The Good Hope Through Grace, Objection 2

The Good Hope Through Grace · Objection 2

p. 7Object. 2. As to the ſecond Objection, That the Judgment hath been already Executed, and the Prophecy fulfilled, it ſhall be anſwer'd under the ſecond Poſition; that the City, which is here denounced upon, is Papal Rome, from whence it will neceſſarily follow, It is not, nor can can yet have been Executed; becauſe the City Rome is yet in Being and Greatneſs, but by this Judgment is utterly to be deſtroyed; But in the mean time, it may be envinc'd, from the glorious Conſequences, drawn out C. 19. C. 20. C. 21. C. 22. which are ſo cloſe connexed with this Judgment, which have not yet come into effect, that therefore not the Judgment itſelf; for who can apprehend ſuch Glorious Appearances, as the Heavens opening, Chriſt's coming forth Attended with the Armies of Heaven, ſuch an Univerſal Conqueſt of Enemies, and ſuch a New Jeruſalem, and Illuſtrious ſtate of it, have ever enlightned a World continuing yet ſo dark! He that can perſwade himſelf to believe that, may believe any thing moſt unreaſonable: I come therefore to the ſecond Poſition.

p. 8Poſit. 2. There are Infallible Characters fixed by this Prophecy, by which we may be moſt aſſur'd, It is the preſent Papal Rome to be Judg'd; For the making out this Poſition, Two things are to be prov'd.

1. That Rome it ſelf is the City intended.

2. That though Rome Pagan be intended, yet Rome Papal is the Babylon, on which the Judgment is to be Executed, ſo fully here deſcrib'd: That it is Rome, There are two undeniable, even Litteral Affirmations; that even the Popiſh Expoſitors, who have ſo great Reaſon to ward off the Blow from Rome, yet they have not the face to deny, the City muſt needs be Rome, and therefore ſome of them fix on Pagan Rome.

But Rome, take it Pagan, take it Papal; Rome it ſelf is the City to be thus Judg'd, as the Divine Spirit hath made known to us by ſaying, the Seven H…ads are Seven Mountains on which the Woman ſitteth; Now the Seven Headed City, was as plain a Character of Rome, when the Apocalyptick Apoſtle writ, as if we deſcribed London by the City, whoſe Shore the Thames waſhes, or Conſtantinople by the Boſphorus coming up to it.

Again, the ſame Divine Spirit hath told us, the City is ſhe that hath the (foreign) Kingdom at this very preſent time over the Kings of the Earth; which is as plain a Diſtinction of Rome, as at the time of the Revelation given, as if we deſcrib'd London by the City; where the Courts of the King, of Judicature, and the Councils of the Nation are, and the chief Seat of Trade is; or Conſtantinople by the Ottoman Port: Who that knows the Hiſtory of the World at that time, knows not; That Rome was the Seate of the Empire of the World at that very Time: This being ſo plain, though other Proofs may be given, I paſs off from it, and come to the ſecond part of the Poſition; That though Pagan Rome is to be taken in, yet Papal Rome is the City to be Judg'd, eſpecially, Ultimately, Finally.

p. 9That this may be made out, I muſt lay in the Foundation; That, as the City Rome is Evidently ſhewn to be the Babylon, to be Judg'd; So the Supremacy meant here, by the Beaſt, muſt be a Supremacy cloſely Related to the City Rome, and Bearing up that City in Glory and Grandeur; as Pope of Rome, in the place of Emperor of Rome, or any other of the Supreme Magiſtracys of it. For the City, and the Beaſt that Carryes it, are Inſeparable; If it be therefore made out that the Supremacy is Papal, on which the City is Born up when it is Judged; It will moſt certainly follow, that the City to be Judg'd, is Rome Papal; Even as if it be prov'd, that the Rome to be Judg'd, is Rome Papal; It is therein prov'd that the Supremacy Judg'd is Papal Supremacy; For as is ſaid; They are Inſeparable and Proportion'd one to another: I will therefore draw out ſeveral Characters of Papal Supremacy, and of Papal Rome, that are moſt Plain Matters of Fact upon both, in Relation to, and Compare one with another, and that are given in Prophecy upon each, as the moſt plain and eaſy to be underſtood (waving what is more Critical and Curious,) and yet moſt Argumentative and moſt Concluſive, as laid one to another, conſider'd together; that Papal Rome, with its Papacy, are here Repreſented to be Judged.

The Characters are theſe Following.

Charact. 1. It is undeniable, The Papacy lays claim to a Supremacy, as the Vicar of Chriſt, Ʋniverſal Biſhop, Pope of Rome; as Univerſal as Emperor of Rome heretofore over the Princes of Europe; and a Paſtor above Princes, and the Supreme Powers here upon Earth; So the Church of Rome, Ʋniverſal Catholic Church, The Miſtreſs of Churches, or Lady, as Babylon of Old; or as Rome, p. 10when Miſtreſs, Lady of the World; All this is undenyable Matter of Fact in general knowledg of the World at this day; and much more ſo before the Reformation.

And what more plain in Prophecy! In Daniel, in this Prophecy of the Revelation; Beaſt is Interpreted into King or Kingdom, as a Succeſſion of Kings; Having Times and Laws given into his Hand to Change. Horns are Kings, and ſo muſt the Little Horn be, and as more Dan. c. 7.Dan 7Stout then his Fellows, an Imperial King: In this Viſion of the Revelation, the Beaſt is the Eighth King, and of the Seven Heads, Supremes over Rome. To ſhew his Imperialneſs, Ten Kings are as Horns upon his Head, in Subordination to him: Power was given to him over all Kindreds, and Tongues, and Nations; An Ʋniverſal Monarch.C. 13. 7. …. 17. 9.

As for the City, it is Babylon The Great, the Great City, who ſaith, I ſit a Queen. As ſhe had ſate upon Formor Kings, ſo ſhe is Carried on high by the Beaſt; The Kings of the Earth Live Deliciouſly with her, her Merchants are the Great Men, the Grandees of the Earth made Rich by her Coſtlyneſs; And the Greatneſs and Variety of her Merchandiſe ſpeaks her Greatneſs; Now ſeeing it hath been Proved by the Letter of the Prophecy, Rome is the Seven Headed City, that was Imperial at the Time of the Prophecy given: I appeal to all Perſons who know the State of Things now in Europe, and what it was in Ancient Time; whether there be in the Roman Empire, that then was, any Supreme like the now Pope for Univerſality; For not only the Kings, (excepting thoſe who Renounced him in the Reformation) but even he is who called Emperor, is no Emperor, in Compari… of the Papal Supreme, whom he himſelf owns, and payes Subjection to; or any City that can pretend to be a Queen, as Rome pretends to be; as it calls it ſelf p. 11the Catholick Church. There can be no pretence of the Otoman Supreme, or of Conſtantinople like it, Though that be ſo fixed as it is, as a Spightful Rival of it by the hand of Vengeance, as might be further ſhewn, if Seaſonable now: And therefore this Character, I look, upon, even Demonſtratively Diſtinctive of Papal Rome, and the Papal Supremacy: But if this can be thought not ſufficient, what follows will more aſſure it.

Charact. 2. The Papal Supremacy, However Prevalent it hath been, and is; is yet in the Ballance of Worldly Powers, a weak, Precarious, Impuiſſant Supremacy; and hath no Martial Strength to ſupport or Defend it ſelf by; as is well known in all Hiſtory and Daily Experience; So that Great Stateſmen Puffendors Introduction to the Hiſtor. of Europ. Cap 12.and Politicians have been much Amuſed; How ſo Unarm'd a Supremacy ſhould have ſo long continued it ſelf; We in this Nation are Witneſſes, how Uncontroulably the King of this Nation (Henry the 8th at his own Pleaſure) Revuls'd himſelf and it from him; and Queen Elizabeth, after the Reſumbmiſion of Queen Mary, Abdicated the Papacy anew, as other Princes about the ſame Time did.

In the ſame manner let us Judg of the City Rome now; and we know it is not the Reſidence of the Ancient Martial Spirit, and Proweſs that Inhabited it; But, as its Supreme, is Unarm'd, ſo is the City upheld by the Kindneſs of the Ten Kings, that ſhall Hate and Famiſh, and Burn it hereafter; and by the Fraud and Cunning of the Pope, the Cardinals and other the Preiſthood of it; an Imperial City in a Myſtery; that is a Falſe Catholick Church held up by Art.

Let us obſerve now, How Prophecy ſpeaks of this Character, both as to the City, and as to its Supreme; and we ſhall find in Daniel; The Feet and Toes of the Image, Dan. 2. Which make the laſt State of the Fourth Roman p. 12Monarchy or Kingdom, were Part of Iron and Part of Clay; Partly Strong as Iron, and Part Broken Fragile v. 42. Weak and Frail as Clay. And what could the whole Ingeny of Man have found out more Curiously, and yet Significantly to Expreſs the Feeble Supremacy of the Papacy; Like Feet of Clay upheld by the Iron of the Ten Kings; and in the other Viſion the Ten Horns Surround and Cover the Little Horn,; that elſe could not defend it ſelf; his Power ſhall be Mighty, but not in his own Power, C. 8. 24. In the Revelation the Beaſts Supremacy is continually Repreſented with an Image; Conioyn'd with a Spiritual Power, an Eccleſiaſtical Supremacy, which is a Supremacy in an Image: And it is by Gift under a Divine Decree, The Ten Kings Agree, and with One Conſent give their Kingdom, and Power, and Strength to the Beaſt: It is by Gift, and by Agreement, and as by Ballance on One Another's Power, as Event hath prov'd.

Let us now behold the Character drawn by Prophecy, in relation to the City; She ſits indeed a Queen; But it is by the Sorcery of a Falſe Religion, upon Princes and People, by making them drunk with the Wine of her Fornication and Adulteries; an Impure, Senſeleſs ſort of Devotion, and the Falſe Hopes of Salvation by it; a Drunken Dream fit to Enchant, and Enſlave thoſe who are bereaved of All Judicious Underſtanding in Chriſtianity; and pleas'd with a Faith, Worſhip of God, and Converſation, ſuited only to a Carnal Senſuality: All this ſhews us wherein the Strength of this City, or Falſe Church lies.

And how Exactly do theſe Things Anſwer One Another! What we Every Day ſee with our Eyes, and hear with our Ears, and have all manner of Aſſurance of in Papal Rome; and theſe Delineations of Prophecy, carrying us out of all manner of Doubt, that the City p. 13here deſcribed to be Judg'd, is Papal Rome.

Char. 3. In the Papacy of Rome, and its City, or Falſe Church, we find the Collection of All the Superſtitions and Idolatries, that ever have been (almoſt, if not altogether) in the World, under One Pretence, Colour, and Coverture, or other; Running like Filthy Drains, into this Foul Great Sewer; enough to fill Volumes with their incredible Multitude and Variety; Such as if duly conſider'd, cannot but be thought moſt Strange and Horrid, in ſo Divine, Spiritual, and ſo Intellectual a Worſhip of God, as Chriſtianity teaches.

And how hath Prophecy Repreſented this! In Daniel, by the Infamous Name of Beaſt, common to Him, with other Idolatrous Pagan Supremes; So by His thinking to change Times and Laws given into his Hand for ſuch a Term, plainly ſignifying Sovereign Power, Engaging it ſelf in the Deviſing and Introducing Falſe Religion, as Jeroboam of old, 1 Kings c. 12. 32. 38.

In the Revelation He is Full of the Names of Blaſphemy; that is, of Idolatry: For ſo the Idolatry of ſuch as make a Profeſſion of the True God, is ſtyled, Iſa. 65. 7. by the Judgment of the moſt Learned Interpreters: And indeed it can be no other; For to acknowledge a Beeing ſo Holy, Wiſe; Jehovah, the Eternal, Infinite Spirit; and then to put upon him the Folly, and Nothing, as the Apoſtle ſtyles it, of an Idol, is perfect Blaſphemy.

