upon occasion of the Passover Exod. 12.2 It also began the civill yeer and the yeer of Iubilee Lev. 25.9 10. Secondly from the ripenesse of fruits c. Thirdly from the begining of the floud which fell out in the second moneth of the civill yeer Gen. 7.11 that is the moneth October toward the end of it about which time twelve moneth only ten dayes later he came out of the Ark Gen. 8.14 as may appeare 1. Because by this means there was a whole summer to dry up the waters of the floud which could not be had the floud began in May I take Summer here for the whole space betweene the Vernall and Autumnall Equinoctiall 2. From the necessity of sowing the earth For probably Noah stored not the Ark with much more then for present necessity and therefore had not much corn to spare now had he come out of the Ark in the Spring both himself and family must have lived of the old store almost a twelve moneth since the seed time fell not out till winter following at the soonest But coming out of the Ark in winter he immediately fell to sowing of the ground and waited no longer then till the Spring and Summer following for a new crop 4 As the world began in the evening of the the day so probably also in the evening of the yeer namely to those that live on this side of the line for otherwise at the same time Spring began on the other side of the line where yet at the beginning of the world there was neither man nor any other living creature Eden being on this side the line 5. God might in providence order it so of purpose the more to humble man for his sinne with acold and dark winter succeeding his ejection out of Paradise which could not but be a sad affliction to him being left with his wife alone to the wide world and both heaven and earth lowring upon him presently after his fall in which respect they needed raiment to shelter themselves from the injuries of heaven as well as to cover their nakednesse and these garments probably were made of the skinnes of the beasts that were offered in Sacrifice Gen. 3.21 for till after the floud we read of no commission man had to eat flesh Gen. 9.3 I might adde as an eighth difficulty in what part of the naturall day the Lords day begins That it begins not at one precise point of time all the world over I think is without controversie to all who understand any thing either about time or place The reason is evident for whether it begin at Sun rising or Sun-set or midnight c. since all these vary according to the distance of places East or West the beginning of the Lords day and so of the Jewish Sabbath must vary in proportion For example suppose the Meridian of Jerusalem differ from the Meridian of London two thousand seven hundred miles that is forty five degrees that lying so farre East of this its apparent the Sun will rise and set three houres sooner at Jerusalem then at London and that because every nine hundred miles or fifteen degrees East it rises one houre sooner then West as appeares by dividing twenty one thousand six hundred by nine hundred the quotient is twenty foure and just so many houres there are in the naturall day so that 900 miles being the twenty fourth part of twenty one thousand six hundred miles the just compasse of the earth makes the Sun vary in its rising and setting every nine hundred miles the twenty fourth part of a naturall day which is just one houre By which it is evident that if the Sabbath or Lords day begin at Sun-set in Jerusalem it must begin three houres before Sun-set in London and so at the Equinoctial the Sunne sets with them when it is but three in the after-noon with us And at the Antipodes it sets and rises twelve houres before it set and rise with us whence by proportion their Lords-day should begin twelve houres sooner then with us Whence its apparent that begin the Lords day when you please if you begin it at one precise point of time all the world over you must vary the houre of the day all the world over every fifteen degrees and every fifteen miles East or West the beginning of the Lords day varies one minute Next that neither the Lords day nor Jewish Sabbath namely the first and last day of the week fall
to the old World spoke of in Gen. 6.3 is noted page 25. in a distinct colume to page 27. then follows a new Aera or Period of time from the Floud which hapned Anno Mundi 1657. and page 36. a New period of the Promise and another of Circumcision in the same page and page 45. is noted the Aera of the Lamb or Passeover and in the next page the Aera of Canaan entred Page 54. is noted the Aera of Salomons Temple and page 55. the Aera of the division when the Kingdom was rent from Salomon in Rehoboham and ten Tribes were given to Ieroboam All these seven periods of time besides that of the Creation are famous in Scipture and are noted distinctly in their several columns as they fall in one after another being prefixed before the columnes of the Patriarchs c. Besides those three great Aeraes or Periods so famous in prophane Chronologie namely Aera Olympica Vrbis conditae Nabonassaris noted page 59. and 60. These things being premised it will not be difficult for the Reader to finde out in what year of the World or in what year of those famous Periods any remarkable passage fell out in Scripture yet the better to help the Reader I have given him a view of altogether in the ensuing draught   W. Adam 130 130 Seth 105 235 Enos 90 325 Kenan 70 395 Mahalaleel 65 460 Jared 162 622 Enoch 65 687 Methusalah 187 874 Lamech 182 1056 Noah 502 1558 Shem 100 1658 Arphaxad 35 1693 Selah 30 1723 Eber 34 1757 Peleg 30 1787 Reu 32 1819 Serug 30 1849 Nahor 29 1878 Terah 130 2008 Abraham 100 2108 Isaack 60 2168 Jacob 91 2259 Joseph 110 2369 Void 59 2428 Moses 120 2548 Joshuah 17 2565 Othniel 40 2605 Ehud and Shamgar 80 2685 Deborah 40 2725 Gideon 40 2765 Abimelech 3 2768 Tolah 23 2791 Jair 22 2813 Jephtah 6 2819 Ibsan 7 2826 Elon 10 2836 Abdon 8 2844 Samson 20 2864 Eli 40 2904 Samnel and Saul 40 2944 David 40 2984 Solomon 40 3024 Division 390 3414 Captivitie 51 3465 Daniels weeks 490 3955 Adde to these the seven famous Aeraes mentioned in the Scripture   W. From the Creation to the Floud 1656 1656 Promise 422 2078 Circumcision 29 2107 Passeover 401 2508 Canaan 40 2548 Temple 440 2988 Division 36 3024 The Reader may haply wonder why in this Table I note but fiftie one yeers of the captivity of Babylon The reason is because nineteen yeers currant of those seventy yeers run parallel with the nineteen last of Ezekiels three hundred ninety yeers containing the space from the division to the Captivitie of Zedekiah and the burning of Solomons Temple See Ezekiel 4.5 Substract nineteen out of seventy yeers there rests fifty one yeers the just space of the Captivity from the 11. of Zedekiah ending which indeed was the third Captivity the first hapning in the fourth of Jehoiakim the second about the 11. of Jehoiakim ending Take one or two instances to clear the use of the fore-going directions for a right understanding of the parallel lives in the Chronological Tables Adam lived to see eight Patriarchs namely till Lamech was fifty six yeer old I would know how old each of the Patriarchs were when Lamech was born For answer turn to page 12. You shall find that at the birth of Lamech Adam was eight hundred seventie and four yeers old Seth seven hundred fourtie and four yeers old Enos six hundred thirty and nine yeers old Kenan five hundred fourty and nine yeers old Mahalaleel four hundred seventy and nine yeers old Iared four hundred and fourteen yeers old Enoch two hundred fiftie and two yeers old Methuselah one hundred eighty and seven yeers old All those yeers of their lives lying in one parallel line from the left hand to the right with the yeer of Lamecks birth which fell out toward the end of the hundred twenty and fifth week of the world each week containing the space of seven yeers By the same rule you may find out the concent of any of their yeers and that in effect as certainly as if the Scripture had said in express terms that when Lamech was born Adam was eight hundred seventy and four yeers old c. Which yet must not be understood to a moneth and day since it is not probable all the Patriarchs were born in one and the same moneth and day of the yeer but that a great part of each of their yeers ran parallel as haply nine ten or eleven moneths And this Latitude must needs be granted us because the Scripture notes onely the yeer not the moneth and day in which each Patriarch was born and where the Holy Ghost is silent