Review of What God Hath Been Pleased to Do This Year, Text

Review of What God Hath Been Pleased to Do This Year · Text

p. 1A Review Of what God hath been pleaſed to do this Year according to Prophecy, and particulorly near the 23d of the Month we ſtile, Auguſt; with a moſt humble Apology and Defence concerning the falling ſhort of Events, of what was expected according to the Interpretation of that ſure Word of Prophecy.

HAving made ſo Long, and Large Declarations of what I have drawn from the Sure Word of Prophecy, concerning this Preſent Year 1697. And particularly near the 23d of the Month we Call, …uguſt; And that nothing of ſo Great an Appearance hath yet been vouchſafed by our Good and Gracious God; It may be looked upon as my Duty, to make either an Humble Acknowledgment of my miſtake, and the Deception, that the Juſt and Holy Lord hath left me to therein, or to offer ſome Apology and Defence for my ſelf.

Now in the firſt Place, I would make the loweſt and moſt ſelf-abaſing Acknowledgment; That I am moſt unworthy of any ſuch Gracious Communication, or Manifeſtation from God in his Word; And moſt worthy, whom He ſhould give up to Error and Miſtake: And that therefore, It would be no wonder, nor any thing ſtrange, If. He in juſt Wrath and Diſpleaſure have ſo left me; All I have to ſay, or plead againſt its being ſo, is Infinite Riches of Grace, Mercy and Compaſſion in Chriſt to the Cheif of Sinners.

But this being firſt Acknowledged, there is yet the Great Honour I owe to the Word of Truth, and to the weighty Reaſons and Arguments I have derived from it; and the obligations that Lye upon me, to make the moſt Lowly and Thankful Declarations for any Communications of Light to me, and of what God hath been pleaſed to begin to do this Year, and ſo hath not left wholly expoſed, what I have ſpoken with Relation to 97. I would render therefore the beſt Accounts I could, in Points of ſo Great weight and concernment to the Churches of Chriſt, and even to the World in General, and to my ſelf in Particular.

p. 2The General Propoſal being then, to make a Review of this Year accordng to Prophecy; I would reduce the Diſcourſe upon it to theſe four Heads.

1. To obſerve in a General way, and to Acknowledge Freely, what is moſt undeniably wanting in any thing, that hath yet come to paſs, of the Great Expectations according to Prophecy, as yet in this 97.

2. To preſs notwithſtanding; That due Confeſſion and Adoration be made of, and to Divine Providence in what hath Eminently been done this Year, and upon the very Time according to Prophecy; And to enquire diligently into its agreement with Prophecy.

3. To conſider what is to be expected, as Imported to us in that of our Lords Oath; That the myſtery of God ſhall be finiſhed in the Days of the Seventh Angel, when Rev. 10. 7. He ſhall Begin to ſound, by obſerving the ſeveral Applications of the Word Myſtery to Things in the New Teſtament; And ſhewing, that every one of thoſe things ſhall have their Complement, and Finiſhing from the Seventh Angel Beginning to ſound, Till the very Kingdom of Chriſt, and In it.

4. To offer the beſt Conciliating Apprehenſions, and Hopes with Relation to Time, according to Scripture, and Prophecy, between the Failure of Expectation in 97; With what is to be Expected in 97 Ending, and 98 Beginning.

1. As to the firſt Head, I muſt Humbly and Freely Acknowledge, we do not yet behold the mighty effects of the Spirit of Life from God, upon the Witneſſes in their ſufferings under Anti-chriſtian Powers; or the Univerſality of the Witneſſes of Chriſt out of their Sackcloth-ſtate, and Mournful Prophecy of the Kingdom of Chriſt in delay, and not yet being in its Illuſtrious Appearance: They have yet the Seale of Concealment on their Foreheads, and do not yet ſtand on Mount Zion with the Lamb, having his Fathers Name Conſpicuouſly written on thoſe very Foreheads, where the Seal was before. That is, there is not yet that Pouring out of the Spirit; They are not yet publickly juſtified, as the Witneſſes of Chriſt along the 1260 Years.

2. That the Stone cut out of the Mountains, that is not in Humane Hands; That is; That doth his Great Works immediately by himſelf, in breaking the Image of the Four Monarchyes in the laſt of them, and himſelf becoming a Great Mountain filling the whole Earth, hath not yet thus appear'd; muſt alſo be confeſſed.

3. That therefore the Antichriſtian, and the Mahometan State joyn'd with it, tho as a woe upon it, are not ſo broken yet, as that the Kingdoms of this World ſhould by the Ten Kings being overcome by the Lamb, be Proclaimed to be become the Kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Chriſt, and He himſelf Univerſally Acknowledged King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and his witneſſes with Him, Called, Choſen, Faithful, and known to be ſo. All which I had Hoped and Expected, ſhould have come to paſs in this Year 97: and in the Prophetical Hour, Viz. In the latter part of the Month Auguſt: Herein therefore and thus far, I moſt willingly and humbly Acknowledge my Fault and Miſtake: I come therefore to the Second Head, and that is to obſerve, how far God hath been pleaſed to own his unworthyeſt Servant this Year, and in the very time of the Year, in the Interpretation of Prophecy.

p. 3And there are two Things, which I would Remark upon, as very Eminent …iſpoſes of Providence, wherein by Regarding the Operations of the Lord, and Searching out the more hidden Things in the Works of his Hand, as thoſe who Take Pleaſure therein; We may find a very wonderful agreement of Providence, with Prophecy in this very Year, and at that Noted time of the Year.

1. The Firſt is, That ſo Illuſtrious Providential Revolution, of ſetting Peace in ſo many of the Kingdoms (into which the Weſtern Roman Empire hath ſtood ſo long divided) after ſo long a War.

2. The ſtrokes by the ſupreme ordination of Divine Government in the World, by the Hand of the Prince of Maſcovy, as a Prince of the Chriſtian Profeſſion (according to thoſe we Call) the Grecian Churches; and by the Hand of the Imperial Power, that ſubmits its ſelf to the Roman Church (as it is alſo called) and its Papacy upon the Turkiſh Empire.

And on each of theſe I would make their Particular, and Peculiar Remarks, and Firſt on the Firſt.

Rem. 1. The ſettling Peace in the Borders of any Nation, and of Nations together, after many Evils, and Haraſſings of War is a Great Mercy and Goodneſs of God to thoſe Nations, wherever It is diſplay'd. This is very eaſily Intelligible, and as eaſily Acknowledged by the Rejoycings, and Hopeful Expectations from the preſent Peace, and the Triumphs wherewith it is Receiv'd: And War is Accounted one of the Four Great Judgments of God in the World.

If we then conſider, what an unreformed Nation we our ſelves are, and how unreformed the Nations about us are; It is not according to the uſual Method of Providence to Remove Judgments without much Greater Effects of Ruine, or Reformation; What then can we think, but that God bears with Patience the Great Provocations of the Nations of Europe? Becauſe they are Kingdoms, that Peculiarly belong to the Kingdom of Chriſt; For the Lamb ſhall overcome the Ten Kings, into a Voluntary ſubjection to hisRev. 17. 14, 16.Rev 17:14Rev 17:16 Kingdom; Which appears in that, They ſhall Hate the Whore, and burn her Fleſh with Fire. I cannot but hope therefore, God ſpares them from Ruining one another, becauſe he reſerves them for that Time. Thus, becauſe he would make the Iſraelites a Type of the Kingdom of Chriſt; Altho even at the Time of their deliverance from Egypt, They Lifted up their Eyes to the Idols of Egypt, and God lifted up his Hand to Deſtroy them, yet he wrought for his Name ſake, and did not Deſtroy them; And ſo I hope he does now.

