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scripture_n	apostle_n	gospel_n	word_n	3,444	5	4.1556	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77670	A brief survey of the prophetical and evangelical events of the last times: VVherein that which principally is insisted on, is the prophetical little horn, or man of sin, and evangelical beast, and his seven heads and ten hornes. Shewing by the Scriptures what they be, when their rise, what their work, how long their continuance, and their end and ruine. Much differing from former and common interpretations hereupon. Wherein also those prophecies are briefly touched which concern the persecution of the saints, the falling away of the churches, the night of darknesse, the virgins going forth to meet the bridegroom, the mystical whore, the preaching of the Gospel of the kingdome to all the world, and the gathering of the Jewes into their own land. Being a portion of the paines in searching of the holy Scriptures by several members of the congregation of Orpington in Kent. And now published for the comfort of all those that have an interest in the Lord Jesus Christ, and wait, look for, and long after his coming, Tit. 2. 11, 12, 13. / By Capt. John Brovvne a member of that congregation.	Browne, John, Captain.	1655 (1655)	Wing B5117; Thomason E826_18; ESTC R207735	43,228	58

many hundred yeares after them and it may well be questioned whether it hath at all been preached yea hardly known or believed by any there in the English Plantations in America much lesse in the Plantations of other Nations in that now known part of the world who cannot endure to have the least light of spirituall things to break forth in their Dominions witnesse that damnable doctrine of theirs so highly cried up by the Popish Party that Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion joyned with another of the same stamp that Images are Lay-mens books but chiefly their cruell tyrannizing over the Consciences of their people by setting up their Hell upon Earth their cruell Inquisition which so long as that is maintained in a Nation there is little hopes of this Gospel to be preached there And as concerning that Scripture of the Apostle Paul in his 10. chapter of his Epistle to the Church at Rome verse 18. if the coherence of the words be well weighed the Gospel there spoken of cannot be the Gospel of Christ which the Apostles had in Commission from him to preach But it was the Gospel or glad Tydings spoken of in the Writings of the Prophets viz. in Isaiah and Nahum for the Apostle in the 15. verse of that 10. chapter saith as it is written how beautifull are the feet c. Therefore we suppose we may conclude safely that this Gospel of the Kingdome or Raign of Christ upon Earth hath not been published or made known in all the world Object But why must it now be preached in these dayes in the time of the seventh Head or Government or what necessity is there for it Answ. First because it hath in some measure been proved if not fully that it hath not been preached in all the world as yet therefore it must be continued to be preached till it hath so been Secondly because the time of the seventh Heads power or Raign is but short therefore to be hastened in that time for there is little hopes of Peace or Liberty for the Saints in the time of the ten Hornes or Kings and the Beast Thirdly it cannot be published in any place but where there is Liberty and Peace as there is among us and it is hoped the Sword that is in the now Magistrates hand of this Nation will procure the same in other Nations that there it may be preached also Fourthly because the Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ draweth nigh especially in relation to the taking up of the Saints for if it be so that the seventh Head be arising and shall continue but a short space then immediately upon his decay or setting the ten Hornes and the Beast will arise before whose power is at the height viz the Beasts the Saints will be taken up as we shall clear it more fully hereafter especially when we open the 12. chapter of the book of the Revelation● therefore the more reason to set upon this most necessary work of the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdome least we be found retarders of our own happinesse And as concerning the calling of the I●ws in thi● time o● Government we say that is that other work the Lord will now have brought to passe for as yet they are not so called nor permitted by the Turks who have the possession of their Country to make any habitation there nor to come thither but as Pilgrims or to bury the bones of their deceased Friends which they bring thither from all parts where they inhabit Secondly the Scriptures of the Prophets doe declare that Ierusalem must be built in its own place which now it is not if we may give any belief to Historians and Travellers so what the Prophet Ieremy foretels concerning this particular in his 30. chapter 18. whose words are these Thus saith the Lord behold I will bring again the Captivity of Jacobs Tents and