Positions, Part
POSITIONS Containing a Full Account of a Scripture-Line of Time, in the whole, and from Joynt to Joynt; together with a Judgment according to Scripture Prophecy on the preſent Turkiſh Affairs.
I Here preſent, in as much plainneſs, and ſhortneſs as I could contrive it into, this Scripture Line of Time, upon theſe Great Conſiderations. 1. There is not a Greater or more ſenſible Argument for the Being of God, than his declaring the courſe of Times, and their Events before-hand, in ſo even and ſettled a Continuation, nor more Enforcive of practical Piety, then when we ſee Times are not hidden from the Almighty. 2. There is no ſtronger Conviction of the whole Antichriſtian Impoſture, than that Table of Time Scripture hath given of his ſo long Domination, and Tyranny and Ruine at laſt, and eſpecially when now ſo near. 3. There cannot be a more ſeaſonable kind of Inſtruction for the preſent Time, in which we are ſo near ſo wonderful'd chan… of the World, as within Ten years of the Proclamation of Chriſt's Kingdom, n… in a Seditious or Rebellious way; but the moſt Heavenly, Orderly and Regular, by Princes and Sovereigns themſelves; That therefore we may,1 Chron. 12.32. (as the children of Iſſachar, comming to make David King at Hebron, judiciouſly, and as knowing the Times, and what Iſrael ought to do,) ſo prepare our ſelves for the Kingdom of the Root of David, the Bright Morning-Star, and may not as the Phariſees be charg'd with Hypocriſy for not diſcerning the Signs of the Times; I preſent this ſhort Table of Times, to become as familiar to every one, as the moſt known principles in theſe following Poſitions.
THere is a Line of Time drawn by Scripture from that Point, It calls, The Beginning, Poſit. 1 (Geneſ. 1.1.) to that Point, It calls The End, (Dan. 12. ult. and oft elſewhere.)
This Line of Time is not drawn in one, entire, continued Line of 5000 or 6000 Poſit. 2 years at length, and together, but in ſeveral Parcel Lines, and thoſe of unequal length.
This Line is not drawn induſtriouſly, or in a Formal ſhow of ſuch a Line; But it is with Divine Poſit. 3 Art occaſionally Extended, and Applied to the things meaſur'd by its parcel Lines, and ſo in Longer or Shorter of thoſe Parcel Lines according to thoſe occaſions.
The Joynts of thoſe Parcel Lines are ſuch, as lye moſt viſibly cloſe One to Another, and have Poſit. 4 leaſt need of Conjecture, or Inference to Derive, or Aſſure the Connexion of each Parcel Line with the Precedent, or ſubſequent Parcel Lines.
The Beginning and End of this Line are Two Points, that bound the Intermedious Space. Poſit. 5
The firſt Point is that Firſt, and Perfect Sabbatiſm of the World, at the Firſt Inviolate Creaation; Poſit. 6 which was its Staſis, or the Firſt State given it by God; And It is incluſive of the ſpace to that Grand Oracle [The Seed of the Woman ſhall break the Serpents Head] Within which Space the firſt Parents Fell, and in them their Poſterity; But what Space that was, Scripture hath thought fit to conceal, as to any poſitive definition of it, viz. when our Firſt Parents Fell.
The laſt Point is, That Sabatiſm of the Creation Reſtor'd, or made New, ſacred Scripture ſtyles the Poſit. 7 Apocataſtaſis, or the Reſtitution of All things in counter diſtinction to its Fore-nam'd State, and the Fall from it, and ſo it is the Point of Revolution: And it is the Thouſand Years after which is a ſhort Interval of the Serpent looſed, of Gog and Magog, and the Laodicean ſtate of the Church: On which laſt Interval-Scripture hath thrown a veil of ſecrecy alſo giving us no Account what ſpace of Time it is; within this alſo lies the final Judgment.
Poſit. 8 The Line of Time, that comes firſt to be enquired of, is that which lyes between the Two Points of the firſt and the laſt Sabatiſm.
Poſit. 9 The Parcel Lines of this whole Line are neither conceal'd, nor ſo dogmatically given, but that they require Inveſtigation, Diſcuſſion, Debate and Computation by way of Argument to ſettle and aſcertain them.
Pſit. 10 By ſuch Elaborate ſearch into the Word of God, They may be determin'd to be in Expreſs, or number'd Numbers Five Thouſand ſeven Hundred and Fifty nine Years, with ſome ſmall Latitude of more or leſs, in ſome very ſmall difference.
Poſit. 11 Yet is this no Derogation from the Truth of our Saviour's Aſſertion, or ſeeming Prohibition of enquiry into theſe Things,Acts. 1.7. viz. It is not for you to know, &c. ſuch an Enquiry as that Anſwer was given to, being haſty and curious, and not according to the Order of Divine Revelation in its own Time and Method; or according to the Order of ſearch into ſuch Revelation already given by diligent Endeavour to compare Scripture with Scripture, with earneſt Prayer to be guided into the right Underſtanding thereof.
Poſit. 12 The Line of Scripture-Time is either Hiſtorical, and applied to Things that were already paſt, when that Line was ſubtended to them; Or it is prophetical, and applyed to Things that were to come to paſs, when that Line was drawn out for, and applied to them, or that are yet remaining to come to paſs, and to be fulfilled before the End.
Poſit. 13 That we may find out this whole Line, we muſt lay together theſe Hiſtorical and Prophetical Parcel-Lines, and by caſting the Account, How many of the Fore-recited number are paſt, we may know, how many remain to come, and what year we are upon.
Line 1 There is evidently a Line of Sixteen hundred Fifty ſix years made up of Lineoles, or little Lines of each Patriarhs Age before his Teknogony or Begetting; Geneſ. 6.and this Line reaches to the Self-ſame day of the Flood.
Line 2 There is a ſecond Parcel Line, evident as the Former, of four Hundred twenty ſeven, or eight Years by a ſecond Roll of Patriarchs before their Begetting each ſucceeding Patriarch from the Line 3 Flood to the Terahs Death,Geneſ. 10. and Abrahams ſojourning, and the ſeries of Promiſes beginning to him immediately at Terahs Death.
Line 4 From thence to the going out of Egypt, there is a Line of four hundred thirty years; eight hundred fifty eight years from the ſelf ſame day of the Flood to the ſelf ſame day of the going out of Egypt.
1 King. 6.1. 1 Kings 11.47.From the going out of Egypt is carried on the ſame kind of expreſs Line in four hundred eighty years to Solomons firſt beginning the Temple, and reductively thirty ſix years from thence to Solomons Death.
Thus far the Line is purely Hiſtorical.
Line 5 In a Line partly Hiſtorical, partly Prophetical, runs a Courſe of three hundred ninety years to the very ſelf ſame day of Ezekiels Viſion of the New Jeruſalem, Ezek. 4.5.6. Ezek. 40.1.and from the ſelf ſame day of the going out of Egypt to the ſelf ſame day of that Viſion Given, nine hundred and ſix years.
Line 6 With theſe three hundred and ninety years are cloſely conjoyn'd forty years more to the end of the Captivity, Dan. 9.20.or to Cyrus-Meſſiah in Type, and to the Viſion Preparatory to his Decree of Judahs Redemption from Babylon in the firſt year of Darius, as a Type of the True Meſſiah and his Redemption, given in the ſame Viſion.