Rem. 2. It is certain according to Prophecy, Peace is a Great SignalEzek. 20. 9, 10.Ezek 20:9Ezek 20:10 of the Kingdom of Chriſt. And ſuch a Time there ſhall be, When Nations ſhall beat their Spears into Pruning Hooks, and their Swords into Eſa. 2. Mic. 4.Isa 2Mic 4Ploughſhares; Nation ſhall not Lift up Sword againſt Nation, Nor ſhall they Learn War any more; They ſhall ſit every Man under his own Vine and Figtree; Jeſus Chriſt is the Prince of Peace, ſhall be no End▪ and of the Increaſe of his Peace, even as of his Government there God will do that Aſtoniſhing Thing in the World; He will Pſal. 46. 8.Ps 46:8make Wars to ceaſe to the Ends of the Earth; He will break the Bow p. 4and Cut the Spear in ſunder, and burn the Chariots in the Fire; All the Inſtruments of Cruelty ſhall, as by Gods own Hand be brought to an utter End; He will Still All by his own Appearance, as God, when He in favour of his own People will be Exalted in the Earth; when He is with his People, as in that City, whoſe Name is Jehovah Shammah, The Lord is there.

Obr. I know it will be ſaid, There have been many times Treaties of Peace, and that have been Conſummated in an effective Peace, and yet no Kingdom of Chriſt hath ſucceeded; what Argument then can it be of ſuch a Kingdom now, That there is ſuch a Peace?

Anſw. 1. Yet every Peace is an Olive Branch, and a memorial of that Kingdom of Peace; Even as every Judgment is an aſſurance of the Laſt Judgment; and every War a Fore-runner of the Great Battel at Armageddon, That ſhall bring All Enemies under the Feet of Chriſt, and his Saints.

Anſw. 2. The certain Argument of ſuch a ſucceeding Kingdom of Chriſt does not Lye Singly in a Peace, but in a Pea…e at ſuch a Time, when by the Line of Time, the Kingdom of Chriſt is ſo juſtly to be Expected; and ſo the Line of Time, and the Peace do mutually ſtrengthen, and aſſure one another; In the wiſdom of Divine Government of the World, There was an Univerſal Peace under Auguſtus, at the Time of that Firſt Specimen of the Kingdom of Chriſt, His coming in the Fleſh: It was not by it ſelf a direct Argument of his coming at that Time; But the Fulneſs of Time for his Coming, and the Peace did mutually Corroborate one another, and give the Expectation of the Meſſiah then to appear: And ſo I hope, it will appear at this Time; As ſome Years ago, In the Light of Prophecy, I predicted; The End of this War, whether by breaking the French or by Peace, would be ſpeedily followed by the opening of the Kingdom of Chriſt.

Rem. 3. This Providential Revolution of the Peace, hath given a ſtop to the French Kings Aſpirings to Ʋniverſal Monarchy; Which as (moſt contrary to the Bo…nds and Meaſures Aſſigned Him by Prophecy, To be but one of Ten Kings and not the whole Ten, a part of the Iron and not the whole Iron; I have always with greateſt confidence, in the very height of the War aſſerte…; He could never obtain; But He would find the ſame Diſappointment, the Houſe or Auſtria found in Charl… ▪ …ifth, Retreating into Solitude after the attempt; and in His Son Philip of Spain, from that defeat of the Armada 88 Sinking lower and lower to this Day.

Now in and by this Peace, an Eminent Hand of God hath caus'd that Haughty Monarch to Acknowledge; That he had Coveted an Evil Coveteouſneſs, and Increaſed That, which was not His; and therefore, tho He hath not been ſpoiled by the Force of War, or the Prevalency of Victory; Yet He is made to find; He hath in Aſ…iring to ſet his Neſt ſo High, and to ſtabliſh an Ʋniverſal Monarchy by Blood, Laboured in the very Fire, and wearied himſelf for very Vanity; And oh, That that which follows in Prophecy, might now ſpeedily follow in Time, brought to paſs by the immediate Hand and Power of God; That the Knowledge of the Glory of the Lord might cover the Earth, as the Waters cover the Sea: And then, All that is within his Poor Servants,Hab. 2. 14.Hab 2:14 ſhould Bleſs his Holy Name: But it is not very Remarkable, p. 5that that Prince, who hath Arrogated to Himſelf in the common Language of his People; Our Monarch; as Preparatory to the Style of Ʋniverſal Monarch; ſhould ſo quietly Reſign and Give up his pretenſions; and I make no doubt, however Inſenſibly to himſelf and others, through the ſecret Force and Conſtitution of Prophecy; That the Western Roman Empire, that was under one Caeſar as ſupreme, till It ceas'd in Auguſtulus; and then was to be Variegated into Ten Kingdoms as Ten Toes under One Papal Head, or Supremacy in an Image, as Prophecy ſtyles it moſt Prophetically, (which it alſo ſtyles the Beaſt) might ſo be, till his Time, Times and Haſt a Time ſhall be Accompliſhed; When thoſe very Ten Kings, who gave their Kingdom to him, ſhall together as Ten, Recall it, and hate the Whore; As therefore Prophecy hath been in this Peace juſt to its word, They ſhall be Ten till then; So I doubt not, It will be true in their ſpeedy ſubjection to the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, whoſe Right Alone, It is, to be the truely Ʋniverſal Monarch; And this ſhall be, when the Ten Kings ſhall be thus overcome; It is therefore ſo ſignally ſet at that Time, and on that overcoming; He is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

And it is much the more Remarkable, That the Great Lord, who hath Times, even as the Hearts of Men and Princes, in his own Hand, ſhould order this Peace in the Year 1697. In which ending, I am bold yet to declare; The Times and Half Determin'd to the Papacy, Expire; So that this Year muſt be the Ending of Half Time; As then at the Beginning of Half Time, In the Wiſe and Holy diſpoſe of God; There was by the Emperor Charles V. being King of Spain, and Choſen Emperor of Germany 1519. an offer made at Ʋniverſal Monarchy, and was ſo Repreſſed, as hath been ſpoken, for the making Good of Prophecy; ſo in the lat…er End of Half Time, He hath permitted the ſame Attempt by the French King for ſome Yea…s paſt, and having wearied it all along by the oppoſition raiſ…d to it by the Confederacy, upon the very end of Half Time, this very 97, He hath by the Peace given this Boundary to it; That he may ſhew, He magnifies his Word, (and particularly of Prophecy) above All his Name;

Rem. 4. It deſ…rves juſt Reflection, That the Time of Negotiating, and Tranſacting this Peace, muſt in the neareſt and moſt Concluſive Treaties of it, have run through the Prophetick Hour▪ Viz. From Auguſt 15th to the end of that Month, and ſo into the following Month; So the publick owning and ſigning of it, was on the very 10th of the Seventh Month, the Day of the Ancient Attonement and Jubilee; and that therein God hath in ſome meaſure pleaſed to own the Reference of his unworthyeſt Servant to that very Time; Oh, that it might be an earneſt of the Acceptable Year of the Lord, as of the Jubilee of his Kingdom Approaching, though, as yet I muſt Acknowledge, much below my Hopes and Expectations; I cannot yet but add; The Proclamations of Peace in England and France, in this Month of October, Anſwer in Time in this laſt Year of Half Time, to Gods Gracious Impulſe upon the Spirit of Luther, to Proclaim an open Evangelic War on Antichriſtian Rome, in the ſame Month of the Firſt Year of Half Time, Viz. 1517. And thoſe, who Joyned to herein with him, were Called Evangelici, as in Alluſion to the Word us'd in Prophecy, for the Finiſhing the myſtery God hadRev. 10. 7.Rev 10:7 p. 6Evangelized his Servants the Prophets in, or made them Evangelics concerning, which gives great Ground of Hope, there ſhall be ſome Highly Evangelical Product of this Peace, and defyance of Antichriſtianiſm by it; Oh! Let us Humbly wait and pray for it.