And ſo it is to arrogate to be worſhipp'd with him; And it is moſt obſervable, the Revelation frequently Joyns this Beaſt Worſhipp'd, and his Image Worſhipp'd, plainly importing his Idolatrouſneſs.

p. 14Aholah, and Aholibah, thoſe Idolatrous Churches of Iſrael and Judah, are a moſt Graphical Deſcription of this City, or Falſe Church, in the ſame Kind of Style; Aholah and Aholibah, were ſet out, Ezek. c. 23. in all the Lewdneſs of Infamous Women; Thoſe Falſe Churches of Iſrael and Judah; if it be Lawful at all to uſe the Name of Churches in their Caſe, and particularly Judah have the Title of an Imperious, or, as it may be render'd exactly to the preſent Caſe, Imperial Whoriſh Woman, Ezek. 16. 33. So Rome is Pictur'd having in her Hand a Golden Cup, full of the Wine of her Fornication.

Charact. 4. That which is ſo Generally to be obſerv'd in the Papacy, is the very Height of a moſt Bold, Blaſphemous Arrogancy: The very Supremacy he uſurps in the Chriſtian Church, ſhews his Luciferian Pride. The Title, HIS HOLINESS, is moſt Sacrilegious, Seeing God Only Holy is, much more Alone Holineſs it ſelf: His Claim of Infallibility above Councels, is a ſmall Thing; for he exalts it above Scripture it ſelf; That (in the Senſe of the very Phariſees) Blaſphemous taking upon him to Pardon Sin, his Indulgences, Pretended Deliverances from Purgatory, his Counterſeit Miracles, his Anathematiſing and Curſing down All to Hell, who deteſt his Idolatries, ſhews him that Proud and Haughty Scorner, who Deals in Proud Wrath: His ſetting his Throne, and Lifting his Scepter above the Thrones and Scepters of Princes, is moſt Horrid, and Intolerable Inſolency: In All this the City is one with him, ſitting alought upon him, and Born upon him in all this Babyloniſh Lucifertaniſm.Eſay 14. 12.Isa 14:12

Let us obſerve, how Scripture-Predictions ſhew this his Sathanic Preſumption; Daniel calls it his ſpeaking p. 15Words, High, Great Words againſt the Moſt High; c. 7. 25. Standing up againſt the Prince of Princes, c. 8. 25. Speaking marvellous things againſt the God of Gods; and He ſhall magnify Himſelf above every God, or Supreme: c. 11. 36. He ſitteth in the Temple of God as God, ſhewing himſelf he is God. He exalts himſelf above All that is called God; (the Scripture Expreſſion for Princes) or that is, foreign, is ſtyled Auguſt; taken from the Name of Auguſtus, the Greateſt of Rome's Emperors; and become at that Time the Imperial Title: Thus the Apoſtle deſcribes the Beaſt, calling him the Man of Sin in the Antichriſtian Apoſtacy, he was deſcribing; and that we may know him to be the Beaſt, he is call'd, foreign, That Lawleſs Prince that does what he will, Dan. 11. 36. and the Son of Perdition; as Revel. 17.

In the Prophecy of the Revelation he is thus ſet out: To him was given a Mouth ſpeaking Great Things: He opened his Mouth in Blaſphemies againſt God, to blaſpheme his Name; The World wonder'd after him; They who dwell upon the Earth ſhall worſhip him; whoſe Names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life; He comes, as Sathan, with All Deceivableneſs of Ʋurighteouſneſs in them, who periſh, on whom God ſends ſtrong Deluſion to believe ſo great a Lie, as the Papacy in its whole Frame, makes up. Compare herein 2 Theſ. 2. 10, &c. Rev. 13. 3. 8, &c.

The City, that Sodom, and Great Whore, tbat corrupteth the Earth with her Fornications, Rev. 11. c. 17. That Woman Jezebel, which calleth her ſelf a Propheteſs, which Teacheth and Seduceth the People of Chriſt, Chriſtians by Profeſſion, to commit Fornication, to have Communion with Idols, Rev. 2. 20. She hath on her Forehead a Name written, Myſtery, as if ſhe were indeed the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Foundation of Truth, the Catholick Church, out of which none can be ſaved: p. 16But it is the Myſtery of Iniquity; For the Inſcription goes on, Mother of Harlots; So that a moſt Unintelligible Compoſition of Wickedneſs makes up this Myſtery.

I Appeal now to All, whether ſuch Inſolencies of Arrogation ate to be found in the whole World, as in the Papacy and its Church of Rome; or whether ſuch Known Matter of Fact, in All theſe Things, could be more plainly ſet out, than they are by theſe Prophecies.

Charact. 5. The Great Fraud, Diſſimulation, Worldly Policy and Intrigue, we know in the Papacy, and the Pſeudo Catholick Roman Church, all its Cheats and Impoſtures make up ſuch a Character of it, that we find that Great Swediſh Stateſman, Puffendor, ſpends the whole Chapter forementioned in the Diſcourſe of it; who, the he does not appear to have the leaſt Relation to Prophecy, yet writes ſo according to it on that Subject; That it is very wonderful; even as if he had aim'd to Juſtify Prophecy by ſo notorious matter of Fact.

Let us then Review Prophecy on this Head, firſt in Daniel; The Little Horn had the Eyes of a Man; a Look, or Aſpect more Great, Rabbi-Like; of more Perſpicacity than his Fellow Horns; He had Eyes, and a Mouth that ſpoke Great Things; the Mouth, as of a Man of Eyes, Dan. 7. 20. He underſtood Dark Sentences; Through his Policy; He cauſes Craft to proſper in his Hand, c. 8. 25.

In the Revelation, c. 2. 14. In the Church of Pergamus, the Prophetic Symbol of the Church of Chriſt Under the Antichriſtian Throne of Sathan, the Papal Supremacy; we read of that Politician Prophet—Balam, who taught Balac to caſt a Stumbling-block before the p. 17Children of Iſrael, by drawing them into Idolatrous Practices: In the Church of Thyatyra, the Symbol of the Proteſtant Churches, under Popiſh, Perſecuting Princes, ſtirred up by the Papal Antichriſtian (Church, as it will be call'd) which is Repreſented by Ahabs Queen Jezebel, then which none more apt in the whole Hiſtory of Scripture could be found, as might by a Compare be made apparent: But her Whoredoms and Witchcrafts cannot be paſſed by, with which Jehu upbraided her ſo reproachfully, as the Proteſtant Princes have done Rome: Oh that ſo many of them had not fallen into Jehu's great Evil, not to have made a perfect Reformation. But That which is moſt to the preſent Purpoſe, is, That ſhe had, together with her aſſumed Propheticneſs, the Depths of Sathan, as the Arcana Regni, her deep Maxims of Sathanic State, by both which, ſhe enchants, be witches, intoxicates Princes and Nations.

Charact. 6. There is nothing more notorious, than the dreadful Perſecutions, and Storms of Violence, the Papacy, and Its Roman City, or Falſe Church hath raiſed againſt thoſe who have embraced Chriſtianity, and deſire to enjoy it in the Purity, and Simplicity of it; or have not ſubmitted to that Tyranny they have ſo graſp'd at, as hath been deſcribed. And we ſee the Princes and Powers of this World, that have been the Devotioniſts of it, have contributed their Force thereunto; The ſecular Authority, as they call it; and which Prophecy calls, The Ten Kings making War with the Lamb. And all this together hath come to that Extremity of Blood, Slaughter, and all manner of Torture, as continue to this very Day; Hiſtory and Experience are ſo full of it, I need ſay nothing. The Waldenſes, or as we call them, Vaudois, are a laſting Monument hereof, and continue ſo before our Eyes.

p. 18Now this Cruelty of Chriſtians (as they would be called) upon their own ſo honourable Name, is ſo monſtrous, that even Pagans cannot but be aſtoniſhed at it, and call into doubt that holy, harmleſs and compaſſionate Religion, ſo full of Mercy, Peace, all good Fruits, when they find the Profeſſors of it, and the Papacy and Church of Rome, who would be Supremes of it, breathing out Slaughter and Blood; to be as Lyons, Tygers, Wolves, yea Devils let looſe, ſet on Fire of Hell, upon thoſe who profeſs the ſame Lord and Chriſt; and ſuch Princes; as the French King to out-do the Neroes, Domitians, Decius's and Diocleſians; and the Papal to equal, yea to exceed the Pagan Rome herein.

And it ſhould make us bewail, that ever, what hath been call'd Proteſtant, ſhould have any of theſe Stains upon it, and abhor the leaſt Thoughts of the Return of any ſuch Thing in our own Nation.

Let us now take a View of the Portraicture of Prophecy and its Abundance, when it gives us the Character of the little Horn; of the King of Fierce Countenance; of the lawleſs King, that does after his own Will; of the He, to whom Time, Times and Half are given; of the Beaſt in the Revelation; all which are one and the ſame, Papacy of Rome, as hath been already, and may be now made out, even to the very Nicety of Prophetic Explications; and as to the Pſeudo-Catholic Church of Rome: Dan. 7. 21. I beheld, and the ſame horn made war with the ſaints, and prevailed againſt them. Ver. 25. He ſpeaks great words againſt the moſt High, and ſhall wear out the ſaints of the moſt High. Chap. 8. 24. His power ſhall be mighty, but not by his own power, and he ſhall deſtroy wonderfully, and practiſe, and ſhall deſtroy the mighty and the holy people. Ver. 25. p. 19By Peace, as if he did nothing but in a Peaceable Way. Any thing of Force lies wholly on the ſecular Arm; He ſhall yet deſtroy many. In the Revelation, Chap. 11. 7. The Beaſt that aſcendeth out of the bottomleſs Pit ſhall make War againſt the Witneſſes of Chriſt, ſhall overcome them, and kill them. Chap. 13. 7. It was given, by Way of Permiſſion, but moſt judiciary Licenſe alſo to make war with the ſaints, and to overcome. Ver. 15. He cauſes, by his Supremacy in an Image, that all who would not worſhip the Image of the Beaſt ſhould be killed. Ver. 17. And that no man might buy nor ſell, have Freedom of Trade, (as it is now in France,) who would not receive the mark of the Beaſt, &c. And till his Term expire, this muſt be; when it expires it ſhall end: There is therefore ſet up, as a Pillar inſcrib'd, as a Boundary of Time. Ver. 10. Here is the Faith and Patience of the Saints, Thus far it reaches, till the Time of Judgment on the Beaſt and his Horns: Then, He that leadeth, into Captivity ſhall go into Captivity; he that killeth with the Sword ſhall be killed with the Sword. Chap. 17. 14. The Ten Kings, Horns of the Beaſt, make war with the Lamb and his Saints. But the Beaſt is taken, and the Kings ſlain with Chap. 19.the Sword of Chriſt.

And as for the City, or Papal Church of Rome, how abundant is Prophecy? Chap. 17. 6. I ſaw the woman drunken with the blood of the ſaints, and of the martyrs of Jeſus. Chap. 18. 6. Reward her as ſhe rewarded you. Ver. 20. Rejoice over her, Tbou Heaven, and ye Holy Prophets and Apoſtles, for God hath avenged you on her. Ver. 24. In her was found the blood of the Prophets and Apoſtles, and of the Martyrs, all that were ſlain on the Earth. Chap. 19. 2. God hath avenged the blood of his ſervants at her hand. And Chap. 11. 8. The p. 20bodies of the witneſſes lay dead in the ſtreet of the great City; which by Compare muſt be Babylon the Great, the great City, ſpiritually called Sodom, for its corrupting the Earth with her Fornication; and Egypt for her Cruelty and Tyranny; and with that as diſtinct a Remark, as could be ſet; Spiritually: All knowing their Antichriſtian Uſurpation on that Word; The Spirituality; for the ſake of which, I could rejoice, if that very Word, in Uſe in our Nation, Lords Spiritual were utterly blotted out. Chap. 16. 3. The Angel that poured out his Vial on the Waters, and Rivers of Babylon, its Papacy and Kings, ſaid, by way of Praiſe, Thou art righteous, Oh Lord, which art, waſt, and art to come; becauſe thou haſt thus judged, for they have ſhed the blood of thy Saints and Prophets, and thou haſt given them blood to drink, for they are worthy. And an…ther Angel from the Altar, where the ſouls ef Martyrs cry out, How long Lord! Anſwers; Even ſo, Lord God Almighty, True and …ighteous are thy Judgments.

