The Revelation Unveiled, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. Of the Epocha of the Myſtical Numbers.
Rule 7. THat the 42 months, the time, times, and half, and 1260 days did in all probability begin before Ann. 400.
Here I muſt premiſe, or take three things for granted.
1. That thoſe various numbers are the ſame meaſure of time diverſely computed, they begin and end together: for as the Witneſſes Prophecying in ſackcloth is 1260 days, Rev. 11. 3. So the cauſe or means of it was the Gentiles treading the Holy City under foot 42 months, v. 2▪ which being reſolved into days (30 days to every month) is the ſame time. And as the Womans being in the Wilderneſs is ſaid to be 1260 days, Rev. 12. 6. So the ſame Wilderneſs ſtate is expreſſed, v. 14. by the time, times, and half, and one being reſolved into the other explaineth Dan. 7. v. 25. and 12. 7. which otherwiſe would have remained very dark; now plainly [time] is a Prophetical year; [times] two years, and [half] half a year, (as Dan. 4. 16▪ 23, 25, 32.) which is the ſame with 1260 years. And the Beaſt alſo having 42 months aſſigned to him for like work, Rev. 13. 5. it ſtrongly proveth that all theſe are equal numbers, and of the ſame date.
2. That they are not taken indefinitely for an uncertain or long time, but definitely, for a certain determined time: For though round numbers, as 10, 100. &c. may be indeterminately uſed, yet ſuch broken numbers cannot be ſo taken for an uncertain time, without ſpecial reaſon enforcing it. And ſeeing three ſeveral expreſſions are uſed five times (Rev. 11. 2, 3. and 12. 6, 14. and 13. 5.) to ſet forth the ſame ſpace of time, and all of them broken numbers, it muſt be a certain definite time; elſe why is it 1260, and not 2000 days, or 42 months, rather than 40 or 60. or time, times, and half, rather than four times? and what difference were there between the 1290 and the 1335 days, Dan. 12. 11, 12. or how could a head of account be laid down, v. 11. and that purpoſely in anſwer to that queſtion▪ v. 6. how long ſhall it be to the end of theſe Wonders, if they were an uncertain number which no account could be made up from?
3. That they are not Natural or Common Days or Months, but Prophetical, every day noting a Year; as Numb. 14. 33, 34. Ezek. 4. 5, 6. Dan. 4. 16, 23, 25, 32. and Dan. 9. 24▪ 25, 26, 27. which laſt are 70 Weeks of Years reaching to the Meſſias; when natural days are intended there is a note of diſtinction, as of Evenings and Mornings, Dan. 8. 4, 14, 26. which concern the Hee-Goat, v. 8. the King of Graecia, v. 21. but thoſe in the Revelation cannot be natural days, or only three years and half, for the Beaſt is of long continuance, and hath been hundreds of years in the work of the 42 Months, treading down the Church, Rev. 11. 2. and his Wounding and Healing, Rev. 13. and the Earths wondring after the Beaſt, and his being ridden by Myſtical Babylon, ſo as to have all Nations Drunk with the Wine of her Fornication, Rev. 17. 2, 3, 4, 5. hath been hundreds of years, and the Churches Sack-cloth State very long; theſe things cannot be confined to 1260 natural days, but muſt be ſo many years.
Many have been miſtaken in their Computations, and therefore I would not be too poſitive therein, but in probability thoſe Days and Months began before Ann. 400. this appeareth diverſe ways.
1. The 42 Months and 1260 days muſt begin after the utter dethroning of the Dragon, or caſting down Pagans from their Imperial Seat and Worſhip: for upon that provocation and the triumph, the Beaſt as his Succeſſor driveth the Church into the Wilderneſs for ſuch a time, Rev. 12. 6, 13, 14. They cannot begin upon his firſT overthrow by Conſtantine the Great, but ſo as his …l…ce was no more found in Heaven, v. 8. and therefore not till after Julian, who was the laſt profeſſedly Pagan Emperor, and reigned Ann. 360 or not long after, and theſe Days muſt begin after this, and not before, for the Horns were not Crowned, and in the Work of the Beaſt till then, yet before Ann. 400.
