The Person and Period of the Antichrist, Discourse · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
329. THe 4th Opinion to be refuted in this Negative part is, the whole Computation (which all thoſe learned and holy Men aforeſaid have made) that hath univerſally (as one man) faln ſhort of the truth, both thoſe that hath calculated by Daniel, and thoſe by John diſtinctly, yea and thoſe, by both jointly. None of them reckoning Antichriſts Term beyond 1666. Y. which is now expir'd, yet Antichriſt lives, and the Seat of the Beaſt ſtands. This Confutation is not by me, but by time (the beſt Interpreter of this Book) only ſome of them hath a Reſerve of 45 Years.
330. Had not time it ſelf (which brings forth the moſt infallible Comments upon abſtruſe Prophecies: yea, turning dark Prophecies into plain Hiſtorie) broken the Ice for me, in my praevaricating from their Opinions,; I ſhould not have adventur'd to have grappl'd with them, for 'tis Impar congreſſus [an unequal match] as that of Troitus with Achilles, eſpecially with them all at once. If Hercules (himſelf) may not contend with two at once, much leſs poor I (who am [foreign] the leaſt of Saints, and the greateſt of Sinners) may contradict ſuch great Lights of the Church; famous in their Generation, and Men of renown: That was but a ridiculous Confutation of Bellarmine by two Words. [Mentiris Bellarmine] and ſuch an one might mine (of thoſe bleſſed Souls) ſeem to be, had not the iſſues of Providence made for me an unanſwerable Argument againſt them.
331. Notwithſtanding thoſe eminent Servants of Chriſt have ſeem'd to miſs the Mark, and their Conjectures do (none of them) hold Conſonancy with preſent diſpenſations of Time and Providence: yet may we find out ſome Salvo's (beſides the Reſerve of 45 Y. hereafter to be ſpoke of in Paragr. 441. whereby they may be brought of from any diſgracefull miſtakes; as 1ſt. The uncertainty of Chronologies. 2ly. The Variety of Computations from ſeveral Periods of Antichriſt. 3ly. The difficulty of computing the Time both of the Churches bondage in Egypt, and of her Captivity in Babylon, though the Period of both was plainly recorded.
332. Of all thoſe I ſhall ſpeak in Order (to ſay nothing of the Sobriety of thoſe holy Men in their Conjectures, and their diſclaiming all confidence therein) which ſhall be as a Prologue to the poſitive part that is next to be ſpoken to, wherein I ſhall lay down my own Apprehenſions, and yet not be too poſitive, nor peremptory or dogmatical therein: but ſo far as I think, I have the mind of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 2.16. & 7.6.
333. Firſt of the uncertainty of Chronologies. A miſtake may fall out either ſooner or later in thoſe Computations, from the vulgar Reckoning of the Y. 1666. It may fall over this account (that is common) as well as under, becauſe Chronologers confeſs themſelves, that the vulgar account of Years from Chriſt hath not been certainly preſerved. This is teſtified by Arnobius in his Apology [Trecenti ſunt anni fermè minus vel plùs aliquid ex quo coepimus eſſe Chriſtiani] about 300 Y. under or over. If the preciſe point of Time could not be determined then (ſo near Chriſt) without difficulty, much more afterwards, when the Hundreds became a Thouſand, &c.
334. The Computation of Time from the Creation of the world to Chriſt hath been made in much variety: we find above twenty ſeveral accompts thereof (differing one from another) in Alſteds Encuclopaedia, pag. 2993. now if there were ſuch uncertainty in that Chronology before Chriſt (wherein the Records of the Old Teſtament go all along, as a thread for guidance in this Labyrinth) how much more in this Chronology ſince Chriſt (which hath not that advantage of the Scripture Chronicle to guide it beyond a 100. Years) if there were many years Variety in that, how much more in this.