Rem. 5. It is very Greatly to be remarked, that God was pleas'd in the Laſt 1688. To have made an Extraordinary (Univerſally Acknowledged to be ſo) Revolution in theſe Proteſtant Nations, of England, Scotland, and Ireland in Bar of Popery (endeavouring to return upon them) and Univerſal Monarchy; That hath been owned, confederated, and allyed with by ſome of the Greateſt Princes, that yet Give their Kingdom to the Beaſt; and hath been diſputed by the French King, from the very Entrance of it, and in continuation, till this Peace; And with whom the Abdicated King, the Late King James hath had his Reſidence ever ſince; Now that God hath been pleaſed to own the Proteſtant Prince, this Revolution brought in; to ſuſtain him, and theſe Nations in ſo Long and Expenſive a War, in the midſt of many great Loſſes by Sea, in a mutual ſatisfaction, and confidence one in another; That he hath preſerved him in ſo many Hazardous Paſſings, and Repaſſings the Sea, in ſo many Approaches of Danger, and Jeopardyes of Life (as Scripture ſpeaks) in the High Places of the Field, where his perſon was ſo conſtantly Adventur'd; That he hath been ſo ſecur'd from Private Conſpiracys, and Aſſaſſinations; and now ſo Highly Agniz'd, ſo Publickly, ſo Solemnly and Auguſtly by the very French King, who made it his Glory to diſown Him; and is Returned this very Year of 97. Safe with Publick Tryumphs and Rejoycings in the Peace, equal to the Tryumphs of a Victory, how Glorious ſoever; Oh, how many Grand Agreements hath all this with Prophecy! The attempts of Refunding Popery into theſe Nations, hath been a Deſign, as Ancient among the Depths of Satan, the Arcana Imperii, or Counſels of Antichriſtianiſm, as the ſettlement of the Reformation here, and by all Imaginable Artifices of Policy and Power; And it ſeem'd the very Criſis for it in that laſt Reign; That the moſt High decided againſt it with ſo High a Hand, was very Glorious; That God hath given ſo Great Advantages in Appearance for the Return of King James by ſuch a War, ſo Tedious, ſo Burdenſome, in ſuch an abſence of the King; And that the whole ſhould be thus reſolv'd into ſo very an Auguſt Acknowledgment by the Grand oppoſer of Him; and that the Intereſt of the ſame King James ſhould be, as it were huſh'd into ſuch a ſilence, and neglect, as now appears, and by his very ſo Great Allie, is a very Exalted Hand of Jehovah, for the Juſtification of the Reformation in theſe Nations; And that it ſhould be reſerv'd for this Year 97. Is an Honourable Character fixed upon this Year (as I hope) Immediately preceeding the entrance of the Kingdom of Chriſt.

Rem. 6. That the War hath been Carryed on by ſuch a Ballance of Equality, that, except we conſider that Great Intention of Providence, to conſine within his own Figure Allowed by Prophecy, the French King, (in which It Confederated ſo many Princes and States, however differing among Themſelves) and the ſecuring Proteſtancy to theſe Nations; Except I ſay, we conſider this; All hath been Labouring in the very Fire, and wearying the Nations for very Vanity; p. 7And yet God hath, as by an Immediate Hand of his own, Determined All into Peace; This is, I have Great Truſt; Becauſe the next Thing he will do, ſhall be, to Fill the Earth with the Knowledge of his Glory, as the Waters cover the Sea.

Rem. 7. I ſhould Rejoyce to find this Peace Propagating an Univerſal Reformation of the open prophaneſſes, and wickedneſſes of the Nations; Which the Societyes for Reformation in this City give ſome Hopeful Appearances of; and it is much to be deſired, The Power of the Magiſtrate would with it's own Authority and Influence, Encourage ſuch Honourable undertakings: And if it be not ſo, as I doubt not It will, a Greater Magiſtracy will Take the matter into its own Hand: But the very Motions however unformed, or Abortive they would, or might prove of Themſelves, are ſome Preliminary Motions to that Great Reformation, the Kingdom of Chriſt will bring in, when to the People ſhall be turned a Pure Language; And Men ſhall Fear the Lord, from the Riſing of the Sun to the going down of the ſame.

Rem. 8. It is Greatly to be Lamented, if the ſuffering Witneſſes of Chriſt, in any parts Comprehended within this Peace, have found no place of conſideration in it and Relaxation by it; But if they have not, I am the more Aſſured; It is reſerv'd for the Immediate Hand of the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, overcoming the Ten Kings, and moving them, as by an Impulſe from himſelf with the Hatred of the Whore; and He will ſhew his Servants, as a Light Ariſing in the darkneſs of their ſufferings yet continuing, the Morning Star in the firſt Dawns of his Kingdom; Till it ſhall come to the Bright Morning Star of his own Glorious Appearance in that Kingdom at the Higheſt Elevation of it.

Rem. 9. It is in the next Place of a moſt Hopeful Reflection to me, That this Peace Falls, as a Blow upon the League between the French King, and the Turkiſh Sultan, ſo as to diſſolve it; For as I have heretofore argued, ſo I ſhall now more Fully, and yet very Breifly Repreſent it: The true Account of the Viſional order of Breaking the Image, Dan. 2. Is, That the Stone ſmote the Image on its Feet of Iron and Clay Firſt, and ſo the whole was broken: This is moſt Preciſely and Definitively ſet down, v. 34. The Stone Cut out, which is not in Hands, ſmote the Image upon his Feet, which were of Iron and Clay, and Brake Them to Peices: And again, v. 35. Then was the Iron and the Clay Firſt) and All the Image Broken, ſo, that it became as the Chaff of the Summer-Threſhing Floor: This therefore from compare of one part of this Prophetick Viſion with another, and with the New Teſtament Prophecy of the Revelation, muſt be the Order The Firſt part of the Image ſmitten is the Iron Feet of the Ten Kings Rev. 17.Rev 17overcome by the Lamb, and the Called, Faithful, Choſen Witneſſes with Him; Then theſe Ten Kings, who had with one Conſent given their Kingdom and Power to the Beaſt, ſerve the Lamb by hating the Whore, and burning her Fleſh with Fire; This ſhaking, as an Earthquake, the Great City, and its Decemprincipality, or Tenfold Principality Ariſing from the Ten Kings, ſo giving their Power to the Beaſt, that Carryed Her, Falls. Thus the Clay is Broken by the Firſt Approach of the Kingdom of Chriſt, weilding the Iron, or the Ten Kings to his ſervice: But then All is Threſhed and Broken, as into Chaff, by the ſtone Becoming a Mountain p. 8fuling the whole Earth; So there remains no Power but Chriſt's, and his Saints with him, to whom the Dominion under the whole Heaven is given.