2. The 1260 Days had their beginning ſoon after the firſt riſing of the Ten-Horned Crowned Beaſt: For, the 42 Months are aſſigned or allotted to him, Rev. 13. 1, 5. power was given him to do 42 Months; he being of ſuch a Savage Nature, v. 2. like a Leopard, a Bear, a Lion, would take the firſt opportunity offered for being in his Work; there is no evidence that he delayed till the deadly Wound was made, much leſs to the time of Healing, which was hundreds of years after. His receiving his Power, and Throne, and great Authority, v. 2. (whence enſued the Worſhiping him, v. 4.) is mentioned before the deadly Wound; but that Wound being given ſoon after his firſt riſing, that is the reaſon why ſo little of his Work is mentioned till after that; yet doubtleſs he was found in it ſoon after his firſt riſing or before Ann 400.
3. Some ſay that the 1260 Days probably muſt ſo begin, as Daniels 1290 days may expire or end with them, and ſo begin in likelineſs before Ann. 400.
Daniel hearing of a time of unparallelled trouble, and that then his People (the Jews) ſhould be delivered, Dan. 12. 1. enquireth v. 6. How long ſhall it be to the end of theſe Wonders? the anſwer was, in two branches, the one by a Gentile number [of time, times, and half,] v. 7. which is the ſame with 1260 days. Daniel not underſtanding enquireth again after the end, v. 8. and hath an anſwer again, v. 11, 12. in two branches; the former is by 1290 days, which diſcovereth when the time, times, and half were to end, elſe it were no explication thereof, ſeeing they are different times, cannot begin and end together. And whether they end with the 1260 days or not, yet he giveth a direction when thoſe 1290 days are to begin v. 11. from the time that the daily Sacrifice ſhall be taken away and the abomination that maketh deſolate ſet up, ſhall be 1290 days▪
Now this muſt be either the Epiphanean or a Roman abomination; there is no third imaginable to make the Epocha.
I cannot think that the Epiphanean, i. e. When Antiochus Epiphanes prophaned the Jewiſh Temple, 167. years before Chriſt, is intended: For the abomination of deſolation in Daniel is mentioned as to come, Mat. 24. 15. in words agreeing not only to Dan. 9. 27. but as aptly to Dan. 12. 11. where the time, times, and half, to be explained, clearly refer to the fourth Monarchy. And it is as rational that he ſhould look back to another Viſion, given to himſelf as to another third Monarchy from the fourth. And if we begin the 1290 days at Antiochus Epiphanes, they muſt end about Ann. 1123. where was no ſuitable event for their expiration; ſome would have it to be, the firſt Revelation of Antichriſt. But it is an anſwer to Daniels queſtion which twice was not concerning the beginning or revelation of him, but the end of thoſe Wonders, v. 6, 7. And beſides, the Revelation of Antichriſt was long before Ann. 1123. if not Ann. 606. yet to be ſure when Eerengarius and others openly witneſſed againſt him, An. 1049. Neither ſhould the 1335 Days then uſher in Bleſſedneſs, (as v. 12.) but great Perſecution.
It muſt then refer to a Roman Abomination; not at Titus and Veſpaſian about An. 70. Mat. 24. 15, 16. compared with Luk 21. 20, 21. for then not only the 1290. but alſo the 1335, were expired long ago, and yet the Bleſſedneſs entailed is not come.
It remaineth then, that it muſt either be from the Antichriſtian Abomination, viz. from the taking away of the true Goſpel-Sacrifice, and ſetting up the Abomination of Myſtical-Babylon, making deſolate, Rev. 17. 19. and 19. v. 19. and this ſeemeth not to be intended; for Daniel uſing that Phraſe two or three times, never applieth it that way, nor doth he, or John, aſſign any ſuch Number as 1290 days to her, or to the Beaſt that carrieth her; yet if other accounts fail, this muſt ſtand; becauſe God is true.
