An Appendix to A Discourse of Indictions, Appendix

An Appendix to A Discourse of Indictions · Appendix

p. 1An APPENDIX, TO A DISCOURSE OF INDICTIONS: And to a Newly Publiſh'd Diſcourſe OF THE JUBILEE OF THE Kingdom of Chriſt.

Approaching at the next following Vernal Equinox; in our Vulgar Account, 1701. Propoſed to the moſt Learned in Scripture, Hiſtory, Chronology; or, Arithmetick and Accountancy, for deep Conſideration.

THE Prophetick Line of Time, from the Death of Solomon, to the glorious Kingdom of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; which I have, for ſeveral Years laſt paſt, eſtabliſhed upon the greateſt Reaſons of Scripture Prophecy, and its Chronology; with the faireſt Agreement of Univerſal Hiſtory, and Chronology; is now confirm'd to p. 2me, by the Indictional Frame, or Fifteens of Years, of which it is compoſed; that doth demonſtrate it to be one and the ſame entire Line, th… given at ſeveral Times, in ſeveral Cantons or Parts; and that it was ſo conſtituted by the Divine Spirit, that we might know it to be one Line: And that by the Laws of Indiction, we may know where the Diſtributions Begin and End. That even as by the Hiſtorical and Prophetical Aſſignations of them, we have one view of them; ſo by Indictions we may have even Arithmetical Demonſtration of their Bounds.

The Line it ſelf, I preſent in the very Letter of Scripture, in plain open view.

The diſtribution of this long Line of 2300 Evs Morns, into its ſeveral Parts.

That the Divine Spirit hath put an Honour upon the Number Fifteen, in chuſing it for the Day of the ſo ſolemn Feaſt of Tabernacles; which he made a great Type of his Kingdom, as appears by the moſt awful reading the Law on an indicted Time in it, in the Year of Releaſe, Deut. 31. 10. Adorning it with Paradiſiac Appearance in the moſt goodly Boughs; and by the Prophetick Repreſentation of the ſtate of the Kingdom of Chriſt, under the keeping that Feaſt, Zech. 14. 16. and the Miſery of thoſe who are ſhut for ever out of that Kingdom, in their not keeping it, and the peculiar mention of it in the Viſion of Ezekiel's glorious Temple, Ezek. 45. 25.

But that he hath choſen it in this Line of Time, is the Buſineſs now in hand, and to be made out beyond Contradiction; for the whole Twenty ſeven hundred thirty is all compoſed of Fifteens: Some peculiar Parts of it are given in ſuch Numbers, as Fall into Fifteens of themſelves; as 390, 1260, 1290, 1335; each of which deſerve great Conſideration: The Three hundred Ninety, as the Firſt Part of the Line of Time, hath this peculiar Remark; That as it is the Firſt Part, ſo it gives Meaſure and Frame to the whole: For as it is perfectly compos'd of Indictions; So it is moſt obſervable; Three Hundred Ninety multiplyed by the Number Seven, of which Scripture makes ſo great Uſe in all Things, and in all Prophecy; both on Accounts of Mercy, of Grace; and of puniſhment for Iniquity, Levit. 26. p. 7I ſay the Firſt Three Hundred Ninety multiplied by Seven, makes up the whole Prophetical Line of Twenty ſeven Hundred Thirty; and ſo caſts all into Indictions, or Fifteens, as any one moderately skill'd in Accountancy, will eaſily find.

In the Thirteen hundred thirty five, the End, and ſhutting up of the whole Line, in the Fulneſs of all Times; There is, as I may humbly expreſs, a Care and Diligence, and even an Induſtry of the Divine Spirit, to compoſe it into Indictions, or Fifteens. For in the twelve hundred and ſixty, as the whole is all Indiction, ſo each Diviſion is according to indicted Time: Time, or one Time 36… Years: Two Times, or one Time doubl'd, 720 Years. One time halv'd or 180 Y. each is perfect Indictional, and ſo the Hebrew firſt gave it its Style סועד: And that the Prophetick Spirit might awaken us to know, All is intentional; when he makes an Addition to 1260. It is by two Indictions, or Fifteens, in, 1290. When he makes an Addition to 1290, it is by Three Fifteens, 1335.

