Visions and Prophecies of Daniel Expounded, Prophecy 4 – Prophecy 5
The fourth Prophecie, Dan. 9, of the Seventy weeks.
The Controverſal Part.
THis was revealed unto Daniel in the time of the evening-Oblation, v. 21; and after that he had long and earneſtly ſought the Lord. The meaning alſo of this Prophecie hath been long ſought, by ſundry pious and learned Divines, and for many hundred yeers: but it may be, that the unſealing of it is reſerved to the evening of the world, proportionately to the other Prophecies of Daniel, which were to be ſealed up until the time of the end, Dan. 8.26, 27. and 12.4, 10.
The general and received opinion hath been, and is, that theſe weeks began at the going forth of the Regal Edict for reſtauration of Jeruſalem, after the Babylonian Captivity. But the accommodation of this opinion and of the yeers unto the thing, is exceeding various and divided by manifold opinions, and all of them clogged (as I ſuppoſe) with inextricable difficulties. For ſome begin theſe yeers at the fourth yeer of Zedekiah, as Nicolaus de lyra, and others. Clement of Alexandria begins them at the firſt yeer of Cyrus. Origen, from the firſt yeer of Darius the Mede. Julius Affricanus, from the twentieth yeer of Longimanus. Tertullian as Origen, but in a ſtrange Chronologie. Origen again elſewhere numbreth a day for Ten yeers, and ſo fetcheth them from Adam. Another, from the ſixth yeer of Darius Hiſtaſpes. Others, from the ſecond of Darius Nothus. Others, from the ſeventh of Artaxerxes Longimanus. See Pererius on Daniel, Reinold. Junius.
Others, finding no ſoundneſſe in theſe Opinions, flee to extremes. Maſter Broughton and his followers denying the truth of Heathen Chronologie, conſtitute the yeers without ground. Doctor Reinolds on the other ſide, allowing and maintaining the Heathen Chronologie; and finding no way how to accommodate theſe yeers unto it, affirmeth that no certain time is meant, but an uncertain and undetermined duration, in alluſion to the Seventy yeers of the Babylonian Captivity.
To ſpend long time in examining and confuting all theſe Opinions, and ſundry others that might be brought, would be exceeding tedious both to the Writer and the Reader, and unneceſſary alſo; foraſmuch as Doctor Reinolds, Pererius, and other Authors, have worthily ſhewed the unſoundneſſe of other Opinions beſides their own, and their own impugned by one another. Graſerus, whom Piſcator ſeemeth to follow, being overwhelmed with the difficulty, or rather impoſſibility of accommodation, affirm that theſe yeers muſt begin at the Edict of Cyrus: but how to apply them according to Chronologie, they ingenuouſly confeſſe they cannot tell. All this I have alleadged, eſpecially for this end, that by ſo monſtrous variety of Opinions, and ſuch inextricable difficulties in every one of them, we may the more eaſily be brought to ſuſpect at leaſt, that the truth is not yet found, and that not contenting our ſelves with that which hath been already ſaid, we might be incited and encouraged to ſeek for further light.
I purpoſe, after all theſe, the unworthieſt of them, to adde my mite for the underſtanding of this Prophecie; not reſolutely and peremptorily determining what I ſhall ſay, but with ſubmiſſion to better Judgements, ſhewing what may be farther ſaid, and upon what grounds of probability, to prepare an eaſier way for the finding of the truth.
THis Prophecie ſeemeth not to be underſtood of the times between the Babylonian Captivity and the Paſſion of our Lord, or deſtruction of Jeruſalem, for theſe Reaſons.
1. Becauſe in no place of the New Teſtament this Prophecie is uſed againſt the Jews, to prove the Meſſiah already come.
2. If the reſtauration of the City, Verſ. 25, is of the material Jeruſalem, after Nebuchad-nezzars Captivity, it muſt begin in the firſt of Cyrus; from which time, Seventy weeks of yeers will fully expire long before the birth of Chriſt.
3. The firſt Diviſion of the Seventy weeks, is Seven weeks of yeers, Verſ. 25, the end whereof is expreſſely characterized by the ſetting up of a Meſſiah Governour, which cannot be verified in the ſetting up of the firſt Governour of the Jews after the Captivity, much leſſe of Chriſt. For Zerubbabel was ſet up in the beginning, and Chriſt long after the end of all. No other Governour can be meant after the firſt, becauſe the ſetting up of one, pointeth at the firſt. Therefore if the Seven weeks end not in the ſetting up of Zerubbabel or Chriſt, as they cannot, then they cannot be verified in the material ſtate of Jeruſalem after the Captivity of Babylon.
