The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Apology

The Parable of the Ten Virgins · Apology

p. 3An APOLOGY for the Hope of the Kingdom of Chriſt, Entring Its Succeſſion within this Now Beginning 1697. And an Anſwer of Principal Objections preſented with It.

To the Archbiſhops and Biſhops, as in Parliament at This Time Aſſembled.

Moſt Reverend, Right Reverend,

I Have now, by the Space of Fourteen, or Two Weeks of Years, been Serving for that Beautiful-Rachel-State of the Church of Chriſt, in the place of that Rachel in the Wilderneſs, weeping for her Children in Sackcloth, and under Death; and would not be comforted, Becauſe They were not. I have ſet my ſelf all along, by Meditation, and Supplication to the Father of Lights, to ſearch out, and by the Aſſiſtance of the Spirit of Prophecy, to Find, What, or What Manner of Time the Spirit of Chriſt did ſignify, for the Fullfilling that Grand Petition of his Servants; Thy Kingdom come, That thy Name may be Sanctified, and Thy Will done, as in Heaven, and upon Earth; and I am now Wrestling to the Break of Day, and I Hope, the Dawn of the Morning, and Reſolv'd, not to Let Go, Till I obtain the Bleſſing of it.

The Time, that from the Firſt, and throughout, it pleaſed the Lord of Time to fix upon my Mind, as the Time of That Kingdom Entring into its Succeſſion, and Preparation for its Glory, was, and is, This Approaching 1697. A Year, to which I could have no Temptation, either in Regard of Nearneſs, or Diſtance, or on any Account whatever, but as a Scripture-Line of Time, and p. 4Concurrent Reaſons of Prophecy, and Hiſtory, very many, and in a Series, and Continuation have Led me.

On this Foundation, having Setled, I have by Gracious Vouchſafements of Help from God, Turn'd my Self to All the Grand Prophetick Points of Scripture; and Found New Confirmations, and have Given as Publick Accounts of them, as I could attain, and preſented ſome of Them to Your Selves, and to the Great Councel of the Nation: And in as much as Supreme Goodneſs hath Granted me to Set up an Eben Ezer, now at the Portal of 97. I have Thought it my Duty to offer this Apology for the Kingdom of Chriſt ſo near Approaching; And that The Great Iſaac, The Son of Promiſe, of Univerſal Laughter and Rejoycing, The Deſire of all Nations will Appear at a Set Time this Next Year, the very Laſt of thoſe Three Set Seaſons, Time, Times, Half Time; Eleven Times expreſly, or Vertually Recorded in Scripture Prophecy; and therefore I can have no Doubt; But in the obſerving Theſe ſo often Repetitions, Remarking cloſe upon Them, and on what Accounts They are Recalled, and to what Applied; and Ballancing Theſe, One with Another, I have Arriv'd to Full Aſſurance, They are Aſſign'd to the Papal Laſt State of the Roman Monarchy, the Laſt of the Four Kingdoms, or Monarchies (and the Four) now Expiring in the Expiration of Theſe Times and Half.

Indeed I look upon no Truth of Scripture to be more Plain and Certain, except the Articles of Faith, and Rules of Holy Practice neceſſary to Salvation, Then that Thoſe Four Monarchies are given as a Calendar of Time for the Embarraſsment of the Kingdom of Chriſt, or that Glorious State of Chriſtianity, which even the Prayers, ſtyl'd, Eſtabliſh'd by Law, oblige the Belief, Deſire, and Expectation of: Scripture takes therefore ſo particular Notice of the Four, viz. the Babylonian, and Perfian; as is well known; and Takes Account of Their Time; of the Grecian more obſcurely; Yet the very New Teſtament, in that Language, and the ſo often Diviſion of the People of that Time, into Jews and Greeks, is a very undoubted Owning Them, as one of the Monarchies; Out of which, through a Great Part of the 70 Weeks, the State of the World had been ſliding into the Fourth, the Roman Monarchy, which Surrounds the whole New Teſtament Hiſtory, and Prophecy, as is undeniable.

But aſſoon as ever the Time allowed to the laſt of theſe is at an End, The Kingdom of Chriſt will immediately ſucceed, and there p. 5can be no Inter-Reign; Nor can any other Kingdom Interpoſe: The Viſion is ſo ſure, and its Interpretation ſo certain; And ſuch a kind of Kingdom it muſt be, as was Congenially to have its ſucceſſion ſo Connexed to thoſe before it, that tho it is a Holy, a Heavenly, a Spiritual, yet it muſt be alſo a Viſible, Senſible Kingdom, as to the Dominion, and Glory of it, and no Metaphor, or Allegorical ſenſe can ſatisfy without it: And we know the Nations, to which we belong, are a part of the Ancient Roman Empire, and Remaine ſtill of the Ten, into which it was canton'd; Which Diviſion hath been to me an Infallible Reaſon of Confidence, France ſhould no more prevail to an Ʋniverſal Monarchy, then the Houſe of Auſtria hath done. And herein for the keeping it within the Figure, allowed its King by Prophecy; I know God hath made our K. an Inſtrument. All the Iron of it, could never break the Northern Iron and Steel of the ſure Word of Prophecy. But ſeeing we, I ſay, are ſuch a part of the Ancient Roman Empire, we are the more concern'd, and ought to be the more Awake on the Fullfilling of Prophecy, as of the firſt of the Kingdoms of the World, which is to become the Kingdom of the Lord, and of his Christ.

I have the ſame aſſurance, that this Time, Times, and Half Time, muſt be juſt on the Expiration; By Prophecy, we might rather have expected their End ſooner; The Wiſdom of the Divine Spirit draws them ſo very near to the Time of the Roman Empire Becoming Chriſtian in all its Portraitures of the Anti-chriſtian State (As I know my ſelf able, by Divine Aſſiſtance to make out to the ſatisfaction of Any, that will allow themſelves the thought, they know, and yield neceſſary in any more retired Parts of Science) That had I not the Faithful Evidence of the Scripture Line of Time, (I have already mention'd) together with unconteſtable Events; I ſhould Fourteen Years ago have pitch'd upon ſome nearer Time; For (to mention one of the moſt obvious) the very Caſting the 1260, and Additional 75 ſo manifeſtly into Indictions, or Fifteens of Years, a Character of Time, not Regulated and known till ſoon after Conſtantine, would have Enclin'd to have commenced them ſooner.

I know, the Hope, for which I Apologize cannot, but Encounter Great Objections, but I am aſſured, God hath ſet it, and myſelf as a Miniſter of it, as a Brazen Wall, that tho it be Fought againſt, It ſhall not be prevail'd over.

p. 6The Objections, and Solutions, I ſhall very much in ſhort thus Account for: Firſt, It will be pretended againſt it; It is a Preſumptuous Curioſity to undertake to Pry into Prophetick Times, and that it ought to be immediately check'd with that of our Lord; It is not for you to know the Times, and Seaſons which the Father hath Set in his own Power.