Poſit. 14 Theſe three hundred ninety years and the forty making four hundred and thirty are numbred by the days of Ezekiels lying on his ſide, a day for a year, and they commence from the Houſe of Judah, and the Houſe of Iſrael becoming two diſtinct Houſes. And are accounted by the Kings of Iſrael, as they ought to be, till Iſraels Captivity, then by Judahs Kings, and its Captivity. And here by eſpecial care of Providence the prophetical Cyphar of a day for a year is brought in for after Uſe.
Poſit. 15 After this very joynt of Time the Line ceaſes to be Hiſtorical, and becoms purely Prophetical, being altogether applyed to things to come, when the Line was given on, and This laſt part, This very Joynt is partly Hiſtorical, viz. to the year of Ezekiels Captivity, c. 1.3. partly Prophetical, viz. to the Viſion of the New Jeruſalem, and from thence to the end of the Captivity, and to the Viſion of reſtoring Jeruſalem by Cyrus, and of the Great Meſſiah Jeſus Chriſt. Dan. 9.20. and in Prophetick Figure to the New Jeruſalem it ſelf.
The Line of Time, as ceaſing to be Hiſtorical, and becoming Prophetical is divided, as into two Pſiot. 16 equal, or about equal halves: For from the Creation to the end of the Captivity we find by Scripture Account, three thouſand four hundred fifty nine years, and the Line of prophetical Time is twenty three hundred Prophetical Evens. Morns. or years to the Sabbath of the thouſand years; which with the thouſand years of that Sabbatiſm, and a ſubindication of a ſhort ſpace beyond, may draw this laſt part to an Equality with Hiſtorical Time, eſpecially the latter end of this Joynt, being partly Hiſtorical, partly Prophetical; and ſo communicates of it ſelf to each.
From Cyrus King of Perſia, and the Perſian Monarchy in him beginning, is drawn the longeſt of Line 7 theſe parcel Lines, reaching the two Pillars; It is done, It is done; Dan. 8.14. Revel. 16.17. c. 21.6.which bound whole Interſabbatical Time at its end.
This longeſt of Lines being purely Prophetical is given in the prophetical Cyphar of days for years, and that, It may be known to reach the new Heavens, and the new Earth, and their great Sabbatiſm, Poſit. 17 It is given in Evens. Morns. according to the Character of the ſix days of the firſt Creation, Gen. 1.5. &c.reckoned by ſix Evens. Morns. till its Sabbath.
The Line is given at ſo great length, as twenty three hundred years; in prophetick Style 2300 Poſit. 18 Evens. Morns. That it being purely prophetical might be more definite, certain, and leſs ſubject to Ambiguity through a multiplicity of Joynts, and o… the beginnings, and endings of them.
In the infinite Wiſdom of God, and in his care over his own ſacred Prophecy, there are given Poſit. 19 four collateral Lines in expreſs definite numbers, that take up eighteen hundred twenty five of the twenty three hundred years, ſo that there remain only Four hundred ſeventy five undetermin'd; And they alſo may be determin'd by cloſe Scripture reſearches, together with undoubted Teſtimony of humane Hiſtory to their juſt Scituations, as ſhall be preſently ſhown in each particular collateral Line.
By theſe Collateral Lines, this general Line of Time becoms double, and more aſſured, and while Poſit. 20 the General, and principal Line is ſo aſſured, it adjuſts the collateral Lines, and ſhews, how they may be regularly plac'd and accounted, ſo as neither to exceed, nor come ſhort of the principal, on the other ſide the Collateral diſtinguiſh the General, that it may not be all of one Face, and give no inſtructions for the differencing of Time and orderly diſtinction and diſtribution of it.
The firſt Collateral Line is that of the word going forth to reſtore, and to build Jeruſalem, Col. Line 1. Dan. 9.25.firſt by Cyrus, then by Darius, call'd by Humane Hiſtory Hyſtaſpis, then by Artaxerxes, called alſo by humane Hiſtory Longimanus in his ſeventh year when the weeks began, And it was the ſpace of ſeventy five years.
It muſt needs be, that the principal Line, and the firſt Collateral Line muſt begin together, ſeeing Poſit. 21 they mutually neceſſarily ſuppoſe one another, if one be the Principal, and the other the firſt Collateral, they muſt needs begin together.
The Prophecy of Daniel places the Viſion of the 2300 Evens. and Morns. in the beginning of the Poſit. 22 Perſian Monarchy, which Monarchy began in Cyrus; both which are moſt evident the firſt in the Ram expounded into the King of Perſia, Dan. 8.3.20. the ſecond in the univerſal conſent of Hiſtory, that Cyrus was the founder of the Perſian Monarchy.Dan. 8.3. with 20. If then the 2300 Evens. Morns. begin in the Perſian Monarchy, it muſt begin in Cyrus, in whom the Perſian Horn became higher than the Median, as the Viſion requires.
Whatever began with Cyrus, muſt begin with the 2300 Evs. Morns. which began with Cyrus; Poſit. 23 And if there be no Collatteral Line given in Number, yet the Principal Line applied to the Courſe of Events ſhall neceſſarily be, as a Collatteral Line to it, whoſe length ſhall be defin'd by the next Collatteral Number, and other Collatteral Lines ſubjoyned till the very end of the 2300 Evs. Morns.
It is moſt certain, The Word going forth muſt needs begin with Cyrus, as it did,2 Cron. 36.22. Ezr. 1.5. Eſa. 44. ult. Eſ. 45.1. becauſe All the Poſit. 24 Prophecies went before of him as of God's Shepherd, that ſhould ſay to Jeruſalem, Thou ſhalt be built, &c. and He was therefore renown'd with the Name of Meſſiah, with which no other Pagan Prince was grac'd.
Yet the Word could not be perfectly ſo Gone forth by Cyrus as to be to go forth no further; Becauſe it was ſo notoriouſly ſtopp'd in its going forth in his dayes, and for the Reigns of two Princes after: Poſit. 25 So that the Prophecy could by no means be Anſwer'd, but by a further going forth, Ezr. 4.of which that by Cyrus was only a Foundation, and in that regard only a fulfilling of all God's Pleaſure, viz. of giving an original Decree for after Decrees, or going forth of the Word.
Poſit. 26 It alſo appears, It did not go forth by Cyrus. ſo as to go forth no further, becauſe Sacred Hiſtory Records it to go forth ſo remarkedly in the ſecond Year of Darias; and that yet it did not perfectly Go forth by Darias, Ezr. 6.1.becauſe there was ſo Auguſt a further Going forth by Artaxerxes in his Seventh Year.
Poſit. 27 Then it was, It completely went forth, and the ſeventy Weeks began, of which the Spirit of God is Witneſs by the large Recital of ſo full and illuſtrious a Decree, and though before hand, (as often it gives the Sum before hand,Ezr. 7.1. Ez. 6.14. or together.) It affirms the Temple finiſh'd by the Commandment of the God of Iſrael, as the ſupreme going forth of the Word, and by the Commandment of Cyrus, Darias, and Artaxerxes, Kings of Perſia, the Subordinate and Humane; which was the perfect fulfilling of Dans Prophecy of the Commandment, and the Word going forth; And then is particularly recited Ataxerxes his Decree.
