SEDER OLAM: OR, THE Order, Series, or Succession OF ALL THE Ages, Periods, and Times OF THE WHOLE WORLD IS Theologically, Philosophically, and Chronologically Explicated and Stated. ALSO The Hypothesis of the Pre-existency and Revolution of Humane Souls. Together with the Thousand Years Reign of Christ on the Earth, probably evinced, and delivered in an Historical Enarration thereof, according to the Holy Scriptures. To which is also annexed, Some Explanatory Questions of the Book of the Revelations of the like import. And an Appendix; containing some Emendations and Explanations of divers Passages, in the two foregoing Treatises, out of the Author's Original Manuscripts and Papers. Translated out of Latin by I. Clark M. D. upon the Leave of F. M. Baron of Helmont. LONDON: Printed for Sarah Howkins, in George-yard, Lumba●, street, 1694. TO THE English Reader. Serious and Inquisitive Reader, FOR thy sake was this small Tract translated into the English Tongue, by the Consent of the Baron of Helmont, now resident at London, wherein I have rather affected a plain English Style, than any artificial Embellishment left, I should make it less intelligible, by ●ndeavouring to render it more po●ite, and so rob the Author, to divert the Reader, which is to betray ●he Understanding, to gratify the ●ancy. And now Reader, as to the subject, sure I am of Opinion, if ●ere be any such thing as revealed religion in the World, (as none b●● atheists will deny) the only sure ●ay to prove it, is by reconciling Faith with Reason; for tho' the subtleties of Faith may soar above the perfect comprehension of Reason, yet no true Faith can be so absolute, as to appear wholly inconsistent with it, as is manifest in the Example of Christ's Incarnation; where Faith persuades me of this miraculous Union, and Reason s●ews me the necessity of it. Here is the Conformity of Faith with Reason: and no Hypothesis more effectually proves the veracity of Scripture against th● Objections of Atheists, than that which perfectly demonstrates th● harmonious congruity and conformity of those truths; but all the vulgar expositors have hitherto been so far ●●om reconciling the Scriptures, that they have made i● appear a Mass of Contradictions, and mightily strengthened the principles o● Atheists. J. C. SEDER OLAM, OR, THE Order of Ages. 1. F●R as much as God is but one, the terms o● Three Persons are very improperly applied to the Mystery of the Father, Word, and Holy Ghost. It were better to stick to the words of Holy Writ, in the Explication of so great a Mystery. Herein w● may be safe, and this would remove a Scandal from such, who are offended at the names of Three Persons. 2. Because God doth all things according to his infinite Wisdom, therefore there is no indifference of Will in him; and therefore, in all things he doth, he is a necessary Agent, and yet also the most f●ee Agent. 3. Therefore he did necessarily create th● Worlds, and that not by constraint from any foreign Agent, but from the Determination of his internal Goodness and Wisdom. 4. Therefore the Attribute of ● Creator is essential to God, because in God there are no accidents. 5. Therefore God is a Crea●o●●●om eternity, and so by consequence did make Cr●atures ●rom infinite Ages; and also s●ill doth and will c●e●te new to all ●terni●y. 6. The Worlds therefore, in respect of us, are infinite and innumerable. 7. But (among other differences) there is this special difference between God and Creatures, that God is altogether unchangeable; but all Creatures are, in some Sense or other, changeable. 8. But there is a twofold distinction in the mutability of Creatures; for Creatures are either changeable to Good or Evil, (which indeed for some time is the L●● and Condition of all Creatures) or el●● at length, after a certain space of time, only changeable unto Good. 9 Which mutability of Creatures remains unto all Eternity; for there is no Creature so perfectly good, but that it is ●●ill capable of a greater Degree and Me●●ure of Goodness, to all Eternity. 10. Moreover, there is necessarily intercedent between God and Creatures a certain middle Being, which indeed is less than the supreme Deity, but greater and more perfect than all Creatures. 11. And this Ens mediums ● or middle Being between God and Creatures, is Christ the Heavenly Adam. 12. God, by this Medium, to wit, Christ create● and produced all Creatures whatso●v●r. 13. Again, among other Differences, there is this difference between Christ and C●e●●ures● that all Creatures are for some time changeable unto Good and Evil; but Christ is only changeable unto Good, but never unto Evil. 14. And therefore more justly merits the name of Son of God, than that of a Creature, and his production is rather to be accounted a Generation, than Creation. 15. Christ, the Heavenly Adam, is both God and Man, containing in him both Natures, viz. the nature of God and Man. 16. For whereas the most Divine Humanity of Christ is intrinsically, and most perfectly united with the word of God, which is God; therefore this Heavenly Man and Divine, Jesus Christ, is truly God. 17. But the Divine and Humane Natures in Christ must not be confounded, but plainly distinguished; so that the Humanity is never changed into the Deity, nor the Deity into the Humanity. 18. So great is the Excellence of Christ beyond all Creatures, that there are certain Divine Attributes allowed him, which are communicable to no Creatures, to wit, Omni-presence, and Omniscience. 19 Which Attributes of Omni-presence, and Omniscience of the Man Christ, are nevertheless inferior to those, which appertain unto God. 20. For God is so present in all things, that he is every where centraly existent; but the Divine Humanity of Christ hath not its Centre every where present, but is universally extended by the essential Radiations from the Centre of his most Divine Soul into all Creatures and Worlds. 21. Lastly, the Omniscience of Christ's Humanity, is inferior to that which appertains to the Deity; for as the most glorious Godhead most perfectly knows all things without the Concurrence of crea●ed Objects, as Instrumental causes to stir● up knowledge in him● the divine Soul of the Man Christ Jesus knows all things, either by the perception of Objects, as they do some way or other influence him, or in respect of things to come, are signified to him by divine Revelation from God the Father. 22. Because Christ Jesus the Heavenly Man, is the first begotten Son of the most excellent and supreme God himself, and by reason of his miraculous Union with the supreme Deity is very God, equal with God the Father; and also because he is most loving to all Mankind, every where present, and all knowing, and so can, and will help all Men in any necessity or distress whatsoever, therefore is deservedly to be called upon, worshipped and adored, and we cannot any other way duly and acceptably call upon, worship or adore the supreme God himself, but in and through Christ the Mediator. 23. That there is such a Medium, or middle Being between God and Creatures, the very Order of things, clearly demonstrates. For as it agrees with the highest and supreme God, to be a Being altogether unchangeable; so is it congruous to the nature of every Creature or created Being to be changeable to Good or Evil; but between that which is wholly unchangeable, and that which is wholly changeable, there is a certain Medium partaking of both extremes, which in the nature of it, is unchangeable to Evil, and changeable to Good, which Medium is Christ, the Heavenly Adam. 24. And therefore in the order of Nature is before all Creatures whatsoever, and pr●-excels the whole System of Creatures, yea, is the Lord and Head of every Creature. 25. Moreover, the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in this most divine Medi●m Jesus Christ, according to the Testimony of the Apostle Paul, which certainly is thus to be understood; that the divine Humanity of Ch●ist is the House, and immediate Dwelling-place of the most High and Glorious God himself, and is as it were a certain Body for the Divinity, in the which God himself m●y be seen and apprehended by his Creatures, and by the Mediation of this beloved and blessed Consort of God, when duly q●ali●ied and disposed thereunto, they may enjoy him. Therefore it is, that according to the words of Christ himself his Saints and true Believers feed upon his Flesh and Blood to Eternal Life. Which Flesh and Blood of Christ are of a Divine and Spiritual nature, and yet not ●he very Essence of God, but of a certain middle nature between God and Creatures; for God doth as it were corporally manifest himself to his Creatures by Christ; who nevertheless in his own nature, is purely a Spirit, absolutely void of all corporeity. 26● Now, because the divine Humani●y of Christ is as it were the Body and House of the Divinity, (for the Greek Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports as much) therefore Christ doth in some measure partake o● the nature of a Body, otherwise he could not be the true and proper Medium between God and Creatures. 27. For all Creatures, even the most noble and excellent, are in some degre● or other corporeal. 28. Therefore Spirit and Body are not contrary Essences, as many do vainly and falsely affirm; for every created Spirit is corporeal, having in it the true essence and nature of a Body, viz. it is an extended Being, bounded, circumscribed with place, movable, etc. 29. And therefore a humane Soul (which is also a Spirit) is corporeal, and comprehends in it the true Nature and Essence of a Body. The most pure and Spiritual Angels also are corporeal, and ●s it were spiritual Bodies. 30. For as every Spirit or Soul in the whole creatural System is a Body, having in it the true Essence and Attributes of a Body; so every Body is in some degree or mea●ure Animal and Spiritual, i. e. hath Life, Sense and Knowledge; or at leastwise capable of those Attributes● 31. Nor is it to be feared, that the Souls of Men could ever become mortal, or be turned into Dust, Vapour, or soft Air, or dissolved into Earth and Stones, if they were admitted to be corporeal; for not every thing that is corporeal or Body, is dissolvable, because it is a Body; for there are immortal Bodies, and such as are absolutely and indissolvable, such are the Glorified Bodies of Saints and Believers in the Resurrection of the Dead, when this mor●al shall put on Immortality, and this corruptible Incorruption, according to the Apostle's word●. 32. Seeing therefore every Spiritual thing is corporeal, and every corporeal thing is Spiritual, in some degree or measure; therefore all Creatures, from the highest to the lowest, have some relation and natural Affinity one to another; the highest to t●e lowest, and the lowest to the highest; ye●, certainly, as to their original essence and condition, they are of one and the self same nature, nor is there any, even the basest Creature, but may be changed, either into the noblest, or at least into some part of the noblest Creature. 33. Therefore that false and vain Imagination of sundry Philosophers (so called) concerning Matter and Body, is to be rejected, as tho' it were a thing, not only wholly inanimate, and void of Life, but also utterly incapable thereof to all Eternity. Which most absurd opinion borders too much on Atheism, and most grievously strikes at the divine Goodness, Wisdom and Power, and other Attributes of the most excellent and supreme God. 34. For from God, who is Life himself, and the fountain of it, nothing that hath not Life, or is uncapable thereof, can proceed; for God created all his Creatures in his most excelling Goodness, Wisdom and Power, that in him they might at length b● blessed: Rejoice in him, and ●njoy him and that in him, as their end, they might most sweetly rest, and so praise, honour, and glorify him as God, their Creator, to all Eternity, which they could never do, if they we●e void of Life, and uncapable of it. 35. In the Primitive State of created things, the most excellent, and most wise Creator, made or produced a kind of intermediate or middle Creatures, with a possibility in this their mediate, and of its own nature, changeable State and condition, of being changed into the better, by the assisting Grace of God, or into the worse, by the bias of their own proper Wills and Inclinations. 36. Therefore God's first Work about Creatures is to create them; then being created to fashion them after this or that manner, either into the better, if they follow faithfully in all thin●●, the conduct of divine Grace, or into the worse, by the most just Judgement of God, if refusing the Guidance of divine Grace, they wilfully and voluntarily renounce the Law of God. 37. Hence proceeds that divers and contrary state and condition of most Creatures one from another: For whereas sundry Creatures kept their primitive Integrity and Innocence, nor did ever transgress the divine Law, therefore are they blessed, and still enjoy the beatific Vision, and Communion with God, they are also pure, holy, and immaculate full of Light and divine Life, and shine in that Glory and Beauty, which to us Mortals is certainly incomprehensible. But because many others fell from their primitive Purity, by Transgression and Disobedience of the divine Law, therefore are they miserable, polluted with Sin, sullied and darkened. 38. And hence it is, that from this World of creation, other Worlds also burst out, to wit, the World of formation, as well the Superior as Inferior; that of Souls, who never fell, whose Seat and Region is the celestial Paradise; this of fallen Souls, and after a certain manner polluted with Sin, whose Seat & Region is without that blessed place of Paradise in places and parts of the World, invisible to our outward view. 39 Lastly, from the inferior World of Formation proceeded this World of Fabrication, wherein we live, comprehending within it all visible things, from the remo●est Stars, even to the Earth's profundity, which is therefore called the Wo●ld of Fabrication, because Death and Stupidity so prevails in the most parts of it, that all things in this World seem rather to move in a manner Mechanically, than from a vital principle, which nevertheless is to be understood in comparison to the superior Worlds, where indeed the vital principle is far more predominant, than in this inferior World, nor is this inferior World in any, even the most stupid part of it wholly, and in every degree deprived of Life. 40. Nothing therefore, which belongs to this visible World, is immediately created; ●or this visible World is not properly a created World, but made and composed of pre-existent principles, which pre-existent principles belong to the World of Formation, and the World of Formation owes its original to the Pre-existent principles of the World of Creation; the World of Creation only is properly and strictly created, and its production is properly called Creation; for this doth not exist from any Pre-existent principles, or from a Subject, or parts making a whole, but has only God the Father, and Ch●ist his only begotten Son, for its Author and Original. 41. Therefore Men born into this World, (to speak properly) are not immediately created, neither in respect of Soul nor Body; the external or o●●ward Body, with the Life thereof, is that which belongs to this World of Fabrication; but the Soul which is called Neshama, pertains to the World of Creation. Lastly, the Spirit pertains to the World of Formation, which possesseth the middle place between the Soul and outward Body, and this Spirit by the Hebrews is called Ru●ch, but the Life and Spirits of the external Body are termed by the same Nep●esh, ther● are therefore three vital principles in every Man, Nesha●a, Ruach and Nep●esh; Neshama of the World of Creation, Ruach of the World of Formation, and N●phesh of the World of Fabrication; moreover Nephesh is the Clothing or Vehicle of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ruach, and Ruach is the Vehicle and Garment of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Neshama. 42. First of all, therefore Men are created in the World of Creation; secondly, form in the World of Formation (where they assume their Clothing or Vehicle, which is called Ruach; and this Ruach is a certain Subtle and Spiritual Body, of which sort are the Bodies of Angels, and just ●en made perfect;) thirdly, they are made or fabricated in the World of Fabrication, and all this is expressly confirmed by Testimony of the Scripture itself, Isai. 43.7. Every one that is called in my Name have I created, form and made; and consequently, according to these words of Scripture, the Hebrews call the World of Creation Briah, the World of Formation jezirah, and the World of Fabrication Asiah, which three Hebrew words are expressly to be met with in the place of Scripture above cited. 43. Moreover, besides this World Briah, higher than which our Original doth not reach (if we have respect to the parts composing humane Nature) there is understood another World, more noble, and (in the Order of Nature,) more ancient than the rest immediately ●lowing from the Author, God himself, called in Hebrew Aziluth, which signifies the nearest to the most high and supreme God himself, and this cannot agree to any other than Christ, the Saviour and Mediator between God and Men. 44. Therefore those Hebrew Doctors do rightly and truly teach, and that altogether according to Scripture Testimony that those four World's abovementioned do exist, to wit, the Aziluthick, which is of Christ, the Briatick, which is of Souls, the jeziratick, which is of Angels, not yet consummated, and the Asiatic, which is of Men, clothed with an external Body. But as the A●ziluthick, as it is the noblest of all, so it is the greatest, and but only one; altho' the Hebrews distinguish it into ten Emanations; the distinction of which Emanation, nevertheless is only modal and not essential. But the Briatick, jeziriatick, and Asiatic Worlds, ●s to their number and multitude, in respect of us, are infinite and innumerable, because (as I have said before) God is continually a Creator; for the Attribute of a Creator is essential to him, and therefore he doth ●nd will continually create new Worlds to all Eternity. And lastly, from these new created Worlds, other new jeziratick, and Asiatic Worlds arise, and therefore 'twas truly said of Solomon, we cannot search out the beginning, nor the end of God's works; as true also was that saying in another passage. The mighty Works of God are past finding out. 45. Now the jeziratick World, from whence (as from its root) the Asiatic World proceeded, penetrates and pervades the whole Asiatic World in every part, with its vital and essential Rays; also the Briatick World, by the difusion of its vital and essential Rays, penetrates the whole jeziratick and Asiatic World; and lastly, the Azilutick World, not only penetrates and pervades the three inferior Worlds, by the transfusion of its essential and vital Rays, but also most intrinsically comprehends and embraces it in its Bosom, as a Mother doth her Offspring, and so indeed all these four Worlds are intrinsically present one with another; yet, so that the ●hird is more subtle and Spiritual than the forth, the second than the third, and the ●irst than the second, and consequently more penetrative and perfusive. 46. From what has been said, it evidently appears, that humane Souls did pre-exist before they came into these gross and Earthly Bodies; for nothing which is properly created is of this visible Wo●ld, but the Soul is properly created● therefore the Soul had not its original or first existence in this visible World, but it first existed in the World of Creation; then descended from the World of Creation into the World of Formation; and lastly, from the World of Formation, into this World of Fabrication. 47. But as for this Asiatic World, this hath its rise and Original from the jeziratick World, by reason of some great falls of the Souls contained therein for transgressing the Law of God: And if these Souls had nev●r fell, this Asiatic World, which is the World of Fabrication, had never existed. 48. Nevertheless, the Souls of the jeziratick World are not changed into the parts of the Asiatic World; that is to say, into the Dust of the Earth, Stones, Plants and Trees; for such a change of Souls is plainly impossible, but the Bodies of those Souls, distinct ●rom the Souls themselves, and by the Sins of those Souls, separated from them, as by a certain kind of Death, were subjected to such a change, or conversion into the parts of the Asiatic World. 49. Therefore this Asiatic World is truly called Golgotha, or the place of Sculls and sepulchres, to wit, because it is nothing else in a manner but a certain mass and heap of Carcases and dead Bodies, which those Souls have put off, by reason of their Sins in the jeziratick World; and being thus devested, they at length grew into this Grossness, Death and Stupidity, which they now suffer. 50. And therefore our Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ, after he came into the Flesh in the likeness of sinful Flesh, was to be crucified in Golgotha, which is the place of Scu●●● or Sepulchers, by which is typically signif●●● this Asiatic World, or World of Fabrication● that so in this place of Death he ●●g●●●vercome Death itself, who is our Saviour and Prince of Life, yea, Life itself: which that he might do by the Ordination of divine Wisdom, he was to die in a Body of Flesh, and then to rise again in the same Body in which he died, that he might become the first Fruits of the Resurrection of the Dead, and his B●dy being Glorified and Immortalised, might at length glorify and immortalize the Bodies of Saints, in which Bodies they shall live and reign with Ch●ist for ever in the Heavens. 51. Therefore this Asiatic World, is to be again converted and reduced into the Superior and excellent jeziratick World, that all its parts may be reunited to these ancient Souls, whereunto in times past, they belonged, that so at length the Souls and Bodies may be purified in this World from all dregs of Sin and Death, as in a refining Furnace of Affliction and Suffering, and lastly, eternally glorified in a indissolvable & incorruptible union of both Body and Soul. 52. And then indeed the natural and animal Body will be changed into a Spiritual Body, which is far nobler; yea, all this gross and material World, where Death and Stupidity so wonderfully reigns, will be rendered full of Life and Spirit. 53. And yet this great, and truly wonderful change and conversion of all, even the vilest things of this Asiatic World, may not be suddenly, and altogether, but by parts, and in various Successions of Ages, according to the predestination of divine Wi●dom. 54. Therefore the Ages of World's, i● respect of human Intellect, are truly infinite and innumerable; and that not only in regard of things to come, but in regard of things past. 5●. Moreover, this Asiatic World hath had its existence ●or many more Ages than we Mortals are able to number. 56. Therefore this Asiatic World, wherein we live, must be distinguished into many and various World's, (as a Whole is distinguished into its parts) beyond the reach of Mortals understanding. 57 But those particular Asiatic World's are most commodiously distinguished, in respect of the Years, whereof they consist. 58. Now every particular Asiatic World consists of seven Thousand Years; which make up, as it were, one week, consisting of seven days. 59 For a thousand Years with the Lord are as one Day, and one Day as a thousand Years, as it is in the 90th. Psalms, and confirmed by the Apostle Peter, in hls second Epistle, ver. 3. 60. And the seventh Millenium, or seventh Thousandth Year of each Week of the World, is the Sabbath of this World. 61. Therefore this World of ours consists of Seven Thousand Years, whose seventh Millenium is the Sabbath, or Sabbatism of this our present World, as it is in Heb. 4. 62. And indeed that Sabbath of days, which God commanded the jews to observe, was a Type or Figure of this Mystery, the same also was that of the Sabbath of Years, Months and Weeks, which in times past God likewise command the jews to observe. 63. Now, whereas every fiftieth Year comprehending seven weeks of years, was a year of jubilee, wherein every Captive was to be set at liberty, and every one to return to his own Family, House and Possession; this certainly signifies fifty thousand years, which contain seven weeks of Worlds, therefore in the fifty thousand year, or end of every seventh World, many Souls are to be saved and reconciled to God by Christ, which as yet could not obtain Salvation in the preceding weeks or World's, but suffered for their Impieties by the most just Judgmnet of God the execrable torments of Hell Fire. 64. Others there are, whos● Sins God doth pardon in this World for the sake of Christ, such as are Sins of Ignorance, and all others of which Men sincerely repent; but there are some, whose Sins are n●i●her forgiven in this World, nor in that which is to come, and yet are forgiven in some third World; and lastly, there are others which are not remitted till the forth, and so on, even to a seventh, according to the most just Judgement o● God; nay, far beyond a seventh, even to the seventy seventh thousand year, the Remission of ●ome very notorious and wicked Sins, seems to be deferred, that ●s, not less than eleven weeks; and such a kind of a Sinner, that wicked Lamech seemed to be, who predicted of himself his to Wives, that Vengeance should be taken on him seventy seven fold, that is (as it seems) 77000 Years. But on Cain (who was not so wicked) Vengeance was to be taken, but seventy fold, which is 7000 Years, to wit, the whole time of this World. 64. Then if one day with the Lord be as a thousand years, by the same reason one year (i.e.) 365 days will be as 365000 years, which Period of 365000 years ●eems to be some vast Age, comprehending about 52142 Worlds, within which space of time, whatsoever is of humane kind on Earth, will doubtless be converted unto God. Nevertheless, the Asiatic World doth not cease to be upon this account, because the parts of the Asiatic World, are continually multiplied, by reason of the continual Multiplication of other World's, to wit, the jeziratick and Briatick, whereof we have already made mention. 66. Therefore they err extremely, and conceive too unworthily of God, yea, do not rightly know nor consider the nature of him, who think the punishments o● the damned are to be perpetrated to all Eternity without any end or termination. For the very nature of God is Love itself according to the express words of the Apostle john, and finally, because the nature of God is unchangeable, therefore he did necessarily love all his Creatures, and that constantly and unchangeably too, nor could he absolutely hate any thing that ever he created; and because love is of the nature of God himself, and whatever he operates or doth in relation to his Creatures, even when he most severely punishes them for their Sins proceeds all from Love, therefore God loves his Creatures in the most miserable and wretched state and condition they can exist in, and therefore cannot but benefit them, and so at length bring them out of misery: Therefore all the punishments, which the most just and truly tremenduous Justice of God inflicts on Sinners, are true effects, and real tokens of his divine Love towards them, the most certain end and design of all which is the Redemption and Deliverance of those Sinners ●rom all their Sins and Punishments inflicted on them for Sin, and their final Glorification and Restoration to Justice and Holiness: which is apparently confirmed by St. john in the Revelations, ch. 5. v. 13. who saith, that he saw (in his prophetical Vision, every Creature in Heav●n and Earth, and under the Earth, etc. praising God, saying, Blessing, Honour, and Glory, and Power to ●im that sits on the Throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever; the same also the Apostle Paul openly enough declares, Eph. 1.10. Phil. 2.10. Colos. 1.20. 67. Now forasmuch as wh●n any human Judge punishes a delinquent, he ought to love him, and direct his punishments to this end, that the punished Offender may be benefited and bettered thereby; how much rather will God love those he punishes, and inflict such punishments on every Offender, by which at length in their due and appointed times● according to the transcendent Wisdom of God every Sinner may return from a state of Sin and Misery unto a st●te of Righteousness, and everlasting Happiness? 68 Nor doth that hinder, which is vulgarly objected, that every Sin deserves an exceeding great and everlasting punishment, because it is against God, who is infinite Goodness; for because God is infinite Goodness, therefore God's Will to forgive Sins is as necessary as his Will, to punish it. Again, this clearly appears ●s well from Scripture, as from mani●old experience and observation, that God does not punish the smallest and greatest Sins in the same degree, but is wont to punish the lesser Sins wit● lighter and the greater with the more grievous and heavy Judgements: therefore that consequence, drawn from the infiniteness and greatness of the Object, is weakened invalied; for otherwise a Sin●er would be punished for the lightest and smallest transgression with the highest and infinite punishment. 