4. The cutting off of the Meſſiah here ſpoken of, is expreſly joyned with the deſtruction of the City, in one week to be accompliſhed, the laſt Seven yeers, Verſ. 26, 27: whereas Chriſt ſuffered above Thirty yeers before the deſtruction of material Jeruſalem.
5. Thoſe phraſes, Verſ. 24, To finiſh the tranſgreſsion, To make an end of ſins, To purge iniquity, and To bring in everlaſting righteouſneſſe, are manifeſt characters of the time of the end, as ſhall be ſhewed.
My Judgement is, that theſe Seventy weeks of yeers are cut out for the reſtauration of the Spiritual Jeruſalem, the Church of Chriſt, from the Babylon and ſervitude of Antichriſt; and muſt end in the full purgation thereof from Antichriſtian defilements, and from the courſe of other moral tranſgreſſions.
1. Becauſe the effects characterizing the end of theſe yeers, the conſuming of tranſgreſsion, and the bringing in of everlasting righteouſneſſe, Verſ. 24, are effects to be accompliſhed in the Chriſtian Church, at the fall of Antichriſt, Iſal. 1.25, 26, 27, 28. and 27.9. Apoc. 21.27.
2. In the other Prophets, the reſtauration of the Chriſtian Church from the Babylon of Antichriſt, is in like Types proportionably repreſented: Iſai. 10, and 11, and 13, and 14. Jer. 50 and 51. Apoe. 14.6, 7, 8. and 16.19. and 15.7. and 18.2, 10, 21.
3. In all the other Prophecies of Daniel, the main ſubject of them is the hiſtory of Antichriſt, the Waldenſian Saints and their ſucceſſors, reſtored and reduced out of Antichriſtian Captivity. See Chap. 7, and 2, and 8, and 10, 11, 12.
4. The parallel proportion of phraſe, argueth the anointed Prince, Verſ. 25, to be the Prince of the Covenant, Chap. 11.22, which there doth ſignifie the Princes of the Waldenſes, as ſhall be ſhewed.
5. The ſtreights of times, Verſ. 25, and the deſtruction of the City, Verſ. 26, doth fitly agree to the Antichriſtian perſecution. See Chap. 8.24, 11, 13.
6. The effects of the laſt weeks are parallel with the Antichriſtian perſecution deſcribed Apoc. 11. For as the Chriſtian Church is in both places ſignified by the holy City, Apoc. 11.2. with Dan. 9.26, and ſtreights of time ſaid in both places to go before the laſt afflictions, Apoc. 11.5, 3, 7. with Dan. 9.25: ſo the laſt afflictions are alſo propoſed with marvellous agreement. There, three yeers and half of tyranny over the conquered Saints, Apoc. 11.8, 9, in the end of perſecution; here, half a week of yeers, that is, preciſely three and an half, out out for the ſame end. There, War immediately preceding the foreſaid triumph, Apoc. 11.7: here, in like manner.
7. From the beginning of the ſecond half of the laſt week, or of the three yeers and half, a Prince is ſaid to cauſe the Sacrifice and Oblation to ceaſe, Verſ. 27. A phraſe attributed to Antichriſt, Chap. 8.11. and 11.31, there ſaid to take away the daily Sacrifice.
8. In the ſame time the ſaid Prince is ſaid, Verſ. 27, for the overſpreading of abominations, to make deſolate. A phraſe attributed to Antichriſt, Chap. 8.12, 13. and 11.31, there ſaid to ſet up the abominations making deſolate.
9. It is added, Verſ. 27, Until the conſummation determined ſhall be poured on the deſolate. A phraſe alſo applied to the reſtraining of the Antichriſtian perſecution, Chap. 11.36.
10. As the Seventy weeks, the diviſion of the Seven from the Sixty two, and of both from the one week, are unappliable to the material reſtauration out of real Babylon: ſo they will exactly and preciſely agree to the reſtauration out of the Antichriſtian Babylon, as ſhall be ſhewed.
