An Alarm to the Last Judgment, Part 3
The third part of the Booke touching generall Signes yet for to come.
CHAP. XII. Of the vtter ruin, sacking, and burning of Rome, the seate of Anti-christ.
THE first generall Signe of Christs comming, that is yet not begun, is the ruin and vtter desolation of the Citie Rome: For the Throne of the Beast must grow darke;Apoc. 16.10 Babylon must fall, it must fall, and come into remembrance before God: Apoc. 18.8at one instant must her plagues come, viz famine, mourning, death; it must be burnt with fire, Ver. 12.13.and all her pretious things, all her Musicall instruments, and idoll furniture be wholy consumed, and euer after vntounto the comming of our Lord, Baybilon must be an house of deuils, Ver. 2.and a Cage of eueryevery hatefull and vncleane Bird: Some of the ten Hornes: i. one of the last Emperours, or some valiant Duke, must be the chiefe instrument to execute Gods fore-determined vengeanee vponupon her. The Romanists and Italians and others, that are willed to come out of Babell, Ver. 6.and to render Double vntounto the Whore for that she had done vntounto them, shal assist the principall instrument.
That Rome shall (literally vnderstood) bee vtterly desolated before the end of the world; not onelyonly all Protestant Interpreters of the Reuelation hold, but also the Sibyllae;Lact. de diu. praemio. lib. 7. c. 11. yea diuers chiefe Papists, as namely, Vega, Ribera, Bellarmine, the Rhemists, and others confesse.
Touching the yeare and point of time, when Rome shall bee destroyed, albeit wee dare not (as some doe) determine of some thirty yeares hence,The time of the burning of Rome. and some more probably of a shorter time, yet we are perswaded that it is neere at hand, and (perhaps) much neerer then most imagine. For the power of the Pope in forraigne Kingdomes is much lessened; his authoritie in ciuill causes eueryevery where falleth to the ground; yea in his owne Dominions, in Venice, Florence, Millain, &c. Many that hauehave beene by him seduced beginne to kenne and smell him out; To speak nothing of England and other Protestant Kingdomes that hauehave wholy forsaken him. Now let vsus come vntounto some forcible reasons and arguments, whereby wee may make strong our assertion.
I. Reason.
All Kingdomes and States hauehave their set Periods and Fatall yeares, which being expired, they must needs fall and come to naught, and lightly in the space of 500 yeares there is seene an alteration in all States, and why not in Rome?
II. Reason.
All tainted, vnsound, and putrified bodies, hauing the beginning and matter of their destruction in themselues, do at length (though no man hurt them) vanish and die: But Rome and Popery, is such a tainted, vnsound, and rotten body; yea an old wind-shaken and ruinous house; which though the Iesuites, and others, seeme to prop vp for a reason, yet downe it must, and fall it will, and so let it in Gods name.
III. Reason.
Easterne Babell in Chaldaea, a figure of this Romish and new Babell, is long sithence fallen (though in villany, cruelty, and idolatry nothing comparable to it) and therefore it must needes come to desolation. The Type and the Arch-type, must needs answere and agree. Babylon in Chaldaea was laid waste by the Medes and Persians, and so shall Rome bee by the Christian Princes.
IIII. Reason.
God, that is truth it selfe, and whose absolute threatnings are alwaies executed,Apoc. 18.21 hath fore-told a secular ruin of Rome; therfore it must needs come to passe.
V. Reason.
God is infinite in power,Apoc. 18.8 and able to bring it to passe, therefore it is not impossible, though in our weakenesse, wee doe, and may, cast many doubts.
VI. Reason.
Romish Babel is already fallen in many Countries, Kingdomes, Prouinces, and States, of Europe, viz. in Germany, Heluetia, Polonia, Bohemia, Hungaria, England, Scotland, Ireland, Denmarke, in diuers Prouinces of the Lower Germany, and in a good part of France, &c. And why shall it not by the like reason (in due time) fall in Italy, Spaine, Portugall, &c. Parium similis est ratio.