Seeing then theſe Things of the Perſecutions of the Romiſh City in its whole foreign, or Breadth, its Papacy and ten Kings, are as clear as the Day; and that Prophecy is ſo direct upon them, if this very Character were alone, it were even ſufficient to aſſure it is Papal Rome under the Eye of Prophecy; much more in this ſevenfold Concenterment.

Charact. 7. The Papacy is the laſt Supream of the Roman Empire, and that Supremacy the very laſt State and Time of this City Rome. Now of this indeed we firſt ſay nothing beyond thoſe Scriptural Reaſons; That the final and moſt deſtructive Judgments of God are to be expected on a City of ſo great Idolatries, Filthineſſes, Pride, Cruelty and the bloody Perſecutions of the Servants of God, and of ſo long Continuances therein; p. 21as not only other Cities, who when they have fill'd up their Meaſures of Iniquity, have been judged by God; but Jeruſalem, which God made ſo great an Exemplar of Judgment; we may alſo obſerve in the Courſe of Providence, and the Government of the World, All humane States and Governments have come to their Periods; and Rome having had ſo long a Duration from the Ʋrbs Condita, or firſt Building of Rome, and even ſince it became Rome Papal, a Time as we may according to the moſt uſual Allowances of Time to Cities and States, the Sovereign Lord of Time hath determin'd, very well expect its Downfall to be near, and that it muſt needs be ſitting on its laſt Supremacy.

But when we calculate according to the ſure Word of Prophecy, as we have utmoſt Aſſurance, that Papal Rome is the Babylon, that is to be judged. So we have no Room for Doubt that it is the laſt Supremacy; For as the City is adjudged to final Deſtruction, ſo the Beaſt is thrice ſaid to go into Perdition. Chap. 18. 21, 22. compared with Chap. 17. ver. 8, 11. If therefore the City ſitting on the Beaſt, is caſt as a Milſtone into the Sea; That cannot ſurvive the Beaſt, to ſit on any other; And if the Beaſt go into Perdition, as he is alſo call'd by the Apoſtle, the Son of Perdition, [as the Judas of Chriſtianity, going into his own Place,] while the Woman ſits upon him; there is a perfect End of his Supremacy alſo; he is therefore ſaid by the Apoſtle, 2 Theſſ. 2. to be firſt taken away by the Breath of the Lord's Mouth, and then brought utterly to nothing with the Brightneſs of his Illuſtrious Appearance, 2 Theſſ. 2. 8. And he is taken, and caſt, alive, into the Lake; And even this gives certain Proof, This is the laſt Supremacy; For there can be none after the Eighth King, p. 22upon which the City ſitting is deſtroyed: It could not therefore be the Seventh King, which by being called foreign, Another, a very Forreigner, of another Kindred to the other Kings, No Head of Babylon, though a King of Rome, is therefore certainly known to be the Chriſtian Emperor, and came after the Pagan Emperor, call'd the Dragon, who then was in his Regnancy, when the Apoſtle writ. Let us then argue thus; which ever of the Kings is the Beaſt, muſt be the Supreme; ſitting on which Babylon, (prov'd to be Rome) muſt be deſtroy'd: It cannot be the Sixth King who then was, when the Prophecy was given; and who might be ſuppoſed to have laſted til I now. For who can ſuppoſe in any Senſe whatever, Rome is upon the ſame King it was then! nor can it be upon the Seventh King, but no Head on that Account; for he could continue but a ſhort Space (as hath been elſewhere made out) it muſt be therefore ſome Supreme, that hath continued a long Space in Oppoſition to the ſhort Space. This therefore muſt be the Papacy which hath laſted longer than any Government over Rome without Variation in any Eſſential Point, and than (ſo far as I know) any other in the World. Beſide, it is expreſly ſaid, the Dragon, by which I apprehend all Interpreters underſtand the Pagan Imperial, perſecuting Power at the Time of the Revelation given, is expreſly ſaid to receive a deadly Wound from the Chriſtian Emperor; on which, he, as it were, ſecretly conveyed over his Power, Seat, and great Authority to the Beaſt, gliding it, as unobſervedly, by the Chriſtian Emperor, unto the Idolatrous Antichriſtian Papacy; by whom his Deadly Wound was healed; which is therefore the Eighth King, but Seventh Head; Seventh from the Sixth Head, or Pagan Emperor, of whom, when p. 23the Apoſtle writ, it is ſaid, he now is. Then follows the Seventh King, no Head; then the Beaſt the Seventh Head who hath continued even above 1200 Years: So that the Time from the Ceſſation of the Weſtern Chriſtian Roman Empire, when the Beaſt received Power, and the Ten Kings with him at 476 of the vulgar Account, exceeds the Time from the firſt Building of Rome to that Supremacy of the Biſhop, or Pope of Rome; ſo that no Title of Principality in Rome hath by a kind of Providential Fatality been aſſumed by any Secular Power, preciſely over the City Rome, but Biſhop, or Pope of Rome; This argues beyond Poſſibility of Denial from this ſo long Continuance of the Papacy in Oppoſition to the ſhort Continuance of the Seventh King, no Head, or Chriſtian Emperor; that the Pope is indeed that Seventh Head, and Eighth King, and ſo the Laſt, even the Beaſt that goes into Perdition.

Poſit. 3. It is one of the Glories and Luſtres of the Judgment of God on Babylon, That the firſt coming of it into Execution ſhall be with great Suddenneſs and Surprizal. It is expreſſed in one Day, and one Hour, and in the ſame Hour. I know Day and Hour may ſignifie any determinate Seaſon. But in ſuch very conſtant and pregnant Expreſſions of Suddenneſs, exceeding Suddenneſs is intended. The ſame Expreſſions are uſed concerning Literal Babylon, **Eſay 47. Jer. 51.Isa 47Jer 51In one Day, and in a Moment, one Poſt ſhall run to meet another, with the Tydings, ſo ſudden and unthought of Tydings; when Belſhazzar thought of no ſuch Thing; the ††Dan. 6.Dan 6Hand-writing appeared upon the Wall: And the ſame Night Belſhazzar was ſlain, and the King of the Medes took the Kingdom, the Babylonian Monarchy then utterly ceaſing. This was Prophetically p. 24Typical of Myſtical Babylon: It is therefore no Argument this Judgment cannot be executed a long Time yet, becauſe there are no preſent Appearances: Herein ſhall appear the Glory of this Judgment, as one great Point of it, the Suddenneſs of it; In many of the moſt high and lofty Works of God, Suddenneſs hath been the peculiar Luſtre of them. In the Creation of the World, He ſpake, and it was done; He Pſal. 33. 9. EſayPs 33:9commanded, and it ſtood faſt; He called to the whole Creation, and it ſtood up together: In the Giving the Spirit, ſuddenly there was the Noiſe of a mighty ruſhing Acts 2. 2.Acts 2:2Wind. In the Day of Judgment, ſudden Deſtruction ſhall come, when they ſhall cry Peace, Peace; 1 Theſ. 5. 1.1 Thess 5:1upon all the Enemies of the Kingdom of Chriſt. The third Woe cometh quickly, in the haſty and ſudden Effects Rev. 11. 14.Rev 11:14of it.

Now by this Suddenneſs it is not intended, That the whole Execution of the Judgment ſhould be in ſo ſhort Time, though it is and ſhall be in ſhort Time. For the whole Progreſs of the Third Woe is quick and ſpeedy as it paſſes through the Tubuli or Pipes, till it comes down into the Ocean of Everlaſting. Yet, it ſhall not be in one Day, Hour, or Moment: But the firſt Invaſion or Aſſault ſhall be ſo. Then it moves by ſeven Voices, and by ſeven Vials of the laſt Plagues, wherein is filled up the Wrath of Almighty God.

To the Ancient Literal Babylon, it is ſaid, Eſay 47. 7. &c. Thou ſayſt, I ſhall be a Lady for ever, ſo that thou didſt not lay theſe things to thy Heart, neither didſt thon remember the latter end of it; therefore hear now this, thou that art given to Pleaſures, that dwelleſt careleſly; thou that ſayeſt in thy Heart, I am, and none elſe beſides me; I ſhall not ſit as a Widow, neither ſhall p. 25I know the loſs of Children: but theſe two things ſhal come upon thee in a Moment, in one Day; the Loſs of Children and Widowhood; they ſhall come upon thee in their Perfection, for the multitude of thy Sorceries, and for the great abundance of thy Enchantments. But then it is deſtroyed for ever, ſunk as a Milſtone. This ſpeaks the Perpetuity of the Judgment. All this is moſt Prophetically Typical of the Judgment on Myſtic Babylon. We have found it was literally fulfilled, as indeed in one Day, and one Night, on old Babylon, and ſo it ſhall in the firſt Onſet on the Myſtical. But the Judgments of it are ſo much of another Nature, they ſhall continue much longer in the Execution, like the ſecond Death; it ſuddenly ſurprizes, but it continues for ever; ſo is the Judgment of Babylon; her Smoke riſes up for ever and ever. And, If any man worſhip Chap. 14. 9, &c.the Beaſt or his Image, &c. the ſame ſhall drink of the wine of the wrath of God without mixture; and he ſhall be tormented with Fire and Brimſtone in the Preſence of God, and of the Lamb, and of the Holy Angels; and the Smoke of their Torments riſeth for ever and ever. Thus, though the Beginning of the Judgment be ſudden, the Continuation of it is by certain Diſtributions of its ſelf, till it become an everlaſting Lake of Wrath and Torment.

Poſit. 4. The Princes that long bare up the Grandeur and Haughtineſs of Papal Rome, by giving their Power and Kingdom to the Beaſt; called therefore, his Horns; ſhall be ſo overcome by the Lamb, as to be made Inſtruments in the Execution of the Judgment in ſuch Parts and Degrees, as the ſtrong Lord ſhall, when he becomes Ʋniverſal Monarch, King of King, and Lord of Lords, commiſſion them unto. This ſhall highly exalt and make Illuſtrious the Judgment.

p. 26It is therefore much to be conſidered, and is a great Confirmation, that Babylon means Papal Rome, as hath been already at large ſet forth; that the ſo ſtrange and unaccountable Subjection of ſo many Kings to the Papacy, a feeble Power, if we conſider its Force of Arms, which Statiſts, and Men of Politicks have ſo wondered at, is here accounted for; It is indeed call'd Sorcery, and Intoxication, being made Drunk with the Wine of her Fornication, the moſt Lively Deſcription of Falſe Religion. But all is under the Divine Supreme Ordination;

For God put it into their Hearts to Fulfil his will, and to agree together, and to give their Kingdom to the Beaſt, until the words of God ſhould be Fulfill'd; And they have one mind to give their Power and Strength unto the Beaſt; and hereupon they make War with the Lamb, and ſo Perſecute his Truth and Servants. And C. 17. 2, 13, 15, 16.the People of theſe Kingdoms, Nations, Multitudes, Tongues, the Inhabitants of the Roman Babilonian Earth, falling under the ſame Enchantment of a Falſe Religion, made Drunk and Commiting Fornication with her, are as a Confluence of Waters to her, on which ſhe ſitteth: Was there ever, or could there be a plainer Deſcription in Propheſy of what is ſo plain matter of Fact, which hath rais'd the Admiration and Wonder of all Obſervers!