69. Because therefore there are degrees of punishments, according to the degrees of Sins, and no Sin is in its own nature infinite, therefore all the punishments of the damned, as well of fallen Angels, as of Men● will have an end after long Tracts of time according to God's Appointment. ●0. The longer any one hath been a Sinner, the longer will God punish him for his Sins. 71. The diversi●y of punishments, is manifestly apparent from the words of Christ; some Sinners says he, are worthy to b● punished by the Council, some are worthy of th● Judgement, others of Hell Fire. And then again some Sins are remitted in this World, others neither in this World, nor that which is to come, which nevertheless may be forgiven in some third or fourth● etc. These words of Ch●ist also aught to be w●ll considered, that those that were cast into Prison, should not departed thence till they had paid the last Farthings lastly, where he says it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of Judgement, than for that unbelieving Generation of the jews. Moreover, such as are to be saved in the end of this World, and such as are not to be saved till the end of the next, that is, till th● Expiration of fourteen thousand Years, seem to be fai●ly, tho' Enigmatically described, Exod. 12. For the Woman that brought forth a Male Child was unclean seven days, and on the eighth day the Male was Circumcised; ●or this eighth day plainly signifies the ●lorification of the mortal Bodies at the Expiration of 7000 Years, that is in the beginning of the eighth Millenium. But if she brought forth a Female Child she was unclean 14 days; by the Male our spiritual Generation by Christ seems to be signified, by but t●e Female Man's own Righteousness. For those who are only Righteous by their own Righteousness cannot be saved in this World but are committed to the next, that denying their ow● Righteousness, th●y m●y be regenerated in Christ; and thus having put on the t●●e Righteousness o● Christ in a s●i●i●tual Regeneration, finally obtained 〈◊〉 Salvation. 72. But the words for ever, and for ever and ever, when they have a relation to the punishments of the damned, are not to be understood at farthest, than of certain Ages. 73. But when they have relation to God, and the blessed Life of Saints, than indeed o●ght to signify never ceasing, and infinite Ages; for to punish for infinite Ages, is against the nature of God, who is infinite Love, and to do good for infinite Ages, is most agreeable to the divine Nature. 74. The plurality of Worlds succeeding one another, ●●ems to be evinced by the ●2 ●ilgrimages of the Children of Israel, in the Wilderness, till they came at last to Gilgal, where, by the command of joshua, they were Gir●nm●ised; now G●lgal seems a Wheel or Revolutions And because all things happened to them in the Type and Figure, as St. Paul had affirmed, those ●2 peregrinations seem to signify six Worlds, that is, 42000 Years; wh●ch b●ing expired, all of them will finally obtain the Glorification of their Souls and Bodies in the Heavens' What can their coming to the twelve Fountains of Water, and seventy Branches of Palm Trees in the●r Pilgrimage signify, unless it be this, that in the fifth Millenium of this World, the most benign and gracious God would send them the 12 Apostles and seventy Disciples for them to hear, and this place of Pilgrimage was called Elim. 75. Moreover this Succession of Worlds is clearly proved from what we read in Scripture of a thousand, yea, of thousands of Generations, and yet from the beginning of this World, to the end thereof, consisting of 7000 Years, there cannot be reckoned 400 ●enerations. 76. Therefore, after the end of this World, another World will be prepared, wherein the Multiplication and Propagation of Mankind will proceed● and be carried on as in this present World: and therefore also before this World there did another World heretofore exist, in which the Propagation of Mankind was made by successive Generations. But the number of all the preceding and succeeding World's is not only undeterminable by any Mortal, but by any creature. 77. B●t as out of the conflagration of this World, another World will arise, which will be produced as it were out of the Ashes of this present World; ●o out of the Ashes of the past World, a●ter the burning and conflagration of it, is this World framed and brought forth, a● it were de novo, or a new, and so indeed the Generation and Fabrication of one follows the destruction and dissolution of another, in a continual order. 78. But as to what pertains to the Creation of this World, described by Moses in Genesis; this certainly is not Creation in a strict Sense, but Construction, Fabrication or Faction, which is made of Pre-existent matter: therefore they err extremely, who think this World was made of nothing, and that too in the sp●ce of six days; for God the great Contriver and Artificer, did not make or frame it out of nothing, but out of the matter of the preceding World, which Fabrication or Structure of this World in the space of six days, may be well enough understood in a Litteral Sense. 79. They who have attained to the Glorification of their Bodies in the end of this World, do not descend in●o succeeding World's, to be born any more in a Body of Flesh, but remain to all Eternity with God and Christ in the Heavens, ascending continually unto greater Glory and Dignity; but those who are not perfected in t●is World, nor have attained the Glorification of their Bodies, do descend into succeeding World's, to be bo●● in their o●der and turn in a Body of Flesh, until they 〈◊〉 at la●t perfected, and have obtained the 〈◊〉 of their Bodies in the Hea●●●●. 80. And it is worth our consideration, ●nd diligent enquiry, whether or no from ●he proportion of the holy City, compared into the whole Earth, may not be Mystically, and as it were abstrusely represented ●o us, how great a part of Mankind of this World shall be saved in this World? First, ●herefore let us see what is the measure of ●his holy City in its solid content. john in the Revelations saith, this City was equal in length, breadth and depth, that it was ●2000 Stadia or Furlongs in length, that ●s, 1500 of our Miles; (for eight Furlongs make a Mile) therefore the solid content of the City is ●●●5●00000 Miles, as in the M●rgin. But as for the Mea●ure of the Earth we will suppose 61 Miles for every degree, which is one Mile above the vulgar Computation, and then the Circumference will contain 21960 Miles; but the Diametre will contain 6989 Miles, ⅙ whereof is 1164. To find the Superficial content, multiply the Circumference by the Diametre, that is 21960 by ●987, the whole Sum is 153434520 Miles; lastly, multiply the aforesaid number by 6987● of the Diametre, and the Product will be as in the Margin 178597781280 Miles, the 〈◊〉 content of the Earth; which if you divide by the solid content of the Holy City, the Quotient will be 52, with the remaining Fraction, as in the Margin. Therefore, after this rate, the Holy City will be in proportion to the whole Earth, as 1 to 52, and ⅛, thence will arise that great year of 365000 Years, wherein all the Souls on this Earth are to be saved; for if the 1/52, part of Mankind be saved in one World, then in 52 Worlds, or Weeks of Worlds, that is, 365000 Years all Mankind will be saved. 81. 'Tis likewise to be considered whether or no that slow Motion of the eighth Sphere (as 'tis commonly called) doth not answer to the great year of jubilee of 50000 Years, that is, seven Worlds or Weeks. Ex. gr. Let us suppose this ●ighth Sphere to finish its Revolution in 49000 Years, one degree of the said Sphere will make 138 Years, which doth not much differ from the vulgar Computation of Mathematicians. 82. Therefore for the clear understanding of many Mysteries of true Philosophy, we must have a true and exact Chronology or Computation of times, from the beginning of this World, to the end thereof. 83. The true Chronology, from the beginning of the World, to the end of it, is to be ●ound in, and deduced from the Scriptures; for to what purpose are parts of Chronology, exhibited to Men in Scripture, with such care, industry and diligence of Writers, unless all the parts of it were exhibited also; for if the Scripture fails in any part of Chronology, it fails in all; and if it fails in all, 'tis vain and unprofitable to exhibit any part, which is absurd: and therefore all parts of Chronology are to be had in the Scripture, otherwise the Scripture were certainly very imperfect, but the Scripture is perfect, giving a perfect Testimony, not only of ●ll the Doctrines of true Religion, but also of all the parts of true Chronology, without which, the Doctrine of true Religion is maimed and imperfect. 84. Now the true Chronology of the World (as it is in Scripture) contains from the World's Creation, to the ●ruci●iction of our Saviour Christ 3996½ Years. From the Crucifixion of Christ, to the e●d of the World, 3003½ Years, which in entire Years, from the beginning of the World, to the end thereof, is 7000 Year's. 85. And that our Saviour Christ was to be Crucified, and raised from Death to Life in the end of the fourth Millenium, from the World's Creation, may be clearly evinced for divers reasons. 1. The Analogy of the six days of the World's Fabrication, or construction of the 6000● Years of this World; for the first day, by a wonderful Analogy, agrees with the first Millenium, the second with the second, the third wi●h the third, the fourth with the fourth, the fi●th with the fifth, the sixth with the sixth, and las●ly, the seventh with the seventh Millenium, which also is the Sabba●h of this World, that the Sun, Moon and Stars were placed in the Firmament on the fourth day. This most excellently and clearly points out, that Christ the Son of Justice should come in the fourth Millenium, and ascend into the Heavens to enlighten all Men. Lastly, by the Moon and Stars, the Church, with the Apostles and Evangelists, 〈◊〉 clearly demonstrated. 2. The entrance of the High Priest, in the Sanctum Sanctorum, or Holiest of all, once a year to expiate the Sins of all the People in the end of the ●eventh Month, apparently signifies, that Christ by virtue of his Blood, should en●●r into Heaven itself, in the end of the ●our●h Millenium of the World, which exactly agrees to the end of the seventh Month, to wit, the 22th. day of the seventh Month, which was the last day of the Feast of the Tabernacles; for by the Rule of Three, as 7000 Years, is to 3996, so is ●65 days to 208 days, and in 208 days are contained the days of six Months, from the Vernal Aequinox, to the 22th. day of the seventh Month, that is, 187 and 21, which together make up 208, 3. This is confirmed by the division of time, from the beginning of the World to the Resurrection of Christ, delivered in the second Book of Esdras, ch. 14. And this Division is made into twelve parts, where of ten and an half were elapsed, when the Angel delivered those things to the Prophet Esdras, which Division also Christ made into twelve hours, and called the time of his Incarnation the twelfth Hour, saying to the jews, Are there not twelve Hours in the day? Work whilst you have the day, etc. clearly hinting, that that very time was the twelfth Hour from the World's Creation. Now how many Years one hour of the Day or Night doth consist of, may be positively concluded from that mysterious Psalm, the 90th. ver. the 4th. A thousand Years are in thy sight but as yesterday, and as a Watch in the Night; but a Watch of the Night contains three Hours; Therefore, if a thousand Years be as a Watch of the Night, or three hours, one hour will be the third part of a thousand Years, that is, 333 ● Years, and Christ arose from the Dead in the end of the twelfth hour, which answers to 3996 Years, from the beginning of the World● for 333 multiplied by 12, giveth the number 3996. And certainly, no other Division can agree with the time of Esdras, (but this Division doth very well agree with it) when the Angel revealed those things unto him; for ten parts and an half make 3496, the time of the Angel's discovery, viz. 500 Years before the Death of Christ, and 56 Years after the Captivity. And therefore that place, in the second Book of Esdras, ch. 7. v. 28, 29. concerning 400 Years, from that time, to the Death of Christ, aught to be read 500 For without all peradventure, by the mistake and inadvertency of Writers, 400 was put for 500 4. And lastly, the selfsame thing is very elegantly demonstrated from the Age of Abraham, and the Age of the World; for Abraham, whom St. Paul, in his Epistle to the Romans, calls the Father of all Men, mystically represents the whole World: And therefore by Abraham's Son Isaac, whom he had born to him in his old age, our Saviour Christ is signified (who took upon him the Seed of Abraham) who should come into the World, be Crucified, and arise from the Dead, in the old Age of the World: and for the clear demonstration of the said Analogy, let the numbers be disposed in their due order af●er this manner: as 175 Abraham's whole age, is ●o 100LS when Isaac was born, so is 7000 to 4000, which numbers stand in a true and accurate Analogy, as will appear to any one that will but examine it by the Rule of Three. But the Nativity of Christ mystically typified under Isaac, rather answers to his Resurrection from the Dead, than to the time that he was born of the Virgin Mary in the Flesh; for ●●ul applies the Resurrection of Christ to the words of the second Psalm. Thou art my Son, this day ●ave I begotten thee; and Christ is called by the Apostle Paul the first Begotten, in respect of his Resurrection from the Dead, Acts 13.33. 86. Also the aforesaid Analogy evidently demonstrates to us the number of Year's, from the beginning of the Captivity u●to the Resurrection of Christ; ●or the Nativity of Ishmael answers to the beginning o●●he Captivity; for when Isaac was born, Ishmael was completely four Years old, born in the 86th. year of Abraham's Age; therefore we may say by the Rule of Three, as 175 is to 86, so is 7000 to a fourth proportional 3440, and then indeed was Ishmael mystically born, to wit, from the beginning of the Captivity. And this Ishmael mystically signifies the I●ws themselves, who mocked and persecuted Christ, as Ishmael in times past persecuted Isaac. Now Ishmael persecuted Isaac when he was ●o●rteen Years old, and therefore was with his Mother cast out of Abraham's House under the old Law, which exactly answers the time wherein the jews persecuted Christ, hung him on a Cross, and mocked him, wherefore they were together with their Mother, to wit, the Law or old Testament cast out of the House of God, that is, 14 Years being elapsed, which is 560 Years from the beginning of the Captivity; for as 1●0 Years do analogically signify 4000 Years, so do 1● Years also signify 560 Years, which are 70 Years of Captivity, and the 7● Weeks of D●niel, to wit, 490 Years. And here indeed 560 make up those 14 Generations, from the Babylonian Captivity to the Resurrection of Christ; for these 14 Generations agree with the 14 Years of Ishm●el, when he derided and scoffed at the true Heir● and yet in S●. Matthew's Genealogy of Christ there are but 1● Generations from the Captivity, to the Birth of Christ, therefore the fourteenth Generation is to be computed from the Birth of Christ, to his Resurrection. And agreeable to this Analogy, the whole time of the giving the Law, to the time of the Captivity, is described by the Age of Hagar, the Mother of Ishmael, and whereas the Law was delivered to the Israelites about 900 Y. before the Babylonian Captivity, all that time of 900 Y. signifies the Age of Hagar, when Ishmael was born, which according to the aforesaid Analogy, is 22½ Y. for as 14 Years answers to 560; so 2●½ answers to 900. Therefore the Damsel Hagar brought forth Ishmael when she was 22½ Y●. old, that is, the Law being 900 The. old, brought forth Ishmaelitish jews; which because of their Ishmaelitish Natures were delivered into Captivity, who about 560 The. afterwards persecuted Christ unto death, even the Death of the Cross; but because Christ suffered Death in the middle of the last week, therefore 3½ Years are to be deducted out of the number 560, and therefore there remains 556½ Years, to wit, the true time from the beginning of the Captivity, to the Death and Resurrection of Christ, and from the beginning of the World 3996½ Years. 87. Now it remains, that we deliver a particular Chronology of every Period from the Scriptures. And we shall find six Periods from the Creation of Adam, to the Resurrection of Christ; namely, Years. From Adam to the Flood 1656 From thence to the Birth of Abraham 381 From thence to the Israelites departure out of Egypt 505 From thence to the Building of the Temple 480 From thence to the Babylonian Captivity 418 From thence to the Death and Resurrection of Christ 556½ 3996½ 88 The truth of these Periods is demonstrable by parts. The first Period consists ●f 1656 Ye●rs from Gen. the 5. which computation is not disputed by Chronologers. The second Period of ●ears 381 is proved from Genesis the 11. Sem begat Arphaxad after the Flood 2 Years. Arphaxad begat Cainan 35 Years. Cainan begat Sala 29 Years. Sala begat Heber 30 Years. Heber begat Peleg 34 Years. Peleg begat Reu 30 Years. Reu begat Sarug 32 Years. Sarug begat Nahor 30 Years. Nahor begat Terah 29 Years. Terah begat Abraham 13● Years. 3●● Note, That (by neglect 〈…〉,) Cainan is omitted in the ●ebrew ●●xt, who notwithstanding is mentioned in Luke, ch. 3. and also by the LXX Interpreters, and in right re●son we conclude his number to be 29, to wit, that the whole Period from the Creation of Adam, to the Death of Christ, is 3996 Years and an half, as is already proved. Consider, lastly, that we rationally affirm, that Abraham was born in the 130th. Year of T●rah`s Age, as appears from Gen. 12. for when Abraham was 75 Years old, Terah departed this Life, aged 205 Years. And that the third Period consists of 505 Years, is proved: For when Abraham received the Promise, he was aged 75 Years + 430 Years = 505 Years. After this the Law was given Gen. 2.17. In the same year the Israelites departed out of Egypt. The fourth Period expressly contains 480 Years, 1 King. 6. v. 1. The ●if●h Period stands thus in Years. 1 King. 11. Solomon reigned after the Foundation of the Temple was laid 36 Years. 1 King. 14. Rehoboam reigned 17 Years. 1 King. 15. Abijam 8 Years. 1 King. 15 Asa reigned 41 Years. 1 King. 22. josaphat reigned 25 Years. 2 King. 8. jehoram reigned 8 Years. 2 King. 8. Achazia reigned 1 Years. 2 King. 11. Athalia reigned 6 Years. 2 King. 12. joas reigned 40 Years. 2 King. 14. Amazias reigned 29 Years. 2 King 15. Azarias' reigned 52 Years. 2 King. 15. joathan reigned 16 Years. 2 King. 16. Achaz reigned 16 Years. 2 King. 18. Ezechias reigned 29 Years. 2 King. 21. Manasses reigned 55 Years. 2 King. 21. Amon reigned 2 Years. 2 King. 22. josias reigned 31 Years. 2 King. 23. joathas reigned 00 Years. 2 King. 23. Ioach●m ●eigned 11 Years. 2 Kin. 24. Zehoja●hin reigned 3 Mon. Years. 418 Note also that the Captivity must be reckoned 70 Years from Zehojathin, but not from Zedekia, as appears from the Epistle of Ier●miah, ch. 29.10. But if according to others the Captivity of 70 Years be computed from the third year of the Reign of joachim, (according to that of Dan. 1●1.) the fifth Period from the foundation of the Temple, unto the Babylonian Captivity, will contain only 410; and therefore that the number of Years from the Creation of the World to the Captivity may be 3440, there must be 37 Years added to Cainan in the second Period: So that 'tis all one whether the Captivity be reckoned from the third Year of joachims' Reign, or after the eleventh. Lastly, 'tis to be observed that the truth of this Period is proved from the Fourth Chapter of Ezekiel ● for those 390 Days signify 390 Years from the time jeroboam erected the Golden Calf, to the Destruction o● jerusalem; therefore 36 Years of Solomon's Reign are deducted, and two of Rehoboam's Reign. To which 10 Years of Zedekia`s Reign, unto the Destruction of jerusalem being added, the whole amounts to the number of Years. 390 Lastly, the sixth Period of 556 years and an half is proved, for the Captivity lasted 70 Years, and from the end of 70 years, viz. of Daniel's Weeks (3 years and an half being deducted) there are to be accounted 486½ Years when Cyrus published an Edict for the rebuilding of the Temple 556½ Observe how exceedingly they wander from the Truth, who contend that the 70 Weeks of Daniel are not to be reckoned from the Edict of Cyrus, and suppose the beginning of the said Weeks, to be long since Cyrus`s' Time; forsaking the Truth of Scripture, and giving credit to heathenish Historians, and so indeed they abandon the Holy Scripture, as tho` it were a maimed and imperfect thing, which true Christians, and such as are studious of the Scripture should not do. Admit it be according to them, who follow the Historical falsehood of the Heathens, that Daniel's 70 Weeks were long since● Cyrus, that is, as they will have it, 70 Years after the end of the Captivity, to wit, by their computation in the second Year of Darius Longimanus; after this rate, there will be 560 Years from the end of the Babylonian Captivity to the Death of Christ; but this doth in a wonderful manner contradict Esdras, in that he saith ten parts, and ½ of the World are elapsed from the Creation, to the Death and Resurrection of Christ. For suppose that there were 560 Years, 1/21 and ½ of 1/12 from Adam, to the Death of Christ, all the twelve parts taken together, would make up 4480 Years, which far exceeds the years feigned by the followers of the Heathenish History. 89. Now from the forementioned Chronology, the years from the beginning of the World, to the Babylonian Captivity, are 3440, as it is inserted in the Margin, to which, if 2300 be added, those Years which the Angel spoke of to Daniel. Dan. 8.14. prophetically signified by Days, make up the number of 5740 Years, which being completed, the Sanctuary shall be purged, that is, that happy Millenium of the Sabbath shall begin, and then adding to it the aforesaid Millenium, and 260 Years more, thereof comes the sum of 7000 Years, which makes up the entire age of the whole World, from the Creation of Adam, to the End. Now the said 260 Years, is that little time mentioned by john in the Revelations, Chap. 20. which commences after the expiration of the Millenium, and therefore that Sabbatick Millenium gins 260 Years before the end of the Sixth Millenium of the World. 90. And ●o indeed, the whole age or time of the Sabbatick Happiness, comprehends 1260 Years, even as much as the Kingdom of Babylon and Antichrist contained, that the Day of Christ`ss glorious Reign upon Earth may be equal to the Reign of Antichrist, in his base and filthy Kingdom of Darkness. And either Period contains three years and an half, that is seven years taken together, which answers to the seven last years that jacob served Laban. 91. And indeed that whole time that jacob served Laban, making about twenty years, elegantly divides the whole age of the World into its distinct P●riods, by a marvellous Analogy; for as 360 makes up one mystical and prophetical Year, so 7●00 makes up 19 Y●ars, 5 Months, and 10 Days, that is in a manner 20 Years; but such is the Analogy. The first seven years of jacob`s' Service, extend from the beginning of the World, to Israel's departure out of Egypt; now the Time of jacob`s' Marriage with Leah, signifies that time wherein the Lord engaged the Children of Israel to himself by the outward Law, and the ●our Sons of his Wife, Leah Reuben, Simeon, Levi, juda, extend from the Law to Christ's Incarnation, who was to spring out of juda. Lastly, the Children of the Concubines, signify the Gentiles who were to believe in Christ in the days of the Apostles, even almost until the end of the Babylonian Apostasy. And Rachel's Barrenness signifies the jewish Church, which during all that long space, was as it were barren● in the Christian Faith; which Rachel was afterwards to bring forth joseph, whose time certainly reaches to the Sabbatick Millenium; but the Birth o● B●njamin being last of all, apparently signifies the Apostle Paul, who was of the Tribe of Ben●amin with other Saints, who were last o● all to come into the World, to wit, about the year of the World, 6000, and shou`d remain in the World, even till the coming of Christ from Heaven. And finally the death of Rachel, and the departure of Iac●b and his Sons out of Padan Aram into his own Country, signifies the end of the World; and the ascension of the Saints from Earth into the Heavenly Country in glorified Bodies, all this is confirmed from Gen. 49. from vers. 1. to the 28. 92. But that little time aforesaid of 260 years, in which gins the Sabbatick Millenium within the sixth Millenium of the World, to wit, at the year, 5740. was prefigured under the Law by the Sabbath, which began in the Evening of the sixth Day: wherefore those 260 years, are as it were in the evening of the sixth day, that is, the sixth Millenium of the World. 93. Moreover, it is clearly demonstrated ●rom the Words of Osea, when that most blessed and truly Golden Age of the Sabbatick Millenium shall begin. Os. Ch. 6. v. 2. after two days he shall quicken us, and in the third Day he shall raise us up, and we shall live in his Sight. What can be here signified by two Days, but two thousand years● as in Psal. the 90. as in 2. Pet. 3.8.? And therefore by the third Day, he plainly means that Sabbatick Millenium of the World, wherein he and all the Saints were to be raised up, to live entirely a thousand years, neither to die any more, but to ascend into the celestial Country, when the Millenium o● thousand 〈◊〉 is finished. Now Osea lived in the fourth Millenium, and therefore when said after two days, etc. he had respect to the seventh Millenium. but compare this Prophecy with that of Daniel, concerning 2300 years, and thou shalt plainly perceive that both extend unto the Sabbatick Millenium. 9●. But because those 1335 Days (Dan. 12.12.) contain 1335 years, to wit, the whole time of the Apostasy after the Apostles, to the beginning of the Millenium; therefore from 2300 years, 1335 years are deducted, and the remainder 965, contains the time from the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity, to the beginning of the Apostasy after the Apostles: and therefore subtracting 556, from 965, there remains 409 years, the time from the Resurrection of Christ, to the beginning of the Apostasy, to which add 33½ from the Nativity of Christ, to his Resurrection; the sum is 442 years and an half, ●rom the Nativity of Christ, to the beginning of the Apostasy. 95. Add to this Number 442, 1260 years mentioned in the Revelation, the sum is 1702 years from the Nativity of Christ, to the end of the first Period of the Reign of Antichrist. 96. The second Period of 1290 years in Daniel, extends 30 years further, that is, from the Birth of Christ, to the year, 1732. 97. The third Period of the reign of Antichrist, extends 45 years further, which is 1335 years, viz. to the year of Christ's Nativity 1777. 98. Therefore the year 1777, from the Nativity of Christ, ends the reign of Antichrist, and the four Monarchies, and all the Kingdoms of the World, and from that very year, gins the reign of Christ, and of the Saints over the whole Earth. 99 But 'tis uncertain, whether this present Epocha, or date from the time of Christ's Nativity in the Flesh, commonly received among Christians be true or no: for Usher thinks the Vulgar Epocha, to fail of the true Epocha, about four years. 100 Also the great Coversion of the Gentiles, by the preaching of the Gospel in its purity and efficacy, must preceded this happy Millenium of the World; and then will follow the Conversion of the jews, to the Christian Faith, to wit, from the year 1702, unto the year 1777, but 30 years from the ye. 1702 unto the ye. 1732, have respect to the Conversion of the Gentiles, than 45 years from the year 1742 unto ●777, do in a special manner respect the Restoration, Conversion, and return of the jews into their own Country. 101. But from the year of Christ's Nativity 652, to the year of Christ 1702, are prepared and gather`d unto God, and the ●amb 144000 Saints, which are the first Fruits; for as the Feast of the first Fruits under the Law, was kept 50 days before the Feast of Autumn; so also now the Feast of the first Fruits, precedes the Feast of Autumn 50 years. 