335. Of all kinds of Learning, Chronology was rudeſt in the Primitive times, ſo that in the firſt Centuries after Chriſt there is much obſcurity; few Chriſtian Chronologies were then preſerved, for the Pagans that were cruel to kill the Authors, would not be ſo kind as to preſerve their Books. Baronius (himſelf) deſpairs of giving any perfect Story of this time, and Parker compares it to Archimedes Sepulchre, which was ſo over-grown with Weeds, that Cicero could not get a perfect knowledge of it, ſo (ſaith this good Man) Antiqua adeò Temporis longinquitate exeſa ſunt & Antichriſti dumetis obſepta, ut haud ea attingamus. We cannot get an Infallible account thereof.
336. That there is difference in Chronology appears in this, that Helvicus and others Reckons two Years ſhort of the Vulgar, as 1664. for 1666. there be other Chronologers that Reckon as much over, as 1666. for 1664. and it comes to paſs in their computing a Princes Reign, a whole Year is allowed to the beginning of his Reign, and a whole Year to his ending; though another begin in that Year or the laſt Year of the Predeceſſor made but one with the firſt of the Succeſſor: This brings a variation in Chronologies, even in latter times, (beſides the obſcurity of former times) So that 4. or 5. Years difference breaks not the Square.
337. I come 2ly. to the 2d. Salvo, taken from the ſundry Periods of Antichriſt, and that in a two fold Reſpect; (1.) In reſpect of his Riſe, and (2ly.) In reſpect of his Ruine: in regard of his Riſe there be various Reckonings; (1.) Some Reckon the 42. Months, from Antichriſts Conception, (2ly.) Others from the ſharp Throes in the Womb of Rome before his Birth; (3ly.) Others again do accompt from his Birth and breaking out into the World: There be ſome (4ly.) that Reckon from his aſcending the Throne; Others (5ly.) From his higher advancement; and (laſtly) Some from his very foreign, the Top-gallant of his Luciferian Pride, and then was he both Riſen and Reveal'd indeed.
338. No wonder then if from thoſe ſeveral Epocha's or Periods of his Riſe, many good men have made various Calculations of thoſe 42. Months, eſpecially if we conſider alſo; (2ly.) The ſeveral Periods of his Ruine to be Reckon'd to; as 1ſt. Of his Seat and Kingdom under the 5th. Vial; 2ly. Of his Perſon under the 6th. and 3ly. The utter Extirpation of all Antichriſtianiſm, under the 7th. Vial: Thus both a differing (Terminus a quo) and a differing (Terminus ad quem,) muſt yield various Calculations.
339. The 3d. Salvo is the difficulty of Computing the Time, both of the Egyptian Bondage and Babyloniſh Captivity, where Chronology is infallible, as compoſed by the Holy Ghoſt; 1. Of the Bondage of Egypt: there be two Computations of this, one is 400. Years, Gen. 15.13. Act. 7.6. and the other is 430. Years, Exod. 12.41. Gal. 3.13. Now the reaſon of this difference, is the different placing of the Foot of the Accompt; for the firſt accompt begins at the Birth of Iſaac, which according to ſtrict Calculation, makes 405. which broken Number is omitted in the whole, for in a great Number, ſo ſmall a Number comes under no particular Accompt, as we ſay the 70. Interpreters uſually; whereas they that turn'd the Hebrew Bible into Greek were 72.
340. But the 2d. Accompt begins, from Gods promiſe of Canaan, (made firſt to Abraham in the 75. Years of his Age, Gen. 12.7. and upon his firſt paſſage into Egypt, v. 10.) which was 25. years before the birth of Iſaac, compare Gen. 12.4. with Gen. 21.5. Now how it came into Moſes heart to Viſit his brethren, is hard to ſay: 'tis ſaid, he ſuppoſed that his brethren would underſtand, that God by his hand, would deliver them at that time, which was 40. years before the true expiration of the promiſe: whether Moſes were at that time acquainted with this promiſe throughly, and with the true Period of it, (becauſe he wrote the Book of Geneſis (as tis thought) in Midian) or he miſtook the time of its Expiration, is not very eaſie to determin.