Whoever conſiders theſe Things, can no more think This could be by Chance, Then that Things argu'd from their Train, Series, and connexion in Creation, and Providence, to be the Products of an infinite Mind, could be by Chance. Could any one come after the Divine Spirit, and find that in his Writings, that he had not laid there? Or, could He lay them there and not know he laid them there himſelf; and could He be ſuppos'd to lay them there but as a Depoſitum, a Prophetical Treaſure, prepar'd for great Ends and Purpopoſes: As

1. That we might know beyond the power of Objection, That this whole Line, beginning at the Death of Solomon, when Iſrael and Judah became two Houſes, p. 8or Kingdoms, is one ſolid, real, and not imaginary one continued, and Progredient, and not divided, tho' diſtinguiſh'd Line to the Bleſſed State: It therefore begins in the Indictional 390, and ſo ends in 1335; ſo even curiouſly contrived into Indictions, and the middle part compriz'd between both, into the whole Indictional Frame, tho' in various Numbers, as is preſently to be ſhewn.

The ſupreme Wiſdom of the great Arithmetician, or Wonderful Numberer, as he is call'd, Dan. 8. 13. (ſee Margin there) is ſeen in his Arithmetick Frame. We cannot attain to its Perſection; for there is Wonder and Secreſie in it: But there is what we may apprehend, by conſidering, how, and when that ſtyle of Time, Indictions, or Fifteens of Years, came into Uſe; Luſtres, or Account of Time by fives of Years, had been long before; but then theſe Fives triplicated, or three joined together, and call'd Indictions, according to the very Hebrew Word, before noted, came into known and publick uſe at a peculiar Time, when Providence knew Prophecy would have need of it: And as Indictions are conſtituted of the Number Five, which is the Number giving ſpring to all Parts of theſe Numbers, and indeed of all the moſt Cardinal Numbers; the whole Compoſure is moſt wonderful of Fives, ſo join'd by Threes.

The Time then of Indictions coming into known and publick Uſe, is that time agreed by all Hiſtory; when the Roman Empire from Pagan, became Chriſtian; under Conſtantine, memorializ'd, The Great, the Firſt Chriſtian Emperour: Since which time, it hath continued in uſe at Rome, and in what is call'd the Empire, to this day: Now from its firſt entrance, it had a time of ſettlement, and of growing into a generally us'd p. 9Character of Time: The Roman Papacy was preparing for its Supremacy; and the Barbarous Nations, that were to be the Kingdoms of the Ten Kings, its Horns; and who ſhould give their Kingdom and Power to it, were preſſing into the Empire, as into an Outer-Court of Chriſtian Profeſſion, without the Power, being ſo much declin'd; and ſo began the … two Moons af the Gentiles; and the Witneſſes beginning their 1260 Days of Prophecy, cloathed with Sack-cloath, both for the Ruine of the Empire, as a Publick Calamity; and for the Viſible Beginnings of the Apoſtacy. And juſt about the Time when Providence had prepar'd the ſo now univerſally known Language of Indictions, or Fifteens of Years; by which Time, Times, and Half Indicted Time, might (had Prophecy been underſtood) have been certainly known to have Entered, viz. Some time between the Gentiles Preſſing in upon the Empire, and their having ſettl'd into Kingdoms, and the Papacy with them.

Thus the whole Line is ſetled upon its Frame of Indictions, as in its general view; but that we may more particularly and diſtinguiſhingly underſtand it, and how to diſcern Times by theſe Indictions, as under particular Diſtinctions of Time, is what I would now preſent: For, as if there had been a Line of Indictions, and yet no Diſtinctions in ſo long a Line, we could have made by Indictions alone, no Judgment of Time; So if there had not been Indictions, we could not have ſo exactly, and aſſuringly Judg'd of the Bounds of Time according to thoſe Diſtinctions, in ſome Parts of the Line.

That we may therefore the better Judge hereof, we muſt obſerve: This Indictional Line, though ſo p. 10wholly made up of Indictions, or Fifteens, as hath been ſhewn, yet the Parts of it are variouſly given.

Some Parts in Indictions.