1. But the time of the ●uture Millenium, seems to have been prefigured to Abraham, in the Sacrifices which God commanded him to offer. Now God commanded Abraham to take a Hei●er of three years old, a Goat of three years old, a Ram of three years old, with a Turtle Dove and a young Pigeon. Now suppose the Turtle Dove to be one year old, and the Pigeon twenty days old, the days of all those years, according to the prophetic Style, signify years, and all being added together, make up 3620. Admit also that Abraham saw this Vision when he was 83 years old, which was the year of the Wo●ld 2120, according to the aforesaid Chro●ology the number 3620, being added to the number 2120, makes up 5740, the year of the World, when the Millenium will begin. 2. In the future Millenium, all the Saints that ever lived since the beginning of the Wo●ld, will be raised up to live a Holy and Blessed Life upon Earth, for the space of a thousand years. Dan. 12. Host 6. Revel. 20. 3. This Resurrection of all the Saints to Life, is the first Resurrection, expressly so called by the Apostle john, Revel. 20.5. 4. In this first Resurrection, the Saints are raised to Life in a Carnal and Terrestrial Body, not such as we now have, but such as Adam had in Paradise, before he had eaten the Forbidden Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and such a Body likewise had Christ wherein he suffered Death for all Mankind. 5. Therefore there is a twofold Resurrection of the Saints, the first is in a carnal and Terrestrial Body, in which they shall all live for the space of a thousand years. The second is that in which that Carnal and Terrestrial Body, after the expiration of a thousand years shall not die, but be changed in a moment, or in the twinkling of an Eye, into a Spiritual and Celestial Body, and ascend into Heaven, even as Christ ascended into Heaven, after his Resurrection from the Dead. 6. Of which twofold Resurrection of the Saints, the Apostle Paul speaks clearly in 1 Epist. to the Corinth. Chap. 15. That is not first which is Spiritual, but that which is Natural, and then that which is Spiritual, as we have born the Image of the Earthly, and we shall also bear the Image of the Heavenly. But we shall not bear the Image of the Earthly in the Body, in which we now live, viz. of the earthly Adam, as he was after the fall: but in the first Resurrection we shall bear the Image of the earthly in the future Millenium, living such a Blessed and Holy Life as Adam ●ould have lived if he had not sinned: ●hen at the end of the Millenium we shall not die, but be changed, and this Mortal shall put on Immortality, and this Corruptible Incorruption. 7. Yet the Body of the first Resurrection may be said in some sense to be Mortal and Corruptible, not that it shall ever die, or be corrupted, but because in respect of a spiritual Bo●y, it is as it were Mortal and Corruptible, that is at least, not beyond a possibility of dying or being slain by external violence, (if God were so pleased) even as the Body o● Christ suffered Death, which notwithstanding in its own Nature could not die. 8. And that the Saints shall be raised to Life, in a Carnal or Natural Body, appears from that which Paul said, speaking of himself and others: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, and this Mortal shall put on Immortality; Paul therefore expected to be raised up to Life in a Body of Flesh in the future Millenium that should not die but be changed. 9 It appears also that when the Millenium is finished, Gog and Magog shall gather themselves together against the Saints, to slay them which certainly they could never attempt to do, if they did not live in a Body of Flesh. 10. This is more largely con●●●●'d i● that the Saints, even until 260 years after the beginning of the Millenium, shall marry and propagate Children; for the State of Matrimony and procreation of Children is not beneath the dignity of the future Millenium, for Ad●m in his Paradisical State before the fall had a Wife, and tho' he had not sinned, would have known his Wife, and have begotten Children. 11. But that the Saints do for some time in the aforesaid Millenium, contract Matrimony, and beget Sons and Daughters, appears from Isaiah. Chap. 65. where the Inhabitants of this of this New Heaven and new Earth are pr●mised that they shall build Houses, and in●●●ite them, plant Vineyards, and ear the F●●●t of them; they shall not labour in vain, ●or bring forth in fear, for they are th● Seed of the Blessed of the Lord, and their Offspring with them; yea, in the same Chapter 'tis affirmed of the Sinners who shall live in the Millenium, that they shall live to an hundred Years, nor shall any die in Infancy: and the days of the Saints shall b● as the days of the Tree of Life, (for so heretofore that place was read by the Fathers) that is, they shall live a thousand Years, and then shall not die, but ascend into Heaven in a Body changed, which Adam would have done, if he had not sinned. 12. Now, that new Heaven which will be c●ea●ed in the future Millenium will be only new, in respect of their excellent natures. 13. Ioseph's Bl●ssing by his Father jacob, which belongs to the said Millenium clearly demonst●ates th●t they should marry, and beget and bring up Children, Gen. 49. 2●, 26. For among ●●her Blessings which he had, he wa● also blessed with the Blessings of the Breasts, ●nd the Womb which have a respect to Wives and Mothers, whose Blessings also aught to reach to the utmost bounds of the everlasting Hills, viz. to the second Resurrection, when this Body of Flesh shall be changed into a Spiritual Body; and being thus changed, shall ascend into the everlasting Hills, that is, into the highest Heavens. 14. Therefore those Words of Christ, that in the Resurrection of the Dead, they do not marry, nor are given in Marriage, but are equal to the Angels, are to be understood of the second Resurrection, but not of the first: because certainly in th● first Resurrection they shall not be equal to to the Angels, but as Adam was in Paradise before the Fall. 15. And hitherto may be referred those wo●ds of the book of Wisdom 3.43. Blessed is the Barr●n and Undefiled, who hath not known the Sinful Bed; for she shall have Fruit in the Visitation of Souls. 16. Now all the Sons & Daughters of the Saints in the future Millenium, are the Souls of all the Saints that ever have lived in a carnal Body since the beginning of the World, and finally raised up to Life in a ●ody of Flesh, and bo●n of Fathers and Mothers into the Wo●ld; for none shall enjoy the Reward and Blessedness of the ●uture Millenium, but such who have lived an holy Life on Earth, from the beginning of the World. Moreover Christ called this Resurrection of the Saints unto Life regeneration. 17. And therefore all Saints that enjoy the Millenium, shall then be born into the World, in a carnal Body, and shall have Fathers and Mothers according to the Flesh. 18. Nor will this seem strange or incredible to any one, after it is clearly demonstrated from Scripture that we have all lived several times in a Body of Flesh, yea, for many years, and Ages of years. 19 This Truth being once demonstrated and granted, in a manner all the Mysteries and things difficult to be apprehended of the future Millenium, will be most easily understood; for the Ignorance of the Souls, being born again, and returning to Life, in a body of Flesh, hath mightily obscured the Mystery of the future Millenium, and in a manner all other Mysteries of the whole Christian Religion, which indeed (when the said new Birth or carnal Regeneration is demonstrated) will display themselves, and appear with a wonderful sweetness, facility, and evidenc● of Truth. 20. First, therefore it shall be demonstrated by certain Arguments drawn from Scripture, that the same Souls, after the death of the carnal Body were again raised to Life, and born of Parents in a Body of Flesh. 21. First, this is proved from the express Words of Christ himself, who called john Baptist Elias; yea, affirmed him to be Elias himself, Matth. 11. Mark 9.12. and declared him also to be the same that was to come. But that, where john denied that he was Elias is to be understood of the Mystery of 1045 Years, couched under the name of Eliah, which also signifies the strong and mighty God; for that Dispensation or Ministration of john answers not to to the name of Elias, but the name of john, which signifies Grace; but when he shall be born again into the World, that Dispensation will most excellently suit with the name of Eliah. 22. Secondly, 'Tis proved from that passage of St. Paul to the Romans; where discoursing of the unbelieving jews, he affirms, that they shall after many Ages believe in Christ, and finally be reunited to their natural Root: but the force of the Argument concludes in behalf of those Souls, who were unbelieving in the Apostles days, which after certain Ages were to believe in Christ, after the fullness of the Gentiles was converted to the Christian Faith: which Conversion of the jews we yet expect 〈◊〉 Earth, even of those who were unbelieving in the Apostles days; for all the jews which are natural Branches shall be saved, and their Hearts shall be opened, and that too before the beginning of the Millenium. 23. Thirdly, 'Tis proved from Matth. 23.35. compared with the 2 Chron. 24.22. where Christ affirms that those very jews, who were contemporary with him in the Flesh, had killed Zacharias, the Son of Baruch, etc. But this Wickedness was committed in the days of King joas, more than eighty Years before Christ's Incarnation. * See Matth. 21.35. etc. compare here-wit● 2 Chron. 24.22. But if any should affirm that this was not their own, but their fo●e-Father's Crime, and imputed to them, because they were led by the same Spirit of Iniquity and Impiety: I answer, This cannot destroy the force of the Argument, because according to the Righteous Ordinance of God, the Sins of the Fathers are not imputed to the Children beyond the third or fourth Generation, even when the Children are led by the same Spirit, and follow the same steps of their Fathers. But because many Generations have intervened between that Wickedness, and the time of Christ's Incarnation, and many more between the Murder of Abel, and that time, therefore those very jews had divers times lived in the World before that time; yea, Cain, who killed Abel, lived at that time. Now, That the Fathers of those jews did kill the Prophets, is true; for all the Prophets which were killed, were either killed by the Fathers of those jews, but in the space of four Generations, or by those very jews themselves. 24. Fourthly, 'Tis proved in that Christ affirms, that those very jews, to whom he spoke whilst in the Flesh had killed the Prophets. O! jerusalem, jerusalem, said he, that killest the Prophets, and stonest them that were sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thee, but thou wouldst not! 25. Fifthly, it is proved in that St. Paul 1 Thess. 2.15. affirms that the same jews killed Christ and the Prophets. 26. Sixthly, In that Christ in his Parable affirms those Husbandmen to have ill treated the Servants of the Lord, and at last killed the Son himself. 27. Seventhly, from Christ's Parable of Labourers, hired and sent into the Field, some in the Morning, others at the third Hour, others at the sixth Hour, others at the ninth Hour, others were called at the eleventh Hour; but they who were called at the eleventh Ho●r stood all the Hours of the day idle in the Marke●. By those Labourers who were called in the eleventh Hour, the Gentiles are to be understood, who were called into the Church of Christ by the Minstery of the Apostles after Christ's Resurrection. By those who were called in the Morning, and at other Hours of the day the jews are understood, the Morning is the beginning of the Wo●ld, ●nd therefore certain jews, who lived in the Apostles days, lived from the beginning of the World, and laboured twelve Hou●s in the Field: some laboured nine, others six, three, etc. And when the Evening came th●y all received a Penny, the Gentiles were made equal with the jews, the jews murmured but without reason; for the Gen●i●es ●h●t believed in Christ, and laboured in the Field, had done as much (and some of them more) in the last hour than the jews had done in the whole day; for they had done but little before Christ's Incarnation and Passion, and many of them did not labour without grudging, therefore Christ said of them, Many are call●d, but few are choose. 28. eighthly, 'Tis proved from the Words of P●ter, 1. Epist. Chap. 3. v. 18.19. For the same Souls, or the same Men who lived before and perished in the Flood, lived also in Bodies of Flesh upon the Earth, when Ch●ist suffered Death in the Flesh, who being mortified in the Flesh, was quickened in the Spirit, and poured out upon Men a more abundant Life of Grace after he arose from the Dead, and then indeed by the ministry of his Life and Grace, he preached to those Souls who from the beginning of the World, were detained in Prison and in Chains of Darkness under the Power of Satan, which Souls notwithstanding wer● restored to Life in a Body of Flesh, to hear the Gospel Preached. For the Gospel is not preached to Souls that live out of the Flesh, but to such as live on Earth, in Bodies of Flesh, john 1.9. john. 3.11.17.59. Luke 2.14. 29. 9 lie. 'Tis proved from the Words of Peter, where he affirms in his 1 Epistle, Chap. 4. vers. 6. that the Gospel was preached to the Dead, That they might be judged as Men in the Flesh, and therefore they who in time past were dead, lived again in the Flesh, that they might live to God in the Spirit. 30. 10 lie. 'Tis proved in that Christ preached that the Hour should come, and was already come, in which the Dead should hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live. Whereby the Dead, he means not only the Spiritually Dead, but such as are naturally Dead also; who were to live again in the days of Christ, that they might hear the Gospel, and in hearing might believe, and in believing, might have eternal Life. 31. Proof 11. St. Paul in his Epistle to Romans, ●. 25. affirms that Redemption is made in Christ Jesus, to the remission of Sins past, in the patience and long suffering of God. Now the aforementioned Sins are all the Sins committed by all Men from the beginning of the World. 32. Proof 12. Christ is said to have reconciled us to God by his Death, even when we were enemies to him, and to have born our Sins in his Body on the Cross, which he could not have done, if we had not lived some time before the Death of Christ. 33. Prof 13. Christ died for all Men, as well for those that had been dead from the beginning of the World, as for those who were then alive; and therefore the Efficacy of his Sacrifice extends unto all that have ever lived from the beginning of the World, that they might repent, and obtain forgiveness of their Sins, If they would but believe in Christ, and obey his Commandments, for the time to come. And how absurd is that opinion, that Christ should suffer Death for all that died since the beginning of the World, and yet that the greatest part of them should be wholly ignorant of so great Grace and Favour, neither should ever taste of the Fruits of the said Grace, after the Death of Christ? 34. Proof. 14. Christ hath affirmed that all Sins should be forgiven, except the Sin against the Holy Ghost, but there were no Sins committed against the Holy Ghost before the Death of Christ. 35. Proof 15. Paul said, God winked at Men in the times of ignorance, but then he called all to Repentance. Therefore he called those also to repent, whom he hath formerly winked at, ever since the beginning of the World. 36. Because otherwise the Patience and long Suffering of God could not be explained, for God forbore with much long Suffering the vessels of Wrath, etc. And the great long Suffering of God allowed much time for Repentance, because in the sight of the Lord, a thousand years are but as one day. 37. Proof 17. Peter in his second Epistle, Chap. 3, said God, did not come on purpose to execute his tremenduous judgements in the conflagration of the World, because he is long suffering, and wills all to come to Repentance, and therefore the long Suffering of God, bears with Men almost two thousand years, after the death of Christ, before the beginning of the Millenium, an● three thousand years before the last Judgement and Conflagration of the Wo●ld, which three thousand years are with the Lord, but as three days. Now to what purpose did God grant Men so long a time? But that such as had not lived a thou●and years from the beginning of the World, might have the same time to live in a Body of Flesh, before the end of the World; that they might at last repent, and in case they did not repent, should be justly punished for the neglect of so great Grace and long Sufferance. 38. Proof 18. Because the Lord will grant all M●n a day of Visitation in the Flesh, that they may repent and lead a better Life, and that day of Visitation is a thousand years, according to the Testimony of Peter, 2 Pet. 38. compare herewith Hebrews, 4.7. 39 Proof 19 Christ affirmed, the Gospel should be preached to the whol● World, that is to all Men, therefore all Men either have heard the Gospel preached which Christ suffered Death ●or, or else sh●ll hear it hereafter before the end of the World; therefore all Men that ever have lived since the beginning of the World, (if they have not believed on Christ to come by the ministry of the Prophets) must live again to hear of Christ, and to believe in him by the Ministry of the Apostles, and other Ministers of Christ. 40, Proof 20. For the promise of eternal Salvation, has respect to the Faith of Men, whereby they believe on Christ, that God raised him from the dead, and therefore all either have had or shall have before the end of the World, opportunity to hear of Christ's Resurrection from the Dead, which they cannot have unless they are born again into the World. 41. Proof 21. The Lord promised by Moses, those jews and Israelites who lived in Moses time, that he would raise them u● a Prophet like unto Moses, whom they should hear in all things, and therefore those very jews and Israelites were to live in a Body of Flesh, in the days of the Messiah. And so the M●ssias was to be raised to all the jews, and People of Israel, both to the Fathers and the children that all the Fathers and all the Children, especially those who died in Unbelief, might have opportunity to believe in Christ, and obtain remission of their Sins past, for they were not to be punished with Hell-fire in the end of the World for transgressing the Law, but for transgressing the Gospel. See Heb. 10. 28.29. 42. Proof 22. For those promises of the abundant Grace of God, and the plentiful efusion of the Spirit, which God promised by the Prophets had respect to those jews and Israelites, who lived in the days of the Prophets, which nevertheless were not to be fulfilled till the latter days, under the preaching of the Gospel, after the coming of the Messiah in the Flesh, for the promises were made to the jews, and all their Children afar off, even to those who lived from the beginning of the World, Acts 2.39. For how could the jews rejoice in hope of those promises, unless they were to live again in the days when they were to be fulfilled under Christ. 43. 'Tis proved, 23. From Psal. 90. v. 3.4. Thou turnest Man to Destruction, and sayest again, return ye Sons of Adam, for a thousand years in thy sight are as yesterday when it is past, and as a Watch in the Night. From hence is clearly hinted the revolution of Souls, from Life unto Death, and from Death unto Life, and that in the Space of 4000 years, which are but as Night consisting of four Watches, which this Mystery seemed to signify when it was said that jesus went uppn the Sea to Disciples in the fourth Watch of the Night, for that time in which Christ came in, the Flesh was in the fourth Watch, that is, almost at the end of four thousand years, from the beginning of the World. 44. Proof 24. From the Words of Solomon, in Ecclesiast. Chap. 1. v. 4. to v. 12. for by a threefold Similitude, of the Sun, Wind, and a River, is shown the various and manifold revolutions of Souls from Life unto a corporeal Death, and from Death again unto Life; for as the same Sun riseth that Sets, the same Wind blows from tho South into the North, and from the North into the South; the same River that comes out of the Sea, returns into the Sea; so the same Generation that goes out of the World, returns into the World, neither is there any remembrance of former things. In which Words he tacitly answers the Objection, Why therefore cannot Men remember that they have lived before? For that stands in the Counsel and Goodness of God; but in the end of the World the Books shall b● opened, and they shall remember all things. And it was properly said of Solomon, whatsoever was at that time, had been before, and should be again; because all Souls had already been in the World before Solomon's time, and performed their Revolutions, whereof none was to be finished before the death of Christ on the Cross, which will appear more plainly from the Table of the revolution of Souls hereafter annexed. 45. Proof, 25. Is drawn from Ezeki●l, Chap. 36. and 37. vers. 12. I will open you● Graves and cause you to ascend out of your Sepulchers, (that is) from the state of the Dead, into your own Land. 47. It is proved 27. Because they who killed the Martyr's since the Apostle's days, to wit, within 300 Y. after the Death of Christ, were after many Ages to be slain by Turks, and other bloody and barbarous Men; and this happened in the opening of th● fifth Seal, Rev. 6.10. 48. 'Tis proved 28. In that they are killed in the pouring out of the third Vial, who in times past killed the Saints and Prophets of God. See Rev. 13.9, 10. 49. Proof 29. It is the rule and general Ordinance of God's Justice, That he that kills with the Sword shall be killed with the Sword; and he that leads into Captivity shall be led into Captivity; but these things rarely happen in one Age, and therefore are to be referred to divers Ages and Lives. 50. Proof 30. For in Babylon was found the Blood o● all the Prophet's and Saint's which lived since the days of Christ, and the Apostles; yea, also before those times, even 4000 Yea●s backward, from the time Babylon ●●rst began to be builded; for the number of 4000 Years makes an entire Period of twelve Revolutions. 51. Proof 31. For this reason the Brethren of the Deceased were to raise up Seed to their Deceased Brethren, that they might, as far as was possible, be born again into the Wo●ld in a proper and direct Line, and that because of the Genealogy of Christ. 52. Proof 32. And for this reason the Lord in the Parable commended that unfaithful Servant, who was so liberal to the Poor, that they might receive him into their Houses, hereafter when he should fail; and therefore said he, The Children of this World are wiser in their Generation, to wit, in their Revolution of Generation, than the Children of Light. 53. Proof 33. The Apostle jude writeth concerning certain wicked persons, who turned the Grace of God into wantonness, etc. that they were afore ordained to Condemnation, but afore, or of old, doth not signify from Eternity, or before all Ages, neither doth God ordain or sentence Men to Condemnation before they have committed Sin, but for Sins committed; and therefore those who were afore ordained to Condemnation, have wilfully committed Sin in their former Life, when they lived heretofore in former Ages, wherefore the most just God hath sentenced them to such a Condemnation. 54. Proof 34. For the Apostle Peter. 2. Epist. Chap. 2. v 3● writeth of certain false Teachers among the Christians, whose Judgement then of a long time lingered not, what then can be hereby intended, but that they committed such Crimes●●●r a long time pas●, or in ●o●mer Ages, whilst they lived, for which God condemned them to that punishment? Besides also he does not darkly hint that the same ●alse Teachers among the Christians were heretofore false Prophets among the People● see Verse 1. which Judgements of God against them, i● they had believed in Christ would nevertheless have been cancelled and blotted ou●, (for Christ died for them also, and redeemed them with his Blood, that they might believe and be saved●) and because they did not believe in Christ under the former Sentence brought against them, therefore it is confirmed, de novo, or a new. 55. Proof 35. God speaking to Abraham of the Amorites, said their Iniquity was not as yet to be fulfilled, till after 400 Years, but because those Amorites were not to live so many years in the Flesh, no not one half of those years, it evidently ●ollows that they were to be raised up again to Life in a Body of Flesh, before the 400 years were completed, that they might fulfil their Iniquity; and this wonderfully agrees with the number of 33● years, within which compass (for that Man's Life is so abbreviated) the same Souls shall be newly raised up to L●●e, as the following Table dem●nstrates, to which 3●3 ●ears, if 67 be added, they make up the number of 400, or if 97 be added, it makes us 430, which number of 67 or 97 was to be allotted to that People, that in the succeeding Life they might 〈…〉 their Iniquity. Moreover the same Amorites could have lived twice before this, since the Flood, and therefore the third time of Life seemed to have been necessary, according to the order of Divine Justice, before that they could have fulfilled their Iniquity, for which they should deserv● to be erradicated out of the Earth. 56. 'Tis proved 36. Because Salvation and eternal Life is the Fruit of good Works which Men sow in the Earth, or in an earthly Body, and therefore those that die in infancy (especially if they have not lived before in a Body of Flesh to ripeness of years) must be raised up to Life again, that they may grow to maturity, and have opportunity to sow the Seeds of good Works in the Life of a carnal Body, that they may at last rejoice in the Fruits of their Labour, for except our Happiness were the Fruits of our own Work and Labour, it were not real and true Happiness, nor should we have true Joy therein, for it would be like the Son of a strange Mother, whom no Mother loves as she doth her own Son. 57 'Tis proved, 37. Because otherwise the Doctrine of God's Universal Grace and Love, could not be established or defended; for certainly we find not a few, who from their Infancy are so hardened and buried in Sin, that all the time of this present Life, they seem wholly uncapable of Repentance. 58. 'Tis proved, 38. Because the Apostle (Rom. 1●.) writeth that many of the jews were blinded, according to the Prophecies of Scripture for many Ages, that they could not believe till the fullness of the Gentiles were gather`d unto Chri●t, and then they who were formerly blinded, were to be again illuminated, when they should return again into the World. 59 'Tis proved, 39 Because in Christ's Parable of the Figtree, that bore no Fruit for three Years, this very thing is clearly hinted, Luke 13.6, 7, 8, 9 For what is to be understood by those three yea●s, but three thousand years? for every Millenium is mystically signified by one year under the Law, and therefore the Seventh Millenium of the World which is the Sabbath, was signified by the seventh year, and by the Figtree that bore no Fruit for those three thousand years, many of the jews are to be understood, who had lived d●vers ti●es on Earth from the beginning 〈◊〉 the World, and yet bore no Fruit; but in the fourth Millenium, the Husbandman inte●cedes for the barren Figtree, and applies Dung to the Roots thereof, that is, dieth for the Sins of the jews, and applies the abundant Grace of his holy Spirit to them, that they might bring forth good Fruit: And therefore the Patience and Long-suffering of God suffers all Men 4 Years, that is 4000 Years, whereof they live 1000 Years by parts in an Earthly Body, that they might at length repent. 60. 'Tis proved 40. Because john the Baptist provokes the jews to Repentance by this Argument: And now is the Axe laid to the Root of the Trees, Matth. 3.10. Therefore every Tree that brings not forth good Fruit shall be hewn down, and cast into the Fire. Now, why did he say, and now the Axe is laid to the Root of the Trees? Certainly, because that time of Life was the last Revolution, and the last Hour with a great many of the jews: signifying by these Words, if the jews did not then repent whilst they lived in a Body of Flesh, that there was no Hope for them to be raised up to Life, in the days of the Messiah, and to be called to Repentance; for that was the last time wi●●● great many that they should have, and none could know whether he should have any ot●er time to live in the da●s of the M●ssi●h, and therefore he truly s●id, the 〈◊〉 is laid to the Root of the Tr●es, to wit, of a great man●. But such, whose twelve Hours of Revolutions were not yet elapsed, might indeed (in regard they were to live again in the Flesh a●ter six or seven Generations) as from a Root le●● in the Earth, not as yet cut off, sprout, and put ●orth as it were new Branches in the Earth. 