But as to that Particular Scripture, it is evident, it was an Importune Enquiry of the Apoſtles, not in the order of Scripture Reſearches, nor in the due waiting for of the promiſe of the Spirit, which was the Duty of that very Juncture; And therefore tho our Lord is quick upon their diſorderly queſtion, yet he implies, there would be a Gracious method for their Reſolution in it, and commands them to Jeruſalem, to wait for The promiſe of the Spirit from the Father, which ſaith He, you have heard of me, One Branch of which was, The ſhewing them things to come, Joh. 16. 14. And in general, we find the ſearch of Prophetick Times, is much more under the Favour, then the Diſpleaſure of Scripture; It is recorded with Honour to the Children of Iſſachar, that they had underſtanding of Times, and knew what Iſrael was to do; Particularly1 Chron. 2. 32.1 Chr 2:32 concerning Davids Kingdom, which was the concernment of that Time; And in which I doubt not, they laid together the Prediction of Jacob, and other Revelations of God peculiar to that People, and thoſe Times, by which they were able to give a Judgment: And it is obſerved, Their Brethren were at their Command; This ſway'd no doubt in the Union of Iſrael in David: The Prophet Daniel was not ſatisfied with what he found by ImmediateC. 9. 1. Revelation, but underſtood by Books of Scripture, and civil Records (It is a Recommendation of that method) the Number of Years God had Determin'd for the Deſolations of the Sanctuary; The Prophets in the ſame manner ſearch'd, What and what manner of Time, the Spirit which was in them did ſignify; The Apoſtle by1 Pet. 1. 11.1 Pet 1:11 the Spirit Praiſes the Giving heed to the ſure Word of Prophecy, as doing well. Seeing then the Account of Time is one eminent Branch of that ſure Word, It is Praiſe-worthy to give heed to that, and no Preſumption to do ſo: Our Lord charges it as Hypocriſy, not to diſcern the Signs of the Times, thoſe Characters and Notes of Impreſſion God hath ſet upon them by Prophecy: How often is there Encouragement given in that Great Prophecy of the New Teſtament, Bleſſed is he that Readeth, and they that hear the Words of the Prophecy of this Book. Let Him that hath Wiſdom Count. HereRev. c. 1. 3Rev 1:3 p. 7is the Mind that hath Wiſdom; Let any one now Impartially lay theſe things together, and it will plainly appear, There is waranty for ſearching Times revealed in Scripture; And They are ſtill in the Fathers Power, when the Knowledge of them is waited for by the aſſiſtance of his Spirit, in the underſtanding of his Word.

It may be further Argued againſt the Defining of Time from Scripture-Prophecy; That the Scripture-Prophecies are ſo Dark, and Enigmatical, that it appears moſt probable; The Spirit of God did not intend, They ſhould be underſtood, or Laid Open, till the very End of All Things, at the Day of Judgment, or in the Kingdom of Heaven in Eternity; And therefore, The Sobereſt, Graveſt Men, though very Learned, and of Great Sagaciouſneſs, do not engage themſelves therein, and Leaſt of All in the Accounts of Time.

To This I would, by way of Defence, Rejoyn in the Firſt Place; That it is moſt True, That in the Darkneſs of the Preſent State, while the Apoſtacy of the Papal State ſo much Eclipſes the Glory of Chriſtianity, There is a Great Indiſpoſition, and a Great Inability to Interpret Scripture-Prophecies; The Ʋnlearned ſay, They are not Learned; and the Learned ſay, The Book Eſa. 29. 12.Isa 29:12it Sealed; And This Begets a Prejudice againſt Any Undertakers herein; and they are Charged with Boldneſs, and Preſumption, or with Madneſs or Enthuſiaſm; It is ſaid to Them, Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from us to you? How come you to be wiſer than others? And this will in a very Great Meaſure continue, till the Kingdom of Chriſt come into tis Succeſſion, that the Ears of the Deaf ſhall hear the Words of this Book, and the Eyes of the Blind ſee out of obſcurity.

But yet, in the ſecond place, it is undeniable, That which is moſt Enigmatical, and under what we call Riddle, if it be wiſely contriv'd, and deſign'd, muſt have ſenſe under it, tho not ſo open, but that it ſhall require cloſe Attendance, the moſt Exerciſed Thought; And on thoſe Terms it is ſo prepar'd, that it may be underſtood, and excellent Senſe found under it, tho a Riddle. Samſons Riddle had a very certain Determinate ſenſe, and if we knew fully the meaning of it, advances beyond the Firſt Unriddling, very admirable Inſtructions; All retired Parts of Knowledge in Anatomy, Aſtronomy, Mathematicks, Algebra, Call for Underſtandings peculiarly fitted to them, and moſt attent Application, and Curious Inſtruments, Microſcopes, Teleſcopes; and yet the Knowledge, and p. 8Aſſurance, that riſes from them, when underſtood is the moſt Refined and Satisfactory: And ſo it is in Prophecy of Scripture, altho it does not offer it ſelf at ſo eaſie a Rate, as ſome other Points of Scripture-Knowledge; Yet by deep and fixed Meditation, by comparing of its parts, one with another, and eſpecially waiting upon the Spirit of Prophecy for its Illumination, we ſhall find, it is prepar'd, and weigh'd out with the greateſt Severity of Truth, Divine Senſe, and leads into very ſublime Diſcoveries of Divine Wiſdom in the Government of the World, in Relation to his Church, the Times and Seaſons of it; And tends to the Greateſt Aws of God, and obedience to the Supreme Majeſty of Heaven, and Earth, and to know, That he is God.

In the Third Place, It is affirm'd by the Spirit of God, that it is intended, it ſhould be underſtood; For it affirms, 2 Pet. 1. 19, 20. It is a Light that ſhines in a Dark Place, Now if it be darker, than the Dark Place, How can it be call'd a Light? Or how can it enlighten ſuch a Dark place? And it is not of Private Interpretation, as I have heretofore given an Account publickly; The very meaning is, It is not of a Reſerv'd, or Apart-Interpretation; As it is ſaid, Chriſt privately, or apart Interpreted his Parables to his Diſciples. God ſays of Himſelf, Eſa. 45. 19. I have not ſpoken in ſecret, or in a Dark Place of the Earth, like the Dark dubious▪ Oracles of Devils: I Jehovah ſpeak Righteouſneſs; I declare the things that are Right, of Greateſt Sincerity, Ʋprightneſs and Truth, not perplex'd, but plain to them that underſtand moſt Right, Straight, and direct, to Him that underſtandeth; Right to them, that find knowledge; And I have not ſaid, ſaith our God, to any of the Seed of Jacob, Seek ye my Face in Vain, Even for the underſtanding of the Prophecies of my Word; And in the very ſame Chapter, God Encourages to Ask of Him Things to Come; Even, as his Spirit is ſaid to ſhew to his Servants Things to Come: All which I hope, will appear a ſufficient Anſwer to the Suſpicion; That God gave the Propheſies of his Word, and ſo Eminent a Part of them; Numbers of Time; and did not intend, they ſhould be underſtood.