But when the words of God ſhall be Fulfilled, and the Time Allotted expired; Then theſe Kings ſhall ſo far as God pleaſes, be the Executioners of the Judgment; For as the Plagues in the Text are Death, Mourning, Famine, Burning with Fire; ſo the Kings ſhall hate the whore, make her deſolate, Eat her Fleſh, Burn her with Fire: It's True, there are Kings that Bewail her, v. 13. 18. But that pertains to another part of the Judgment, p. 27when it is Advanced to the Eternal Judgment, with the Explication of which I have not at the preſent to do; But how wonderfull and Illuſtrious will the Firſt Execution be, when theſe Kings ſhall Firſt Appear in it! Sure It will be very Great and Glorious.

Propos. 5. The Greatneſs and Sudden Invaſion of this Judgment, as Denounced by God, and by ſuch Inſtruments as the Ten Kings, are uncontrolably to be Demonſtrated, not only as to the Poſſibility, but the certainty of both, as from the Truth of the Lord who hath ſo long ago Denounced it; So from the Wiſdom and Omnipotency of the ſtrong Lord, who is the Judger.

This is not therefore in the leaſt unreaſonable, but the Higheſt Juſtification from the Trueſt Principles of Reaſon, is to be found in the Expectation of the Judgment upon the Beaſt and the City; Let it be never ſo ſudden. For the Lord is every way Infinitely Shrong, who Judgeth; God therefore in ſuch, his great works of what kind ſoever, appeals to the Conſideration of himſelf, as the God that ſtretcheth out the Earth, and that which cometh out of it, that giveth Breath unto the People upon it, Eſ. 42. So in the Judgment on Old Babylon: He that made the Earth by his Power, he hath Eſtabliſhed the World by his Wiſdom, and he hath ſtretched out the Heaven by his underſtanding; when he uttereth his Voice, there is a Multitude of Waters in the Heavens, and he Cauſeth the Waters to Aſcend from the Ends of the Earth; He maketh the Lightning with Rain, and bringeth the Wind out of his Treaſures. Jeremiah 51. 16. 17. It's therefore a very great Miſpriſion of Infinite Wiſdom and Power, when we make that an Argument againſt the moſt Extraordinary, and moſt Miraculous p. 28Works of God, which he makes an Argument for Faith and Expectation of them, as if he were Tyed by what he had done, to do no more, or had done all he could do; and nothing to be Expected, but according to the Laws of Creation, and dayly providence and Leiſurely Progreſſes, and not in thoſe Immediate Effects of Sudden Power; The great God argues differently, becauſe thoſe Works of his are ſo great and ſo high; That therefore ſtill ſo great and ſo high are to be Expected; and that they ſhould ſtand up ſo together, when he pleaſes.

And ſo we unwiſely think, we very well argue, he that ſo Wonderfully and Miraculouſly appear'd in the Firſt Times of the Goſpel, hath done all that he will do, or thinks fit to be done, till the day of Judgment: But undoubtedly we may better argue, he hath much greater things to do, to make the very latter times of the Goſpel-Glory, as Illuſtrious as their very beginning, and entrance was; Before his Kingdom, the Man of ſin and Son of Perdition ſhall be Conſum'd and utterly defaced; his Spirit ſhall be poured out; The Everlaſting Goſpel ſhall be Preach'd; The Heathen ſhall come to the Lord from the Ends of the Earth, and ſhall know his hand and his might, and that his Name is Jehovah; And all Iſrael ſhall Turn to the Lord and be ſaved. For Strong is the Lord, who ſhall do all theſe things.

Poſit. 6. The Divine Preſcience, and Wiſdom hath choſen and ſingled out a Time, and decreed it for the Execucion of this Judgment, when Babylon ſhall ſhew it felf in it's Pride, in it's Pomp, it's Preſumptive Security; For as, hath been ſaid, it is when ſhe ſhall ſay, I ſit a Queen, and ſhall ſee no ſorrow, as p. 29Babylon of Old ſaid; I ſhall be a Lady for ever, and ſhall know no loſs of Children.

All Scripture ſpeaks of Sudden Deſtruction, when Men cry, Peace, Peace. It is a Time when Men are High and Proud, and Haughty, that their Fall is near; Nebuchadnezzar was laid hold on by Vengeance with thoſe words in his Mouth; Is not this Great Babylon, (from whence it had its Name in this Prophecy of the Revelation, Dan. 4. C. 11.Dan 4Babylon the great;) The Great City, (ſaid he) which I have built for the Honour of the Kingdom by the Might of my Power, and for the Honour of my Majeſty. And while the word was in the Kings Mouth, the Judgment came upon him; So while Belſhazzar was in his Higheſt Jolity; Drinking Wine in Veſſels of the Temple; and Praiſing his Idols of Silver and of Gold; The Hand writing appear'd, and that Night he was ſlayn.

Now it is certainly ſuch a Time to Romiſh Babylon at this very day. The Jubilee, eſpecially the Centurial, is a Time, when ſhe ſits a Queen; is eſpouſed by the Princes, and is no Widdow, when her Children gather about her; the King of Poland ſo lately turn'd to her, and ſhe thinks ſhe can know no Loſs of Children; when ſhe ſits, as on a Throne, Diſpenſing Pardons and Indulgences, And a time it is, when ſo Nebuchadnezzar-like a Prince is ſo Inſolently Vaunting, and ſo outragiouſly Perſecuting, and Proteſtant Princes ſtand by, and are ſo Tender of the Articles of their late Peace, as not to be at Liberty to offer their Interceſſions to the contrary.

Thus far I have ſetled the Great Poſitions concerning the Judgment upon Babylon; To which I ſhall add to Corroborate what I have already laid down, and to make way to the Remaining Part p. 30of the Diſcourſe, theſe following Obſervations.

Obſerv. 1. That together with the Judgment on Babylon, not when it begins; I would not be ſo miſtaken; but when it comes to it's Perfection and filling up; There will be a concurrent Judgment upon the whole World of Wicked Men, the World of the ungodly; the Time of the Dead will then be come, that they ſhould be Judged: The Judgments of C. 11. C. 15.God will be made Manifeſt in all the Earth. Small and Great, Bond and Free, are ſlain with the Sword C. 19. 20, &c.that proceedeth out of the Mouth of Chriſt, the word by which he Judgeth at the laſt Day; In the Burnings of Babylon, the Cities of the Nations fall; The Fire begins there and fpreads all over the Earth; Then will be the great Earthquake and Hail, Cap. 16. Ʋlt. All theſe Expreſſions and many other are made concurrent, with Great Babylon coming up in Remembrance before God, to give her the Cup of his Fury; Now this ought to make greatly Remarquable to us the Judgment upon Babylon.

Obſerv. 2. The Judgment of God upon Babylon is Celebrated with his Higheſt Adorations, and Praiſes of his Servants; Shewing at once the Higheſt Glory of God, and the Happineſs of his People in it: There were Loud Voices in Heaven, of Praiſe; and, the Four and Twenty Elders fell down on their Faces, ſaying, We Praiſe thee Oh Lord, who Art, who was, who Art to come; becauſe then haſt taken to thee thy Great Power, and haſt Reigned; Which is at Babylons being Judged: For then is the Allelujah of the Lord C. 11.God Omnipotent Reigning. Pſal. 149. Then is the Time C 19.of the High Praiſes of God in the Mouths of his, of p. 31their Rejoycing in Glory; Then do they ſing the Song of Moſes the Servant of God and of the Lamb, as we find it at large; Then ſhall be the Four Courſes of Alle…ujahs; C. 15. 3.and all ariſing from Babylon, being Judg'd; that we have C. 19. 3. &c. And then is the Glory of the New Jeruſalem State coming down, as a Bride Adorned for the Bridegroom.

Now then as the Eternal Judgment and the Allelujahs of Eternal Glory, and Happineſs are two ſo great points of Scripture Truth; So by theſe Scriptures, the Judgment of Babylon is declared a Great and a high point of Scripture Truth; Becauſe with Cap. 21.it are Complicated and Conſerved the Truths of the Goſpel, that have ſuch a Principality and Supremacy in it; and they are ſo Interwoven with it, that the one cannot be Separated from the other; and the Judgment of Babylon ought therefore to be moſt cloſely attended to, and not looked upon as a dark Prophetical Truth, with which we have little to do; Let us then Humbly ſet our ſelves, as Daniel of old, to ſearch the Time in the Books of Prophecy, when this Babylon, as that of old, is to be Judg'd; and the whole Conſederacy of the Enemies of the Kingdom and Servants of Chriſt, yea all both ſmall and great Wicked; And then the Glory of Chriſt and his Reign ſhall appear; And let us haſt on to it with Earneſtneſs of Prayer, Deſire and Expectation of it.

Obſerv. 3. It is moſt undeniable, The Prophecies of Scripture have continually given Numbers of Time, as when Laws and Times are given into the Hand of the Little Horn, there is a Limitation of Time and Times and Half; when the Viſion of the daily Sacrifice was given for the taking it away, and the p. 32C. 7.Treading it under Foot; There is a Time aſſign'd from the very Firſt Date of the Viſion to the Time of C. 8.Juſtifying the Sanctuary, even 23000. Eves Morns, When the Queſtion was unto, how long the End of the Wonders; There is a Threefold Account of c. 12.Time; Time, Times, Half a Time; 1290. Dayes and 1335 Days; In the Revel. C. 11. On the Gentiles coming into the Outer Court There are Forty Two Moons Dererminate; and to the Counter Prophecy of the Witneſſes 1260 Days; Three Days, and a Half of the Witneſſes lying Dead in the Street of the Great City; 1260 Days of the Church in the Wilderneſs, and Concurrent Three Times, and a Half; Forty two Moons of the Beaſts continuated Supremacy; And the Number of the Beaſt; 666 with a General Rule, and a Solemn Elogium of the Wiſdom of Counting; Here is Wiſdom; Let him, that hath it Calculate, as the word properly ſignifies: And I ſay it is a General Rule, There is the Same, or a Parity of Reaſon to Count throughout; And there are the ſame difficulties to be overcome; For who indeed can once ſuppoſe, the Bleſſed Spirit of Wiſdom, the Spirit of Truth Leading into all Truth, the Spirit ſhewing Things to come, would have given in the Scriptures of Truth, which we are Commanded to Search, and in the ſure word of the Prophecy; to which we are Commanded to give Heed as to a Light, that Shineth in a Dark Place; would have given theſe Numbers of Time, if he had not intended they ſhould be underſtood, and guided our Hopes and Prayers to the Time of his Kingdom.

Obſerv. 4. The Time of Babylon, or Rome Judged is the Time of the Papacy going into Perdition; The p. 33Time of the Papacy going into Perdition is the Time of Rome Judg'd; For as the City and the Beaſt have been ſhewn to be Inſeparable; If the one be Roman, So muſt the other be alſo; ſo are they alſo, as to the Time of their being Judg'd: Herein they are Inſeparable, when the one is Judg'd, So muſt the other alſo be.

Obſerv. 5. That the Time of the Judgment of the City and of the Beaſt, that carried her, muſt needs be very near, as will appear by that Account of Time, I ſhall now preſent upon ſuch Prophetical Grounds, as I hope, I cannot be miſtaken in.

Obſerv. 6. Theſe Numbers all conſider'd, and Adiuſted one to another, Reach down to Sixteen Hundred Ninety Seven of Vulgar account; and ſo as I have (in another Diſcourſe) even to Demonſtration made out; That from Solomons Death to the very Glory of the Kingdom of Chriſt; There lie in a due Series, and Connexion of theſe Numbers, 2730 Years, and in a moſt Exact Succeſſion of an 182 Indictions or Fifteens of Years; of which Eighty Four make the Juſt; Time, Times, and Half Time, ending at 97: This with many other Aſſurances, eſpecially of the coming to paſs of Events according to the Prophetic Figures, and the Times ſetled for them, ſo exactly agreeing, ſhew that Year, as the Year fixed for the Commencing from it of the happy Revolution of the Kingdom of Chriſt; I have in many Diſcourſes affirm'd this, and find no Reaſon to Retract it.