VII. Reason.
The sinnes, treacherie, idolatry, cruelty, pride, blaspemy, lust and abominations of Rome are so ripe and growne to such an head and impudency, that they ouercome the patience and long-suffering of our Lord, and prouoke and enforce him to descend vntounto visible and horrible execution, and reuenge: For the iust Iudge of the world must needs doe Iustice, Gen. 18.and bee auenged of his enemies: Let vsus therefore say,Psal. 68.1. Exurgat Deus & dissipentur inimici. i. Let God arise and let his enemies bee dispersed.
VIII. Reason.
The Anti-christ doth with all maine and might (whatsoeuer the Foxe pretendeth) set and oppose himselfe against our Lord Iesus Christ, against his Gospell, Discipline, Church and Members; Therefore our Almighty IESVS cannot but confront and confound this his Arch-enemy.
IX. Reason.
The wailing and lamentation of the (Popish) Kings,Ab euentu. Marchants, Marriners, &c. beholding a farre off the burning of Rome;Apoc 18.9 11.17.18. and contrary-wise the reioycing of the Prophets and Apostles (per prosopopeiam) and of the Pastors and Church of God,Apoc. 18.20. for the desolation of Rome when it is come to passe; demonstrate the certainty of this future Iudgement.
Lastly, certaine of the neerest fore-runners of Romes ruine. First a suddaine departure of many Christians out of Rome, by the instinct of Gods Spirit; like wherevnto was that of the godly Iewes departing from Ierusalem, a little before the Siege of it. Secondly, a diuision of the Citie (or Cittizens) into three parts; a figure whereof was the diuision of Tongues when the Tower of Babell was destroyed.Gen. 11. Lastly, a most terrible and ominous Earth-quake, Apoc. 16.18.Such as there was neuer since men were vponupon the earth, doe euidence it, and will giuegive the godly the watch-word.
CHAP. XIII. How after the destruction of Rome the Papists, and louers of the Whore, shall practise, by violence, vtterly to roote out all Christians, but shall bee finally and vtterly ouerthrowne.
A Second generall Signe of Christs comming, not yet begunne to bee fulfilled, is the vtmost indeuour and practise of the Romanists (that shall suruiue when Rome is burnt) to roote out and extinguish by the sword, all Christians: And this cleerely appeareth, out of the 19 chapter of Saint Iohns Reuelation, and by the consent of diuers learned and iudicious Interpreters.
The Beast (i. the second beast the Pope) and the (Popish) Kings of the earth, Apoc. 19.19.and their Armies (viz. huge and many) gathered themselues together to make warre against him that sate on the Horse (i. Christ, and Christian Princes his Instruments) and against his Army, 1. All Protestant Souldiers. But behold, and wonder at the euent, and giuegive the Lord the glory of the victory: The Protestants shall Eate (i. destroy) the flesh of (Popish) Kings, Vers. 18.Captaines, Mighty men, of horses, horse-men, bond, free, Vers. 20.great small: Then the beast and the false Prophet shall bee taken. Iudg. 5. vlt.So perish all thine enemies ô Lord; but let them that louelove thee, bee as the Sunne when it goeth forth in his might.
So you see that the Papists shall seek by a generall consent, to recouer their ruines and regaine their losses, but with no successe; yea with their fatall ouerthrow: It is no striuing against the Lord.
CHAP. XIIII. A third generall and memorable Signe of the approach of the last iudgement; namely, the conuersion of the Iewes.
A Third general and eminent Signe, not yet fulfilled, is the general Calling, 2. Cor. 3.15and Gathering of the whole Nation of the Iewes vntounto the faith, and into the Church of Christ: And this is pregnantly gathered of Scripture:Isay 59.20. Ioh. 10.16. There must be one Fold (of Iewes and Gentiles) and one Shepheard. Rom. 11.25EueryEvery Tribe must mourne apart, Zach. 13.2.for Christ (by them crucified) the parents (by the Sword of Gods Word,chap. 13.3. at least) must thrust through the false Prophet when hee Prophecieth: The Prophet shall bee ashamed of his vision (i. his false doctrine) lay aside his rough garment (taken vp by apish imitationVer. 4. of the true Prophets) and returne to his former husbandry. Ver. 5.Then shall wee see (in earth) The holy Citie new Ierusalem, Apoc. 21.2.comming downe from God out of heauen, prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband: whereof so many glorious things are spoken in Scripture, and literally to be vnderstood in many points.