If it be taken as in this very Joinct, and Objected, How comes it to paſs? That All, who hitherto have Writ on Prophetical Scripture, have much differed one from another, and they who Fix'd Time, have either liv'd to ſee themſelves miſtaken, or it hath appear'd after their Death, They have been ſo: I deſire, it p. 9ſhould be conſidered; Thoſe, who as the Holy Servants of Chriſt, and Miniſters of his Word, have Sett Themſelves to Underſtand, have Given Great Light, and Broken the Way for Thoſe who have Followed; and Their Memory and Services are precious to All Wife, and Good Men, notwithſtanding ſome Miſtakes, and thereupon Differences; which are yet not more, or Greater, than Thoſe we Find in moſt Points not Fundamental, and in All Interpretation of Scripture… And as to their Miſtakes, in Point of Time, It is to be Allowed, Their Diſtances, ſome of Them, from the Time of Completion, might be their Diſadvantage; God not vouchſafing ſuch Light concerning that Time, till nearer upon it; as not to Daniel, but upon the very Year of the 70 Years Ending.

It is further to be conſidered; That there are ſome Eminent and Learned Perſons, who have, though upon ſomewhat Different Grounds, yet concentred upon this very 97. and ſome ſo near it, as upon 98, 99, and eſpecially 1700. That their Expectations are yet (as I may ſay) in Abeyance; and Things moſt probably will be ſo Conducted, as eaſily to Reconcile ſo ſmall Diſagreements, by the Firſt Breakings out of Light, and further Illuſtrations.

But Herein I Humbly Magnifie, and Adore the Freeneſs of Grace, and Divine Aſſiſtance to his Unworthieſt Servant; That He hath Granted to me, to Lay before me, the Whole and Entire Prophetical Table of his Word, which is the Greateſt Security againſt Miſtake, that can be vouchſafed: Becauſe by the View and Survey of things together, They are ſeen in their Juſt Scituations, and Allowances of Room, and placed Equally, one in proportion to another; That there may be no Croud, Confuſion, Juſtle upon, or Interfere one with another: Whereas, if this be not, a plauſible Semblance, or Sound of Agreement may miſlead.

If ſuch a Scheme be Reflected upon, as Imaginary, and the Work of Fancy, I make an Humble Challenge to all the Wit, the Fancy, the Learning that is in the World, to Give a Parallel Scheme in ſuch an Agreement with the Word of God, and the Providential Events in Concert with it; By which I am aſſured, It is not, nor cannot be my own, but as Found in Sacred Writings; ſeeing Fancy and Imagination cannot create into Self-ſubſiſtent Things; or Erect into undoubted matter of p. 10Fact; As it is; That there are ſuch and▪ ſuch Prophetical▪ Emblems, and Repreſentations; Such Examples of the Way and Manner of Interpretation, as that Nebuchadnezzar was the Head of Gold; the King of Perſia the Ram; the King of Grecia the He Goat; The Babyloniſh Woman, the City on Seven Mountains, that at the Time of the Revelation Given, was then Reigning over the Kings of the Earth: All Theſe Give ſuch a Pattern of the Manner of Interpreting Prophetick Images, and what way the Spirit of God means, They ſhould be Expounded, and Diſcypher'd; that They are Equal to Matter of Fact; That there are ſuch Numbers, as 2300 Eves, Morns; 70 Weeks; Time, Times, Half a Time; Three Days and an Half; 1260, 1290, 1335 Days, 42 Moons; And all theſe to be multiplied by the Prophetical Standard of Time, or Days for Years. And that Theſe, are ſome of Them Repeated, variouſly plac'd, is plain Matter of Fact. To find therefore the Concert of theſe, and to place Them in their Juſt-Order one towards another, and in the Greateſt Friendlineſs, Peace, Harmony, and Beautiful Symmetry; and with the foreign, the Admirable Air, and Mien of the Divine Wiſdom, finding out the Knowledge of All Witty Inventions herein; and then Supervening, or Coming upon All Theſe, Subſtantial; Undoubted Matters of Fact; the Greateſt Events, that have been in the World; Adjuſtable to theſe Numbers of Time, Comprobated and Aſſured by the moſt Valuable Hiſtory and Chronology, that are in the World; All Make up ſuch a Plerophory, a Fullneſs of Aſſurance, that muſt needs deliver from the Scruple, that Fancy, and Imagination have had the Architecture of ſuch a Triangular, as I may call it, Compage of Things, in ſuch a Juſtice of Reſpect one to another, ſuch a Trine, or Threefold ſtrongeſt Combination one with another.

For to give a Summary Delineation, on what Grand Pillars of Event the Emblems of Prophecy are Planted, or drawn; and what Proportions of Time are adjuſted to them, and then how well it is known, That ſuch Events and within ſome General Ken of ſuch Allowances of Time are own'd by Hiſtory and Chronology to thoſe Events, is the Greateſt ſatisfaction, that can be given: For either ſmall Petite, or Obſcure Events will Diſgrace any Prophetick Scheme, And to be out of all Boundaries of Time, is as Diſhonourable.

p. 11The Root therefore of Prophetick Time, I make that Stupendious Failure of the ſo Illuſtrious Types of the Kingdom of Chriſt, the Reigns of David, and Solomon at the Death of Solomon; and the Incredible Depreſſion of Them, had not Sacred Writ aſſur'd it, in the Diviſion of the Tribes into the Two Houſes of Iſrael, and Judah; Till Both Involv'd, each in a dreadful Captivation, diſtinct to Each: The Reſcue, and Deliverance of the Two Tribes from their Captivity in Babylon, was by the Deſtruction of that Monarchy, the Firſt of the Four, and the Decree of Cyrus, the Founder of the Perſian Monarchy, at the End of the 390, and 40 Years of the Viſional Bearing of Iniquity for them, and ſettling the Prophetical Standard of a Day for a Year by Ezekiel.

In Cyrus his Univerſal Monarchy, ſo Favourable to the people of God, and ſo Great a Type of Chriſt, as to be called Meſſiah, or God's Annointed Begin the 2300 Eves, and Morns; That ſtaple Line of Time, that Reaches to the very Glorious Kingdom of Chriſt; In the Firſt Hundred Twenty Four Years of them, there is, though with Interruptions, a Gradual Reſtoration of Judah, and Jeruſalem, Entring within the Firſt Seven Weeks, or Forty Nine Years of that ſo Famous, and by Chriſtians, Univerſally Agreed Character of Time, confirming the Prophetick Standard of a Day for a Year to 490 Years, Viz. The 70 Weeks

Through theſe runs the very Dwarſ-like and Tributary Condition of the Jews, beſides ſome horrible Inroads upon them, under the latter part of the Perſian, the whole of the Grecian Monarchy, and the beginning of the Fourth, or Roman.

At the laſt of theſe Weeks there is that ſo Glorious Exaltation of Time to its Fulneſs in the Appearance of our true Meſſiah, and in the midſt of it, His Death and Reſurrection; Greater things then which till his Glorious Appearance, the Fulneſs of Times, or of all Time, Time cannot contain; In the other Half, the Loud Publication of the Goſpel of theſe Things, as by the Heraldry of Thunder, began in the Firſt Seal Opened by the Apoſtles.