61. This is proved 41. In that the rich Man, who was tormented in Hell, knew that he should at length departed out of the place, and ●e born again into the World, which is plainly hinted in the●e words● for he had five Brethren, whom he would not have come into that place, and therefore he desired some Body to be sent from the D●ad, to call them to Repentance. To what ●urpos● then should he take so great care of his Brethren? Did he not look at his own Interest therein? Yes doubtless, for he known that he himself, after six or seven G●n●rations should be born of one of the Sons of thos● his Brethren, whom therefore he desired to be good, that he himself might then have an opportunity to become so, after he was born of good Parents into the World. 62. 'Tis proved 42. Because after Christ's Resurrection from the Dead, and Ascension into Heaven, all that were detained under the Chains of Satan, from the beginning of the World, were to be restored again from Death unto Li●e, that they might hear the Gospel, and have that benefit offered to them, which Christ purchased for them, as is manifest f●om Psal. 68.18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24. and Isaiah, Chap. 26.19. 63. 'Tis proved 43. Because those 144000, who were sealed even before the Trumpets sounded, were raised up in the Interval of the sixth Trumpet, that they might become the first Fruits to God and the Lamb, which thing gins already to be fulfilled, and will be completely fulfilled in the year 1●●2. 64. 'Tis proved, 44. because those 144000, although they are accounted Gentiles, yet they are really jews and Israelites, to wit, 120●0 from each Tribe of the Children of I●rael, I●ws, (I say) truly and properly, (and not only mystically) that is, have the Souls of true jews, who were in time past jews, and s●rang of I●●●s● Parents. 65● '●is proved 45. Because God promised t● Si●n, that is, to the I●●●sh Church, that her Sons should be brought to her in the Gentiles Arms, and upon their shoulders, which plainly intimates that they should be born of gentile Parents. See Isaiah, 49● 21, 22. Rom. 11.30, 31, 32. Rom. 9.23, 24, 25.26. 66. 'Tis proved 46. Because from the beginning of the World a People was prepared ●or Christ, both among the jews and Gentiles, Luk. 1.17. joh. 4.38. 67. 'Tis proved 47. From Rom. 11.30. where the Apostle Paul speaks of the Gentiles, that believed on Christ, who in times past. did not believe in God, and now they obtain Mercy, by times past we are to understand former Ages, when they lived heretofore in the World, without either the true knowledge of God, or hope in God. Compare herewith those say of Ephes. 2.2, 3, 11, 12, 13. Gal. 3.4. 68 'Tis Proved 48. From 2 Thess. 2.10.11. where Paul affirms of such whom Satan should deceive in the days of Antichrist, who were to be delivered up to strong delusions by the just Judgement of God, that they might come into Condemnation, because they did not receive the love of the Truth, which clearly unveils the Reason wherefore God suffered so thick a mist, and Cimmerian darkness to invade the World, about 409 years after Christ's resurrection. Also why he suffer`d that ●arkness so long to blind the Minds and heart's of Men, that Men were in a man●er more blinded for some Ages passed in the ●eign of Antichrist, than they were heretofore whilst they lived under Ethnicism be●ore the incarnation of Christ: I say the ●eason of this is, because they who were ●●us blinded under Antichrist, when they ●●v'd under the clear Light of the Gospel, ●id not love that Light, nor believe on ●hrist, that true Light enlightening every ●an that comes into the World, and therefore by God's most just Judgement are blinded and darkened (when they return into ●his Life in a Body of Flesh) with this ●ross and obscure darkness; and therefore ●●e Light of the Gospel shone in the World ●ith so much lustre for so small a time, to ●it, the space of 333 years, and not longer, that the greatest part of Mankind might have a sufficient opportunity to embrace the said light, but seeing they depised it, it was not convenient that this ●ight should shine any longer to them in ●ts lustr●; for the coming of Christ in his day, is 〈◊〉 the morning brightness which suddenly heartens 〈◊〉 ●he East to the West; and ●h●●e●ore they who love not that light n●r ●mb●ace it, are worthy to be left in da●kne●s●●or the neglect of so great Grace● but they who have not had the clear light of the Gospel-truth proposed unto them in the aforesaid space of 333 Years from Christ's Death and Resurrection, shall live again 75 Years before the beginning of the Millenium, and shall have the truth of the Gospel clearly shining before the Eyes of their Minds, that so all that perish may be left without excuse; for there shall not be a Man on Earth, to whom the clear light of the Gospel shall not shine before the end of the World, and that too immediately, as well as by Means of the preaching of the true Servants of God, even such who are truly sent and commissioned by God and Christ● For the Gospel must be preached to every Creature before the end of the World. 69. 'Tis proved● 49. Because God punished the iniquities of the Fathers upon the third and fourth Generation, that the Children of the third and fourth Generation, which underwent that punishment, might be meliorated and reduced to a better State and Condition of Life, that so at length from these so meliorated, after the third and fourth Generation, i. e. from their Children thus meliorated, they may be again born into the World, and become better, as being born of better Parents; for it is a singular Gift o● God to be born of good Parents. 70. It is proved. 50. Because for this Reason, a Bastard was not admitted into the Congregation of the Lord, until the tenth Generation; so that when he shall be born the second time into the World in the 14 or 15 Generation, the punishment which God inflicts on him and his Children, shall reduce him to a better State and Condition, and that defilement of Lust and Depravity, shall be in some measure purged away. But since by Christ, every sinful pollution is more effectually and perfectly purged away from those who believe on him, therefore that severe Law concerning Bastards, and a spurious issue, together with all others of the like nature, is repealed and abolished; and hence also the Words of Paul may be understood, where he speaks concerning Fornication, that he that commits Fornication sins against his own Body, infects and depraves his own Root and Original, (from whence he is to spring again and be raised unto Life) with the odious stain of his own filthy Lust. 71. Lastly 'tis proved, because when certain of the Jews thought Christ was Elias, or jeremias, or one of the Prophets, (which pesupposed the Truth of such a Doctrine in general, Christ did not generally condemn the same, but rather confirmed it, saying that john was Elias. Moreover also he did the same in his Answer to his Disciples concerning him that was born Blind, and so also when he conversed with Nicodemus concerning Regeneration, or being born again, tho' he chief intended Spiritual Regeneration. There are other Arguments, not a few which might be brought to confirm the Truth of this Doctrine, which for brevity are omitted● 72. Moreover this Doctrine of the return of Souls to live again, and be born in a Body of Flesh, very easily answers to many of the most weighty objections, to the ●●opping of the Mouths of Atheists, who dispute against the justice of God, concerning the state of Infants dying in their Infancy, and the state of Fools, and such as are possess`d with unclean Spirits, from their Infancy to the last Moment of their Lives. Also it wonderfully demonstrates the Justice, Wisdom, and goodness of God towards Mankind in all his Ways and Administrations; it also evidently shows the equality of the ways o● God, and his marvellous ●enef●●s; yea, clearly evinces what, and how great Benefits did accrue to all Mankind, by the death of Christ in the latter Days, by the abundant Favour and Benignity of God. Moreover also it doth mightily illustrate, confirm and perfect in a mann●r the whole Doctrine of Christianity, mak●s the Salvation of Heathens possible● and yet nevertheless makes the knowledge o● Christ's coming in the Flesh, and F●●●h in him of absolute necessity to the Salvation of all, and finally greatly furthers the Conviction and Conversion of the jew. ●3. From what has been said, the truth of the said Doctrine of the various returns of Huma●e ●ouls into a Body of Flesh is apparent, but how often they shall return, shall ●e somewhat more distinctly explained. 74. All Souls which are not perfect in Faith, Righteousness, and Holiness, do return twelve times, until they are perfected, and that Soul which was made perfect in Faith and Holiness, in some former re●olution, tho' before the death of Christ, needed not to return into a Mortal Life, unless it were such that were to come again in the Flesh for some public Benefit to all Mankind; as in the case of Elias and some extraordinary Men. 75. Therefore we affirm that there is no necessity for many of the Prophets and Saints to live again, after they have slept in the Lord, before Christ's Incarnation, much less is such a Revolution to be affirmed after the coming of Christ, because the faithful that dye in the Lord, rest from their Labours. 76. But 'tis proved that some imperfect Souls must necessarily make 12 Revolutions or Returns, as well from those 12 Hours the Labourers wrought in the Field, as that the day of every Souls Visitation contains 12 Hours, according to the words of Christ, are there not 12 Hours in the Day? Work whilst you have the Day, then because four Watches of the Night contains 4000 Years, from Psal. 90. v. 4. and every Watch three Hours; again, this is proved from those 12 Faces and 4 Wheels in Ezeki●l, Chap. 1. v. 10. 77. But because the 12 Revolutions of the Souls are not completed in less than 4000 Years, which are all to be finished at the end of the future Millenium; therefore all Souls began their Revolutions in the year of the World, 274. 78. All which and much more, this following Table will clearly exhibit to the Eye. The Explanation of the Table. 1. The first Column contains 7000 years of the World, as it were divided into 21 hours, whereof each contains 333 years. 2. The eight Column at the right Hand contains the Revolutions of Souls from the first ●o the twelfth. ●. The tenth Column contains the intervals of the si● S●als, from the Resurrection of Christ, to the year about 6000. 4. The eleventh Column contains 7000 years of the World as aforesaid, but something disposed in a different Order. 5. The twelfth Column contains the names of Faces in each Revolution. 6. The second Column contains 12 Revolutions of Souls, from the beginning of the World, to the year of the World, 3996. 7. The third Column contains the Revolutions of Souls from the year of the World 3●3, to the year of the World, 4329, and so thence forward to the year of the World, 6740. 8. Now, because all the Souls that come into the World have 3996 or 4000 years to fulfil their twelve Revolutions in, if they are not perfect in goodness; therefore all Souls came into the World and begun their first Revolution between the beginning of the World, and the year of the World 2744, for if 3996 be added to the number 2744, the sum will be 6740, beyond which, the Revolution of Souls doth not extend. 9 Those Souls which came into the World from the beginning thereof, made their twelfth and last Revolution, about the year of the World, 3996. 10. Therefore after the year 3996 some Souls were not to come into the World any more till the beginning of the Millenium, if they were holy, and not till in the exact Millenium, if they were Evil, and not yet purged. 11. And therefore Christ ought to offer himself to God the Father, a Sacrifice for the Sins of all Mankind, about the year of the World 3996, otherwise they who had finished their 12 Revolutions, would have had no benefit of his Sacrifice if he had come later. 12. And finally● because a great many Souls have accomplished their Revolution between the year 3996 and 432; therefore since Christ's Resurrection from the Dead, no Man [without some particular divine Revelation] could be certain whether he should come again into the World, to have an opportunity of Repentance● and therefore none by the aforesaid Doctrine, can or aught to indulge themselves into a wicked Life, in hope● to come again into the World, because he cannot certainly know wh●●●er he ●hall or not● 13. But no Man that died in utter impenitence after the year of the World 5661 is expired, can redeem his former misspent time, tho' he should come into the Word within the interval of the blessed Millenium, so as to enjoy the happiness of the Millenium, or obtain the Resurrection of the just in this World; for truly the Millenial Happiness and Resurrection of the just is ordained and appointed as a reward for such who have heretofore 〈◊〉 a Holy Life before the beginning of the Millenium, which was signified by this Type, that it was not lawful for the Israelites to gather Manna on the Sabbath Day, therefore none may or aught to de●er the amendment of his Life to another time, because this present time is the last, t●at is granted to any in this World to obtain Salvation. 14. But because before the death of Christ, Men might abuse this Doctrine of the Souls Revolution, as they may now in some measure; therefore according ●o the ordination of Divine Wisdom, it came to pass that the said Doctrine ●or the mos● pa●t lay concealed as an hidden Mystery, and was not to be unlocked to any but good Men, which nevertheless may now without danger, and indeed aught to be revealed, for it is of great use to convince the jews, and to demonstrate more clearly other Heads of the Christian Religion. 15. For from the aforesaid Doctrine, the justice of God in punishing the wicked and rebellious is plainly demonstrated, ●or seeing all the wicked and rebellious have sinned against God a thousand years, whilst they lived in a Body of Flesh, therefore it is just, that they should be punished in Hell fire 7000 years after the end of this World; for so God who made all things in number, weight and measure, hath also limited a number and measure to the Torments of the damned, that every rebellious and incorrigible Sinner may be punished seven fold, which space of seven thousand years being finished, the same Souls are again sent into the World for a fresh Trial of their Obedience. But those whom the space of seven thousand years, wherein they shall be punished in Hell Fire, with the most grievous and tremendous Torments will not deter from Sin, these certainly are so stupid and obdurate, that not any, even the longest Torments that words can express, can deter from it: nor hath that infiniteness of Ages wherein wicked Men are to be punished, (tho' preached up by many) reform Men, but rather led many into despair, and hardened their Hearts against the Goodness and Mercy of God. 16. Now every one making his Revolulution from the first to the twelfth, comes three times into the World in a carnal Body, in the space of one Millenium, which is like one year: Consider then, whether this be not that which was figured under the Law, when all were to appear thrice every year before the Lord at the Temple of jerusalem, which typified the temple of the Body; neither doth this seem to want a Mystery, that the Temple of jerusalem stood about a thousand years before it was utterly and totally overturned and demolished. Moreover also this is worthy our animadversion, viz. that all Souls whatsoever, that had lived in a Body of Flesh, aught to have lived once in some hour between the hours Ten, Eleven and Twelve, including part of the ninth and Thirteenth, in Case they had finished their twelve Revolutions from the beginning of the World. 18. Therefore all Souls not yet perfect lived in the compass of one hour (to wit in the interval of 333 years) viz. from the year of the World 3996, to the year of the World 4329. 19 And therefore all that have performed their twelfth Revolution within the said hour, or a● leastwise their eleventh, tenth, ninth or eighth, aught to hear the Gospel, because all Souls who were in their twelfth Revolution, were not to return as yet; but oth●rs that were to return, had not sufficient opportunity of hearing the Gospel sincerely preached, by reason of Antichristian Darkness. 20. Others also who were making but th●ir s●v●nth, sixth and fifth Revolution, ●rom ●he Death and Resurrection of Christ, if so be within the said hour they have not heard the Gospel preached, they must hear in their succeeding Revolutions before the beginning of the Millenium, to wit, within the year 1700, and 1777 ●rom the birth of Christ. 21. In Revel. 20. It is said the rest of the Dead lived not again till the thousand y●●rs were finished, this certainly is to be understood of those Dead who had completed their twelve Revolutions; but those who had not as yet finished their twelve Revo●l●tions, were to live again in the Mill●nium, ●●t none who belonged to Bab●lon w●re to live again in the Mill●nium, because they b●gan th●ir fi●●t Revolution at the year 1●●4, and ●here●ore ●inish ●heir twel●th R●●olu●ion at the year o● the Wo●ld 6740, The TABLE. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 000 I 000 A Bull. 333 TWO 1 333 A Man. 6●6 III 2 1 666 A Lyon. 1000 VI 3 2 1 1000 An Eagle. A Bull. 1333 V 4 3 2 1 1333 A Man. 1666 VI 5 4 3 2 1 1666 A Lyon. 2000 VII 6 5 4 3 2 1 2●0● An Ea●le. A Bull. 2333 VIII 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 2333 A Man. 2●66 IX 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 2666 A L●on. 3●00 X 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 3●00 An Eagle. A Bull. 3●33 XI 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 3333 A M●●. 3●00 XI 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 ●6●6 A Lion. ●●0 XIII 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4000 An Eagle. 4333 XIV 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 1 Seal. 4333 33● 1/● A Bul 40●6 XV 12 11 1● 9 8 ● 2 〈◊〉. ●6●6 6●6●●/● A Ma●● 5●● XVI 12 11 10 9 8 3 ●eal. 5●00 999 ●/3 A Lyo●● 5333 xvii 12 11 10 9 4 Seal. 5333 13●2 4/3 An Eag●●● 5666 xviii 12 11 1● 5 Seal. 5666 1665 5/● A Ma●● 6000 XIX 12 11 6 Seal. 6000 1998 6/● A Ly●●● 6333 XX 12 6333 Millen. An Eagle. ●666 ●XI 66●6 ●●d what's worth our serious Consideration 〈◊〉 that these very Men which shall be at ●●st destroyed in Spiritual Babylon, were ●●e same Men, (who in a literal Sense) ●●ilt the outward Babylon. 79. The foregoing Scheme exhibits to our view one great Wheel being the greaest of all, then four other great Wheels, ●●stly, twelve little Wheels. The great wheels containing 1000, the little Wheels ●33, and the greatest of all 4000 years. The Explanation of the Figure● 1. In this Figure, the great outward circled represents the greatest Revolution ●f Humane Souls. 2. The other four great Circles signify ●he same 4000 years, so as that one of them, ●akes 1000 years. 3. And lastly the lesser Circles signify ●●ch, one only Revolution or Face of 333 ●●ars. 4. The chief use of the figure, is to ●●ew that there are but 12 Faces, altho' ●●ch great one contains four less ones. 80. The greatest Revolution of Souls comprehending 4000 years, is fairly shadowed out to us under the type of the six days Creation. For as the first days wo●k was finished in the fourth, the work of the second day in the fifth, the work of the third day in the sixth, a●d finally all in the seventh; so the Souls that begin their Revolutious in the first Millenium, finish it in the fourth, and so fulfil their Mystical year, and are either made perfect in Goodness, or have filled up their measure of Evil: those which are perfect in Goodness, shall be raised up to Life in the Body, and after the Millenium is expired, their Bodies shall be changed and spiritualised and they shall ascend into Heaven; but such who have filled up their Measure o● wickedness, shall be raised up to live in a Body of Flesh, that they may suffer God`● Judgement in the Conflagration of the World, whose Resurrection is to Death, and Condemnation. Moreover Souls that begin their Revolutions in the second Millenium, complete them in the fifth; and finally those that begin their Revolutions in the third, complete them in the sixth Millenium. And forasmuch as in the sixth day of the World's Creation. Man was created perfect in the Image of God, therefore in the sixth Millenium, all the Saints shall be raised up to live in the Body, and be born in●o the World, to wit, for the space of 260 Years, ●rom the year o● the World 574●, to the year of the World 6000, and they shall live such an holy and blessed Life on Earth, as Adam would have lived, if he had not sinned; yea, and far happier; ●or as Sin abounded, the Grace of God shall much more abound. And the light of this day ●hall ●e as the light of seven Days, because whatsoever was made in the first six Days, was finished in the seventh. And lastly, The Trees that bare Fruit under the Law were accounted uncircumcised, until the 4th. Year, but in the 4th. Year they were as it were circumcised, and hol● to the Lord, and in the ●i●th Year their F●uit was ea●en. This plainly signifies the whole Revolution of Souls, which were n●t consummated, and perfected till the forth Millenium after Christ's Incarnation; for he purged our Sins on the Cross, whilst he hung ●h●reon, that so they might not be imputed to us, ●n condi●ion that we believe on him, whereby we shall ●eceive from him the Evangelical Grace of the holy Spirit. But the ●ifth Year signifies the Sabbatick Mill●nium, in which we shall enjoy the Fruits of our Labours and Toil of our Hands; ●●r a● under t●e ●aw, whilst they had Manna, it was not lawful 〈◊〉 th●m to ga●●●r s●id Manna on the Sabbath-day; so also in the Sabbatick Millenium, they who gathered nothing in their preceding Lives, cannot enjoy the Millenial Felicity. Lastly, as the Manna which served for the Sabbath, was gathered on the Sixth day; so in the end of the sixth Millenium, all the Saints are restored to Life, and attain the Blessedness of the Sabbatick Millenium. 82. By the aforesaid Numbers 333 and 260 Years, the Mysteries of the seven Seals, and seven Trumpets, are clearly unlocked. 83. And that the Interval of the first Seal contains 333 Years, appears from the words of the first Beast, come and see: and so of the rest, plainly intimating, that the Space or Interval of every Seal, from the first to the sixth, comprehends 333 Years, which is the Interval of one Revolution or Face, as may be seen in the Tenth Column of the Table. 84. Therefore the Interval of the first Seal contains from the Death, Resurrection of Christ, Years. 333 ●/● The Interval of the second Seal reaches to 666 ●/● The Interval of the third Seal extends itself to 999 ●/● The Interval of the fourth Seal reaches to 1332 ●/● The Inter. of the ●ifth Seal reaches to 1665 ● The Inter. of the sixth Seal reaches to 2000 85. Now the Predictions or Prophecies of what should come to pass when each Seal was opened, wonderfully answers to those Intervals, when the first Seal was opened, viz. from the Death of Christ, to the Year 333. The Gospel was in a manner preached to the whole World, which was signified by the white Horse, and him that sat there●n with a Crown on his H●ad, and a Bow in his Hand, to wit, Christ. After that time, the Light of the Gospel shone not so much, by reason of Men's Sins. When the second Seal was opened the Roman Empire was exceedingly infested with War, and almost totally ruined; this happened between 333 and 666. When the third Seal was opened, that is, from 666 to 1000, Famine and Scarcity of Provision followed the War, as it commonly happens, that War is succeeded by Famine; by the Red Horse War is signified, by the Black Horse Famine. In the opening of the fourth Seal, from the Year 1000, to the Year 1333, not only bloody Wars, but also abominable Idolatry, Superstition and Heresies, in●●●●●d the World, and were signified by the 〈◊〉 Horse, and s●e that sat there●n was ●●●ath, whom ●le●●●ol●owed. When the ●i●th Seal was opened, the Sain●s and Martyrs cried un●o the Lord to revenge their Blood, which certainly came to pass for from the year of Christ 1●3●, th● Turkish Empire miraculously prevailed, b● whose Sword God revenged the Blood o● the Saints. This Interval reaches no F●●●ther than the year 16●6, from Christ'● Death and Resurrection, that is to th● year since Christ's Nativity 1700. Fo● within this ●pace or interval were man● Saints to be killed, which would fill up ● determinate Number together with the Saints, which were slain before them, an● this indeed is clearly fulfilled, and yet is farther to be fulfilled to the year 1700 sin●● the birth of Christ. In the opening of th● sixth Seal, that is, in the interval of tim● from the year 1●66, (from Christ's Death and Resurrection) to the year 2000● al● the Kingdoms of Men and Worldly Empires, shall be overturned, and the Empire and Dominion of the whole World, shall b● Christ's and his Saint●. And this is signi●ed by the great Earthquake, the darkening of the Sun and Moon, the ●alling o● the Stars, the removing of Heaven out o● its place, etc. But it is more clearly pointed out in the following Words, touch●n● the Kings of the Earth, and ot●er leade● and Potentate's, that they should ●ide themselves &c. which prophesy certainly ca●not in reason, be wholly applied to t●e ●●ys of Constantine, which yet many do. The seventh Seal in regard it has not respect 〈◊〉 any particular interval like the first 〈…〉, but comprehends the whole Hi●●o●●; ●her●fore is to ●e considered apart. ●6. ●h●● the 〈◊〉 Seal was opened, ●here 〈…〉 even for the space ●f ha●f ●n 〈◊〉; after this silence ●he seven A●●el prepare to ●ound with ●●●ir seven ●●●●pets, Revel. 8. wherefore 〈…〉 eal contain the intervals of ●●l the seven Trumpets. 8●. But the ●n●●●vals ●f these Trumpets ●re reckoned f●●m the seventh Trumpet, ●or at the sou●d of the seventh Trumpet begins the Milleni●m, and the Kingdoms ●f this World become the Kingdoms of God and his Christ, Revel. 11.15. and ●he sound of this Trumpet lasts 260 years, ●o wit, from the year of the World 5740 〈◊〉 the year of the World 6●00, and in ●h●s interval the mystery of God shall be 〈◊〉 s●mm●ted, viz. the mysterious name of T●tragramaton shall be unlock`d, and no ●ess than the reward of an immortal Life bestowed on all the Servants of God, and ●hen indeed the promise which God made ●o M●ses in the Bush shall be fulfilled. I am ●he God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, ●nd it shall be known that God is not the God of the Dead, but of the living. 88 But the interval of the seventh Trumpet being known, the intervals of all th● rest are known also, and are thus computed, The interval of the seventh Trumpet, from the year of the World 5740 to 6000 The interval of the sixth Trumpet, from the year of the World 5480 to 574● The interval of the fifth Trumpet from the year of the World 5220 to 548● The interval of the fourth Trumpet from the year of the World 4960 to 522● The interval of the third Trumpet from the year of the World 4700 to 496● The interval of the second Trumpet from the year of the World 4440 to 4●0● The interval of the first Trumpet, from the year of the World. 4180 to 444● 89. And from the Nativity of Christ ●hus. 1 218 2 478 3 738 4 998 5 1258 6 1518 7 1778 2038 The interval of the first Trumpet gins at the year of Christ's Nativity, 218, which ●s the 184th year from Christ's Resurrection, which number ●●4, answers to half an hour, within which time the Saints offered many prayers to God by ●esus Christ. Revel. 8.3.4.5. 90. Now the said Events plainly answer ●o those Intervals. At the sound of the ●●rst Trumpet, there followed Ha●l and ●ire mixed with Blood. The Interval of his Trumpet is from the year of Christ`s' Nativity 218, to the year 478, within ●hich space of time the Roman Empire ●●gan to be vexed with grievous Wars. At ●●e ●●und of the second Trumpet, a great ●●●ning Mountain was cast into the Sea, ●nd t●e t●i●d part of the Sea it sel● wa●●●rn'd into Blood, the interval of this ●rumpet is from the year 478, to the 738, within which interval or space of time, ●●●re was most cruel and hideous Wars in 〈◊〉 Roman Empire. At the sound of the ●●i●d Trumpet, a great Star fell from Hea●en upon those that were living, and up●n the fountains of Waters, and burned like a Lamp, by reason whereof the waters were made bitter, and killed many. The interval of this Trumpet is from the year ●●8, to the year 998; by this Star● without all peradventure, the Pope o● Rome is to be understood, who within thi● interval advanced himself above all other Bishops, whom he corrupted with himself At the sound of the fourth Trumpet fro● the year 998, to the year 1258, the thir● part of the Sun, Moon, and Stars, wa● smitten and darkened. This doubtless signifies that the Emperor and Empere● together with the Nobility, and Prince's o● the Empire, should be very much eclipse● and darkened within this interval, and th● too by the power of the Pope, who i●●he same interval set himself above the temperour. 