But now, v. 45. The Stone cut out of the Mountains without hands, brake in peices firſt the Iron, then nor the Clay, but the Braſs. The True Order of the Final Stroke was ſet down before, which could not be changed; what therefore is given, v. 45. muſt be ſome previous and preparatory ſtroke, that Falls upon the Iron and the Braſs in a Conjunction; and the Greatneſs, that Each▪ had by that Conjunction, comes to nothing: And by that change of the Order, this Previous Stroke is ſhaded under the Full and Final Breaking of the whole, and ſilently intimated by it. By the Iron I underſtand the French Power, in this Great Spread of it ſelf againſt ſo many of the Ten Kingdoms confederated, as it hath been of late years, and its Aſpirings to be the whole Iron it ſelf; that is, to Ʋniverſal Monarchy.

And this I look upon to be noted by the Iron in this place of Daniel; By the Braſs I Apprehend the Grecian Power, as now in the Hand of the Turk; whoſe Port is the Grecian Conſtantinople: Now then this is a private Proph… tical Watch-word of the very Time, when the whole Image ſhall be Broken; It ſhall be, when that Unnatural Conjunction between Him, who would be the whole Iron of the Feet, and who will be called the moſt Chriſtian King, and the now Belly of Braſs, the Turkiſh Power, the Profeſſed Enemy of Chriſtians, ſhall be Broken by the Stone, cut out of the Mountains, in his Supreme Providence, and come to nothing: Now this Conjunction we ſee thus brought to nothing by this Peace; the French King not able to bear up his Former retenſions by the Loſs of Turkiſh Aids; nor the Turk againſt the Emperor, by the Loſs of French Aſſiſtances. And in this very 97. why then ſhould we not look for the whole Image to be ſoon after Broken in its own Juſt Order now Firſt given? And the Strokes upon the Turk in the very Time of the Treaty are Juſtly to be looked upon as the Proclaiming his Coming to an End, and None to help Him: Now if this be a True Interpretation of this Prophetic Viſion, (and I do not ſ…e what can be objected to it) what a Great Aſſurance is it, That in this 97. the Great Change that this Ʋiſion foretells muſt needs be very near to come into effect; and who can once imagine, that ſo Divine a Viſion, ſo exactly in every Thing framed, could by Chance, and …ot without ſome Great Deſign, and Purpoſe, Tranſpoſe the Iron from the Feet of Iron and Clay, to the Belly and Thighs of Braſs, and place the Clay of the Feet between the Braſs of the Belly, and the Silver of the Breast. And I cannot but demand, what Fairer Expoſition, or Interpretation of Providenttal Event, could be given to ſuch a Prophecy? Now I muſt be bold to ſay, Whoſo hath Wiſdom, let him conſider it; The Wiſe ſhall underſtand, but the Prejudiced and the Careleſs will not understand.

Rem. 10. All this is much the more Remarkable in that Prince, who hath been the ſevere Enemy, and the open Perſecutor of the Reformation, and yet continues ſo; and therefore i… the Kingdom of Chriſt be ſo near, as theſe Compares of Prophecy give hopes; he muſt either be Removed ſuddenly by a ſtroke of Judgment, or by ſo eminent a Converſion, as Perſecuting Paul was an p. 9Hypotypoſis, or Pattern of; For he hath Raged even to Madneſs againſt the Reformation, and been Breathing out Threatnings againſt the Witneſſes of it, and ſo continues; And yet his Kingdom is one of the Te…, whoſe Kings ſhall be overcome by the Lamb, and Hate the Whore. He muſt then either be a Great Inſtance of Converting Grace, as it were from Heaven, (or of Judgment)▪ and ſeeing the God of All Grace is moſt Glorious in the Former, and the Fruit of it might be much Greater in the World; I look upon it as our Duty, to pray for it, and deſire it, if I may not ſay, to hope for it; That God, who hath bowed his Heart ſo far in the Acknowledgment of a Proteſtant Ki…g, ſo ſet up by himſelf, may pleaſe alſo to Bow his Soul to the Proteſtant Religion, and to a Zeal for it anſwerable to his former Perſecutions, and to this very day.

Now thus far I have Remrak'd upon the Firſt of the Providential Events of this Year, as it is preparatory to the Kingdom of Chriſt, according to the Interpretation of Prophecy, That Prophecyings may not be deſpiſed, but All awaken'd Earneſtly to Pray, and wait for that Kingdom; ſeeing there is ſo much to be obſerv'd in this Providential Revolution of the Peace, as to be a Door of hope, and a Day of ſmall Things; and that in this very Year of 1697. And I dare not Aſſume it to be more, I humbly confeſs, as yet; As in the Following Obſervations upon the Great Strokes on the Turkiſh Potentacy, I ſhall further Acknowledge.

I come now to the Second Grand Providential Event of this Year 1697. The ſevere Strokes, The Great Governour of the World, and Lord of Hoſts, hath cauſed by the Arms of the Czar of Muſcovy, and of the Emperor of Germany, to fall upon the Mahometan …ttoman Signiory; and to adjuſt them by Prophecy to the near Approach of the Kingdom of Chriſt.

That I may preſent this in the Cleareſt and moſt Compendious Table, I ſhall Firſt conſider Mahometaniſm in the General, as common to the Saracens and Turks; and then peculiarly, as it is now ſeated in the Ottoman Turkiſh Emp…r…, and each in ſeveral ſhort Notes of Obſervation; and Argue from them the Great Hopes, that theſe Strokes upon that Mahometan Impoſture and Tyranny, are Fore-Runners of the Final Diſſolution of it, and of the Kingdom of Chriſt, ſucceeding.

1. The very Eſſential State of this Impoſture and Tyranny, is deſign'd by God, as a Mock-Antichriſt to the Grand Roman Papal Antichriſt, a Paraſelene, or Counterfeit Moon to his Moon, even as Antichriſt is a mock-Chriſt, or in Deſpite to our True Lord Chriſt.

1. Mahomet acknowledges Chriſt a Great Prophet, even as Antichriſt does; but robs Him of the Glory of his Divinity, and of being the onelyonly Supreme, True Prophet, wherein He is an Antichriſt.

2. He Abhors Idols; Herein He mocks Antichriſtian Idolatry, but ſets up the Idol-Prophet, Mahomet; Therein He is an Antichriſt.

3. He pretends to an Ʋniverſal Kingdom; Herein He mocks the Papal Antichriſt; One by the Spiritual, the other by the Temporal Sword, pretends to an Ʋniverſal Kingdom, but both undermine Chriſt…s Kingdom, and Both are Antichriſts therein.

p. 104. He offers a Fools Paradice, and Deliverance from Future Miſery, but as Counterfeit as the Popes Deliverance from Purgatory, by his Key of the Bottomleſs Pit; Herein are they both Antichriſts, but Mahomet, as coming laſt, and upon the Papacy, is a Mock-Antichriſt, an Antichriſt in deſpite.

5. He pretends ſome Reverence to ſome of the Sacred Writings, but hath brought in a Nonſenſic Alcoran, as vain as Papal Traditions, and Oral Laws.

2. The Time therefore of the Beginning of this Impoſture and Tyranny was ſoon after the Papal Supremacy, the one at 606. the other at 622. The one the Antichriſtian, the other the Mahometan Hegire, when its Tyranny came forth; while the one laſts, the other laſts alſo; when the one ends, the other ſhall end alſo: If therefore Antichriſtian Times determine in 97. Mahometan Times ſhall determine with them; why them may we not hope, this Blow on Mahometaniſm is an Alarm-Blow upon Both Antichriſts now ready to Expire?

I come now more particularly to conſider the Ottoman Turkiſh Power, and to Remark on that, as more preciſely before us in the Events of this Year; and ſo make theſe Remarks upon it.

1. The Ottoman Power Appear'd in the Greateſt Extremity, and loweſt Condition of the Witneſſes after the Great Perſecution upon Thoſe we call the Vaudois; and the moſt cruel Slaughter of ſo many of Them: In Revenge of which, God ſent the Ottoman Power, to Remonſtrate againſt the Antichriſtian Salvageneſſes.