In the Next Four Hundred, the Firſt Seal is continued, and the next Three Seals are Opened, in very Great and New Productions in the Roman Empire; till in that Concluſive Perſecution of the Chriſtians, within the Fifth Seal, under Diocleſian, and the Con-Temporary Pagan Emperors; In the Sixth Seal, That ſo indeed Auguſt Revolution of the Roman Empire from Pagan to Chriſtian, p. 12begun by Conſtantine in the Sixth Seal, continued (Julian's ſhort Reign Excepted) till Vindicated, and Sta…minated by Theodoſius the Great, in the Seventh Seal, a Great Precurſory Emblem of the Glorious Kingdom of Chriſt.

But Early under Conſtantine, and ſo Going on, That Appearance of the Kingdom of Chriſt, began to be Eclips'd; And the Barbarous Nations Ruſhed in on the Empire, in the Juſt Revenges of Chriſt upon Antichriſtian Supplantation (who yet after United as his People, and as Ten Kingdoms under his Eccleſiaſtick Empire) and Undermine by the Interpoſal of the Antichriſtian Moon; ſo ſoon that Prophecy gives the Notice of it, as Immediate; in the Sealing the Servants of God, againſt both the Antichriſtianiſm, and the Vengeance in thoſe Trumpets of Vengeance Given into the Hands of the Angelick Miniſters of it, the Witneſſes Entring into Sackcloth, and the Churches Flight into the Wilderneſs, or being ſo Hidden; that it was hard to be Diſcovered before the Reformation. Theſe Early Notices do beyond All Reaſonable Contradiction, Aſſure the Times and Half Sworn to Antichriſt, muſt needs be now upon the Expiration, which, as before Noted, are caſt into Fifteens, in the 1260 Days, into which they are Expounded, to ſhew their Nearneſs to Conſtantine's Time; and becauſe ſo Determinate a Time, and Short, Compared with the Glory to follow, is ſtyl'd, a Short Time, in God's Anſwer to the Souls under the Altar; And the Devil conſidering it, Reflected on it as a Short Time, not as the Father of Lyes, but as it was Extorted from him by God; ſhew it near Ending.

At the End of 400 Years from the Weeks, of 404. from the Reſurrection, and 437. from the Incarnation, Begin the Time, Times and Half with the High Sounds of the Four Firſt Trumpets; Of which That Year was not without its Anſwerableneſs to this Prophetick Character, by reaſon of the Incurſions of the Barbarous Nations, as a Storm of Hail and Fire mingled with Blood, who becauſe They were to Become the Subjects of the Antichriſtian Papacy, are call'd, The Gentiles Entring into the Outward Court; And their 42 Moons Commence, being Solemnly, as it were, Inaugurated into Them by Cyril, Biſhop of Alexandria that very Year ſo Earneſt in Adjuſting Lunar Time to Solar; At the ſame Time began that Apoſtacy the Apoſtle Paul ſpeaks of in Delay of the Kingdom of Chriſt; And in ſuch Corruptions of the Doctrine, Worſhip, and Converſation of Chriſtianity, p. 13the True Church was Hidden under the Publick Profeſſion ſo Corrupted, as to be the Church as in a Wilderneſs; and on which the Witneſſes Prophecy, That is, Declare Chriſts Kingdom in Delay; as in Sackcloth; of which That Year there was a Sample in a Perſecution Rais'd by Genſericus, a Vandal Prince, againſt the Servants of God Holding the Teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt, the Eternal Son of God; and It was continued againſt Thoſe, who Kept the Commandments of God, and Held the Teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt, by the Papal Tyranny: Within the Four Firſt Trumpets, Fall the ſo often Burning, and Sacking Rome, the utter Ceſſation of the Name of Emperor of Rome in the Weſt, and even of Conſular Dignity.

At that very Time of the Ceſſation of Empire begin the Moons of the Papal Antichriſtian Power, which Prophecy ſtyles, The Beaſt; as a Preparation to which the Hierarchy (as the Hiſtorian Sozomen Relates) had been Riſing ſtilly, as Feet of Clay from the Earth, and crept ſilently Forward into a Dynaſty; ſtyl'd therefore, The Other Beaſt, which procurated for the Grand Beaſt; thus Came in the Succeſſion of the Beaſt, Dated to this very Year 476; and ſo its Succeſſion is Given as the 7th Head, and Eighth King, Rev. 17. For it is in Immediate Succeſſion to the Seventh King, no Head, which was the Chriſtian Emperor in the Weſt.

Then the Bestian Anti-chriſtian Power grew up to its height, or Supremacy at 606, as the Star Fallen to the Earth, within his Firſt Time, and purſued by God with the Firſt Woe, or the Mahometan Impoſture, at 622, and ſo to 797, Arm'd in the Saracenick, Inrodes upon the Weſtern Parts of the Empire: This continued along the Second Time, or Firſt of the Two Times of his ſettled, or, conſiſtent Power, till the Second Turkiſh Woe ſtarts out in the Third Time, or Second of the Two Times, where His ſtint, or the Bounds of his Power were ſet: Till it came down to the Reformation at the Beginning of his Half Time, at the Year 1517. Where it hath continued an 180 Years, down to the preſent. 1697, a declined and decayed, but not a Fallen Power, according to the very Importance of Two Times degraded to a Half Time.

Now I would Appeal to all the Reaſon, and Underſtanding of Man, whether, when all the Prophetical Images are ſo expreſſive of theſe Events; And that, the Line of Time, that Prophecy hath proportion'd to them, when laid to them, is ſo fairly p. 14every way Adjuſtable, Viz. From Cyrus before the Weeks; Since the Weeks, to the Death and Reſurrection of Chriſt, After the Death, and Reſurrection of Chriſt, and the Preaching of the Apoſtles at the End of the Weeks, in 400 Years of the Seales; and the Greater Cantons of Time, Times Half Time dividing, and diſtributing 1260 Years into 360, 720, 180, and All ſo according with the very Years, we Vulgarly Account to 1697. I would, I ſay, appeal to all Senſe and Underſtanding, whether this Account can be the Creature of Fancy, and Imagination, or ſo much, as of Accident; Except they think, ſuch a Conſpiration of ſo many things, of ſo great Concernment to the World, and to the Churches of Chriſt, be below the Notice of the Divine Spirit, or its Care to make them known; For that the very things themſelves cannot be contriv'd into ſuch Repreſentations, cannot be once ſaid; when it is ſo Experimental, that the things, if not ſo Deſign'd by the All-ſeeing Spirit, muſt by Accident be ſo ſubject to the Elaboration of Fancy, and Imagination, or rather of Judgment, and Underſtanding; Seeing this Threefold Reſpect is found in Reality, and Subſtance of Scripture-Emblems, of Scripture-Numbers, of Correſpondent Events, in Hiſtory, and Chronology; To ſay which Undermines All Rationality of Inference from the Greateſt Correſpondency of Effects in Creation, and Providence, with the Wiſdom, and Power of the Supreme Creator, and Governour of All, Viz. If we may not Reaſon from theſe, to the Intention of Divine Spirit.

