The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened, Parable · Verse 13 · Question 4
Queſt. 4. How cometh This to be ſo great a Secret?
Anſw. 1. Becauſe none certainly doth know where to Begin the Man of Sin's firſt Riſe: Elſe might we certainly know the Ending of his Forty two Moneths, or thoſe One Thouſand two hundred and ſixty Days, Rev. 11. 2, 3. and conſequently might give a better Gheſs, as to Chriſt's Coming with the Seventh Trumpet. But the Captivity of Myſtical Babylon (therein) Anwereth unto that of Old, which was to continue Seventy Years for certain; yet no Man certainly knew where to begin; elſe would not Daniel have been to ſeek ſo Near its End, Dan. 9. 1, 2, 3. I am perſwaded the Man of Sin was up, when Marriage was firſt Prohibited, 1 Tim. 4. 1. 3. with 2 Theſ. 2. 3. which was about the Year Three Hundred and Ninety; and ſo his Forty two Moneths muſt be Expired ſome Years ago. And after which the Earthquake cometh, which uſhereth in the Seventh Trumpet, Rev. 11. 13, 14, 15. But few may (yet) be of my Perſwaſion, nor do I pretend unto Infallibility.
2. Becauſe few can Agree who are the Witneſſes, and what their Aſcending intimateth; much leſs do any know for Certain, how long the following Earthquake may continue. I do Believe, the Witneſſes are a very ſmall Number among Profeſſors, who have been Faithful unto THE Truth of ſuch a Time: But moſt ſuppoſe them to be Magiſtrates and Miniſters; though I conceive not how Magiſtrates (as ſuch) are capable of having Propheſied in a Sack cloath-ſtate. I do believe, the Witneſſes Aſcending doth import their being Taken out of …ight, and their Receiving of a Kingdom, which yet is not immediately to appear, as in Relation to Chriſt's Aſcending, Luke 19. 11, 12. But moſt ſuppoſe it to intend their viſible Advancement in the World; the failing whereof (at ſuch a late Expected time) hath caſt them back again into the Wilderneſs. However, I dare not pretend to any certain knowledge, as to the Duration of the Earthquake; nor do I know any Man that Doth or May.
3. Becauſe the Diſpenſation of the Man of Sin is full of Darkneſs; which therefore is fitly Meaſured by the Moon or Moneths, Rev. 11. 2. with reference unto its Moon-like Light at beſt. And though Chriſt's VVitneſſes have alway had ſufficient Light, as to the Teſtimony of their Day; yet as Profeſſors have Relapſed into ſuch a Spirit again, ſo have they been (therewith) Benighted, as to their former ſeeming Light. This is our Caſe at preſent. How Evident (of late Years) was our being Near to Sion: But being overtaken with a Babyloniſh Miſt, we know not (Generally) where we are. And they who da… ly with their Light, in point of Duty (as the moſt of Profeſſors have lately done) are juſtly Blinded or Benighted, as to the Matter of their Peace and Priviledges, John 7. 28. Luke 19. 42.
4. Becauſe the Generality have no mind to ſearch the Scriptures, nor yet to Ponder what is thence Offered for their Help, in ſome more difficult caſes. Daniel underſtood by Books the Number of the Years of his Captivity, Dan. 9. 2. and Prophets (of Old) were wont to ſearch what manner of Time the Spirit of Chriſt in them did ſignifie, 1 Pet. 1. 10, 11. and thus is Knowledge to be gained, Prov. 2. 3, 4, 5. But as there is no fore-telling Prophet toward the End, Pſal. 74. 9. ſo neither are there many ſearching ones: Yea, Ancient Prieſts (at ſuch a time) before their being laid aſide, Reject that Knowledge, for lack of which the People are Deſtroyed, Hoſ. 4. 6. And as an Hotter Climate diſpoſeth People to be ſlothful, as in Sodom, Ezek. 16. 49. ſo Iſrael in Egypt cannot Hearken to Redemption ſignified, untill they ſee it, Exod. 6. 9.
5. Becauſe the ſtate of things (a little before the End) will be ſo likely (in an Eye of Reaſon) to Continue ſtill. Thus was it with David in his Time, 1 Sam. 27. 1. and ſo with Iſrael in their Captivity, Ezek. 37. 11. as well as Babylon, both in the Letter, Iſa. 47. 8. and Myſtery, Rev. 18. 7, 8. Faith ſees that Promiſe Beſt in Darkeſt Times, becauſe Chriſt Cometh with the Clouds, Mat. 24. 30. but Faith will not be found on Earth at ſuch a time, and upon that Account, Luke 18. 7, 8. This will Occaſion ſome to ſcoff (in theſe laſt days) at ſuch a Promiſe, for ſince the Fathers fell aſleep, all things (ſay they) continue as they were, 2 Pet. 3. 3, 4. and they who grant the Promiſe in the General, will therefore yet ſay to the Laſt, the Time is not yet come, as thoſe of Old, Hag. 1. 2.
6. Becauſe the Lord hath Purpoſed, this very Time ſhall not be certainly known by any Man, as is here ſignified; which leadeth to the Next Queſtion.