with Wife and Children to trudg after Emilius triumâ—hing Chariot Hannibal flying several wayes was sent for by the Romans and could not be freed from them but poisoned himself Geutius King of the Illyrians felt their terror So Prusias King of Bythinia Eumenes King of Pergamus Ariarathes King of Cappadocia Deiotarus King of Galatia Mithridates King of Pontus c. all which felt the Roman yoke or brake their hearts or Kingdoms by resisting and their insolency hath been as much over the Jews and above any others for they made Judea a Province and billetted their Souldiers in every City and took away all Capital Government by Laws Offices and Penalties as Florus observes and others and after Jerusalem was made equal to the Earth by Vespatian But their insolency over earthly Gods as Psal 82.6 hath been seen in the Roman Antichrist for History relates at least 20 famous Emperours and Kings trampled under foot by him miserably c. besides such as spâ—nt themselves in his device of the holy wars and to act for him in other countreys c. Again the Church and State of Rome have been manifest by blasphemies when Ptolomy and Cleopatra told the Senate they were more bebolding to them then to the immortal Gods they took it so When Cicero uttered blasphemies against Gods Religion as barbarous superstition and against God himself as unworthy to be owned by the Romans since his people the Jews who professed dependance on him were overcome which Blasphemies were entertained and applauded The Emperor Tiberius was desirous to Authorize Christ amongst the number of the Roman gods but was resisted by the Senate pretending it belonged unto them to make or unmake Deities as they pleased But this Blasphemy is more palpable on the Roman Antichrist who challengeth to be stiled God and that by the Emperor himself and his Disciples stile him Our Lord God the Pope a certain Deity on Earth and the greatest Deity on Earth and by open allowance And though this Fourth Tyrant over the Jews was to continue long in the several Heads of that State and the Pope is the 8th or of the 7th and also that Turkish State over the Jews yet when Gods people shall be raised from the dust of dispersion and bondage both Pope and Turk will at once be destroyed and cast into the streams of Fire and Brimstone issuing from the Ancient of Days Yet it seemeth to me the 36 Verse is rather to be restrained to the former times of the Roman Kingdom under the Senate Kings Emperors and other Governors before the Popes time and suiteth well thereunto and it is remarkable That the Spirit of Christ teacheth the Prophet usually to set down his Prophesies and Visions according to the order of accomplishment except in occasional explications as Chap. 7 8. and 12. in some things yet Idolatry Blasphemy and Tyranny are such spirits as have run in the blood through the whole Body of the Roman Monster And that general note of the long continuance thereof the Roman Kingdom shall prosper till the indignation shall be accomplished c. that is to the end of the Jews dispersion and bondage and coming of Christ Cap. 12. Ver. 37 38 39. Neither shall he regard the God of his Fathers nor the desire of women nor regard any God for he shall magnifie himself above all Ver. 38. But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces and a God whom his Fathers knew not shall he honour with gold and silver and with precious stones and pleasant things Ver. 39. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god whom he shall acknowledg and encrease with glory and he shall cause them to rule over many and shall divide the Land for gain But Ver. 37 38 39. seems evidently to belong to the Popes time in a special manner his not regarding the God of his Fathers sets forth the Antichristian Hypocrisie sub nomine Christi militant contra Christum they pretend for God and Christ but intend all for themselves not as the Apostles and first Roman Christians that so regarded their God that with heart and hand not onely in well-doing but in self-denial and sufferings to the loss of Estate Life Liberty and all they stedfastly clave unto him But now all the honor of Christs Prophetical Priestly and Kingly Offices are taken in effect from him and ascribed to the Pope and especially in respect of their Breaden Gods Idolatry as might be shewed and particularly follows in the next verse and how much the Papists disallow lawful Marriage and reproach it here called the desire of Women is too manifest both by their Doctrines and Practises and as for Atheistical Blasphemies their Writings are abominably fraught and filled therewith And how his new-coin'd Breaden God and what devised honor is given to him what Riches and Ornaments bestowed upon him how set up in Cities Kingdoms and Countreys what promotions go with him both Ecclesiastical and Civil what Prohibitions of Traffique Oppressions and Persecusions to the Opposers of his Worship is too large here to be set down Ver. 40. And at the time of the end shall the King of the south push at him and the King of the North come against him like a whirlwind with Charets and with Horsemen and with many Ships and he shall enter into the countreys and shall overflow aâ—d pass over Ver. 40. But that he might not in the time of the end be so terrible in Might in the World as he was grown notorious in wickedness in the world God had appointed to send him gradually such a Checkmate thenceforward to act another part upon the Worlds Stage that should both restrain his Power and curb his Pride which was the Mahumitan Antichrist arising out of the bottomless pit as well as the Pope which to carry on the Perdition of that wicked Iron Roman Monarchy in two Wo-Trumpets was to blow out the Wrath and Judgment upon the Eastern Empire especially and to restrain the