have mercy on his dwelling places and the City shall be builded upon her own heap and the Pallace shall remain after the manner thereof Also consider of the Prophet Zachery's Prophesie as to this particular in his 12. chapter 6. In that day will I make the Governours of Judah like a hearth of fire among the wood and like a Torch of fire in a sheaf and they shall devoure all the People round about on the right hand and on the left and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place even in Jerusalem And the other Prophets doe declare that the City must be beseiged and the daily Sacrisice taken away and great tribulation upon that people and all this before the Beast is at his height in regard of his power who doth immediately arise upon the fall of the seventh Head So that now having fully made manifest the Beast in respect of his seven Heads the next thing to be declared and opened is the ten Hornes or Kings viz. who they are concerning which the Scripture is silent onely that they are the ten toes of Nebuchadnessar's Image Daniel 2. as to their Persons and Dominion in respect of Countries where they shall particularly raign we find not and that as yet they are not risen for the Apostle Iohn in his 17. Revelations 12. saith They are ten Kings who have received no Kingdome as yet but receive power one hour with the Beast But thus much we may take notice of by the way that the ten Hornes and the Beast when they arise will make Nebuchadnezars Image compleat Daniel 2. 33. whose feet were part of Iron and part of Clay of whose Iron legs we have already given some account which in the interpretation he saith Whereas thou sawest the feet and toes part of Potters Clay and part of Iron the Kingdome shall be divided but there shall be in it of the strength of Iron for as much as thou sawest the Iron mixed with the mirie Clay and as the toes of the feet were part of Iron and part of Clay so the Kingdome shall be partly strong and partly broken And whereas thou sawest the Iron mixed with the mirie Clay they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men but they shall not cleave one to another even as Iron is not mixed with Clay And in the daye● of those Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdome which shall never be destroyed and the Kingdome shall not be left to other People but it shall break in peices and consume all these Kingdomes and it shall stand for ever verse 41 42 43 44. So that as they are partly strong and partly weak they being but a mixt power that are united for the perfecting of some great design but will not long hold together for before the little Horn will three of the ten Hornes be pluckt away Daniel 7. ● which in the interpretation verse 24. its said he shall subdue three Kings it intimates that they will be divided and he shall have those that will oppose him yea and destroy

to the same effect take the words as they are recorded by him Then Iesus said unto them Yet a little while is the Light with you walk while you have the Light lest darknesse come upon you For he that walketh in darknesse knoweth not whether he goeth I am come a Light into the world that whosoever believeth in me should not abide in darknesse We do not say that this night of darknesse was immediatly to follow the death resurrection or ascension of Christ for although he be the Day or great Light of the world for by him all things were made that were made 1 Iohn 3. according to Iohn the Baptists expression 1. Iohn 8 9. And the Sun of righteousnes according to the Prophet Malachies Prophesie in his 4. Chapter 2. verse compared with Zacharies Prophesie 1. Luke 7. 8. Yet he himself saith that his Disciples are also the Light of the world 5. Mathew 14. which they are to hold forth to others verse 16. Neither doth the said night of darknesse presently follow the decease of the Apostles for the Apostle Paul tels the Church of Philippi that although they were in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation yet among them they shine as lights in the world 2 Philippians 15. As also the same Apostle writting to the Church at Thesalonica declares to them ye are not saith he the children of light and the children of the day we are not of the night nor of darknesse 1 Th●s. 5. 5. But when once the Churches who believed and gratified the foundation Principles of the Doctrine of Christ ceased to be then came the night of darknesse on Now this darknesse was to fall upon the Iewes first for their rejecting of the Light the Lord Jesus bemoanes their sad condition for the same saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things which belong unto thy peace But now they are hid from thine eyes 19. Luke 42. And the Apostle Iohn relates the exhortation of the Lord Jesus to them the words we have already repeated at large upon another occasion 12. Iohn 35. which compared with the expressions of the Appostle Paul to the Jews for their contradicting and blaspheming Then Paul and Barnabas waxed h●ld and said it was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you but