390

1335

Some Parts in Numbers, but not in Indictions.

40

490

Some neither in Number; nor in Indictions, viz. The Time between Cyrus his Decree, and the Weeks beginning: The Time after the Weeks to the beginning of the 1335 Days, And yet both fall in with the whole Line into Indictions. And we may humbly conceive of the Reaſons of all This.

1. It was neceſſary, the Firſt Time of bearing Iſrael's Sin, or the Firſt Three hundred Ninety Years in the Line, ſhould be given in perfect Indiction, becauſe it was to introduce the whole indictional Line; and to give, as it were, the Soul of Indiction to it.

2. It was as neceſſary the 1335 ſhould be indictional, not only as ſhutting up, and conſummating the indictional Line, but more principally, becauſe that was the Courſe of Time, God was pleaſed to give the Criterion, or Knowledge of by Indictions; and Providence had prepar'd according to Prophecy.

3. The giving theſe two Parts of Time in Number, viz. The Forty Days of bearing Judah's Sin, was neceſſary, that the Time of the Babyloniſh Captivity ending, as a notable Pillar of Time, might be plainly known.

But moſt neceſſary, the Weeks to Meſſiah ſhould be p. 11ſo preciſely given: That that lofty Pyramid of Time, called the Fulneſs of Time, might be prepared for, before 'twas erected; and then ſtand firm to the End of Time, and fulneſs of Times, viz. All Times, Gal. 4. 4. Epheſ. 1. 10. or the Kingdom of Chriſt.

But they are not given in Indictions; even as the Time before the Weeks, and after them, not ſo much, as in Number, becauſe Prophecy was Pleas'd ſo far, to Veil it ſelf; That it might, by cloſe Search and Enquiry, be underſtood, and open'd to thoſe only, who, through Deſire ſeparating themſelves, are ſtirr'd up by God, to intermeddle with that Wiſdom: And withal, this Fluency of the Line of Time, from the End of the Firſt 390, to the Beginning of the 1335, through the ſeveral ſucceſſive Indictions, and the ſeveral diſtinctive Diviſions of the Line by its Titles of Event upon it; as the words going forth, the Weeks, the Time of the Seals, is yet by them kept united, and conjoyn'd with it ſelf, while the ſame Indiction takes hold of one Part, and of the other in each Diſtinction; and will ſhew, how according to the Laws of Indiction, thoſe Years that are not numbred, are to be determined in their Numbers: And even in the very Parts of the Line, that are moſt under the guard of Indiction, yet thoſe moſt lofty Columns of Event, diſtinguiſhing Time, may fall in the middle of an Indiction, or of a Fifteen; that though they divide Time, doe not divide the Indiction from itſelf; each of which will now be ſeen.

The moſt ſtately Pillars of Event, diſtinguiſhing Time in the Line, I look upon to be,

1. The Time of the Laſt Week of the 70, viz. The lofty Boundary of Time which the Chriſtian Era of Account hath kept known and ſure; and Extoll'd by the p. 12Style of the Fulneſs of Time, in Scripture; the Publick Apoſtolate of the High-Prieſt, and Apoſtle of our Profeſſion here on Earth; his Death, Reſurrection, Aſcenſion, and giving his Spirit in the Miniſtry of the Apoſtles, during the opening the Firſt Seal within the laſt Week; going out on his White Horſe, of Goſpel-ſtate; Conquering, and to Conquer. Rev.6.1.

2. The Roman Empire becoming Chriſtian, under Conſtantine, a very magnificent Pillar of time before mention'd, for the ſake of Indictions, brought into publick Knowledge and Uſe ſoon after.

3. The middle part of the Time, between the firſt Inſults of the Barbarous Nations upon the Empire; and the very ſubjugating of it. For at that time, about the middle Point, viz. Four hundred Thirty Seven of Vulgar Account, then the Gentile 42 Moons entred; and the 1260 Days of the Witneſſes Sackcloth begin; and therefore Great.

4. The Weſtern Roman Empire, and the Imperial Exaltation of Rome, ceaſing; and the Papacy entring with its 42 Moons, with which the Gentiles 42 Moons Coleſce, and together make a Parallel Line, with the 1260 Days. This is a great and Cardinal Event of Time.