2. They were deſigned by God to Raiſe the Mahometan Impoſture and Tyranny, to the Imperial Throne of Eaſtern Rome, or Conſtantinople. C. 11. 45.This is expreſſed by Daniel, as the planting the Tabernacle of his Pallace between the Seas, in the Glorious Holy Mountain, ſo Honourably ſtyled, becauſe it was the City of Conſtantinople, that Firſt Chriſtian Emperor, and Great Type of the Kingdom of Chriſt; This was in the Year 1453.

3. The Ottoman Emperor, Selymus, in, or upon the Firſt Year of the Reformation, 1517. ſeized upon Judea and Jeruſalem, ſtyled by Daniel, Ch. 11. 41. the Glorious Land.

4 There is an Abſolute Determination of God; This Mahometan Ottoman Prince ſhall come to his End, C. 11. 45.

Seeing this is ſo determined, we have Reaſon to look upon this very Year as the Year of his Approaching end, on theſe Reaſons.

1. The Mahometan Ottoman Emperor, Coming in as a Judgment upon Papal, Antichriſtian Cruelty, and Advanced to the Throne of the Eaſtern Roman Empire, That he might be a Mock Antichriſt to the Grand Antichriſt in the Weſt; He muſt in all the Reaſon and Senſe of Prophecy, be Limited to the Times of the Firſt Antichriſt; Becauſe, when the Sin is Removed, The Judgment ſhall be Removed alſo; And when the True Lord and Chriſt ſhall Conſume the Great Antichriſt by the Breath of his Mouth, He will Conſume All other Antichriſts with Him: If then the Times of the Papal Antichriſt, ſhall End in this 1697. The Mahometan ſhall End in it alſo.

2. Accordingly we find; The Time Aſſigned to the Ottoman Power ſtanding prepared to obtain, and to hold in poſſeſſion that Roman Eaſtern Empire, will exactly agree from the Time of His Riſing with the End of Antichriſtian Times; For let us with the beſt and moſt of Chronologers, Date his Riſing to the Year 1300. And Prophecy Aſſigns to him for the obtaining, and holding the Grecian Empire under his Power, an Hour, a Day, a Month, a Year; Which by Fair Prophetical Computation make up 397 Years, and ſo muſt end 1697.

3. The ſeizing on Jeruſalem juſt at the Reformation, when the laſt 180 Years, or Half Time of Antichriſtianiſm entered, is a very Hopeful Argument to me, That this Ottoman Term of Power is this Year to End; For there is a Concurrence of Three Great Periods, according to that very ſeizure of Jeruſalem by the Ottoman Power in the Year 1517. Which Fall on this very Year 1697.

The Period of the Antichriſtian Times, in the laſt Half Time being Remarked as by the Reformation, ſo by the Particular ſtroke of God on the Papal Antichriſt, in the ſeizure of ſuch a Place, to which ſo High a Devotion is pretended by the Grand Antichriſt into the Hand of the Mock Antichriſt, and who Himſelf, to ſhew Himſelf a Mock-Antichriſt, made the ſame pretence of Devotion to, and at it; As Hiſtory Reports of Selymus, that Turkiſh Saltan▪ who ſeized it: And it is worthy obſervation, That the Enlargement of the Ottoman Empire at that Time, and in thoſe Parts, and Particularly on the …oly City and Land, Gave the Fair and Plauſible pretenſion to the Papal Raiſing Money by Indulgences to withſtand and reſiſt it; Which odious Cheat of Indulgences gave the Great Advantage to the Reformation, as is well known; And it gives much Encouragement to Hope; So Eminent a Conſiguration againſt Antichriſtianiſm, as of the taking Jeruſalem, and the Reformation, and the latter ſo Derived from the Former, upon the Year 1517. Gives it an undoubted Title to be the Beginning of Half Time, or the Laſt 180 Years of Antichriſtianiſm, and ſo to be at an End this 1697.

2. The Period of the Jewiſh Captivity, and Jeruſalems being Trodden under Foot of All Nations; For ſeeing thoſe Times upon Judea and Jeruſalem, are Bounded by the Gentiles Times Fulfilled, and that the Time of the Antichriſtian Apoſtacy, are peculiarly by Prophecy Branded, as Gentiles Times of Treading under Foot the Holy City: If the Antichriſtian Half Time (which is its laſt) Began 1517, and Ends 1697. Conſequently the laſt 180 Years of …ewiſh Captivity, and Conculcating, or Trampling under foot-Times muſt end, and Conſequentially alſo, Mahometan Times, that hold Jeruſalem and Judea under that Conculcation, muſt end at the ſame time too.

3. The Period of Mahometan Times Themſelves, muſt be found in this very 1697. For then the Time of Turkiſh planting the …abernacl… of his Palace, in the Glorious Holy Mountain, Ceaſes; And Conſtantinople ſhall Return to its Former Glory under Conſtantine, and be a Grand City in the Kingdom of Chriſt; The taking therefore of Conſtantinople, drew ſo near to the Time of the Reformation at the laſt Half Time of Antichriſt, to Foreſhew, Both thoſe Antichriſts of Eaſt and Weſt, ſhall be conſumed together in 1697 Ending.

4. That Complication of Power, that ſeems at this Time to be Gathering againſt the Ottoman Empire, looks like a Hopeful Symptom, Their End is now Approaching: For ſo Daniel deſcribing his End, ſays, Tydings out of the Eaſt and North ſhall Trouble Him, and then theDan. 11. ult.Dan 11 Concluſion of All is, He ſhall come to his End, and none ſhall help Him. Now, how very exactly does this agree with the preſent Juncture, Viz. The Combination of the Muſcovian Forces on one ſide with the Imperial on the other ſide, in the ſame Deſign of bringing Him down: And what may come upon Him from Poland, He is not Inſenſible of; Now All theſe Trouble Him; And that unnatural Aid He had from France is deſerting Him; So that Things make up the very Aſpect of that Prophetic Viſion of Daniel upon Him.

5. If we conſider the Muſcovian Prince; He is of that Profeſſion of Chriſtianity found among thoſe we Call the Greek Churches, who, though they are the other Wing of the Roman Eagle, or Empire, thatRev. 12. c. 13.Rev 12 Carryed the Church into the Antichriſtian Wilderneſs, and the other Horn of that Lam…, that ſpake as a Dragon, yet the Antichriſt it ſelf ſettled, in what is Called the Weſtern, or Latin Rome, and the other are not under the Black Brand of that: Theſe two parts of the Roman Empire are ſtyled in Relation to one another, The Reſt of Men; And it is ſaid of the Antichriſtian Reſt of Men, Notwithſtanding the Judgment on the Eaſtern Rome, Rev. 9. ult. c. 11. 13.Rev 9They Repented not; But of the Reſt of Men of the Eaſtern Part, when they ſaw the Judgment on the Weſtern Babylon, or Rome, they were Affrighted, and Gave Glory to the God of Heaven by Repentance, which ſpeaks to me in ſhort Prophetical Language, the Reſtitution of the Grecian Churches; And it immediately follows; The Second, that is, The Mahometan woe is paſt; I Rejoyce therefore, That God hath made uſe of a Prince of the Grecian Profeſſion, ſo Victoriouſly over the Mahometans, by whom they are now held in ſlavery.