seing you put it from you and judge your selves unworthy of everlasting life Lo we turn to the Gentiles 13 Acts 46. will clear our affirmation As this Night of darknesse came upon the Jewes for their rejecting of the Light so in the second place it came upon the Gentiles for their neglecting of it The Apostle Paul writing to the Church at Rome bids them have a care of boasting take his expressions a little at large Thou wilt say then the Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in Well because of unbelief they were broken off and thou standest by Faith Be not high minded but fear For if God spare not the naturall Branches tak● heed least he also spare not thee Behold ther fore the Goodnesse and Severity of God on them which fall Severity but towards thee Goodnesse if thou continue in his Goodnesse otherwise thou also shalt be cut off Compare this with the advise of the Lord Jesus to the Church at Ephesus Remember from whence thou art fallen Revel. 2. 5. And withall consider well of the words of the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrewes who were believers in Christ and had believed and practised the beginnings of the doctrine of Christ Hebr. 6. 1 2. For saith he if the word spok●n by Angels was stedfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him Hebr. 2. 2 3. This darknesse after the Ascention of the Lord Jesus decease of the Apostles and falling away of the Churches was a general darknesse and so brought on the night in which the Virgins were to goe forth to meet the Bridegroom the Lord Jesus Math. 25. 1. But while he tarrieth they fall asleep vers 5. and at midnight the cry was made behold the Bridegroom cometh vers. 6. which though a Parable or dark saying yet ●t holds forth something which then as to Persons and Time should be And to them which have believed and practised the principles of the doctrine of Christ it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdome to others Math. 13. 11. Now for the Persons that doe goe forth to meet the Bridegroom the Scripture as we have already declared stiles them Virgins that is pure persons and such as those who have laid the two first foundation Principles viz. Repentance and Faith that is have repented that they have sinned and doe believe that God hath pardoned their sins by the bloud of the Lord Jesus and therefore such must needs be pure persons But the Scripture makes a clear distinction between the Spouse of Christ and Virgins Solomon the wisest of Men in his Song speaking in the person of the Spouse to her Beloved saith Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth for thy love is better than Wine Because of the Savour of thy good Ointments thy Name is as Ointment poured sorth therefore doe the Virgins love th●e Cant. 1. 2 3. In which two verses there is a clear distinction I say between the Spouse Let him kisse me and Virgins the Virgins love thee Take one other expression of his in his said Song chapter 6. 8 9. There are threescore Queens and fourscore Concubines and Virgins without number My Dove my undifiled is but one she is the onely one of her Mother she is the choice one of her that bare her the Daughters saw her and blessed her yea the Queenes and the Concubines and they praised her For a farther proof of our assertion that there is such a clear distinction betwixt the Spouse and Virgins take the words of a man after Gods own heart the Psalmist David in his 45. Psalm 13 and 14. verses The Kings Daughter saith he is all glorious within her clothing is of wrought Gold She shall be brought unto the King in rayment of needle-work The Virgins her Companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee Octject Doth not the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Church of Christ at Corinth call her there a Virgin For I have Espoused you saith he to one Husband that I may present you as a chast Virgin to Christ Answ. She is a chast Virgin indeed but is no where in Scripture called by the Name of Virgins in the Plurall Number for Solomon in his Cant. 6. 9. before quoted saith My Dove my undefiled is but one she is the onely one of her Mother and that expression of the Psalmist David Psalm 45. 14. will farther clear this

according to what we have already declared from the mouth of the Lord Jesus Math. 24 14. Sixthly When the Gospel or glad tidings of the Kingdome is begun to be preached in the last Age of the world which is a sign of the near approach of that Kingdome then will follow the calling of the two Tribes of Iudah and Benjamin to Ierusalem See what the Lord declares by the Prophet Ieremy concerning this Thus saith the Lord behold I will bring again the Captivity of Jacobs Tents and have mercy on his dwelling Places And the City shall be builded upon her own heaps and the Pallace shall remain after the manner 〈◊〉 So that comparing the latter part of the verse with the former part it will plainly appear that by Iacobs Tents cannot be meant the whole twelve Tribes or the ten Tribes but the two Tribes onely not but that there may be some of every Tribe