91. When the fifth Angel sounded 〈◊〉 Trumpet, a Star fell f●om Heaven, a●● to him was given the key of the bo●t●●●less pit, etc. And when the bottomless 〈◊〉 was opened, and a smoke ascended fro● thence, and from that smoak proc●ede● locusts u●on the Earth, which cruelly v●●●ed and tormented Mankind, c●rt●●inly 〈◊〉 all these is meant the School Men and D●●ctors, who have so miserably ga●l'd a●● disquieted Men with their perverse Opi●●nions and Controversies, and infested the● with their sharp and venomous stings, that many choose rather to die than to live, and this happened ●rom the year 1258 to 1518, but their chief time was 5 Months, viz. 150 years, to wit, from the year 1368 to 15●8. 92. Lastly at the sound of t●e sixth Trumpet, the four Angels bound at the River Euphrates are loosed, which doubtless signifies the vast and mighty pow●r of the Turks, (which they had prepared 390 yea●s ago, that is, from the year 1228) and poured in upon E●rope like an inundation, to slay the third pa●t of Mankind, as it were the third part of the World, and this began from the year 1518; whosoever doubts o● the truth hereof, let him consult the Turkish Hi●●o●●, and he will find how great success the Turk has had in Eur●pe, and what progress he hath made ●rom that time, to this very day. 93. The inter●als of the Seals and Trumpets being known, the mystery of the seven Phials with the intervals o● every one of them, unsolds and displays itself. 94. For the interval of the last Trumpet comprehends th● intervale of all ●he seven Phials, and the interval o● each P●ial contains 3● years. 9●. Therefore the intervals of the Phi●●s are thus computed. The Interval of the first Phial from the Year 1518 to the Year 1558 1 And so of all the rest to the seventh 1592. 2 1629 3 1666 4 1703 5 1740 6 1777 7 96. Now the event of these things wonderfully answers those Intervals; for in the Year 1518, that is, according to the vulgar Computation in the year 1515, which if we believe Uscherus, (fails of the true Computation three or four Years) Luther was raised up, who was, as it were, the first Phial, poured out on the Earth of the Antichristian World; for he did, as it were, sensibly touch the Kingdom of Antichrist, from the top to the bottom again. From the year 1558, to the year 1595, the second Phial was poured out; for then the whole Sea of the Antichristian World became as the Blood of the Slain, and thence began fierce and bloody Wars, almost in all parts of the Antichristian Kingdom, so that the very Sea seemed to be died with Blood. From the year 1592., to the year 1692, the third Phial was poured out upon the Rivers and Fountains of Water, and they were turned into Blood. And this also answers to the said Interval; for certain Dukes and Noblemen were killed with the Sword under that Interval. Again, from the 1629, to the year 1666, the fourth Phial was poured out upon the Son of Antichrist, because in that Interval Jesus Ch●ist the Son of Righteousness shone clearly in the Hearts of many, which scorched and burnt up those Men, who had the mark of the Beast. And from the year 1666, to the year 1703, the fifth Phial is poured out upon the Throne of the Beast, which very thing is already begun; wherefore we joyfully expect his Ruin and Downfall till the aforesaid year 1703. The effusion of the sixth Phial hath respect to the Slaughter and Destruction o● the Turks, to make way for the Kings of the East, that is, the jews and Israelites, to return into their own Country. Lastly, the effusion of the seventh Phials bring utter destruction to the Kingdom of Antichrist, and all the Enemies of the Gospel. Babylon is utterly overthrown, and New-Ierusalem appears as a Bride, adorned for her Husband. 97. But it remains, that we explain what the four Beasts and 24. Elders are. By four Beasts 'tis meant the whole Assembly of the Saints, and termed four, from their four great Revolutions aforementioned, and likened to four Beasts. And by the 24 Elders are understood the twelve Proph●●● and ●welve Apostles of Christ, who are thos● Prophet's in the Law, in the second Book of Esdras, Chap. 1. where God expressly promised, and nominated them, together with Abraham, Isaac and jacob, for Captains and Leaders to the jewish and Israel●tish People, when the Kingdom of God shall be restored to them. 98. First of all, therefore the Prophets shall be born into the World in the beginning of the Millenium, who are the Captains and Ring leaders to all that shall be born afterwards, and the Apostles shall be the last of all, who shall remain on Earth to the coming of Christ. 99 But as touching Abraham, Isaac, and jacob, they are of an higher rank than the rest, whether Prophets or Apostles. 100 Moreover it is worth our diligent enquiry, whether Isaac be not that Seed of Abraham which Christ assumed when he came into the Flesh; for the promise, which God made to Abraham was concerning Isaac, that in him all Nations should be blessed. 101. And then if Isaac was that Seed, it is farther to b● enquired whether th● Soul of Isaac had perform`d his twelve Revolutions from the beginning of the World, as others had done; if this be granted, se● in St. Luke's Genealogy of Christ, whether the twelve Revolutions of the same Soul be not described in order, putting Abel in the room of Adam, a new Revolution of the s●me Souls, always gins after every seventh Generation. 102. And these are the names of this Soul in his 12 Revolutions. 1. Abel, 2. Methusela, 3. Heber, 4. Isaac, 5. Naas●n, 6. Mattatha, 7. Simeon, 8. Elmodam, 9 Rhesa, 10. Naggy, 11. Melchi, 12. Christ. For seven Generations do intervene in all these Revolutions, except in the last only, where there are not reckoned 7, but 6, which may be understood after this manner, viz. the Resurrection of Christ from the Dead, was the seventh, and his Ascension into Heaven, as it were the eighth Generation. 103. Therefore there are accounted seven Generations between every Revolution, because certainly in the Revolutions of other Souls, the same Souls do return after every sixth and seventh Generation. But the Interval of six Generations cannot agree to that Soul which Christ assumed for two reasons; first, because than he would not have had only 12, but above 13 Revolutions; secondly, because no Revolution would have fallen on Isaac, wh●ch is absurd. 104. Which Hypothesis being admitted, sundry portions of sacred Writ, very mysterious, and hard to be understood, are with a wonderful Harmony unlocked. And the mystery of Christ's Nativity will agree with divers other Mysteries herein delivered which will be farther insisted upon hereafter. 105. Th● most difficult passages of Scripture hereby explained, are (1) Gen. 3.15, that the Seed of the Woman shall bruise the Serpent's Head, which Seed of the Woman according to the aforesaid Hypothesis, is to be understood of Abel, even as the Seed of the Serpent is to be understood of Cain; for in these two Seeds, as in two Roots, the Children of God, (2.) and the Children of this World are comprehended. When Cain was born, Eve said I have received a Man, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 jehovah, or as others read it with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. If the former be allow`d, that is badly and falsely applied unto Cain, which was due unto Abel: If the latter, it intimates that together with that worldly Man, she had received him likewise, who in the fullness of time should bear the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (3.) Isaiah 7.14. A Virgin shall conceive and bring forth a Son, and she shall call his Name Immanuel, which Matthew applies to Christ, who was born of the Virgin- Marry, which prophesy nevertheless, aught to have been fulfilled in the days of King Ahaz. Admit then that this prophecy was fulfilled in the days of King Ahaz, and afterwards when Christ was born, to wit, that the same Soul was twice born in the Flesh of a Virgin, and peradventure of the same Mother; then this Prophecy will be easily understood. And such a Virginian Birth answers to the eight Revolution, having the name of Elmodam, who was contemporary with King Ahaz. Notwithstanding Ez was said to have been his Father, for Christ was called the Son of joseph also. (4. Host 11.1. Out of Egypt have I called my Son, this Prophecy was fulfilled long before, yet the Evangelist applies it to the time, when Mary returned with the Child out of Egypt, which if understood of the same Soul, both accomplishments will agree together; for Naasson the Prince of the Children of juda, who departed out of Egypt with the rest of the Israelites, answers to the fifth Revolution of the same Soul. (5. Gen. 49.10. The Sceptre shall not departed from juda, nor a Lawgiver from between his Feet, till Shilo come, that is, he who was promised to be the King and Lawgiver of all the People, shall not departed ●rom the Tribe of juda, but shall perform his entire Revolutions, in a direct Line of that Tribe, and that notwithstanding all manner of Affliction and Persecution which should press the jewish Nation, there shall still remain the Root of jesse, which will at length bring forth the promised Branch of Salvation into the World And this Prophecy cannot be understood of the outward Sceptre or Kingdom of juda, for that was departed from juda above 1●0 years before Christ's Incarnation, to wit, during the whole Reign of the Maccabees, who were Levites, Mich. 5.2. Out of thee, viz. Bethelem, shall come the Captain or L●ader of my people Israel, whose go forth have been of old, even from everlasting, or as in the Original, from the days of Ages: For according to the aforesaid Hypothesis, he had 12 out-going or Revolutions from the beginning of the World to that time wherein he was born of the Virgin-Mary. (7.) Isaiah 61.1.2. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, etc. to show the acceptable year o● the Lord; and therefore that time wherein Christ came in the Flesh, was called the acceptable year of the Lord, to wit, because agreeable to the said Hypothesis; even as the Sun runs through the 12 parts of the Zodiac, and finishes his course in one year; so Christ the Sun of Righteousness, in the space of 4000 years, which is (as it were) a mystical year, accomplishes his 12 Re●volutions through the 12 parts of time. And therefore St. Paul called that time when he was born of the Virgin Mary, the fullness of time; compare herewith that of the Nineteenth Psal. from verse 1. to verse 7. (8.) That that Psalm is to be understood of Christ, the Prophets and Apostles, and the Church of God is evident ●rom Roman 10.18. (9) See also Heb. 10. ●5. Psal. 40.46. Sacrifice and Burnt Offering ●he● wouldst not, but a Body hast thou prepared me; but this Body is not a mere Body, but an animated Body, that is, a Soul with a Body, to wit, the very Seed of A●raham which Christ assumed, which seed was fitted and qualified by 12 Revolutions, even as by so many preparations ●rom the beginning of the World to that time, to ●e at last a Throne and a Tabernacle for ●he King of Glory Jesus Christ, all which ●re but according to the said Hypothesis ●●nd not positively affirmed; wherefore ●y the assistance of divine Grace, we shall with Sobriety, inquire farther into the Truth of the aforementioned Hypothesis, be●ore we absolutely and positively assert it. (10.) Moreover the aforesaid Hypothesis ●eems wonderfully to illustrate that Scripture where Christ is called our Forerunner, ●nd doubtless because according to it, he ●an the course of his 12 Revolutions, from the beginning of the World, and was the first that had finished the course and period of them. (11.) And finally that he was made like unto us in all things, Sin excepted which is more illustrated by this Hypothesis; there are sundry other places of Scripture, which seem to be very much illustrated by the said Hypothesis, notwithstanding that, where Christ is said to have once appeared in the end of the World, to purge away Sin by the Sacrifice of himself; because indeed that Soul bore the name of Christ and Lord only in his twelfth Revolution. For neither Abel nor Isaac, or any other of those 12 Revolutions was called Christ, nor ought any of them to bear the dignity or Character of Christ, till they had performed their 12 Revolutions, whereby that Soul ought to be fitted and prepared to Assume this excellent Title and Dignity. Wherefore it is true that Christ was but once born in the Flesh, and but once suffered for the Sins of all Mankind, even according to the aforesaid Hypothesis; because Christ did not assume that Soul in a personal unity, as the seed of Abraham till the 12 Revolution. (12.) Lastly, because Moses foretold that God would raise up a Prophet to the Israelitish People, from amongst their Brethren like unto him. The Word raise up, seems to intimate that the Soul of the same Prophet had lived before in the Flesh, yea was at time living in the Flesh. Moreover the v Hypothesis (if it should gain admittance) would arm us, with the most effectual Argument to convince the jews, that that was the very Messiah who was Born of the Virgin Mary, and suffered under Pontius Pilate. For he ought not to have come sooner, nor later into the World than he did because if he had come sooner, he could not have performed his Revolution o● 3996 years. 〈◊〉 ought not to come later, because 〈◊〉 some Souls would have finished all their Revolutions before the Messiah was come, and so would have been frustrated and disappointed of the Fruit of his coming, which could not be. 107. But laying aside the aforesaid Hypothesis, still the Argument remains as strong as before, to convince the jews that the Messiah ought not to have come later into the World than he actually did. (The jews themselves deny his coming sooner) because indeed if he had come later, then certain Souls would have completed their 12 Revolutions before he came, and so would have reaped no benefit by the Messiah coming into the World. 108. This Argment will be more forcible to convince the jews, because the jews themselves do acknowledge the Revolution of Souls to live divers times in the Flesh, altho' they are ignorant of the number of those Revolutions; yet they expect that all shall at last be raised up, and restored to ●ife in the days of the Messiah, that they may enjoy the Benefits of his coming, when he shall come. Now if it can be made appear to them from the Old Testament, which they acknowledge and believe, that there are 12 Revolutions of humane Souls, living in a Body of Flesh, and neither more nor less, even till they are at length perfected in a good or evil; I think we need not doubt, but may positively conclude, that the jews, at leastwise all who are ingenious, and covet in any Measure or Degree the knowledge of the truth, will be convinced that the Messiah is come, and in the next place believe his coming in the Flesh; that he suffered Death, and risen again from the Dead, and in believing, be converted, and become true Christians, which God of his Mercy hast●n and accomplish, Amen. 109. Paul in 1 Cor. 15.51. saith, We shall not all sleep● but we shall be all changed; in which Words he plainly hints, that some of the Saints shall sleep after they shall be bor● a●ain in the Flesh, and be again raised from 〈◊〉 ●●ead; this indeed is affirmed of 〈…〉 El●as, ●ho are to come into the 〈…〉 Yea●s before the Millenium, and 〈…〉 in the Flesh, who shall proph●●● three Years and an half in the World, and chief to the jews, and People 〈◊〉 Israel, which three Years and an half being expired, they are to be killed by the Beast, and in three days and an half raised up to Life again in the same Bodies, wherein they were slain; and being thus raised up to Life, they shall not remain on Earth, but ascend into the Heavens, and there remain with Christ, till the end of the World, and then indeed they shall come with him, in the Clouds of Heaven. 110. And that those two Witnesses, Rev. 11. are those two Prophets, who in a proper and literal Sense were to be killed, seems to me most evident, which will be between the sixth and seventh Trumpet, viz. in the end of the Interval of the sixth Trumpet, as it is to be seen from the words of the Revelations. Also the days of their Prophecy are 1260 Days; not signifying so many Years, but only so many common Days; because there are not 1260 Years between the sixth and seventh Trumpet, but only 260, and yet this admirable event will happens between those Trumpets, yea, in the end of the sixth Trumpet; for they shall be born and slain in the space of 45 Years before the beginning of the Millenium. 111. That Elias shall come before the beginning of the Millenium, appears from the words of Christ; Elias truly shall come, and restore all things. 112. And lastly, That Moses and Elias were to come and be slain, and raised again from the Dead, and then ascend into Heaven, and remain with Christ the whole Millenium, appears from Christ's Transfiguration in the Mount, where were seen with him Moses and Elias, and these are they whom God the Father hath ordained to sit the one at the Right Hand, and the other at the Left Hand of Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven. 113. Wherefore they are of an higher Order and Rank than all the Prophets and Apostles. 114. Therefore diligently weigh, and consider, whether Abraham, Isaac and jacob, that sit in the Kingdom of Heaven, be not Moses, Christ and Elias, of whom Christ has for the greatest Dignity? Consider also whether the same Moses was not Enoch, and whether or not what is written o● Enoch and Elias, that they should be translated into Heaven, doth not answer truly to this Translation of M●ses and Elias? for in the first Translation they did not obtain the Resurrection of a glorified Body; but it ●a●her happened to them in a figure; for Ch●●●● only was the first of all that attai●●● the Resurrection of a glorified Body, 〈…〉 is call●d in Scripture the first 〈…〉 among the De●d, and the first 〈…〉 the Resurrection from the Dead. 〈…〉 ou● Lo●d and Saviour Jesus 〈◊〉 arose ●ir●t of all from the Dead, 〈◊〉 ●ore to suffer Death; then the first o● all● who s●●ll arise after him, is Moses and Elias, and then the other Prophets and Apostles, with all the Saints, every one in his Order. 115. And that those two Prophets and Witness in the Revelation, were indeed Moses and Elias, is tacitly signified in these Wo●●●; they shall have power to withhold the Rain, that it shall not rain upon the the Earth, and to turn the Waters into Blood; both which were in old time imputed to the said Prophets. Moses turned the Waters into Blood, and Elias had power over the Rain; therefore when those Prophets shall come into the World, they shall likewise produce these Signs and Miracles literally understood. 116. And indeed that Moses was not to live on Earth in the future Millenium, seems to be clearly figured from hence: that he should not ent●r the Land of Promise, but die in the Land of Moab; of whom nevertheless, it was said, when he died, that his Eye was not darkened, nor his strength o● Nature impaired. And altho' God seemed to exclude Moses from entering into the Land of Promise, because he spoke unadvisedly at the Waters of Meribah, and so was thus chastised for it; yet God out of his infinite Goodness and Mercy did transfer that Chastisement into a greater Favour and Blessing to him. 117. Then as touching Abraham, Isaac and jacob, they indeed did s●arce possess that Land of Promise, but only conversed therein ●or a little time, as Strangers and Pilgrims; for that Land was rather promised to their Seed, than to the Fathers themselves. See Deut. 34.4. which also was a Figure of this Mystery; that neither Abraham, Isaac n●r jacob should dwell on Earth in the Millenium, but during the Millenium should remain together in Heaven. 118. It remains now, that we produce certain promises and Prophecies, and other Testimonies of the Holy Ghost out of the Scriptures, whereby may be proved, that all the Saints shall be yet placed upon the Earth, (viz. in the Millenium) to live together a most Holy and Bles●ed Life, except those three extraordinary Men, who instead of that reward on Earth, obtain a more worthy and excellent Reward in Heaven. The places of Scripture, both of the Old and New Testament, are these following; Exod. 20.12. Honour thy Father and thy Mother, that thy Days may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Which promise Paul applies to the Gospel. Eph. 6.2. Numb. 14.12. The whole Earth shall be filled with the Glory of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jehovah. Deut. 32.39. See now that I, even I am he, and there is no God with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal, etc. v. 43. Rejoice O ye Nations with his People, for he will revenge the Blood of his Servants, and render Vengeance to his Adversaries, and will be merciful to his Land, and to his People. Moreover in the second Book of Samuel, chap. 23. ver. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. There is extant a famous Prophecy of the Kingdom of Christ, to come in the end of the World, and the destruction of the Kingdom of the Ungodly. Likewise job hath attested his Belief, that he hoped he should be raised up in the last day, to live again in the Flesh, ch. 19.26. He likewise affirmed that he should enter naked into his Mother's Womb, as he came naked out, ch. 1.21. But the Book of Psalms contains many famous Prophecies of Christ's Kingdom before the end of the World. See Psal. 1. 3, 4, 5. Psal. 2. 8, 9 Psal. 8. Psal. 37. 29. Psal. 45.14, 15, 16, 17. Psal. 46.9, 10, 11, 12. Psal. 68.31, 32, 33. Psal. 72.3, 4, 5, ●. Psal. 90.13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Psal. 110. ●a●a● 〈◊〉 is almost wholly taken up in the Description of this happy Age, and in a manner ●ll the Prophets do abundantly testify o● th● same. And so jesse in these following ●●●●ces, chap. 2. ver. 10. to ver. 22. c 4. v. ●, ●. c. 6. v. 13. c. 11. from v. 4. to v. 9 c. ●● c. 23. v. 21, 22, 23. c. 24. c. 25. from v. ●● to 12. c. 26. v. 1. c. 27. from v. 13. to 2● c. 51● 11. c. 52. c. 54. c. 58. v. 14. c. 60, 61 62, 65. from v. 17. to the end of c. 66. See also these places of jeremiah, c, 12. v. 15. c. 30. v. 17, 18, 19 etc. c. 46. v. 27. Ezekiel, c. 36, 37, 47, 48. Daniel, c. ●. v. 13, 14, 27. c. 8. v. 14● c. 12. v. 2, 13, 14. Hosea, c. 6. v. 2. c. 13. v. 14. c. 14. v. 7. Joel, c. 3. v. 15, 16, 17. Amos, c. 9 v. 11. to 15. Obed. v. 17. to the end. Mich. c. 4. c. 5. c. 7. v. 20. Neh. c. 1. v. 15. Hab. c. ●. ● 4. Zeph. c● 3● from v. 8. to the end, H●g. c. 2. v. 21, 22, 23. Zach. c. 12. v. 8. c. 14. v. 9 Malach. c. 4. v. 1, 2, 3, 5: Some of which Places have been already fulfilled, and are now a fulfilling in some Degree, in Relation to the first Fruits; but the Final and Total accomplishment of all these things appertains to the Millenium. See ●●so the following places of the New Testament, Matt●. c. 15, v. 5, c. 19 from v. 28. to v. 30. Mar. c. 10. v. 29.30. The words, with Persecutions are to be transferred with the following. Luc. c. 18. v. 30. Acts c. 3. v. 21. Rom. c. 13. v. 11.12. 1 Cor. 15. from v. 42 to v. 52. 1 Thess. c. 5. v. 15.16.17. Heb. c. 4. v. 9, 10, 11. 2 Pet. c. 3. v. 13. jud. v. 14. Revel. c. 11. v. 15. to 19 c. 20. v. 4, 5, 6, 7. c. 21. v 1, 2, 3. 119. Those seven Churches of As●a to whom St. john wrote his Revelations, do most certainly signifiy the seven Intervals of the Universal Church, from the Death and Resurrection of Christ, to the end of the World. Now the Interval of Philadelphia (whose Seeds is not only now in the World, but her first Fruits also) gins from the Year 1702, and continues to the Year of Christ's Nativity 1777. At what time the Millenium shall begin, for the promise of New jerusalem on Earth was chief exhibited to the Church of Philadelphia; lastly, the Millenium being almost expired, follows the Interval of the Church of Laodicea, but this Church belongs not to the Saints of New-Ierusalem, but is of another Order, and of a different kind, who will have the profession of the Christian Religion, but without sincerity, And because God hath invited them to Repentance, 'tis possible they may Repent, and yet for all that, not enjoy the Millenial Happiness, nor the Resurrection of the Just in this World. But their Salvation and Happiness will be deferred to the next succeeding World. But those that do not Repent, will be cast into Hell Fire, with other Wicked and ungodly Men, where they shall suffer most Tremenduous and Inexpressible Torments, at least for the space of 7000 Years. And they are such, whose Sins Christ said should neither be forgiven in this World, nor that which is to come. Certain Annotations to be Added. 1- Because the number of the Beast Revel. 13. is said to be 666, and is called the number of a Man, this very well agrees with what has been said before; for every Face contains 333 Years, and because the second Face is of a Man, therefore the number (666) is the number of a Man, to wit, containing 666 Years, from the Year sin●e Christ's Nativity 1036, to the Year 1702, for about the said Year 1036 the second Beast (whose number is here computed) Ascended out of the Earth; vix. in the time when Gregory the seventh flourished, who Exalted himself above the Emperor. 2, Seeing the Intrerval of every Seal (except the seventh) contains 333 Years; hence it appears that from the Death and Resurrection of Christ, to the first part of the Millenium there are about 2000 Years: and therefore from Christ's Death and Resurrection, to the end of the World there are about 3000 Years, which confirms the aforesaid Chronology, the same is also confirmed by the Intervals of the Trumpets. 3. Now whereas the Interval of each Trumpet is 260 Years, this doth not seem to want a mystery, for so many days, as it were, doth the Infant remain in his Mother's Womb; and in Esdras, the Lodging Rooms or Chambers of the Soul, are likened to the Womb of a W●man; because then exactly in 260 Years the Soul is recalled to live again in a Body of Flesh, as it were at the sound of the Trumpet of God himself; therefore the Interval of every Trumpet is 260 Years, to which, if 73 Years be added, for the age of M●n in a Body of Flesh, the sum will be 333 Years aforesaid. 4. Moreover God out of his great Goodness and Wisdom, has so decreed, that Men should not live altogether, and at one time, a thousand Years complete in the corrupt state of a Carnal Body, and it stands with the justice of God that they shall live the said thousand Years by parts, for by the frequent Death of Men, Mankind is better provided for, and their Benefit and Advantage consulted; for thus God often cuts off Men, to plant and engraft them anew. Whereas if Men should at once live a thousand Years completely in the State of Corruption they would so degenerate; that their Repentance and Salvation wo●ld be far more difficult. 5. But if any should demand, to what purpose God should call his Saints to live in a Terrestrial and Carnal Body a thousand Years, and whether it were not better for them, and more desirable to them to remain with God in the Heavens; I answer, God knows better than we what is most conducive to our Profit and Advantage. And therefore the Saints ought to live a thousand Years on Earth, partly that they may receive a visible Reward from God, in the sight of the Wicked and Ungodly, to their greater shame, confusion and Condemnation, and partly, and indeed chief that they may be prepared, and quali●ied in that Millenium, or thousand Years of Life, to obtain so much, and so great Glory, as they shall be invested with, when they shall ascend Bodily into Heaven. A FEW QUESTIONS BY Way of Exposition, ON Each Chapter of the Revelations of St. john. Wherein little, or in a manner nothing (except what pertains to the History) is positively concluded, but all are left to the free and Impartial judgement and Ezamination of the lovers of Truth. CHAP. I. QU●st. 1. What may we understand by the seven Churches of Asia. By Churches seven States of the Vniveersal Ch. to whom john wrote? Whether seven Churches then in being? Or rather whether they were not seven States of the Universal Church, from the time of our Saviour Christ's Resurrection, to that so famous and noted time of the Restoration of all things, called in sundry places of Scripture a Sabbath. And in the old Testament prefigured under the common Sabbath of Days and Years? Which if john had intended of particular Churches then in Being, why did he confine himself to a septenary Number● were there not in Asia more than seven Churches? Again, seeing he termed that which he wrote unto them a Prophecy, which hath respect to the time to come; this doth not seem to agree so well with certain particular Churches then in being, as with the Universal Church, understood by seven States or Conditions, this Church was in for the space of 2000 Years, and seeing a septenary number, is a mystical Number, whether or no this doth not seem to be adapted to the Mystery of the seven Spirits, Stars or Angels? Quest. 