That, which will, I know, with all Severity be objected againſt it, is, That things have not come to paſs according to Prediction and Expectation at that Year; And from thence will be inforced, That It is p. 34Preſumption to enquire into Prophetic Time, or to make any Determination upon it; I will therefore endeavour to ſhew; It is not Preſumption, but a Duty to Enquire, what, or what manner of Time, The Spirit of Chriſt in his Prophecys, hath ſignified; Notwithſtanding whatever, can be Agravated againſt miſtake: And that it is better to ſearch, notwithſtanding miſtake, then by Neglecting to ſearch, to think to be ſecure from miſtake; And then in the Second Place I ſhall apply my ſelf to ſhew, how the miſtake is from Prophecy to be explained and ſet Right, and yet Ninety Seven to be Vindicated, as the Great Prophetic Year.

For the firſt, That it is not a Preſumption, nor Daring to C. 49. 19. Jerem. C. 50, 44.Appoint God a Time, or to ſtand, as a Shepherd, or Governour of Time before him: But Duty to ſearch Scripture throughout, even to the Prophetical Numbers given us therein. It is not for us indeed to know the Times and Seaſons, God hath ſet in his own Power; Yet to uſe all means, even by Books to underſtand, what ever God hath been pleaſed to give ſo far out of the Peculiar of his own Prerogative, as to Reveal, though in Myſtic Numbers; when he hath been pleaſed to Reveal, Things, They then belong to us: And Hee that hath a Mind and Wiſdom, hath an Obligation by Command to Count; and our Lord charges it as Sinful Rev. 13. 18.Rev 13:18Hipocriſy, not to ſearch, Diſcern thoſe either Prophetic or Moral Signs of the Times: And I cannot find what can be ſaid againſt the Commendation, the Apoſtle gives to them, who give heed to the ſure word of Prophecy, as to a Light, that Shines in a Dark Place. Nor can I ſee;

Why it ſhould be look'd on as an Offence, that is placed as a Character of Honour on the Sons of Iſſachar, 1 Chron. 12. 32.1 Chr 12:32that they had underſtanding in the Times, which p. 35they attain'd undoubtedly by enquiry into and Meditation upon any Oracles, God had been pleas'd in thoſe Times to vouchſafe: Daniel thought it no Preſumption to enquire further of the End of Wonders, when he underſtood not what was firſt Reveal'd; The C. 12.account of the 1290, and of the 1335 Days to the very Bleſſed State was then given to him, not ſo much for himſelf, who was to go his way to Reſt until that End, but for us the People of God in every Age.

What can then be objected againſt Searching into the Myſteriousneſs of thoſe Numbers? and what may be from the difficulty of Interpretation Argued? The very ſame may be objected againſt ſearching into any of the foreign of Scripture, as the Apoſtle Peter calls them, or the foreign, as The Apoſtle Paul Styles them, Things hard to be underſtood, Interpreted; and ſo we ſhould be Confined only to the moſt plain Scriptures, and of moſt Indiſputable Interpretation; whereas the Apoſtle Reſolv'd to Leave the Principles of the Doctrine of Chriſt, as well ſecur'd; And to go on to Perfection in ſearch after the more Retyred Truths of the word of God, as concerning Melchiſedeec the Type of Chriſt, though hard to be Interpreted. Heb. 5. 11. 2 Pet. 3. 16.

To the Objections Ariſing from the Danger, and miſcheif of miſtakes; It may be very well Anſwered by the due Conſideration; That in very many things without Error in the main Points, we Darken Counſel by words without Knowledg; And if the miſtakes in Job. 38. 2.Job 38:2the moſt Eminent and Learned Servants of Chriſt, in Interpretation of Scripture and Explication of Extra-Fundamental Points, moſt Inoffenſively to Subſtantiali Principles, were as Viſible, as miſtakes in Computation of Prophetic Time, we might, if miſtake were a Valuable Reaſon, be Diſcourag'd p. 36from Reſearches, either into Scripture Expoſition, or the Truths of it, any further then in thoſe moſt undoubted Points, wherein all Holy Good Men agree.

It is True, Prophetic miſtakes are, as I may ſay, ſurviving, and ſtill in the Eyes of Men; whereas the miſtakes of the other ſort, are, as they ſay of the Errors of Phyſitians, under Ground and out of Sight: Yet in themſelves no more; or Leſs Culpable; being uſeful for the ſhewing the Weakneſs and Fallibility of Humane Underſtanding, wherein it is not under the moſt certain Conducts of Truth.

And as in other Caſes, Variety of Sentiments, and Enquiries ſhew the undoubted Excellency of Divine Truth; And Search into the word of God ſpeaks it the Greateſt Buſineſs and Exerciſe of Underſtanding; And is like the Running to and fro, whereby knowledg is Increaſed; whereas on the other hand a Kind Dan. 12. 4.Dan 12:4of Reſolved ſullen Neglect, in General brings forth Ignorance, and Stupidity; and either a Superſtitious Dread of Intermeddling with Divine Things, if ſome what Removed from Common Catechiſm, or an Irreligious Careleſſneſs; And in particular, In Prophetic Points of Time, this kind of Reſerving our ſelves from all the ſearch, we can make, is, as if God had given ſuch parts of his word to be only a Sealed Book; or the Cruces, the Torment of all ſearch and enquiry into them; or that we were Prophanely Careleſs, How Things are to be according to Prophecy with the Church of God, and with the Kingdom of Chriſt; or how the many and Great Predictions of Scripture, and of the Spirit of God by the Prophets, are to be Fullfill'd; But much Light, Knowledg, and awakenedneſs concerning them comes in by ſearch; and from hence alſo p. 37proceeds Light, when we may humbly expect the Fulfilling of them, and thereby Faith, Hope, and Prayer be excited amongſt the Servants of Chriſt, ariſing from the Elaborate Treaties of thoſe, whoſe Hearts God hath engag'd to Separate themſelves to Intermeddle with this Wiſdom, and Arm'd with Courage to bear the Reproaches of Men, upon their being miſtaken in openly Declaring and Publiſhing, what they have Found; And then this opens a way to Paraeus. Napier. Brightman. Mede Goodwin. Moor, Jurieu.further enquiries of themſelves, or thoſe, who may ariſe after them, for the ſetting Right in thoſe miſtakes. For ſo God hath been pleas'd by many Servants of his to make advances further and further, till the Day Dawn and the Day Starr Ariſe in the very Hearts of all his Servants.

Nor can any one ſhew, why miſtakes in theſe Prophetical Enquiryes ſhould tend to Atheiſm, but quite the contrary; even as Different Apprehenſions upon Faithful and Diligent ſearching into other points do highly aſſure the main Foundation. Nor do I find miſtakes Springing from Faithful Endeavours, and ſincere Deſigns for the Truth, Glory, and Kingdom of God, although Clouded with Infirmity, and our knowing but in Part, and Prophecying in Part, are through Grace in the Mediator Diſpleaſing to him, equally as Ignorance, Negligence, and Gallio-like, not caring for any of theſe things; The Evils of the preſent Sardian State, and even of the Angel or Miniſtry of it; That they do not ſearch with More United Enquiries; That they might, as the Watchmen of Sion ſee Eſſay 52. 8.Eye to Eye, and lift up their Voices concerning theſe things.

There is a Great Inſtance of a Prophetic miſtake, 2 Sam. c. 7.2 Sam 7and yet we find no Cenſure fix'd by the Spirit of God p. 38upon it, where David Diſcours'd with Nathan the Prophet concerning Building God a Houſe; He ſpake as a Prophet; Go, and do all, that is in thy Heart; For the Lord is with thee, undoubtedly he underſtood by Scripture Oracles Gods choice of the Tribe of Judah and his Intention of Building a Sanctuary, like the moſt High and Loughty Buildings, and of that Firmneſs to be like the Earth Eſtbliſhed for ever: And therefore Collected; It was to be Built by David; Whereas, it is plain God had Determin'd, it ſhould be Built by Solomon the Son of David: He was Right 2 Sam c. 7.2 Sam 7in the main, but Err'd in the Perſon, that was to be the Builder; But we find no ſevere Rebuke or Reproof; Only God is pleaſed to ſet him Right by his word coming to him that Night, and Inſtructing him concerning Solomon. I have humble hopes, that what may appear miſtake in the very Circumſtance of the Year 97, is Yet Right in the Eſſential Matter of a very near Time to be United with it; And, that what he hath been pleas'd to Enlighten me into in his word, ſhall ſet it Right; While I with great Humility and Modeſty, and not with too Great a Poſitiveneſs or Preſumption of Aſſurance, but Submiſſion to the Supreme Governor of the World, and Lord of Time, as to his Dominion over all, ſo to his Wiſdom and Prudence in his Sure Word of Prophecy, Declare, what I find.

For the Vindicating the Year 1697 to be the Great Year, where the Scripture Prophetic Line Centers for the End of the Times and Half; of the 1260 Years of the Sack-Cloth, and the Wilderneſs State; of the Fourty two Moones of the Gentiles, and of the Beaſt: and yet that the great Effects of that Time did not appear I ſhall lay down this Poſition, as the Foundation of what is to Follow; The Great Effects to be Expected at the End of the Foremention'd Times Poſition.are to be by a Supreme Ordination of God, Transferr'd p. 39from Ninety Seven, and are to be Humbly Expected at the End of Three Years, and a Half after the End of Ninety Seven, viz. at 1700.

But in the firſt place, that I may clear the ſenſe of this Poſition; It muſt be conſider'd; That Prophecy doth not Reckon the Beginning and End of Years either according to the Sacred Iſraelitiſh Account, in the Vernal Equinox; or at our Vernal Equinox, which we call March 10th or 25. Nor at what we call January 1. But according to the Beginning of the Civil, Jewiſh, Year at the Autumnall Equinox: Of which we have an Unexceptionable proof; In, that The Sabbatizing Sacrifice and Oflering, by the offering Dan. 9. 27.Dan 9:27once for all of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, is Fixed in the Middle of the laſt of Daniel's Seventy Weeks, ſo Univerſally allowed to be Weeks of Years by All; The Time of which Offering muſt needs be (as All agree) at the Vernal Equinox; which was indeed made the Beginning of the Sacred Year, but not of the Civil Year; For then was the Time of the Jewiſh Paſſover: If then the Vernal Equinox was the Middle, or Half of the Week of Years, it muſt needs be the Half or Middle of the Fourth Year, whoſe Beginning and Ending can be no other than the Autumnal Equinox; to which Two Extreams …he Vernal is the Half, or Middle Point. And the Reaſon of Prophecy ſo accounting by the Civil Jewiſh Year, is very plain; For that it ſhould be ſome Account of Time, according to the Uſual Computations of the People of God, is moſt agreeable; becauſe To them were committed The Oracles of God; And ſeeing theſe Prophecies have Reſpect to the Monarchic Periods; Therefore that which concern'd the Sacred Conſtitutions was not ſo Congruous to Civil, and eſpecially to Pagan Dominions moſt intended: Let us p. 40then account from the Autumnal Equinox 97, to the ſame 98, we have One Year; to the ſame 99, Two Years; to the ſame 1700, Three Years; and from thence to the Vernal Equinox of 1700, ending at 1701, according to the Computation of the Years ſo Beglnning, as we ſpeak in the Church of England; and we have the Three Years and a Half, at or before the End of which I have moſt Humble Hopes, through Grace, there ſhall be ſuch Aſſurance from the Great Effects, that we ſhall not doubt, the Year 1697, United with the Year 1700, is the very Time Prophecy hath ſet ſo Great Remarks upon, as the Time for the High Changes, and Revolutions, God will pleaſe to make in the World.