amongst the two Tribes as there was some did cleave to the house of David when it s said the ten Tribes fell away for these here that shall be brought back are said to be first brought back and then the City is built which bringing back of the ten Tr●bes w●●l not be compleated till a●ter the Saints are taken up when as before that time both Ierusalem and the Temple will be built and Sacrifices offered of which we shall have ●ccasion to inlarge upon hereafter Consider of ●nother Prophesie concerning this in the 12 Zach●r● 6 7 In that day I will make the Governours of Jud●h lik● a ha●th o● fi●e among the w●od and like a torch of 〈…〉 shall devour all the people round about on the 〈…〉 and on the left And Jerusalem shall be inhabited 〈…〉 own place even in Jerusalem The Lord also shall save the T●n●s of Judah first Seventhly After the calling of the two Tribes for to build and inhabite Ierusalem the next remarkable thing that will in those dayes fall out to be is the rising or manifesting of the Beast and ten Hornes or Kings mentioned by the Apostle Iohn in his 17. Chapter of the Revelations In which these following particulers will be worthy of our consideration in the opening of them 1. Who the Beast is and secondly Who the ten Kings are 2. The place from whence they and he will arise 3. What they and he are to doe when risen viz. First before the Saints are taken up and secondly after they are taken up 4. His reign viz. how long time 5. His ruine and how farre they suffer in it For the first the Beast who he is He is that Beast that was shewn to the Apostle Iohn which he describes in his 17. Chapter of the Revelations and 3. verse having seven heads and ten hornes which compared with other Scriptures we shall find him to have several titles or denominations 〈◊〉 which he is discovered viz. he is called the little Horn Dan. 7 8. The vile Person Dan. 11. 21. The Man of Sin 2 Thes. 2. 3. In Iohns description befo●e quoted he hath seven Heads as well as ten Hornes Now that ●e may know who or ●hat these seven heads are if we co●sider well of the Angels interpretation to Iohn Chap. 17 10. and upon search of other Scriptures we shall find that they are seven Governments that should be Supream in the severall Ages of the world from the dayes of Noah after the Floud till the rise of the ten Hornes Five of which Heads or Governments had been before Iohn saw this Vision the sixth was then in being and is now towards its period and the seventh was not then come but is now arising The first Head or Government was the Assyrian and Babylonian Monarchy joyned under one head viz. Nimrod compare the Writings of Moses concerning this Person Government and Country with that of the Prophet Esay and consider how they prove our assertion Moses giving us some account of Noahs Posterity and speaking of that of his Son Ham saith Ham begat Cush and Cush begat Nimrod He began to be a mighty one in the Earth He was a mighty Hunter before the Lord Wherefore it is said even as Nimrod the mighty Hunter before the Lord And the beginning of his Kingdome was Babell and Eresh and Achad and Ca●neh in the Land of Shinar Out of that Land went forth Ashur and builded Niniveh and the City Reho both and Calah Also the same Moses speaketh farther concerning Noahs Posterity And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech And it came to passe as they journeyed from the East that they found a Plain in the Land of Shinar and they dwelt there Now take what Esay writeth concerning this B●hold the Land of the Caldeans this People was not till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the Wilderness They set up the Towers thereof th●y raised up the Pallaces thereof and he brought it to ruine So that Moses gives us to understand thus much that Nimrod was the first mighty One upon the earth whose ●●●gdome was Babell and Ashur went out from thence and built Niniveh which Ashur could be no other then this Nimrod for when he came or journeyed out of the East he came into the Land of Shinar and dwelt there which Land of Shinar must needs be Caldea Babell being built in it as we have now related out of Moses which the Prophet Esay calls C●ldea as you have his words also In brief thus much Nimrod an Assyrian by birth or habitation or both comes into Shinar or Caldea sets up his Kingdome builds Babell his chief Seat and other Cities afterwards goeth out thence into Assyria again and builds Niniveh and other Cities which is the ground of our stiling him by the title of the Assy●ian and Babylonian Monarch And he is the first after the Floud that the Scripture mentioneth but of his continuance or length of his raign it is silent Some Historians doe give some account thereof but with diversity of Opinions concerning it therefore leave the curious therein to search them The second Head is the Assyrian alone under another Family the Line of Nimrod being extinct in Sardanapulus as Sir Walter Rawleigh in his History of the World the first Impression the first part folio 482. doth at large relate whose first King that the Scripture mentioneth was Pull or Phull by whom and Tiglath Pilessar his Successor if not Son the two Tribes and half were first carried away captive See a proof for this out of the Scripture in the 1 Chron. 5. 26. And the God of Israel stirred up the Spirit of Pull King of Assyria and the Spirit of Tiglath-Pilnesar King of Assyria and he carried them away even the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half Tribe of Manassah and brought them unto Halath and Habor and Hara and to the River Gos●n unto this day By whom also the Syrians the great oppressors of Israel in several