Now from hence, reach the Additional 75, to the Thouſand Years of the Bleſſed State, Viz. From the Kingdom of Chriſt in Succeſſion, in Thirty years of the Sealed Thunders, opened in Rev. c. 14. Making the 1260, 1290. Wherein Firſt there is a Glorious ſhining out of the Goſpel, and the Glory of Chriſtianity for the Converſion, and bringing Multitudes to Chriſt, and for a Teſtimony againſt thoſe who remain obſtinate, the Filthy being Filthy ſtill; And then the Vials poured out, that Time of Trouble, ſuch as never was, ſince Man was upon Earth, Through the Forty Five Additional to the 1290, and making them 1335, to the Glorious and Bleſſed State, and the Lots of the New Jeruſalem, in the End of theſe Days, Dan. 12. 11, 12, 13.

And in the ſame way of Evidence, and Aſſurance, I find my ſelf through the Gracious Aſſiſtance of God, able to go backward in the Analytical, or Retrograde method to the very Death of Solomon, p. 15where I began, and find the Connexion of one thing to another, ſo Juſt, ſo True, ſo Stedfaſt, and ſo Unmoveable, that they cannot be diſlocated, nor Disjoynted; And the Numbers of Scripture Time ſo Lock'd, one within another, That they cannot be Wrench'd, or Forced aſunder; All which I have in Readineſs to offer to every Judicious Conſiderer, and of which I would give the Briefeſt Specimen in this following Scheme, that I can Contrive.

The Thouſand Years, are by all the Wonders of it the moſt undoubted End, or Finiſhing of Wonders; And the very ſame with the Myſtery of God to be Finiſh'd, by the Seventh Angel ſounding, according as he hath ſpoken in Goſpel to, and by his Servants the Prophets.

This being the Fullneſs of Times, all Times Center, or flow down, and reſt in it. Here reſt the 45 Laſt of the 2300 Eves, Morns, as is expreſt in Daniel; The 45 take ſuch hold of the 30, that all the force in the World can't divide them; As is Apparent by 1290 made 1335, the Thirty take the ſame hold of the 1260; Which are the Times, and Half; That they can no more be ſeparated, then the others; The 1260 in the Three Diviſions, Viz. The Half Time takes hold of the 720, or the two Times; And the two Times of the Firſt Time, or 360, And they can endure no diſtance; Becauſe they are together one 1260. The 1260 neceſſarily take hold of whatever Time went before, and lay between the 490 of the Weeks, and the 1260; This can be no way conteſted; Becauſe the Weeks by Expreſs Scripture End Three Years, and Half, or Half a Week from the Death of Chriſt; And then, we know a Time there muſt be, from the Beginning of the 1260, of ſome diſtance of Space from the End of the Weeks; Becauſe from the Three Years and Half after the Death of Chriſt, ſo many more Years, then 1260 are now paſſed, and yet the Great Events at the End of the 1260, not yet come to paſs, and therefore not the 1260 themſelves. And yet that ſpace muſt take hold of the End of the Weeks, Becauſe the Half Week Ends a Three Years, and a Half; Half a Week; from the Death of Christ; The Seventy Weeks Notwithſtanding, They are divided into Joynts, yet are as cloſe, as the Joynted parts of any the ſame Member of the Body, being together the Seventy Weeks; The Seventy Weeks lay an Indiſputed Claim to whatever Time went before to Cyrus; And every part muſt be Joyned Each to other, Becauſe all the p. 16ſeveral Portions of Time ſtand United in the 2300; And ſeeing ſo much Time hath already paſſed ſince the End of the Weeks, as leaves no more then 75 before the Weeks of the 2300 to Cyrus, we are ſure, there can be no more; I confeſs, there may be Fewer, and ſo more of the 1260 to Run out then to 97; But ſo far, as we can be ſure, there can be no more than 400 before the 1335. We may be ſure, there can be no Fewer, than 75 before the Weeks.

From Cyrus backward, muſt be the 40 of Judah's Sin Born, Lying Cloſe to the End of the 390 Days of Iſrael's Sin Born, which Bring back to the Diviſion of the Tribes into the Two Houſes of Iſrael, and Judah; All which Things have been, and are Ready to be Fully made out to any, who Deſire it in particular.

The Undoubted Emblems of Scripture Anſwering to theſe Numbers of Time, may be Accounted for with the ſame Evidence, in this Retroſpective Motion, as in the Progreſſion; For the very End of the Wonders is plac'd in the Beaſt and the Falſe Prophet caſt alive into the Lake; And the Glory of Chriſt's Appearance, and the Armies of Heaven, for whom Thrones were Set, and They Sate upon Them, and They Lived and Reigned with Chriſt a Thouſand Years were ſuch, as did not Worſhip the Beast, nor Receive his Mark, &c. The Vials, that Brought in the Thouſand Years, are Noted to Fall on the Beaſt, and them that Worſhipp'd the Beaſt, and had Receiv'd his Mark. The Voices, that prepar'd for the Vials, and at the End of which, the Vials Began, were alſo upon the Beaſt; and the Witneſſes coming out of the Death, the Beaſt had laid them under, plainly Entwiſt the Vials and the Voices with the Beast, and the Witneſſes; and ſo their Times one with another; viz. with the 1260 Days, the 42 Moons, the Times, and Days, and Half. And in this ſame manner the Dragon, and they that were Beheaded for the Word of God, and for the Teſtimony of Jeſus, and the Dragon caſt down, and the Martyrs of Chriſt Overcoming, by the Blood of the Lamb, and the Word of his Teſtimony, and not Loving their Lives unto Death; Seeing the Dragon Gave his Power, and his Seat unto the Beaſt, ſhew, very Evidently, that the Moons of the Gentiles, and of the Beaſt, Began at the End of the Seals. Even as it is moſt clear in a Progreſſive Motion, the Seals Iſſue into the Trumpets, by the Seventh Seal conveying to them; The Trumpets into the Voices by the Seventh Trumpet; the Voices by the Seventh p. 17Voice into …he Vials, the Vials by the Seventh Vial into the Thouſand Years.

The Seals Run plainly Back into the Weeks, Beginning in the Confirmation of the Covenant, by that Preaching of the Goſpel by the Apoſtles, Emblem'd by Chriſt Riding out on his White Horſe, conquering, and to conquer, at the Ending of the Weeks; The Weeks Run back into the Time of the Word Going forth for the Reſtoring Judah, and Jeruſalem, from whence they are Dated; The Going forth of the Word into the Babyloniſh Captivity, which gave Occaſion to the going forth of that Word; and the Laſt Forty Years of the Babyloniſh Captivity, which was the Ground of Bearing the Iniquity, or Puniſhment of the Houſe of Judah, claſps Faſt with the 390 of Bearing Iſrael's Sin; becauſe God commanded Ezekiel, when He bad Born the ſin of Iſrael on the Left ſide, without any Intermiſſion, to Turn on the Other ſide, and to Bear the ſin of the Houſe of Judah on the Right ſide, and the Bearing the Sin of the Houſe of Iſrael goes back to the Diviſion of the Tribes into Two Houſes, at Solomon's Death.

