The Right Reckoning of Years and Ages of the World, Proposition 6
SIXT PROPOSITION.
That there is a certaine merveilous Sympathie and aggreement of Periodes of times, in reckoning by seauens, and by Sabbaticall yeares. And of the manifold mysteries of the number of seaven.
EVen as God the author and conserver of all things, in a comely and decent order, hath appoynted an succession and progresse of time, for accomplishment of the naturall course thereof; so hath hee appoynted certaine periodes and revolutiones of time, wherein thinges returne to the same or like estate, wherein they were of before. So wee see in the motions of the heaven, which are measured by time (or rather which are the measures of time) the Sunne, the Moone, and the starres, to hauehave their peculiar and distinct revolutiones, wherein they accomplish their courses, and returne after a limitate and determinate space of time, to the places from the which they did departe. As the Sunne compleeting his course and revolution, in the space of 365. dayes, and neere sixe houres, or the quarter of an day, ascribeth vntounto vsus, that space of time, which we cal the yeare, which returning in it selfe, in Latine is tearmed Annus, quasi annulus, taking the similitude from an Ringe. And for the like cause, the auncient Aegyptians, made the figure thereof, in the similitude of a Serpent by ting his owne tayle. The Moone likewise, by her revolution in the lyft, determineth vntounto vsus the Moneths, and the Sunne by his dayly motion, sheweth vsus the dayes and the houres thereof. The rest of the Planets also, hauehave each of them their peculiar and determinate recourses of time, wherein they compleit their revolution, as Saturne in the space of thirty yeares, or thereby: Iupiter in twelue yeares, March, in two yeares, Venus and Mercurie aggreeing with the course of the Sun. The fixed starres also hauehave their peculiar motions and revolutions, wherof it is not now necessary more largely to speake. It is verifyed also by experience, that inferiour thinges vnderunder the heavens hauehave their appoynted recourses and returnings: Wherevnto SOLOMON hath respect where in his booke called the Preacher, he maketh mention of the Elements, the Sunne, the aire, and the water.…cles. 1. The Sunne [sayeth he] ryseth and goeth to, and returneth againe to the place from whence it did ryse. The wind (which maketh the moving of the aire) goeth compassing from the South to the North, turning round about, & … by his curcuits. All the rivers go into the Sea, yet the sea is not filled …ver. The rivers returne to the places from whence they come to flow. Hee giveth these examples, to shew the revolutions of worldly things, and applyeth it to declare the revolution of the estate of mens ages and liues. So a generation [sayeth he] passeth, and another commeth, and there is nothing new vnderunder the Sun, but that which is newe, hath bene in the ages before, and the like shall be hereafter: Signifying, that after certaine Periods and courses of time, all worldly and earthly thinges shall returne to their former, or to their like estate, according to the determination and appoynted will of God, as the first cause, and as hee directeth and governeth the second and inferiour causes. And this falleth forth, not onelyonly in the ages and liues of men, but generally in all things worldly that hauehave a generation, must needs also hauehave a corruption. So that also in the common-wealths and policies, established by men, for holding vp mutuall societies amongst themselues, there be certain periodes of time, which make them to change and alter: which may be found out by experience and ensamples of Histories of all ages, aswell Ecclesiasticall, as profane. The cause thereof, cannot be ascribed to Chance and Fortune, as vnskilfull men doe: for then all these changes should be most vncertaine, neither is it altogether to be ascribed to the corrupt manners of men, that cannot long remaine in one estate, but evermore seeke novationes and changes: Albeit it bee, from the better to the worse, although that maie be as a concurrente cause, but it must needes proceede from an high grounde. Some therefore there bee, that make all these Revolutiones and chaunges, to depende and hange vppon the Revolutiones of the Heaven, which is by the courses, and influences of the Planets and Starres, being therein moderate, and governe all inferioure thinges in the Worlde. Therefore, some of them parte the Circkle of the Zodiake in Foure Threes, or Quarters, called Triplicities: And like-wise, the whole Heauen, and fixed Starres being therein, and according thereto, Prognosticate of the estate, and changeing of Realmes, and Empyres of the Earth, attrybuting also vntounto everie Region and Kingdome, certaine fixed Starres, to beare particular rule and dominion there. Others hauehave ane especiall respecte to the moste notable conjunctiones of the Plannets, And namelie, of the superioure Plannettes, and to the Eclipses of the Sunne and the Moone. Others also, more probablie respecting the manifolde mysteries of the