to do they are cast into the hot fiery Furnace verse 21. and delivered from the danger thereof verse 25. 27. After which he destroyes Aegypt as Sir Walter Rawleigh saith but the Scripture is silent as to the time of the destruction of that rich Country onely Ezekiel in his 29 chapter 17. saith in the twenty seven year the Word of the Lord came to him but whether it were the twenty seven year of his Captivity or of Iehoiakim's Captivity or of Nebuchadn●ssars raign is questionable however so it was that Aegypt was destroyed according to the prophesies of Ezekiel and Ieremy chap. 44 30. and chap. 43. 8. to the end Afterwards Daniel tells him the interpretation of his dream concerning the Tree Dan. 4 19 to the 28. and about a year after the same is fulfilled for his not bearkening to the Counsell of the Prophet and is cast out for seven yeares which is towards the end of his raign for neither Scripture nor History maketh any mention of any Acts of his after his Restauration The length of whose raign was about 43. or 44. yeares for the fourth year of Iehoiakin was the first year of his raign and the thirty seventh year of Iehoiakim's Captivity is the first year of Evilmerodach King of Babylon Successor if not Son to Nebuchadnessar 2 Kings 25. 17. Evilmerodach in the first year of his raign lifteth up the head of Iehoiachin King of Iudah and brought him out of Prison the 52. Ieremy 31. to the end What other thing of note he did or how long he reigned the Scripture is altogether silent History saith he lost some part of his Dominions and lost his Successor imbroyld in a dangerous Warre against the Meades but whether Balthazar was his immediate Successor or no we cannot positively conclude from the Scriptures onely we find him the next to Evilmerodach that the Scriptures doe mention and cannot but conclude him to be of Nebuchadnessars Race because of Ieremies Prophesie chap 27. 7. where it is said All Nations shall serve him and his Son and his Sons Son untill the very time of his Land come and then many Nations and great King's shall serve themselves of him In the first year of this Balthazar Daniel sees the Vision of four Beasts chap. 7. 1. In his third year Daniel sees the Vision of the Ram and of the Hee-Goat chap. 8. 1. And in his last year the last day thereof Daniel read the hand writing on the wall and tells him the interpretation thereof chap. 5. 25 26 27 28. and verse 30. in that night was Balthazar the King of the Caldeans slain and Darius the Median took the Kingdom verse 31. Now how long these two last Successors of Nebuchadnessar reigned the Scripture doth not mention in particular onely between them two is spent either thirty and three yeares or fourty and four yeares The ground of our apprehension as to this is the seventy yeares of the Iewes Captivity which began either in the first year of Iehoiachin's Captivity or the last year of Zedekiah when the City was taken and the Temple was bu●nt if it began at the first then the Scripture tells us that Evilmerodach King of Babylon lifted up the head of Iehoiachin and brought him out of Prison in the seven and thirtieth year of his Captivity and first year of his Raign Ierem. 52. 31. so that adding thirty and three yeares to thirty and seven and then the seventy yeares is fulfilled but if the Captivity began not till Zedekiah's death then there must be added eleven yeares more for he raigned eleven yeares after Iehoiachin was carried Captive to thirty and three yeares which is fourty and four and then Iehoiachin was carried Captive to Babylon eleven yeares before the seventy yeares began which were to be fulfilled before they were to return out of Captivity And that the seventy yeares were fulfilled at the death of Belshazar Daniel tells us that in the first year of Darius the Mede which was made King over the Realm of the Caldeans Dan. 9. 1 2 3. that after he had fasted and prayed that the Man Gabriel or Angel of the Lord revealed the same to him take his words at large And whiles I was speaking and praying and conf●ssing my sin and the sin of my People Israel and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy Mountain of my God yea whiles I was speaking in Prayer even the Man Gabriel whom I had seen in the Vision at the beginning being caused to fly swiftly touched me about the time of the evening Oblation And he informed me and talked with me and said O Daniel I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding At the beginning of thy supplication the Commandement came forth and I am come to shew thee for thou art greatly beloved therefore understand the matter and consider the Vision Seventy weeks are determined upon thy People and upon thy holy City to finish the transgression and make an end of sinnes and to make reconciliation for iniquity and to bring in everlasting righteousnesse and to seal up the Vision and Prophesie and to annoint the most Holy verse 20 21 22 23 24. Whichleads us to the fourth Head the Meades and Persians The Caldean ending in Belshazar as we said before Darius the Mede being made King over the Realm of Caldea Dan. 9. 