Upon theſe grounds of probability, I will adventure to propoſe the Interpretation following, with ſubmiſſion to the judgement of Brethren, and evidence of clearer light.
The ſecond Part. The Interpretation of the Prophecie of the Seventy weaks, Dan. 9.24, 25, 26, 27.
¶ SEventy weeks] A day for a yeer, Verſ. 24.as Gen. 6.3. Ezek. 4.6. Apoc. 11.3, 8. Levit. 25.8. Seventy weeks, are Seventy weeks of yeers, that is, Four hundred and ninety yeers. Therefore unto this kinde of weeks are oppoſed three weeks of days by diſtinction, Chap. 10.2.
¶ are determined] Heb. foreign, cut out, Graſ. in Dan. 9.or accurately and preciſely determined: ſo that by the end of the Seventy weeks, the effects following ſhall be preciſely fulfilled.
¶ upon the people and upon the holy citie] That is, upon the true Chriſtian Church, within theſe Seventy weeks of yeers to be gathered out of the Spiritual Babylon of Antichriſt. See Apoc. 11.2. Now obſerve, that as Daniel was confeſſing the ſins of his people, intreating pardon and purgation of them, Verſ. 20; ſo accordingly the Angel is come to ſhew, not onelyonly that ſin ſhould be pardoned and purged, but alſo the time and yeer thereof. Therefore it followeth,
¶ to make an end of tranſgreſsion] foreign is the Antichriſtian defection or apoſtacie, Dan. 8.12, 13. 2 Theſſ. 2.3. To make an end of it, is to cut off by the Word and by the ſpirit of judgement and conſuming affliction, the utmoſt remnant of the honourable uſe of the very names of Antichriſtian Idols, from among the holy people, Zech. 13.1, 2. Zeph. 1.4. Hoſ. 2.17. So ſignifieth foreign, Dan. 12.7. Pſal. 59.14. Jer. 5.10, 18, &c.
¶ and to conſume ſins] foreign is to conſume by the word and judgement, Dan. 8.23. Pſal. 104.35. and 101.8. and 46.6. And the external and greater acts of ſin againſt the moral Law, may be eſpecially ſignified in diſtinction from the Antichriſtian tranſgreſſion.
¶ and to purge iniquity] foreign is the iniquity in general, even the firſt motions and original ſin, Pſal. 51.5. foreign is to forgive, Pſal. 71.38, and 65.4. Jer. 18.23; and to purge or take away, Iſai. 6.7. and 27.9. So to purge iniquity, is to ſeal to the Saints the forgiveneſſe of their iniquity, and alſo to waſh and purge it from them by the word and by the ſpirit of judgement and burning. See Ezek. 20.37, 38. Iſai. 1.2, 3, 25, 26. and 27.9.
¶ and to bring in everlaſting righteouſneſſe] That is, the righteouſneſſe of New Jeruſalem, whereunto an entrance ſhall be made at the end of theſe yeers. See Apoc. 27.…1. Iſai. 60.21, and eſpecially Iſai. 1.25, 26, 27, 28, a place exactly parallel to this; and Dan. 8.14. and 12.12.
¶ and to ſeal up the viſion and prophet] To ſeal, is to put the laſt hand to the writing, to make a full end and accompliſhment thereof. The viſion and prophet, are the Viſions and Prophecies in the Scripture that ſhall be fulfilled. See Apoc. 10.6. For then the kingdom of the Saints ſhall be ſet up, foretold by all the holy Prophets, Dan. 2.44.
¶ and to anoint the moſt holy] Or, holy of holies. By the anointing of the holy of holies, which was of the Altar for Sacrifice and Offerings, Exod. 29.36, 27, may be ſignified, to bring in the perfect Worſhip in Spirit and in Truth, in oppoſition to the couſe of Antichriſt, by whom the daily Sacrifice was removed, Dan. 11.31, and the Oblation cauſed to ceaſe, Chap. 9.27: the ſame which is ſaid Mal. 3.3, And he ſhall purifie the ſons of Levi, and purge them at gold and ſilver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteouſneſſe. Then he that ſhall be left in Zion, and he that ſhall remain in Jeruſalem, ſhall be called holy: every one ſhall be written among the living in Jeruſalem. When the Lord ſhall waſh the filthineſſe of the daughters of Zion, and purge the blood of Jeruſalem out of the midst thereof, by the ſpirit of judgement and by the ſpirit of burning, Iſa. 4.3, 4.
