The Saints Sufferings and Sinners Sorrows, Part 18 – Part 19
70. Famous yeeres.
Foure things would further bee unfolded: 1. the time of this end. 2. the perſons. 3. the judgement. 4. the cauſe. The time is the laſt yeere, or at leaſt the laſt weeke of the 70. weekes of Daniel, Dan. 9.24, The Gentiles, Luke 21.24, have times to fulfill, and from former times they come to latter times, 1 Tim. 4.1. which divide themſelves, Dan. 7.25. & 12.7. Rev. 12.14. into a time, times, and halfe a time. So the Iewes have the like account and computation, and falling upon their laſt times, have them by Daniel determined in the number of 70. weekes. Theſe make ſeaven points or periods of their time, every period containing 70. yeares, and ſix of them are to bee held for the expectation of the Meſſiah: The ſeaventh is the moſt famous and illuſtrious of all the reſt. Firſt, for the incarnation of our Saviour. 2. For his doctrine and death. 3. For Ieruſalems deſolation and deſtruction, which is the end wee have now in hand. 70. yeeres take up this time; the firſt yeere begins with Chriſts birth and bleſſed comming into the world, and for 30. yeeres, Luke 3.23. he lives in obſcurity, ſave his diſputation with the Doctors at his age of 12. yeeres: 18. yeeres more he ſpends in labour and ſubjection to his parents. This time puts well on the 70. yeeres, and for one weeke, counting from 30. to 38. is Chriſt moſt famous in publiſhing himſelfe Meſſiah, Dan. 9.27. and for 7. yeeres confirmes the covenant with many. Hee preacheth by himſelfe for halfe of this weeke, he dies in the middſt of it, and chargeth his Apoſtles to continue the reſt and remainder of it to the Iewes onelyonly.
A wonderfull mercy to this nation, if there had beene any good nature in it: never man ſpake like him, did like him, or ſuffered like him. He will neither off the Croſſe, nor out of the Pulpit, till hee have accompliſhed a weeke of extraordinary mercy to an ill deſerving nation: but this weeke ended, in the 38. yeere of his incarnation, hee comes to Peter in a voyce and viſion, to perſwade him hee may freely preach and converſe with the Gentiles, Act. 10. Paul takes this for another argument of mercy in the beginning of judgement. Rom. 11.14. He provokes to emulation and ſalvation by the Gentiles; and thus continued the Goſpell betweene Iew and Gentile a long time: But this obſtinate people would bee moved by nothing, and therefore in the laſt weeke, if not the laſt yeere, are deſtroyed.
The deſolator Chriſt, or the Romanes, (it mattereth not,) now executeth the words of him that in the daies of his fleſh uttered them, Math. 22.7. Chriſt the King ſendeth forth his armies, and deſtroies the murtherers, and burnes their Citie. I have received it from the Oracle of God, and learned Expoſitor, M. Ioſeph Meade, the beſt Delian diver that ever I found in theſe myſteries; that S. Iames Chap. 5.7, 8. meanes by the comming of Chriſt, his comming in the Romane army: So Zachary hath it, Zach. 14.4. his feete in the Romanes ſtand upon the ſame mount he prophecied; and this wary Expoſitor takes further warrant from an Ancient Writer, and alleageth Oecumenius ſo clearing the text before him.
Brethren, the Bible is the beſt Hiſtory in the world; it triumpheth over all humane knowledge, and carrieth our minds and memories over the vaſt and devouring ſpace of time, not onelyonly paſt, but yet to come. It makes us live now, as if we had lived with our dead Anceſtors, or were to live with our ſurviving poſterity. It gives us piercing eies, & makes us ſee into the very deepth of darkeneſſe, and to foretell deeds that are yet to be done.
OnelyOnly much wiſedome, and much watchfulneſſe are required of him that will apply for good ſuch ſecrets. The pure oyle, Exod. 27.20. for the lights to cauſe the lamps to burne, muſt bee beaten; for with much labour and affliction the light of Gods word muſt bee prepared, and with patience preached, and made to ſhine in the Church. Would God this nationall example of the Iewes, might bee the inſtruction of our nation: we have had better than a 70, yeeres continuance of the glorious Goſpell; if we provoke God like theſe ſtubborne Iewes, it is our duty from the like danger to looke for the like puniſhment. I will ſay no more, I ſee the patience and puniſhment of the ſame God: take him whilſt he offereth mercy, leaſt hee leave thee, when thou would bee glad to finde his favour.
The perſons.
The perſons here puniſhed, are the Iewes, and muſt be an example unto us, of obſtinacy and wilfulneſſe againſt God. They are bold to ſinne, and muſt beare with baſeneſſe the marke of God above all people.