1. In the first year of whose Raign who raigned about two yeares saith Sir Walter Rawleigh Daniel by the searching of Books and by the Man Gabriel attaines to the knowledge of knowing the seventy weeks are expired that the Iewes were to be in Captivity In the first year of Cyrus the Persian the Iewes are permitted to return to their own Land and that openly by way of Proclamation 2 Chron. 36. 22 23. and Ezra 1. 1 2 3 4. Who also delivers the Vessels of the House of the Lord to Sheshbazzer the Prince of Iudah verse 7 8. And this was according to what was foretold by the Prophets concerning their seventy yeares Captivity Ier. 25. 12. and chap. 29. 10. And Cyrus to be the Man to deliver Gods People Esay 44. last and chap. 45. 1 2 3 4 13. In the third year of Cyrus Daniel sees a Vision chap. 10. 1. and talketh with one like the similitude of the Son of Man whom he calls my Lord verse 16 17. And is made acquainted by revelation what Governments should succeed in the world till the coming of the Lord Iesus to Raign on the earth chap. 11. 2. to the beginning of the 12. chapter Concerning the remainder of the yeares of Cyrus Raign how long or what he did the Scriptures are silent Onely the Apocripha mentions some obstruction in the building of the Temple during the Raign of Cyrus by his Son Cambyse● whom he made his Lieutenant in all his Dominions while himself followeth the Wars and this was not onely done by him during his Fathers Raign but also

during his own and that out of Naturall and politique ends The first in that he was a cruell Tyrant whose will was a law and his Flatterers told him that all things were lawfull for the Kings of Persia upon which he married two of his Sisters against the Lawes of his Kingdome And for the second he had an intention to invade Aegypt and feared least the Iewes should prove such as his Provintiall Governours had written to him under the name of Artaxerxes of Ezra 4. 7. to the 23. that the Iewes and Inhabitants of Ierusalem were a rebellious people and tha● it was a common Opinion that the Iewes descended of those Nations because they issued thence under Moses when they conquered Iudea and that if their City were repaired and fortified they might give some disturbance to his intended Conquest of that Country as they had done in H●zekiah's dayes to Sennacherib when he went to invade Aegypt Wherefore he commanded them to be hindred in that work of the building of the Temple and City Which hindrance continued till the second year of Darius King of Persia Ezra 4. 24. the Successor of Cambyses or as the Scripture calls him Artaxerxes how he came to the Kingdome read Sir Walt. Rawleigh 3. book 4 chapter 4. paragraph who in that yeer gave order for the building of the Temple of Ierusalem at his own charge Ezra 6 7 8 9 10 11 The Iewes being incouraged unto this by the Prophets Haggai and Zacheriah Ezra 5. 1. which work was finished in the sixth year of the Raign of Darius Ezra 6. 15. though not ful●y because in the fourteenth verse he saith they builded and finished it according to the Commandement of Cyrus Darius and Artaxerxes Kings of Persia In the dayes of Artaxerxes the Successor if not Son of Darius in the seventh year of his Raign Ezra and his Company goe from Babylon to Ierusalem Ezra 7. 7 8 9. In the twentieth year Nehemiah obtaines leave to goe and build the walls of Ierusalem Nehem. 2. 1. who sets the King a time for his return verse 6. And in the two and thirtieth year he obtaines leave the second time to goe to Ierusalem again chap. 13. 6 Concerning what is spoken about Esther in the dayes of Ahashueresh who he was whether this King Artaxerxes or any other the Scripture is silent much might be said that he was or was not the same Person but it would be found a very difficult thing to make an agreement in severall Scriptures concerning the same Who were the succeeding Kings of Persia till the coming of Alexander the Macedonian the Scripture mentioneth not onely Daniel is shewd in a vision in the third year of Cyrus chap. 10. 1. what Kings there should be after him in Persia whose words are these And now I will shew thee the Truth Behold there shall stand up yet three Kings in Persia and the fourth shall be farre richer than they all and by his strength through his riches he shall stirre up all against the Realm of Grecia Dan. 11. 