Man of Sin which otherwise might have seemed too much like a God on Earth indeed First Raising the Saracens about An. Dom. 600. or not long after to push at the Eastern Roman Empire by many assaults and incursions in which both Saracens and Romanized Christians were both or at least by course the Jews oppressors in the times of those supposed Holy Wars but more especially since the Turk came against him with his Multitudes about the year of our Lord 1300 with Chariots and Horsemen and many Ships for his hour and a day and a month and a year as Rev. 9.15 that is 396 years he should continue to overflow with his Multitudes and pass over is not yet fully compleat Ver. 41. He shall enter also into the glorious land and many Countreys shall be overthrown but these shall escape out of his hand even Edom and Moab nnd the chief of the children of Ammon Ver. 41. The Turk should possess Judea and many
such a glory as becomes the Son of God to have Dominion and Glory as was said and which he willed before his death the Vision of to his Saints John 17.24 that they should be where he was to behold his own glory not which he had with the Father but that which the Father had given him as Mediator at the Beasts destruction Dan. 7.12 14. and accordingly Rev. 1. there is a glorious description of his coming at his Kingdom and likewise Rev. 19.11 12 13 c. At his First coming there was no form nor comeliness seen by most in the World either in his person or outward condition when the Son of Man had not where to lay his head Es 53.2 He was called a King in scorn at his death and arrayed like a King in mockery a crucified King in contempt and such was his Kingdom outwardly in most mens eyes in regard of his Subjects of his Officers of his Laws of his Ordinances in the World most of the many hundred years of the first state thereof by the varieties of Persecutors both Paganish and Popish c. 7thly As Christs Kingdom in the first State of Patience is outwardly weak and oppressed therefore resembled by a Woman in a Wilderness condition 1260 years or a time times and the dividing of a time in wearing out Dan. 7.25 and having her power scattered ch 12.7 yet inwardly even then it is spiritual and strong to consume and break in pieces and subdue as Dan. 2.34 it smites and breaks in pieces the feet and toes of the Iron and Clay and v. 44. it shall consume and break in pieces all those Kingdoms and c. 7.23 it shall devour the whole Earth and tread it down and break it in pieces Observe the expressions For that which is spiritual is prevalent and strong above that which is outward and temporal Hence Zac. 4.6 when the Candlestick had its Lamps supplied with Oyle from the two Olive Trees Christ there declares his Church should overcome not by Power nor by Might but by his Spirit Hence also he saith That he will give Power to his Two Witnesses that is prevalency to prophesie though in sack-cloth 1260 dayes of years to consume the Beast and bring him low Rev. 11. the Saints also overcome having washed their Robes in the blood of the Lamb by a spiritual powerful Victory hence the faithful are stiled Overcomers having spiritual Power from God derived unto them against all Spiritual and Worldly Adversaries therefore saith our Saviour He that overcometh shall inherit all things Rev. 21.7 Rev. 2.7 11. Rev. 12.13 Rev. 15.2 But the second state of that Kingdom is not onely spiritually prevalent but also outwardly powerful to subdue and destroy and therefore as it had spiritually smitten the Iron Kingdom in the feet and toes before Dan. 2.34 So by it and for it shall the Beast be slain and his body destroyed and given to the burning flame Dan. 7.11 Rev. 19.11 to the end Rev. 14. latter end and 16. at the end and after that there is given to Christ Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him Dan. 7.13 14. which is the same with Christs Reign with his Saints a thousand years Rev. 20.4 and spoken of the same time in the same order of Affairs to be accomplished by Christ for himself and his Church and likewife Rev. 11.15 relates to the same time of the sounding of the seventh Trumpet when the Kingdoms of the World will be the Kingdoms of our God and of his Christ as there he is praised for by it the twenty four Elders And then Judgment that is judicandi potestas power of Judging will likewise be given to the Saints of the Most High as it is said Dan. 7.22 and the Kingdom and the Dominion and the Greatness of the Kingdom shall be given to the People of the Saints of the Most High Dan. 7.26 27. Answerable whereunto is that Promise of our Saviour in reference to that state and time as Mr. Brightman in his Observations noted Rev. 3.21 That to him that overcometh he will grant to sit with him on his Throne even as he before had overcome and was set with his Father on his Throne Now having set down those previous Observations in general and 2dly those Several Considerable Particularities contained in Daniel and all expounded in the Book of Revelations respecting Christs Kingdom on Earth we shall further by Gods assistance endeavour to proceed and to explain and illustrate the most material things that we have but hitherto briefly touched upon VVHerein we may first observe how Daniel describes the first State or Kingdom of the Stone which is the Kingdom of Patience wherein the Saints by Faith and Patience overcome and inherit the Promises as the Apostle speaks and shall inherit all things as our Saviour further promiseth and here we shall endeavour to shew how this Kingdom of the Stone hath in and from the time of Christs life and death been carried on accordingly both before the Beasts time under the persecuting Heathenish Dragon and since the Beasts forty two Months began and to shew how the Saints have spiritually and powerfully