number of seauen, divide in seavens, the whole periodes of time, according to the number of the seaven Planets, making everie particular Periode, to followe the nature of the Plannets that then raigneth, beginninge at Saturne, and descending through the reste. So that the influence of thinges that fall out in everie Periode, may bee founde agreeable therev-nto. It is not to bee denyed indeede, but there is greate force and efficacie in the influence of the Heavens, and Heavenlie Lights, to alter and chaunge inferioure thinges, but I can not bee perswaded, tha… menne hauehave yet so farre attayned to the knowledge thereof, as to finde out perfitelie thereby, the generall chaunges and alterationes of Kingdomes, and common-wealthes: Al-be-it it may bee, and is probable, that they hauehave found out many particulars, concerning particular persons. Therefore that which is gathered thereby, is involved in great obscurity and imperfite: Albeit I confes, I hauehave lately seene a Table, not yet set out in prente (the authors name I will suppresse till he himselfe publish it) wherein, in the space of the side of an through of Paper, the lesse periodes of time, whereof we are to speake, aggree so concerning things falling out thereto, even from the beginning of the world vntounto our dayes, with the nature of the seaven Planets in their revolutions and order, that it is merveilous, and appeareth not to lacke a great mystery: where of I cease to speake further at this time. For I wil not ascribe vntounto me, the prayse of other mens labours. But to our purpose, it is to be graunted also, that there be many other concurrent causes of the changes of Kingdomes and earthly governements, which make them to fall from their foundations, or at least to be translated from one estate to an other, which may be spoken generally of the revolution of all worldly things: And namely, Plato, in the eight Booke of his Republicque, maketh mention of three courses of the estates of cō mon wealthes, to witte, the rising, flourishing, and the decaying estate, and of foure tearmes of their Periods: The precise time of the which Periodes, he involveth in an Aenigmaticall speech, of two harmonies of numbers. But vnles we take a better and more sure ground then such Philosophical conjectures, we shall never attaine to anie sure knowledge of periodes of time, that bring great chances and alterations, either in Ecclesiasticall or in civill affaires: Therefore we must come to the booke of God, and first lay that generall grounde, whereof Daniel maketh mention: that it is he who altereth and translateth kingdomes, and giueth them to whom he pleaseth. And as concerning the periodes of times, of such translationes and mutationes, it is leisome to inquire and finde out the same also by the Scriptures. For albeit, the Apostles proponing the like question to Christ, after his resurrection, if that was the time wherein he should restore the kingdome to Israel? received this aunswere,Act. 1. That it was not for them to knowe the times or the seasons, which the father had put in his own power: Yet that is not so to be vnderstood, as though it were not lawful to search out and know those times and seasons, which the father hath revealed to be knowen by his Scripturs: or that may be gathered the revpon, with sobrie…ie of inquisition: For our Saviour Christ himselfe in an other place, willeth his Apostles to take heed when they shall see Ierusalem besieged with souldiers, for then they shuld vnderstand,Luk. … ▪ that the desolation thereof was nere. And againe, (as it is in an other Evangelist) When ye shal see the abhomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel, the Prophet, standing in the holy place: Then let him that readeth (meaning him that readeth the Prophecie) considder. And thereafter he giveth his Disciples a signe, Saying, learne ye the similitude of the Figge-tree,Mat. … ▪ when her bough is yet tender, and bringeth foorth leaues, ye know the Summer is neere: So likewse yee (sayth he)when ye see all things, which I hauehave foretold, know that the Kingdome of God is neere, euen at the doores. With many other sayings to the like purpose: Where hee vnderstandeth, by the Kingdome of God, his spirituall Kingdome, and not as the Apostles in their question meant of a Temporal Kingdome. For he came not to restore any such Kingdome: Likewise, Daniel and the rest of the Prophets, are oftimes warned to marke the times, when such things as were reveiled to them should come to passe: And Iohn in his Revelation to write the same. And expressely in Daniell, wee hauehave set downe the periode of time (whereof was spoken in the first proposition) of the standing of the policie of the Iewes, after the captivity of Babilon, to wit, of those 70. weekes which were prefixed to that people, and to their cittie of Ierusalem, to stand. Now this space of 70. weekes of years, set down by the Angel in Daniel, for the time of the standing of the common-wealth of the Iewes, after the restauratiō thereof, so that thereafter it should come to a determinate desolation, being