These vponupon the fame and brute of their first conuersion, and the report of their purpose to returne into their owne Country; neere wherevnto, and in the Confines whereof many of them dwell, shall bee assaulted by the great Turke, Dan. 11.44 45.the King of the North, who with all his forces shall endeuour to extinguish them, and kill eueryevery mothers sonne: so that there shall bee such a time of trouble to them, Chap. 12.1as neuer was since there was a Nation, euen to that same time; But then Michaell the great Prince, i. The Lord IESVS or his mighty instruments, shall Stand vp and (finally) deliuer them. None of all these Prophecies are yet performed, therefore they must, of necessity, be fulfilled in their appointed times.
The Iewes being once conuerted, shall bee a most famous, reformed, and Exemplary Church of all the world,Isay 2.2. and all Nations shall flow vntounto it, and it shall bee, as it were, a visible heauen vponupon earth; but it shall not (perhaps) many yeares continue. For the further proofe of their further conuersion (to omit sundry glorious promises of God in Esay, Ezechiel, the Psalmes, and which are thought hitherto but in (small) part to be performed) I alledge these reasons ensuing.
I. Reason.
The Apostle S. Paul inferreth that the Iewes are not vniuersally forsaken, because hee being an Israelite,Rom. 11.1. and of the Tribe of Beniamin is not forsaken.
II. Reason.
The same Apostle saith, that there is a Remnant reserued,A pari. and as it were some seed of election in the multitude,Ver. 5. though yet not seene nor discerned.
III. Reason.
The calling and conuersion of some Iewes to the Christian Faith in all ages, doth conclude that the Iewes are not wholy forsaken, but are rather the first fruites of a greater Haruest, and the Fore-runners of a greater Conuersion.
IIII. Reason.
The First Fruites, viz, the holy Patriarkes are holy, and therefore the Lumpe, Rom. 11.16i. the multitude of them for the time to come, is holy: The roote (Abraham) is holy, and therefore (some) Branches.
V. Reason.
It was a speciall end of Pauls Ministerie to winne his Country-men the Iewes;Ver. 13.14 and it is (or ought to bee) the scope of our zeale and good example, to gaine them: But this end and scope, being of God, cannot be vaine and frustrate.
VI. Reason.
The Fulnesse of the Iewes conuerted shall bee the Riches (the occasion of knowledge & grace) of the world;Ver. 12. and their taking (into the Church) shall bee life from death, Ver. 15.the reuiuing and springing againe of the whole world consisting of Iewes and Gentiles.
VII. Reason.
Ver. 23.God can convert them and graft them in againe, therefore it is not impossible.
VIII. Reason.
When the Fulnesse of vsus Gentiles is come into the Church, Ver. 25.id est, some remaining Nations, as perhaps Spaine, Italy, Portugall, or the like Countries: then shall all Israel (i. a great or greatest part of the Iewes) bee conuerted.
Quest. 1. What shall bee the place of their calling?
Answ. The Easterne and Westerne parts of the world in respect of Iudaea and that are neere vntounto it.
Quest. 2. When shall they bee generally called?
Ans. When Rome, whose Idolatry so hindreth their conuersion, shall bee burnt, and the full number of vsus Gentiles, that shall prouoke them, is come in.
Quest. 3. Shall the Iewes bee restored into their Countrey?
Ans. It is very probable. First, all the Prophets seeme to speak of this returne. Secondly, they shall no longer bee in bondage. Thirdly, God hauing for so many ages forsaken his people shall the more notably shew them mercy.
CHAP. XV. Of the extreme and finall desolation of the Turke and his Monarchy.