prevailed for above 1600 years past by the word of Christs Testimony which in several respects in several times they have been enabled by his Spirit to give witness and testimony unto and to this purpose Daniel shews chap. 2. when he had set a summary of Nebuchadnezzars dream before him in v. 33. he proceeds to the Fourth Metal figuring the Fourth or Roman Monarchy wherein were the legs of Iron and feet and toes part of Iron and part of Clay and in the two next ver he minds him of the confusion of all those Kingdoms set forth by the four several Metals though it was a long time to come and therefore he tells him Thou sawest until the Stone was cut out of the Mountain without hands which time until he more particularly explains v. 44. saying In the dayes of those Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed that is saith Mr. Mede In the dayes of one of those Kings and while the broken parts of the other Kingdoms remained so that they had some life left to them though their Dominion was taken from them as it hath been since the time of the Roman Kingdom which hath had great Contests by the broken parts of some of the former as Persians Armenians Grecians as Stories witness of their wars and even sometimes been foiled by them too c. as might be shewed but the former Text respecting the time of the beginning of this Kingdom which the God of Heaven would set up is more fully explained in v. 12. and chap. 7. which hath reference to that last Text named and other places of Dan. 2. where he shews That the Stone should at last after it had long before smitten the feet and toes of Iron and Clay
stand for ever though the stone was long in beating them in pieces before it became such a mountain filling the whole earth But in Chap. 7. Daniel a Jew in the first year of Belshazzar hath an other dream Daniels first Prophetical Vision further setting forth all the said Mâ—narchies in a Vision of four Beasts rising out of the Sea upon the striving of the four winds of heaven again setting forth the four said Kingdoms the first like a Lyon having Eagles wings to wit the high soaring Babilonian which was brought down in Belshazzar Chap. 7.4 But the second like to a devouring Bear with three ribs in the mouth conceived to be Media Persia and Babilon which last was taken by Darius and Cyrus in whom the Median and Tersian Kingdome began The third was like a Leopard having on the back four wings having also four heads and Dominion was given to it whereby is decyphâ—red the Grecian Monarchy begun by Alexander the great who like a Leopard was swift in catching the prey of whom also it may be said Vini Vidi Vici I came I saw I overcame whose four Heads or Captains cruelly with their successors chiefly devoured the Jews which four heads appeared to be four Commandâ—rs entring upon Alexanders Dominion when he died viz. Cassander head of Macedonia Antigonus of Asia Seleuchus of Syria and Ptolomy of Egypt But the fourth Beast namely the Roman Monarchie Daniel saw in the night Visions exceeding dreadful terrible and strong with iron teeth their Commanders and nails of brass their Senate that devoured and brake in pieces and stamped the residue with the feet of it and was diverse from all the beasts that were before it and had ten horns And while Daniel considered the horn there came up among them a little horn in appearance at first before whom there were three of the first horns pluckt up by the roots and behold in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great things those ten horns one that stood by expounded v. 16. to Dan. v. 24. to be ten Kings that should arise out of that fourth Kingdome and that other to wit the little horn that should arise after them or behind them for the ten Kings were to arise at one hour with the beast Rev. 17. who being diverse from the ten should subdue three Kingdomes which according to Mr. Mide were the Lumbards the Franks and the Greeks subdued by the Pope who during his time times and the dividing of a time that is for the space of 1260 days of years should wear out the Saints of the most high and think to change times and laws the Saints being so long given into his hands v. 25. But then the ancient of days executed his fiery and severe judgment upon that little horn that spake great things with his ten and ten times ten thousand by the fiery streams that came from before him till the beast was stain and his body was destroyed and given to the burning flame verse 9.10.11 the same expounded again verse 20.21 22. But verse 13. Daniel saw one like the Son of man come in the clouds of heaven who came to the ancient of days and they brought him near before him which probably will be done by the faithful prayers of the Saints whereupon was given him Dominion and glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him and his Dominion is an everlasting Dominion which shall not pass away and his Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed as the little Horns or Beasts was v. 21 22. who made war with the Saints and prevailed against them as Rev. 13. but yet onely until the ancient of days came that Judgment was given to the Saints and that they possessed the Kingdom which was the Kingdom of the Most High whose Kingdom should be an everlasting Kingdom and all Dominions or Rulers should serve and obey him v 27. and that as there is said All Kingdoms under the whole Heaven Again Daniels second Prophetical Vision chap. 8. in the third year of Belshazzar Daniel had another Vision concerning the second and third Oppressors of the Jews after the times of the Chaldeans were out namely of the Ram of Persia and the He-Goat of Grecia successively until the list period of the Grecian Persecution called the time of the end and the last end of the indignation by the Angel Gabriel v. 17 19. 