a greate periode of time, about 500, yeares, to wit, 490. yeares, appeareth plainly by a certaine fatal lawe, appoynted and determined by God, to bring to all other kingdomes and great Empires, a merveilous mutation, as is evident and founde out by aggreemente of many examples, not sticking vponupon the precise daye nor year, but about or neere such a revolution of time, either kingdomes fall, and are turned vp side downe, or else are transferred and changed from their former estate, in other newe formes, for the moste parte. And also other most notable accidentes fal out in the world, both concerning the estate of the Church, and earthlie policies, either about such a time (I saye) which I call the great or more periode of 490. yeares, conteining 70. weekes of yeares, that is, the space of ten Iubilees, or else, about the halfe space thereof, which I call the lesse periode, conteining 35. weekes of yeares, and fiue Iubilees, that is, 245. yeares, which is the space of the blast of everie trumpet, reckoned by IOHN, in the Revelation. So that hereinto also the reckoning by seavens, and by Sabbaticall years, bringeth out a great sympathie, and agreement, to count the changeing of times thereby, of the which, I hauehave thought good here to shew many examples. And first we do finde in the Scriptures, and concerning the estate of the Church of God, and of the olde Worlde; that in the first halfe periode of time, to witte, about 245. yeares after the creation,Genes…. after the birth of Enosh the name of the Lord begouth to be called vponupon, that is, the hearts of the godly begouth then to be mooved to restore the purity of religion, which by Cain, and his wicked seed before had bene suppressed. About the end of the second great periode of time, to wrtte, from the creation 987. yeares, Henoch was translated by God from this mortal life,Genes▪ to immortalitie, to cōfort the faithfull of that age, & confirme them against the vngodlines of the world, in hop of the general resurrection. About the end of the third great periode,Gen 6▪ 7. 8 when fell out in the 1470. yeare, from the creation, the world begouth vniversally to be corrupt, when the seede of the godly begouth to be mingled with the vngodly. For the which cause, within the half period of time therafter, God in his just judegmēt destroyed the whole race of man-kinde, except Noah and his familie, by that feareful invndation of waters. Not many yeares after, the fourth great period, which ended in the 1960. yeare of the World, was Abraham called out of his natiue cuntry by God, to whom, and his posteritie,Genes. 1…. God promiseth the Land of Canaan, & that in his seede, al nations should be blessed. From the promise made to Abraham, to the departing of the Isralites out of Aegypt, we know, were 430. yeares, to the which adding 60. yeares of the former age of Abraham, they will make out the fift great periode. So that the next yeare, after the departing of the people out of Aegypt, to possesse the Land of Canaan, will compleite the same: which falleth in the 2450. yeare, after the … ation of the world. We do know likewise, that frō the departing out of Aegypt, to the building of the tēple by Solomon, ar 480. yeares (which lack only 10. or 11. years of an other just great period: For the sixt great period, from the creatiō, endeth in the …940. year of the world, which was the 15. yeare of the raigne of Solomon, neere the time of the dedication of the Temple.… The seventh great period by exact calculation, commeth justly to the yeare of the Worlde, 3430. which was the first year of Cyrus, wherein the people of the Iewes were delivered from the captivitie of Babylon, in the which yeare, there was a great concurrence of Sabbathes and Iubilees, as was shewen before. And if we wil count forward from this yeare, we shall finde the eight great periodes to extend to the 3920. yeare of the world, which is but 28. yeare before the birth of Christ. So wee see and gather by the Scriptures, howe about the ende of these great periodes of 490. yeares, or 70. weekes of yeares, mentioned by Daniel, greate accidents fell out in the Worlde, and amongst the people of God, even from the beginning, vntounto the birth of Christ. We shall finde also, that about the space of one of these great periods, the people of Israel were ruled by Iudges, and thereafter, about the like space, by Kings: And so long lasted the restored policie of the Iewes. And to come to profaine histories, many the like periodes of Empires and Kingdomes, and great mutations may be founde out, and commonly, the greater dominions, hauehave the more suddaine changes, according to the saying of the Poet: Summisque negatum stare diu, It is not granted to highest things, to hauehave long standing. Concerning this matter, we read of the Philosopher Cratippus, that he being demanded by Pompeius, after that hee was vanquished by Caesar, at the fielde of Pharsalia; If there were any divine providence, seing that he who had the more just cause, was so over-come: The Philosopher answered, that there were certaine fatal periodes of