Now if the Lord pleaſe, upon the Foundation of theſe Propoſitions, to Direct his moſt Unworthy Servant, that hath Reaſon to be Humbled and Abaſed, in Regard of the Failure of the Great Expectation at 1697. and yet to ſhew him, how the Great, and Compleat Effects then Expected, and that That Year made ſome Offertures of Themſelves, may be Transferr'd to this preſent Year of Jubilee, 1700, as a Year ſo Remarkable by the Providential Ordination of the Jubilee upon it; a Time to which Prophecy ſo Points; without any Diſhonour to 97, or Injury to Prophecy. And that I may, without Juſt Imputation of Preſumption, Humbly Preſent that Fair Collineation of Prophecy, together with the Plain, Undeniable Encouragement of the Text, I am upon, to ſtir up the Earneſt Prayers, and Humble Waitings of All his Servants, Loving and Looking for his Kingdom; to ſee what God will pleaſe to do this Year; Oh how Great will his Goodneſs be herein! and beyond this I will not dare. And if the Lord be pleaſed to Honour this Enquiry with his Great Works,

p. 41I will therefore propoſe theſe Six Heads to inſiſt upon, in order to ſo Great Ends.

1. I will conſider what is to be ſaid concerning Ninety Seven, with Relation to the Great Events I have aſſign'd to it.

2. I will ſhew, that there are Reſerves in Prophecy, in ſome Caſes, within it ſelf, of ſome further Time, that ſhall lye within the moſt Known, Noted and Expected Time; and though it Reach out beyond it, it is yet United, as One Time with it; and ſo it will be found in the Times now before us.

3. This ſhall be Endeavour'd to be made out, That in ſuch a Caſe there may be found in Prophecy a Curious Artifice, or Contrivance of the Divine Spirit of it, that there ſhall be an Equipoize of it, that may without Injury to it, be inclin'd the one way, or the other, by the Hand of Interpretation: And though that Bleſſed Spirit, the Author of Prophecy, moſt Certainly Fore knew to which it would be by Providence Determin'd; yet without Immediate Revelation from Himſelf, no Humane Underſtanding could Determine. All which ſhall be particularly ſhewn in this Inſtance between 97 and 1700.

4. I ſhall obſerve with Scripture-Authority, That when there is a Delay of Events, and Effects of Mercy, beyond the Principal Time, moſt Openly held out in Prophecy, it is call'd Infraction, or Breach of Promiſe: And when Providence Retracts what it had Begun, and given ſome Eſſays of, It is call'd Abruption, or Breaking off what was ſo Begun; And That, Sin is the Demeritorious Cauſe in Both Theſe Caſes, and herein alſo a particular Application to the preſent Caſe ſhall be endeavoured.

p. 425. That the Certain Determination of a Time Acceſſory, and in Delay of the Principal Time, is in neither made doubtful, or Incertain; but it carries the more Forcible Aſſurances from the Delay, upon that further Time. And this is alſo Reduced to the preſent Caſe.

6. That the Cloſeſt Enquiries into theſe Things, according to the Word of God, is on no True Account of the Matter, a Blame-worthy Preſumption, but encourag'd by Scripture.

Head 1ſt. With Relation to Ninety Seven Paſt, I muſt take the Humble Boldneſs to ſay, I have made a Review upon my whole Prophetic Scheme, Backward and Forward; and conſidered the mutual Reſpects to, and Configurations of Prophecy, one with another; and their Juſt Spaces of Time; and could find nothing that ſhould ſhake my Aſſurance, but had it much more Confirm'd by that Plerophory, or Full Aſſurance of Underſtanding; ariſing from the whole Prophetic Line, being from Solomon's Death compacted under that Chronologic Period of Indictions, or Fifteens of Years, (as I have moſt Fully in a Diſcourſe on that Subject, made to appear), even to the End of the 1335 Days, or the Bleſſed Time: So that I cannot remove from Ninety Seven, as that Central part of Time in the Prophetic Line, without diſtruſting the Truth of Human Faculties, and even Arithmetic Demonſtration.

But being very well Aware of this Great Preſſure upon me, That ſeeing the great Effects I expected at that Time, did not appear; It muſt neceſſarily be inferr'd; That either the word of Prophecy, (which is to be abhorr'd) is not ſure; Or that Ninety Seven is not the Time, Prophecy hath Directed us upon; For it cannot be the Time, if it be not Illuſtrious p. 43with thoſe mighty Events, as the Great Effects of Viſion.

On this therefore I moſt Humbly beſought the Lord, that he would clear this Difficulty to me; concerning which I cannot but have Greateſt Searchings of Spirit and Thoughts of Heart; And it hath pleas'd Him, and doth ſtill pleaſe him to Impreſs much on my Thoughts; That the Three Days and a Half Aſſign'd to the Witneſſes Lying Dead in the Streets of the Great City, Should according to the Prophetic Standard be, as Three Years and a Half laid to Ninety Seven; And then ſhall thoſe Mighty Works expected ſhew forth themſelves.

But that this may not appear Fancyful or Enthuſiaſtic, I am obliged to turn my ſelf every way to the Law and to the Teſtimony; As the Prophets Searched (no doubt) throughout the Sacred Records to find; What, or what manner of Time, The Spirit of Chriſt 1 Pet. 1.1 Pet 1which was in them, did ſignify; So that I may find, How theſe Three Days and a Half may be ſo added to 97, as to be Conſonant, and Agreeable with Scripture; and Prophetic Meaſures; and particularly how it may be Reconcil'd with what I have Found, and can yet find no Reaſon to Retract, concerning 97.

Head. 2. I will come therefore to ſhew; That there are Reſerves of Prophecy in ſome Caſes within itſelf; and that it ſets a further Time, when it hath Firſt ſet any Time more open, and in view; and that further Time Reaches out beyond it; It is yet but as one Time United with it; And ſo it will be found in the Time now before us. Concerning two ſuch Times United, as into one; I would ſet in full, and open view to Run on every occaſion into Conſideration, p. 44theſe Rules to Judg of them by, which have been already Intimated.

1. The Principal Time is held out more clearly and openly; The other by way of Reſerve is given; as a Mantiſſa or Surpluſage, or as an Epitome or Recollection of that Time; and cannot be found but by cloſeſt Attention to what hath been before Revealed; Or by New Revelation.

2. When ſuch a Reſerved Time is, the Principal, Primary, Determined Time is not Removed from its Dignity. But it is alway Decorated, or Graced with offertures of ſome very Great Events, And though the further Reſerved Time is made moſt Illuſtrious with the whole Conſtellation of Events, yet that Surpluſage or Conſummation of Time Reſts upon the Principal, as its Baſis and Foundation both for Time, and alſo for thoſe Great Events.Dan. 12. 4.Dan 12:4

3. When ſuch a Reſerved Time is, it is Generally a very ſhort Time, with Relation to the Time that went before that Principal Time, and was to End in it.

4. When this Reſerved Time is Expired, God is pleas'd ſo to order; It ſhall never be Tranſcended or Exceeded, but the whole of Events deſigned ſhall be Compleated at it.

5. This lengthning out Principal Time by ſuch a Reſerve, or Mantiſſa of Time, it is either in a way of Wiſdom and Goodneſs for Gracious Reaſons towards his Churches; Or it is in Juſtice and Diſpleaſure againſt the undue, and unſuitable Frame and State of his People to ſuch Mercies, as that Time deſigned ſhould have brought forth.

6. When it is in a way of Diſpleaſure, It is Expreſs'd by a word, that Imports Infraction, or Violation, or as in p. 45our Tranſlation, My (i. e. Gods) Breach of promiſe, Numb. 14. 34. The ſame word ſignifies Abruption or breaking off the even Contexture of Events begun; All which have been mentioned already.

I will now, according to theſe Rules, diſcourſe this Head. But that I may do it with Greater Clearneſs, I find it moſt advantageous to ſhew, that in the Two Laſt Rules, the various Inſtances of Reſerved Times in Scripture, are Depoſited, viz. Reſerves of Time in a way of Goodneſs, and Mercy; and in a way of Diſpleaſure, and Breach of Promiſe.

Of theſe Two Reſervings of Time, being the only Kinds, viz. Mercy, or Diſpleaſure;

I will firſt give an Inſtance of God's Diſpenſations in a way of Goodneſs, Grace and Mercy, in ſuch a Reſerve of Time.

The Death and Reſurrection of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, was that very Fullneſs of Time, that very To Day of his being Gal. 4. 4.Gal 4:4made Known the only Begotten Son, and for our Lords Entring into his Glory. All Power in Heaven and Earth Pſal. 3.Ps 3was Given to Him, for his Spiritual Kingdom, which He then Receiv'd, and for the pouring out of his Spirit; Then he Received the Sealed Book of all diſpoſes over the Kingdoms of this World.Rev. 5.Rev 5

And yet there were Fourty Days Surpluſage of Time from the Reſurrection of Chriſt to his Aſcenſion; And Fifty Days from his Death to the giving the Spirit: Now the Death of Chriſt was plainly Foretold in the Middle of the Laſt Week; And then he could not be Holden of Death, but muſt Riſe again the Third Day according to the Scriptures: But that he ſhould continue with his Diſciples ſo long, and that from his Death Fifty Days ſhould be made up to the Giving of the Spirit was not ſo plainly Revealed. Indeed if we p. 46could have laid our thoughts before, or now cloſely, conſider the Diſtance of Time between the two Feaſts of the Paſſover, and Pentecoſt or the Feaſt of Weeks; and that the Antitype muſt Anſwer the Type; we might find ſome Ombrage of it; But it was ſo obſcure, as hardly to be Traced till Reveal'd in the Hiſtory of the Event, though, ſo prefigur'd at ſuch a D…ſtance. Now this was in Mercy; That our Lord Chriſt might give thoſe many, and Infallible Proofs of his Reſurrection, and ſpeak to his Apoſtles, whom he had choſen, of the Things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. But the Effect of Viſion was herein much Lower, then in his ſitting down on the Right Hand of the Majeſty on high in the Heavens, and his making Interceſſion for us. So the moſt Glorious Effects were not till ſuch a Time after, yet ſtill the Principal Time was not Remov'd from its Dignity; For the Death and Reſurrection in that moſt Eminent Period of Time, the Half Week, Remains the very Baſe of the Forty Days; and to all After-Time, the very Hinge on which it turns, till it ſhall come to the Fullneſs of All Times, the Kingdom of Chriſt, Epheſ. 1. 10. And as this was but ſuch a ſhort Time, ſo it did but ſumm up, and Recollect the Glorious Miniſtry of our Lord Jeſus, and could not be exceeded.

In the way of Judgment, I give a Second Inſtance; The very ſelf ſame Night of the 430 Years, Incluſive, of the 400 Years aſſign'd to Abraham, Gen: 15. had indeed the Great Event of the Going out of Egypt; yet that Glorious Conſtellation of Events, Bringing into the Land of Promiſe, and Caſting out the Nations, was not perform'd till Forty Years after. This was indeed no way, that we Know now, to have been found, but by God's ſo Immediate Revelation of Forty Days Prophetically given, a Day for a Year: It was but a ſhort p. 47Time, compar'd with the 430 Years; And it could not be Tranſcended: The Certainty of the Higheſt Complement of the Great Promiſe Fullfill'd, was there to Begin: And the Forty Days of Years was but a Surpluſage of Time, and a Recollection, and Summing up of the Sojourning State of the 430 Years.