THE great Turke, who in Daniel is called the King of the North, Dan. 11.40and all his innumerable Army, shall in a place called Armageddon i. the Mountaine of Delight,Apoc. 16.16. Beauty, or Holinesse, or Iudaea, lying betweene the (Syrian) Sea,Dan. 11.45 and the great Riuer Euphrates, bee vtterly confounded.foreign For this Turkish Gog and Magog shall plant his Palace there; he shall gather the (conuerted) Iewes to battell, Apoc. 20.9he shall goe vponupon the bredth of the earth, and compasse the Campes of the Saints about, and the beloued Citie: i. Ierusalem, or the Church of the Iewes: For he shall feare least the Iewes, so infinite in number, gathering themselues together should come, or conspire, to dispossesse him of his (vsurped) Kingdome: wherefore he shall do his vtmost, vtterly to extinguish and roote out these (poore) Iewes: then there shall bee such a time of trouble, as neuer was heard of (in that Nation) but Michael the great Prince (whether the Lord IESVS,Dan. 12.1. or some powerfull Instrument of his) shall stand vp for his chosen, and deliuer them: Fire shall come downe from God out of heauen,Apoc. 20.9 and deuoure their enemies;Ezech. 38.9. that is, (as Ezechiel more fully speaketh of the matter) though he come like a storme against the people of Israel, Ver. 16.and as a Cloud to couer the land, yet God will make a great and generall shaking in the Land of Israel;19 Hee will call for a Sword against him,22 hee will plead against him with Pestilence and with bloud; hee will raine vponupon him and his bands, and vponupon the many people that are with him,Dan. 11.45 an ouer-flowing raine, and great haile-stones, fire and Brimestone. Finally, there he shall come to his end, and none shall helpe him.
He is an arch-enemy of the Lord IESVS and his Church; he beganne with the Romish Antichrist, and why then shall not he bee confounded with him, or not long after him?
CHAP. XVI. Of the false Christs, and the false Prophets (their ministers) that shall arise in the last age of the world.
EVEN as (Tipicé) betweene the death of Christ, and the destruction of Ierusalem, there arose false Messiasses in that generation: so correspondently, in the last generation of mankind, not long before the end of the world,Mat. 24 24 there shall arise false Christs (that shal take vponupon them the very person of Christ, and vsurpe his name) and false Prophets (viz. their Ministers) that shall say they are sent of Christ, that shall win credit vntounto them, and do great Signes and Wonders to deceiue (if it were possible) the very Elect. And this God shall suffer to come to passe, to try, proue, and make manifest, whether his elect people will assent vntounto, and bee carried away with such false Christs, and false Prophets, or no? And to vindicate and (spiritually) punish, in the Reprobate and Vnbeleeuers, the refusall and extreme contempt of his sweete and blessed Gospell,2. Thess. 2.11.12. Preached amongst them, and offered vntounto them.
Quest. But how may these false Christs that shall bee raised vp by the deuill, in the last age (or how shall they) bee discerned and distinguishd, from the false Messia's before the destruction of Ierusalem that drew great multitudes after them?
Ans. These last shall bee false Christs taking vponupon them the very name of Christ, but the former were false Messiae, that imagined Christ to be a meere man, neither did they assume vntounto themselues the Title of the Sonne of God. Secondly, our Lord Prophecyeth of false Christs that shall arise in the end of the world, and seduce, as well the Gentiles as the Iewes; but those before the ouerthrow of Ierusalem onelyonly deceiued the Iewes. Lastly, those false Messiae did shew forth no Signes or Wonders, and therefore could not so effectually deceiue others; But these false Christs, by fained Miracles, satanicall illusions, and efficacy of errour, shall seeke to winne them credit and authority; and therefore of this time that saying of our Lords shall bee, or may bee, (specially) verified:Luke 18.8. Shall the Sonne of man when hee commeth finde faith vponupon the earth?
Quest. Shall the miracles of these false Christs and false Prophets bee true and Diuine, as those of our Lord IESV, and of the Apostles, were?
Ans. No: The Miracles done by CHRIST and his Apostles, were true miracles in matter and forme, hauing their beginning from God, setting forth the glory of God, and confirming the truth: But the Miracles of these false Christs and false Prophets, shall bee lying Miracles, illusions, or cunning conclusions, proceeding from the deuill; not profitable and wholsome, but rather pompous and permicious, and tending onelyonly to confirme and mainetaine lies and errours.
CHAP. XVII. Of the strange Euents, Signes, Prodigies, and fearefull wonders of the last age.