we must not be curious It s enough for us to be as wise as God would have us Nay I am confident not all the skill of all the men in the world from the beginning to the end of the world will be able to find out all Truths contained in Scripture either directly or by consequence but the full opening of the Book of Scripture and the Book of Providence will be a great part of the Saints work and happiness in Heaven So that we may well conclude with David Psalm 119.96 That Gods commandment is exceeding broad If the Chronologie of Scripture one of its meanest parts contain almost infinite consequences what shall we think of the whole Scripture which though never so often read yet still like God the Author affords us new varieties so as at every reading you shall observe some thing which you knew not before Express places are like ripe fruit that may be eaten presently but consequences are like the fruit in the seed or like fire in the flint virtually not formally in the Text yet as sure as that which is in express terms so the deduction be right For instance Gen. 5.3 the Scripture saith expresly Adam was an hundred and thirty yeers old and begat Seth from whence I infer that if Adam were an hundred and thirty yeers old at Seths birth then he was an hundred thirty and five yeers old when Seth was five yeers old and a hundred fourty and five yeer old when Seth was fifteen yeers old c. because five yeers being added to an hundred and thirty make just a hundred and thirty five yeers and fifteen yeers being added to 130 make an hundred and fourty five yeers Yet it s no where said in Scripture that Adam was an hundred and five yeers old when Seth was five yeers old c. onely it s proved by consequence by way of syllogism whereof one Proposition is grounded upon express Scripture the other upon sence and experience from both which infallible premises the conclusion must flow of necessity and cannot be denied I clear it thus by an hypotheticall syllogism If Adam were an hundred and thirty five yeers old when Seth was born then he was an hundred and thirty five yeers old when Seth was
eightie seventh yeer currant I should conceive that Messias was to suffer Anno Mundi 3952. Might not Daniel well have answered I pray pardon me there for to tell you the Truth I know not whether the seventy weeks begin the first yeer of Cyrus or in the raign of some other King and am still to seek in what yeer of the world Christ shall suffer By all which its apparent That either the seventie weeks began with the first of Cyrus and the last of the Babilonish Captivitie or else for all Gabriels vision he was still ignorant when Christ should suffer as knowing not when the seventie weeks were to begin The next or fifth difficulty is about the Jubilees which some make to contain fourtie and nine others fiftie solid yeers To me it seems probable they contain but fourtie and nine solid yeers a peece so that the fiftieth or Jubilee yeer is the last of the preceding Jubilee and the first of the following Jubilee and that upon this ground because otherwise the course of the Sabbatical yeers must needs be broken once every fiftie yeers by a yeer added to every seven weeks of yeers which make just fourty and nine yeers so that the seventh week of the Jubilee must contain eight yeers which is as absurd as to say a week contains eight dayes Now whereas there are two sorts of Jubilees namely the Jubilees of the World and the Jubilees of Canaan the question is when the Jubilees of Canaan begin Ordinarily they are reckoned from the Conquest of the Land by Joshuah that is about seven yeers after they entred Canaan To me it seems far more probable they rather began the September after Canaan was entred Levit. 25.2 The Scripture sayes not when you have Conquered but when you come into the Land which I shall give you then shall the Land keep a Sabbath unto the Lord. The first Sabbath of yeers then began the Autumne after their entrance into Canaan which they entred in the Spring in the tenth day of the seventh moneth Seven of which Sabbaths made fourtie and nine yeers and so the fiftieth yeer or the yeer of Jubilee began on the tenth day of the seventh Moneth and was proclaimed by sound of Trumpet throughout all the Land in the very day of Atonement Levit. 25.9 10. I conclude then that the fiftieth yeer after they entred Canaan was the yeer of Jubilee and not the fiftie seventh yeer as some would have it And after this rate as appears in my Chronologie the Jubilees of Canaan run parallel with the Jubilees of the World and are noted in the top of the Columne that contains the Sabbatical yeers Yet to give satisfaction I have noted in the Columne containing the yeers of the World the Jubilees that contain fifty solid yeers and in the Columne of the Sabbatical yeers I have noted both the Jubilees that began at their entrance and also seven yeer after they entred Canaan Thus p. 53. in the top of the Columne for the Sabbatical yeer the fiftie ninth Jubilee of the World and the seventh Jubilee of Canaan concur with the eight and twentieth yeer of Elies government after my account but after the ordinary account the seventh Jubilee concurs with the thirty fifth yeer of Ely If we reckon fifty yeers to a Jubilee the seventh Jubilee concurs with the first yeer of Saul as is noted in the same Column the reason is clear because every Jubilee gains a yeer and therefore the seventh Jubilee must needs fall seven yeers later In the same page my fifty and ninth Iubilee concurs with the twenty eighth of Ely but if we reckon fiftie yeers to a Jubilee then the fifty eighth Jubilee of the world concurs with the thirty sixth of Ely 9. yeer later then the former the reason is because a yeer is gained in every Jubilee and so the fifty eighth Jubilee containing fifty yeers falls later than the fifty ninth Jubilee containing but fourty nine yeers The sixth Difficulty is about the Expiration or end of Daniels seventy weeks which some terminate with the death of Christ others with the destruction of Jerusalem Daniel seems cleerly to terminate them with the death of Christ Daniel 9.24 by which he made reconciliation for sinne brought in everlasting Righteousness c. Of which their return from Captivity was but a type and shadow Nor doth it follow that the seventy weeks reach to the destruction of Jerusalem because mention thereof is made in this Prophesie For besides that the twenty fourth verse determines the seventy weeks in the Death Resurrection and Ascension of Christ It s further evident by the several parcels of the seventie weeks verse 25 26. seven weeks and sixty two weeks after which Messias was to be cut off seven and six two make sixty nine after which namely in the midst of the seventieth week verse 27. Messias by offering up himself should cause the Sacrifice and Oblation to cease virtually they being of no force after the death of Christ though they were in use as well as other Ceremonies till the destruction of Jerusalem And though the Translatours divide the seven weeks Daniel 9.25 by a Colon from the 62. weeks in the same verse following therein the custome of the Hebrews who usually make the Accent Athnac to serve for a Colon as if the seven weeks had proper reference to Messias and the sixty two weeks to the building of the street and wall Yet besides that this sence cannot agree with the History its evident that in divers places of Scripture the Accent Athnac cannot express a Colon nay scarce so much as a Comma for proof whereof I offer these places to the judgement of the Learned Psalme 70.3 4 5. If you count the Title of the Psalme for the first verse as the Hebrews do Ps 71.14 and 79.6 and 84.4 and 86.2 and 72. last and 1 Kings 8.17 And why then should we in this place namely Dan. 9.25 take Athnac from a Colon when as the sence can as ill bear it here as in any of the fore-mentioned places and without a Colon the sence is clear and direct that from that Decree as before to Messias should be seven weeks and sixty two weeks that is just sixty nine weeks namely to that time in which he should beginne his Ministerial Office in which he continued the first half of the last or seventieth week that is three yeers and an half and then by his death took away the daily Sacrifice in its significancy and virtue confirming the Covenant the last half of that week by his Apostles and after that rejecting the Jews for contempt thereof as learned Mede observes Let us then suppose which to me seems to come neerest the Truth that Daniels weeks begin where the seventy yeers of Captivity ended That is according to my Chronologie Anno Mundi 3466. Add to this four hundred and ninety yeers contained in Daniels seventy weeks of yeers The summe is three thousand nine hundred