5. The Mahometan Impoſture, and Tyranny, and Hegira beginning with the Saracenick Five Months of Torment, and five Months of Hurting Men, and five Months of Intervals, Revel. 9. v. 5, 10. Fairly allowable in its Intermiſſions, or declining State; and ſo given, as it were, Indictionally, with which admirably agrees the Duration of their Tyranny; as made out by the Reverend and Learned Annotator on the Revelations, to be 435. And then the Hour, Day, Month, Year of the Ootoman Empire, perfectly Mahometan alſo, endures p. 13a Judgment on the Anti Chriſtian Papal ſtate, while it laſts.

6. The Papal Supremacy made an Image to the Roman Imperial Power, by the other Beaſt, the Roman Hierarchy when it came to its Number: Its Command of Image-worſhip, and Interdiction of thoſe who would not Worſhip: Its Anathematizing upon Emperors on that account, Ratify'd by that Second Council of Nice: Its depoſing Emperors, and taking upon it ſelf a Right of diſpoſing Crowns, and Kingdoms; all which bear a great Relation to the Indictional Time, in its two times at 1157, and unto 1517, tho' not proper here to inſiſt upon.

7. The very ſtately Pillar of the Reformation, the moſt to be Celebrated Partition of the Beaſts, or Papacy's Firſt riſing Time; and his two Times of Strength, and full Potentacy; and his half Time of Declination; from 1517; Are each and all exactly Indictional, and the Laſt by a Recent Agreement of Hiſtory found at 1517.

That which we now expect, is that greateſt Glory of Indictional Time; the finiſhing of Wonders, or of the Myſtery by the Angel of the Seventh Trumpet, at the End of the three Years and half, from the 1260, ending at 1697; and thoſe three Years and a half to End at the next following Vernal Equinox of the Year, in Vulgar Account 1700, or 1701.

That which remains now; is, to ſhew how by the Rules and Laws of Indictions, in a whole Line conſtituted of Indictions, or Fifteens of Years; We may find, what Number, or propoportion of Years is to be determin'd to thoſe two Parts of the Line, viz.

p. 14Firſt. From the Forty Years of Bearing the Sin of Judah, to the beginning of the 70 Weeks, or of the 490 Years (which was the time of the Words going forth.)

Secondly. What proportion of Time, or Number of Years we may fix upon from thoſe Seventy Weeks ending, or the Laſt Week, (That ſo lofty Pyramid of Time) to that ſo grand Indictional Time of the 13…35 Years, by which we may exactly know, at what time, and in what Year of Vulgar Account it began. The Firſt of theſe I affirm to be 75. The Second 400. The whole we have to work upon are 1005 Years, perfectly Indictional.viz. 40 75 490 400

To this great purpoſe I would lay down theſe ſelfevident Rules and Laws of Indiction, which I thus apply,

1. That ſeeing the Line conſiſts of Twenty ſevenhundred and thirty Years; and 182 Indictions, there can be no Number added; not ſo much as an Unit, or taken away; even in thoſe Parts of the Line not given in Number, much leſs in thoſe given in Number; for as Room cannot be ſpared for more, ſo there can be no Vacuum or Emptineſs in ſuch a Line ſtrictly given.

2. Whatever is given in Indiction by the Divine Spirit, muſt reſt in Indiction, and not be ſtirred out of it, becauſe the Spirit of Prophecy hath canoniz'd it; ſo the 390, and the 1335 cannot help any portion of this Line not given in Indiction.

Rule 3. When the whole Frame is perfectly Indictional, and yet there are ſeveral Portions not in themſelves Fram'd into Indictions; thoſe Parts muſt Borrow and Lend, out of, and to another, That they may be all Indictional; for though each Portion, as it is given in ſuch a Number, and ſo conſider'd, cannot be chang'd; yet when the whole Line is conſider'd, as ſuch a whole Entire Line compoſed of ſeveral Parts, and p. 15all Indictional. One Indiction or Fifteen ſucceeds another, without regard to each particular Number, but reſpects the whole as Indictional.