But that which I have eſpecially to Remark upon it, is, That it was in the way of Infraction of Promiſe, and Abruption of that Contexture, or God's Breaking off from what he had begun to do in the Deliverance out of Egypt, ſignified by that Hebrew Word, ſo Emphatic hereof, Numb. 14. 34,foreign

But yet this very End of the 430 Years Remain'd the Foundation of the Time following after, and was not mov'd from its Dignity; For the paſſing through the Red Sea, and Pharoah's Overthrow in it, the Victory over Amal…k; the Nomotheſia, or the Giving of the Law, the Rearing of the Tabernacle, Reſted All on this Time, and its Great Event; and the Forty Years are dated from it; which were elſe but Thirty Eight Years from the Ill Report of the Spies, to the Entry upon Canan; and the Ending of the Following Courſe of Time, to Solomon's ſo Reſplendent Reign; and the Building of the Temple is Dated from it; 480 Years, 1 Kings 6. 1. Even from the Going out of Egypt. And this Inſtance is the more Remarkable; Becauſe although this Time was Known to, and Reſolved of God as before, as all his Works, from the Foundation of the World; Yet it comes in by way of Infraction of Promiſe; and it broke off the Contexture of Great Deliverances: It is Given ſo in Prophetic Language therefore, a Day for a Year, as in our preſent Prophecy, we are upon, and was upon the Account of Provocation, and unſuitable Frame to Deliverances; and the End of this Surpluſage of Time p. 48touches the Entring into the Land of Promiſe, the Type of the Glorious Kingdom of Chriſt.

Another Inſtance of this Kind may be; The Seventy Years of the Babyloniſh Captivity had their moſt Known and Celebrated Period in the Firſt Year of Cyrus, as the Ʋniverſal Monarch in the Second of the Four Kingdoms, the Perſian Kingdom; we find therefore his Proclamation Twice Recorded in Scripture, viz. in the End of the Second Book of Chronicles, and in the Beginning of the Book of Ezra: But here was not the Complement of Effects; The Spirit of God Gives Account of ſeveral ſtops and ſtays, till the very Seventh Year of Artaxerxes, There the word of Reſtoring Judah and Jeruſalem had its full going forth; It was all yet, as one United Time of the Words going forth to Reſtore and to Build Jeruſalem. It began in the Decree, Firſt of Cyrus, then of Darius, then of Artaxerxes King of Perſia. Ezr. 6. 14. which ſo full decree of Artaxerxes we have C. 7. 12. &c. This he makes as Succeſſor to Cyrus in that Monarchy, and of which Nebuchadnezzar was the Golden Head; viz. of the Four Ʋniverſal Kingdoms; and ſo ſtyles himſelf King of Kings; Now here Great Abruption had been from what God begun in Cyrus. So that the work was ſtayed to the Second Year of Darius. Ezr. 6th 24. Then another Seventy Years had ſlid in, Recorded by Zachariah. C. 1. 12. Which had their Epoch or beginning as may be Computed from Nebuchadnezzars 23d Year. Jerem. 50. 30. At the laſt Captivation. And here the Provocation was, as may be Collected from the Holy Writers at that Time; the unwillingneſs of the Jews to Leave their Babyloniſh Plantations; And thoſe who did go up to Judah, neglected the Houſe of God to Hag. 1. 4. Zech. 2. 6.Hag 1:4Zech 2:6Build their own Ceiled Houſes.

p. 49The Great Delay of the Glorious Kingdom of Chriſt due to him at his Reſurrection, is ſo Tranſcendental to all other Caſes; and for which delay Viſion and Prophecy was ſealed at his Death, until the very Time we are now waiting for; I do not undertake to Inſiſt upon at this Time; being ſo ordain'd by the Father, and by the Mediator for Holy and Wiſeſt Reaſons too large for the preſent.

Now in theſe Reſerved Times they are ſo given in Prophecy; That they might wholly have United with the Principal Times beginning and ending together; but when they by the Event Run out beyond ſuch Principal Times, It then appears they were ſo Deſign'd by Prophecy to do. And when they are in Judgment; They ſeem, as it were to Uſurp upon the Time immediately following Thoſe Principal Times; As the Forty Years in the Wilderneſs, Invaded ſo much Time of enjoying Canaan before the Reigns of David and Solomon, Abridging and cutting it 40 Years ſhorter: In The ſtay of the Building, and Reſtoring the Houſe of God from Cyrus to Darius, and the full Reſtoration not made till Artaxerxes's Seventh Year, The following Time of enjoying that Reſtored State was ſo much Decurtated, Abbreviated, and Retrench'd.

When ſuch a Delay is in Mercy, as in our Lords ſtay upon the Earth beyond his Reſurrection; The Time following the Principal Time, as the Fourty Days of Chriſt with His, is Enrich'd with Great Appearances of the Bridegroom not taken from the Children of the Bride Chamber; And yet it was a Delay of Chriſts Appearance in Heaven, and of the Spirit poured out.

p. 50I look upon theſe Inſtances as full Proof, That there are ſuch Mantiſſa's, or Surpluſages, ſuch Recollections, or Epitomes of Reſerved Time, beyond the moſt Noted and Principal Times, before which the high Events may not be Compleated, but then moſt certainly ſhall; I ſhall now in the following Heads apply my ſelf to Ninety Seven; whoſe Great Events have not yet been fill'd up.

Head. 3d. I come therefore to the Third Head; And moſt particularly to ſhew the Curious Artifice, and Contrivance of the Divine Spirit in the ſo giving the Times, and Half in the 1260 Days; That there may be a Reſerved Time, and under ſuch an Equipoize of Interpretation; that the Reſerved Time may be drawn up into, and within the Principal Time; Or may be extended beyond it into ſome further Time, and no Determination, but by the Providential Event.

The Time, that may be Reſerv'd, and Extended beyond the 1260 Days, I have already aſſign'd to be the Three Days of Years and a Half; The end of which ſhall have the whole Conſtellation of Events, Transferr'd from the End, or Period of the 1260 Days upon it ſelf; viz. from 1697 to 1700, As on purpoſe to Fulfil; I truſt; the word of the Lord; That what Time Babylon ſaith, I ſit a Queen, her Plagues ſhould begin to come in one Day. And herein I cannot but hope, The Beauty and Symmetry of Prophecy ſhall be ſeen between 97, as the Principal Time; and the Three Years and a Half as the Recollectionary Time ending with the Jubilee 1700; To this very great purpoſe I lay down the following Scheme of Prophecy concerning this Point, as in its Equipoize between 97, and 1700.

p. 511. The firſt thing I obſerve herein is; That after the Great High Preiſt, and Apoſtle of our Profeſſion; The Man Cloathed in Linnen, had given in Anſwer to the Angels, who asked, How Long to the End of theſe Wonders? Dan. 12. 5. &c.Dan 12:5That there ſhould be a Delay of Finiſhing for Time, and Times, and a Half. He alſo added; when He (i. e. the Scatterer) ſhall have accompliſhed to ſcatter the Power of the Holy People; All Theſe (viz. Wonders) ſhall be Finiſh'd. Daniel complains, He heard, but he underſtood not. Now it is true, the Prophets did not underſtand the Particularities of All that was Reveal'd to them concerning Time; but were left to ſearch, what, or what manner of Time, the Spirit of Chriſt, which was 1 Pet. 1.1 Pet 1in them, did ſignifie: Yet even their Doubts, Recorded in Scripture, were under Divine Inſpiration, and are ſo order'd, as to give Occaſion to Further Revelation; But Time, Times, and Half, were Reveal'd to Daniel before, to be given to the Little Horn, to wear out the C. 7.Saints of the Moſt High, which was the ſame thing with ſcattering the Hand of the Holy People: That then needed not a New Repetition: The Thing therefore he underſtood not, was, What Time the Accompliſhing to ſcatter might take up.

He Appeals therefore to his Lord, and our Lord; My Lord (ſaith he) what ſhall the End of Theſe (i. e.) Wonders be? His Queſtion is directed upon the very Point he underſtood not; and Receives Anſwer in Three Particulars:

1. That there will be a Cloſedneſs, and a Seal of Secrecy, ſet upon the Determinate Time of Wonders Finiſhing, viz. till the Event determines it; The Seal on the Foreheads of the Servants of God, Remains till the End; and till the End, or very Accompliſhing to ſcatter, They cannot be diſtinctly known; For till then the Witneſſes p. 52appear not Ʋnſeal'd, or with the Father's Name writ on their Foreheads, in a Riſen State, on Mount Zion.

2. It is Given as a Diagnoſtic, or diſtinct Note of the Time between the End of the Times and Half, or the 1260 Days, and the Time of Accompliſhing to ſcatter; Many ſhall be Purified, and made White, and Tryed; which we may very well underſtand of thoſe they call, The New Converts, or the Re-united; who have ſince been made White by Repentance, and Purifying Grace; who have been made Wiſe, by Remembring what they had Receiv'd, and Heard of the Goſpel-Purity, and Return'd to it, coming a new out of Babylon; while Perſecutors will not underſtand, but do more and more wickedly, Perſecuting and Scattering, till the Ʋtmoſt End and Accompliſhment of Scattering.

3. The Great Palmoni, or Wonderful Numberer of Time, inſenſibly, and yet as in Anſwer to Daniel's Queſtion, gives a further Delineation of Time in Thirty Days, added to the 1260, making them 1290; under an Epoch, or Beginning, Characteriz'd with the Taking away the Daily, viz. Sacrifice, and the Abomination, that maketh Deſolate, ſet up; which I look upon, moſt Undoubtedly, to be argued to be the Antichriſtian Apoſtacy, by the Papal Gentiles Entring into the Outer Court, and ſo Taking away the Truly Chriſtian Worſhip.

And to theſe Thirty of the 1260, are added Forty Five, making the 1290 1335. Reaching to the very Bleſſed State of the New Jeruſalem, in which Daniel is aſſured a Lot: and, in the mean time to reſt his Further Enquiries, and Himſelf to Reſt in Spirit with Chriſt; and his Body in the Grave.

Now then ſeeing theſe Thirty are added to the Times and Half, which the Spirit of Prophecy hath Expounded into 1260 Days of Years; And that there can be no p. 53Time between the Times and Half, and Finiſhing, by the Expreſs Word; except the ſpace of Accompliſhing to Scatter; and that the ſame Spirit of Prophecy hath given no other, ſo much as ſuppoſeable ſpace, but the Three Days of Years, and a Half; Either thoſe Three Days and a Half muſt be ſuppoſed to Unite with the Three Times and Half, and to be One with them; or they muſt Extend themſelves upon the Thirty, and be the Firſt Three Days of Years and a Half of them; For they cannot lye between them, as a part of Neither: If ſo, either the 1260 muſt be 1263, and a Half; or the 1290 muſt be 1293 and a Half; Either of which is very contrary to Prophecy, which is moſt expreſs in each; viz. Times and Half, or 1260 Days; and 1260, with Thirty added, 1290 Days, and no more of Either. Now here is the Equipoize of Prophecy: It could not be Determined before the Event, whether the Accompliſhing to Scatter might Unite with Time Times, Half Time, as the laſt ſcattering; Or go further within the 30. But the Event hath Determined, The Three Years and Half Extend upon the Firſt Three Years and a Half of the Thirty, making 1260 1290. And the Curious Artifice of Prophecy is herein ſeen; For thus the 1260 and 1290 are joyn'd in the Taking away the Dayly by thoſe Three Years, and Half being the Accompliſhing to Scatter, and ſo carrying the wearing out of the Saints ſo much further then the Times, and Half, or 1260 Years; even unto the 3 Years and Half, Firſt of the 30; and then their Remainder Unites with the laſt 45 in Finiſhing; For as I have ſhewn, there can be no Diſtance between in the 1335 of Scattering and Finiſhing. And the whole 1335 are Joyn'd, as leading by various Delays and Appearances, ſince eſpecially the laſt Half Time of the Reformation; to the Kingdom of Chriſt. And this is an Artifice of the Divine p. 54Hand of Scripture moſt Curious and Admirable. And the ſame both Equipoize and Artifice, are alſo moſt Conſpicuous in the 1260 Days of Years, and the Three Days and Half of Tears, Rev. 11. Theſe 3 Days and Half Hold the only Poſſible Addition of Time beyond the 1260 Days, or Three Times and a Half for Accompliſhing to Scatter; For we find no other Meaſured ſpace of Time Mentioned either in Daniel, or the Revelation, that can be ſo much as ſuppoſed to lie at the End of the 1260 Days, and before the Seventh Trumpet, Except theſe Days and Half alone; But theſe with all Harmony and Symmetry of Prophecy, are Placed there; For they are Scituated near to the 1260 Days to give a Mantiſſa, or Surpluſage of Time to them, for the Accompliſhing the Scattering and wearing out the Holy People, that had been During their whole Space; And they muſt be as near the Seventh Trumpet, becauſe the Holy Spirit is Expreſs; Immediately upon the Accompliſhing to Scatter, The Wonders ſhall be Finiſhed; And he is as Expreſs, The Seventh Trumpet is the Trumpet of Finiſhing; For when the Seventh Angel begins to ſound, The Myſtery of God ſhall be Finiſhed, as he hath Evangeliz'd by all his Servants, the Prophets. Thus as in Daniel, The Accompliſhing Revel. 10.Rev 10to Scatter lies between the Times and Half of Weaing out the Saints, and the Finiſhing Wonders; So in the Revelation, the Three Days and Half lie between the 1260 Days of the Sackcloth Prophecy (which are alſo Three Times and a Half,) and th…e Seventh Trumpet of Finiſhing; And they muſt be One either with the 1260 or with the Firſt of thoſe Thirty making 1260, 1290; Or elſe they could have no Room; For the Divine Spirit Claſping 1260 ſo cloſe, as to make it immediately 1290; There can come in no Three Years and a p. 55Half poſſibly between, that is not United with one of the Numbers; Which is even Arithmetic Demonſtration.