precisely upon the same point of time they did in the creation is as evident as the former because the Sunnes standing still in the time of Joshua and going back ten degrees in the dayes of Hezekiah have made a manifest alteration and in probability at least of twenty foure houres or thereabouts For though the Sun and Moon stood yet time stayed not and though afterwards the Sunne went backwards yet still time went forwards fourteen houres probably in Joshuahs time supposing the Sunne stood an artificiall day which with them in Summer was about fourteen houres and ten houres in Hezekiahs dayes so as that day being fourteen houres longer then any former day made all the following Sabbaths till Hezekiahs time to fall fourteen houres later then any former Sabbath and after Hezekiahs recovery the Jewish Sabbath fell ten houres later than all the Sabbaths from Joshuahs time and twenty foure houres later than all the Sabbaths from the beginning of the world till the dayes of Joshuah that is just an whole naturall day later than before So as in truth after Hezekiahs recovery the Jewish Sabbath fell punctually upon the first day of the week and our Christian Sabbath by proportion falls on the second day of the week by reason of those twenty foure houres extraordinary inserted in the dayes of Joshua and Hezekiah But when then must the Christian Sabbath or our Lords day begin Answ To me it seems farre more easie to speak to the Negative than the affirmative and to tell when it begins not than when it begins Certainly a seventh part of time is to be kept and that seventh part must be the first of the week on which our Saviour rose and which upon the former grounds seems to be in precisenesse of time rather the second then first day of the weeke But at what houre this day ought to begin is the great question I have been apt to think and easily should be perswaded with divers eminent for Piety and Learning that it ought to begin at Sunne set were I not staggered with that text Iohn 20.19 being compared with Luke 24.13.29.36 From which places being compared I clearly draw these conclusions First that it was the first day of the week when our Saviour appeared to the ten Apostles for Thomas was not with them till the Lords day following John 20.26 Secondly that on that very day he appeared to the two disciples going to Emam and supped with them it being so late before Supper as they would not suffer our Saviour to go any further that night Luke 24.29 Thirdly That these things fell out at the Equinoctiall when the Sunne alwayes sets at six in the Evening and so probably it was toward Sunne-set when they went to Supper at which time it was dangerous to travell not onely for robbers but also for wilde beasts Psalme 104.19.22 which I suppose was the ground why they constrained our Saviour to abide with them Fourthly that after Supper the two Disciples returned again to JERUSALEM being distant from EMAUS seven miles and an half every mile containing eight furlongs Luke 24.13.33 Now suppose they had supped by Sunset and withall that they footed it after the rate of foure mile an houre for no doubt they went to JERUSALEM with a good will to carry the newes of our Saviours resurrection they came thither toward eight at night and as they were relating the good tidings to the tenne Apostles our Saviour himselfe appeared amongst them Luke 24.36 Suppose then it were but eight at night when Christ appeared its apparent that it was two houres after Sun-set though others thinke it was farre later and so could be no part of the first day of the week if the first day of the weeke end at Sun-set But Iohn sayes expressely that the Evening of the first day of the weeke Christ appeared Iohn 20.19 whereas the first day of the weeke was past two houres before with them who begin the first day at Sun-set Nor can this argument be solidly evaded by those who say that here John reckoned the day after the Roman account from mid-night to mid-night For first granting the Romanes reckoned so it will be a very hard taske for them to prove that John intended here to follow their acount and we can as easily deny it as they affirm it Secondly as feare scattered the Apostles at our Saviours death so probably conscience of the Lords Day made them keepe so late together otherwise they had been safer from the Jewes danger being asunder than together which was the ground they now shut the doores upon themselves John 20.19 This is further confirmed by their meeting again the Lords Day following verse 26. as also by Pauls preaching on the first day of the weeke till midnight Acts 20.7 And though his Sermon might be longer then ordinary because he was to leave the Disciples of TROAS yet the ground of his preaching that evening was the conscience of the Lords Day nor did hee probably begin his Sermon till after the celebration of the Lords Supper which in those times was at night 1 Cor. 11.20 21. and after Supper in imitation of our Saviour though this custome hath ceased with us for the most part as well as dipping in Baptisme because of the inconveniency of meeting so late especially in many places where the people live further off from the place of Assembly And I think either place or time doth binde unlesse there be an expresse command for it Otherwise we should be bound to receive the Lords Supper in an upper roome as well as after Supper By all hath beene said appears very probably that the latter as well as the former Evening is part of the Christian Sabbath Let who will interpret John to speak after the Roman account I must crave liberty to adhere to that rather then the Jewish account especially since Paul himself hath confirmed this interpretation by his own practice Act. 20.7 And why the time of the day may not be altered as well as the day it self and that by the same authority I see no cleare evidence to the contrary Nor see I any convincing strength in that maine argument so much insisted upon The first day of the weeke is the Christian Sabbath Evening and morning are the first day of the week Ergo Evening and morning are the Christian Sabbath For first grant the whole Syllogisme it makes not against us For since the Evening is put for night and the morning for day our Christian Sabbath still begins at Evening if it begin at midnight and so still Evening and morning are the Christian Sabbath Secondly to the Major we answer that the denomination is taken a Majors parte and therefore the Christian Sabbath is truly said to be the first day of the weeke and
76 49 34 80 77 50 35 81 78 51 36 50 Jubil 82 79 52 37  430 400 359 2510 83 80 53 38 84 81 54 39 85 82 55 40 86 83 56 41 87 84 57 42 88 85 58 43 Canaan entred The 52 Jubilee of the world according to our account fell out in the 365 week of years answering thereby at once both the Number of weeks and dayes in one year which contains 52 weeks and 365 dayes The 53 Jubilee of the world runs parallel with the first Jubilee of Canaan they entring Canaan at the end of the 52 Jubilee in a Sabbatical year There is some difficulty to reconcile that Text Acts 13.20 with the times of the Judges the time of the Judges rule in the book of Judges from Joshuahs death to the last of Samsom is but 299 years as any who have but ordinary skil in Arithmetick may see by adding the several years of their several Governments together Adde to these 40 years of Elies government 1 Sam. 4.18 the total is but 399 years and falls far short of 450 years which the Apostle reckons upon in the foregoing text To salve which difficulty note first that the years of the Judges rule for Samuels government is included in Sauls raign Acts 13.21 are 399. secondly that the Apostle probably according to the minde of the Septuagint superadds to these the years wherein the Israelitos were crushed by their oppressors which in truth are not distinct from but included in the years of the Judges rule yet being added as distinct from them make up precisely 450 years according to the Apostles account Acts 13.20 as may appear by what follows They were oppressed 1 By Cushan Jud. 3.8 8 2 By Moab Jud. 3.14 18 3 By Jabin Jud. 4.3 20 4 By Midian Jud. 6.1 7 5 By Ammon Jud. 10.8 18 6 By the Philistims Jud. 13.1 40 Total 111. to which adde the years of the Judges government to the last