The ſpecial Tractation of the Seventy weeks; their threefold diviſion; Verſ. 25, 26, 27.
¶ KNow therefore and underſtand] Here is an invitation to underſtand this Prophecie as a matter of great moment. A pondering conſideration of it is enjoyned alſo, as being a matter of great difficulty. So our Lord ſpeaking of the Abomination of deſolation, foretold by Daniel the Prophet, exhorteth, Let him that readeth, conſider, Matth. 24.14.
¶ From the going forth of the word] It is not foreign, the commandment; but, foreign. And it may be the Word preached in the mouth of the Waldenſes. It began to go forth in the yeer 1160.
¶ To bring again and to build Jeruſalem] A Metaphor borrowed from the reſtoring of a ruinated City. Jeruſalem is the Chriſtian Church. It had lain deſolate and ruined in the Antichriſtian Apoſtacie. To bring again and build it, is ſpiritually to reſtore and reform it, by the Word of truth, which began to go forth in the mouth of the Waldenſes.
¶ Unto a Meſsiah governour] foreign is all one with foreign, Chap. 11.22, the Prince of the Covenant, or the Political Governour, anointed as the Kings of Iſrael and Judah, for the protection of the Church. Mark, it is not foreign, or foreign Chriſt the King or Governour, but without foreign reſtraining, as anointed Governour, that is, a Civil Magiſtrate. Two kindes of Meſſiah are ſpoken of in Scripture; the Prieſt, the King: and a third is ſaid to be anointed, the Prophet, 1 King. 29.16. Pſal. 105.15. The Prieſt is called foreign, Levit. 4.5, 16, The prieſt the anointed. This with the Prophet, is the Meſſiah Eccleſiaſtical. The Meſſiah Political is here called by Daniel foreign, an anointed governour.
¶ Shall be ſeven weeks] Seven weeks of yeers are underſtood; that is, Fourty and nine yeers. This firſt diviſion of yeers is cut out expreſly for the ſetting up of a political Meſſiah. And it is the end declared in the very Text: and otherwiſe it cannot eaſily be ſeen why this firſt diviſion of yeers ſhould be cut off or parted from the following diviſions. Now a Meſſiah Eccleſiaſtical was ſet up in the beginning of the yeers. For the Word went forth in the Waldenſian Paſtors, for the Spiritual Reſtauration of myſtical Jeruſalem, the Church of Chriſt, out of the captivity and deſolation under Babylon Antichriſtian, in the yeer 1160. But a Political Meſſiah did not openly and profeſſedly ariſe, for the defence and protection of the Waldenſian Churches againſt the violence of Antichriſt, till Seven weeks or Fourty nine yeers after. And ſo the hiſtory doth expreſly ſhew; to wit, that the Waldenſian Princes did profeſſedly ſtand up in War againſt the Pope, in defence of the Waldenſes or Albingenſes, in the yeer 1209: and from the former term 1160 to 1209, which is the later, are preciſely Seven weeks or Fourty nine yeers, not one yeer ſuperabundant or deficient. See Dan. 11.22. Now the Princes of the Waldenſes, in this War undertaken and for about Twenty yeers continued, though they many times were worſted by the Antichriſtians, and eſpecially in the beginning; yet they defended the Reformed Churches, and by degrees prevailed; until ſuch time as the enemies, ſeeing little hope by force to bring them under, turned to flatteries and lyes, and ſo deceived them. Dun. 8.25. and 11.23, 24.