Poſit. 28 It appears further, that by Artaxerxes in his Seventh Year the Word went forth, becauſe by the ſame Artaxerxes in his Twentieth Year, Nehem. 2.7.when there went forth a Commiſſion by Letters in ſome Reſemblance of the Word going forth; It is expreſly directed on the building the Walls and Gates, which in Dans Prophecy is a Note of the Seven firſt Weeks in their Courſe, which aſſures the VVord was Gone forth, and the Weeks began before that, and therefore neceſſarily Gone forth at the last Word in the Seventh Year.
Poſit. 29 From the VVord then Going forth firſt by Cyrus to its going on ſtill forth further by Darius, and its Complete being Gone forth by Artaxerxes in his Seventh Year muſt be a Conſiderable ſpace, and by the Examination of the After parts of theſe principal and collatteral Lines, together with other Symboliſms of Scripture, (on which great weight is oft hung) It may be known to be Seventy Five Years: and ſo by being lay'd to the Principal muſt be a Collatteral Line.
Line Coll. 2.From the VVord thus Completely Gone forth is drawn the ſecond Supporting, or Collatteral Line of Seventy prophetical Weeks, till the ſolemn Promulgation of the Everlasting Covenant, and the Sealing up Viſion and Prophecy, Dan. 9.24.viz. that great Prophecy of Chri…s Kingdom by Daniel.
Poſit. 30 This line of Time is divided into three Parts; And is agreed to be 490 Years in the whole by. All Expoſitors.
v. 25. Nehem. 1. &c.1. The Seventy VVeeks to which the Building of the wall, is to be apply'd as its Character: Which Seven immediately followed the Word gone forth [as before Aſſerted] for Reſtoring Jeruſalem, of which the Temple was the Principal part.
2. Sixty Two VVeeks, to which is to be apply'd Time of Trouble or in Straits, viz. in the Jews low and Tributary State to other Princes among which Troubles by Daniel's Prophecy, Antiochus his Tyranny was peculiarly remark'd: Theſe laſted till the Meſſiah publickly appear'd not a Prince, but a publick Leader, Guide, and Prophet in his publick Miniſtry; As the Hebrew Nagith imports.
3. One Week of all higheſt Confirmations of the Everlasting Covenant, in the Firſt Half Week by Meſſiah Himſelf,Mat. 4.17. at the end of which Half, or in the midſt of that Week, Meſſiah was cut off ſometime after the ſixty two Weeks, viz. three Years and a Half; and by the Sacrifice of Himſelf and his Reſurrection and Aſcenſion after it, cauſed typical Sacrifice and Oblation to ceaſe, [a much different thing from taking away the Daily Sacrifice] and ſo left the Confirmation of the ſame Covenant to his Apoſtles by the Holy Ghoſt ſent down from Heaven; which three Years and half of the laſt Half Week Run out, and the Goſpel not accepted by the Body of the Jews, Acts 8.1. They were Rejected to Deſolations till the End or near the Glorious Kingdom of Chriſt, although theſe Deſolations are not ſet out in the Revelation as not becomming the Apocalyptical Glory of Iſraelitiſm, and of the New Jeruſalem, the Types all along of Chriſt's Kingdom, firſt in its Purity, then in its Glory throughout the Revelation.
Coll. Line 3.Immediately after the End of the laſt Half Week follows the Third Collatteral line, of four hundred Years of the Time of the Book Sealed in Daniel's Prophecy, and ſeen in the Hand of Him on the Throne Sealed with ſeven Seals in Revelation, Rev. c. 5.1. …. 6. … 7. … 10.And when ſix of thoſe Seals were open'd before the ſeventh open'd a ſecond Sealing, viz. of the 144000 enter'd to carry on the Sealing further immediately after the Apparance of the Chriſtian Empire, then a Third Sealing followed, viz, of the Thunders at the time of the Reformation, that ſo Daniel's Sealing might reach the End.
Poſit. 31 The Connexion of this line with the former is thus made certain: Daniel's laſt Half Week muſt immediately run on from the end of the Former Half Week, in Confirmation of the Covenant when Sacrifice and Oblation was made to Ceaſe by the Death, Reſurrection, Aſcenſion of Chriſt, and ſending down the Holy Spirit; Becauſe the Character of whole Week is Confirmation of the Covenant.
Accordingly the Apoſtles immediately proceeded to Confirm the Covenant, as appears in the Sacred Poſit. 32 Hiſtory of the Acts of the Acts of the Apoſtles.
Anſwerably hereunto, as the period of the firſt half week, and the beginning of the laſt half week Poſit. 33 the Lords day of the Reſurrection and ſending the holy ſpirit is fixed, as the Apocalyptical Epoch, when the firſt Seal is opened in the Apoſtles ſolemn promulgation of the Covenant of Salvation, that was begun to be ſpoken by the Lord, and was confirmed by them that heard him, Heb. 2.3. God alſo bearing them witneſs by Miracles, &c.
With the firſt Seal, all the reſt are conjoyn'd, and opened in an orderly ſucceſſion, and courſe of Poſit. 34 Time, and make by things themſelves applyed to the principal Line of 2300 Evens. Morns. a third Collateral Line, though not given in expreſs numbers.
Before the laſt half week of the laſt Line ended, this following Line of the Seals, running 400 Poſit. 35 years beyond the three years, and half of the laſt half week is adopted and engrafted into the former Line of the weeks, by uniting the laſt half week in the common ſymbol of theſe ſeven Seals ſo cloſely ſucceeding in a courſe of Time; with the ſealing Viſion at Chriſts Death.
This Line muſt continue till the following Line of the 1260 Prophetical days, or years, joyn it Poſit. 36 at the beginning of the Trumpets.
This Line is by ſeveral notes of Time in the courſe of the Seals, and by the notes of Time, determining Poſit. 37 the beginning of the 1260 days,Rev. 6.5.6. aſſur'd to be 404 from the Epoch of the Lords day of the Reſurrection, and Aſcention; And that remarkable ſymbol of the Ballances in the Hand of that ſo known Juſt Prince Alexander Severus, in the third Seal determines the half time at his Death 202 years from the Reſurrection, to the vulgar Ann. Dom. 235 by the Agreement of undoubted Humane Hiſtory.
Next follows, [as it does the ſolemn Oath in Daniel, ſo the ſecond ſealing which entred with the firſt Trumpet into its force, in the Revelation] Time, Times, half a Time, Collat. lin. 4.concurrent with the ſix firſt Trumpets; within the continent of which lye the 1260 days of the Woman, the Church in the Wilderneſs; the Witneſſes in Sackcloth, and ſlain three days and a half, and is the ſame thing with the power of the holy People ſcattered in Daniel, Rev. 7.1, 2.8.1.11.3. c. 12.6.the Gentiles treading the Sanctuary under foot, by means whereof the daily ſervice is taken away forty two months; into which months are enterwoven the beaſts forty two months in the Worſhip of whom, and of the Image made to him, the abomination that maketh deſolute is ſet up. c. 11.2. c. 13.5.And the Line in the twice 42 Months ſo interlock'd one with another are equal with the days, and a common Line with them being to be ſtrictly accounted by not Lunar, but Solar Time, and ſo falling one into another equal 1260 days.