2. Who are we to understand by the seven Angels of the seven Churches? Whether are they Precedents or Pastors, or Angels properly so called, having distinct Administrations over those Churches? For it appears from D●niel and other places of Scripture, that they were set over Kingdoms and Nations as God`s Vicegerents. Why not then over Churches? Seeing they are called ministering Spi●its, sent out to minister t● all those who shall be Heirs of Salvation, He●. 1.14. And Heb. 2.5. it is 〈◊〉 unto the Angels, he hath not as y●t put in subjection the World to come. Whether or no this doth not intimate that this present World is subject to Angels, but the World to come, only subject to God and Christ? And lastly seeing the Kingdoms of this World have their Ages and periods of time, the Church will likewise have her Ages and Periods. And why may not peculiar Angels be understood to preside and govern in particular Ages of the Church, appointed and ordained by the most high, to execute that Function. CHAP. II. QUest. 3. Whether or no the interval of the Church * The Church of Ephesus from the year 1● to the year ●●●, since Christ's Resurrection. of Ephesus, (according to the aforesaid Hypoth●sis) will not contain 33●● years from the Resurrection of Christ, and in like manner the Church of Smyrna the same, and so understand o● the rest, except the Church of Laodic●a, concerning which it may be questioned, whether it doth no● belong to the interval of the Church of Philadelphia? For in respect of its State and Condition, where●of john gave an excellent description, it extends to the Sabbath of the World. Then whether the Church of Laodicea will no● have the same interval of time with it, tho● it be not the same with the said Church, but widely different from it? Who are to be understood by the Church of Laodicea ● but certain lukewarm professors of the Christian Religion having a great notion and profession of the truth, but possessing in a manner nothing of the Life and Power of it? And doth not this clearly appear from the signification of the Words Philad●lphia and Laodice●? For Philadelphia signifies the love of the Brethren, including certain Christian Virtues, but Laodicea imports as much as popular Justice, which for the most part is in a manner none at all● Furthermore by the same Reason, th● whole interval of two thousand years may be distributed into six equal partest whereof each will contain 333 years and ⅓ of a year. Whether is it not more consentaneous to reason, that those intervals of the Churches be equally divided, if the Historical events of them do better agree with these equal intervals or distances than with others that are unequal? Quest. 4. Do not the names of the seven Churches symbolically intimate some certain marks and properties of the said Churches? and whether or no that Term or Title of Asia signifies only that part of the World so called, or rather the whole Globe of the Earth or visible World, which by some learned Men is called Asia, from the Hebrew Root, Gnasa, that is, he made, as distinguished from those superior Worlds, jezirah Briah and Aziluth so called: all which names of World's a●e to be found in Scripture. Quest. 5. Whether or no the Name, Title or Character of the Church * The Ephesian Church. of Ephesus, doth not properly agree to the State of the Church from the time of Christ's Resurrection, to the year of his Ascension 333, which is the three Hundred si●ty and sixth year * Anno 366. from his Nativity, for some render the Word in Latin, Desiderabilis, desirable, or Amabilis, Lovely, and certainly such was the primitive Church from ●he days of the Apostles, or as others read it, Remittens, Relaxatus, importing to slacken, and r●l●nt, as the Holy Ghost complains in john, ●aying, Th●y ha●e forsaken their first Love, for quickly a●ter the Apostles Days, the love of many waxed cold, yet in many things that Church was to be commended, as in their Works, Labour, and Patience, not giving toleration to evil Men, nor such who boasted that they were Apostles, but were not, when they came to the Trial. Quest. 6. Was not that threat of the Lord against them, clearly fulfilled in the following the Interval of 333 years and ⅓, that unless they did timely repent, the Lord himself would shortly come, and remove their Candlestick from them? For in many places where Christianity flourished heretofore, in the next, and succeeding Intervals there was scarce any visible Profession of it to be seen. For the same places where anciently the Christian Religion flourished, were afterwards under the Power and Dominion of foul and abominable Heathenism and Mahometism. Quest. 7. And doth not the Name, Title, or Character of the Church * Smyrna. of Smyrna aptly agree to the State of the Church from the year 333⅓ since Christ's Resurrection unto the year † Anno 7000 from the 666⅔? Now Smyrna in Latin signifies Myrrh, and truly the small number of the faithful, and sincere were (as I may so say) in comparison of the vast multitude of false and unsound Christians, that swarmed in the following Interval, like unto a handful of Myrrh, as well retaining their own purity, as serving to purify others, and keeping themselves from the height of Corruption and Uncleanness. And altho' the state of this Church happened in an exceeding Bad, and most corrupt Age in ●espect of the former; yet was the said Ch●rch blamed in nothing, but comm●●ded for her Works, and is said to be ri●● notwithstanding her Poverty and Tribulation. For God mightily comforted and supported her under her Afflictions, that she was to undergo, and foretells her the ten days of Tribulations which he would bring upon her, and that Satan should cast some of them into Prison. And here also the Lord hath plainly painted out this false Church that arose in this second interval, saying, ` I know their Blasphemy, who said they were Jews, and are not, but of the Synagogue of Satan. Quest. 8. What was meant by those ten days of Tribulation, which this Church was to undergo? Are they ten natural or common days, or rather ten certain times or days of persecution? For the time of persecution is commonly called a day wherein that scorching Sun of the persecutors arises. And lastly, what are those a The ten persecutions continued as it were but one. ten days of Persecution? For indeed, it is commonly affirmed that there were ten persecutions which disquieted the Church within 300 years after Christ`s' Resurrection, and seeing they for the most part followed one another, hence it is, they rather merit the name of one continued persecution, than ten, but in the second Interval, to wit, from the year 33¾ to 66 6/●, after Christ's Resurrection the Church enjoyed some bright and glorious intervals, and had a time of Respite, Peace and Tranquillity, and that too under the shelter and protection of certain pious Kings and Emperors, such as were Theodosius the first and the s●cond, and others; yet this Church suffered many sharp persecutions in this second Interval, p●rtly by Heathen Kings, and partly by emperors infected with the Arrian and Eutychian Heresies. And finally what added most to the weight of her Affliction, was that she was fo●c'd to feel a far more grievous persecution under the Christians so called, than she had suffered in the former Interval under the Heathens. Moreover if any hath, or will take the pains to read the ●i●●ory of this Ecclesiastical Interval, and especially Lucas O●●andrus, Alstedius, or any other ancient ecclesiastical Writer, he will find, that ten very considerable persecutions o● the Church truly happened in this Interval. And if any more were found to have happened in certain particular places, or to private Persons, ●hey may be referred to the ten aforementioned, whereby the number ●en will be the mo●e complete. Quest. 9, Doth not the Name and Character of the Church of *. Pergàmus. Pergamus, seem to agree well enough wi●h the third Interval of the Church from the Year after Chri●t's Resurrection 66 6/7, †. from the year 700, to 1666. to the Year 1000? For as Pergamus was ●he Metropolis, or chief City of Asia, abounding with lofty Towers, and Magnificent Buildings; so in the third Interval, the outward form● and visible Face of the Church seemed exceeding high, and stately in ●ime of Peace, and the Popes of Rome became very proud and ambitious, insomuch, that it was at that time made no less than a capital Crime to ●esist their Authority; yea, and some wer● put to death for it. Also in the same Interval, there were divers Popes, who were Magicians and Necromancers, and ●herefore it might be well said● That Satan fixed his Sea● at Rome, or in the Roman Ch. signified by the Church of Pergamus, where Antipas was slain; and is not the whole number of the faithful Witnesses of God comprehended under the figure of Antipas, who either in this or the succeeding Intervals were put to death for opposing the Antichristian Tyranny and Ambition of the Popes, as the word Antipas seems plainly to intimate? Quest. 10. And was not the Idolatry and Spiritual fornication of this third Interval, wherein the Adoration of Images and worshipping of Saints, was Instituted by the Popes of Rome, but especially by the second Nicaean Council, predicted in these words, which were spoken to the Church of Pergamus, ch. 2. v. 14. Thou hast there such as hold the Doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to ●ay an offence before the People of Israel, that they should ●at things offered to Idol; and commit Fornication; also thou hast such as embrace the Doctrine of the Nicola●●ans, which I have abhorred? And indeed within this Interval, there did not only mightily abound the Spiritual Fornication of Idolatry and Superstition; but Carnal, and Corporal also, for then ●er● the Popes and Priests of the Romis● Church prohibited Matrimony. Quest. 11. Wherefore was that hidden Man●a promised to those that overcame in this Interval, unless it was designed for the state of the Church then fled into the Wilderness, or a solitary place? For as God in times past ●ed the Children o● Isra●l in the outward Wilderness with Manna from Heaven, when the means of obtaining outward Bread was wanting, so doth God promise to feed his faithful People in this third Interval with his hidden Manna, which is the word of Life in their Hearts, which ●hall be mo●e largely communicated to them, when they shall not have the f●ee liberty o● hearing the faithful Minister's of Christ. Moreover why in the first Interval was it promised to those that overcame to partake o●●he Fruit of the Tree of Life in the midst of Paradise; but because in this first Interval the Kingdom of God was manifestly and clearly laid open, like the celestial Paradise, the Church of God also flourished in this ●irst Interval, like the said Paradise, in the middle whereof, Christ the Tree of Li●e, brought forth in the Hearts of the Faithful his most amiable and salutiferous Fruits of Divine Life. B●t in the second Interval, by reason of the great Apostasy of the Professors of the Christ●●n Religion, this Paradise of God was absconded and hidden; and nevertheless it was promised to such as overcame, that they should not be hurt by the second Death, which by inverting the words, is all one, as to say they should eat of the Fruit of the Tree o● Life, therefore was a Promise made unto them, that they should not be hurt by the second Death, because in this interval the greatest part of Christians so called, by reason of their Apostasy from the primitive purity, were to suffer the punishment of the second Death. Quest. 12. Doth not the Name or Character of the Church of * Thyatira. of Thyatira, suitably agreed with the Church within the fourth interval, to wit, from the year of Chris●s Resurrection 1000, to the year † 33 31/43. 1332? Now Thyatira signifies a Sacrifice of Labour, and indeed this Church is commended for her Works, her Charity, Ministry, Faith and Patience, and the latter exceeded the former, which Praise or Commendation certainly was only applicable to a small number of the faithful in the said Interval, which lay hid as a little Wheat in a great heap of Chaff, or as a little Gold is hid in much Dross. And was not the Idolatry and Superstition of this Age, which more abounded in this than in the preceding Ages, plainly foretold in the en●uing Wo●ds, viz. that the Church of Thyatira permitted this Woman called jezabel, who called herself a Prophetess, to teach, which indeed did seduce the servants of God to commit Fornication, and to eat things o●●ered to Idols? Now what may we understand by the Woman jezabel, except it be the Universal Body of false Teachers and Preachers, who Taught the People their foul and abominable Superstition, and Idolatry, to wit, the Adoration of Images, worshipping of Saints Angels and Men departed? And tho' divers in many places did protest and contend against such impieties, nevertheless many winked too much at it, and tolerated those things, yea imitated others therein for ●ear: And they that bare witness against such things, remained nevertheless in Society with those that committed them, for the most part; neither did they distinguish and separate themselves ●rom them as they ought, and therefore are polluted by them, and so made partakers with them in their Sins. Quest. 13. Wherefore, in this fourth interval, is the Morning Star promised to such as shall overcome; and power over the Nations to rule them with a rod of Iron, and to break them in pieces like a Potter's Vessel, unless it were to signify that the obscure and long expected Ruin and Destruction of Antichristian Darkness, which had over-shadowed the Earth for almost 1000 The. draws towards a Period, for three quarters of the night as it were, three Watches were then elapsed, and there remained but one fourth part to come. And even as the Morning Star appears in the East before the rising of the Sun, bringing the good tidings of the approaching Day, so there was a divine Morning Star given according to the promise of the Blessed God, made to the faithful within this Interval, touching Mundane affairs, many of whom prophesied of this day, and of the approaching Glory of the Lord, which was to be revealed. And wha●●lashing, and ruptures o● Nations happened in the following Interval, occasioned by Horrible and Bloody Wars, the History of our present times do partly, and partly what we have seen with our Eyes do clearly enough demonstrate, and more will follow in a short time, which clashings and ruptures of Nations are not to be imputed to any carnal Sword which the faithful Servants of God shall use, for the faithful will in no wise use a Sword or carnal Power, for the power and might of God in his faithful Saints, together with their Light and Life which they shall in a full degree exert, will ●ffect it, and confound the World and worldly Men, and raise them up one against another, and hence it is that great and terrible Wars shall ●ollow the larger manifestation of Divine Light and Knowledge. CHAP. III. QUest. 14. Doth not the Name or Character of the Church of Sardis excellently agree to the State of the Church in the fifth Interval, viz. from the year after Christ's Resurrection 1333 1/● to the year 1666 2/●? For Sardis Sardis what signifies as much as a precious Stone of a Flesh colour; now was not the Church's Reformation, which began about the year of Christ's Nativity, 1366 hereby described? And doth not the Flesh colour of this Stone evidently declare unto us that Church called the reformed Church had in her too much Flesh, or too much of a fleshly nature, and would be for the most part more of a Carnal than of a Spiritual Nature, and more in the Profession of the truth than in the real possession of it. And therefore it is argued, she hath a name, that she lives, and yet is dead, and that her Works were not perfect before God, however there are some few who are said not to have defiled their Garments, and to them the Lord has promised they shall walk with him in white, because they are worthy, but the public and visible Reformation of the Church, began about the Year of Christ's Resurrection 1333, which was from the year of his Nativity 1366/7, for than was john Wickliff, an Englishman, of Oxford, raised up, who preached against the Corruptions of the Romish Church; and about *. Anno 1400. the Year 1400, followed him john Huss, and jerom of Prague. Now the said john Wickliff translated the Holy Bible into the English Tongue, and wrote many Books against the Pope, to the number of two hundred, as it is reported; whose Books, after they came into Germany, became instrumental (through God's Blessing) to the enlightening of many, so that their Hearts and Minds were more opened to inquire after, and search out the truth, and especially Jerome and Huss. About †. Anno 1364. the Year 1364. Charles the V called the wise King of France, caused the Holy Scriptures to be Translated into the Vulgar Tongue; and he also wrote against the Pope. Moreover 'tis affirmed that Wickliff, jerom and Huss, restored the Doctrine of the Waldenses. These Waldenses were so called from one Waldo of Lions, in France, who began to teach the People, and open the Scriptures unto them; who notwithstanding was no Priest, neither had received any outward Authority, but was only a Layman, and as to his manner of Life, a Merchant. And these Waldenses appeared about the year 1160, who were succeeded by the Albigenses, a People inhabiting near the Alps, about the *. Anno 1190. The Albigenses. year 1190, professing the same Doctrine with the Waldenses; and therefore these Waldenses and Albigenses belong to the chiefest, to wit, the fourth Interval. And those among them, who were of the most Sincerity, were described under the name of those of the Church of Thyatira, to whom the Morning Star was promised. Again, the said jerom and Huss were succeeded by Luther, † Luther about the year 1517. about the year 1517, who began to teach and preach against the Indulgences of Pope Leo, which were exposed to Sale, and a little after that he disputed against many other principles of the Roman Church and Religion, and many others followed, and accompanied him, every one in his order, with a greater Evidence and Authority of Light and Truth, whose true Testimonies (except some certain errors, which they were guilty of as Men) are to be held in great esteem, and principally theirs, who for the Love of the Truth in England, Scotland, France, Germany, and other places, were slain, and suffered Martyrdom within the said Interval. Quest. 15. Doth not the Name or Character of the Philadelphian Church *. The Church of Philadelphia. most nearly agree to the State of the Church in the ●ixth ensuing Interval, viz. from the year after Christ's Resurrection 166 ●/7, to the year 2000, or from the year of Christ's Birth †. Ann● 17●0, to 2034. 1700, to the year 2034. Now the *. What Church of Philadelphia signifies. Name Philadelphia signifies love of the Brethren, comprehending all Christian Virtues whatsoever. For altho' true fraternal Love did dwell in all the sincere and faithful Christians of the early Ages of the Church; yet whether or no the Christians o● this Interval will not surpass one another in the strength of this Brotherly Love and Affection? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, or in a more excellent degree, which Church had nothing laid to her Charge, but was commended for her Works, to wit, for her Patience and Fidelity, and to her chief were the promises made, also a Door was opened to her that no Man could shut; and doth not this plainly signify, that the Hearts of many in all Nations, should be opened to receive the Testimony of this Church, so that within this Interval, a great Conversion of many Souls to the true Faith of Christ, as well of jews as Gentiles, may be expected. Quest. 16. And tho' the Interval of the Philadelphian Church ' be not as yet strictly begun, yet are not the Seeds thereof already sown and sprung u●? even as the Seed of the Church of Sardis was planted and prepared, within the Interval of the Church of Thyatira, which immediately went before. And what are all those Sects and Professions of the Christian Religion at this day, among whom the seed o● the Philadelphian Church greatly appears? Quest. 17. Will not that happy Millennium, or Age of a thousand Years, begin within this Church's Interval? for it seems to be clearly enough hinted in the promise made to those that overcome in this Interval viz. Th●t God will write upon them, the● name of God, and the name of the City of God, viz. new jerusalem, which shall descend from Heaven; and therefore is not the State of the L●odicean Church, (as before was said) Contemporary with this Church, and happening at the same Interval of time? the one describing as well the true possessors, as professors of Christianity; the other only the naked and Titular professors. Q●est● 18. Are * The Church of L●o●icea they not extremely mistaken, who ●●ink it ●oin●s out the degenerating state of the Church, after the expiration of a thousand Years? When it plainly appears from Scripture, that after the Church shall be once restored and freed from Apostasy, that it shall never fall from the Truth into Delinquency or Apostasy any more; and then also the same promise is given to such as are truly Penitent, and whose Hearts are kindled with the Zeal of Divine Love in the Church of Laodicea, as was given to those of the Church of Philadelphia, to wit, that such as are Conquerors also in the Laodicean Church, shall sit down with Christ upon his Throne; which is equivalent in all respects to that Felicity, promised to all the faithful in the Millennium. CHAP. IU. QUest. 19: What are we to understand by John's Vision of a Throne † What the Throne in Heaven is. placed in Heaven? Is it not the place or seat of God, in the Hearts of the Faithful living on Earth? And that it was placed in Heaven, doth not this signify that it is fixed and immovable, so that no power of Men or Devils, can ever remove or shake it? Quest. 20 What are those * What the Lamps are● Lamps that burn before the Throne, which are said to be the seven Spirits of God? are they not (as it were) seven Effluvia or Emanations of one, and the same Spirit of the Deity, which some reckon ten Emanations or out go, but I●hn only seven? Is it because 10 may be reduced unto 7, and 7 unto 3, and 3 unto 1? Or else because only 3 of those 10 would have more fully demonstrated its force and energy, and from Christ to the Millennium, other seven would have discovered themselves more fully; but all the ten Virtues, and Riches of the Divine Spirit, will be most amply demonstrated in the Millennium. Moreover the names of these ten Emanations in H●brew, and Latin, are as follows; 1. quotha, Corona. 2. Cochma, Sapientia. 3. Bina, Prudentia. 4. Gedula, Magnificentia. 5. Gebhurah, Fortitudo. 6. Tiphereth, Puchritudo. ●. Nezack, Victoria. 8. Hod, Gl●ria. 9 jesod, Fundamentum. 10. Malcuth, Regnum. Which sounds thus in our English Dialect: 1. A Crown. 2. Wisdom. 3. Prudence. 4. Magnificence. 5. Fortitude. 6. Beauty. 7. Victory. 8. Glory. 9 a Foundation. 10. a Kingdom. And it is the Opinion of some Mystical Men, that when we are come to Malcu●h ● that Blessed age of the Millennium will begin, and the greatest part of those Hebrew names, are found written in 1 Chron. 29. 1●. and others in other places of Scripture. Quest. 21. What is that Sea of Glass like unto What the Sea of Glass is. Crystal which stood before the Throne? Is it not the abundance of the Spirit, for the Souls of the Faithful, to Wash and Bath therein, and to drink abundantly thereof, and be filled? for the Water of this Sea is not salt but sweet, to wit, the Water of eternal Life; and was not that Sea which Solomon placed in the Temple, a Type hereof? Quest. 22. What are those 4 Beasts, and What the 4 Beasts and 24 Elders are. 24 Elders before the Throne? Whether really the Order and Hierarchy of Angels, as some think? Or whether not rather the very Church of God, or number of the Faithful, redeemed to God by Christ, as it appear● Chap. 5. v. 9 which has it thus, and the Elders, and the Beasts Sung a new Song unto God, saying Thou hast Redeemed us to God, by thy Blood, from among every Tribe, and from every Lan●guage, Nation and People? Qust. 23. What may we What are the Eyes of the ●easts. understand by the many Eyes of those Beas●●? Whether not the manifold Understanding, and Wisdom of the Faithful in Spiritual things? And do not their Eyes, within and without, or in the Circumference, signify that these Beasts have not only most intrinsic Knowledge of themselves but also are endued with great Judgement and Discretion, whereby they clearly understand what is to be done in any case or emergency of Affairs whatsoever? Again, what is to be understood by their Wings? Whether so many Divine and Celestial Vertuest by which they can ascend with Expedition and Alacrity (as it were in ●light) unto God, and so readily and speedily execute his Divine Will? finally wherefore are they said in times past, to wit, under the Law, to have four Wings, and afterwards, under the Gospel six? Was it not by reason of greater Grace afterwards communicated under the Gospel? Qu●st 24. What are those Faces of ●he Bea●●s, whereof every one is ●aid to have ●our, viz. the Face of a Bull on the Le●t ●and, and the Face o● a Man and a Lion on the Right side, a●d a last of all the Face o● an ●agl●? Do not these fo●r Faces signify the Souls or Lives of Men derived from the four World's aforementioned, as the ●ó Neph●sh ●●om Asia, Tó Ruach from Iezi●ah, Tó Nischmah from Briah, Tó Chaja from Aziluth? Now Nephesh or P●yche seems to be ●ro●erly signified, b● that of ● B●ll● Ru●●h by a Lion, Nischmah by a Man; and lastly, Chaja by an Eagle. And wher●fore are they said to be four, but by reason of those 4 Faces? Moreover, what is to be understood by the 4 Wheels * The 4 Wheels of the 4 Beasts. of those four Beasts? Doth not each Wheel signify the Revolution of some Age. For the Hebrew word Gilgal, which is rendered Rota in Latin, in English a Wheel, is translated by the Hebrews Revolutio, or Revolution; therefore will not the aforesaid Revolution of an Age contain a Thousand Years, which is one Day mystically taken, according to Psal. 90. and 2 Pet. 3. For what is a Day more than the Revolution of the Sun in the space of 12 Hours? And because according to the 90th Psal. before cited, a Thousand Years are as a Watch of the Night, and every Night contained 4 Watches, and every Watch ● Hours; therefore doth not the whole Night (c) contain 4000 Years, and each Hour one third part of a Thousand Yea●s, that is (d) ●33⅓? Therefore will not the Wheels contain ●our Thousand Years? as also why are they called Watches? is it because every one of those ●aces in their proper Hours is excited, and (as it were) awakened in every respective Watch? Quest. 25. Wherefore are there said to be the number of 24 Elders? Doth not this number respect the 12 Patriarches, who were to remain as 12 Junctures or Seams of the Ancient Church; together with the 12 Apostles, who are likewise the 12 Junctures or uniting Bands of the Evangelical Church, to signify the highest, and strictest union of both Churches, under one Head the Lord Jesus Christ? For (as 'tis said) there are 12 great Junctures o● connexion's in the Body of Man, and 70 small ones, with which perhaps the 70 Disciples under the Gospel do correspond; and 70 Souls of the House of jacob under the Law, who came into Egypt, from whom afterwards so vast a Multitude of People arose. CHAP. V. QUest. 26. What is meant by the right Hand of * The right Hand of God. God? Hath God a right and left Hand according to the manner of Men; which if he hath not, as certainly he hath not, yet seeing the Scripture here and elsewhere, speaketh of God's right Hand, is not something intended by this word, bearing a certain Analogy to a Man's right Hand? In which respect some do thus distinguish the aforesaid Divine Emanations; viz. that some have an Analogy to the right Hand as Cochma, Gedula, Nezach; others to the left Hand, as Binah, Geb●urah, Hod; others are in a mean, as quotha, Tiphereth, jesod, Malcuth. Quest. 27. What may we understand by the Book * What is meant by the Book Sealed with seven Seals, sealed with seven Seals, which was in his Hand, who sat on the Throne? Whether the knowledge of great Events to come to pass in th● World, from the time of Christ's Ascension, to the end of the World, even as other parts of Sacred Writ, do either Historically, or Prophetically declare unto us all the great Events and Transactions past, from Adam unto Christ. Quest. 