The Name Mark and Number of the Beast, Chapter 5 · Part 28 – Part 29
Answer.
I have already touched this Point in my Answer to Piscator; but because I see many Excellent Expositors build upon this Principle, That the Kingdom of Christ Beginneth at the Dissolution of all Four Metal-Kingdoms, and that this Dissolution was at his Incarnation: Because they build strongly upon this, we will bestow the more pains to enquire into the matter. To the clearing of this, let us look to that which the text naturally affordeth, and then let us make Application. From the Second Chapter of Daniel, we gather these Four Observations.
First, Concerning the time of the Beginning of the Kingdom of Christ, it must be in the latter times. For though it is only said, That in the dayes of these Kingdoms (speaking indefinitely) shall the God of Heaven raise up a Kingdom, that never shall be destroyed: yet in the scope of the Vision, it is implyed to be in the times of the last Metal-Kingdom. For, according to the Order of the Vision, Nebuchadnezzar first saw the Head of Gold, then the Breast of Silver, the Belly and Thighs of Brass, the Legs of Iron, the Feet and Toes, part of Iron, and part of Clay. And then after some consideration, he saw a Stone cut out of the Mountain, that smote the Image upon his Feet. Therefore the Beginnings of the Kingdom of Christ were in the latter times, when the Image was in its last and lowest Region. At leastwise, the eminent operation of Christ's Kingdom was upon the Feet and Toes of the Image.
Secondly, We are to observe, That the Kingdom of Christ was small in the beginning: it was a little Stone cut out of the Mountain: For look what difference there is betwixt a little Stone and a great Mountain; so the same difference is betwixt the Kingdom of Christ when it began, and that Kingdom when it self became a Mountain and filled the Earth. Calvin upon the place speaketh very well: Propheta admonet exordia Regni Christi fore contempta. The Prophet doth well admonish us, the beginnings of the Kingdom of Christ to be weak and contemptible.
Thirdly, We are to Note also, That the progress of this Kingdom was from small beginnings: First, it was a Stone cut out of the Mountain, and then by degrees in time (though the space of time is not expressed in the text) it became a Mountain, and filled the Earth.
Fourthly, Concerning the means of the encrease, how it came to that plentitude, or fulness of Power. It smote upon the Feet and Toes of the Image, and so the Iron, the Clay, …he Brass, the Silver, the Gold, were broken all together, and the Stone became a Mountain and filled the Earth, vers. 34, 35.
These are the Four Observations drawn from the Second Chapter: Now let us apply our selves to Polanus, and other Interpreters of that way. And here we agree, That the Kingdom of Christ did in some sense begin at his Incarnation. And this is one chief Argument to prove the Roman to be the Fourth Kingdom; because the Lord Christ came in the Flesh, and his Gospel was Preached, and many Churches were gathered, when the Romans did bear rule. But our Question is, Whether did the Kingdom of Christ begin as the Fifth Monarchy, as a Mountain that did fill the Earth? In this sense he cannot be said to begin in that fulness and amplitude of power at the Incarnation. For, from the scope of the text it is plain, That the Kingdom of Christ was small in the beginning: Secondly, That it grew by degrees: Thirdly, That the means of the encrease was by wearing out the Fourth Kingdom. The Stone smote the Image upon the Feet and Toes, and so became a Mountain, and filled the Earth. If we apply this to the event, The Kingdom of Christ began when the Romans did bear rule. His Kingdom was small in the beginning; but by degrees, first by wearing out Rome Imperial, and after that, by wearing out Rome Papal, this Kingdom of Christ shall come to the fulness of all Monarchical power over the whole Earth.
Now on the contrary; Let us suppose, That the Seleucidae and the Lagidae joyntly, or the Seleucidae alone, do make the Fourth Metal-Kingdom. For so Iunius, Broughton, Piscator, Polanus, Hayne, Willet, and others, will have it. Upon their Grounds, I Demand, First, How did the Kingdom of Christ begin in the times of the Four Metal-Kingdoms, if the Seleucidae and the Lagidae do make the Fourth Metal-Kingdom? Secondly, Seeing the Kingdom of Christ did begin as a little Stone cut out of the Mountain, How do they prove that this Kingdom did come to that small beginning in the times of the Seleucidae and the Lagidae? Thirdly, Seeing the Kingdom of Christ did encrease by decrees in the duration of the Metal-Kingdoms, How did it encrease in the duration of the times of the Seleucidae and the Lagidae? Fourthly, Seeing the means of the encrease was by the wearing out of the Fourth Metal-Kingdom, (the Stone smote the Image upon the Feet,) How did the Kingdom of Christ wear out the Dominions of the Seleucidae and Lagidae? Were they not totally destroyed some years before the Coming of Christ in the Flesh, by the means of the Romans?
All these things put together, do weaken that Principle of the Dissolution of all the Four Metal-Kingdoms at the Coming of Christ in the Flesh; and that the Kingdom of Christ did begin at the Incarnation, in the fulness of Monarchical Power. Now, because Mr Hayne *In his Treatise concerning the Kingdom of Christ upon the Earth.hath laboured very much in this Point, we will take his Arguments into Consideration.
Mr Hayne.
When Herod, Pilate, and the Iewish Rulers rose up against Iesus Christ, God set him to be his King on Mount Sion, and gave him so Eminent a Kingdom, that to it all Kings, Iudges, and People must submit, or else be crushed with an Iron-Scepter. But Herod, Pilate, and the Rulers of the Iews, rose up against Iesus Christ 1500 years ago, and more. Therefore God set up Christ his Ki…g on Mount Sion, and gave him a Kingdom so Eminent 1500 years ago, and more.