This moſt remarkable many-character'd, though but Collatteral line hath firſt a Diſtinction of Poſit. 38 Time at large, and of Seaſon, or inward Time according to the neceſſary Explication of our Lord's three days in the Grave, that is, a part of each. It hath alſo a plain diviſion into three parts: And being the moſt notorious ſtop of Chriſt's Kingdom under the Forgery of it, It is thus often remark'd.c. 11.9.
1. Time, or the firſt Time Beginning, Ann. Dom. 437, and running through the firſt 360 Years with which the Gentiles began their 42 Months, within 38 Years of which after their beginning, the Beaſt at the Ceſſation of the Weſtern Roman Empire was Born into his 42 Months beginning,c. 8.10. viz. at A.D. 475, in which the Gentiles Months are merg'd and drown'd as one and the ſame from that Time, at A.D. 606; When the Biſhop of Rome Fell as a Star from Heaven to enlighten Rome on the Earth at the Supremacy given him by Phocas, and aroſe to the Honour of having Himſelf, and the Image made to Him worſhipp'd at his 666 Number, A. D. 725, and was fully ſettled in his Imperial Beaſtian Power at the End of this firſt time, 797, c. 13. v. 15. v. 17, 18. All procur'd and mannag'd by the other Beaſt or Antichriſtian Hierarchy, with their Gentiles.
2. The two Times wherein the Beast and his Bestians were purſued by the two Woe Trumpets, during the former of the two times by the Mahometan Saracens; during the latter of the two times by the Mahometan Turks, by whom the Grecian Empire was extinguiſh'd, 1453.c. 9. But yet the Beaſt and his Worſhippers Repented not notwithſtanding ſo great Judgments to the very end of theſe two Times Ending, Ann. Dom. 1517.
The Third Diviſion is ſtyl'd the Half time; in the Morning of which after 1517 aforeſaid, the Bestian Kingdom was terribly ſhaken by the Reformation, the Witneſſes about, A. D. 1527, being called Proteſtants or profeſſed Witneſſes. But in the after parts of this Half time, It reſettled it …elf in a partial Dominion, and hath been of late, and now with more Appearance of Succeſs,c. 10.1. &c. endeavouring to remount it ſelf into an entire Dominion; and may, if God pleaſe, Epitomize or give in ſhort the Reſemblance of its Former Antichriſtianiſm and Tyranny, but ſhall certainly have its Papal Garments cut off at the middle, and the Beard of its Falſe Prophetiſm half Shaven at its Half time ending to their Everlaſting Diſgrace never to be repair'd: This will be about the Year 1697, ere the Inſtant Century take End.
Poſit. 39 The Turkiſh Empire, or Woe ſhall paſs away immediately after the decemprincipality, or Tenth of the Great City, which hath ſo long Reign'd over the Kings of the Earth, is fallen, as it ſhall do at that time;c. 11.14. &c. Collat. lin. 5. And however the Mahometan Greatneſs have trembled of late, to ſhew how eaſily God can bring it down in his own time, yet it cannot Roll to the Earth till Beaſtianiſm firſt does ſo.
The Fifth Collatteral Line is the thirty Years of the Voices, which immediately follow on the 1260 Days ending with the ſixth Trumpet; For as ſoon as the ſixth Trumpet ſhall ceaſe, the ſeventh ſhall ſound, and thoſe great Voices ſhall be heard as from Heaven, which ſhall proceed each in their Order, as they are deſcrib'd, Rev. 14. And this Line is ſo joynted into the former of the 1260 days, that it cannot be ſundered the 1260 being made 1290, Dan. 12.11. Ending A. D. 1727.
Collat. lin. 6.The laſt and finiſhing Collatteral Line is the 45 Years of the Vials poured out, which Vials are Repreſented as filled up with the Wrath of God, gathered by the Prevalency of the laſt Voice for treading the Winepreſs, Rev. 14.18. &c. And this is indented ſo with 1260 days, as not to be divided, the whole being given as one entire Line of 1335 days or years, Dan. 12.12. Ending A. D. 1727.
Poſit. 40 This laſt Line of 1335 y. and its backward Conjunction, with the former Line of 404 y. by Daniel's command to ſeal and ſhut up the Book in the beginning of it and by the Sealing the 144000 in the Revelation in the end of it may be even demonſtrated by a cloſe compare of the two Prophecies one with another,Dan. 12.4. Rev. c. 6. c. 7. c. 8. and a Retrograde Juxta-poſition, or laying each part backward one to another, from the End to that Sealing the 144000, and from thence to the ſealed Book.
Poſit. 41 For compare Daniel's End, and the New Jeruſalem, the great End of the Revelation, and we ſhall find how exactly they agree.Dan. 12. Rev. c. 16. c. 21. c. 20.
Daniel's End is a Reſurrection of ſome to everlaſting Life, of ſome to ſhame and everlaſting Contempt: The End of the Revelation is remarked with Two; It is done, It is done: One of the Deſtruction of Poſit. 42 Enemies, the other of the Glorious ſtate of the Martyrs and Servants of Chriſt, under the name of a Reſurrection.Ezek. 42. v. 22.
Daniel's End hath its peculiar Lots, (one of which is aſſigned to him) John's End hath a New Poſit. 43 Jeruſalem, the Capital City of the Land of Promiſe, and a Royal Prieſt-hood; to both which the Notion of Lots is in Sacred Writ ſo Appropriate.
Poſit. 44 Bleſſed together with Daniel in his Lot ſhall All Thoſe Be, who love the Appearance of Christ, wait for, and come to it, viz. into the Enjoyment of it: And Bleſſed and Holy is He, (ſaith the Revelation,) who hath his part in the First Reſurrection. Dan. 12, 13. with Revel. 20.6.
Poſit. 45 From Daniel's End lay back the 45 Days, that make the 1290 Days to be 1335, and They muſt of neceſſity run back with an intimate Reference and Relation into the 1290, and all parts of them, becauſe they ſo cloſely unite with them, as not to be accounted 45 Days without them, but with them 45 making 1335, and yet they muſt be diſtinct becauſe the 1290, were ſo many before them: So theſe laſt 45 Days muſt have to do with the taking away the Daily Service, with the ſetting up the Abomination that maketh deſolate, with the ſcattering the Power of the Holy People, which things are doing, during the 1335 Days ſo joyned, and ſeeing the 45 are neareſt the State of Bleſſedneſs, what can they be ſuppoſed to have to do with them, but as in Execution of Vengeance to their Removal?
Poſit. 46 Agreeably in the Revelation, the Vials that are plac'd juſt before the Apocalyptical End, muſt have to do with the Great City, with the Dragon, as giving his power to the Beaſt, and being Worſhipped with Him, Rev. 16.with the Beast, with the Falſe Prophet, with the Gentiles whoſe Idolatry and Tyranny was repreſented before in the Revelation, as demeriting ſo great an Execution of Judgment: And they muſt alſo be in Vindication of the Witneſſes in Sackcloath and ſlain, of the Woman in the Wilderneſs, and of the 144000 Sealed, and ſo muſt look back as far as they.