6. The Imperial Power, though yet given according to Prophecy to the Beaſt, is yet made uſe of in the Senſe, It is ſaid; The Earth helped the Woman in Drinking up the Mahometan Flood; The Judgment falls eſpecially on the Civil, and Eccleſiaſtic Antichriſtian State, and therefore it doth its utmoſt to reſiſt it; and particularly God hath made uſe of the German Emperor, as a Bullwark of the Weſtern Roman Empire againſt the Mahometane and I hope The Empire ſhall yet become an eminent part of the Kingdom of Chriſt.

7. That Great turn God hath pleaſed to make in the Spirit, and Victoriouſneſs of the Ottoman Power, from ſo High a Tyde to ſo low an Ebb; And under this very preſent Prince, who ſeemed to recollect All its former proweſs and magnanimity, but it hath proved like a laſt effort, or as they ſpeak, like a Lightning before Death.

8. The weight and ſeverity of the ſtroke in ſo great a ſlaughter, and as by an immediate Hand of Gods own, as in Times of old on his Enemies; Terror upon them, Caſtingthem Headlong into the River, Does I hope Intimate a near approaching Final Deſtruction; And that All this is come to paſs in this Year 1697. According to the Line of Time, and in thoſe Remarkable Months we Call Auguſt, and September, and in the very prophetic Hour of Auguſt. I have ſo Remarked upon; and ſo upon the Time of the Scripture Jubilee; In All which I cannot but hope, God hath been pleaſed to take off much of the Scandal of my miſtake; And this is the Conſummating Reaſon of my Hope.

I have now diſpatched the Second Head of this Apology, and come to the Third; Or what, It is I expect, when Time ſhall be no more, but for the Finiſhing of the myſtery of God; Which I ſhall but juſt repreſent in the ſeveral uſes, the Spirit of God makes of the Word Myſtery in the New Teſtament; And ſhew, That the Myſtery of God in every of thoſe Things, ſhall be Finiſhed in the Kingdom of Chriſt, Beginning and Going on to open it ſelf into its Fulleſt Glory.

1. The Goſpel, the Comprehenſive Myſtery, the Mystery of Faith, of Godlyneſs; The Myſtery of God, of the Father, of Chriſt; With All its Divine and Glorious Truths, The Myſterys of the Kingdom of Heaven; ſhall be Finiſhed, by the Full Revelation of it in the Everlaſting Goſpel, Preached to every Nation under Heaven; And particularly in that Branch, Chriſt Received up into, or rather for Glory, Viz. The Glorious manifeſtation of Himſelf, upon which the Apoſtacy hath ſo long layn as an Eclipſe, and Delay.

2. The Myſtery of the Union betwixt Chriſt and Believers, in the Spiritual Marriage, ſhall be Finiſhed in the Bride, the Lamb's Wife, making her ſelf Ready, and the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb.

3. The Myſtery of the Gentiles, Univerſally brought in, and illuſtriouſly united as a foreign, or One Body with the Iſrael of God.

And further, The Eclipſe taken off, that is yet upon the Gentile Churches, and their return to a Full orb'd Light, according to the Promiſes made to the Churches in the Glorious Kingdom of Chriſt.

4. The Myſtery of Reconciliation, Reception, Salvation, and Fulneſs of All Iſrael, when that Full Glory of the Gentiles is; Then ſhall be a Great Appearance of the Fulfilling All the Great promiſes, and Prophecys we find in both the Old and New Teſtament to that People; when the Gentiles Times are Fulfilled, as was Noted; a Summary Aſſurance of which is the very Name of that City, The New Jeruſalem.

5. The Myſtery of the Seven Churches, as Seven Golden Candleſticks, in the midſt of which The Son of Man walks, and the Seven Stars of the Evangelick Miniſtry, ſeen in his Right Hand, in all the Glory of each; The Seven Churches, as Types of the Churches, of the New Teſtament ſucceſſively with their Angels; And comprehending under them Thoſe Grecian Churches of Aſia, All brought into the Glory and Purity of the Philadelphian Church; and the New Jeruſalem, the City of our God coming down into it, ſhall then be fully Finiſhed.

6. The Myſtery of the Antichriſtian Church, City, and the whole Hierarchy of it, with All its Abominations, ſhall be laid open, underſtood of All, and come to an utter end by the mighty Spirit of Chriſts Mouth, by the Brightneſs of his Appearance, and by the Judgments, He will execute according to Rev. 17. and C. 18. On the Womans Forehead was written Myſtery; The Myſtery of the Woman, and the Beaſt that Carryed Her, and the Judgment of the Great Whore, were made known p. 14to John by the Angel, and it ſhall be a Myſtery Finiſhed, that is, Laid open and brought to an utter End.

7. The Myſtery of the Divine will in Recapitulating, and Recollecting All Things in Heaven, and Earth in Chriſt, even in Him, as the Head; in the fullneſs of Times, of All Times (that is) in the Glorious Thouſand Years-Kingdom of Chriſt, Eph. 1. 10.

8. The Myſtery of the Living Saints changed, who ſhall Inherit the New Earth, during the 1000 Years, and walk in the Light of the New Heavens, or Jeruſalem above, in the ſight of Chriſt, and of his Saints of the Firſt Reſurrection, and in Bodys every way Proportioned to that Bleſſed State, and Healed with the Leaves of the Tree of Life; This the Apoſtle ſhews, as a Great Myſtery, 1 Cor. 15.

Now other then theſe eight Great uſes of the word Myſtery, or what is moſt clearly referring to Them, I do not find in Scripture; and ſeeing the Spirit of Prophecy hath ſo comprehenſively uſed the word Myſtery concerning its Finiſhing, and that each of theſe things is Styled Mystery in the Goſpel, and ſhall have ſo certain a Conſummation, and Complement in the Kingdom of Chriſt, We may very well Expound the one by the other, and be ſure of their coming into their Finiſhing, when Time of a former ſort, that is, of the Time, Times, and Half Time ſhall be no more; And becauſe there are ſuch direct aſſurances of the Finiſhing of each of theſe in the Prophecy of the Revelation, How clear is it!

And now I come to the Fourth and Laſt Head; To give the dueſt and juſteſt Apology concerning no more Appearance of the Finiſhing of the myſtery of God, in All theſe Great mentions of it, already in this Year 1697; And to adjuſt between the Humbleſt Acknowledgment of my own miſ-underſtanding in what Hath fallen ſo much below; and yet with equal Acknowledgment of what hath been already reflected upon to have paſſed, as an Earneſt and Pledge; And wherein yet I have ſure Grounds (as I moſt Humbly conceive and believe) in the ſure word of Prophecy concerning 97. And hereof I will give Account in this ſhort, but yet full Declaration of my ſelf, and of my Senſe herein.

The Year 1697. I muſt ſtill look upon, as I have all along Remonſtrated to be the very Year, in which the Time, Times, and Half Time of the Antichriſtian Apoſtacy, and of the 1260 Years of the Witneſſes in Sackcloth, and of the Church in the Wilderneſs are to Expire and End.