of Ely 339. The Summe is 450. the just account of the Apostle Acts 13.20 But that the whole time of the Judges rule cannot contain 450 years is evident by what follows 1 From the Lamb to Canaan 40 2 Thence to Joshuahs last 17 3 Thence suppose to Elies last 450 4 Thence to the last of Saul and David 80 5 Thence to Salomons fourth in which the Temple was founded 4 Totall is 591 so that by this reckoning from the Lamb to the Temple should be 591 y. contrary to clear Scripture 1 Kings 6.1 Substract therefore that 111 years in which the Israelites were oppressed There rest 480 y. the just space from the going out of Aegypt to the founding of Solomons Temple Whence I cleerly conclude that those 111 years must needs be superfluous and were included in the rule of the Judges Aaron Moses Iosh Caleb Floud Prom Circ Pasover Exod. 12.3.40 S. W. 89 86 59 44 860 440 410 10 360 2520 90 87 60 45 91 88 61 46 92 89 62 47 93 90 63 48 94 91 64 49 95 92 65 50 96 93 66 51 870  420  361  97 94 67 52 98 95 68 53 99 96 69 54 100 97 70 55 101 98 71 56 102 99 72 57 103 100 73 58  450  20 362 2530 104 101 74 59 105 102 75 60 106 103 76 61 107 104 77 62 108 105 78 63 109 106 79 64 110 107 80 65 880 460 430 30 363 2540 111 108 81 66 112 109 82 67 113 110 83 68 114 111 84 69 115 112 85 70 116 113 86 71 117 114 87 72 890 470 440 40 364  118 115 88 73 119 116 89 74 120 117 90 75 121 118 91 76 122 119 92 77 123 120 93 78 We must not think that Ehud ruled 80 years for since the shortning of mans life to 70 or 80 years Psal 90.10 in the time of Moses nonev ever ruled so long only Joseph is recorded to continue in authoritie 80 years But the meaning is that after the expiration of Othniells government it was 80 years to the end of Ehuds affairs part of which also included the government of Shamgar Broughton It s remarkable that the Jubilees of Canaan according to our account run parallel with the Jubilees of the World Nor need any be scrupled that we reckon the first Jubilee of Canaan running parallel with the 53 Jubilee of the World to fall out in the 51 year after Canaan was entred whereas a Iubilee in the largest extent contains at most but 50 years compleat since the date of their Iubilees was reckoned not by the Ecclesiastical year beginning in Spring when they entred into Canaan but by the civil year which began in September or Autumne immediately succeeding their entrance into Canaan namely 6 months after so as about 6 months after Canaan entred must be reckoned as utterly lapsed in respect of the first Iubilee of Canaan which began the Autumne following their entrance not in the Spring of that Sabbatical year in which precisely they entred Canaan For as the Iubilees of the World so also the Iubilees of Canaan begin in Autumne Levit. 25.9 That battel fought Iud. 20. could not probably fall out later then the 43 of Ehud though it bee recorded per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the end of the Iudges My ground is because Phineas was present at it Jud. 20.28 who being at least 20 y. old when he slew Zimri and Cozby otherwise he was not capable of bearing arms at this time must be above 120 year old which age was rare in those times They who place this History according to the order of Narration after Samsons death must of necessity make Phineas to be above 330 years old which how probable I leave to the judgement of the impartial Reader Iosh G. Caleb Floud Prom Circ Pasover S. W. 94. 1 79     52 Jubil 2550 95. 2 80 365 96. 3 81 97. 4 82 98. 5 83 99. 6 84 100. 7 85 51 Jubi Iosh G. Floud Prom Circ Pasover Canaā S. W. 101. 8 900 480 450 50 10 366 2560 102. 9 103. 10 104. 11 105. 12 106. 13 107. 14 108. 15        109. 16 110. 17 Othniel Floud Prom Circ Pasover Canaā S. W. 1 910 490 460 60 20 367  2 3 4 5 920     368 2570 6 7 8 9 10 11 12  500 470 70 30 369 2580 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 930 510 480 80 40 370 2590 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 940  490   371  27 28 29 30 31 32 33  520  90 50 53 1 Jubil 2600 34 372 35 36 37 38 39 52 Jubi 40        Ehud Floud Prom Circ Pasover Canaā S. W. 1 950 530 500 100 60 1 Jub 2610 2 373 3 4 5 6 7 960 540 510 110 70 374  8 9 10 11 12 13 14      375 2620 15 16 17 18 19 20
is the circle of the Indiction Multiply twenty eight the length by nineteen the bredth and the product of both these five hundred thirtie two the Dyonysian Period by fifteen the thickness the total is seven thousand nine hundred and eighty the Julian Period The use of it is excellent in Chronologie for by it alone being rightly set you may find out the yeer of the world or any or all of the three Cycles And the three Cycles being given you may find any yeer of the world or of the Julian Period Chronologers suppose it to begin seven hundred sixty four yeers before the Creation The reason is because they take it for granted that our Saviours Conception or Birth hapned Anno. Mundi 3949. In which yeer of the world the Cycle of the Sunne was nine the Golden Number one the Roman Indiction three Now these three Cycles concur in no yeer of the Julian Period but the four thousand seven hundred and thirteenth which therefore runs parallel with Anno Mundi 3949. which being substracted from four thousand seven hundred thirteen their rest seven hundred sixty four yeers the just date of the Julian Period when the world began Haply upon this supposition of our Saviours Birth Anno Mundi 3949. do our Almanack-makers ground the change of the three Cycles every yeer as they may find out the Epact by multiplying the Golden Number by eleven and dividing it by thirty the common age of the Moon the remainer after division is the Epact and if nought remain then the Epact is thirty For example This yeer of our Lord being 1646. the Golden Number is thirteen which multiplyed by eleven the Product is one hundred forty three and this being divided by thirty there rest twenty three the Epact for this yeer according to the Julian Account In like manner to find out the three Cycles Suppose for present our Saviour was born Anno Mundi 3949. add to it the yeer of our Lord 1646. and 764. the date of the Julian Period before the world began the total is 6359. which yeer of the Julian Period runs now parallel with the persent yeer of our Lord 1646. and with the present yeer of the World 5595. according to the former supposition Now to find out the three Cycles Divide six thousand three hundred ninety five the present Julian Period by twenty eight your remainder is three Again divide it by nineteen your remainder is thirteen Once more divide it by fifteen your remainder is fourteen so that you have three for the Cycle of the Sunne thirteen for the Cycle of the Moon and fourteen for the Cycle of the Indiction this present yeer according to the ordinary account Now because we conceive that our Saviour was born An. Mundi 3919. ending thirtie yeers sooner than the ordinary account we must of necessity either alter the three Cycles or begin the date of the Julian Period thirty yeers sooner than the ordinary Account namely four hundred ninety four yeers before the Creation which as it is easie and safe so it s warranted by the example of the best Chronologers who alter the date thereof as themselves think best Nor is there any absurditie in it so they keep to that date they set themselves since this Period is not Natural but Artificial which is one reason I note it not in my Chronological Tables Let us then take it for granted that our Saviour was born Anno Periodi Iul. 4713. Let the yeer of our Saviours Birth be what it will in regard of the age of the World whether 3949. or 3919. or any other be sure to fasten it and make it run parallel with the four thousand seven hundred and thirteenth yeer of the Julian Period and the three Cycles will be still the same without variation as they are now in the ordinary Account and have been reckoned to be from the Birth of our Saviour And better a great deal alter the Julian Period than the three Cycles which might haply breed great confusion in the notation of Time It being in this case as it is in divers terms of Art which though very improper yet must be kept least by loosing the terms we confound our selves and lose also the sence of Authors But to passe this and to draw to a conclusion The Weeks and Yeers of the World as well as the Jubilees may be proved as the rest by ocular Demonstration and likewise do mutually prove each other For instance page 73. f. The first yeer of our Saviors life runs parallel with Anno Mundi 