Poſit. 47 Lay back from theſe 45 Days Daniel's thirty days, making the 1260 Days concurrent with the time, times, and half a time to be 1290 Days, and They muſt have a cloſer Relation to the 1260 Days, and to the taking away the Daily Service, &c. then the laſt 45 days had, as being ſo much nearer to them, and at farther diſtance from the Bleſſed End; But yet being removed out of them, and nearer to Bleſſedneſs, as not being the 1260, but 1290 Days; They may be well ſuppos'd loud in Remonſtrances and Prayers againſt all the former Idolatry and Tyranny of taking away, &c. and with greater Victoriouſneſs than formerly.
Agreeably in the Revelation, the Voices, that are plac'd juſt before the Vials are full of ſuch Remonſtrances Poſit. 48 and Prayers, and produce the Vials, and are executed by the 144000 (who were ſealed at the beginning of the 1260 days) and by thoſe Inſtructed by them, when They ſtand with the Lamb on Mount Zion, and therefore Theſe Voices look back more wiftly on the 144000 Sealed before the 1260 days began; and more fully ſhew their Concatenation with them,Rev. 14.1. but yet they are not ſo Advanced towards the Glorious State as the 45, the Temple and Ark of the Teſtimony not being Opened till the Vials Prepared, Revel. 15.
Lay the Diſtinction made betwixt ſcattering the Holy People, and accompliſhing to ſcatter to the Poſit. 49 Time, and Times, and to the Half Time, and ſeeing the ſcattering muſt needs be firſt and longeſt, and the Accompliſhing muſt needs be laſt and ſhorteſt;Dan. 12.7. we have Reaſon to make a Diſtinction betwixt the time, times, and Half Time; and to lay the longeſt ſcattering to the time, and times, and the Accompliſhing to the Halftime, and ſo to find ſomewhat of the laſt Efforts to ſcatter, but yet cut off Accompliſhed or finiſhed, and ſo the Holy People, the daily Service, lifting up themſelves, and the Deſolating Abomination caſting out.
Agreeably in the Revelation, when we find the Time, Times, and Half Times Expounded into Poſit. 50 1260 Days, and three days and a half, we have Reaſon to lay that breaking out of Divine Power and Truth in the Voice of the Roaring Lyon, Rev. c. 11. c. 10.the Thunders uttering their Voices to the Morning of the Half time, and the Half day, and to the laſt 180 of of the 1260 days, and though there may be the laſt Efforts, and a Comprizing of the Tyranny in ſome parts of the Reformed Churches, as given in three days and a half, yet that it can be neither Univerſal nor long.
Lay the Oath in Daniel uſhering in the Time, Times, Half a time, that ſo ſolemnly reſolves They Poſit. 51 ſhall be, to the Oath in the Revelation, that Time ſhall be no more, [viz. after the Half Time, that the Oaths may not contradict one another] but that in the days of the Seventh Angel when he ſhall ſound All ſhall be Finiſhed, and we ſee Reaſon why the laſt 45 and 30 making 1335 ſhould be deem'd Joynted more particularly into the laſt 180 Days of the half time then into the 1080 of the time and times becauſe their is ſo great an Affinity betwixt the Reformation, and the further Preparations to Chriſt's Kingdom, as there is a greater nearneſs in Time to the End.
As a further Aſſurance of the cloſe Connexion of the 180 Days of the half time, and the 30 and Poſit. 52 45 making 1260 to be 1335, There is a common Character, though of ſeveral Diſtinctions,Dan. 12.10. Rev. 16. extended upon them All at that declaring the Words Sealed, Many ſhall be purified, and made white by the Reformation, and yet tryed in a Furnace of Martyrdom. The Wiſe ſhall Ʋnderſtand by the Voices and Vials, and come out as God's People from among the Wicked, but the Wicked will all along do wickedly, and not Ʋnderſtand, but more eſpecially they ſhew it in the time of the Vials, when they Repented not but Blaſphaem'd; It is no wonder then to behold Antichriſtian Confidence, Obſtinacy, and Obdurateneſs.
Conſider yet Daniel's complaint, that He underſtood not, and that Declarations of the Words cloſed, Poſit. 53 and Sealed till the End, and agreeably the Thunders Sealed, v. 9.and the Book bitter in the Prophets Belly in the Revelation, Rev. 10.9.and we ſee the reaſon why the Half time is made moſt of a piece with the time and times, the 180 with the 1080 Days, viz. becauſe the power of the holy People remain'd ſtill ſcatter'd in great part; the daily Sacrifice not Reſtor'd, nor the Abomination of Deſolation fully Remov'd; the Beaſt and his City yet Regnant, the Witneſſes in Sackcloth, the Woman in the wilderneſs, and the 144000 Sealed, and not on Mount Zion: And ſo we ſee them ſtill, the Half time of the 1260 Days, being not expir'd by Ten, and therefore the Reformation is not Perfect as it ſhall be at that end of them, when the Thunders are unſealed in the Voices.
The time and times muſt needs be the continued Time of All theſe Evils of Antichriſt, during Poſit. 54 which the Book of the Kingdom was Sealed, and they muſt run back to the time of the ſecond Sealing, after the ſeven Seals Opened, and the Oath; There ſhould be time, times, Half time, which was the ſecond ſtop of Chriſt's Kingdom in his Servants, viz. the 144000 Sealed, under the Gentiles, and the Beſtian Tyranny, &c.
Hereby we may underſtand the whole Time of Sealing, its ſignification and the Ceſſation of it; Poſit. 55 The Book Sealed is the Book of Daniel's Prophecy of Chriſt's Kingdom; The Times of Sea…ing were when that Kingdom had Right to Appear and was Seal'd up in reſerve for Future Time. 1. At the Reſurrection and Annointing with the Holy Spirit on the Apocalyptical Lord's Day, Daniel was then bidden according to his former Viſion to ſeal Prophecy at the Annointing the moſt Holy, and to ſeal it to the time of the End; Accordingly the Book is ſeen Sealed in the Hand of Him on the Throne; And it was given to Chriſt to open Gradually to his Kingdom:Dan. 9.…2.4. And ſo the Courſe of time next to the 70 Weeks runs on in the Opening the ſeven Seals, during the Purity of the Apoſtolick Doctrine, the Character of which, is, Many ſhall run to and fro, and Knowledge be increas'd by thoſe Voices Come and See, or ſome proportionable Voice; and It laſted 404 Years from the Reſurrection. 2. The Kingdom of our God, Rev. 12.10.and Power of his Chriſt Appearing in the Chriſtian Empire: It was enquired with Hope, It was near; How long to the end of theſe wonders? Chriſt's Swearing time, &c. was the ſecond Sealing in the 144000;Rev. 8.9. the force of which Seal…ng entred firſt in the Firſt Trumpet, when the weſtern Empire was ſtorm'd by every Blaſt of the four Firſt Trumpets, which all Hiſtory agrees was about 404 Years from the Reſurrection, and is by Daniel's Line of 2300 Ev. Morn. determin'd ſo as before. Here was a View given of the State of the New Jeruſalem, for which the 144000 Witneſſes were Sealed. 3. At the Half time, then was again an Appearance of Chrſt's Kingdom, in the Reformation the Book was opened in Chriſt's hand, but yet the words are declar'd cloſed, and the Book Sealed; becauſe It was ſeal'd to the time of the End, c. 7. c. 8.which was not yet: The Sealing was therefore Affirm'd and Averr'd, and Daniel could not Ʋnderſtand, the Thunders were Sealed, and the Book Hid in the Bowels of John; and the Kingdom ſtill ſtay'd, the Reformation not perfected.