A Sixt generall Signe not yet fulfilled, but to come to passe, are prodigies, strange things, and ominous and most fearefull euents. These shall presignifie the change and end of all things to be euen at hand, in so much that the very brute creatures shall feele the power of Christ ready to come to iudgement. Of this sort are terrible Sights in the Aire,Luk. 21.11. dreadfull earth-quakes, frequent and fearefull fires; Vers. 25vponupon the earth distresse of Nations with perplexities, the Sea & the waues extraordinarily roaring: 26mens hearts failing them for feare, and for looking after those things which are comming on the earth: Mar. 13.8.Famines, troubles, Wonders in heauen aboue, Act. 2.19.and Signes in the earth beneath bloud and fire, and vapors of Smoke. The Sunne shall bee turned into darkenesse, 20and the Moone into bloud, before that great and notable day of the Lord commeth; the Starres shall fall downe from heauen: i. either such in shew and appearance, or Meteors and blazing Starres. Of this sort also are thundring Winds, and troublesome Tempests, invndations of waters, Lact. de diu. praemio. lib. 7. c. 15.excessiue Raine, drying vp of Fountaines, failing of Beasts, Birds, Fishes: vnequall and vnnaturall Seasons of the yeares, Winterly Summers, and Summer-like Winters, extreme barrennesse of the earth, and horrible confusions.
Vse 1.
Let all good Pastors and Preachers fore-warne their hearers hereof, and when they perceiue the accomplishment of them, labour to awaken them out of their deadly lethargie by zealous and due application heereof.
Vse 2.
They much mistake the matter, and are fouly ouer-seene, that expect a golden world, and expect an heauen on earth, and an exquisite reformation of all things: whereas in so declining a world, they shall see the Lord comming in the cloudes sooner then this their dreame come to passe.
CHAP. XVIII. Of the generall and maruellous deadnesse of heart, and senselesse benummednesse of the last times.
A Seuenth generall Signe, shall bee a dead slumber, spirituall Lethargie, and a brutish security in all sorts of people; which, though it hath bene in the time of Noah, Luke 17.26.27.not long before the vniuersall Deluge; and in the time of iust Lot, at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and in other ages of the world; yet it shall most apparantly raigne and preuaile in the last age; So that no Alarums, no thundering iudgements, no strange Sightes, Monsters, Wonders, Doctrine, Counsell, Admonitions, Warnings, shall bee able to arowse and waken them from this sluggish and deafe security: They shall drowne themselues in pleasure and in drunkennesse; mind nothing but the world, wealth, oppression, reuenge: But the Sonne of man shall come to such, in an houre they wot not of, and shall finde them sleeping: Mar. 13.36 1. Thess. 5.2.The day of the Lord shall come as a Thiefe in the night: For when they shall say peace and safety, Ver. 3.then sudden destruction shall come vponupon them as trauaile vponupon a woman with child, and they shall not escape. Securitas initium calamitatis: God giuegive vsus grace, to watch and waite for that day, and to attend to the sound of the Trumpet, that being found watching and wel-doing, wee may stand before the Sonne of man,Luk. 21.36 and enter into our Lords ioy. Amen.
CHAP. XIX. Of the graduall, yet sudden darkning of the lights of heauen.
THE last generall Signe is, not onelyonly the wonderfull roaring of the Seas, but a graduall, yet sensible and strange darkening of the lights of heauen; this is the neerest generall Signe, and the more to bee heeded when it commeth: For presently after shall come our LORD IESVS, who by the brightnesse of his comming, shall (vtterly) obscure and hide the light of the Sunne, Moone, and Starres. Neither must this seeme incredible or impossible, for the like hath beene seene in time past (though not vniuersally ouer the whole world, but in some kingdome and particular place of it) At mid-day, Act. 26.13.as Saint Paul went to Damascus, he saw in the way a light from heauen aboue the brightnesse of the Sunne, shine round about him and thē that iourneyed with him: If it exceeded the brightnes of Sun, then it obscured the Sun, and (as it were) put out the light of it.
Secondly, at the death of Christ, the Sunne was darkened and terribly eclypsed:Mat. 27.44. And darknesse was vponupon all the land (of Iudaea) from the sixt houre to the ninth: i. from noone to three of the clock in the afternoone.
Thirdly, strange and wonderfull sightes and prodigies were fore-runners of the destruction of Ierusalem: and why not likewise of the end of the world?