3920. and with the last or Sabatical yeer of the five hundred sixtieth week of the World immediately fore-going the eightieth Jubilee Now to prove they are set right multiply 560. by 7. which is a weeks of yeers or 80. by 49. which is a Jubilee containing 7. weeks of yeers the Product of each is 3920. yeers the just age of the World when our Saviour was one yeer old Or divide that yeer of the World by 49. the Quotient is 80. the Jubilee which immediately followed our Saviours Birth As also if you divide that week of the World in which our Saviour was born by 7 which makes a week of yeers the Quotient is still eighty as before whence you may certainly conclude they are all rightly set The same reason is there of any yeer week or Jubilee of the world which by this means may in like manner be proved with no lesse certainty then delight by any who hath but so much skill in Arithmetick as will inable him to add substract multiply and divide This I conceive may be sufficient for the right understanding and use of the Tables the benefit whereof thou wilt better value by thy own experience in the study of Chronology then I have either leisure or pleasure to instruct thee What truth thou findst in them own it as a beam of Light sent from the onely Fountain of Truth what errors excuse and pardon them in the Author who did his honest indeavour with no mean pains to find out Truth though he neither can nor dare exempt himself from the common condition of man namely to be subject to error nor doth he desire thee any further to trust him in this particular then he is able to make good from solid Stripture grounds every parcel and link of this Chronological chain from the first to the second Adam with whom he leaves thee as the onely center of rest and happiness and who after all the labours and sufferings of his people will give them Eternal Rest and Immortal Glory POSTSCRIPT THe Reader may haply think me overconfident in my assertions about Points so intricate and controversal To which I shall answer onely thus much First that the grounds upon which I build upon serious and impartial consideration seem to me irrefragable besides the harmony of all the Parcels one with another and especially the perfect consent of the seventie yeers captivity and Daniels weeks with the
captivitie and according to some sixty nine yeers old after which he lived at least to the twentieth of Artaxerxes Mnemon as is evident by his being present at the dedication of the wall Nehem. 12.36 For the building whereof Nehemiah got leave of this King in the twentieth yeer of his Reign Nehem. 2.1 The same Ezra also preached under the government of Nehemiah Nehem. 8.1 2. whose government lasted twelve yeers Nehem. 13.6 compared with Nehem. 2.1 to the 32. of Artaxerxes Now in what yeer of Nehemiah the wall was finished is uncertain Suppose therefore Ezra lived but to the end of the twentieth yeer of Artaxerxes which is the least can be imagined from the first of Cyrus to the twentieth of Artaxerxes Mnemon is 136. yeers at least to which add sixty two yeers of Eraes age under the captivity its apparent he lived at least an hundred ninety eight yeers which how probable let any indifferent man judge 3. From that speech of the Jews to our Saviour John 2.20 Fourty and six yeers was this Temple a building which answers patt with that of Daniel 9.25 That from the Decree of Cyrus to Messias should be seven weeks of yeers which cannot be understood of Messias coming personally but Typically Now the Temple being a principal Type of Christ was finished in the midst of the seventh week that is in the fourty sixth yeer after the return as Messiah whom it Typified did both suffer and was glorified in the midst of the seventieth or last week Dan. 9.26 27. Others who make it to be about an hundred and eleven yeers from the foundation to the finishing of the Temple have no way to salve that speech of the Jews Iohn 2.20 but by flying to several intervals wherein the building of the Temple laid dead and so would make us believe that fourty six yeers were spent in actual building of the Temple which to me is improbable For as they were laying the foundation Ezra 3.8.10 and 4.1 The adversaries whose malice would suffer them to loose no time began betimes to hinder them partly by weakning their hands by suits of Law and partly by complaining to the King against them Ezra 4.4 5.7.16 And verse 24. its expresly said the work ceased till the second yeer of Darius which agrees with Haggai 1.1 and Ezra 5. 1 2. so that it is probable the work ceased from the laying of the foundation till the second yeer of Darius in whose sixth yeer it was finished Ezra 6.15 and so probably about five or six yeers in actual building And so by consequence that speech of the Jews must be took in this sense that from the foundation to the finishing of the second Temple was but fourty six yeers and by proportion from the first of Cyrus to the sixth of Darius Nothus were not above fourty seven yeers by sacred Chronologie which yet by profane Chronologie is an hundred and twelve yeers And in truth the Olympiads themselves by which Historians measured the raigns of their Kings are much doubted and questioned by Plutarch in the very beginning of his Numa p. 60. B. 4. From the answer of the Angel Gabriel to Daniel Dan. 9.25 For first the Angel coming to instruct Daniel certainly would speak to Daniels apprehension But Daniel could understand this command to build Jerusalem to proceed from no other King but Cyrus being well acquainted with the Prophesie of Esay about him and had not Daniel undoubtedly understood it thus he might well have objected to Gabriel I understand thus much indeed that seventy weeks after the going forth of the commandment Messias shall accomplish our redemption but unlesse you further satisfie me at what time precisely and from what King this Decree shall be issued forth I am little or nothing the wiser To clear it by another supposed instance should the Spirit of God reveal to any that precisely 40-yeers after the ruine of Antichrist the Turk shall be destroyed unless he be pleased withal to reveal in what yeer Antichrist shall be destroyed I could neither inform my self nor others directly when the Turk shall he ruind So it was in this case The Angel came not to deceive Daniel but to inform him Secondly to prove from the Text that this must needs be the command of Cyrus The words in the original run thus Vnderstand that from the going forth of the word to cause to return and to build Jerusalem c. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Hiphil signifies properly to cause to return From hence then I argue That Decree which at once commanded the captivity to return and to build Ierusalem that and that onely began Daniels seventy weeks But there was no Decree of any King but onely of Cyrus that at once commanded both these Ergo nor indeed could Daniel understand it of any other that no other King commanded both these is evident Darius commanded to build the Temple but neither to return the captivitie nor to build the Citie Artaxerxes gave Nehemiah a Commission to repair the Citie but not to return the captivity The same Artaxerxes gave Ezra Commission to return some Captives but neither to repair the City nor to build the Temple For proof of these three see Ezrah 6.6 7. Nehemiah 2.3.8 Ezra 7.13 Of all the Persian Kings onely Cyrus except Artaxerxes Mnemon to whom yet the date can not agree made a Decree First for returning the captivity Secondly for building the Temple And thirdly for building of the Citie also Ezra 1.2.3 Esay 44.28 and 45.13 And though no Decree of Cyrus be extant for building of Ierusalem yet it is evident by the Prophet in the forementioned places that he did make a Decree for the building of the Citie as well as of the Temple otherwise how could it be said He shall build my Citie And that he should say of Ierusalem thou shalt be built No man is so mad to think Cyrus built it himself but it was built by his order and direction as the Temple was built by Solomon By all which I think it may appear that Daniels weeks began at the end of the seventie yeers and with the first of Cyrus I might add how improbable it is that the Scripture should discover every thing about Christ save only the time when he should come into the world c. which yet is so material a circumstance but we must be beholding to profane Chronology for which as I shewed before is doubtful and might have been lost Had a Iew or any other come to Daniel after his conference with Gabriel Dan. 9. and asked him when Messias should suffer The answer had been ready out of Daniel 9.25.27 in the midst of the seventieth or last week But had the Jew further replyed in what yeer of the world Let us onely suppose now that the first yeer of Cyrus ran parallel with Anno Mundi 3466. The fourth yeer being the midst of the last or seventieth week that the four hundred