Poſit. 56 But here Daniel was diſcharged from his Office of Sealing, on which Account He is bidden to Go his way; For after this Sealing the Thunders, All ſhould be opening in the Voices and Vials, and no more Sealing; and he hath alſo his Qute…us or Diſcharge to his his Reſt by Death from the whole Office of Prophecy, Dan. 12.9.ſignifying He Prophecied for Future times, and that He had given a Full Account from his own time of Future times, and had attain'd the Final Bleſſed End, and the Aſſurance of his own Happineſs and Reward in it;v. 13. even his Lot in the Kingdom of Chriſt, the Reſurrection and Reſtitution of All Things, which is the End throughout his Prophecy agreeable with the Revelation, which alſo declares the Sealing at an End, when that Bleſſed State was revealed, Revel. 22.10.
Poſit. 57 We are now in the twenty two hundredth and fifteenth Year of Daniel…s 2300 v. Morn. within ten Years of that great Revolution of the Kingdoms of this world becomming the Kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Chriſt; of the witneſſes coming out of Sackcloth and Aſcending; the Tenth of the Great City Falling, and the Turkiſh woe paſſing away. And within Eighty five Years of the Bleſſed End, or the Glory of that Kingdom it ſelf, which is the End of the 2300 Evenings and Mornings.
Poſit 58 This defining of times to the Coming of Chriſt, by the Word of God, and in the …ight of that, bears no oppoſition to that Saying of our Lord,Mar. 13.32. Of that Day and Hour knoweth no Man, not the Angels, not the Son, but the Father only; For our Saviour's Word [to Know of] ſpeaks Authoritative Cognizance and Determination, and the Divine Order of the Revelation given by God the Father, to Chriſt, to ſhew to his Servants, &c. Before which given, Daniel could not be Expounded, nor this Time known, and ſo the haſty Curioſity of the Apoſtles to know the Coming of Chriſt, and of the End of this State of the World, or Courſe of it, was curb'd and reſtrained onelyonly, as thoſe Things were not yet Reveal'd; Next Follows Sabbatical Time, Interſabbatical Time being expir'd.
Poſit. 59 The Thouſand Years called the End, are an exact Cube of Time, and being neither more nor leſs, are the very Perfection of whole Time; leſs than which is the Defect and Imperfection, and more is the Excurſion, Extravagancy, and Superfluity of Time: So that this Cube is the Juſt ſtate of the Glory of Chriſt's Kingdom, and was never attained before or after in time, and are both litterally ſo much Time, and alſo the Symboll of Times Perfection.
Poſit. 60 The Thouſand Years of Chriſt's Kingdom are not therefore called the End, as if they were One ſingle Period ſet to Time, but becauſe they are One even level ſpace of Time, giving End to the hard Toyl, and dying Labour of Interſabbatical Time, and are therefore called the Sabbatiſm of the People of God, and are admirably ſet out to us, in the Prayer of Moſes for the Thouſand Years, Pſal 90. in the Great and Perfect Security which attends, Pſal. 91. and by the Song or Pſalm compoſed for this Sabbath, pſal. 92. and a Courſe and Order of Pſalms Celebrating the Kingdom of Chriſt in thoſe that Follow.
Poſit. 61, The Expiration of a Thouſand Years is not the Expiration of the Kingdom of Chriſt, but the Expiration of the Time,Rev. 20. in which Satan was bound, (ſo that He could not deceive the Nations, during that ſpace) the Expiration of that Time in which the Saints ſo Reign with Christ, that there is no Appearance of an Enemy, nor any Appearance of the Churches growing Luke-warm toward an Apoſtacy.
There is therefore a ſmall Spong of Time after, in which Satan is looſed, the Nations under the Name of Gog and Magog aſcend againſt the Beloved City; the Fervor of the Church here below Cools into a Lukewarmneſs, but none of theſe Things have a Courſe; For they are immediately Poſit. 62 ſurpriz'd with the Final Judgment, which laſt Judgment is alſo the Throne, Rev. 20.3. v. 7. &c. c. 3.14. &c. c. 3.21. c. 20.11.and Kingdom of Chriſt.
The Coming of Chriſt at the beginning of the Thouſand Years, is the Firſt of the Days of the Son of Man, (which we Tranſlate OnelyOnly (ONE,) a day that cannot be miſtaken, nor haſten'd any more than the Day of Judgment in the general notion of it; and ſo can no way be dangerous to the Governments of the World; For who can make the Lightning to lighten from under one End of the Poſit. 63 Heaven, and to ſhine to under the other End of it, but He that ſhall come at that Day and do ſo?Luc. 17.…2. v. 24.
At the Firſt of the days of the Son of Man is the ſubduing of All Enemies, and Chaining up Satan, that his Kingdom may have abſolute Peace and no Diſturbance, but that He may Reign over Poſit. 64 the World to Come, of which we now ſpeak, as the Second Adam in a Full dominion over All.Re. 20.1. v.
At the Completory, or Full laſt Judgment, is the utter Eradication of All Enemies, and ſhutting Poſit. 65 up Satan and all his Seed, Sin, Death, and Hell, in their own Lake: v. 14.15. 1 Cor. 15.26And this is the Last of the Days of the Son of Man.
There is a full Agreement betwixt the Firſt and Laſt of the days of the Son Man, in the determination Poſit. 66 of the Good and Bad to their Unchangeable ſtate;Rev. 20.5.6. ſo that the Laſt is a filling up and perfecting the Firſt, upon all that have been here below upon Earth, during the Thouſand Years, and a Ratification of whatever was done on the firſt of the Days of the Son of Man, on thoſe who were then Judged to Reign with Chriſt, or Condemned to the Lake.
What the ſpace of the Spong of Time, or of the Laſt of the Days of the Son of Man, viz. of Satan Poſit. 67 looſed, &c. and of Final Judgment will be, Scripture hath no where declared, nor is it given in the Revelation God gave to Jeſus Chriſt, ſo that it is a Time hitherto Reſerv'd in the Fathers Power.
Yet it is moſt certain, It ſhall Fill up whatever ſpace is allowed by God to Time or any of its Poſit. 68 Millenaries, Till All be Received into Eternity.
This Kingdom of Chriſt from the Firſt to the very Laſt moment of the Laſt of the Days of the Son Poſit. 69 of Man is the Kingdom, Throne and Reign of Chriſt, not divided but diſtinguiſh'd from the Kingdom of God, and the Father, and from Chriſt's ſitting on the Right Hand of God on his Throne; Rev. 3 21.For This is his Own Throne.
Chriſt's Sitting therefore on the Right Hand of God, untill He makes his Foes his Foot-ſtool, is the Poſit. 70 Glory to which Chriſt was advanced at his Reſurrection and Aſcenſion, till the Time comes that God ſhall give him immediate Abſolute Authority, that He as the Son of Man ſhould Himſelf viſibly, and by the Power given Him by the Father bring All Things under Him.