But now, whether in the Beginning of the Year 97. as I firſt Hoped, or towards the Middle of the Year, on the Twenty Third of the Month, we call Auguſt, Anſwering to the Twenty Third of the ſame Month, 476. on which the Roman Weſtern Empire ceaſed in Augustulus, as I had Entertained Hopes, when I found no ſuch Appearances in the Beginning of the Year; or that in, and with the very Ending of the preſent 1697. the aforenamed Terms Expire▪ Solomon ſays, The Deſire of a Man is his Kindneſs. I deſire with all Senſe of Unworthyneſs to ſpeak it; The earneſt deſire of my Soul in Love to the Kingdom of Chriſt, and the Hope of it deferred, making my Heart even ſick, excited my Zeal to prefer the Times, that I had any Reaſon to pitch upon, that were neareſt: And this, as I now find, produced the miſtake, which I deſire with All Self-Humiliation to confeſs before God, his People, and to own it as a Rebuke from Him; Though I truſt, in Love, that I might not truſt in my own underſtanding, or be any way Exalted in any Communications from his Word, but Lye low before Him; and that his Truth, and Wiſdom may be ſeen in my Folly and Weakneſs; and in this regard I take pleaſure in it; That his Power may Graciouſly yet Tabernacle over me, and His ſtrength be perfected in my weakneſs, and his Grace ſufficient for me; Under this Correction, I have come to conſider; That this Year 97, muſt perfectly run out, Ere the Time, Times and Half a Time, the 1260 Days, and the 42 Months End; And that, as God appointed the Beginning of the Sacred Iſraelitiſh Year, to be in the Month Niſan, or about the Vernal Equinox; And that this was the Time of the Children of Iſrael, Going out of the Bondage of Literal Egypt; So that the Slavery under Spiritual Egypt ſhould end with the Year, and Deliverance begin in 98. beginning.

2. I always Accounted; The Apocalyptical Epoch, or the Beginning of Times Given in the Prophecy of the Revelation, take Their Commencement from the Day of the Lords Reſurrection; which falls in, as is well known with the Beginning of the aforenamed Iſraelitiſh Year; and conſequently, the Beginning of the 1260 Years muſt be at the ſame time of the Year; and conſequently alſo, They muſt there end; when therefore they are ended, In the beginning of the Following Year 98. ſhall the Paſſeover from Spiritual Egypt be Celebrated by the Spirit of Life on the Witneſſes; Proportionably ſhall Follow the Pentecoſt of the Spirit poured out; Proportionably alſo ſhall follow the Fall of the Greai City in the Month call'd Auguſt, at the Ceſſation of the Beaſts Months.

3. Herein ſhall be ſeen the Exactneſs of Divine Truth, and of the Juſtneſs of Chriſt to his Oath, That there ſhould be Time, Times, andDan. 12.Dan 12 Half a Time to the utmoſt Hour; The Antichriſtian State then Ending with the End of 97. In the very Beginning of 98. The Sun of Righteouſneſs ſhall come from under the Eclipſe by the Moon of Antichriſt, and ſhine out with Healing in his Wings; and ſo Things go forward to the Kingdom of Chriſt. And then comes in the other Oath Indented with it; Time of ſuch ſorts ſhall be no more, Rev. 10.

If any ſhould ſay, How if you are miſtaken in the Beginning of 98, as you was in 97. The Anſwer I muſt make, is, I ſhould then lay my Hand upon my Mouth, and ſay with Job, I am vile; Once, yea, Twic… have I ſpoken; But I will do ſo no more: I would, through Grace, Repent, and abhor my ſelf in Duſt and Aſhes before God, as having provoked Him ſo Juſtly to Deny his Preſence and Powerful Atteſtation, to what I have declared out of his word; Becauſe He was not pleaſed to Lead me to the true Interpretation of it; And yet I can no more be perſwaded, the Appearance of that Kingdom of Chriſt, I have ſo much ſpoken of, can be far off, then I can be perſwaded, The Prophecy of Daniel and the Revelation are not true; Becauſe I find ſo Great Aſſurance, the whole Scope and Tendency, and the order of the Viſions, and ſo many and great Events Recorded in undoubted Hiſtory and Chronology, do ſo ſet it beyond all doubt, That this Kingdom muſt be near Approaching; But if the Humble hopes, I have in the End of this, and the Beginning of the Following Year, and Prayers for it be not Anſwered; I ſhall look upon my ſelf obliged, to Acknowledge; The very particular Year, when it ſhall be, God hath hidden from the moſt Humble and Induſtrious ſearch, and Enquiry into the Prophecy of Scripture concerning it, which I have the Teſtimony of Conſcience, I have waited upon Him in.

Obj. If it be ſaid, why will you then having been confeſſedly in an Error concerning the Former parts of the Year 97. Preſume on the End of it, and ſo of the Beginning of 98.

Anſw. 1. Becauſe I find all the Great Reaſons, I have Founded my Determination for 97 upon, ſtand as Good and as Firm for the End of it, and for the Entrance of the Kingdom of Chriſt in the Beginning of 98; as in any other part of 97. And in this Regard more Firm, that hereby the Computation of Years from the Reſurrection of our Lord, whith is the Apocalyptick Epoch is more Aſcertained; It is more certainly known where to Begin and where to End: Hereby it is known, the 2300 Eves, Morns of Years, Dan. 8. Begin in the Vernal Beginning of each Year, and ſo End, where the following Year Begins. That the 1260 Years of the Witneſſes Sackcloth-Prophecy, and of the Churches Wilderneſs-State muſt Begin, and End ſo; And that the Fourty two Moons of the Gentiles and of the Beaſt, muſt be Correſpondently Governed; and ſo the miſtake of Auguſt the 23 was only in a Circumſtance; as if the Lunar Years of the Beaſt, might have begun there and ſo end there. But if the Beginning of all Account of Apolyptical Time, and ſo of the End, be the Beginning of each Year in the Spring; Then muſt the Event Anſwering the 23d of Auguſt, when the Roman Weſtern Empire ceaſed, Fall into the Year, not of the laſt of the 1260, Becauſe the Time of the Months will not be run out, while the Laſt is Current; but The firſt Year of the New Era of Time, for Finiſhing the Myſtery, and when the Seventh Angel ſhall begin to Sound, muſt produce that Great Event in that Month, we Call Auguſt; and follow the Riſing of the Witneſſes in the Beginning of that Year, Anſwerable to our Lords Reſurrection; and the Powring out of the Spirit, Anſwerable to the Apoſtolic Pentecoſt; and ſo the Fall of the Beaſtian-Power, and his Months quite darkened, Anſwerable to that 23d of Auguſt when they began.

But if there had been the Change of the very Year it ſelf, and ſo the Loſs of it. The very Frame of my Scripture Line it ſelf muſt have been altered; If the Year 97 Muſt end it ſelf, that that whole-Courſe of Time may end and a new one begin in the Spring of the following Year, and the Finiſh…ng, our Lord in that Viſion, Rev. 10. ſpeaks of, Begin with it; All ſtands clear and firm in the main; And for this therefore I wait and pray.

Anſw. 2. When I duly conſider the Imperial Victory, not only as I have already ſpoken of it, but as I have kept in Reſerve till now; That it is to be compar'd, as with the Time of the Ceſſation of the Weſtern Empire of Rome in Auguſtu…us, ſo with the Determination of Prophecy upon, and with Relation to that Ceſſation, and what it Intended, and Deſigned upon it; I cannot but Acknowledge a very Extraordinary Hand of God in it; and ſuch as owns a peculiar Regard to it, and gives a Pledge of Future Expectation upon it; ſo that I cannot with Juſt Eſtimation of, and Acknowledgment due to that, lay down either my Hopes, or publick Teſtimony concerning this Year Ending, and the Following Beginning.

Firſt then, I conſider the Time of this Imperial Victory, I have ſo far, and I hope not without Great Weight Remark'd upon▪ and I find the Imperial Army ſo in motion and preparation for i…, by the moſt Certain and Valuable Intelligences we have Receiv'd of it from our 23d of Auguſt: and the very Victory it ſelf upon the 31ſt of that Month, according to our Old Style Account, within the Virge of the Prophetical Hour, that I cannot but ſtand in Humble Admiration at it: For every …ove of the Armies to that very Day of Victory it ſelf, is to be enfolded with, and united to it; So that herein is in undeniable Matter of Fact, an Agreement thus far in Time.