fiftie and five Out of which substract three yeers and an half there rests just three thousand nine hundred fiftie and two currant in which yeer of the world according to us our Savior suffered Now because Chronologers place the death of Christ in the yeer of the world 3982. and the 202. Olympiad or the 808. Olympick yeer just thirty yeer later then our date the great difficulty will be how to reconcile this difference For salving whereof we must desire the Reader to take especial notice of that grand errour committed by many in sacred Chronologie who make the birth of Abraham to fall out sixty yeers sooner than indeed it did As supposing him to be born in the seventieth yeer of his Father Terah whereas indeed he was not born till Terah was an hundred and thirty yeer old as I have evidenced in the second difficulty Secondly note that of this sixty yeers they loose five yeer in the date of the Promise which was made when Abraham was seventy and not seventy five yeer old as I have cleared in the same Paragraph and so with them it falls five yeer later then with us Thirdly note further that out of this sixtie they loose eight yeers more in the date of the Babylonish Captivity which with them falls out in the raign of Iechonias but with us in the third yeer ending and the fourth yeer beginning of Iehoiakim namely eight yeer sooner with us then with them to which add two yeers more wherein we differ from them occasionally in the raigns of the Kings who sometimes raign a few yeers with their Fathers sometimes begin not their raign till after their Fathers decease as in the Chronologie it self we shall make plainly appear and desire no further to be credited then we bring Scripture grounds for every branch of our Chronology I say these five eight and two yeers being added together make fifteen yeers which being substracted from sixtie there rest fourtie and five yeers the just difference between their and our date of the Babylonish Captivitie The Captivitie falling with us five and fourty yeers later then with them and their date of our Saviours death falling thirty yeers later then with us Both which being added together make up 75. yeers the space from the first yeer of Cyrus his universal Monarchie and the 10. yeer of Artaxerxes Longimanus from which yeer to the death of Christ they reckon 490. yeers and others reckon from the 7. yeer of the same Artaxerxes who they suppose gave Commission to Nehemiah in the twentieth yeer of his Raign Nehemiah 2.6.8 Our return from captivitie An. M. 3466 Thence to the 10 of Artaxerxes Longimanus 74 Thence to the end of Daniels weeks 490 Total 4030 About which yeer or 4027. if the half week be substracted our Saviour suffered if their account be right and therefore to make it even with our account substract the former 75. which contain the 45. yeers difference about the captivitie and 30. yeers difference about Christs death and three yeers and a half for the last half week There rest just 3952. being the yeer of the world in which according to us our Savior suffered According to some these 75. yeers should reach but to the seventh yeer of Artaxerxes Longimanus Their return 45. yeers soner then ours 3421 To the 10. of Artaxerx Long. 74 To the end of Daniels 70. weeks 490 Total 3985 Out of which substract 3 yeers and a half from Daniels last half week There rests 3982. the yeer of the World in which our Saviour suffered according to Chronologers being just thirtie yeers later then our account which fals out 3952. Our returne from captivity An. M. 3466 Thence to the 6. of Darius Nothus 110 Thence to the end of Daniels weeks 490 Total 4066 About which time they who beginne Daniels weeks at the 6. of Darius should make the destruction of Ierusalem to fall out or at least Anno Mundi 4063. currant supposing it hapned in the midst of Daniels last week but the former 111. being substracted the parcels whereof are 45. yeers difference of the capivitie 30. yeers difference of the death of Christ and 36. yeers after Christs death to the destruction of Ierusalem together with 3 yeers and a half for the last half week as before There rests just 3952. the yeer of the world in which our Saviour suffered according to our account Their return 45. yeers sooner then ours 3421. Thence to the sixth of Darius Nothus 110. Thence to the end of Daniels 70. weeks 490. Total 4021. Out of which substract 3. yeers a half for Dan. last half week there rests 4018 currant in which yeer of the world Christ should suffer according to them who begin Daniels weeks at the sixth of Darius when the Temple was finished out of which 4018 substract 66. yeers the parcels whereof are 30. y. difference about Christs death and 36. yeers after to the destruction of Ierusalem There rests 3952 the just yeer of the world in which Christ suffered according to our account With them if Daniels weeks immediatly succeeded the captivity our Saviour should suffer An. m. 3907. as is evident by adding 490. to 3420. that is 43. yeer soner then out date if you substract from 3910. being the total the 3. yeers and a half for Daniels last half-week that is the twentieth yeere of his raigne with his father but the tenth yeer of his sole raigne But how unprobable this opinion is let the impartiall Reader â—udge and that because Artax Longim was an enemy to the Jews and hindred the building of the Temple Ezra 4.7.23 which to make good I argue thus There were but three Kings of Persia who had the name of Artaxerxes First Ahasuerus the Husband of Queen Hester mentioned Ezra 4.6 and in the book of Hester he was the same with Xerxes with this mans raigne the date of Daniels weeks cannot agree Secondly In the twelfth yeer of his raigne he plotted with Haman the ruine of the Jews Hoster 3.8 Thirdly he raigned not full twenty one yeers whereas its apparent that he who gave Nehemiah commission raigned at least thirty two yeers Neh. 13.6 The second was Artaxerxes Longimannus sonne to Xerxes mentioned as before Ez. 4.7 by whose means the building of the Temple was hindred till the raigne of Darius Nothus Ezra 4.23.24 But before his dayes I mean before his twentieth yeer who gave Nehemiah commission the Temple was builded as is evident Neh. 6.10 11. and 13.4.9 where expresse mention is made both of the Temple and the chambers of Gods house And therefore Nehemiahs commission must needs be given by Artaxerxes Mnemon who was the third of that name and together with Darius Nothus his father was piously affected towards the Jews and furthered the building of the Temple Ezra 6.14 and after the Temple was built he gave commsssion to Ezra in the seventh yeare of his raigne Ezra 7.1 and lastly to Nehemiah in the twentieth yeer
of his raigne It s remarkable of this man as well as of Cyrus that he gave First commission to build the Temple Ezra 6.14 Secondly to return part of the captivity Ezra 7.13 Thirdly to build the City Ierusalem Neh. 2.5.8 at least the wall of it Yet from him the date of Daniels weeks cannot be reckoned since from the sixth of Darius his father to the destruction of Ierusalem the utmost period of Daniels weeks by all interpreters there were but foure hundred ninety yeers or at fathest but three yeers and an half after supposing Jerusalem was destroyed in the midst of Daniels last week as some would have it So then we cannot reckon Daniels weeks either from the twentieth of Artax 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Artax 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and if any date hold it must be from Darius Nothus his decree Ezra 4.24 and Hag. 1.1 or from the time of finishing the Temple in the sixth yeer of his raign Ezra 6.15 which yet cannot well stand upon the former ground in the beginning of this difficulty where it s proved the angel determined the seventy weeks upon the death of Messias and besides in the same place he begins the seventie weeks at the decree to restore and build the City but makes no mention of building the Temple Dan. 9.25 Yet because generally authours begin the date of Daniels weeks in the raigne of Art Longim and end them at the death of