Lastly, the poore Marriners and Sea-faring men hauehave particular and lamentable experience of such darkenesse, when suddenly the storme ariseth, and all their lights are put out, and they oftentimes are ouer-whelmed. In Saint Pauls voyage to Rome, when hee and his company were exceedingly tossed vponupon the Seas, neither Sunne nor Starres in many daies appeared.Act. 27.28.
Vse …Let us therefore as the children of the Light, and the day, put on the Armour of light, that this darkenesse when it commeth discomfort vsus not, much lesse bee a fore-runner of euerlasting darknesse, Amen.
CHAP. XX. Diuers difficult and curious questions, soberly handled, and religiously resolued.
I. Question.
How, and with what truth, could Saint Paul in his time teach,1. Cor. 10▪ that the ends of the world were come on them: and S. Peter write that the end of all things was then at hand;1. Pet. 4.7 seeing that from that time vntounto ours, hauehave passed about one thousand sixe hundred yeares, and we certainely know not, how many yeares remaine to bee accomplished?
I Answere▪ First, from Christs Birth (or Death) vntounto the end of the world is counted but an age, or the last, though (perhaps) the longest, age of the world: Seeing wee are not to hauehave, nor expect, any new Christ, new Gospell, new Sacraments, new Scriptures, new Apostles, new Euangelists, new Miracles; but content our selues with those that Christ hath vnchangeably left vntounto vsus.
Secondly, this last age of the world is not confined and limited to a certaine stint and set number of yeares, as the former ages are, and were: because wee should alwaies bee prepared, and in continuall expectation when it should end, otherwise men would more delay and post of (from time to time) their conuersion vntounto God: Therefore, as the last age of a man (to wit old age) cannot bee determined by a certaine number of yeares as the precedent ages of a man;August. namely, child-hood, striplings state, youth, and ripenesse of age can: Euen so the last age of the world, cannot be determined and defined by certaine and expresse yeares.
Lastly,Chrys. hom. 33. in Iohannem. as wee call the end of the yeare, not the last day but the last monethmonth, though containing 30 daies: So wee may, and doe, call the last quarter of the world, the end of it, though it be of longer extent then any age from the beginning of the world vntounto Christ his Incarnation.
A second Question.
Whether that this world shall last and continue (at least) seuen hundred yeares, seeing that in the 20 chapter of S. Iohns Reuelation, expresse mention is made of two distinct thousands of yeares;Apoc. 20. the former wherof, is thought to take his beginning at the raigne of the Emperour Constantine, and to end about Wickliefes time, Anno 1300, and in all this time the Church declined; and the second millenarie, or thousand, wherein the Church shall bee renewed and flourish, beganne onelyonly (as it is collected) about the yeare of our Lord 1300, so that seuen hundred yeares yet remaine.
Ans. True it is that mention is made of two thousand yeares, and diuers of the ancient Fathers did acknowledge as much, but mis-vnderstood, and mis-applyed, the same, being carryed away with the errour of the Millenarij, that imagined that the people of God should after the Resurrection, liue a thousand yeares in this world in pleasures and ioyes.
But, I answere first, that it is not agreed amongst Interpreters, when the first thousand should beginne, whether when S. Iohn wrote his Apocalipse, or rather Anno 300 when Constantine beganne to raigne.
Secondly, for the Elects sake, least all flesh should perish, these daies shall bee shortned, as well as those of the Iewes miserie at the destruction of IerusalemMat. 24.22 were abridged: For the shortning of the former is a type and figure of the shortning of the latter. Now how many yeares, or, whether certaine hundred of yeares, God best knoweth (if not onelyonly knoweth) and the end and issue will make manifest.
Thirdly, if the end of the world should continue so long, and this should be notified, and publickly signified to the world, they would take occasion to liue much more licentiously, to deferre their repentance; yea, many would Atheistically inferre, that Christ would neuer come to iudgement: And therefore the Holy Ghost keepeth vsus in suspense, and still in the Scripture telleth vsus, that the Houre draweth neere, that the Day is at hand, and that the Lord will come quickly, to the intent wee should alwaies be ready.
A third Question.
Whether that the world shall end in the yeare of Christ two thousand thirty nine, that is some foure hundred and fiue and twenty yeares hence, seeing that from the beginning of the world, to that date, are accomplished the 6000 yeares of the worlds full continuance; figured (as diuers old and new Writers thinke) by the sixe daies of the creation.