Thus the Forty of bearing Iſrael's Sin, is not given by even Fifteens; but wants Five; Though then as a Portion of time ſo given, it cannot be more then Forty; yet as in the Indictional Frame it goes to the next Portion; the Time of the Words going forth, and borrows Five of that: That Portion accounted (as I affirm it ſhould be) at 75, having lent Five, wants them for it ſelf, as Indictional; it therefore goes on to the 490 of the Weeks, and borrows five of them: The Four hundred ninety of the weeks in the Indictional Frame then becomes but 485, by lending Five to the former Portion; but that Number having Five ſtill supernumerary to Indiction, it offers thoſe Five to the 400 following the Weeks, which receive them, ſo all becomes Indictional to perfection: And this hath nothing ſtrange, but what is found in all Numbers, in a progrediency. Four Fives may be accounted as each a diſtinct Number; and as together making Twenty: Conſider'd as Five, each ſtay in themſelvs; Conſider'd as making up Twenty, they flow in ſingle Units one after another into Twenty; ſo in this Indictional Line, Numbers may be conſider'd as limited to themſelves, or flowing on Indictionally into ſuch a number of Indictions. Thus Forty, and Four hundred ninety are Numbers limited to themſelves, as ſuch Numbers; but in an Indictional Frame, they freely take, and give according to the Law of Indictions, and the whole Line is as beautifully conjoin'd, as if each Part had been given in Indiction, even as the 1005 in the whole.

But the great Doubt ſtill remains, what Proof from Indictions may be given? That the time of the Words p. 16going forth, before the Weeks, was 75; for if that be prov'd, then it undeniably follows; the Time after the Weeks muſt be 400, and no more; and ſo what Proof can be given, the time after the Weeks was 400; for the Time, if that be prov'd, before the Weeks muſt be 75. the whole Line requiring there be neither more nor leſs; and the Thouſand five of theſe Portions of Time are even as Indiction requires the ſame: And this further is abſolutely neceſſary to be known, to fix the Time, viz. when the Twelve hundred ſixty of the Witneſſes Sackcloth began, and where we now are in Time: To fix this, I therefore conſider theſe further Rules of Indiction.

That there be no more taken or given from one Joint of the Line to the other, then juſt makes up the Indiction; now in the Rule of Proportion I have given, there is no more, then juſt Five making the Firſt Forty five, which it wanted to make up three Indictions; the ſeventy five I ſettle upon before the Weeks, receive back the five, they lent, viz. Five from the 490 of the Weeks, making them juſt Five Indictions. The 490 of the Weeks having Ten ſupernumerary to Thirty two Indictions, and having lent five to the Time before the Weeks, lends alſo five to the Time after the Weeks, making them 405, and Twenty ſeven Indictions; Thus there is as little taken, as the very nature of Indictions will bear.

Whatever is added to, or taken from any Partition of Time, muſt be added to, or taken from the Beginning and End of each Portion; For ſo this Law of Indictions requires, as the Forty have added to their End, taken from the Beginning of the Four hundred ninety of the Weeks: The Four hundred after the Weeks have Five taken from the End of the Weeks, ſet before their p. 17their Beginning; for thus only Indictions and Portions of Time will bear, and not to be Intruded upon in their intimate Parts.

3. That which exceedingly gives Beauty to this Frame is, That all is by three Luſtres or Fives, gathered up into one Indiction: Although therefore there might be other Numbers then 75, and 400; and other tranſpoſes from one to the other: Yet it is even Arithmetical Evidence, there could be no other Fixation ſo Curious, Beautiful, Symmetrall, and agreeable to an Indictional Line, as this.

And it is not to be paſs'd by; That theſe 75, as Five Indictions, are Symmetrally agreeable to the Seventy Five, or the Five Indictions, that Run beyond the 1260, to 133…, at the End of the 2300; So the ſame Number Begins and Ends that long Line.