20 21. now the Rams or Persian Kings two Horns were the Kingdoms of Media and Persia against whom the He-Goat of Grecia came so swiftly that he is said not to touch the ground or none in the earth touched him but in his chollar came close to the Ram and cast him down and stamped upon him and that notable Horn between his eyes appears to be Alexander the Great whom Stories report not to have been willing to take any offers of Peace or tearms of Agreement or tenders of Marriage with the Persian Kings Daughter but with indignation rejected all saying The World could not endure two Soveraigns or chief Kings but when he was strong he was broken and after six years his Four said Commanders called four notable Horns v. 8 came in his room and out of one of them namely Seleuchus Nicanor by descent came that little Horn which waxed exceeding great towards the South and towards the East and towards the pleasant Land which little Horn was Antiochus Epiphanes who grew great towards Egypt and towards the East where the Persian Ram arose and towards the pleasant Land where his rage was greatly manifest v. 10 11 12. against the Jews who by reason of encrease of transgressions had power given him to afflict them greatly and do many hainous things against their Laws and VVorship magnifying himself against the Prince of the Host so that by his means the daily Sacrifice was taken away and the place of Gods Sanctuary was cast down for the space of Two thousand three hundred Mornings and Evenings or One thousand one hundred and fifty natural days or as some take them for the whole number of dayes which make up Six years three months and twenty dayes which is conceived to begin when Menclaus revolted to Gentilism and many wicked Apostates with him as first of Machab 1.12 whereupon Gods Temple and Worship was contemned and neglected and people revolted as 2 Mach. 4.12 to 18. which Apostasie began in 142 year of the Greek Empire and continued to the 148th year thereof and the 11th of Antiochus 1 Mac. 4.52 though the extremity in Antiochus own Reign was but half the time which seemeth more consonant to Daniels Prophesie Evenings and Mornings signifying natural days as in the Creation and though his wickedness prospered for a time ver 26. yet after that short time he was broken without hands being stricken with a loathsome disease dyed miserably thereof as seems very probable from 2 Mac. 9.5 28 though besides this a further
he shall stir up all against the Realm of Grecia Onely in v. 2. is spoken of the Persian Kingdom in which after Three Kings to wit Cyrus Cambises and Darius Histaspis should a Fourth namely Xerxes succeed richer than them all who by his strength should stir up all the Kingdom of Grecia V. 3 4. And a mighty King shall stand up that shall rule with great Dominion and do according to his will And when he shall stand up his Kingdom shall be broken and shall be divided towards the four winds of Heaven and not to his posterity nor according to his dominion which he ruled for his Kingdom shall be pluckt up even for others besides those But then v. 3 and 4. that great Alexander of Macedonia whose Kingdom should be divided towards the four winds to his Captains as was shewed Cap. 8. not to his posterity which after was parted into Two the Kings of the Scuth namely Egypt and of the North namely Syria the Wars of Alexander with the Persiâ—â— being shewed to Daniel in Chap. 8. now here was shewed to him those that followed in Egypt and Syria who in those times afflicted thâ— Jews that lay between them by the spoil and forrage of their Armies Ver. 5. And the King of the South shall be strong and one of his Princes and he shall be strong above him and have dominion his dominion shall be a great dominion The King of the South v. 5. is conceived to be Ptolomeus Lagi of Egypt and that one of his Princes there named is conceived to be Seleuchus Nicanor who had Babylon and Syria with the Dominions which he added of Antigonus and and Lysimachus Ver. 6. And in the end of years they shall join themselves together for the Kings daughter of the south shall come to the King of the north to make an agreement but she shall not retain the power of the arm neither shall he stand nor his arm but she shall be given up and they that brought her and he that begather and he that strengthned her in these times And v. 6. The two Sons of Ptolomeus Lagi Philadelphus and Megas contended about the Title of Cyrene vvhen Antiochus Soter Son to Seleuchus aided Megas to vvhom he had before married his Daughter vvhich vvas a bone of contention betvveen Egypt and Syria to appease vvhich Ptolomy Philadelphus married his daughter Berncie to Antiochus Theos Son to Antiochus Soter Which Marriage vvith the ill success thereof is the subject of ver 6. For Theos had another Wife Laodice by vvhom he had tvvo Sons Seleuchus Callinchus and Antiochus Hierax vvho took ill their Mothers Divorce and causeless rejection vvhereupon they took the first opportunity to cut off Bernice and her young Son vvith all her Train that came vvith her out of Egypt and that in despight of vvhat her Husband Theos or Father Philadelphus could do for her rescue This King of Egypt Ptolomeus Philadelphus so called for marrying his own sister was exceeding rich and a great warriour studious of learning by whose procurement the Septuagint translation was composed and his daughter Bernicee for her great dowry was stiled Phernophoras But the King of the North here of Syria was Antiochus Theos for taking Divine honour to be stiled God after Laodice seeing her husband Theos his inconstancy poisoned him and to promote her son Callinicus to the Kingdome Verse 7. But out of a branch of her root shall one stand up in his estate which shall come with