Empires, whereby then the common-weale of Rome was to bee changed in a Monarchie. And to indeed we finde into the foure Monarchies. For the first two Babylonian Monarchies, the former occupyed by the Assyrians and Medes; the other, by the Medes and Persians, indured both but the space of 495. yeares. The kingdome of the Greekes, begunne by Seleucus N…cator▪ lasted but the half space, or lesse periode, to witte, about 245. yeares. Rome was governed by Kings, likewise by one of these lesse periodes, to wit, about 243. year. The Concelles thereafter governed Rome by the space of an great period; to witte, about 462. yeares. Thereafter indured the Monarchie of Emperours, from Iulius Caesar the First, to Valentinian the Third: one of these great Periodes, in whose time Rome was taken and sacked: First by the Gotthes, and thereafter by the Vandales: And albeit smaller Kingdoms oftimes be not subject to great mutations, yet they hauehave also certaine fatall periods of time, wherin, either they are changed from their former estate, or els alluterly altered in new formes of governemēt. For by the space of one of these great periodes, Kings did raigne in Athenes: By the like space flourished the common-wealth of Sparta: But the Kingdome of the Troianes, indured little more then one of the lesse or halfe great periodes. Many like charges may be found in other Kingdomes, who list diligently to reade the auncient Histories. But in time of the last of the foure Monarchies, according to the Prophecy of Daniel, was raised vp, that everlasting kingdome, of the true. Messas Iesus Christ; which albeit it hath no end, yet in time of it, many changes and mutations hauehave fallen, and are to fall out in the World, both in the estate of the Church, and of earthly policies. Concerning the which, wee hauehave set foorth in figure, by the propheticall Spirite of Iohn, in his Revelation, in seaven Trumpets, blowing by seaven Angels, the whole estate of the Church, vnderunder the kingdom of Christ, every blast of trumpet conteining the space of one of those les periods, to wit, 245 yeares. And likewise, the troubles & plagues that were to fall foorth in the world, vnderunder the figure of other 7. Angels, pouring our seaven Viols of the wrath of God vponupon the earth and elements, for not obeying the Gospel of Christ, where-anent, I wil remit the Readers to the profounde and learned Commentaries, of IOHN NAPER, vponupon the Revelation, wherein the accidents of evrie particular periode of time, both in the one estate and in the other, are set out at large. It shall suffice for this shorte Treatise, to hauehave poynted out these matters, to prooue this our sixte proposition, concerning the Sympathie of periodes of time, even from the beginning of the World, vntounto the end thereof. For with the last blast of the Trumpet of the seventh and laste Angel, by all appearance, the worlde is to take an ende, as I minde to speake more particularlie, in the seaventh & last proposition. There are also other periodes of times vsed in reckoning of the yeares of the world, and of the right revolutions of the heaven: whereof, there be two that hauehave a special respect to Sabbaticall yeares: as that which is called, the great Cycle or period of the Iewes conteining the space of 6916. yeares, which is made vp of 988. weekes of yeares, and 141. Iubilees, with a weeke of yeares, It hath also 364, Cycles of the Moone, and 247. of the Sunne, and conteineth 13. periodicall Cycles of Dionysius. By it the Iewes counte all their newe Moons & week daies, & they suppose it reacheth to the begining of the world, but they ar deceved in the space of 190. years: alwaise this 1600 year of christ is the 5359 of that cycle: for the year of the nativity of Christ was the 3760. year of the same. The other cycle that hath respect to Sabbatical years, is that which is cōmonly called the cycle or period of Dionysius, cōteining the space of 532. years, which is made vp by multiplication of the Golden number: by the cycle of the Sun, is cōteined 76 weeks of years. And by it the Paschal termes were reckoned. Now by taking vp of this matter, wee see alwaies, that there are many great hid mysteries in the nūber of 7. not only by counting Sabbatical years & Iubilees, but also in reckoning of periods of years: as by the les period, wherby Iohn reckoneth in his Revelation, cōteining 35. weeks of years, & 5. Iubilees: & the greater period cō teining 10. Iubilees, & 70. weeks of yeares, according to the reckoning of Daniel. Moreover, many of al the mysteries, both of the Old & New Testament, bin cōprysed vnderunder the nūber of 7. As al the sacrifices for the most part wer offred by seavens, as cōmonly by 7. bullocks, & 7. Rams or sheep, which was observed amongst the people of God, but also by Balaam, that hyreling prophet, as we read in the book of Numbers: & was also vsed by ancient imitation of the sacrifices of Gods people, by the profaine Gentiles; wheranent, the Poet Virgil bringeth in Sibylla the prophetesse, thus admonishing Aeneas, when he was to consult the Oracle of Apollo.