2. Now if we may give credit to Historians concerning whom this last rich King was they say he was Darius the Son of Arsames who was subdued by Alexander the Grecian or Macedonian which brings us to the fifth Head or Monarchy The fifth Head was the Grecian revealed to Daniel in a Vision of a He Goat or Rough Goat chap. 8. 5 21. as the Meades and Persians was a Ram with two hornes Dan. 8 3. 20. What this Grecian did we must be beholding to Historians for our knowledge the Scriptures Canonicall not mentioning any the Apocripha but a little that which is may be found in the first book of the Maccabees chap. 1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 verses which as he did much in regard he came to be a third of Daniels Beasts or Monarchies therefore it is said he carried his Victories with wings who from a small Kingdome extended it to a very great distance Eastward and Southward and Northward but withall it was but of short continuance as all violent things and motions are but twelve yeares being poysoned by the conspiracy of his Servants who stood in fear of his cruelty Upon whose death his large Dominions was divided though not presently among four of his great Captaines according to Daniels Vision chap. 8. 8 and interpretation verse 22. Iosephus names five viz. Antigonus was Lord of Asia whose Dominion being lost there his Posterity injoyed Macedon Seleucus Nicator of Babylon and the bordering Nations Lysymachus had Hellespont Cassander had Macedon whose Dominion ended with him his Sons being slain not long after his death And Ptolemy the Son of Lagus had Aegypt All which took the Titles of Kings on them in a short time onely Cassander whose Successor did take the same also though with ill successe Seleucus Nicator was the first that took the Title of King of Babylon and the bordering Nations his Son Antiochus Soter succeeds him and raignes nineteen yeares after him his Son Antiochus Theos raignes fifteen yeares his Son Seleuchus Callinicus twenty yeares and left two Sons viz. Seleucus Ceraunus who raigned three yeares and Antiochus the Great thirty six yeares who left Seleucus Philopater who raigned twelve yeares saith Eusebius seven yeares saith Iosephus and Antiochus Epiphanes which was he that commanded Swines flesh to be offered on severall Alters in the Temple at Ierusalem which caused much affliction and misery to the Iewes being a Type of that which Daniel Prophesied in his eighth chapter but cannot be the same as is apprehended by some because the Lord Jesus would not have told his Disciples by way of Prophesie what had been past but rather he told them what should be hereafter Mathew 24. 15. What the Successors of Alexanders Captaines did who had divided his large Dominions among themselves History doth declare This may be noted concerning them which is Sir Walter Rawleigs observation of them f. 555. that the Successors of Ptolemey were the first that made a League with the Romans and the last that were subdued by them Which brings us to the sixth Head Government or Monarchy viz. the Romans whose chief City was Rome which was built in or about the year of the world 3280. and after the building of the Temple of Salomon 287. and before the birth of our Lord Christ 684. whose greatnesse began to appear out of its infancy in the time of Pyrrus King of Epirus Successor to Cassander in half the Kingdome of Macedon taken from Cassanders Children by him and Lysimachus King of Thracia he being a powerfull Prince viz. Pyrrhus and they viz. the Romans but few yeares before freed themselves from the Gaules who had taken all from them yea Rome it self the Capitoll excepted and drove him out of Italy in or about 487. yeares after Rome was built and about 107. yeares after they take the whole Kingdome of Macedon with Perseus the last King thereof and

Evangelists Mathew and Mark would not have left it upon Record Math. 24. 15. Mark 13. 14. for the Iowes to take notice of that then would be the time that they had most need to fly in regard of the great tribulation that would immediatly follow such as was not from the beginning of the world to that time nor shall be Math. 24. 21. therefore this could not be fulfilled before Besides this Abomination that is then to be set up is the Image of the vile Person or Beast who is not yet risen as to be made manifest according to the Apostle Iohns R●velation chap. 13. 14 15. and not any other Image or offering of Swines flesh as some other Expositors on that place doe hold forth Now having declared something of the actings of this Beast both before and after the Saints are taken up we shall in the next place mention something of the time of hi● Raign how long it will be with some passages of things during that time which we have not already declared As to the time the Apostle Iohn in his 11. chapter of his Revelations 2. saith But the Court that is without the Temple cast out and meet it not for it is given unto the Gentiles and the holy City shall they trea● under foot two and fourty months Which compared with the 9. Daniel 27. And he shall confirme the Covenant with many for one week and in the midst of the week he shall cause the Sacrifice and the Oblation to cease c. And he shall speak great words against the most High and shall weare out the Saints of the most High and think to change Times and Lawes and they shall be given into his hands untill a time and times and the dividing of time Daniel 7. 