an army and shall enter into the fortress of the King of the north and shall deal against them and shall prevail Then v. 7. The brother of Bernice before slain namely Ptolomy Evergetes called a bud of her root in revenging of his sisters butchery prevailed against Egypt hazzarding Callinicus his whole Kingdome who succeeds his Father Theos Ver. 8. And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods with their Princes and with their precious Vessels of Silver and of Gold and he shall continue more years then the King of the North. Ver. 8. Ptolomy hearing of Mutiny at home left his Conquest of Syria and returned with his great Booty of 2500 captivated Idols but Callinicus dyed of a fall from his Horse the refore said not to continue long and his Brother Hierax after Civil broyles was slain by a Troop of Robbers So ended both those Murtherers Ver. 9. So the King of the south shall come into his Kingdom and shall return into his own Land Ver. 9. Energetes upon his return home to Egypt repressed the Commotions and so returned as is said unto his Kingdom Ver. 10. But his sons shall be stirred up and shall assemble a multitude of great forces and one shall certainly come and overflow and pass thorow then shall he return and be stirred up even to his Fortress Ver. 10. The two Sons of Callinicus to wit Seleuchus Serannus and Antiochus Megas could not endure that Ptolomy Philopator that killed his Father Energetes should possess any part of Syria under their noses mustered up what power they could but Cerannus being poysoned Antiochus warred with Ptolomies Captains who overcame Attalus and drew Theodolus to resign Syria unto Antiochus and to help him against his own Master Ptolomy so he overflowed Syria and set upon Philopators strong holds of Egypt Ver. 11. And the King of the South shall be moved with choler and shall come forth and fight with him even with the King of the North and he shall set forth a great multitude but the multitude shall be given into his hand Ver. 11. But Antiochus besieged Raphia was overcome by Philopator's Army and his great multitudes partly slain and partly captivated Ver. 12. And when he hath taken away the multitude his heart shall be listed up and he shall cost down many ten thousands but he shall not be strengthned by it Ver. 12. Ptolomy Philopator being purfed up exercised great cruelty against the Jews and would have gone into the Holy of Holies whom the High-Priest resisted whereupon he made cruel Edicts against them and put many to cruel deaths as 2 Mac. 3 4 chap. but was given up to unclean lusts had a Male-Concubine one Agathocles killed his Wife and Sister soon after struck with death and left his young Son to the tuition of that vile Agathocles whereupon divers parts under him rebelled and then Antiochns having made preparation more strongly invades his Sons Dominions Ver. 13. For the King of the North shall return and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches Ver. 13. That Child of four years old Ptolomeus Epiphanes the Nobles stomached to be left under the lascivious Agathocles encouraged Antiochus expedition after certain years as is said But the Romans having taken the tuition of that young King gave him a rub by an Embassage to forbear the Territories of Epiphanes which notwithstanding after certain years
to the end of the dayes wherein saith Daniel likewise Antichrists the wicked little Horns time as chap. 7. wherein he shall have accomplished to have scattered the power of the holy people at the end of his time times and the dividing of a time being the Clayie feet of the Iron legs chap. 12.6 and chap. 7.25 and till Michael stand up for the deliverance of Daniels people at that season chap. 12 1. And again when from Gods eminent making of publike Sacrifice and Oblation last to cease openly as is probable was in Julian the Apostate Emperors dayes there should from thence be fulfilled 1290 dayes of years even about these times when the Civil â—nd Spiritual Resurrection of all Israel should begin and to 1335 dayes of years or forty five years more it should be perfected and when Daniel should stand up in his Lot with the Fathers chap. 12.11 12 13. which continuance contains the times of the Roman Monarchy from the beginning of the opening of the first Seal when the Gospel of Jesus Christ began to be published through the whole World and so all along through the series of the Book of Revelations wherein are all things contained respecting the Civil State and the Affairs of Gods Church from thence during the time of the Roman Monarchie which should be accomplished as was foreshewed until the King of Kings with his Armies in white Rev. 19.11 12 13 c. should slaughter the Enemies and as Ezek. 38 39 chapters delivering all his people should set up his own and his Saints Kingdom Rev. 20. But in the mean time many by tryals and sufferings under the Roman Tyrannous yoke should be purified and made white chap. 12.10 having washed their Robes in the blood of the Lamb Rev. 7.14 as also those undefiled Lamb-followers redeemed from among men Rev. 14.4 which had his Fathers Name written on their foreheads be redeemed also from the Earth ver 3 4. So that the consummation and that determined to be p ured upon the desolate See Ireâ—ic pag. 27 28 c. Dan. 9.27 contained all the time of the six first Seals after Jerusalems destruction Rev. 6. and the six first Trumpets proceeding out of the sixth Seal Rev. 8.9 with the seven Vials under the sixth Trumpet or which is the same time the Churches Ten Persecutions till Coâ—stantine's time with the Arrian Persecutions afterwards until Antichrists forty two months were fulfilled together with the Womans Wiâ—derness condition a time times and half a time Rev. 12. and the Contemporarie two Witnesses prophesying in sackcloth 1260 dayes Rev. 11. and from thence through the seven Vials at the end of the Armageddon Battel Rev. 19.11 even to the beginning of the thousand years Rev. 20. Thirdly For the general temper and quality of the Roman Monarchy and the actings thereof suitable to its nature First the nature of it is described in the great Image to be of Iron strong and durable to the feet and toes wherewith a weakness of Myrie Clay was mixed in the Popes time chap. 2. where ver 40. the use of it is expressed namely that it should break and bruise all the other in pieces Again chap. 7. whereas the three preceding Kingdoms are set forth by several Beasts first the Caldean by its Lyon-like strength and by its proud high-soaring Eagles wings before they were pluckt and it made to stand on the feet as a man v. 4. 