When Chriſt firſt Sate down on the Right Hand of the Majeſty on High, and was Crowned with Glory Poſit. 71 and Honour: The Apoſtle expreſly ſays, We ſee not yet All Things put under Him, Heb. 2.8, 9.but we ſee him Crown'd, &c. plainly ſignifying, That the Kingdom of the Second Adam, Lord of the World to come, of which He ſpake, was not yet Come: For then All Things together, and at once were to be put under Him, that nothing could be left that was not put under Him. It muſt be therefore the State of Chriſt in Heaven at the Right Hand of God while His Kingdom is delay'd, or Sealed (during moſt eminently, Time, Times, Half a Time) while He ſuffers the Antichristian Forgery on his Kingdom.
This diſtinct Kingdom and Reign, is that which Chriſt delivers up to the Father; Which delivery Poſit. 72 is the Laſt Final End of All Things, or the End of this End, viz. of the Kingdom of Chriſt,Heb. 2.13. Rev 6.8. Mat. 25.41. when the laſt Enemy Death is ſubdued, by being ſhut up with Satan, who had the Power of Death, and with Hell that follows Death, and the Wicked Men of his Fellowſhip into their own Lake.
Thus the Kingdom of Chriſt is a Kingdom not left to other People, but Conſumes All, and ſtands Poſit. 73 it ſelf for Ever; and is peculiar to the renewed humane nature of all the Saints in the ſecond Adam.Heb. 2. v. 6. with v. 11.
For into Eternity This Kingdom is deliver'd up, that God may be All in All.
Chriſt's delivery up of the Kingdom, or Gods being All in All, cannot be underſtood of the abſolute Poſit. 74 Ceſſation of the Mediatory Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt, God-Man, much leſs of the Eternal Word. But Poſit. 75 it is the State of the Glory of Chriſt the Mediator, and of his Saints with Him in the Glory that Christ had with the Father before the World was, when there was no ſuch Frame of Heaven and Earth, and of the Changes of them; but one ſmooth, unwrinkled,Heb. 2.11. John 17.24. unfurrowed Main of Eternity, and into which All Things now Return: Throughout which Eternity, All Gloy, Praiſe, Love, Service, and Obedience, ſhall be to the Father, the Word in our Nature, and the Holy Spirit from Glorfied Angels and Saints, for Ever and Ever, Amen and Amen.
POSITIONS Giving a Judgment, according to the Prophecy of the Revelation, upon the State of the Turkiſh Empire, in relation to its Continuance, or Fall, and in compare with the Continuance, or Fall of the Papacy; whether of theſe two ſhall firſt be; by way fuller Explanation and Aſſurance of the Line of Time in that Remarkable Joynt, the Time, Times, and Half Time, or the 1260 Days of the Witneſſes in Sack-cloth: And upon Occaſion of the late wonderful ſinck of the Turkiſh Affairs, and the ſeeming riſe of the Papal; yet with a very undoubted Prediction of the Fall of both within ten years, and of the Papacy firſt of the Two, if duly underſtood, and limited.
Poſit. 1 IT cannot but be acknowledg'd by all men of Reaſon, much more of Chriſtian Reaſon, that the Mahometan Power hath been a very Great Inſtance of the Sathanick Kingdom in the World,Rev. 9.11. and that the King of it may be juſtly Intitled the Angel of the Bottomleſs Pit, Abaddon, and Apollyon, ſignifying deſtruction, Enmity to humane Nature, and peculiar Contrariety to Chriſtian Religion, wherein the Salvation of Men every way conſiſts.
Poſit. 2 All this appears in the deteſtable Folly of its Religion, the Cruelty of its Arms, and the Barbarouſneſs of its Tyranny.
Poſit. 3 The preſſure of it ſo long upon the World, and upon ſo great parts of it (as on purpoſe to ſhew the univerſal Kingdom of Chriſt ſtopp'd,) muſt needs be acknowledg'd a horrible and dreadful Judgment of God upon the World,v. 12. eſpecially upon the Chriſtian World, which in regard of the Excellency of its Religion, and the Promiſes to Chriſt our Lord of its ſpread with Glory upon the World, hath much more Right to ſo vaſt a Monarchy and Empire, and ſo may be juſtly call'd, if diſtributed into the Saracenick, and Turkiſh Mahometanes, Two Woes.
Poſit. 4 It is moſt evident to All, who are but a little ſeen in Hiſtory, that its Hegira or Date began A. D. 622. about ſixteen years after Supremacy given to the Church, and Biſhop of Rome by Phocas, and accepted by them, notwithſtanding the Remonſtrance of a High Prophet of their own, Gregory the Great, that ſuch Supremacy was Antichriſtianiſm but juſt before.
Poſit. 5 Mahomataniſm, a Hibris, a Mungrel of Religions begotten with its Alcoran betwixt Mahomet the Falſe Prophet, Rev. 9.3. &c.and Sergius a Monk, and taking ſo deeply in an Age of Superſtitions, cannot but caſt our Thoughts on the Locuſts in the Revelation, which came out of the Smoke of the Bottomleſs Pit, and were ſuch a Woe, and Torment upon the World of men, who had not the Seal of God on their Foreheads. For immediately after the Armed Saracens drinking in the Poyſon of the Falſe Prophetiſm, began their Range, in which they tormented Mankind, as with the venemous ſtroke of a Scorpion, by their Stings in their Tayls.
The Biſhop of Rome, as a Star falling from the Firmament of the Goſpel upon the Earth, and inlightning Poſit. 6 Rome with New Supremacy, when It had no other Light,v. 1. c. 17.15 being ignoble under the Exarch of Ravenna, a Governour Appointed by the Grecian Emperour, looks very Fathally upon that Supremacy, as if it were the Appearance of that Idolatrous Supremacy, ſacred Propheſie calls Beſtianiſm, and makes immediately to ſucceed the Chriſtian Empire, expir'd in the Weſt, though at firſt It was not; viz. in open Appearance, but now began to appear,
The Smoke of the Bottomleſs Pit, open'd by the Fallen Star, and unawares to him the Locuſts Poſit. 7 coming out of that Smoke look too like the Falſe Chriſtianity, Idolatry, Superſtitions,v. 2. Falſe Hell of Purgatory; enforc'd by Anathemaes, Excommunications, Curſes, Darkning the Knowledge of Chriſt the Sun of Righteouſneſs, and the whole Ayr of the Chriſtian Profeſſion: And yet had the Smoke not been armed afterwards with the Flames of Nebuchadnezzars Furnace of Perſecution, compelling to worſhip the Beaſt and his Image, All had been but Smoke; but ſuch a Smoke as might well give Advantage to the Falſe Prophetiſm, the Locuſts were poyſon'd with, to be receiv'd in the World.
It is moſt evident about the time of the Worſhip of Images, being ſetled by general uſe, and eſtabliſhed Poſit. 8 by the ſecond Council of Nice, theſe Locuſts of Saracens did more fiercely annoy the Antichriſtian Chriſtian World, viz. After the years 725, and 787.
After, or out of the Ceſſation of the Saracens grew up the Turkiſh or Othoman Power upon the Poſit. 10 World, as a ſecond Woe, when the Saracens Locuſts like, by Five, and Five Prophetical Months, c. 9.12, 13 &c.and Five (ſuppoſe) of Intermiſſion, coming on, and going off had laſted 435 years, or from A. D. 622, to A. D. 1057, when the Turkiſh Power began its play.