25. also other Scriptures for the farther clearing of this may be found in the 12 Daniel 7 11 12. verses So that from the time of the Saints being taken up and the Dragon or Devill being cast down who gives his power to the Beast to the time that the Beast and false Prophet will be taken alive and cast into the lake ●f fire and the said Devill or Dragon bound up with a chain will be but a short time for the v●yce in heaven Revelation 12. 10. and the beginning and the 12. verse the latter end declares a Wo● to the Inhabitants of the Earth and of the Sea for the D●vill is come down unto you which hath great wrath knowing that he hath but a sh●rt time So that taking the longest time of the Prophecies concerning him from the said time of the Saints being taken up to his end will not be four yeares A short time in respect of eternity but a long time in respect of the miseries and plagues that will fall upon the Inhabitants of the Earth In that time this little Horn as Daniel calls him in his 7. chapter 24. shall subdue three Kings which in the 8. verse of that chapter the calls Hornes who these three are probably they may be found to be Aegypt Lybia and Aeth●opia Daniel 11. 43. but if these be not those then as yet we cannot discern from the Scriptures who they are Also in that time the Witnesses prophesie who have pow●r to smite the Earth with all manner of plagues as often as they will and then will the seven Trumpets sound and the seven Vi●ls be poured forth of which we shall hereafter as time and opportunity shall serve and the Lord assisting of us declare further what is given In unto us concerning them Fifthly For his Ruine it will be after he hath raised a very great Army and that by the Spirits of Devills working Miracles that goe out of his mouth and the Dragons and the false Prophets who goe unto the Kings of the Earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battell of the great day of God Almighty Revelations 16. 13 14. For in the 19. Revelations 19 20. Iohn saith And I saw the Beast and the Kings of the Earth and their Hosts gathered together to make battell against him that sat on the Horse and against his Army but the Beast was taken and with him that false Prophet that wrought miracles before him whereby he dcceived them that received the Beasts mark and them that worshipped his Image these both were alive cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone Now if we compar● this Scripture of his Ruine with o her Scriptures we shall find that the Beast the Man of sin the vile Person the little Horn and Gog the Prince of Meshech and Tuball to be all one Person under severall Names and Titles i● we consider their Actings and Ends 1. First for the Man of fin the Apostle Paul gives the Church at Thessalonica a description of him by his Actings and End 2 Thess. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. 2. For the vile Person though we have not so clear a Scripture how he shall come to his ●nd yet his Actings will demonstrate him to be the same Daniel 11. 3● and so forward but in the 36. verse you have the substance of all And the King shall doe what him list he shall exalt himself and magnifie himself ahove every God and shall speak marvellous things against the God of Gods and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished for that that is determined shall be done And in the last vers● He shall come to his end 3. For the little Horn Daniel in his 7. chap●●● 11. tells us that then he beh●ld because of 〈◊〉 voyce of the presumptuous words which the little H●rn spake I beh●ld even till the Beast was 〈◊〉 and his body destroyed a●d given to the burning flame 4. For Gog the Prince of Meshech and Tuball the Prophet Ezekiel who saw his Rise and Ruine gives an account of him in his 38. and 39 chapters whose end is sutable to the other description of the Prophets both before and after Ezekiels prophesie and Apostles of that Person whose power shall be so great in the latter dayes consider well of the 17. verse of Ezekiels 38. chapter and in the 22 verse of that chapter is the ruine of his Army declared and the Fowles of the Heaven are invited to this great Slaughter or Sacrifice of the Lord chap 39 17 18 compared with the 19 Rev. 17 18. Now though the Ruine of the Beast or vile Person c. be on this manner yet it may very well be questioned whether the ten Hornes or Kings or rather seven of the ten the Beast having already rcoted up three of them are destroyed with him for if we consider well of th●t portion of Daniels Prophesie chap 7 12 where it is said as concerning the other Beasts they had their Dominion taken away yet their lives were prolonged for a certain time and season we may rather conclude that they were not destroyed with the Beast The next particular that we shall with the Lords