4. There is yet one Aſſurance more from the Indictional Frame, that fills up the meaſure, ſhaken together, preſſed down, and running over: And it is that the Forty two Moons of the Beaſt enter at that ſo Recorded Time of the Roman Weſtern Empire ceaſing in Vulgar Account, 476, and according to the Golden Number of Adequation of Lunar Time to Solar; broght in ſo long ago by Meton. Lunar Time bears the proportion of 1222 Years to 1260. There muſt therefore have run out from 475, Thoſe 1222 Years at 97 ending; and they being to be join'd to the Thirty Eight Years of the 1260 before them, and to the Moons of the Gentiles; All making up the Time, Times and half Time, or whole, 1260 Days: There is Room for no more then 400 Years, the time of the Seals open'd from that ſo often mention'd lofty Pyramid of Time; the laſt of the Seventy VVeeks ending 37 Years from the Chriſtian Era or Incarnation; ſo generallly known and accounted by: p. 18And if there be Room for no more then 400; there muſt be 75, and no more between the 40 of bearing the Iniquity of the Houſe of Judah, and the 490 of the Weeks according to the Prophetical Line given.

And thus God hath been pleas'd to give ſuch an Aſſurance to this ſtating of the Line of Time, as is deferr'd to the Julian Period, found by Scaliger; and ſo Approved of for its certainty: The adjuſtment of Solar, Lunar Time, and Indiction, one to another.

Now ſeeing all this leads ſo demonſtratively to Ninety ſeven elaps'd, and that Scripture cannot be broken or diſſolv'd; As hath been made out, It muſt needs be, That there muſt be a Reſerve of Time, in the ſecret Counſels of Prophecy, of the Three Years and half ſo remarkably given, Revel. 11. And that have their Place in the Firſt three Years and half of the 30, beyond 1260, viz. in the 1290, which 3 Y. and half ſhall Expire at the next Springs Equation of Day and N.

I humbly therefore preſent this ſo Full Repreſentation, that I could not, nor durſt Conceal: That when God had upon the ſeveral Arguments from Prophetick Images join'd with Scripture and general Chronology, and Hiſtory, been pleas'd to Found me on this very Scripture Line of Time, as appears by the Treatiſe Entituled, the Scripture Calendar of Prophetick Time, Publiſh'd 1684. About an Indiction paſt at 1699. He ſhould be pleas'd to ſhew me then ſuch a Frame from Indictions or Fifteens of Years (of which it is ſo undeniable, his Word makes ſo great Account) even Arithmetically demonſtrative; That it is even to my Admiration and Aſtoment. And I deſire it ſhould be wholly to the Glory and Praiſe of his Grace, and for the exciting Faith, Hope, Prayer. And I moſt freely ſubmit it to the ſevereſt p. 19Examination, that is Scripturally Rational; I am moſt aſſured, Except very Letter of Scripture only, Nothing depending on Argument can be more Firmly, proved. And I find ſuch an inward Aſſurance That if God ſhould call me to it, I hope I ſhould, through the Blood of the Lamb, and the word of his Teſtimony Overcome, even to the not loving of my Life to the Death on Account of it: Nor could I rejoice to ſurvive it, if a Failure could poſſibly be ſuppos'd; but moſt humbly beg, with ſubmiſſion to the Divine Will; that he would grant me ſo much more of Life, as to ſee Ezekiels Ha-Galgal, that great Revolution of his Kingdom, That it might be cryed in my hearing; Oh wheele, c. 10. 13.

And becauſe what I have now Written is the very higheſt, I can hope ſhould be reveal'd in this great Point: I have added this Publication as an Appendix to a Treatiſe, Entituled; Indiction, or accounting by Fifteens, the Great Style of Prophetick Time; Publiſh'd 99. and to another, Entituled; The Good Hope through Grace, The Jubilee of the Kingdom of Chriſt ſhall come on the Popiſh Jubilee. Publiſhed this 1700. And have nothing now to do, but with the Spirit, and the Bride, reſtleſly Day and Night to ſay, Come in the great Preparations to thy Kingdom at the next Springtime of thy Reſurrection; viz. the Ceſſation of Anti-Chriſtian Perſecution, the Down-fall of Antichriſt, the riſing of the Witneſſes, &c. Making it the Beginning of the ſacred Year Anew; and then in thy Kingdom it ſelf. And oh that all Saints would Joyn in the Harmony. Even ſo, come Lord Jeſus, come quickly.

The END.

ERRATA.

P. 9. l. 7. for twenty two Moons, put Forty two Moons.