2dly The Persian by a ravenous devouring Bear with three ribs in the mouth of Babylon Media and Persia ver 5. 3dly The Grecian by a Leopard swift to snatch the prey with four wings upon the back and four heads under which it should afterwards rule v. 6. But the 4th viz. the Roman Monarchy Daniel saw in the night Visions a Monstrous Mysterious Beast divers from all others it was exceeding dreadful terrible and strong and it had great Iron teeth and devoured and brake in pieces and stamped the residue in pieces with the feet wherein is comprised the seven Heads of Government Rev. 17. with the Nayles of Brass the Senate destroyed by the Fourth Trumpet Rev. 8. all of them before the 8th which was also of the 7th and adjoineth that to them as the feet wherewith it at last stamped and that together with the ten Horns as the toes of the feet whereby the Body is enabled to walk upright saying in the end of the 7th v. And it had ten Horns wherewith to push and subdue and vvherein the stâ—ength and power of its so doing did consist by which ten Hoâ—â—s seem not onely to be understood the ten crowned Kings that gave their power to the beast as Rev. 17. but all such tens wherein the Roman Power before consisted as that Decem-virate till the Twelve Tables of their Laws were composed the Decuriones or Commanders of Tens ten of which were put under the Roman Centurions consisting of Ten times ten and so of all greater numbers of Ten and the Ten Provinces before they were crowned Horns and all Roman Power under the number of Ten as in their stories is observable of which it might be said it had ten Horns And it is observable that Daniel ch 2. 34 41 42 43. describes it that the feet and toes thereof were mixed with Myrie Clay which are the same with the ten Horns crowned in the Popes time which had much weakness in them and could not mix themselves with the Seed of men and they were so distinguished from such former strength of the Romans in that they were the last and the lowest part in that Image to help as was said for a time to make that Beast stand or go on the feet as the ten toes thereof though mixed with Myrie Clay and with these ten Horns or Toes the little Horn which Daniel observed came up amongst them or behind them at one hour with them as is explained Rev. 17. before whom there were three of the first Horns plucked up by the Roots viz. saith Mr. Mede the Lumbards Franks and Greeks which Horn had eyes as a man and a mouth speaking great things and that saith Dan. chap. 7.25 against the Most High by blasphemies and wicked errors and did think to change times and laws and have the Saints given into his hands for a time times and the dividing of a time or 42 months Rev. 13. Dan. 12.6 Again in chap. 11. v. 36. Daniel describes the proud Usurpation Blasphemy and Tyranny of the Roman Monarchy before Antichrists time and in his time v. 37 38 39. he more especially speaks of his neglect of the true God and his Institution of Marriage with all his errors in both respects with his Pride Idolatry and false Worship his wicked Usurpations and Persecutions to advance his Creatures to honor his Breaden God and do all for the advancing of his Worldly designs and outward glory Now in all these descriptions of the nature and qualities of the Roman Monarchy both from its rise under
beginning of the following state namely of the Kingdom of Power or the Kingdom of the Mountain then to succeed as Rev. 20. and Rev. 11. which as that of the Stone was many hundred years in passing to this last state So this shall never pass away or be destroyed while the World continues but shall at last be perfected in the Kingdom of Glory in Heaven for evermore as that of Patience was perfected in the Kingdom of Power before Now of the time of the beginning of the first saith Daniel chap. 2.44 In the dayes of those Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom c. and of the beginning of the Second chap. 7. saith he again v. 13 14. I saw the Son of man coming with the Clouds of Heaven and unto him was given Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him c. Of which more by Gods assistance afterwards 3dly We must especially observe how the first Session of the day of Judgment begins the said last state of Christs Kingdom where the Judgment is said to be se and the Books opened at the destruction of the Beast and upon that account Dan. 7.12 because of the great words which the Horn spake ver 9 10 11. will be executed by Christ at the Armageddon Battel Rev. 19.11 to the end spoken of Rev. 16. And likewise another like Session of Judgment after the thousand years we may again observe will according as God hath appointed and our Saviour declared Rev. 20.11 13 c. perfect the said Kingdom of the Mountain in glory after the last Gog and Magog shall be destroyed after the thousand years shall be ended when also the Judgment will again be set and the Books opened which is proper only to the Judgment of the great Day