Or it muſt be the Julian Abomination; thoſe days cannot begin ſince upon any Jewiſh account, for there hath never been any Jewiſh Temple ſince to ſacrifice in or at and to be taken away. Alſo that Stupendious Diſpenſation in the time of Julian, ſeemeth to many ſutable for the 1290 days (a Jewiſh, not a Gentile Number) to begin with: For, he armed the Jews againſt the Chriſtians, demanded why they did not uſe Sacrificing, ſeeing the Law commanded it? When they anſwered, it was permitted to them only to Sacrifice in one place, the Temple. Then ſuddenly he commanded the Temple to be Rebuilt, and by terrible Earthquake, Thunder, Lightning and Fire, the Foundation Stones of the Temple (till that day unſtirred) were thrown out of their places, and their Tools and Inſtruments burnt up, ſo as Cyril Biſhop of Jeruſalem then remembred the Propheſie, that there ſhould not be one Stone of the Temple le…t upon another, Matth. 24. See Socrat. lib. 3. c. 17. or 20. Ammianus Marcellinus, who lived in the very time of Julian, lib 23▪ c. 1. ſaith, That certain flaming Balls of Fire iſſuing near unto the Foundations, and making many terrible Aſſaults, conſumed ſundry times the Workmen, and made the place unacceſſible. Now, to attempt to re-edify a Jewiſh Temple purpoſely for Jewiſh Worſhip, and Sacrificing in Goſpel Times, and that in direct Oppoſition to Chriſt and Chriſtianity, thereby to take away the true Goſpel-Sacrifice and Worſhip, was a heighth of Abomination, and ſuch as in a miraculous way brought Deſolation: and although there be no account of any Sacrifice then offered, yet it was deſigned, and the Temple then being made utterly deſolate, hence the daily Sacrifice (which depended upon the Temple, Dan. 12. 5, 6, 7.) muſt needs be taken away alſo. And though Julian was not perſonally or with an Army in the holy Place or City; yet then he perfected the Deſolation begun in the time of Titus and Veſpaſian by his Edict about the Third Year of his Reign. Am. Marcell. lib. 23. c. 1. 6.
And this is ſtill the more conſiderable in that the Abomination of Pagan Worſhip being ſet up about the Second Year of his Reign, the Lord made it deſolate alſo by a miraculous Earthquake or Fire; the Ethnick Temple in Delphos was overwhelmed and burnt down when Julian had ſent a Legate to offer Sacrifice therein, and to conſult with the Oracle of Apollo there, of the Event of the Perſian War. Chron Carion. l. 3. Am. Marcell. lib. 22 c 4. 12. [On the 11th. day before the Kalends of November (i. e. 21. of October) the moſt ſtately Temple of Apollo Daphnaeus which Antiochus Epiphanes, (that ireful and cruel King built) together with the Image therein of Jupiter Clympicus, equal in bigneſs to the Patron it reſembled, by ſudden Violence of Fire was burnt]. And the Abomination of Heathen and Jewiſh Worſhip being attempted to be ſet up by Julian (as another Antiochus Epiphanes) were made a Deſolation near the ſame time, viz. between An. 360. and 366.
And indeed there was a ſutable Event about the time of their Expiration, For Ann. 1650. there was a Preludium of Iſrael's Salvation, (whoſe Deliverance was the thing enquired after, v. 1.) if Julian's act was a little after An. 360. often God doth cut ſhort his work, and omit ſmall Numbers (as Gen. 15. 13.) in a great Number. And according to Mr. Brett's Narrative by the leave of the Turk and the King of Hungaria, there was Octob. 12. 1650. a Council of the Jews conſiſting of about 300, and Spectators near 3000, to enquire after the Meſſiah, whether he were come or not? whether Chriſt were he or not?
After Seven or Eight days Conference, ſome of the Roman Clergy mentioning the uſe of Images and Praying to the Virgin Mary—they brake up in diſorder; yet it's ſaid, the Jews agreed upon another Meeting which was to be Three Years after, and in Syria.