About this time many Servants of God muſt needs be ſuppos'd in the depth of Popery to grone Poſit. 11 under it,v. 13. and when the publick daily Worſhip was taken away to worſhip privately within the Temple at the Altar of Incenſe, and to cry to Heaven for Relief; and ſo from the four Horns of the Golden Altar the Voice came.
That the firſt Riſing of the Turks was from near the River of Euphrates is ſo univerſally agreed, as Poſit. 12 to turn our Thoughts upon the Four Angels looſed, that were there bound, c. 9. v. 14who from Four united into One in the Othoman Family according to Hiſtory.
The Great number of Horſemen in the Turkiſh Armies, the lively Symbols of Great Guns, and Poſit. 13 ſulphurean Powder juſt in uſe at the taking Conſtantinople, their poyſonous Tayls of Falſe Prophetiſm, v. 15, 16, 17, 18. v. 20, 21.their Prophetical Day, Month, Year, making 395 years from their Riſing to the Taking Conſtantinople; the Third part of Men [the ſame Figure uſed for Imperial Rome before, but the killing or extinction of the Empire in the Eaſt, differing from the darkning it wholly in the Weſt; till the Papal Supremacy inlightning it anew] and the Impenitency of the reſt of Men, of the Weſtern Antichriſtian World after the Judgment of the Eaſtern or Graecian Antichriſtians are all ſo pregnant, and agreeable Images of the Turks placing themſelves in the Empire of the Eaſt, as not eaſily to be refuſed, eſpecially adding the admirable Landſcaph of the Reformation, Cap. 10.
The whole Tract of Mahometan Time from 622 to 1453 before the Reformation running paralel Pſit. 14 with the moſt entire Papal Domination ſhews it a Judgment level'd againſt that very Domination,c. 9. v. 4. with v. 20 v. 21. and ſet up by God in ſcorn of that Falſe Chriſtianity, to which it bears in ſo many things an oppoſite Reſemblance; one Arm'd Falſe Prophet againſt another, one unreaſonable ſenſeleſs Religion againſt another, viz. Mahometaniſm againſt Antichriſtianiſm, One full of the Worſhip Angels, Saints, Images, the other in the Zeal of One God, denying Jeſus Christ.
The Forty two Months of Western Empire being reſerv'd to the Supremacy of the Beast and his Ten Poſit. 15 Kings, the force of Killing fell on the Eastern Empire neceſſarily,c. 17 all along. and on the enſlav'd Greek Antichristians, who being guilty of the high Pretenſions to the ſame Papal Supremacy in John Patriark of Constantinople challenging it, and of its being given by their Emperor to Rome, and who by their ſecond Councel of Nice eſtabliſh'd the Idolatry upon Saints and Images, are juſtly made Hoſtages to Divine Vengeance till the Execution of Judgment on the Western Antichrist.
There being to the Turkiſh Angels an Hour above the Day Month, and Year, ſignifying a deſign'd Poſit. 16 ſet Time, may very fitly embleme the continuance of their Power, and ravage on the World,c. 9. v. 15 till near the Fall of the Tenth of the Great City, &c. and the Glorious Aſcenſion of the Witneſſes out of their ſlain Condition, dropping as Eliſha their Mantle of Sack-cloth.
Poſit. 17 But yet to underſtand the Turkiſh Times, there muſt be an exact obſervation of Prophecy, and its meaſures, viz. from their looſing from Euphrates and motion over Countries throughout their Day, …n. 11.41.…, 43. …ev. 9.18.… 11.13, 14. …an. 11.… 42. …ev. 16.12.Month, and Year, till their attaining the top of the Constantinopolitan City, and Empire; From that time till near the Fall of the Tenth of the Great City Rome, the Woe by them was to continue; A gradual Fall before that muſt neceſſarily be ſuppoſed, ſignified in Daniel by Tidings out of the East and North, but together with that Fall, their Constantinopolitan Empire and Woe muſt ceaſe, and but with that; Then by the drying up the River Euphrates at the ſixth Vial is intimated their ſubſiſting in their firſt Euphratean Bounds; And from thence ſpreading as far as they can upon the Glorious Mountains of Judea, they are dryed up under the Symbol of the Euphratean Waters, that at the Converſion of Iſrael the way of thoſe Kings of the East may be prepared, and in the Battel of Armageddon they come to their End, and none ſhall be able to help them, &c. Dan. 11. v. 43. with Rev. 16. v. 16, 17.
Poſit. 18 We have therefore greateſt Reaſon to pray for, and Congratulate the Turkiſh Falls, both as of ſo Great an Abaddon, and Apollyon and alſo, as, It is a Pawn, and Pledge to us of the Fall of that Diametrical Enemy of the Kingdom of Chriſt, the Antichrist, and his Antichristian Church or City, to ſuch a Degree, that the Kingdoms of the World ſhall be proclaimed to be the Kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Christ. For the Truth of God will certainly haſten the one with the other.
Poſit. 19 We have Great Reaſon to hope a Great Enfranchiſement and Converſion of the Eastern Chriſtians, and of thoſe Churches at the ſame Time, however Antichristianiz'd now.
Poſit. 20 It is alſo moſt hopeful, The Great Victories granted to the Army of the Christian Name, however Antichriſtianiz'd, Rev. 11.14. with c. 17.16.will move the reſt of the Ten Kings, who have till that time given their Kingdom and Power to the Beaſt, to hate the Whore, to make her deſolate, to burn her Fleſh with Fire, even that Woman who ſits the Beaſt, and that then the words of God will be ſo far fulfilled, that they ſhall and will do it by the Time appointed; of which every Victory over the Mahometan Powers is a freſh Pledge, ſeeing that muſt be done ere the Mahometane Empire paſs away from being the Woe as under which the Grecian Empire continues to this day extinct.
Poſit. 21 There is a Great Judgment remains at the Kingdom of Chriſt to that Reſt of Men, who repented not at the killing the Eastern third part of Men, Rev. c. 9.20. with c. 19.21.and all along to that Judgment, viz. when the Beaſt and Falſe Prophet whom they ſerv'd, are caſt into the Lake, They ſhall be killed with the Sword of him that Rides in Triumph to his Kingdom.
Poſit. 22 By the Year 1697, Theſe Great Things ſhall be in motion the Tenth of the Great City then falling, the Mahometan Woe paſſing away, and the True Chriſtianity Riſing into Glory. And they are deſcribed as moſt near and cloſe together.
Poſit. 23 If there can be any miſtake in this foregoing Account, or that God is pleas'd to ſhorten this fagend of time (as the Turkiſh Fall ſeems to be even on the Wing) yet being fully aſſur'd; All muſt come to paſs together; although I fear, they cannot be ſooner, then that 1697: Yet I heartily ſay, as the Prophet Jeremy in a like Caſe,Jer. 28.6. Dan. 9.1, 2, 3. v. 19. with Iſa. 62.7. Amen. The Lord haſten it. But with much more Confidence according to the 1260 Days that will be Accompliſhed in the Deſolations of the Witneſſes and the Woman his Church at that Time; I deſire my ſelf, and humbly and earneſtly deſire all the Servants of God that we may ſet our ſelves by Prayer and Supplication with Faſting and Sackcloth and Aſhes, that he would then Do and defer not, to make his Church a Praiſe in the Earth. Amen.