Works, Book 4 · Letter 23
EPISTLE XXIII.
Dr. Twisse his Third Letter to Mr. Mede, touching some obscure passages in Daniel.
Worthy Sir,
I Am sorry you are offended to have those your learned Discussions of that difficult place in Daniel, touching the LXX weeks, communicated. I confess I travell'd not a little for the gaining of them; first at Oxford, where I first discovered some track of them; then at London, by my good friend Dr. Meddus his means, first with Mr. Mason my good friend and ancient acquaintance, than with Mr. D. What account soever you make of them, I assure you I shall make never a whit the less reckoning of your learned pains. Good reason your account should proceed according to the exactness of your own judgment in these Studies; but to me truly they are rare notions: The rather, because I perceive your care is equal in maintaining congruity both with the Hebrew Text, and with the computation of years upon su…h grounds as the world affords. Yet as in the course of your contemplations you should light upon any further or fuller satisfaction, I should think my self very happy to have my desire satisfied in being made partaker of them; and of the opinion of that most reverend Prelate Dr. Usher, the Lord Primate of Armagh, concerning the same, which you gain'd of him by conference. Otherwise I shall bethink my self of a course to obtain it from himself, which I conceive to be very possible more ways than one.
I desired by Dr. Meddus to obtain your interpretation of three particulars in Daniel. Dan. 7. 12. As concerning the rest of the Beasts, they had their dominion taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. Conradus Graserus, in his Historia Antichristi, seems to interpret it of the lasting of each of the three first national Monarchies, after the death of each first Monarch; which in my judgment is as appliable to the fourth Beast as to the three first. The other is, Dan. 7. 8. touching the little Horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up: which Graserus applies to Mahomet, and his rending of three Provinces from the Roman Monarchy, namely, Syria, Egypt, and Africa. I had rather understand it of Antichrist, as Moulin doth. But whether it be of Provinces rent from the Empire by Antichrist, or by others about his rising and what they are, I am to seek. And of the reconciling of this with that Rev. 17. 12. where it is said, that the ten horns are ten kings, which receive power as kings one hour with the Beast. Good Sir, pardon my over-great boldness.
I have sent my Copy of your Paraphrase of the last of Peter, and your Discourse of that Fiery judgment, to be considered of as you think good, and according to your motion. When Peter saith, His beloved brother Paul in all his Epistles speaks foreign he addeth,*See this [foreign] explained by the Author in his Paraphr. on 2 Pet. 3. ver. 16. The explication of which verse was written by Mr. Mede in Dr. Twisse's Manuscript, and not extant in the former Editions, foreign are some things foreign not foreign, though some few Copies read foreign, as Beza observeth; yet little reason that should carry it. Hemingius reads foreign, and for the perverting of those things, gives instance in the Millenaries. But if the embracing of that opinion from a Text of Scripture were the corrupting of it, were not Peter himself far more liable thereunto in this Epistle than Paul? I know some to the contrary have observed something in Paul against the opinion of the Thousand years Regnum Sanctorum, as namely Piscator: I have heard of no writer that from Paul's Text hath pleaded for it. I looked you would have noted something concerning foreign, which to my judgment seems a singular phrase.
I will observe carefully to retain your LXX Weeks by me without communicating them to any. As for Doctor Potter, he hath seen, upon my knowledge,See Book III, pag. 612. your Specimina upon the Seals and Trumpets, as also your Generals, and, if I be not deceived, that of Regnum Lapidis and Regnum Montis in Daniel. The rest I will communicate unto him very shortly; as Placita Iudaeorum, and your Notes upon Iustine, or what else soever you shall desire, either to him or any other; and that in your own Name, that he may know your good affection towards him, by your desire to gratifie him in such special pieces of no vulgar contemplation. I desire to commend your self and worthy studies to the blessing of God, and rest,
Newbury, March 5. 1629. Your very loving Friend much obliged, W. Twisse.