28 Why doth john distinguish the 7 Seals in that order, The 7 Seals. that 6 immediately follow one another, ●nd the sixth seems to reach to the Sabbath of the World, but the seventh proceeds in an other Order, as comprehending the half Hours silence, and the Intervals o● the 7 Trumpets The ● Trumpets ? hath he not designedly and purposely done it, to show us that the seventh Seal doth not entirely follow the other six; bu● signifies a new Order from Christ's Ascension to the end of the World, or 200 Years? Therefore do not the Intervals of the six Seals divide the said space of 2000 Years into six equal parts, whereof each will contain 333⅓? And thus indeed the six Seals will denote the same Intervals of time with the seven Churches aforementioned, and so make a Synchronism: For most confess that there were divers Visions in this Book, which were Synchronical, or happened at one and the same time, represented by distinct Visions, even as those seven Years of Famine in Egypt was proposed to the King in two Visions, altho' the said Visions happened in the same Intervals of time, yet many of them were attended with different consequences, others with very ●ike Events, as will appear from the ensuing ●ines. Quest. 29. Wherefore did john say at the opening of every of the ●our first Seals, that he heard one of the Beasts say, * Come see, why. Come and see; except it were, to show us that the Interval of every Seal, (the seventh only excepted) comprehends the space of a mystical Hour, viz. 333⅓ Years? For is not the Face of some Animal, stirred up, or awakened in every Mystical Hour, (which may be therefore said to be on the Watch) Veni● vide, Come and s●e. Quest. 30. If the Events, which were to come to pass, and are in great measure elapsed from the time of our Lord's Ascension to this present day, do better answer to the Intervals of 333⅓ Years assigned to each of the first six Seals than to any other whatsoever; doth not this elegantly prove the truth of the said Intervals? Quest. ●1. What may we understand by John's Vision of a White Horse, and him that sat thereon, who held a Bow in his Hand, and went out at the opening of the f●●st Seal, conquering and to conquer? Is not he † He that sat thereon. that sat thereon our Lord Jesus Christ? And doth not the * The White Horse. white Horse mean h●s Ministers, arrayed in the white Robes of Righteousness, and inward Holiness, bringing the Gospel, unto Men, viz. the glad Tidings o● P●ace? † What was the Bow in his Hand and doth not the Bow in his Hand, signify the Power and Energy of his Heav●nly Gospel and Doctrine? Which Gospel indeed in those Primitive times, Conquer`d many thousands of Men, and subjected them to the Obedience, and Faith of Christ. From the Year of Christ's Birth 366 And moreover, did not this pu●e and exceeding prevalent Dispensation of the Gospel, remain on Earth, at least the space of 333 Years and ⅓ after ou● Lords' Ascension, or from his ●●carnation 366, which Interval indeed reached beyond Constanti●e and his Sons; nay, beyond julian the Apostate, jordan, Valens, Valentinian, and indeed the power and purity of the Evangelical Doctrine did still prevail in the World, notwithstanding the sottish Superstitions, foolish Traditions, and wrangling debates of some, concerning Arrius and his Disciples? Quest. 32. What may we understand by John's Vision of a red Horse, What the red Horse is at the opening of the second † The second Seal. Seal? Is it not Soldiers, and Captains of Armies, and such as stir up terrible Wars in the World, to the shedding o● much Blood; and who is he that rides upon this red Horse, * He that rides upon the Horse. but some great Angel or Daemon, who by God's permission inspires, and prompts Men to Bloody Wars, which Wars doubtless, came chief in those parts of the World, where the Gospel had been Preached, and were sent by the most hol● God, as a Just Punishment on Men for despising the Gospel. And indeed they who delivered the faithful Servants of God, to various kinds of Death, in the first Interval, because they believed in God and Christ, are slain themselves, together with their Children, by others in the second Interval, God punishing the Iniquity of the Father's u●on the Children, even to the third and fourth Generation. Besides do not the events or historical effects, plainly answer to this second Interval, to wit, from the Year of our Saviour Christ's Resurrection 333, to the 666 or from the Year of his Birth 366, to the Year 700, for within that Interval of time was not the whole Western Empire miserably torn, and at last almost totally erased, and abolished in the said Interval? Moreover also Rome herself, as it were ●he Empress of the World, was often taken, and after some Revolutions,, she was burnt within the same Interval; b●t the chief Authors of these terrible Wars, wer● the Goths, Vandals, Huns and Persians, with th●i● Kings and Leaders. Then about the latter end of this Interval, viz. about 600 and odd Years after the Birth of Christ, comes Mahome● with his follower's, who were at that time called Saracens, and these indeed were the Authors of dreadful W●rs in many places. Quest. 33. What ●s to be understood by john`s' Vision of a black What he ●lack Horse was● ●or●e, and him that sat thereon, holding a Balance in his Hand, when the third Seal was to be opened? Is not terrible Famine hereby signified, and indeed that which is natural an● external, as well as that which is spiritual an● internal? And indeed both ●f these completely happened within the third Interval of time, to wit, from the year of Christ's Resurrection, 666 to the year 1000, as the History of those times do clearly evince; for in this Interval there was a great Spiritual F●mine, or Want of the Celestial Bread of Life, and the time of this Interval was the same with that of the Church of Pergamus above recited; within which Interval, God promised to feed the Faithful with hidden Manna, Rev. 2.17. for all that whole Interval was full of Ignorance, in the extremity of Darkness, and very few famous Men flourished in it. Lastly, as to what pertains to natural or outward Famine, that indeed in a manner continually attends horrid and bloody Wars. Quest. 34. What is meant by the * The pale Horse. pal● Horse, and him that sat thereon, whose name was Death, whom Hell followed; having power to kill with the Sword, with Famine, and with Death, and with the Beast's of the Earth, which was to come to pass when the four●h Seal † The 4 th' Seal opened was opened? Doth it not seem to be the whole and entire Body of all the Wick that have gone before with Addition of many others? For what doth the kill with the Sword signify, but W●r, Scarcity and Famine? And was no● Death (which was the name of him that sat thereon) the Devi● himself, whom Hell followed? Lastly, what is signified by the Beasts of the ●arth, but foul and unclean Spirits, or Terrestrial Demons, which miserably beguile and deceive the Ignorant and Unthinking Mobile with their Cheats and Delusions: For in Holy Writ, the Devil and unclean Spirits are called Beasts of the Field, or Beasts of the Earth as it is said of the Serpent in Genesis, that he was more subtle than any Beast of the Field, which doubtless could not be understood of common Beasts. Moreover doth not the event, or Historical effect, apparently answer this Inter●val, viz. from the Year * From the year of the Resurrection 1000, to 1333. o● Christ's Resurrection 1000, to the year 1333, within which time, the foulest Superstitions, and most detestable Idolatry abounded among Christians, falsely so called; also the Pride, Covetousness, and Luxury of the Antichristian Clergy, within this Interval, exceeded all bounds, besides many damnable Opinions and Heresies, were preached and published by the Antichristian Emissaries, to wit, the several orders of Scholars and Students, called by the name of Monks and Friars, which were received and believed on by the ignorant Multitude, as so many divine Oracles: Moreover also the Locus●● that ascended out of the Bottomless Pit, seem to belong to this Interval of time, of which hereafter in its proper place. Now these two last Intervals, to wit, the third and the fourth, seem to have a very near relation and affinity one to another, in respect of Ignorance, Blindness, Idolatry, Superstition, and many other abominable Evils. Yet the fourth Interval was not so destitute of good Men, nor so full of Ignorance and Darkness as the third; for in the fourth Interval God raised up some Eminent and famous Men, as were Bernardus, Clarevallensis, and Malachias; also the Waldenses and Albigenses, with whom do agree those of the Church of Thyatira. Moreover also in this very Interval began the Turkish Empire, when their Captains or Calaphi were constituted Emperors over them, who were miraculously strong in many parts of the World, and the first of these was Ottoman, * Ottoman, about the year 1297. about the year 1297. Quest. 35. What are those effects or events that happen when the fifth Seal is opened, and what may be principally understood by them? are they not the Souls of such as were slain for the word of God, and the Testimony which they bore, whom john saw under the Altar, meaning the Souls of all that were slain, for their firm and constant Profession of the true Faith from the beginning of the World to the time of the fifth Interval, viz. unto the year of Christ●s Resurrection 333? And why did they desire of God so earnestly, that he would revenge their Blood upon the Dwellers on Earth? Was it because the Justice of God is as well glorified in revenging as his Mercy is in pitying and forgiving, and was it not also, because they knew that the time when the Blood of the Righteous that were slain, should be revenged upon the Ungodly, was to be joined with that time in which all the Righteous were to receive an hundred fold Reward, which Christ promised them in the first Resurrection, when they should be restored, and raised to Life again? Now why it should stand with God's Justice to revenge the Blood of those that were slain for many Ages past, not only three or four Generations (as in Deut.) but more than an hundred Generations ago, upon the Inhabitants of the Earth, who are not as yet born, or in being upon the Earth, is a question that demands a clear Explanation? Quest. 36. Wherefore was it said to those Souls, that they should rest, (viz. under the Altar, and was not that Altar Christ?) until the number of their Brethren, yet to be slain should be fulfilled? And doth not this fifth Interval signifi● that there shall come a time of much and grea● Tribulation to the Servants and People of God, and that many shall be put to Death within this Interval, in a manner during the whole space from the year of Christ's Resurrection 1333, to the year 1666, or from the year of his Nativity 1366, to the year 1700. And hath not this happened so, in reference to the time passed of this Interval? And is it probable, that near the same number of good Christians were slain by the Papists & Turks, from the year 1366, to this present day, (viz. from the days of john Wickliff) as were heretofore slain from Christ's Resurrection, to the aforesaid term of years 1366? And whereas there yet remain some odd years of the said Interval to be fulfilled; some think 18, others 16, and again other some 14, viz. from the year 1366, to the true year of Christ's Nativity 1700, whether or no we are not yet to expect more Tribulations and Persecutions will come upon the Servants of God till the said year 1700? Qu●st. 37. But the fifth Interval being expired, whose end draws nigh, may we not expect the true Church will enjoy some serene Interval and time of Rest and Tranquillity, until the la●t and greatest, but shortest Persecution, under the seventh Head of the Beast, not as yet fully to be accomplished till about the year 1774? Quest. 38. What are those effects or events which must be fulfilled in the World, whe● the sixth Seal is opened, that great Earthquake, the Sun darkened, the Moon turns like Blood, the Stars falling from Heaven's the Heavens rolled up like a Scroll, th● Mountains and Islands passing away? D● not all these things clearly signify the en● and downfall of every Unjust, Ungodly and Tyrannical Government and Domini●on whatsoever, that so at last the Kingdoms of Holiness, and Righteousness may be se● up and established, and God and his Chri●● rule and govern by the holy Ghost in th● Hearts of Men, in every Nation of th● World? And is not this thing plainly signified by john himself in his following words And will not the time of this Interval, unde● the opening of the sixth Seal, contain th● common space of 333 Y. fro● the year of Christ's Resur●●●ction 1666● to * From the year 1666, to the year 2000 the year 203● wherein God will fully r●●venge the Blood of his Servants that we●● slain, and are now in Heaven above, upo● the Dwellers on Earth, and so the Praye● and Petitions of the Souls that cried unde● the Altar in the former Interval will be a●●swered? But some refer the Interval of t●● sixth Seal to Constan●ine's time; and this the● do without any Authority; for it appe●● by many weighty Reasons and Circumstances, that the sixth Seal was not as yet opened in the World, neither was the Interval of this Seal begun. CHAP. VI QUest. 39 Do not those other events and effects, which will be produced at the opening of the sixth Seal, plainly demonstrate, that the sixth Seal will reach even to the 1000 Years Sabbath of the World? What are the 144000 which were sealed in their Foreheads from every Tribe of the Children of Israel? Are they not the first Fruits of the Saints, who attain the first Resurrection from the Dead in the future Millennium? and finally, are not the 144000 the same with those mentioned in the 14th. Chapter? Moreover, are they not really Israelites, as to their Race or Stock, 12000 being taken from every Tribe of Israel; altho' many other of the Israelitish Race, together with many other of the Servants of God, shall hereafter receive the same Reward and Felicity of the ●irst Resurrection? And again, What is that great Multitude of all Nations, Tongues and People, which no Man could number standing before the Throne and the ●amb, which were clothed in white Garments, and bore Palms in their Hands? Are they not all the Saints raised to Life again within the sixth Interval, not only those who lived in the preceding Intervals since Christ's Resurrection, but even all that have ever lived since the beginning of the World, who came out of great Tribulation, which they suffered in their preceding Lives; but then they shall never hunger nor thirst any more, neither shall the Sun, or the heat thereof touch them; for the Lamb, who is in the midst of the Throne, shall feed them, and lead them to Fountains of Living Water, and God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes? And doth not this State belong to that place in the Revelations, ch. 21, and 22? And are not both States the same, both that which is here, and that which is there described, which will be the State of such as have attained to the Resurrection before described? Quest. 40. Wherefore is that number o● 148000, which is the 12000 of every Tribe of Israel distinguished from that great mul●titude, as well of jews as of other Nations, who shall hereafter obtain the same kind of Reward? Is it because those 14400● (Rev. 14.4.) are the ●●rst Fruits, who will have the chiefest place in the first Resurrection of the Dead, and after the first Fruits will follow a great Multitude of God's Elect of all Nations, every one in his order, as it shall please God to ordain it, according to the determination of his infinite Wisdom; for doth not Paul say positively, That every one shall be raised in his own order? and therefore all are not to be raised up, or recalled unto life at once, even as Men now do not come into the World all at once, but in a successive order, one after another, according to their proper Generations, best of all known to God. Quest. 41. Will not all the Saints of God, or first Fruits Prophesied of, and all others that follow aferwards, attain this first Resurrection from the Dead, within the sixth Interval, viz. from the Year after Christ's Resurrection 1666, to the Year 2000? And so all live completely 1000 Years after their first Resurrection before the end of the World, the whole Age of the World, containing 7000 years. Whereas if any of them should be raised before the sixth Interval, the end of the World would come before that Age o● a 10●0 years, which they were to live, which is contrary to the Scriptures. And was not this Mystery prefigured by the Sabbath under the Law, which began in the evening, or in the latter part of the sixth day, and which was also shadowed out by the Manna, which was to be gathered on the sixth day, but on the seventh day, it was unlawful to gather any Manna? Quest. 42 Who are those four Angels, whom john saw standing on the four corners of the Earth, to whom power was given to hurt the Earth and the Sea; which yet they could not do, till that number 144000 was sealed? Are they not Angels, in a proper sense, to whom power is given from God to execute his most Holy and Righteous Judgements on the Earth? And may not those corners of the Earth, peradventure signify four parts of the World, Ex. gr. Asia, Europe, Africa, and America, whereof each may have his Angel? And what are those four Winds or Spirits which the four Angels aforesaid withheld, What are the Winds or Spirits? by which Restriction the Earth was to be hurt? Whether or no by these four Winds or Spirits, good Angels may not be meant, and by the 4 first, evil Angels? And thus doth it not appear, that different parts of the World have their proper Angels, as well good, as evil, attending them, one contending against another: The good to benefit Men, the evil to injure them, even as Men have lived, either well, or ill? And are not these good or bad Angels sent, and appointed as Guardians, and Governors over them? CHAP. VIII. QUest. 43. What is to be understood by that half Hours The half Hours silence Silence? and by those seven Trumpets, which the seven Angels sounded successively at the opening of the seventh Seal? Moreover, whether or no the seventh Seal might not begin at Christ's Resurrection; for otherwise, would not the seven Woes, and Plague's of the Trumpets, happen in that most blessed Age, the Sabbath of the World? which is very absurd, and contrary to the words of Scripture, in the Revelations; when as The seventh Trumpet. the seventh Trumpet will bring us unto the 1000 years' Reign of the Saints, as is very evident from Revel. chap. 11. v. 1, 16, 17, 18, 19 And will not every Trumpet have an equal and distinct Interval of time? Which seven Intervals of the Trumpets, and half hours silence added together, do they not make up 2000 years, from the Resurrection of Christ? Now if it appears from the best computed Chronology, that the seventh Trumpet commences at the year of Christ's Resurrection 1740, and reaches to the year 2000, after his Resurrection, so as to contain the space of 260 Years; and will not every one of the seven Trumpets contain the same space foe years, viz, 26●, and so the whole time of the Trumpets will contain 1820 years, which substracted from 2000, the remainder will be 180, the number of years, that aught to make up the half hours silence? And it was upon a good reason, that john said, that space of silence was as it were half an hour, for he did not term it a precise, or just half hour; for a precise or j●st mystical half hour is 166⅔, because an entire mystical hour is 333⅓: But this term of Year, exceeds that precise half hour, by 14 common Years, which are of small moment, viz. about two Minutes, and a little more. Quest. 44. Do not the Effects, or Historical Events completely concur with the aforesaid Intervals, of the Semihorary silence, and the 7 Trumpet? for if to that time of silence which lasted as it were half an hour, we add 1●0 Years from Chri●●'s Resurrection, which from his Nativity makes 214, may not all that time be called a time o● silence, as to the inward State of the Church, tho' she did suffer some Persecution outwardly? for within that time did not the Angel offer much Incense, with the Prayers of Saints, as john declared; notwithstanding the hard Debates that arose about the year 198 between certain Bishops about the time of celebrating the Passeover? for that was in a manner little or nothing in comparison of those great Calamities, which afterwards invaded the very Heart of the Church. And within the space of 200 Years after the Birth of Christ, there was a time of great inward Peace and Tranquillity among true Christians, even when they were outwardly pressed with grievous Persecution; and in those days there was a signal Zeal of Piety and Devotion, and their Prayers flowed from the Hear● assisted by the Holy Ghost; witness Ter●ulli●n, who lived at that time: Therefore those dead and empty Forms of P●ayer, drawn from Books, and appointed to be read● was not as yet known to the Church. Quest. 45. What may we understand by the Hail † What the Hail was. and Fire mixed with Blood, and sent u●on the Earth at the sound of the first Trumpet? Doth not the Fire and Hail signify great Strife and Contention that arose among the Members of the Church within this Interval, which indeed did very much injure and prejudice the tender Branches of Celestial and Divine Life among Christians, as john said; the third part of the Trees were consumed with Fire, and all the green * Grass. Grass was burnt up? Now by the † Trees. Trees, are not the stronger, and (as it were) ●ounder Christians to be understood, and by the Grass such as are more feeble and unsound? And how exactly do these Predictions agree with the first Interval of the seven Trumpets, viz. from the year of Christ's Nativity 214, to the year 474? For how miserably during all this time was the Church afflicted with the Debates and Controversies of divers Bishops and Presbyters that erred from the true Faith of Christ; such as were Novatus, Sabellius, Samosatenus, * Authors of Heresy. Manes, Arrius, Donatus, Macedonius, Apollinaris, Pelagius, Nestorius, Eutyches; all these were so many principal Authors of Sects and Heresies, within this Interval, whose Heresies and false Opinions, wherewith they broke the peace of the Church, would be too tedious here to recite? † Fire mixed with Blood. And was it not Fire mixed with Blood, when many of those Sects and Heresies killed others called Christians, and their Brethren with the Sword? Quest. 46. What ought we to understand by the great * The Mountain cast into the Sea. Mountain cast into the Sea, by which the third part of the Sea turned into Blood within the Interval of the second † The second Trumpet. Trumpet, from the year 474, to the year 734? Doth not this apparently signify the Defection and Apostasy of many ●rom the Christian Faith, which seemed like some great Mountain, as the Roman Church was at that time? And behold how this great Mountain burns with the Fire of Envy and Malice, and tumbles into the Sea, and turns the third part thereof into Blood, involving a great part of the Roman Empire in Destruction, War, and Bloodshed, as indeed it f●ll out: For in the greatest part of this Interval much Blood was spilt, insomuch, that Rome was burnt and pillaged about the year 550 by Totila, and all Italy about that time was miserably wasted and destroyed by the Goths and Lombard's: are not all these most just punishments inflicted by God on the Roman Church for their Apostasy? And that she lifted herself above all other Churches, and set up her Bishops above all other Bishops of the World; and this proud Usurpation of the Roman Bishops over others, quickly began after the days of Zosimus, Boniface the first, and Coele●tine the first, who assumed to themselves this Pre-eminence and Authority over their Brethren a little mo●e than 400 Years after the Birth of Christ, yet could not absolutely obtain it, until the Year 606, when Boniface the third was constituted the first Universal Bishop over all Churches, by the Authority of Phocas; who killed his Master the Emperor Mauritius; and by villainy assumed his place. Quest. 47. What may we understand by the great Star * What the great Star mean●: falling from Heaven, on the Rivers of Water, and turning the Waters into Wormwood, within the Interval of the third Trumpet, viz. From the Year 734, to the Year 994, was it not a greater degree of Apostasy; the great Star that fell from Heaven on the Rive●s, signifying some evil Angel, inspiring the Doctors and Preachers of the Roman Church, with the worst and most pernicious Doctrines, which Doctrines, certainly were like to Wormwood for bitterness? And did not this evidently come to pass, at what time the Bishops and Doctors of the Roman Church, eagerly preached up the Pope's Supremacy and Jurisdiction, above all other Bishops? likewise, they set up, and established a multitude of humane Traditions, as Masses to be said for the Dead, that Men should be confined by an Oath or a Vow, to a Monastical Life; that Priests ought not to Marry; with many more of the like nature. Besides, also within this Interval the Popes and Bishops of Rome did mightily promote the Adoration and Worship of Images; and thus, not without great reason was the third part of the Waters, said to be turned into Wormwood, and it is affirmed that many died by drinking those bitter waters. But some there were preserved alive, who did not drink of those bitter waters, but of the pure Water of the word of eternal Life, and sound Doctrine, and indeed these were the Witnesses of God, in those corrupt times, such as were Adelbertus a Frenchman, Clement and Samson Scotchmen, with sundry others in divers kingdoms, and Provinces of the World. Quest. 48. How must we understand that the third part of the Sun, Moon, and Stars, were smitten within the Interval of the fourth Trumpet, viz. From the Year 994, to the Year 1254? Doth not this signify that the Grandeur and Majesty of Emperors, and Christian Kings should be very much eclipsed, within this Interval? And did not this certainly come to pass, when the Pope challenged to himself, and proudly usurped Power and Authority over divers Emperors, Kings and Princes, in the whole Christian World: And indeed obtained it? Gregory the seventh (otherwise called Hildebrand) excommunicates an● deposes the Emperor, Henry the fourth, abou● the year of Ch●ist 1073. About the yea● 1100, Paschal the second ceases to reckon the date by the years of the Empire; b●● contra●y to the ancient custom, gins ● new Account from the Popes, ex. gr. Saying in this year of th●s or that Pope, instead o● this or that Emperor. Pope Hadrian th● fourth bestowed ●reland upon Henry the se●cond, King of England, as a Gift, for whic● the said Henry became tributary to the Pope● and every Family in the whole Kingdom, wa● obliged to pay to the Pope one Penny per ann● Pope Alexand●●, (alias Barbarossa) set hi● Foot upon the Neck of Fr●derick the Emperor, Innocent the third takes care to constitute Otho Emperor, and afterwards ex●communicates him. I●hn, King of Englan● was deposed by the Pope, and as some affirm, poisoned at last by some o● the Pope's Emissaries. Gregory th● Ninth, Gregory the Ninth. An. 1233. who was Pope abou● the year 12●3, said there wer● two great Lights, the Pope and the Em●pe●or; the Pope like the Sun, and the Em●peror as the Moon; this so vexed the Em●peror, that he called the Pope Antichrist. Likewise, about the year 124●, Frederi●● was deposed by the Pope's Authority. 〈◊〉 not all these Transactions, wi●h many mo●● clearly explain to us the effects of the † The fourth Trumpet. fourth Trumpet? Quest. 49. What may we understand by the Star that * A Star falling on the Earth; The fi●th Trumpet. fell from Heaven to the Earth within the Interval of the fifth Trumpet, to which was given the Key of the bottomless Pit; and a●ter the bottomless P●t was opened, there arose a smoke from thence, etc. And what may be thought the meaning of the Locusts proceeding from the Smoke upon the Earth? Is not this some evil Angel or Genius, to whom permission was given to open the Infernal Pit itself, whereby he set at liberty a great multitude of lying and seducing Spirits, and sent 'em into the World, to deceive all such as had not the Seal of God in their Foreheads? And doth not this Interval or State of Affairs very aptly agree with that vast multitude of Scholars, and orders of Monks, that mightily swarmed within this Interval; to wit, from the year of Christ 1254, to the year 1514, and most intolerably vexed and tormented the Conscience; of many, with the pungent Stings and Thorns of their School-Debates? and of Rank were chief Thomas Aquinas, Bonaventure, Henricus Gandavensis. john of Paris, john Dun, a Scotchman, Durandus Occamus ● with many others, who lived within this Interval: For tho' some notable Say may be found among them, yet were they miserably deceived in many other things by those unclean Spirits and Daemons; and wherefore are those Locusts said to have Faces, as it were the Faces of Men; but to signify the subtlety of wit, which seemed to be in them? And finally, What do their Hairs like the Hairs of Women denote? Is it not that persuasive way of reasoning, by which they draw Proselytes to themselves? And whereas they had Teeth, as it were the Teeth of Lions; this intimates that they were like Lions in fierceness, to destroy and tear in pieces all that dissented from them. Quest. 