as St. Jude calls it and why should it seem strange that Christ should have such a great Day to judg and rule in over all creatures as he is Mediator whilst the Kingdom which the Ancient of Days gave him shall remain in his hand when Antichrist had his Day of before And not to speak of the days of Captivities of the Jews or of 1260 years their forty years in the Wilderness Heb. 4. St. Peter reckons Eternity under the name of a day 1 Pet. 3. last 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as in the Original So that upon many considerations Mr. Mede might well reckon all that time from Christs coming with clouds Dan. 7.13 of which Rev. 1.7 and Rev. 19.11 c. to the last Sessions end under the title of the Day of Judgment wherein first at the destruction of Antichrist when he destroys the quick with visible temporal judgment and rewards his Servants the Prophets and his Saints and all that fear his Name both small and great in their order Rev. 11.18 and Rev. 20.4 5. when likewise Daniel sheweth the Saints shall take the Kingdom being then given to them and possess it for ever to the Worlds end as Christ then will receive it of his Father to give it to them ver 13. yet they shall rule for him ver 27. all that time in all Nations under the whole Heaven 4thly In the next place the God of Heaven is said to be first the Founder of Christs Kingdom in the whole of it under both states of the Stone and Mountain of Patience and Power chap. 2.44 In the dayes of those Kings the God of Heaven shall set up a Kingdom that shall never be destroyed c. And also he is said to be the Doner or Giver of it to Christ his Son chap. 7.9 13 14. So likewise Rev. 5. Christ hath not onely the Revelation given to him from God the Father to open and make known the same to his Church but the Lamb hath Riches and Honour and Power and Wisdom and Strength c. to execute and fulfil all things contained therein ver 12 13. which he himself declared before his ascention Matt. 28.18 19 20. his Commission from the Father enables him to fulfil the contents of that Book in both states of that Kingdom in order from the beginning of the first Seal chap. 6. when he sent out his Apostles as before Matt. 28. to and in his 1000. years reign on Earth Rev. 20.4 Rev. 5.10 5thly So likewise for the extent of his Kingdom under both States In the first state it is large without restraint unto Jews or Gentiles Greeks or Barbarians in respect of the tender of it Go preach the Gospel to every creature Mar. 16.15 Go preach the Gospel to all Nations Matt. 28.19 As Augustus Coesar would have all the World taxed so Christs riding on the white Horse hath the same bounds Rev. 5. No doubt their sound went into all the world and their words to the end of the earth saith the Apostle Rom. 10.18 So Dan. 2.24 It shall never be destroyed but shall break in pieces all those Kingdoms and extend sometimes very largely in the Empire and at one time or other all over the known World But the other state of the Kingdom of the Mountain is not onely unlimited in the tender of it but also boundless in the extent of it over all the whole Earth as an huge Mountain it fills the whole Earth Dan. 2.35 and ch 7.13 14. To the Son of Man was given Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him and his Deputies the Saints take the Kingdom ver 18. and that which was the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven v. 27. and then all Dominions shall serve and obey him So Rev. 20.4 the Saints reigned with Christ a thousand years and the representative Church exult assuredly That they shall reign upon Earth Rev. 5.10 and Rev. 11.15 The Kingdoms of the World are become the Kingdoms of our God and of his Christ c. 6thly Again for the nature of this Kingdom although the first state of it being mostly invisible and therefore in the outward aspect for the most part despised neglected yea opposed by the men of the World of all sorts for the most part of the time of the Kingdom of Patience in which state though the Devil and the wicked World have endeavoured earnestly to destroy it yet it could never be destroyed Dan. 2.44 And though the Beast make war with the Saints and think to wear them out yet his time is limited to a time times and dividing of a time but then the Judgment shall sit and destroy him Dan. 7.25 26. even when he shall have accomplished to scatter the Power of the holy people Dan. 12.7 for he shall never utterly destroy their Power Rev. 12.6 So Rev. 13. Rev. 11.2 But in the second state it will not onely be an inwardly invisible true Church but also an outwardly visible and glorious Kingdom likewise when Jews and Gentiles shall be so largely and unlimitedly brought into it Rom. 11.12 c. Dan. 7.14 Even
mysterie seems to be intended in this Scripture namely the Jews last Restauration at the end of the 2300 years from the beginning of Nebuchadnezzar in the Persian Monarchy and all the time of the Grecian and Roman to Christs appearance as afterward we shall endeavout to shew Again chap. 9. in the first year of Darius the Mede Daniel understanding by Books viz. from the Prophesie of Jeremiah of the Seventy years of the Captivity of the Jews in Babylon as is recorded Jer. 25.12 and 29.10 which then drew towards an end he set himself by prayers supplications and fastings with sack-cloth and ashes to seek Gods face for himself and his people v. 4.20 whereupon at the time of the Evening-Oblation the Angel Gabriel came again swiftly flying and touched him and made known unto Daniel what should be done by Gods determinate counsel after seventy Weeks of years that is 490 years upon his people and the holy City Jerusalem to finish transgression and to make an end of sins and to make reconciliation for iniquity and to bring in everlasting righteousness