Christ or begin them in the raigne of Darius Nothus and terminate them with the destruction of Ierusalem I have noted both though very uncertain and improbable and leave it to the Readers judgement whether it be not farre more agreeable both to Scripture and truth that Daniels weeks begin where the seventy yeers of captivity end as hath been formerly cleered if I mistake not and end in the death of Christ and our redemption purchased thereby By what hath been spoken may appear First that it seems more agreeable to Scripture that Daniels weeks begin where the seventy yeers of captivity end Secondly that they who begin them with the tenth or twentieth of Artaxerxes Longimanus differ from our date about seventy five yeers Thirdly They who begin them with the sixth of Darius Nothus differ from us about 111. yeers The parcells whereof are forty five yeers of the captivity falling sooner with them then us thirty yeers of our Saviours death falling later with them then us and thirty six yeers after that for the destruction of Jerusalem which they place in the midst of Daniels last week which supposition if true doth of necessity cast the last yeer of Daniels seventy weeks upon the yeere of the world foure thousand sixty six and the destruction of Jerusalem upon An. Mundi 4063 currant being the fourth or middle yeare of Daniels last week and the death of Christ being thirty six yeers before that upon An. Mundi 4027. and not upon An. Mundi 3982. as they would have it as may appear by what follows The Babylonish captivity ended An. Mundi 3465. Thence to the sixth of Dar. Nothus according to them 111. Thence to the end of Daniels seventy weeks 490 Totall 4066 out of which substract for three yeeers and a half of Daniels last week and thirty six yeers from the death of Christ to the destruction of Jerusalem in all 39. and a half There rests just 4027 currant the yeere in which according to their supputation our Saviour Christ should suffer which yet they affirm to be Anno Mundi 3982. The main ground of which errour ariseth from the mistaking of the true date of Abrahams birth as I have formerly shewed Another errour arising from the mistake of Abrahams birth c. is the misdating of the three famous Aeraes or Perieds of time namely aera olympica Vrbis conditae and aera Nabonassaris each of which fall out with them fifty foure yeers sooner then with us The first of them with us falls out Anno Mundi 3228. in the thirty third yeer of Vzziah's raigne The second Anno Mundi 3252. the fifth yeer of Jothams raigne and twenty foure yeers later then the former The third Anno mundi 3258. in the eleventh yeer of Jotham and six yeer later then the aera Vrbis Conditae All these three aeraes falling together within the space of thirty yeers at such a distance as he that knows the true date of any one of them may easily find out the other two But ordinarily Chronologers place the Olympiads in Anno mundi 3174. The aera Vrbis Con. Anno Mundi 3198. and aera Nabonassaris Anno Mundi 3204. which periods to find out they reckon backwards from the death of our Saviour falling out in the last yeer of the two hundredth and second Olympiad or the 800 and eigthth Olympick yeer which being substracted from three thousand nine hundred eighty two the yeare of our Saviours death according to them there rests three thousand one hundred seventy four the first yeer of their first Olympiad each of which contain the space of four yeers and are called Tetraeterides The same course they take to find out the other two periods and what is this but to build one uncertainty upon another for the Olympiads in their date are uncertain And secondly were it out of question that our Saviour suffered in the eight hundred and eighth Olympick yeer yet in what yeer of the world to fasten their aera would be difficult because of the different date of Daniels weeks It were worth the while to enquire whether we can find any better soopsteps of their beginning out of the Old Testament First therefore we must take for granted that those three great aeraes or periods fall together within the space of thirty yeers Secondly that they fall within such a precise distance the one from the other that he who knows one of them may infalliby find out the other two These two postulata being granted which I think both sides cannot but assent unto I shall pitch upon aera Nabonassaris the last period of the three of which there is very probable evidence in the Old Testament by comparing profane history with sacred and if profane historians reckon the raignes of their Kings right the evidence is irrefragable Note then that Berodach alias Merodach Baladan mentioned 2 Kings 20.12 and Esay 39.1 in the seventh yeer of his rule over Babylon sent Letters and a present unto Hezekiah The occasion whereof was the wonder of the Sunnes going ten degrees backwards for the confirmation of Hezekiahs faith about his recovery Now the Babylonians being great Astronomers could not but take especiall notice of the Sunnes retrograde motion and withall hearing that it was upon occasion of Hezekiahs sicknesse as may appear by comparing 2 Kings 20.12 with 2 Chron. 32.31 he could not but send Letters to Hezekiah to enquire about the ground thereof These Letters were sent in the seventh yeere of Merodach Baladans raigne which ran
659 472 290 887 660 473 291 888 661 474 292 889 662 475 293 890 663 476 294 891 664 477 295 892 665 478 296 194 27 Jubi 893 666 479 297  894 667 480 298 895 668 481 299 896 669 482 300 897 670 483 301 898 671 484 302 899 672 485 303 195 1360 900 673 486 304 901 674 487 305 902 675 488 306 903 676 489 307 904 677 490 308 905 678 491 309 906 679 492 310 196 1370 907 680 493 311 908 681 494 312 909 682 495 313 910 683 496 314 911 684 497 315 912 685 498 316 913 686 499 317 28 Jubi  914 687 500 318 197 915 688 501 319 916 689 502 320 917 690 503 321 918 691 504 322 919 692 505 323 920 693 506 324 198 1380 921 694 507 325 922 695 508 326 923 696 509 327 924 697 510 328 925 698 511 329 926 699 512 330 927 700 513 331 199 1390 928 701 514 332 929 702 515 333 930 703 516 334 931 704 517 335 932 705 518 336 933 706 519 337 934 707 520 338 200 1400 935 708 521 339 936 709 522 340 937 710 523 341 938 711 524 342 939 712 525 343 940 713 526 344 941 714 527 345 201 28 Jubi 942 715 528 346 943 716 529 347 944 717 530 348 945 718 531 349 946 719 532 350 947 720 533 351 948 721 534 352 202 1410 949 722 535 353 950 723 536 354 951 724 537 355 952 725 538 356 953 726 539 357 954 727 540 358 955 728 541 359 203 1420 956 729 542 360 957 730 543 361 958 731 544 362 959 732 545 363 960 733 546 364 961 734 547 365 962 735 548 366   Methus Gen. 5.21 Lamec Gen 5.25 Noah Gen. 5.28 S. W. 736 549 367 29 Jubi  737 550 368 204 738 551 369 739 552 370 740 553 371 741 554 372 742 555 373 205 1430 743 556 374 744 557 375 745 558 376 746 559 377 747 560 378 748 561 379 749 562 380 206 1440 750 563 381 751 564 382 752 565 383 753 566 384 754 567 385 755 568 386 756 569 387 207  757 570 388 758 571 389 759 572 390 760 573 391 761 574 392 762 575 393 763 576 394 208 1450 764 577 395 765 578 396 766 579 397 767 580 398 768 581 399 769 582 400 29 Jubi 770 583 401 209 1460 771 584 402 772 585 403 773 586 404 774 587 405 775 588 406 776 589 407 777 590 408 210 1470 778 591 409 779 592 410 780 593 411 781 594 412 782 595 413 783 596 414 784 597 415 30 Jubi  785 598 416 211 786 599 417 787 600 418 788 601 419 789 602 420 790 603 421 791 604 422 212 1480 792 605 423 793 606 424 794 607 425 795 608 426 796 609 427 797 610 428 798 611 429 213 1490 799 612 430 800 613 431 801 614 432 802 615 433 803 616 434 804 617 435 805 618 436 214  806 619 437 807 620 438 808 621 439 809 622 440 810 623 441 811 624 442 812 625 443 215 1500 813 626 444 814 627 445 815 628 446 816 629 447 817 630 448 818 631 449 30 Jubi 819 632 450 216 1510 820 â—33 451 821 634 452 822 635 453 823 636 454 824 637 455 825 638 456 826 639 457 217  827 640 458 828 641 459 829 642 460 830 643 461 831 644 462 832 645 463 833 646 464 31 Jubi 1520 834 647 465 218 835 648 466 836 649 467 837 650 468 838 651 469 839 652 470 840 653 471 219 1530 841 654 472 842 655 473 843 656 474 844 657 475 845 658 476 846 659 477 847 660 478 220 1540 848 661 479 849 662 480 850 663 481 851 664 482 852 665 483 853 666 484 The Jews first moneth Ecclesiastical namely Abib or Nisan answers for the most part our March their seventh moneth Ethanim or Tisri our September their Ecclesiastical year beginning at the Vernal as their Civil year at the