But if the 1290 days ended there, then whether 45 more will make up the 1335 days, and uſher in the Bleſſedneſs of their Deliverance, let the Event determine.
4. The 1260 days must begin about the time when there were two Wings of the Roman Eagle, for the Woman the Church to flee by into the Wilderneſs, Rev. 12. v. 14. i. e. when the Empire (the Enſign whereof was the Eagle) was divided into Eaſt—Weſt: So it was between Arcadius and Honorius, about An. 395. Helvic.
5. The 1260 days must begin before the Dragon poured out his Flood to drown the Woman, Rev. 12. v. 14. for this Flood was caſt out, v. 15. foreign—[after her, or upon her Back] and therefore the was upon her Journey going into the Wilderneſs, or gone, gotten thither, when this Flood was poured out, but the Earth ſwallowed up the Flood, v. 16. and the Dragon was diſappointed.
Now many think it was a Flood of corrupt Doctrines, called Hereſies, and about An. 395. and after, theſe did ſwarm, the Eaſtern Churches were even over-run with Arianiſm yea▪ in the Weſt the Barbarian perſecuting Vandals turned Arians! ſo there were Neſtorians, Pelagians, Eutychians, &c. which Earthly Men, i. e. Civil Emperours by calling Councils did in ſome meaſure dry up.
I cannot ſay that this was the Flood, conſidering that the chiefeſt of theſe corrupt Doctrines, viz. Arianiſm, did prevail in the time of Conſtantine and Conſtantius, before the Beaſt was up, before the Womans going into the Wilderneſs, and Emperours themſelves did Countenance Arianiſm, as Conſtantius, and after him Valens, who were Arians and Perſecutors.
I think it was a Dragoniſh, Paganiſh Flood; for it is [out of the Mouth of the Serpent]. v. 15. and [Waters] in this Book are expounded to be Rev. 17. 15. [People, and Multitudes, and Nations, and Tongues]. Let it then be a Flood or Multitudes of barbarous People, and that not every Inundation of them wherein they prevailed againſt the Empire; but ſome particular overflow of them (after the Beaſt was up) wherein their deſign was chiefly againſt the Woman, or Chriſtian Church, and wherein they were unſucceſsful, the Earth helping the Woman, they are ſwallowed up, as v. 16.
And where we find this, we may conclude that the Woman was now going, or gone into the Wilderneſs; and ſo the 1260 days did begin a little before.
Now this Flood of Barbarians was either at the Attempt of Eugenius and Arbogaſtes, or elſe at Rhadagaiſus, or both; which Actions I ſhall here add, and judge whether they do not aptly anſwer to all that is ſaid of this Flood.
It muſt be remembred that about this time the Conteſt was afreſh about Pagan Worſhip, which Conſtantine had thrown down; and ſaith Calviſ. An. 384. Gentiles petunt reſtitui Romae cultum Ethnicum; Ambroſius reſiſtit & obtinet. And An. 394. he ſaith, Eugenius cum ſuis clauſtra Alpinm contra Theodoſium munit, minitatur que Chriſtianae religioni exitium ſi victor rediret; the like ſay others. It is apparent then that the very deſign of Eugenius was againſt Chriſtianity, and to reſtore Paganiſm in the Roman Empire, and having Uſurped the Supremacy in the Weſt Parts of the World, Theodoſius the Civil Emperour, after ſpending the Night in Prayer to God, waged War with him, and though the Enemy were ſo many that it ſeemed impoſſible to encounter them, yet there aroſe ſo violent a Wind and Tempeſt, as the like never had been ſeen by any Man then living, which without annoyance to the Emperour's People, did turn the Darts of. Eugenius Souldiers to light in their own ſide, that Theodoſius obtained a compleat Victory. See Socrat. Oroſ. Funccius.—
And thus this Dragon Flood caſt out purpoſely to drown the Woman, the Church, was ſwallowed up, not by Eccleſiaſtical Councils, but (through Divine Concurrence) by the Earthly, Civil or Military Power of Theodoſius.