In the Laſt Place, I dare Appeal to the Greateſt Chronologers, or Hiſtorians, whether our General Accounts do not, within ſome Fair Proportion, Allow the Years of the Papacy, of the Pagan Power, of the Roman Empire, of the Grecian, Perſian, Babyloniſh Kingdoms, to ſerve theſe Prophetical Accounts; and ſo backward by the Kings of Iſrael and Judah, to the Death of Solomon. Now all theſe Things, were there Room to Repreſent Them clearly, particularly, and in Full, would Give ſuch certainty in theſe Points, according to the Exactneſs of Scripture-Time, as would amount to the Juſtification of the Great Hope, I ſo publickly make Offer of; and againſt which, in every minute Particular, I Humbly Pledge my ſelf to be Ready to Receive Exceptions, and to Return Due Satisfaction; and therefore ſhall now Return to the more General Objections.

This way of Endeavour to Juſtify every Thing, by Plain Accounts, and Arguments of Reaſon. Approachable by every Ones Reaſon, and Subject to the Examination of every Man, whoever will take ſo much Thought, and Care of Tryal, and Juſt Judgment upon Himſelf; may take off much of that Exception; Why ſhould All This be Reveal'd to you more than to Any Other?

p. 18For The Anſwer I would give, is, Becauſe God hath engaged my Heart and Thoughts to this Inquiry; And it hath been the Principal Subject of my Intellectual Inquiries, though I hope not in a Neglect of other Points of Theology, and Scripture-Knowledge; But by this means I have been looking every way into All the Advertiſements of Scripture-Prophecy, comparing Prophetical Things with Prophetical, and any of the moſt Accurate Memoirs of Hiſtory and Chronology, I could Arrain; And This is no other, than what Any Other Studious in theſe Things, might have Attained▪ and much Higher, according to the Advantages of Learning, more enlarged Capacities of Mind, Clearneſs of Expreſſion; as is moſt experimental in that Excellent Perſon, The Annotator on the Revelation, and his Annotations, Publiſhed about Four Years ago; The Only Thing that I pretend to, of Peculiar Favour herein from the Moſt High, is, That he hath thus engaged my Heart, and Thoughts to ſeparate my ſelf, and to Intermeddle with this Wiſdom, and Aſſiſted me ſo far therein.

When any one vouches any Immediate Revelation, that cannot be diſprov'd by its plain Diſagreeableneſs to other Sealed Parts of Divine Revelation, though indeed from God; He, and his Revelation are Inacceſſible, but by the ſame Spirit of Revelation, in ſome ſuitable Efficacy of the ſame Spirit, enabling to diſcern, or to feel the Vertue of it; As in the Apoſtles Days. When the Prophets ſpake one by one, 1 Cor. 14. 29. Then the Reſt Judged; that is, Diſcern'd the Divineneſs of the Revelation; by the Participations of the ſame Spirit in themſelves: But when Any offer the Interpretation of written Prophecies, or Prophecies of Scripture, by the Aſſiſtance of the ſame Spirit that gave them; this Interpretation, if Juſt, and True, and according to the Senſe of the Divine Spirit, is the Spirit of Prophecy; Becauſe it is the Teſtimony of Jeſus, which is the very Eſſence of the Spirit of Prophecy: Now this is plainly Approvable by All, who wait upon the ſame Word of God by the Aſſiſtance of the ſame Spirit: I do not therefore in Any of theſe Prophetical Diſcourſes, offer at any ſuch thing, as in which the Spirit of the Lord paſſing by others, ſhould have ſpoken to me, but what every one hath the ſame Riht, and Open Door to, and Freedom of; and what every one hath a Riight to Examine and Accept, or Reject, according to the Evidence he finds of an Agreeableneſs with the Sure Word of Prophecy or not: p. 19That onelyonly I ſtand up for, is, That He Judges as a Prophet, according to the meaſure of that Diſpenſation of the Bleſſed Spirit, now vouchſefed to his Servants; That is, that he Judge by the Due Compare of Prophecy with Prophecy, by Attendance to every Hint, and Indication of the Prophetical Mind Flowing from that Spirit, and that he lay this Firſt, as a Foundation, that the Prophecies of Scripture ought to be Given Heed to; and that they may be underſtood, as a Light ſhining in a dark place: And whoever doth not thus addreſs himſelf, can no more Judge, then any one could of the Revelations then made by the Spirit to the Prophets of theſe Firſt Times, when they met in th…ſe Prophetical Exerciſes, without the Communication of the ſame Spirit to themſelves; or then an Illitterate, or unknowing Perſon in any Science or Art, Can Judge of the Exercitations of the moſt knowing Perſons, or Artiſts, when they meet together for the Communication of their moſt Elaborate Exercitations therein: And ſo I do indeed Claim, and Inſiſt on this Priviledge; That none undertake to Judge, of what I have offered in theſe things, but by ſuch Prophetical Preparations, and Attendances upon Scripture Propheſies, that are indeed open to every one that Deſires to enter by the Key of Scripture-Prophetical Knowledge, and ſhutt to others. And this is no more Preſumption, then what every one thinks his Priviledge, that no one Judge of his Art, but He that Underſtands it firſt Himſelf: And this I hope Vindicates from any undue Aſſumption of any more, then the Gracious Direction of my Heart, and Thoughts, to that Book of Scripture Prophecy, that Lies open to every one, that draws nigh with due Preparation; And that every one may Judge of by the ſame Preparation.

It may be further Objected, that yet it is very hard, if not Impoſſible to attain the Senſe of the Divine Spirit to a Year, or any ſuch Preciſe, Definitive Account of Time.

To this I Anſwer, It will eaſily be allowed that the Divine Spirit hath Determin'd, and knows according to that its Expreſſion of it ſelf, to the very Self ſame Day; And therefore, ſeeing it hath given Numbers of Time, it muſt be to the very Self ſame Day, For the end of every Number is ſo Preciſe, and Definite; That It muſt needs be to the very Self ſame Year, and even Day, if we could have, as Punctual Account of Days, as of Years; But I find not the Holy Spirit ordinarily, is more particular then Days of p. 20Years: By therefore a due Poize of that Trine Aſpect, of Prophetick Emblems, Prophetick Numbers, and Providential Effects in Event, and Matters of Fact; of the Records of which, It hath taken Care by General Hiſtory, and Chronology, we may come to know to a Year; And of this, Beſides ſeveral other Aſſurances that Require more Diſcourſe, There is that Time of the Reformation more Eaſy, and Immediate to every Obſervation; wherein Divine Super-Intendencies upon all Hiſtorians concerning it, to Fix the Beginnings of it in 1517. does ſo aſſure the Beginning of: Half Time, as to aſſure alſo the End of Half Time, as of an 180 Years, and ſo of Time, and Times at 1697. and therefore the Beginning of Times, or the Two Times at 797. and of the Firſt Time at 437. The Times, and Half, are contrived therefore into ſuch Large Cantons of Time, as One Time, Two Times and Half a Time, that They may be ſeen in ſo Large Spaces, and ſo much together; and yet in ſuch Minute, Exact Diviſions, as Days of Years, eſpecially and on purpoſe, that they might be fully known, and exactly underſtood all along, and at the End. which with ſo many Concurrences before-nam'd, (and of which I ſhould be moſt Ready to Give the particular State, more at large, to a Free and Deſirous, and a Judicious Recipient) does not make it ſtrange to determine ſo particularly upon 97. and may free from that Objection.

