Positions, Postscript
A POSTSCRIPT to the READER.
SEeing the Conſequence of this Table of Time arm'd with its agreeable Events, which I here preſent, is ſo viſibly and ſenſibly Great in the Demonſtration of True Chriſtianity, againſt the Atheiſt, the Pagan, the Mahometan, the Deiſt, the Jew, and the Antichriſtian, as alſo full of Aſſurance againſt the (I may almoſt call it ſuperſtitions) Abſtemiouſneſs and Dread of ſearch into Sacred Prophecy, under the ſhew of Humility, Modeſty, and avoidance of Curioſity,Col. 2.23▪ I do moſt ſolemnly appeal to every Reader, whether it can be charged with any ſuch Abſurdity, as ſhould make it Inconſiſtent with it ſelf, or ſuch as offers violence to Scripture, to Reaſon, or to undoubted Hiſtory.
For if It cannot; Then, as it is moſt evident, there is ſuch a Book as Scripture; ſo It is as evident, I here preſent a Table of Time grounded upon expreſs places of it, emboſs'd with the moſt notorious Occurrences, that have been in the World with Relation to the Church of God in every Age, the proper Ornament of a Scripture Line of Time, as cloſely diſpos'd, and organiz'd into its ſeveral Joynts, as the humane Body it ſelf is, and that cannot be ſo much as Diſlocated without violence: And I challenge all the World to draw ſuch another, leſt it be ſuſpected a Creature of Fancy.
If then there is ſuch a Table, and ſo unchargable, There cannot be a more ſenſible-Rational proof of Divine Beeing, than the declaring things to come, Iſa. 41.22, 23.and of the Divinity of Jeſus Chriſt; who Himſelf gave the greater part of the Prophetick Line, and in whom, and in whoſe Glorious Kingdom the whole Centers.
I do therefore moſt loudly again appeal to, and beſeech every Reader, [if they ſee Reaſon] to charge theſe Poſitions, or any of them with any ſuch Inconſiſtency, or violence, as muſt convince them of Folly, or Falſhood, that I may either vindicate, or Retract them: If not, that there may be a due waiting for, and Expectation of thoſe Grand Events yet to Come, which I do with a full Confidence declare at this very Time, when the Turkiſh Ruine ſeems to outſtrip the Antichriſtian; But he that ballances all Times, and their Events, will haſten both in their due Time;Iſa. 34.16. and ſeeing they are determin'd together, neither of them ſhall want its Mate.
And becauſe I have already publiſhed a larger Diſcourſe upon ſome parts of this Line of Time, and an Adjuſtment of Solomons moſt Prophetick Song of Songs to ſo much of this Line, as runs from Davids Time to the Glorious Kingdom of Chriſt, and am endeavouring to publiſh the Full Diſcuſſion of thoſe parts of the Line not diſcuſs'd in the former Treatiſe, I humbly beg the favourable Aſſiſtance towards the publication of All, who have Favour for the Work, and its Ʋndertaking.
T Beverley.
End of the text · Thomas Beverley, Positions (1690)