Alſo Rhadagaiſus with Two hundred Thouſand …oths, for the Reſtoration of Ethnick worſhip, came into Italy, over-ran Thracia, Illyricum, Noricum, &c. with Fire and Sword made great Devaſtations; the Romans affrighted hereat, called in the help of Ʋldinus and Sarus (Earthly Pagan Men) with an Army of Hunns and Goths, and partly by Hunger, partly otherwiſe, that ſo great a Multitude was deſtroyed, few eſcaped, Cent. 5. c. 3 16. Diacon. Funcc. Calviſ. An. 406. And if this be the Dragons Floud, then the Woman muſt be in the Wilderneſs, An. 406. and ſo the 1260 days began before.
6. The 1260 days muſt begin upon a Perſecution raiſed by the revengeful overthrown Dragon in the form of a Beaſt, by which the Woman (the Church) was driven into a VVilderneſs Condition: This [Perſecution] thus limited I take to be the cleareſt, firmeſt and moſt Signal Character of all, for the diſcovering when the 1260 days and 42 Months muſt begin, and yet not inſiſted on by Writers, I ſuppoſe from their Miſtake thinking the firſt Beaſt to be the Pope, and ſo making an Apoſtacy of his to be the Epocha; whereas he is the ſecond Beaſt, and there is another firſt Beaſt which thoſe 42 Months and Prophetical Days are to begin with; and that at a Perſecution, as all the Three Chapters where thoſe Days and Months are mentioned, do clearly evidence; as, Rev. 11. v. 2, 3. the holy City ſhall they (i. e the Gentiles) tread under foot 42 Months. That [treading down] importeth Subjection, great Sufferings by Enemies inſulting over them with contempt; and alſo the Witneſſes being in Sack-cloth ſpeaketh the like.
So Rev. 12. 6. The Woman fleeth into the Wilderneſs—1260 days. It is an alluſion to the flight of the Iſraelites from an enraged Enemy, perſecuting Pharaoh; with ſuch a flight (which importeth Tribulation, Mat. 24. 20, 21.) do the 1260 days begin, and therefore with Perſecution; and expreſly, v. 13, 14. [he perſecuted the Woman—] and this is mentioned as the very Cauſe of her fleeing into the Wilderneſs, v. 14. for a time, times and half a time, i. e. for 1260 days▪ What can be more plain, than that theſe days do begin with or by a Perſecution.
The third place is, Rev. 13. 5. Power was given him foreign, to do, another Verſion hath it foreign, to make War 42 Months; and the warring with the Saints is expreſly mentioned with the ſame word, v. 7.
And note, it is not every Perſecution that doth make the Epocha: it is not any till Dragon, i. e. Pagan headſhip was caſt down, and ſo not any of the Ten Perſecutions, not any till after Julian; but after the firſt Beaſt with crowned Horns was up, v. 1, 2. which was many Years before the ſixth Head of Emperours went down. Yea, it is [a Perſecution] raiſed in way of revenge for the Dragon, i. e. Pagan overthrow, Rev. 12. 13. [he] i. e. the Dragon [when he ſaw he was caſt unto the earth, he perſecuted the Woman—]. It was then a freſh Perſecution, upon that Provocation, his caſting down. And note, it is not every Warlike Irruption (as that of Alaricus) which maketh the Epocha, but [a Perſecution] and ſuch as driveth the Woman into a Wilderneſs-condition, v. 6, 13, 14. which noteth not a change of Place, ſo much as of State▪ anſwerable to that of the Iſraelites in the Wilderneſs. It mporteth a ſolitary, afflicted, yet ſafe condition; full of Wants, Dangers, Trials, Temptations, and yet having Divine Protections, Proviſions and Preſervations.