But here cometh in a great Difficulty. For, the Waldenſian Princes being at laſt ſubdued by deceit, the Pope aſcended to the fulneſſe of his kingdom, and continued in his ſtrength, except onelyonly interruptions of Temporal calamities, until the time of Wickliff, after which time his kingdom properly ſo called, began to be darkned, and his ſtrength Eccleſiaſtical or Spiritual to be ſhaken effectually. Wherefore it is a very doubtful Queſtion, and concerning which I cannot poſſibly be reſolved at the preſent; Whether the Reſtauration of the Church out of Babylon Spiritual, here ſpoken of by Daniel, is not rather begun from the time of Wickliff. Eſpecially, ſeeing that from the time of Wickliff, as well as from the time of Waldus, the firſt diviſion of yeers, that is, the Seven weeks or Fourty nine yeers, will preciſely run out in the erection of a Political Meſſiah. For the Reſtauration by the Word and Doctrine, began from the yeer 1370, at leaſt according to the round number, and was continued in the hand of Wickliff and his followers until the yeer 1419, when Ziſca in Bohemia was ſet up for a Political Meſſiah and Defender of the Churches reformed and ſeparated from Antichriſt. After which time, though all the ſucceſſors of Ziſca were not reformed, yet the reformed Churches lived under them defended and protected againſt the violence of Antichriſt, until the time of Luther, when greater ſtrength and ſecurity came in. Neither did Antichriſt ever after Wickliff ſo recover himſelf, as after Waldus he had done. Wherefore let this ſecond way of accommodation be equally conſidered, until the events of time neer approaching ſhall ſhew which of the two ways before mentioned is rather to be choſen.
The Second diviſion of the Seventy weeks, being the Sixty and two weeks.
ANd Sixty and two weeks] The Sixty and two weeks of yeers added to the Seven precedent, if the whole Seventy begin from 1160, will begin at the yeer 1209, and ſo will end in the yeer 1642. But if the Seventy weeks begin from 1370, then the Sixty two will begin from the riſing up of Ziſca, and will not end as yet by the ſpace of about Two hundred yeers. The like difficulty there is about the yeers of Antichriſt, as ſhall be ſhewed hereafter. Now during the ſpace of the ſaid Seven and Sixty two weeks, it is ſaid, that the ſtreet ſhall be built, and the wall; that is, of the Church reſtored and edified by the Ordinances of Chriſt and Word of truth. Mark, it is not ſaid, that the City and the Houſe ſhall be built; but, the ſtreet and the wall; to note a rude and unperfect building in compariſon with that to come at the end of theſe Seventy weeks of yeers.
¶ Even in the ſtreit of times] Heb. foreign, in the preſsing or ſqueezing affliction. See Job 36.16. Apoc. 7.14. Dan. 11.33, 34. Iſai. 51.13. The meaning is, that during theſe Seven and Sixty two weeks of yeers, the Reformed Churches ſhould be ſubject to great afflictions. Howbeit a limitation ſeemeth to be added in the next word foreign the ſtrait of times; that is, at certain periods of times, by unconſtant guſts of perſecution, Dan. 11.32, 34. But alas, there is a ſorer time as yet to come, in the laſt week of yeers, expreſſed elſewhere, by the laſt riſing and triumph of the Beaſt the ſpace of three days and an half, Apoc. 11.7, 8: if at leaſt we conceive an event about to come, proportionable to the outward ſhew of the Prophecie, or to the verbal expreſſions thereof.
The third diviſion of the Seventy weeks; the one and laſt week, Verſ. 26, 27.
VErſ. 26. ¶ And after Sixty two weeks ſhall the Meſsiah be cut off, and ſhall have nothing] That is, it ſhall come to paſſe in the laſt week of the Seventy, or in the laſt Seven yeers of the Four hundred and ninety before mentioned, that ſome of the Princes of the Reformed Churches ſhall either ceaſe from the protection and defence of them againſt the violence of Antichriſt; or the Churches ſhall be plucked off from under their protection and government.
¶ And the people of the Prince that ſhall come, ſhall deſtroy the City and the Sanctuary] The Prince that ſhall come, is Antichriſt: and his people, that is, the Papiſts and Antichriſtians, ſhall deſtroy the City and Sanctuary; that is, ſome of the Church Evangelical, the City and Sanctuary of Chriſt, according to the viſible appearance thereof in publike Worſhip and external Ordinances. So much I conceive is held out unto us in the fall and lying dead of the Two Witneſſes, Revel. 11.8. But what ſlaughter of men ſhall be, it is not ſaid expreſly: and onelyonly a ſuppreſſing of the publiek ſtate of the Church, and of the open exerciſe of Worſhip, and in ſome parts onelyonly, may haply be underſtood. I fear to expreſſe what may be conceived; being onelyonly willing to write what neceſſity compelleth, and what the manifeſt words of the Text do force unto. And I wiſh and pray daily, that this event ſpoken of by Eglinus and others alſo writing on the Revelation, may be diſcovered at laſt to have been foretold upon ungrounded interpretation, if poſſibly it may ſtand with the Word and Will of our heavenly Father. Surely I ſhould not have written this, if conſcience of duty and deſire to improve a Talent, had not moved me. But it is not in our power, for deſire of good unto the Church, to alter the Truth of God; neither can it be faithfulneſſe in us to violence or force upon the Word an unnatural Interpretation: and beſides, ſuch preſumption would be extremely prejudicial to the honour of God, and to the welfare of his people. It is the love of God to forewarn us of our afflictions, and our ſafety and ſtrength to know before the evil that ſhall come upon us. Wherefore our Saviour ſaith, when he had deſcribed the afflictions impendent, Matth. 24.25, Behold, I have told you all before. But let us now proceed.
