The Saints Sufferings and Sinners Sorrows, Part 37
Balaams prophecie, Numb. 24.15. to the end.
Of this kingdome Balaam is forced to ſpeake, and by a ſtarre and his ſhadowes gives in parables an excellent proſpective for the view of things a farre off but not nigh, at a great diſtance of time, but not preſent in this age. The ſtar ſmites Moab in the ſhadowes of it: but it ſhall unwall all the ſonnes of Seth, immediately by it ſelfe and laſt appearance, Amalecke the firſt of Nations is deſtroyed by the prayers of Moſes, and ſword of Ioſhua, true types of Chriſt; and Chittim the laſt of Nations ſhall by Chriſt himſelfe immediately periſh. Of both theſe it is ſaid more than of all the reſt, They ſhall periſh for ever. The reaſon is plaine, Amaleke was the firſt that fought with the ancient Iſrael in the wilderneſſe to hinder their paſſage into Canaan; and therefore muſt be ſmitten for ever. Now is the ſurrogate Iſrael of God in the like wilderneſſe, Rev. 12.6, 14. and Chittim onelyonly makes warre with it, and therefore as Amalek of old, muſt periſh for ever.
To Aſhur all Nations were ſmitten by the ſhadowes of the riſing ſtarre: but from Aſhur to Chittim, the ſtarre Chriſt, by conjunction and ſecret influence, makes one Starre ſmite another, and as he ſets the. Egyptians againſt the Aegyptians, Iſa. 19.2. ſo be ſets Aſhur againſt Aſhur, & Chittim againſt Chittim, & both againſt Heber, till his honour come by Chriſt. Aſhur is the land of Aſſyria, Chittim is put for the Iles of the Gentiles. Aſhur begins with Nimrod, Gen. 10. a ſonne of curſed Cham. He is the firſt mighty hunter after honour, and begins his kingdome with Babylon, the building of confuſion, both for religion, language, and love. From Babylon hee hunts into Aſhur or the land of Aſſiria, and builds Nineveh, and at length fils the great Continent of the world with his Monarchy. The Babylonians take it and hold it, till the Medes and Perſians become Lords of their kingdome and Continent. Thus the Lord daſheth kingdome againſt kingdome, and like a potters veſſell breaketh them one upon another.
From the Continent to the Iles of the Gentiles, the ſame Chriſt tranſlateth the Monarchies, and ends them in the Sonnes of laphet. Chittim a ſonne of Iaphet, Gen. 10. being divided from the Continent by the Seas, finds poſterity in time to paſſe the Seas, and by ſhips from his Coaſts carrieth Alexander the Great, Dan. 2.32, and 7.6. and 11.3. 1 Maccab. 1.1, with his Army; who killeth Darius, and from Aſhur to Chittim tranſlateth his kingdome. The riſing ſtarre knowes how by his ſecret opperation to ſtirre up Chittim againſt Chittim, and to puniſh the Iles for Idolatry and tyranny; he ſets the inhabitants thereof together by the eares for their ſinnes, and by the Romanes at length brings the Monarchy from the Graecians to us, and ſettles the glory of it in Rome, where it ſlouriſhed to the birth of Chriſt, and long after. At length this maſſie monarchie drencht in blood, even the beſt blood, the blood of Saints, began to reele and totter, and from one Caeſar fals to ten Kings, from yron legs ſtrongly united to ten toes weakely divided; they hang upon the ſame feet of the Image, but their diviſion is fatall to the Empire.
Theſe toes in the Image, and ten hornes on the head of the laſt beaſt, are the laſt of Chittim, and remaine to this day for perdition by Chriſt, as farre as Iaphet is not perſwaded to dwell in the tents of Shem, Gen. 9.22. what now remaines but that the third Sonne of Noah alwayes choſen of God for his chiefe ſervant, ſhould obtaine the kingdome, and that Heber hitherto afflicted by Aſhur and Chittim, ſhould be made glorious at the comming of the Lord Ieſus? The promiſe of the new heavens and the new earth is made to them, Iſa. 65.17, 18. and 66.22. this quoted by S. Peter, 2 Pet. 3.13. applyed by him to the Iewes, and by them to be expected in the day of judgement, when hee takes his great power to reigne. The ſame is repeated, Rev. 21.1. and applyed to Ieruſalem, verſ. 2. of this as a myſtery, S. Paul ſpeakes, Rom. 11.25. and quotes Iſaiah, who Iſa. 59 18. brings it in with the ſubverſion of Chittim, or the Ilands. What ſhall I ſay more? let Peter expound Iſaiah, and Iſaiah, Peter; and we, ſhall quickly reſolve of this myſtery.