And hence, none need be ſtumbled at the ſeeming or real Godlineſs, either of ſome Emperours, (or Popes) after the Beaſt was up; For, if the Head of Emperours did not perſecute, yet if ſome of the Crowned Horns did, though others did not; yet, it may be deemed a Perſecution of the Beaſt. Often an action of a part is reckoned to the whole, as Achan's to Iſrael, Joſh. 7. 1, 11. So 1 King. 14. 22. Am. 2. 5. Rev. 17. 16. compared with Rev. 18. 9. So whether Head or Horns, ſome of them perſecute the Church into the Wilderneſs, and this giveth the firſt Date to the 1260 days. The great Queſtion then here, is,
When did that Perſecution begin by the Dragon in form of a Beaſt, with Crowned Horns, out of revenge for his Overthrow, whereby the Church was driven into a Wilderneſs-Condition? For, at ſuch a Perſecution, or at the Churches being fully in the Wilderneſs thereby, we muſt begin the 42 Months and 1260 Days.
And upon a diligent Search into Hiſtory, it is to admiration that the Event ſhould ſo aptly agree to fix the Epocha before Ann. 400.
For ſuch Perſecutions there were about that time, by the Head of Emperours, and by Crowned Horns; as Goths, Vandals, Hunns—they deſtroyed the Churches, and were feared every where.
It muſt be remembred, that Theodoſius the Firſt, cauſed the Pagan Temples to be deſtroyed, which Conſtantine ſhut up, Tripart. Hist. lib. 9. c. 33. Calviſ. An. 395. and Dragon-worſhip being decreed to be plucked up by the Roots; this occaſioned the fleeing of many into the Wilderneſs by their Perſecutions both in Eaſt and Weſt. See Magdeburg. Cent. 5. c. 3. take their and others words.
1. The Church in the Weſt was grievouſly ſmitten, becauſe of Publick Tumults,—as ſaith Sozomen; for very many barbarous Nations ruſhing chiefly into the Roman Regions, have vehemently afflicted the Churches, as Jerom maketh a great Complaint of the thing. How many Matrons, how many Godly Virgins, and comely and noble Bodies were Mocking-ſtocks to thoſe Beaſts? (he ſpeaketh of barbarous Nations:) The Biſhops taken, and divers Orders of the Clergy ſlain, &c. Ubi que lucuts, ubi que gemitus & plurima mortis imago. In theſe People, the chief were the Goths and Vandals; whereof, ſeeing part were Strangers to Chriſtianity, and given to the Superſtition of the Gentiles, taking ſome occaſion, they did not only extreamly perſecute Chriſtians, but alſo endeavoured utterly to aboliſh them; but part, although in Profeſſion they were numbred among Chriſtians, yet becauſe they were Infected with the Poiſon of Arius, they alſo did no leſs ſharply oftentimes afflict the Church. There is every where a meeting of Pagans, there are heard Roarings and Blaſphemies againſt the Chriſtian Faith, Complaints of the Neglect of the Religion of their Forefathers; therefore ſo great Evils hung over them; becauſe omitting the Ancient Rites of ſacrificing, and rejecting their Father's Gods, many imbraced Chriſt.—Immediately therefore leaving all things, they conſult of reiterating their Sacrifices, of repairing of Altars, and reſtoring wholly all the Idolatry of the Ancients, and deviſe to aboliſh Chriſtianity every where. Paul. Diacon. Oroſ.—
About the ſame time, the Churches alſo of France ſuſtained great Perſecutions; for the Vandals over-running, deſtroying France, overturned many both Cities and Churches, and made many famous godly Men Martyrs, &c. See alſo Jerom Epiſt. ad Geront.
Alſo the Churches in Spain experienced their Calamities and Afflictions; for the Vandals about 16. Honor. occupied Spain, and when ſome of them were Arians, and others Gentiles Catholicos more ſuo afflixerunt, &c. See more, Cent. 5. c. 3.
And now Judge whether the Woman was not in Sackcloth and the holy City trodden and perſecuted by a revengeful Dragon turned into a Beaſt with Crowned Horns, at that Day, and ſo whether the 42 Months and 1260 Days were not begun?