¶ And his end ſhall be with a flood] That is, with the foreſaid Inundation of the Reformed Churches, ſhall the yeers of the Reign of Antichriſt expire. For the Four hundred and ninety yeers here ſpoken of, and the One thouſand two hundred and ſixty yeers of the Reign of Antichriſt, ſhall preciſely end together, whether we take them as beginning at the time of Waldus, or beginning at the time of Wickliff; as ſhall be ſhewed in the due place.
¶ And unto the end of the War even determined, ſhall be deſolations] So I tranſlate, referring foreign as Adjective unto foreign. And the meaning is, that unto the full end of the laſt week, ſhall continue the deſolations of the Churches, at leaſt according to the viſible frame and appearance of them in publike Worſhip.
Verſ. 27. ¶ And he ſhall confirm a covenant to many for one week] He, that is, Antichriſt, the Prince immediately before ſpoken of. And in the laſt week, or in the laſt Seven yeers of the Seventy weeks, ſhall confirm a Covenant with many, that is, with many of his own people, as in the former Verſe, Papiſts or Antichriſtians, or favourers unto them; that by them he may deſtroy the Citie and Sanctuary before ſpoken of. Haply alſo by ſleights and ſubtil tricks he ſhall bring in many others within the circuit of the Covenant; who having unawares engaged themſelves, ſhall be forced by their endeavours to promove the ends of the Covenant. For the Hebrew word foreign, is to cauſe a Covenant to prevail over any: and ſo may import ſo much as hath been ſaid. Wherefore the Jewiſh Rabbines referring theſe paſſages to the times of Veſpaſian, ſay the meaning to be this, that Titas Veſpaſian ſhould make a fraudulent Covenant with many of the Jews, that by disjoyning them, he might the more eaſily prevail againſt them.
¶ And in the midſt of the week, he ſhall cauſe the Sacrifice and Oblation to ceaſe] The Sacrifice and Oblation myſtically ſignifieth Chriſtian Woſhip, Mal …3.4, and the exerciſe of the Ordinances; which Antichriſt ſhall cauſe to ceaſe in reſpect of the publike and open ſolemnities thereof: howbeit he ſhall not effect or accompliſh this before the midſt of the laſt week, to be continued to the end thereof, the ſpace preciſely of three yeers and half, expreſſed elſewhere by three days and half, Revel. 11.8, and here, by the later half of the laſt week.
¶ And for the overſpreading of abominations, he ſhall make deſolate] That is, for this end, that he may ſpread, and diffuſe, and ſet up in all places the Worſhip of his Antichriſtian abominations, he ſhall make deſolate the true Church, by cauſing her true Worſhip or publike ſolemnities to ceaſe.
¶ Even until the conſummation, and that determined, be poured out upon the deſolate] It is ſaid to be determined, becauſe preciſely cut out or limited, as the Seventy weeks in general, Verſ. 24, to be ended at the end of them. Until this end, from the beginning of the One thouſand two hundred and ſixty days, Dan. 11.36, and principally from the midſt of the laſt week, the conſumption muſt be poured out upon the deſolate. And ſo at the end of the Seventy weeks, the Tranſgreſſion or Antichriſtian Apoſtacie being made an end of, and ſins conſumed, and iniquity purged, by the Spirit and Word, and by judgement or affliction, everlaſting and glorious righteouſneſſe muſt follow, and the erection of the high kingdom of Saints, foretold in the Prophets and Viſions of the Old Teſtament, and the Unction of the myſtical Altar for the bringing of freewill-Offerings in righteouſneſſe, and pure and holy Worſhip in the beauties of holineſſe. So Verſe 24.