341. To find out the true and undoubted Period of this bondage in Egypt, was not eaſie in Moſes time without a Divine Revelation, not only becauſe of the variety of accounts, (as aboveſaid) but alſo from the obſcurity of that Word in Gen. 15.13. and Act. 7.6. (They ſhall afflict them (or evil intreat them) 400. Years) as if they ſhould be in bondage and afflicted for ſo long a time: whereas it appears, that the one half of this time was ſpent before Iſraels going down into Egypt: only 60. years in tolerable Servitude, and after that 80. years more under intolerable Tyranny, falling out within the 400. years, yet not laſting ſo long.
342. Secondly, as to that Captivity in Babylon, God told his People that it ſhould laſt 70. Years, Jerem. 25.9,12.29.10. and at the end of that Term, they ſhould be ſet free; but where to fix the head of this accompt and from whoſe Reign, or what year to Commence the Computation: there is not a little Controverſie, (even to this day) Some conceiving that thoſe 70. years begin at Zedekiahs Captivity, (becauſe then Jeruſalem was utterly deſtroyed) and tis ſaid, that the Land ſhould enjoy her Sabbaths in her deſolations thus long, 2 Cron. 36.21.
343. Secondly, Others reckon them from the 4th. of Jehoiakim; becauſe tis the date of Jeremys Prophecy concerning this Term, Jer. 25.1. about which time Nebuchadnezzar (giving a great Foil to Pharaoh-Necho) Invades Judea in his way homeward, takes Jeruſalem, and carries Daniel and others Captive, Dan. 1.1,3,4. and Jer. 46.2. There is yet a 3d. Opinion concerning this 70. years, (which is moſt probable) to wit, the commencing of this accompt between both the aforeſaid, at the Captivity of Jeconiah, Jer. 22.24.26. Eight years after the latter of thoſe Terms, 2 Kings 24.8.16. for then all but the poorer ſort were carried Captive; and the Prophet Jeremy reckons from that Captivity, in Chap. 29.1,2.
344. Thoſe ſeveral Computations muſt needs trouble the Jews, who were careful enough (it ſeems) to number thoſe Years, Zech. 1.12. eſpecially if it be granted that there were Two 70: years mention'd, to have two ſeveral Periods; the One to end in the firſt year of Cyrus, and the other (beginning at the Eleventh year of Zedekiah) to end at the 2d. of Darius, as Zech. 1.1. with v. 12. Intimates. This diverſity would (doubtleſs) not only puzzle the ordinary Jews, (with their Prieſts and Levites, who ſaid Hag. 1.2. Sometime, the time is not yet come) but even Daniel himſelf (in his conſulting with Books, Dan. 9.1,2.) had he not been an Extraordinary Prophet.
345. And we do not find that this Daniel return'd with the reſt from the Captivity, (not upon that ſordid account that the poſterity of Selah did, who preferr'd their Service to the King of Babylon, above the Priviledges of the Land of Promiſe, 1 Chron. 4.22,23. nor becauſe he doubted the time was not yet come, as thoſe forenamed) but to promote the cauſe of Gods People (in his old age) which met with many obſtructions for a Eleven years, from the firſt of Cyrus, to the ſecond of Darius Hyſtaſpes, and which made the People ſay, (the time is not yet come, Hag. 1.2.) they had ſeveral Returns; One under Zerubabel, Ezr. 2.2. Another under Ezra, Ezr. 8.1. (beſides that of Nehemiah) all which made the Accompt obſcurer.
346. It follows then, if there were ſo much difficulty in computing thoſe Numbers, (both of Iſraels bondage in Egypt, and of their Captivity in Babylon, whereof there were infallible Chronologies, and infallible Prophets to interpret them) If (I ſay) there were any miſtakes then, about the commencement and determination of thoſe years, (as the time is come, and the time is not come) it muſt not be wondred at now, if ſo many Learned men have miſtaken in the Calculation of thoſe Apocaliptick Numbers, wherein (beſides their own fallibility in placing the head of their Accompts) the Uncertainty of Human Hiſtory, makes it more difficult.