Ans. First, from the six daies of creation to conclude of sixe thousand yeares of the worlds continuance, it is no certaine rule, or axiome, but onelyonly a coniecture. And whereas Saint Peter saith; That a thousand yeares with the Lord (viz. being compared with His Erernitie) is but as one day, 2. Pet. 3.8.and one day as a thousand yeares; hee neither alludeth to the sixe daies wherein the world was created, nor doth determine how long the world shall endure.
Secondly, our confident perswasion is, that the world shall be consummate before this long date, for the dayes must bee shortned, otherwise if the world hold on his hold, there should no faith be left, or found vponupon the earth.
Thirdly the Wise Virgins, that is, the holy Professours of sincere Religion,Mat. 25.6. shall nictare, id est, nod and slumber (though their hearts shall wake) and therefore they hauehave no certaine knowledge of any yeare when the Lord will come to iudgement,Luk. 12.39 otherwise they would the more rowse vp themselues.
Lastly, the sixt Angell hath already blowne, or sounded with the Trumpet, and when the seuenth shall but beginne to blow (which time is shortly expected) then the Mysterie of God shall bee finished, Apoc. 10.7(i. the world shall bee ended) as hee hath declared to his Seruants the Prophets, i. will reueale to the godly learned Pastors and Ministers, who (no doubt) some of them will take speciall notice of it, that they may more painefully performe their Office, and more preuailingly stirre vp their hearers.
A fourth Question.
Whether that the world shall end in the yeare of Christ 1699 or 1700, especially seeing that from the time that the daily Sacrifice shall bee taken away, and the abomination of desolation set vp, shall bee 1335 daies, which some interprete so many yeares, beginning the account in the yeare of Christ 367, when the Iewes, by the grant of the Emperour Iulian, repairing the Temple of Ierusalem, were dispersed by fire sent from heauen?
I Answere, that most, and almost all Interpreters vnderstand those 1335 daies, not for so many yeares, but literally, for three yeares and an halfe, with the addition of 45 daies, in the end wherof Antiochus the chiefe enemy of the Iewes should die; and being fulfilled in Antiochus, why, or by what reason, should any man extend them further?
Secondly, it is generally held that (the doctrine and mention of the last iudgement excepted) that Daniels Prophecie endeth either at the death of Christ, or (at the furthermost) with the destruction of Ierusalem.
Thirdly, Maister Napier, a learned Scot, counting the beginning of these 1335 daies (and interpreting them for yeares) anno Christi 360, will hauehave the world to end, about the yeare 1695; But Maister Brightman maketh this date the beginning of the generall conuersion and flourishing state of the Iewes, which hee holdeth shall continue diuers hundred yeares afterwards.
Fourthly, it was a receiued opinion that the world should end 1588, and the euent descried the vanity of their collection: And why may not they erre (though they cannot so much erre comming neerer the end of the world) likewise, that define that the world shall certainely end betweene the yeares 1688, and 1695?
Lastly, it is not for vsus (specially that liue not in the very last age of the world) to know the times and seasons, Acts 1.7.which the Father hath reserued in his owne power; therefore let vsus not bee ouer-curious, but wise to sobrietie.
A fift Question.
Whether (as some Phantasticks are reported to hold and defend) the world shall end before the yeares of Christ 1630?
Ans. First, to arguments vnknowne wee cannot giuegive particular answeres.
Secondly, this opinion is priuate and singular, and, perhaps, onelyonly one man is the Author of it. An ille solus sapit? who hath told him?
Thirdly, all the remaining Signes, not yet begunne to bee accomplished, cannot, in any probability, bee fulfilled in so short a scantling of time; or, if they can, let him assigne the particular yeare of Romes ruin, of the Iewes conuersion, of the comming of the false Christs; if he cannot resolue vsus in the smaler point, how shall wee credit him in the greatest?
Lastly, when the Iewes are conuerted, it is most likely they shall (at least) continue glorious on the earth for one generation, that Gods mercy may more euidently appeare, and that all the world may take sufficient notice of their generall calling, and herevpon be either conuerted or (at least) conuicted.
A sixth, and more materiall Question.