Nunc grege de intacto septem mactare iuvencos
Praestiterit totidem lectas de more bibentes.Aened. 6.
Better it were seaven Bullockes now to take,
Without blemish a sacrifice to make:
Seaven chosen gymmers of the sheepe also,
According to the rite of times ago.
The principal feasts or solemnities of Gods people, lasted 7. days, and on the 8. daye were dissolved 7 dayes, the people did eat vnleavened bread at the Passover, Seauen weekes were counted betweene the Passeover and Pontecost: Maniest Feastes were celebrated in the 7. …. And in a misery also, the ark of Noah which was … of the Church) in the seaventh MonethMonth rested vponupon the Mountaines of Ararat; signifying the restauration of all things, to be in the seaventh estate of the Church.…word. 10 Likewise, Wisedome hath builded her house, with seauen Pillers: By her house, wee vnderstande the Church, and by her seaven Pillers, the gifts of the Spirite; by which the Church is established: The which, albeit they be many, yet principally they are comprehended vnderunder the number of seaven,Apoc … which also, are figured, by seaven burning Lampes; and in Exode, Exod. …5.by the seaven graved Candle-stickes. Likewise, in Zachary, Za…h. 3. & ….the stone, which is Christ, hath seaven eyes, that goe through the whole world. Which is to be vnderstood of Christ, lightning the world by these manifold graces of the Spirite: Or as others expound it, by the watching eies of Gods divine providence. Many other like similitudes, taken from the number of seaven, may we gather out of the olde Testament, as from a divine number, and a number of perfection.Act. … Likewise, in the new Testament, by the seaven Deacons, which were elected by the Apostles, may be signified a number of perfection. And the wicked spirites also are numbred by seavens, when it is said, that Christ ejected out of Marie Magdalene▪ seuen Devils. Luk. ….And in an other place, how when the vncleane spirite goeth out of a man, hee goeth about seeking rest,…, 12. and when he findeth none, hee passeth and taketh vntounto him,Luke 11 seaven other Spirites worse then himselfe, and returneth to his former habitation. Not that in all places of Scripture, the number of seaven is taken for a certain & precise number. For we know, when it is said in the Psalme,… ▪ 119 That the iust man falleth, seaven times a day: And when Christ saide to PETER, That he should forgiue his brother,… not onelye seaven times, but seaventy times seaven times, the meaning is of many times, yet the seaven folde number oft-times also is taken for a certaine number, as in many places before cited, and namely, almost through the whole Revelation, the divine Spirite, in IOHN, setteth out the estate of the Church,Apoc … by the manifold numbers of seaven. As first, he is commanded to write to seaven Churches in Asia, vnderunder the figure of seaven Golden candlesticks, & to the seaven Angels, are the ministers thereof figured, by seauen stars in the right hand of Christ: Next, we hauehave the book closed with seaven seals, which signifyeth,… the hid misteries of God opened by Christ, where the opening of everie seale, conteineth the precise space of seaven yeares. As likewise, The seaven Angels, with their seaven Trumpets, and seauen Viols, everie one of them (as was declared before) conteine the space of fiue times seaven weekes of years. As also may be vnderstood of the seaven thunders. Chap.▪ …By every of them, are at least, of the first three seaven-time seaven yeares, that is, the space of ane Iubilee. There is amysterie also, in the seaven heades and seaven Crownes of the beaste, set out in the twelft Chapter, which with the reste, I referre to the learned exposition of IOHN NAPER, vponupon the Revelation before mentioned, By all which similitudes & reckonings, & many moo, we may perceiue not onlie of the number of seaven, to contein great misteries, but also to be a number of such perfection, that years, times and other accidents, bee specially courted thereby. As also (if I would insist) the like may be founde in manie naturall thinges, both in heaven and earth. As in the heavens, the seaven Planets hauehave their seauen severall courses, which worke great operations in the inferiour Elements: Likewise, amongst the fixed starres, there be 7. called Pleiades, and other 7. Hyades, and the two Polare Images, called Visa maior & Vrsa minor, conteine either of them 7. stars. And in the earth there be 7. principal habitable climates. The stature of mans body, is of 7. foote, with many other such-like. But it shal suffice here to make an end.