347. And here I ſhall take occaſion to ſhew, that Antichriſt is not look'd on as a domeſtick Foe, (according to the Notion in Paragr. 304) for his afflicting the Church, is compared to the bondage of Egypt, and Captivity of Babylon, (both which were Extrinſick, not Intrinſick Foes) hence the Plagues on the Kingdom of the Beaſt, bears proportion with thoſe on Egypt: Compare Revel. 16.2. with Exod. 9.10.11. Deut. 28.27.35. and Revel. 16.12. compared with Jerem. 50.38. and 51.32. beſides Rome is call'd Egypt and Babylon; Yea, and Romaniſts are call'd Gentiles, (which are not domeſtick Foes) Revel. 11.2. being Idolaters as they were.
348. Now come I to the poſitive part, which I call ſo, as it is contradiſtinct to the negative (which was laſt diſcuſs'd) not becauſe I intend to be poſitive or peremptory herein, but rather, laying aſide both Confidence and Curioſity, I ſhall declare what I judge moſt probable, and conſonant to Scripture (about the fall of Antichriſt) with all ſobriety; not ſo much Thetically, as Hypothetically. Not by Poſitions ſo much as by Suppoſitions; and the cogent neceſſity hereof lays in thoſe 3 Salvo's forenamed, to wit, the uncertainty of Chronology, the variety of Periods, and the difficulty (even) of Scriptural Computations expreſly declared by God, and now already fulfilled by him.
346. If there be controverſie about beginning thoſe Accounts (though of Diſpenſations that are paſt, and of Promiſes that are fulfilled) amongſt the beſt Chronologers at this day: How much more difficult muſt it needs be, to pitch upon a certain period of Time for the fall of Antichriſt, which is a diſpenſation yet to come, and the promiſe hereof only expected to be accompliſhed. The higheſt attainment of notions herein, can but amount to a probable Conjecture, and the many Miſtakes of good Men (that are extant at this day) doth much confirm it, [Aliena errata me cautum faciunt.] Other mens miſtakes make me wary.
350. To find out therefore by Scripture-light what I conceive moſt probable about this great Subject, I ſhall wave thoſe numbers of Daniel (which ſo many have inſiſted on, as before manifeſted) becauſe they are obvious to ſundry Exceptions, (As that they have already had their accompliſhment in Antiochus, &c.] and keep to the Apocaliptick number, againſt which no ſuch exception can be made.
351. The Apocaliptick Number being taken for granted, to hold out the undoubted Term or Leaſe of Antichriſts Reign in the world, to wit, 42 Months which (being diſſolved by Reduction into days, allowing 30 days to a month, according to the old account) make up the juſt ſum of 1260 Days. Thoſe two Computations (of 42 Months and 1260 Days) being granted to be one and the ſame, for though they be mentioned apart in Rev. 12.6. & ch. 13.5. yet are thoſe two numbers put together in Rev. 11.2,3. that by this linking them together all doubt might be taken away in accounting the 42 Months to be the ſame Computation with 1260 Days.
352. And it being taken [pro Conceſſo] likewiſe, that thoſe 1260 Days are not Solar days (either Natural of 24 hours, or Artificial, from Sun-riſe to Sun-ſet) but Prophetical days, as in Daniels Week or 7 Days, which ſignifie 7 Years. Dan. 9.24,26. So 30 Days for 30 Y. and 1260 Days for 1260 Years (as 70 ſeven-nights of Days ſignifie in the Prophet 490 Y.) thus alſo in Ezek. 4.5,6. and Num. 14.34. ut ſupra. Upon this Hypotheſis I build my Conjecture about the Ruin of Antichriſt, granting him (according to Gods Leaſe to him) 1260 Y. to continue in the World.
353. Now for guiding us in this intricate Labyrinth of Reckoning the continuance of Antichriſts Kingdom, the Holy Ghoſt hath given us ſome certain Hints and Intimations, which (like Ariadne'e Threed) may help us herein: for the greateſt knot of difficulty in this Work hath evermore been acknowledged, to find out where to foot the account. Now may we but meet with direction from Scripture, where the Epocha or Root of this Account muſt begin, it will be manifeſt enough where to end it: namely at the Expiration of thoſe 1260 Years.