Obj. I know the difference of New and Old Style may be objected; and that the New Style, as being the Reformation of the Calendar is moſt Exact: And that from this the Prophetical Hour in the Sixth Month, and ſo the Imperial Victory Flyes further off by the Ten Days difference; and the Peace in the Seventh Month from the Day of Attonement and Jubilee.

Anſw. 1. But in Anſwer to this, It is nothing ſtrange, If God is pleaſed to neglect that Papal Reformation of the Calendar, as coming within that uſurpation of his Changing Times, Dan. 7. 25, Who would not Reform his Changing of Laws, even thoſe Eternal ones of the Word of God; Although he muſt needs ſee a Divine Hand had gone ſome conſiderable Number of Years before Him in ſuch a Reformation, by Luther, and other eminent Servants of his, Churches and States, viz. from 1517. to 1582. But He, who by his Great Works of Providence, changes Times and Seaſons with Supreme Right, Juſtice and Authority, or Retains them, pleaſes to Honour the Old Style with peculiar Reſpect to this Proteſtant Nation, that ſtill uſes it.

Anſw. 2. Although ſome Times God in his Great Works obſerves Time to the ſelf ſame Day; yet at other Times, He may, as he pleaſes▪ make ſome Variation; as Solomon's Beginning to Build the Temple, is dated 2 Chron. 3. 2. On the ſecond Day of the ſecond Month from the Going of the Children of Iſrael out of Egypt, which was on the Self-ſame day of the Fourteenth of the Firſt Month: This ſhews God ſometimes is pleaſed to Allo… a Latitude: I cannot therefore but moſt Humbly Adore Divine Goodneſs, in Approaching ſo near with ſo Em…nent a Providence, as ſo compleat a Victory over the Power of the Eaſtern Antichriſt, ſo Acknowledged an Enemy to the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, upon the Time Remarked by the Unworthieſt Miniſter of his Kingdom.

Anſw. … But it is much more conſiderable, That the Gracious God hath, by Striking that M…ck-Antichriſt ſo near that very Day of the Ceſſation of the Weſt…rn E…, in the Year 476; yielding Riſt to the 42 Moons of the Beaſt, and the Ten Kings; given Warning, that according to the True Adjuſtment of Lunar Time to Solar, Their Space of Reign then, ſtrictly ſpeaking, ended, and that was their laſt Auguſt of Power; and before the Coming of that Month, in the following Year, They ſhall be in Subjection to the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

Anſw. 4. It is moſt Remarkable, That the Effective Treaties of the Peace at Reſwick, and the Victory over the Turks by the Imperial Forces were very hear together, by which our Wiſe and Holy God was pleaſed to ſhow; That He would diſſolve that Union between the French King, that would have been the whole Iron, or an Ʋniverſal Monarch, as hath been ſaid, and the Braſs of the Graco-Turkiſh Potentacy, and Bring that Potentacy Low at the ſame time; and that by both He would preſerve, as hath been before Argued, the Ten Kingdoms of the We…ern Empire, till They ſhall as …en be Overcome by the Lamb at the Expiration of their Term with the Beaſt now ſo near Expiring.

And it is indeed very obſervable That as in the diſpoſes of our True God, the Power of the Eaſtern Empire was Thrown early after the ſettlement of the Ten Kingdoms in the Weſt, out of the …eſtern Empire, and the Exarchate of Ravenna made to ceaſe for many Great Services, and Ends according to Proph…cy; So although in a way of Iudgment, God hath ſuff…red Mahometan, parti…ularly Turkiſh Eruptions into it, eſpecially in Hungary, and Tranſy…vania; Yet he hath ſtill Reprima…ded the…, and the Attempts of the Greateſt Princes among them, as of their Magnificent Solyman upon …enna, was ſhamefully diſgraced; and from the Laſt Beſ…iging of it in the Year 80 That Empire hath been Tottering and Shaking: Be…auſe t…erein it hath dared to paſs the Bounds ſet it by Proph…cy; Although it hath entered into the Holy Land, Egypt hath not eſcaped, Ethiopia hath been at its ſteps; Yet it never could ſtretch its Hands, as over other Countreys, Or overnow to Vienna, m…ch leſs to Rome carried Alought by the P…pal …eaſt. This Stroke therefore hath ſo overtaken and ſurrounded the Turkiſh Armies in …ungary, as if God would give Teſtimony; That at the ſame time He preſerved the Ten Kingdoms from the Aſpirings of an Ʋniverſal French Mon…chy by the Peace▪ He would alſo Vindicate Th…m from the Overſpread of a Mahometan Turkiſh Overfl…w. In all which the wonder…ul Doings of our Great, and Holy God, ought to be Triumph'd in by Al… His Servants; and moſt eſpecially by the Un…orthieſt of his Servants in the Sure Word of Prophecy, as happy Forebodes of his Kingdom at the End of 97. and the …eginning and Going on of 98

And now upon All that hath been ſpoken, I cannot but Rejoyce, in Recalling that Proph…cy I have …ome Years ago in a former …reatiſe enlarged upon; Found in the Study of …uſtus L…pſi…s, Ann 1606. and that hath been near Fifty Years Extant in the Expoſition of D… M…yer on thoſe Books of Scripture, called, The ſmall Prophets; which I will again here Tranſcribe, for more univerſal Notice, becauſe I Know It to be …ounded on Greateſt Reaſon of Scripture, and Aſſured by the Chrono…ogy of Prop…etic Events, and therefore I cannot but Think the Compoſer Aſſiſted by a Prophetic Spirit.

The Original Prophecy.

Poſt Mille Expletos a Partu Virginis Annos,

Et poſt ſexcentos Rurſus ab Orbe Datos:

Nonageſimus octavus, Mirabilis Annus

Ingruet; Is ſecum Gaudia Laeta Fcret.

Corruet Hoc Anno Turcarum Inviſa propago,

Roma Tuum in Libris Fabula Nomen Erit.

Omnia Tunc-Ibunt Munde, ſurſum, at que Deorſum

Imperia, ut populos ſceptra Novella premant:

Ʋt que ſuum cunctas Verbum Diffundat in or as

Chriſtus; & Imperitet Nomine Ʋbi que ſuo.

The Tranſlation.

From Virgins Son Thouſand Years when Told,

And after them a Hundred more are Roll'd,

Then Ninety Eight a Year of wonders comes,

And Joys on Joys it heaps to vaſteſt Summs:

The Hated ſtem of Turks that Year ſhall Fall,

Oh Rome, in ſacred Bo…ks Foretold Men All

Shall Call thy Name that Lye; Earths Empires move

Their upſide down; a Novel Empire proves

The Ʋniverſal Monarchy; Then Chriſt

To tb' Everlaſting Goſpel giving R…ſt,

Shall through All Tongues and Kindreds it diffuſe,

And for Imperial ſtyle his own Name uſe.

I would now conelude all, with earneſt deſires of the conſtant Fervent Prayers of the Servants of God, for the ſpeedye… Anſwer of that Petition; Thy Kingdom Come; Come Lord Jeſus Come quickly; and …ith my Humbleſt requeſt in ſome Variation from the Apoſtles Words; Let no M…n trouble me; For I bear upon my Mind and Condition, the Stigmata, or marks of the Kingdom of Chriſt yet in Delay: Upon the Account of which I can in ſome meaſure ſay; The preſent State of this World is Crucified to me, and I to it.

THE END.