But what is there of Preparation to ſo great a Change? or what Inſtruments in view for ſuch Effects? may it be ſaid. To which, this Anſwer is to be given: That when we have to do with Him, who Planted the Heavens, and Laid the Foundations of the Earth: who telleth the Number of the Stars, and calleth them All by their Names; and appoints them every one their Courſe, to Fight in; Nothing is Hard. Or how wonderful ſoever it be in our Eyes, can it be ſo in His? Who works his ſigns, and his wonders in Heaven, and on Earth; and none can stay his Hand, or ſay unto him, what doest thou? who works, and none can let it: Hath he ſpoken, and ſhall he not do it? Is Any Thing too hard for me, ſath our Jehovah?

And as to Means and Inſtruments, altho he could raiſe them, if he pleas'd; Yet His Word of Propheby ſo expreſſes the doing of it, as if he would make uſe of No Hand but his own; The Stone cut out of the Mountain is not in Hands; That Power that ſtands up againſt the Prince of Princes, ſhall be broken without Hand. Now this without Hand, is a manner of ſpeaking, the Spirit of God is pleaſed, as by the Tranſlation of it from Daniel, into the New Teſtament, to Apply a Tabernacle made without p. 21Hands, the Circumciſion without Hands; the Houſe not made with Hands, Eternal in the Heavens, appears to be an Expreſſion of God working by an Immediate Power of his own, and by Himſelf. It is by a Spirit of Life from God, and by a Voice from Heaven. The Four Wheels of the Four Monarchies are brought into the Temple, under the Cherubims; and without any more ado, It was cried concerning them in my Hearing (the Hearing of the Servants of God) Oh Revolution! It immediately paſs'd upon them All, and there were Loud Voices in Heaven upon it, proclaiming that Revolution: The Kingdoms of this World are bocome the Kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Chriſt. And this is done at Half Time Ending, which ſignifies Suddenneſs, and Surpriſe: When this is done, He, who does it, Comes with ſtrong Hand; His Arm Rules for Him. He underſtands his own Work; In the midſt of All the Perplexities of it, His work is before him; He underſtands it perfectly and throughout, Every Spring, every Wheel to be moved, Every Pin of Connexion.

But that which may much indeed Terrify, and Diſcourage, is the Great Unworthineſs of All Sorts and Degrees of Men, of Nations, and even of Churches; ſo that ſome very Sweeping Judgment, and Deſolation rather, or, at leaſt, is firſt to be expected.

The Hope yet is, That when God works for his Kingdom, and ſeems to be Lifting up his Hand to Deſtroy, He will work for his own Names ſake, in a Deliverance. He will conſider, He, to whom the Kingdom is to be Given, is worthy: And when the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the Angel of the Covenant, comes into his Temple, He does not expect to find Refinement ready to his Hand, but He comes to Refine: He hath given an Example in the Apoſtle Paul of All Long-ſuffering and Patience, eſpecially prepared for that very Time; Thoſe, who ſhall Hereafter, in a great diſtance of Time, Believe on Him; His Reward is with Him. He expects it only from Himſelf, when his work ie ſo before him. And even to Impenitents there is firſt a time of Warning and Teſtimony, and then the Day that will Burn as an Ouen, and the wicked are as Aſhes under the Soles of the Feet. After this warning is the perdition of ungodly Men reſerv'd for puniſhment.

I know very well, Notwithſtanding, all this Aſſurance, and the Reaſon of it▪ I have given; It will be ſaid yet to me; Seeing this Year 97 is in ſo near on Approach, and there are no Appearances of ſuch a Succeſſion, or opening of the Kingdom of Chriſt, ought it not therefore to ſhake your Confidence, and put a diffidence upon ſuch a continued Affirmation of ſuch a Kingdom to make any Entrance at this Time?

p. 22In Anſwer to this, I would make this Humble Profeſſion, or Confeſſion in theſe Three things.

Firſt, I cannot be ſhaken in my aſſurance; Becauſe I find my Grounds in the Word of God unſhakable, and unmoveable; A Falſe Witneſs, that hath no Foundation, Periſheth in this Senſe; He cannot Bear up to, nor continue in his Teſtimony; But, He that Heareth, and knows, on what Grounds He ſpeaks, Affirmeth conſtantly: He that hath ſeen nothing, as the Ground of his Prophecy is like a Reed ſhaken with the Wind; But they, that have the Word of the Lord, Continue to ſpeak it: While I am ſo certain, The Kingdom of Chriſt Enters its Succeſſion without any delay, whenever the Laſt of the Four Kingdoms Ends; That the Third Woe of the Seventh Angel, that Sounds the Kingdom of Chriſt, Cometh quickly; I look to ſee therefore, what aſſurances there are, this Laſt Kingdom, even its Laſt State is upon giving up. I find then, the Times and Half, Which are the Term of the Laſt State, of the Laſt Kingdom; By the Time ſince Conſtantine; By the Time, ſince the Chriſtian Empire Demiſed; By the Time ſince Mahometaniſm, and more Particularly the Ottoman Empire hath entred the World; By the Time, ſince the Reformation firſt entred by Luther, juſt ending. All theſe have ſuch Lively Sculptures and Engravings, in the Sure word of Prophecy, and their Times ſo Delineated; I do not better know the Courſe of the Months in the Year; the Days in the Month, or the Hours in the Day, then I know the very Laſt Year of the 1260 Days of Years, is now entring, and to Run its Circle; and that within its Circle, the Kingdom of Chriſt will come into its Succeſſion.

The Second thing, that I moſt Humbly deſire to be Stedfaſt, Unmoveable, Unſhaken in, and upon, is the Exceeding Riches of the Grace, and Loving Kindneſs of God in Jeſus Chriſt, the Great High Prieſt, and Apoſtle of my Profeſſion; That Shepherd of the Sheep, that is to Shine forth as the Great Prince, to have That great foreign, that Fold, that is a Court, One Shepherd, and One Fold: the Goodneſs and Faithfulneſs of the Spirit of Truth, Guiding into all Truth: Glorifying the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, by taking of the Things, That are His, and ſo of his Kingdom, and ſhewing them to his Servants, and ſhewing them Things that are to Come; I have Great Aſſurance in his Tendereſt Mercies, having Led, and Guided, and Supported me thus far, in the Search after his Kingdom, and Manifeſted ſo much to me; He will not Leave me to p. 23be aſhamed of my Hope; I can Humbly ſay before Him, as his Servant Jeremy; Oh Lord; thy Words have been Found, and I have Eaten them, and they have been the Joy and the Rejoycing of my Heart, I Humbly therefore Expoſtulate with Him, Wilt Thou? Wilt Thou be to me as a Lyar; I know it is Impoſſible, He ſhould Lye, He is God, that cannot Lye; And therefore herein His Servants may plead with Him; The Viſion ſhall not Lye, He will not be, as Waters, that are not ſure, of which he hath given ſo Lively a Deſcription, in comparing the Unfaithfulneſs of Friends to Them; My Friends have dealt Deceitfully with me, as a Brook, and as the Streams of Waters, that paſs away; Which are Blackiſh by Reaſon of Ice, &c. But what Time they are warm, They Vaniſh, when it is Hot, They are Conſumed out of their Place; the Paths of their way are turned aſide, They go to nothing, and Periſh; The Troops of Tema, Looked, and VVaited; The Companies of Seba were Confounded, Becauſe they had Hoped, they came thither, and were Aſhamed, Jer. 15. 15. &c. Job. 15. 15. &c. How fully does this Expreſs, what Jeremy underſtood by Waters not ſure! And how Applicable to My Caſe, if the Hopes I have of the Kingdom of Chriſt, ſhould prove miſtaken.