Autumnal Equinoctial which with us happen about the eleventh of March and September But after the Forraign or Gregorian account those two moneths answer for the most part April and October because they begin their moneths ten dayes before ours whence with them the Equinoctials fall upon the 21. of March and September The Floud hapned Anno Mundi 1657. in the beginning of the year namely the 17. day of the second moneth that is about our 27. or 28. day of October Gen. 7.11 and the rain fell till about the 7. of December with us or their 26. of the third moneth for forty dayes together that is fourteen dayes of the second moneth and six and twenty dayes of the third moneth Their first moneth beginning the 10. or 11. of September at the Autumnal Equinoctial and ending about the 10. or 11. of October and so by proportion every moneth of theirs contained part of two of our months and alwayes thirty dayes apeece which was the reason of their Veader or Mensis Embolimeus namely a thirteenth month added after the return of a certain space of years as we adde one day to the year every Leap year to make up the defect of five dayes losse every year their twelve months making but just 360. dayes whereas a year contains ordinarily 365. and sometimes 366. dayes Now though the Floud fell out precisely Anno Mundi 1657. yet I have noted it An. M. 1656. because this year runs parallel with the 600. year of Noahs life as is evident by the text Gen. 7.11 from which I durst not vary but this difference may easily be reconciled Suppose Noahs 600. y. began in the third month Anno 1656. the Floud hapning in the second month Anno 1657. fell within the compasse of Noahs 600. year and yet at the same time light at the begining of the 1657. year of the world for we must not think that the years of Noahs life ran parellel with the years of the world to a month and a day but that the 600 year of Noahs life contained part of the 1656 and 1657. year of the world so as the Floud hapned in the latter end of Noahs 600. y. and the beginning of the 1657. y. of the world And had I set the Floud in 1657. the Reader might have concluded it fell out in the 601. y. of Noahs life which is false and clear against the Scripture Gen. 7.11 This I thought fit to note for prevention of mistake Withal the Reader may note that Methuselah dyed but few months before the Floud came his last year running with the 600. y. of Noahs life and the 1656 y. of the world which thing the Prophet Enoch foretold in his very name which verbatim signifies Mortuo hoc missile that is This man being dead a dart meaning that after his death immediatly God would send that dart or arrow of his vengeance the
he aspired to the Crown 2 Chron. 36.4 That Ezekiel reckons from Josiah his Passeover is apparent by Ezek. 1.1 2. that 30 y. running parallel with the 5 y. of Jehojakims Captivity being just 30 y. distant from Josiahs Passeover inclusively Amon 2 Kin. 21.19 1 2 Iosiah 2 Kin. 22.1 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. Olym. 1 1710  1260    340 481  34 2 3 4 35 5 6 7  1290  860 820 380 350 482 3370 36 8 9 10 11 12 Iosiah 2 Kin. 22.1 Ieremiah Ier. 25.3 â—â— Ezek. 4.6 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. Olym. 13 1 1720 1300 1270 870 830 390  483 3380 37 14 2 15 3 16 4 17 5 38 18 6 〈…〉 19 7 20 8 21 9 1730 1310 1280 880 840 400 360 69 17 Jubil  39 22 10 484 23 Iehojachim born 11 24 12 25 13 40 26 14 27 15 28 16       370 17 Ju 3390 41 29 17 485 30 18 31 19 According to our account both the 70 y. Captivity and Daniels 70 Weeks of years run exactly parallel with the weeks of the World The first beginning at the end of the 485 and ending at the end of the 495 week of the World The last beginning at the end of the 495 week and ending at the end of the 565 week of the World Some begin Ezekiels 40 year mentioned Ezek. 4.6 not with Ieremiahs Prophecy spoke of Ier. 25.3 but with Iosiahs Passeover and renewal of the Covenant in the 18 year of his raign 2 Chron. 35.19 compared with 2 Chron. 34.31 32. And so those 40 year expired not till the fourth and last Captivitie full 23 year after the first Captivity and almost 5 y. after Ierusalem was taken and Zedekiahs eyes put out After which God spared them no longer but the Land lay utterly desolate without any Inhabitant This seems very consonant to the truth Zedechiah was Iehojakims Vncle 2 Kin. 24.17 yet 1 Chron. 3.16 he is noted as the son of Iehojakim the reason is because he succeeded as his heir in the Kingdom 2 Chron. 36.10 he is called Iehojakims brother according to the custom of the Iewes who call all their kinred Brethren Thâ—s by our Saviours Brethren Matth. 13.55 we must understand his kinred 2 Kin. 24.12 Nebuchadnezzar took Iehojachim in the 8 year of his raign Ier. 52.28 in his seventh year probably it was at the end of Nebuchadnezzar seventh and the beginning of his eighth year In the same sâ—nce haply Nebuchadnezzars first is said to be Iehojakims third and fourth year Dan. 1.1 compared with Ier. 25.1 And thus Zedekiahs Captivity is said to be in the 18 year of Nebuchadnezzar Ier. 52.29 whereas Zedekiahs 11 y. wherein he was taken captive runs parallel with Nebuchadnezzars 19 y. But upon the former supposition the answer is easie Zedekiah was led captive in the end of the 18 and the beginning of the 19 year of Nebuchadnezzar See the like 2 Kin. 8.25 and 9.29 compared The 4 Captivities I have noted in the next collumne to that of the Captivitie The first hapned in the third of Iehojakim Dan. 1.1.3 the end of which third year concurred with the first of Nebuchadnezzar The second third and fourth hapned in the 7 18 and 23 year of Nebuchadnezzar Ier. 52.28 29 30. It s remarkable that the 10 weeks of the 70 years Captivity and also the 70 weeks of Daniel run parallel with the weeks of the World That the 70 y. Captivity begin with the 4 of Iehojakim I have proved before in the Difficulties controverted The first Temple was founded in the 427 week of the World and continued just 427 y. currant The second Temple was founded 480 y. after the first was founded and that precisely to a month 1 Kin. 6.1 compared with Ezra 3.8 and just so many years passed from the going out of Aegypt to the founding of the first Temple 1 Kin. 6.1 Broughton in the Preface to that excellent peece of his called a Concent of Scripture brings a clear Testimony out of Abben-Ezra that Daniels 70 weeks take their beginning from the Prayer of Daniel Dan. 9. Besides evidences from Josephus and others in the body of his Concent Ieremiah Ier. 25.3 â—â— Ezek. 4.6 Iehoa Iehoj 2 Kin 23.31.36 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. Olym. 20 3m 1       370 485 3390 42 21  2 22 The Chaldean Monarchy begins 3 Ieremiah Ier. 25.3 â—â— Ezek. 4.6 Iehoj 2 Kin 23.31.36 70 y. Captiv Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. Olym. 23 4 1 Captiv 1 1740 1320 1290 890 850 410  486 3400 43 24 5 2 25 6 3 26 7 4 Nebucadnezzar 27 8 5 28 9 6 29 10 7.1 Cap. 2 30 11 8 68 Jubi Ieremiah Ier. 25.3 â—â— Ezek. 4.6 70 y. Captiv Iehoj Zed 2 Kin. 24.8.18 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. Olym. 31 9 3 m. 1 1750 1330 1300 900 860 420 380 17 Ju  45 32 10 2  487 33 11 3 34 12 4 35 13 5 36 14 6 37 15 7 1760      390 488 3410 46 38 16 8 39 17 9 40 18 Cap. 3. 10 Ezekiels 40 y. end 19 11 Ier. 32.1 70 y. Captiv Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. Olym. 20          47 21 22  1340 1310 910 870 430  489 3420 48 23 Cap. 4 24 25 26 49 27 28 29 Cap. 5 1770 1350 1320 920 880 440 400 490 3430 50 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 1780  1330    410 70.18 Jubi  51 37 491 38 39 40 52 41 42 6 43  1360  930 890 450 420 18 Ju. 3440 53 44 492 45 Evilmerodach 46 47 54 48 49 7 50 1790 1370 1340 940 900 460  493 3450 55 51 52 53 54 56 55 56 8 57 1800 1380 1350 950 910 470 430 494 69 Jubi 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 9 64       440 495 3460 58 65 66 67 Belshazzar 68 59 69 70.10 The Persian Monarchy begins in Cyrus 70 weeks Dan. 70 w. Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. Olym. 1 1 1810 1390 1360 960 920 480  496 3470 60 2 The second Temple founded Ezr. 3.8 3 4 5 61 6 7.1 8 2 1820 1400 1370 970 930 490 450 497  62 9 10 11 12 63 13 14.2 15 3 1830      460 71.19 Jubil  64 16 498 17 18 19 20 21 3 22 4  1410 1380 980 940 500  19 Ju 3490 65 23 499 24 25 26 66 27 28 4 29 5 1840 1420 1390 990 950 510 470 500 3500 67 30 31 32 33 68 34 35 5 36 6 1850  1400    480 19 Ju 70 Jubi 69 37 501 38 39 40 41 42 6 43 7 The second Temple finished after