2. The Church alſo in the Eaſt Empire under Arcadius, ſuſtained like Perſecution about the very ſame time, Cent. 5. c. 3. Gainus a Barbarous, Cruel and Military Man, of the Nation of the Scythians, troubled the Church before An. 400. being by Profeſſion an Arian, deſired one Temple of the Emperour within the Walls; Chryſoſtom told the Emperour, it muſt not be to Blaſphemers; Gainus did get an Army, he going by Thracia, deſtroyed all as he went; Conſtantinople was in eminent danger. A little after, Chryſoſtom ſaw the moſt corrupt ſtate and diſſolute Diſcipline of the Churches, and began the Correction of theſe things; he was depoſed and twice baniſhed, and at laſt died in Baniſhment; preſently after he was gone out of the City, there was a great Fire, which they laid to the Charge of Chryſoſtom's Followers, they take and Impriſon many; ſome were carried to Chalcedon Priſon, and neighbouring places, and others carried beyond Sea to divers Iſlands, being firſt vexed with divers Torments, others fled—The Governour, becauſe a Pagan, and out of Hatred of that Religion, took great Pleaſure in the Miſery of Chriſtians; many had great Tortures, and were tormented unto Death, and not only in the City, but in other places, was Trouble. The Friends of Chryſoſtom could not communicate with his Enemies, and therefore a great Perſecution was raiſed againſt the Churches of God, by the inſtinct of Atticus, and there was a Law made for their Baniſhment—lb. Cent. 5. c. 3. out of Sozom. Nicephor.
And ſince there hath been a Continuation of the Perſecution of the Beaſt by its Heads or Crowned Horns. As,
The cruel Vandals paſſing out of Spain into Africk, under [Genſerick] their Captain, an Arian, about An. 427. as Calviſ. or 430 as others, being one of the Crowned Horns, raiſed a ſore Perſecution againſt the Chriſtians; they waſted and deſtroyed all before them with Fire and Sword, but eſpecially raged againſt the Churches; the Biſhops and Miniſters they deſtroyed with many kinds of Torments.—When he had taken Carthage, all the Miniſters were thruſt into weather-broken Ships, and ſo baniſhed; all in the Province were deſpoiled of all their Subſtance, and turned out of their Churches.—After Genſerick, his Son Hunnerick ſucceeded, who alſo uſed Tortures, and became a great Perſecuter; he baniſhed into [the Wilderneſs] of Biſhops, Miniſters, Deacons, and other Members of Chriſt 4976.—By an Edict, in one day he cauſed all Chriſtian Churches throughout Africk to be ſhut up, giving to the Arians all the Goods and Churches of the Orthodox—and ſome of them were told, that they ſhould be baniſhed into the Wilderneſs. He alſo ſent abroad through all Africk his cruel Tormentors; ſo that no Place, no Houſe remained free from Lamentation, Screeching, and Out-cryes.
Theſe things, and many more are written by Victor Biſhop of Utica, who lived at the ſame time, and was himſelf a Sufferer, under this Perſecution. And it is remarkable, that the Suffering is once and again expreſſed by being in the Wilderneſs, which is the very Notion it is under, Rev. 12. 6. 14. as if it were literally to be fulfilled.
Attila King of the Hunns, when he waſted both Empires, did alſo not a little trouble the Church, 9000 Virgins were made Martyrs and many others, Cent. 5. c. 3.
So Anaſtaſius Emperour about Ann. 492. raiſed great Perſecutions. See Cent. 6. c. 3.
It were almoſt endleſs to mention the After-Perſecutions under Emperours and Crowned Horns. But whether any Acts of either aforementioned, or ſome other Acts, did give the firſt Date to the 1260 days, I muſt leave to others to judge. I am comfortably perſwaded that theſe days of their Sack-cloth ſtate are come to their Period, and end ſome Years ſince. As a ſmall Act, Iſhmael's Mocking might be the Epocha of the 400 Years (Gen. 15. 13.) ſo ſome leſs obvious Act poſſibly might begin theſe Prophetical Days.