It may be ſaid, Indeed if I were ſure, I had the Right Senſe of Scripture-Prophecy, the Argument were enough ſure; I therefore herein Rely on his Grace, that he hath Guided me into the Truth of his Word; that as I am ſure, His Word cannot Fail; He cannot Lie; ſo neither can any Iron, any Created Power break the Northern Iron, or prepared Steel of his Wiſdom, Truth and Power.

But leſt any ſhould ſay, If you have ſuch a Fasth, have it to your ſelf before God, and Happy are you, if you do not find Reaſon to Condemn your ſelf in what you ſo much approve: This therefore is my Third Profeſſion, The things that I have ſo heard and ſeen by continual ſearch into, Meditation upon, and ſeeking Divine Direction in▪ I cannot but ſpeak; I look upon the Kingdom, as of thoſe Things wherein we ſhould confeſs Chriſt, and not be aſhamed of him before Men, whoſo deſpiſe his Kingdom; and of thoſe, of which Confeſſion is to be made with the Mouth uneo Salvation. And therefore, as I have Humble Hopes, That Jeſus Chriſt hath been Graciouſly pleas'd to draw out my Heart, Thoughts, Meditations, to ſearch Every Retirement of his Word therein above All, that have been before me; And to give me Greater Confidence and Aſſurance; and a more open Profeſſion and Publication of what p. 24I have Found; So that he will graciouſly Accept, Remember, Pardon, ſpare me through the Multitude of his Mercies, and not deliver up to ſhame, and Confuſion of Face before Men, and confeſs me before his Father, and before his Holy Angels.

That ſuch a State of his Kingdom, and ſuch a Revolution with it, and by it, ſhall this very Year Appear to All the World, as hath never been ſince the Apoſtacy of Humane Nature; and that therefore All Mighty Works ſhall ſhew forth Themſelves in it: The Spirit ſhall be poured out from on High; The Wilderneſs ſhall Become a Fruitful Field; viz. in the higheſt Purity, and Proſperity of his Churches; and that, which look'd like a Fruitful Field, become Deſert, even the Antichriſtian State, and whatever partakes of it, the Glory of All this World, and the Grandeur of it; and ſo the Everlaſting Goſpel ſhall be preached to every Nation, Tongue and People, and every Thing move to the Glory of that Kingdom.

To whom then (Moſt Reverend, and Right Reverend) could I preſent equally, as to you, the conſideration of theſe things, who, I am aſſured are ſo Richly Furniſhed with all Advantages of Learning, both in that Sure word of Prophecy, and in Hiſtory, and Chronology, Correſpondent therewith; And whoſe very Title Imports the Office of Thoſe, who are on the VVatch Tower, waiting for the Speaking of the Viſion, which will not Tarry beyond its Time; And therefore ſhould be able to Anſwer the Queſtion, VVatchman, VVatchman, what of the Night? Or how Near is the Morning? and who, as Perſons of an Elevated Station, ought to Vindicate your ſelves by a Higher Zeal for the Kingdom of Chriſt, and even by a Holy Haſte to bring Him to his Throne above others; That you may not Fall under any Ombrage of the Anti-christian Hierarchy, who as Feet of Clay, are found in the Undermine of the Kingdom of Chriſt; and are Broken by the very Firſt Openings of it, as upon which that Image Reſts, that Stands in delay of that Kingdom.

How therefore ſhould you be able to anſwer that Queſtion, What do you more than others for the Kingdom of the Chief Shepherd, who hath it on his Veſture, and on his Thigh, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords? and who Profeſs to Attend upon him more Near and in Ordinary.

p. 25I moſt Humbly therefore ſubmit this Apology to your Severeſt Examination, and that as Prophets, that is, Perſons above Ordinary, Inſtructed in the … Word of Prophecy, (for no otherwiſe can it be done) you would Judge; The Grounds Themſelves I freely tender to ſo Sage and Learned a Chriſtian, a Proteſtant Preſidency. There is a kind of Intuitive Knowledge and Plerophory of Satisfaction, I muſt (with all Reverence yet, and Humble Fear) Hope I have a Right unto, as proper to the having ſeen together the Curious Lines of Prophecy, equal to the Curious Lines and Symmetry in the Works of God, which the moſt Exact Astronomer, Anatomiſt, Naturaliſt, … hath, or can Obſerve. I deſire the Things I offer might be brought into Seriouſeſt Conſultation, and Debate, as in the Days of Herod concerning the place where Christ ſhould be born, ſo now concerning, the Time of his Kingdom Appearing. It cannot be but moſt Great, to be near the … of the Kingdoms of this world to be the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Chriſt. How would it releive in All the moſt Inextricable Labyrinths of the preſent Difficulties of Nations, to our Nation particularly, to our King, to the Councel of the Nation in Parliament: That He, whoſe Right it is, is now about to take to Himſelf his Great Power, and to Reign, and to deſtroy them, who have been ſo long deſtroying the Earth.

I know, the Paganizing Nations, and Spirits will be very Angry, even at the Mention of theſe Things, as Ʋtopian, Imaginary, Fanatical; and think to Scoff it off; But as an Hidden and Concealed Train, that Gives Fire, and hath its Effect in a Moment; ſo the Chain of Divine Councels, the Predictions of Omniſciency in All Times take Full Effect in their own Juſt Moments, how Unawares ſoever the World be concerning them: For He who is wonderful in Counſel, and excellent in working, can neither be out-witted, nor over ruled.

What I offer can be onelyonly from Senſe of Duty to declare, what I have ſo Full Aſſurance of: Duty as to the Great Revealer of Prophetical Secrets, the wonderful Numberer of the Times of Prophecy; ſo Duty to the Publick, in the ſo Generally Acknowledged Diſtreſs of Affairs; For which my Conſtant Supplications Aſcend, as alſo for You whoſe Moſt Chriſtian Aſſiſtance, and Adminiſtration, according to Your Higher Sphere, I p. 26Beſeech, and who, I Hope, Count it Your Greateſt Honour to Serve Him, who is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth … and therefore will not with a Ga…i… like Spirit, not Care for any of theſe Things.

This Firſt Month of the Year 1697. Moſt Reverend, Right Reverend, Your Moſt Humble Servant, In That Kingdom of our Lord, T. BEVERLEY.

FINIS.

End of the text · Thomas Beverley, The Parable of the Ten Virgins (1697)