Now if the Seventy weeks begin from Waldus, that is, from the yeer 1106, then this laſt & doleful week will begin preciſely in 1643, and the midſt of the ſaid week will be in 1646; from which yeer the three days and half of laſt affliction will run down to be fully ended in the yeer 1649. Proportionately, if the One thouſand two hundred and ſixty yeers of the reign of Antichriſt begin from the yeer 390, which is one way of accommodation, as ſhall be ſhewed; then they will preciſely expire alſo in the ſaid yeer 1649, and ſo will end together with the Seventy weeks or Four hundred and ninety yeers.
But if the Seventy weeks begin from Wickliff, or from the yeer 1370, then the laſt week cannot be expecteed, till Seven yeers immediately to come before the yeer 1860, that is, above Two hundred yeers hence. And proportionately, if the One thouſand two hundred and ſixty yeers of the reign of Antichriſt begin from the yeer 600, which is the ſecond way of accommodation, as ſhall be ſhewed; then they will preciſely expire alſo immediately before the ſaid yeer 1860, that is, preciſely with the Seventy weeks according to their ſecond accommodation.
The probabilities of both ways are ſuch, that I muſt profeſſe I cannot judge or determine which of the twain is to be followed. Howbeit I thought it needful to declare my thoughts. Two or three yeers will determine the Controverſie as yet undetermined.
An Anſwer to an Objection.
BUt againſt all that hath been ſaid, it will be objected, that in this preſent Prophecie, anſwer was given unto Daniel as he read the Prophecie of Jeremiah ſpeaking of the material reſtitution of the Jews after Seventy yeers Captivity, and as he prayed for the accompliſhment thereof; and therefore that the reſtitution of Jeruſalem here ſpoken of, muſt neceſſarily be underſtood of that which went before the firſt coming of our Saviour.
This Objection doth not move my judgement at all; foraſmuch as I am convinced of the uſe and cuſtom of the Prophets, who bring in types and figures ordinarily, and touch them a little onelyonly, making way cloſely and hiddenly thereby to ſpeak of greater things ſhadowed thereby. See Iſa. 7. and 37.30, 31. Matth. 24.2, 3. Hag. 2. Pſal. 72 and 89, &c. So Daniel here caſt his thoughts on the Reſtauration out of Babylon temporal; but cloſely under it he was by the Spirit led to the Reſtauration out of Babylon ſpiritual. Beſides, Jeremiah himſelf ſpeaking of the Reſtauration after Seventy yeers, doth myſtically imply, and under figures deſcribe the Reſtauration out of Babylon ſpiritual, as the paſſages Jer. 29, and 33, and 50, and 51, do ſhew, and the Apocalyptical accommodations make evident: Daniel therefore enquiring into the Prophecie of Jeremiah concerning the Reſtauration of the Church, enquired not onelyonly after the Reſtauration of the Jews, but after the Reſtauration of the Church in general, and glorious and ſpiritual, principally intended and deſired of all Saints; and therefore was led by the Spirit of God to the Reſtauration out of Babylon ſpiritual, as ſutable moſt unto his prayers and inquiſitions.
Secondly, Daniel faſted and prayed afterward, as Chap. 10, ſo as here he is deſcribed; and yet anſwers are given him at large concerning Antichriſt and the ſtate of the Church in the laſt times, Matth. 24.15.Chap. 11; as appeareth evidently by the Abomination of deſolation, Chap. 11.31, which was after the coming of Chriſt to be ſet up, and by ſundry other Arguments. There, not a word of the reduction of the Jews, but onelyonly of the myſtical people of Daniel out of the Babylon of Antichriſt. So here.
The Fifth and great Prophecie, Dan. 10.11.12.
Dan. 10.
DAniel being prepared by abſtinence, humiliation, prayer, Verſ. 1, &c. a Viſion is afterward preſented unto him, firſt of Jeſus Chriſt, under the title of the man clothed in linen, Verſ. 5. Secondly, of the Angel Gabriel, under the title of one like the ſons of men, Verſ. 10, ſent by Chriſt, to dictate unto Daniel the Prophecie following. Thirdly, of two other, Chap. 12.5, 6.