and to seal the Vision and Prophesie and to annoint the Most Holy v. 21 24. so that the seventy years suffering in bondage should not onely be recompenced with the building of the City which should remain seven times seventy years but should have those glorious Mercies of Mercies to be accâ—mplished in the Messiah which made the beauty of that second House much more glorious then the first built by King Solomon Which mystical setting them down though prophane persons neither understood nor regarded yet Gods faithful servants that would search into them might find them suitable to their Jubilies and Prophetical days and be comforted in them as by Gods Oracles rather then if it had been plainly said after 490 years in v. 25. the former whole number of Seventy Weeks are distinguished first into seaven Weeks or 49 years from the Edict of Cyrus in his first year for their return from Captivity wherein was re-edified Jerusalem to the sixth of Darius Longimanus second Son to Darius Histaspis by Hester in whose six years the Temple was built which being begun in the third year of Cyrus was forty six years in building according to the Jews account by some thus reckoned Cyrus and Cambises 9. Darius Histaspis 14. Xerxes 20. Darius or as some Artaxerxes Longimanus 6. which seems agreeable to the Prophesie 2dly Of the 62 weeks or 434 years following wherein appears chap. 8. and chap. 11. many remarkable things befell the Jews which 62 Weeks brought in the Messiah and lasted towards the end of his private life and the one week of the last finished the sacrifice of Christ and begins both the calling of the Gentiles and rejection of the Jews as may be supplied from v. 27. But in v. 26. he further declares the destruction of the City and Temple by the Romans under Titus and Vespatian and after in v. 27. speaks how the Roman Emperor should make the Sacrifice and Oblation to cease which was not all done suddenly Of which saith Chrisâ—st Seâ—m contrâ— Judae◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and at once but by â— three distinct degrees remarkably though the beginning thereof then done by Cesar was in the end of that one last Week for after that woful destraction and captivity by Vespatian and Titus they sought again in opposition to Christ to set up their Typical Worship there Again their City was afterwards taken about 130 years after Christs incarnation and the Temple ruined by Adrian the Emperor And when they had set up their said Worship again under or by the Oak in Mamre Constantine the Great drave them thence And lastly Most remarkably and wonderfully was their enterprize of building their Temple disappointed when that wicked Apostate the Emperor Julian in opposition to Christs Religion did not onely set up variety of wicked Heathenish Abominations but encouraged the Jews to build their Temple at the publike Charge which with great endeavours and costs was set upon but when the stones of the old Foundation were digged up and they went about to lay a new Foundation by Earth-quakes Fire and terrible signs of Gods indignation against them many were destroyed which were employed about that work and their very tools and Instruments melted and consumed by the fire the stones laid for foundations violently cast up which occasioned Cyrill then Bishop of Jerusalem to say Now was fulfilled the prediction of our Saviour That not one stone should be left upon another that should not be thrown down Which seems to be the true Epocha of those 1290 days of years spoken of Ch. 12.11 which probably end before that 45 years preceding Christs appearance as by v. 12. and v. 1. of the same Chapter may appear But of these in their due place But it is further added in v. 27. the latter part of it And for the overspreading of Abomination he shall make it desolate even until the consummation and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate that is during the time of the Gentiles to be fulfilled as saith Christ Luc. 21.24 which appears to contain all the time of Jerusalems desolation and the Jews dispersion ever since until their calling about these times of ours â—hen they are to begin their spiritual and civil resurrection which shall end as was hinted and may further from Cap. 12. appear in a glorious and blessed state by the free and rich mercy of their God and the God of their Fathers in respect both of their souls and outward condition according to the many great promises God hath given and then to be fulfilled to them their children and their childrens children for ever through all the Reign of Christ the thousand years with his Saints on earth and thenceforth perfect blesseduess to all Eternity Lastly Daniel in the third year of Gyrus King of Persia Chap. 10 Danids fourth Prophetical Vision 11 12. had another Vision having mourned three full weeks and saw a glorious person appearing to him by the River Hiddekel when his Companions fled for fear though they saw not the Vision and Daniel had no strength nor comeliness left in him till he was afterwards raised and strengthned when the Angel made known to him the things that were to come to pass in the latter dayes Whereupon Chap. 11. he had the three Earthly Kingdoms then to come before Christs appearing set before him But first briefly of the two former of Persia and Grecia I say briefly in respect of what was shewed him in chap. 8. but after more fully of the proceedings of the Greek Kingdom divided into Two Branches and most largely of the last wicked Tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes until he was quelled by the Romans Chap. 11. v. 30. Ver. 2. And now will I shew thee the truth Behold there shall stand up yet three Kings in Persia and the fourth shall be far richer than they all and by his strength through his riches