Whether the very age (which some,Deu. 15.16 reckoning according to the Iubile account, restraine to 50 yeares) wherein our Lord shall come to iudgement, either now is, or, hereafter may, or shal be▪ reuealed to any; especially seeing that our Lord, speaking of the Signes of the last daies saith; That this generation, (i. the age or time of a mans life) shall not passe vntill all these things shall be fulfilled?
Ans. I answere, First, that to restraine a generation, or, age of a man, to 50 yeares, may seeme too short an account; rather 70 or 80 yeares may make a generation.
Secondly, the age wherein Christ shall come may bee knowne, because our Lord onelyonly excepteth the day and houre.
Thirdly, the Scripture expressely saith, that in that age in which the false Christs and Prophets shall arise, all shall bee fulfilled.
Lastly, when the seuenth Angell shall begin to blow, Apoc. 10.7the Mysterie of God shall be finished, &c.
CHAP. XXI. The wholesome Application, and profitable Vses of all these Signes and Fore-runners.
I. Vse.
HERE are condemned Aristotle and his followers, who imagining that the world had no beginning, held that it should neuer end.
Secondly, here are taxed all Atheists and Scorners, that either will not beleeue, or be perswaded, that there shall bee a second comming of Christ, and an end of this world; or else, with those scoffers in Saint Peters time, say; Where is the promise of his comming? These bee like vntounto one Manlius who said; Non alium vidêre patres, aliumùe minores aspicient.
II. Vse.
The doctrine of these Signes serueth to check and reproue all Curiosists and rash Spirits, that by coniectures, Arithmeticall numbers, and misapplying and wresting of the holy Scriptures, seeke to search out, yea to determine the day, as Bellarmine (by consequence) doth: For he, mis-vnderstanding the Scriptures both of Daniel and the Apocalipse, touching the continuance of Antichrist, doth hold that the imaginary Antichrist which hee and his followers yet expect to come, shall raigne iust three yeares and an halfe,Dan. 12.11 12. and that iust in the end of them Christ shall come to iudgement, or (at the vtmost) there shall bee a distance of 45 daies for warning and preparation; so that by this account a man may know the very day of the last iudgement, which Christ in his humility knew not, and which the heauenly Angels are ignorant of. Let vsus content our selues with the knowledge and practise of things reuealed, and and in other matters be wise to sobriety; otherwise if wee come too neere to the Arke of Gods secrets, wee shall bee consumed; if wee come too neere to this Flame wee shall bee burned: Let vsus not approach too neere this bottomelesse pit, least wee bee drowned.
III. Vse.
The meditation of the comming of Christ, of the neere approach of it, and of the terrour of the last iudgement, must awaken vsus from the slumber of security, and spurre and stirre vsus vp to amendment of life, to prayer, sobriety, and watchfulnesse, that we be not taken tardy nor found vnready, but waking and wel-doing.Mar. 13.33 35. And the lesse that the point of Christs comming is knowne vntounto vsus, the more let vsus watch, and prepare our selues. Let vsus liue well and we shall die well, and as we die and make our last end, such shall our iudgement bee at the last day. Finally, let Saint Hieromes holy and blessed meditation bee ours also, that eueryevery one of vsus may say with him; Quoties diem illum considero, Hier. in Math.&c. that is; As often as I consider that day I tremble in all my body, for whether I eate or drinke, or what else souer I doe, me thinkes I alwaies heare that terrible Trumpet alwaies to sound in my eares; Arise yee dead and come to iudgement.
IIII. Vse.
Seeing that our Lord in his louelove towards vsus, hath left vsus certaine Herbingers, and Fore-runners, of his second comming, for our full redemption, and for our inauguration into the Kingdome of heauen, let vsus search the Scriptures, and take due notice of these Signes, and the accomplishment of them; and the neerer that that day approacheth, so much the more let vsus hold vp our heads: For the glory, happinesse, triumph, and immediate fellowship with the blessed Trinitie, the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost, wee shall then enioy, shall infinitely exceed (whether wee respect quantity, quality, or continuance) all the troubles and trials of this mortall and miserable life: And the serious meditation hereof will make vsus hopefull and patient in all afflictions, and when death approacheth, make vsus willing to goe to God, and to cry come Lord Iesus, come quickly, Amen, Amen.