But now as to the Equipoize of Prophecy; It muſt be Acknowledg'd, that before the Event Determin'd the contrary, the Three Days and Half might have been Intended to be Incorporated with the 1260 Days of the Sackcloth Prophecy, and the Beaſts Victory over the Witneſſes; anſwering to the Three Times and a Half of the 1260 Days of the Church in the Wilderneſs; The Witneſſes and the Woman being one; and the Sackcloth, Being Overcome, Kill'd, worn out, Scattered, the Wilderneſs State being one, as to the main Intention alſo; Only the Deepeſt Time of Sufferings expreſs'd by one more then the other; and ſo the Three Days and Half; the Three Times and Half, the two 1260 Days had been all one Time, and had begun and ended together. And I muſt Ereely, and Humbly Confeſs, This was my Apprehenſion, and my hope it would be ſo, although I had always a Jealous Eye upon theſe three Days and Half. But nothing but Event could Determine to the other ſide, The Ballance of Prophecy ſtands ſo even concerning the Caſe; And indeed if Ninety Seven, as I affirm, and ſee no Reaſon to Retract, be the end of the 1260 Days; It muſt needs be, that when the Three Days and Half have done the Service of Three Times and a Half, Coequal with the whole 1260 Days, and pointing to a deepeſt Time of Suffering, and ſo Pararelling one another; The latter then do the Service of an Epitome, a Mantiſſa, a Recollection of the whole, and Run ſo far as upon the Three Firſt Years and Half of the Thirty, which Thirty, are Principally for Finiſhing; And though they ſuffer the Cloud of the Witneſſes Summ'd up Scattering, Yet they are Recompens'd p. 56with the Glory of the Conſtellation of Great and Illuſtrious Events at their Riſing; Now the Three Days and Half doing this Manifold Service, and bearing this variety of Aſpects, is moſt uſual in Scriptures Improvement of its Types, ſo that I need not Inſiſt further on it.

I will give only one Inſtance in a Caſe of near Affinity with this; The Three Hundred Ninety Years C. 4.of Ezekiels Bearing the Iniquity of the Houſe of Iſrael, gave the very Chronological ſpace from the Death of Solomon to Ezekiels Temple; It firſt ſet out the Sin of the Houſe of Iſrael in the Ten Tribes making Defection from the Houſe of David; and then turns, as it were back, and ſettles the ſtandard of Prophetic Time a Day for a Year, as an Epitomizing of Prophetic Time to the very End.

To Summ up this Point of Diſcourſe then, I look upon the End of the Times and Half, or 1260 Days of Years, as the moſt Unmoveable Reſt of the Three Years and Half; And that, They are but as a Summary and Recollection of them, or a little Surpluſage added to them; And that the 1260 Ended at 97. And, That Ninety Seven began in the Autumnal Equinox, of what we Generally Count 98 but in the Prophetic Calendar; 97 Juſt Ending; I therefore as before, ſo now again give the Account from 97 and to Ninety Eight in the ſame Prophetic Style one Year; To 99 is Two Years; To 1700 ſtill in the ſame Prophetic Style is Three Years, viz. at each Autumnal Equinox; and at the Vernal Equinox of 1700 ending, in Vulgar Account, but in Prophetical the Half of 1700.

The Laſt Half Year of the Three Years and a Half will Expire then, in the very Middle of the Year, at the Vernal Equinox, The Time of our Lords Reſurrection; Illuſtrious, p. 57I Humbly hope, with mighty Effects of it, in the Riſing again of the Glory of the Goſpel, the Witneſſes, and all the People of Chriſt ſo long lying Dead in the Breadth of Babylon; and its Antichriſtian Papacy then beginning to be Judg'd.

I have now with all Humble Reverence of the Divine Oracles, Covering as it were my Face, whatever of Light and Under…anding God hath given me, as yet not Able to behold their Glory; And my Feet in the ſenſe of my Unworthyneſs and Great Darkneſs and Imperfections in Knowing, or Prophecying; I have yet with Reverence and Godly Fear ſhewn; That there is a Frame of Prophecy Curiouſly and wonderfully made; By which Inſenſibly (however certainly foreknown to God, which way every Thing would come to paſs;) the Great Events ſhould with ſuch an Equal Ballance be made Inclinable to 97 or 1700; That Providence ſhould with the Truth of Prophecy, as it ſaw Fitt, Determine upon either at the very Time; I come therefore to the Fourth Head propos'd; Viz. To conſider the Reaſons of the Tranſlation of the Great Events, to have been Expected at 97, from thence to 1700.

Head. 4th. The Tranſlation of the Great Effects of Prophecy; The Accompliſhing to Scatter the Power of the Holy People; the Riſing of the Witneſſes; and the beginning to Finiſh Wonders; have been Tranſlated from 97, and are Humbly to be expected, e're the End of 1700, on this Threefold Account.

1. Principally, and in the Firſt place by way of Infraction, or what Scripture is pleaſed to call; Gods Breach of Promiſe; or Repenting of the Good he ſaid, He would Benefit his People with, at ſuch a Time; Jreme. 18▪ 10.We know in ſtrict ſenſe; The Faithful God, who p. 58notwithſtanding our Ʋnbelief cannot deny himſelf cannot Break promiſe, nor can any of his Predictions Fail; Yet he knows how ſo to order Things, that the Sin of his Servants ſhould be under ſuch an Ordination of Providence, as if both Promiſes and Prophecyes did fail for the Puniſhment of their Unbeleif, and Diſobedience, and Unſuitable Frame.

I have Reaſon therefore more to bewail the Diſagreeable Frame of my own, and other the Hearts of thoſe who are called Proteſtants, and the Reformed; in not being more Ready for thoſe Great Effects at the Time, then the being miſtaken i… the Explanation of Pr,ophecy, and the Prophetic Numbers, or even the Determination upon Ninety Seven.

For it is moſt Evident, God hath Reſerved to himſelf a Prerogative of Pronouncing Evil, very poſſitively, as in the Caſe of Nineveh; Jonah. 3d. Yet Fourty Days, and Nineveh ſhall be deſtroyed; And yet God ſeeing their Turning from their Evil ways, alſo Repented of the Evil, that he thought to do unto them; So on the other ſide, he makes a ſeeming Breach of Promiſe in Delay of the Good, he intended at ſuch a Time; And yet as I have before Argued in Nathan; So it is plain no Blame could lie on Jonah for the miſtake of Time, but for his too high Reſentment of the Diſhonour, as he Apprehended on himſelf, of being Accounted a Falſe Prophet; However God Juſtified him, not long after by the Irrepealable Prophecy of Ninevehs utter Deſtruction by Zephaniah.

The Delay, or Tranſlation of the Great Effects of Viſion from 97 to 1700, I Impute therefore in the Firſt place to Infraction, or Gods Breach of Promiſe, with Great Aſſurance and Boldneſs of Speech, as to the manner of Expreſſion; Becauſe God hath been pleas'd p. 59to uſe it, elſe I ſhould not have Dared make uſe of it; and then as to the Thing it ſelf, I am Bold becauſe I Find ſo Great Reaſons for 97, as the moſt Central Time of Prophecy and ſuch Fair Delineations, and ſo Curious a Hand of Prophecy, Reſerving a Liberty and Freedom of ſo Uniting 1700 within it, as Providential Righteouſneſs and Juſtice, by way of Infraction or Abruption; Or Wiſdom in a way of Mercy and Glorious Illuſtration of Vengeance on the Enemies of the People of God, ſaw Fit. To give therefore a more full Account of Infraction, or Breach of Promiſe, I would offer my Apprehenſion with all Humility and Modeſty, and yet with Uprightneſs and Sincerity; I ſay therefore, God had by the Prophecys of his word Pointed to 97, as the Ending of the Sackcloth of the Witneſs Prophecy, in their Prophecy Fulfil'd in the Kingdom of Chriſt; and of other the Great Effects but with a Conditional Reſerve, if there were a Suitable Frame in the Witneſſes, both the Sufferers and the more ſelf-Subſiſtent Proteſtancy under Reformed Princes, Nations, and their Laws: I ſay, If there were a Frame and Activity Suitable to ſo Great a Revolution; Such a Frame as Agrees with the Spirit of Life from God, with their ſtanding on their Feet, with their Appearing with the Lamb on Mount Zion, having the Fathers Name written on their Foreheads; But there was not ſuch a Frame among Proteſtants of any Diſtinction, or Denomlnation, of any Title, Order, or Degree; Hereupon Riſes the Lords Breach of Promiſe; For in the Room of ſuch a Spirit of Life, the Sardian State lies heavy upon the whole; They have a Name to Live, and yet are Dead; They do not Fill up the Things that Remain, and are in order to the Kingdom of Chriſt; They are in a very Sleepy, and Ʋnwatchful Temper, as to the coming of p. 60Chriſt; ſo that it is like to come upon them, at an Hour, they know not. When the Lord ſaw this, it diſpleaſed Him; then ſaid He, they ſhall know my Breach of Promiſe: What I had Determin'd at 97, ſhall be as a Further Delay. If they had been in a Condition to have Smitten, as often as they would, with a high Impulſe of Will the Antichriſtian Earth with Plagues; to have Shot with all the Arrows of the Lord's Deliverance; their Accompliſhment to Scatter, ſhould have immediately commenc'd with Finiſhing of Wonders. But even the Suffering Part of Proteſtants, and much more the Generality, being found in the Condition before deſcrib'd (without any Reflection on the Proteſtant Princes); It looks, as if in David's Numbering the People; the Lord was Diſpleaſed, and left him under Effectual Motives ſo to Number, which brought a Plague on All; So God, Provoked Juſtly with the Univerſal Declination of the Reformation from His Truth, and the Purity of His Worſhip, and the Holineſs of His Ways, withdrew that Spirit of Zeal, Courage, and Reſolution in the Cauſe, and Intereſt of God, His Goſpel and People; His Spirit not coming upon them, as on the Worthies of Old: Nor was He pleaſed to give them that Reſolution, To make no Peace, without the Security and Freedom for that which they accounted the True Chriſtian Religion; or with them, who would, and do now, make Advantage of that Peace, to the Perſecution and Slavery of them, with whom they are, or ought to be, of the ſame Character; who keep the Commandments of God, and hold the Teſtimony of Jeſus. So that this Peace was not at all to their Honour, before God, and His Servants; although thoſe under them ought to be Humbled, becauſe their want of Faith, Love, Holineſs, Peace, and Union, ſo Diſhonoured p. 61God, that He, in Juſt Offence, left Princes, States, Governments to themſelves, not to Appear for God, as for their own Intereſts.