50. Wherefore is it said, that there was power given to these Locusts, not to kill Men, but only to torment them with their Stings? Is it not hereby meant that these Locusts were not Soldiers that fought themselves with a carnal weapon, but only certain orders of Scholars, Monks and Friars, who with their pernicious Doctrines ambiguous Q●estions and Disputations, miserably divided, and perplexed the Souls and Consciences of Men; insomuch, that it is said, that it should come to pass in those days, Men should seek Death, and should not find it, and should desire to die, and D●a●h should ●●y from them? Quest. 51. Why is it said, these Locusts ●hould have power to hurt Men five Months? The time of the Locusts five Months. Doth it ●llude to the usual time of their continuance, or rather unto ●ome certain Mystery; for we are to understand that those Locusts were to continue ● 5/● parts of the whole ●●me, wherein the mystery of I●●quity was to prevail, viz. 520 〈◊〉. even as it were to the end of 〈◊〉 six●h Trumpet, which contains ●●e Interval of two Trumpets? Qu●st. 52. What are those ●ngels which were loosed at ●●e great River Euphrates, What the Angels are which are b●und at Euphrates. within the Interval of the sixth Trumpet, viz. from the year of Christ's ●irth 1514, to the year 1774? Are they ●ot certain powerful Angels, deputed Governor's or Guardians over the Provinces of ●●e Earth, bordering on the Rive● Eu●hrates? And what are those Horsemen, ●●e number whereof was twenty thousand ●●mes ten thousand? Are they not Turks? ●or these inhabit the Provinces situated a●out the River Euphrates, who within the ●●xth Interval, under which we now are viz. ●●om the year 1514, powerfully invaded europe, the third part of the Eastern Hemisphere, and slew many thousands of Christians so called (for indeed they were not all true Christians) which ma● be said to be the third part of Men. And are not the Guns, which the Turks used in their Wars against the Christia●● described he●e, which being but of a la●e Invention, were no● found out before the Interval of the sixth Trumpet, which kill Men with Fire, Brimstone, and Smoke, seeming to flow out of the Horses mo●ths, tho' it proceeds from the mouths of the Guns? Again, do not these Horses Allegorically signify Empire, and Dominion? And whereas the best part of the Interval of this sixth Trumpet is not as yet begun, neither will end till the Year 1774, if therefore those Christians (tho' falsely so called) do not Repent, must they not expect a ●art●●r Stroak, and a more fatal Blow from those Armies of Horsemen? And especially such as ar● guilty of abominable Idolatry, and worship Devils, and Idols of Gold, Silver, Brass, Stone, and Wood, as chap. 9 v. 20. has it? And why is it said, that those four Angels were ready at a● Hour, and a Day, and a Month, and a Y●a●? Was it not to signify that the Powe● of the Turks, was in a continual readiness, for near 391 years ago, and increased before the Interval of the sixth Trumpet, as may be gathered from History? CHAP. X. QUest. 53. Doth not the whole tenth Chapter of the Revelations, and from the beginning of the eleventh Cha●. to verse the fifteenth, cont●in the ●ffects or events of the sixth Tr●m●et, viz. from 1514, to the Year 15●4? From An● 1514 t● 1574 And is not the migh●● Angel, whom john saw coming down from Heaven, etc. a●d ●olding a little Book in his Hand, the A●gel of the Philadelphian Church afore mentioned, whose Interval gins at t●e Year of Christ's Nativity 1700? 1000. And do not the Interval● of ●he seven Thunders also, The 7 Thunde●● belong unto the sixth Trumpet, or some part thereof? And whereas john w●s undemanded to conceal what the seven Thunder's had uttered, will it not be great Presumption for any one to attempt t● reveal it, before its due time? For ●ow can any one unfold them before they are revealed? Quest. 54. Wherefore was it said ●o john, after that he had eaten the ●o●k, that he must Prophesy again, before many People, Nations, Tongues, and K●ngs, must he not live again within this Int●●●●al, viz. before the Year 1774? And therefore will he not belong to the 144000, that were Sealed, who shall be the first Fruits of the first Resurrection above-cited? CHAP. XI. QUest. 55. And shall not john, living again sometime before the Millennium, measure the Temple of God, the Altar and them that worship therein, with a Reed, or with a Rod, as it is said in chap. 11. v. 1? Quest. 56. What is that Court without the Temple, which john at his coming shall leave out, and measure it not, but is to be given to the Gentiles? Are not the lukewarm Professors of the Church of Laodicea above-cited, signified by it? Lastly, What are those Gentiles, or Nations, What the Gentiles or Nation● are. to whom this outward Court is to be given? Are they not Turks or other Heathenish People, to whom permission shall be given miserably to afflict those carnal, and merely titular Christians, and that too in a manner over the whole World, after which God shall gather together his Elect, and faithful Servants, from that Mass of Hypocrites? Quest. 57 What is that Holy City, to be trodden under foot by the Gentiles, for the space● of forty two Months? And how are those Months to be understood, whether properly or mystically, as some think? Is not this Holy City the true Church of God, purely reform and purged from all Antichristian Pollutions, which is signified by Philadelphia? Moreover, will not the jews and Israelites, after their conversion to the Christian Faith, make up a good part of this Church of Philadelphia, and who peradventure will have a great, or, it may be, the chiefest share in these sufferings? And because the 42 Months belong unto the Interval of the sixth Trump●● as is evident from the Revelations, is it not impossible for those Months to signify so many Years, as there are days contained in all the sa●d Months, viz: 12●0. whereas the whole Interval of the sixth Trumpet, contains but 260 Years? Again, if those 42 Months should contain 1260 Years, they would certainly make this great Persecution to be inflicted on the Church within the seventh Millennium of the World, which is very absurd: therefore are not those 42 Months properly to be understood of common Months, making up three Years and an half, which indeed is a short, but a sharp time, in which will happen the last Persecution, the Church shall ever undergo? And doth not Daniel at the end of the eleventh Chapter, and beginning of the eighteenth plainly touch upon the manner of this Persecution? And will not the chief Author of this Persecution be that King described Daniel, T●● King described in Daniel. 16.36. to the end of the Chapter, whom john in his Revelations calleth the seventh King, yet to come, and it is said of him when he comes that he shall remain but a short time? Quest. 58. What are those two Witnesses, clothed in Sackcloth, who shall prophesy during the whole time of the last Persecution, 12●0 Days? Sh●l they not be Moses and Elias raised up to live again in a Body upon Earth? And is not this clearly enough hinted in these words of john, Ch. 11. viz. that they shall have Power to shut up Heaven, Their Power. that it shall not rain in the days of their Prophesy, (as they did in times past) and to turn the Waters into Blood, and to smite the Earth with Plagues as often as they li●t, even as Moses did heretofore? Quest. 59 And why should it be thought incredible, that Moses and Elias should come again into the World, when as it sufficiently appears from Scripture, as well from the Book of Revelations, as from other places of Scripture; that all the Saints shall come again into the World within the Millennium? And whereas john says 144000 Isra●●lites were to be the fir●● Fruits of this Kingdom, and glorious State, will not Moses and Elias belong unto those first Fruits? Moreover, as touchi●● Elias, did not Christ ●ay ●hat Elias should come, or that he came and restored ●ll ●hings after the ●eath o● john the Baptist ● whom he called E●ias? And finally, why were Moses and Elias ●een with Chri●● in the Moun● at his Transfiguration before he had suffered death? Was it not to signify that they should be nearest to Christ, and the very next after him, who should obtain the Resurrection from the Dead, and in like manner ascend into Heaven unto him? Quest. 60. Shall not those two Prophets be really slain, and suffer a corporal Death (as Christ really did) and after three days and an half, shall they not rise again from the Dead, even as Christ arose on the third day? And why should Men betake themselves to a mee● Allegoral Sense of the words, touching the Death & Resurrection of these two Witnesses, when as the proper and literal Sense of the words is sound, and contains no Absurdity, but tends greatly to demonstrate divine Glory and Omnipotence? Quest. 61. What is that great City, spiritually called Sodom and Eg●pt, What Sodo● and ●gypt is. where also our Lord was Crucified, wherein the Bodies of the t●o Witnesses which were slain, lay unburied th●ee days and an half? May not thi● be the place where Christ was externally Crucified? And may not ●ome great City be built the●e, and stand in the ●ame place at that time? And may not some great Mystery be couched under it, viz. That Moses and Elias should be slain in the same place, where Ch●ist was slain, and afterwards to be rai●ed up again, tho' they were killed about 1740 years apart? And it appears from History, that Elias Adrian, built there a City upon the Mountain, to wit, Golgotha, where Christ was Crucified, and called it Elias, but the Christians called it jerusalem, and so it is called to this day, now under the power of the Turks. And doth it not also appear from Dan. 11. v. 4. That the King who shall immediately follow upon the jews Conversion to the Christian Faith, shall inhabit jerusalem, which he calls the Holy Mountain of Beauty and Delight, Situated between the Seas, for this place was commonly held as an Holy place, and really seated between the Sea●? Quest. 62. To what time is the kill of the two Witnesses, and their Resurrection to be Referred? Is it not to be Referred to the three last Years and an half, immediately preceding the Millennium, because the Resurrection, and Ascension of the two Witnesses, is joined with the Sound of the seventh Trumpet; also in Dan. 12. that time wherein Michael shall stand up for the Salvation of the jewish People, is joined with the first Resurrection of the Dead? Quest. 63. Will not the Sound of the seventh Trumpet introduce that famous and renowned Millennium, The Sound of the seventh Trumpet. and the first Resurrection from the Dead, in its due order, viz. From the Year of Christ's Resurrection 1740, From 1740, to 2000, viz. From the Resurrection of the Dead. to about the Year 2000, the Interval of the seventh and last Trumpe●, containing the same number of Years, as the rest above-cited, to wit, 260, and all the Intervals of the seven Trumpets, together with the half hours silence do comprehend 2000 years? For 260 multiplied by 7, produceth 1820; The duration of e●ery Trumpet is 260 Years. to which if 180, the said number as it were of the half hours silence, be added, the Sum is 2000 And do not the words of john, in chap. 11. v. 15. manifestly declare that the beginning of the Millennium, and the first Resurrection is to be taken from the beginning of the seventh Trumpet? For he saith in the place here cited, The seventh Angel sounded, and there were great Voices in Heaven; saying, The Kingdoms of the World are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ, who shall reign for ever and ever, etc. Read to the end of the Cha●ter, and especially Verse 18. And the Nati●ns were angry, and thy Wrath is c●m●, and the time of the Dead ●hat they should be judged, and that th●u shouldst give Reward unto thy ●ervan●s the Prophet's and to thy Saints, and to them that fear thy name, small and great, and shouldst destroy them that d●st●●y the Earth, etc. Quest. 64. Was not that Vision described by john, ch. 12. The Vision, Ch. 12. Contemporary with ch. 8. Synchronical, or happening at the same Interval of time with the aforesaid Vision of the half Hours silence, and the seven Trumpets? And is not the Woman here described the Church, and her Male-Child the Life of Christ, or the true Spirit o● Christianity brought forth in the New-Birth, or Spiritual Regeneration? And was not this Spirit (or Life) of Christ, most clearly revealed and brought forth in those Primitive times, for the space of 300 Years and more, after Christ's Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven? And is not that great red Dragon the Devil? And are not his seven Heads seven Monarchies, or Kingdoms, orderly succeeding each other● whereof five were elapsed before I●hn's time? And finally, Doth not the Tail of this Dragon signify the false Prophets, even as that true Prophet had said: The Prophet that teaches Lies is the Tail? Moreover this Tail drew the third part of the Stars of Heaven's and cast them on the Earth: Doth not this signify some great number of Professors of the Christian Religion, but of little Stability, who did not persist or remain in the Truth or Life of what they professed? Quest. 65. What is signified by the Woman ●lying into the Wilderness? Is it not a certain, solitary, and obscure State the Church of God shall come into, wherein the true Champions and Defenders of Christianity were very much dispersed, and as it were in the Wilderness, or hid in a Wood, and making but little outward Show or Appearance, and but little obvious to the external Observation, as it was in the days of Elias, who thought himself to be left alone, but God told him he had 7000 who had not bowed the Knee to Baal? Quest. 66. How much is that time of 1260 Days, wherein the Woman fled into the Wilderness? Doth it not contain 1260 common Years? For in Scripture a day is sometimes taken for a year in a Prophetical or a Mystical Se●c●? And doth not experience itself and Ecclesiastical Histories, conspicuously demonstrate for some Ages back, that this solitary and obscure State of the Church has been continued for above 120● Years already past, and that by reason of Antichristian Darkness and Tyranny? And doth not that time of 1260 Years expire at the beginning of the Interval of the Philadelphian Church, which falls in the year of Christ's Resurrection 1●6●, o● in the year of his Nativity 1700? Therefore will not the aforesaid time of 1260 Years begin ●t the year of Christ's Nativity 440? A●d indeed about the same time, viz. 440 Years after Christ's Nativity, the Western Empire almo●● totally fell together, and in the Fall of it was divide● into ten le●ser Empires or Kingdoms, which are called by john, the ten Horns of the Beast, and these Horns miserably smote the Servants of God, here and there dispersed. Quest. 67. About what time shall Michael ●nd his Angels overcome the Dragon and his Angels? A●d when will that Dragon and his Angels be cast down to the Earth, and the Saints overcome them in the Blood of the Lamb, and the word of his Testimony? Will not that time be about the end of the 1260 Years aforementioned? And that the Dragon shall be cast down from Heaven unto the Earth, doth not this signify that the Church is here pu● for Heaven, and shall enjoy both outward and inward Peace and Tranquillity, and be f●ee from Calamities ●or a considerable time a●ter the ●erm of 1260 Years is expired? And doth not the casting of the Dragon down unto the Earth signify his power which he will have over Carnal Men, and such only as are Earthly wise, whereby he will cause horrid and detestable Wars to arise among them? And finally, will not the Church about this time appear going out of the Wilderness, and Satan the Accuser of the Brethren be cast down, that he may not accuse them of Heresy, Sedition, and other crimes of the like nature, as he hath formerly done? Moreover shall not this time, during which the Church shall enjoy outward Peace, remain for some time as it were about 70 Years, whilst the remaining part of Mortals shall be exceedingly pressed with Wars, and many, and great Calamities. Quest. 68 And shall not the Church after she is returned ou● of the Wilderness, and hath for a good season enjoyed outward Peace and Tranquillity, fly the second time into the Wilderness? And is not this second ●light of the Church clearly enough described, v. 14? And wherefore is it said, that in her second flight ●●e had two Wings of an Eagle given her; unless it be to denote the v●locity or swiftness of her flight and return? And therefore will no● the time of this second flight be of a short continuance, viz. 1260 Days, even as the ti●e of her first flight had been long and tedious, to wit, 1260 Years; whereas i● both times had consisted of 1260 Years, it would certainly have made the last flight of the Church to have happened within that most happy age of the World, the future Millennium, which is very absurd? Moreover, is not the time of this second flight, (viz) 1260 Days, the very same with that, wherein the two Prophet● should Prophesy, clothed in Sack cloth, and the Holy City be trodden under foot? Quest. 69. What is signified by that, where the Earth helped the Woman, and opened her Mouth, and swallowed up the Flood, which the Dragon cast out of his Mouth? Is it not thus to be understood, to wit, that the Flood of the Dragon's Wrath fell on some other People, and those, as well Heathens, and professed Infidel's, as Christians falsely so called that were only nominal and titular, who made War one upon another, that so the Church might with more ease and facility, slip out of the Jaws of the Dragon? CHAP. XIII. QUest. ●0. What is that Beast which john saw arise out of the Sea, having seven Heads and ten Horn●? Doth not this Bea●t signify the Body of 7 great Monarchies, whereof 5 Heads we●e even then expired be●ore John's time, (Revel. 17.) and two remained to come? Moreover, are not those which were already past before John's time, these ●ollowing; that is to say, the first, the Egyptian Monarchy under which the jewish Church or Israelitish People suffered much in times past, and therefore the Subversion and Overthrow of Pharaoh and his Army in the red Sea, is called in Scripture the wounding of the Dragon; the second, the Assyrian Monarchy ● under which the ten T●ibes were put ●n●o Exile; the third, the Babylonish Monarchy, whereof Nabuchadnezzar was Head, who led the other two Tribes Captive into Babylon, and destroyed the Temple and City of jerusalem; the forth, the Monarchy of the Medes and Persians; the fifth was the Grecian Monarchy, whose Head was Alexander called the Great; which five Heads or Monarchies fell before John's time: Therefore is not the sixth Head the Roman Monarchy, which in John's time only remained? The seventh Head Quest. 71. Now what is the seventh Head, whose coming john foretold? Is it yet come, or is it rather to come? A●d how is the eighth Head distinguished from the seventh? And why doth Daniel number no more than four Kings, and john seven? Doth not the seventh Head seem to be some new Monarchy, which is not as yet come, but is now very near, under which will fall the last Persecution of the Church, which will be the greatest of all, and shall last but three Years and an half, and therefore it is said it shall continue but a short time? Lastly, is not the eighth Head one of the seven, and only in certain Circumstances distin●guished; and one of the ten Horns of the Beast, which will at length prevail over th● other Horns, according to Daniel 7. v. 20, 21? And whereas Daniel numbers four Kings, and john reckons two; was it not, because Daniel looked no higher than Nabuchadnezzar, but john to the first King of all, that Persecuted the Church of God, and this was Pharaoh King of Egypt? And why should these seven Monarchies be called one Beast; but because, tho' these Men were personally distinct, in such and such Ages of the World, yet were they Acted by one and the same Spirit to Persecute the Church? Quest. 72. Doth not johannes Slei●anus, in his Treatise of the four Monarchies, truly distinguish and com●ute the number of the ten Kingdoms, which john called the Horns of the Beast, into the which the Roman Monarchy was at last divided in the following order, 1 Syria, 2 Egypt, 3 Asia, 4 Greece, 5 Africa, 6 Spain, 7 France, 8 Italy, 9 Germany, 10 Britain? And why is it said that those ten Horns or Kings (in John's time) had received no Kingdom, chap 17 12. but had Power given them as Kings with the Beast, for the space o● one hour? Was it not because for the space of a Mystical hour, or 333 years' a●●er Io●n's time, those Kings were not to have a distinct, but a joint Power to Reign with the Beast, but after the expiration of that hour, the ten Kings aforesaid, arose up having their Kingdoms divided, and as it were plucked by ●orce from the Roman Monarchy ● and these indeed did more vehemently Persecute the Church of God? Quest. ●3. What is to be understood by that passage, where one of the Heads of the seven Beasts is said to be smitten with a mortal wound, and was made whole again? May not this properly signifi● that the R●man Emperors received this wound, after the Empire was transferred from the Heathens to th● Christians; then that bit●er Spirit of Persecution, that dwelled in the preceding Emperors, was afflicted, as it were, with a mortal wound ●or some considerable time, as appears in the case of Constantine the Great, the first Christian Emperor, who granted to all Liberty of Conscience, and suddenly after Constantine, his Successor under the name and profession of Christianity, as severely persecuted the true Servants of God, as the Heathen Emperors had done before? A●d in this respect may it not be truly said, that the deadly wound of the Beast was healed again when the Spirit of Persecution had recovered fresh strength in new Christian Emperors so called? Quest. ●4. What a●● those 42 Months in which ●●wer is given 〈◊〉 the Beast, that he should continu● during all that time, and make War wi●h chariots, and overcome them? Is not the aforementioned number of 12●0 Y●●rs to be understood by those Months? Moreover doth not the too certain and ●●●●ntable experience of the aforesaid ●●ges, as appears from History, sufficiently prove, that this Spirit of Antichrist flourishing in the Christian Kings and Emperor's so called, did persecute the true Servants of God, and faithful Followers of Christ almost 1●60 Years? And is not that space of 1260 Years almost come to an end? And shall not he that lives to the Year of Christ 1700 or thereabouts, see the total end and period o● i●? Quest. 75. How are those wo●ds to be understood, chap. 13. v. 10. He that leads into Captivity shall go into Captivity, and he that kills with the Sw●rd shall be killed with th● Sword? And why are those following words added, which run thus, Here is the Faith and Patience of ●he Saints? For did not a great many Persecutors Die a natural D●ath in their Bed●, and in their own Houses, and we have not a● yet he●rd any thing o● their Captivity? Did he not therefore say, this is the Patience and Faith of the Saints? Because that Judgement was to be fulfilled upon the Persecutors, a●ter some long tract of time, which how it shall come to pass, deserves an Explanation; o● which in another place. Quest. ●6. What is the Beast which john saw arising out of the ●arth, (for the first Beast risen out of the Sea) having two Horns like a Lamb, but spe●king like th● Dragon, and exercising all the power of the first Beast? And finally, why is his number ●●id to be 666, and he that is endued with understanding, was bid to compute the number? Is not this s●cond B●a●t the Papal power, arising out o● the Earth? For the Popes are very o●●●n of a low extraction, and of an inferior Race and Descent, even as the Earth is inferior to the Sea, and other Elements? And do not his two Horns like a Lamb, plainly denote the twofold Authority, which the Popes pretend is commits to them, to wit, both Spiritual and Temporal? And whereas he spoke as a Dragon, doth not this eminently express the Pope's Bulls, and Sentences of Excommunications, which he thundered out against Men of all Ranks and Degrees, that were not Obedient to his Decrees? And from the Year of Christ's Nativity 1034, An. 1034 which is from his Resurrection 1000, did not the Pope's excercise all the Power of the first Beast, advancing and li●ting themselves above Emperors, and all Kings and making them Instruments, and Ministers of his Wrath and Malice, against the Elect Servants of God? And whereas 'tis said he had power to give Life to the Image of the Beast; what else can be hereby signified● but that the Popes have snatched all their power and Authority from the Emperors, and settled it upon themselves, leaving in a manner nothing but a kind of an Image or Shadow of an Empire? For it is manifest, that from the time the ●econd Beast arose, the Christian Kings and Emperors, derived all the Life and Power they had to Rule or Command, from the ●econd Beast, to wit● the Pope. For whereas anciently the Popes where dependent on the Emperors, after the Popes were arrived to that greatness, the Emperors became dependent on the Popes. Moreover, doth not this papal number 666 point out so many Years, An. 666 which signify two Mystical Hours or Revolutions, beginning at the Year of Christ's Resurrection 100L, and ending at the Year 1666, or at the Year of his Nativity 1700? An. 1700 And indeed within this time, the Popes of Rome thus advanced themselves above Kings and Emperors; and the first papal Usurpation was observed in Benedict the ninth, who attempted to depose the Emperor from his Imperial Seat, and dispose of the Crown to whom he pleased, about the Year of Christ's Nativity 1034, as Histories confirm, and especially Lucas Osiander in Epitome. Hist. Eccles. Which was afterwards more vigorously followed by Gregory the seventh, alias Hildebrand, about the Year 1073, An. 1073 and in succeeding Ages continued to this day. Quest. 77. Doth not that number of 144000 whom john saw upon Zion, standing with the Lamb, and Singing a new Song etc. signify the same described in the like number, Chap 7. who shall be the first Fruits of the first Resurrection above cited? When they shall be plainly distinguished, from the four Beast●● and fo●r and twenty elders, because they shall Sing a new Song before the Beasts and Elders, and none was able to learn that Song, except the 144000● and yet God will most certainly have other faithful Servants on Earth at that time also● tho' they cannot as yet learn the aforesaid Song, which s●●ms to be some peculiar Property in those only, that obtain the firs● Resurrection. Quest. 78. Will not the time wh●r●i● the 144000 will appear, be after the expiration of 42 Months or 1260 Years, which are the Years of the ●irst Beas●? And th● latter 666 years, belonging to the s●con● Beast, will have the ●ame End and Period, ending about th● Year of Christ's Nativity 1700, The Year 1700 in true Chronol●gy differs fr●m the common. respect being ha● to true Chronology, which many think differs some years ●rom the vulgar computation, so as that the true is by some thought to preceded the vulgar by t●e space of two Years, others think four years. Quest. 79. About the time when t●e number of those that are Sealed, 14400●, shall appear, will not an Angel fly through the midst of Heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to the Inhabitants o● th● Earth; to every Nation, People, Tongue, and Kindred? And who is this Angel? Is it not Jesus Christ? Or some Angel having his Conmission? And how shall this Angel preach the Gospel to all every where? Shall he not do it by inspiring Good and Holy Men, and stirring them up to go into other Nations, whereby they shall declare and publish the Gospel of Christ over the whole Earth? And so indeed there shall not be a Nation, or People upon the whole Globe of the Earth, to whom the Gospel shall not be both externally and internally preached and declared (as Christ had foretold) all the elect Children of God wheresoever dispersed, shall be gathered together, and the rest shall be left without excuse. And doth not this time belong to the Church of P●i●●delphia, to whom the Lord had promised, that he would open a door before her which no Man should shut? And therefore shall not the Ears and Hearts of sundry in all Nations be effectually opened, (by Divine Power, operating in the Ministers sent from God) to believe and obey the holy Gospel, whereby there shall be a great Conversion of many People of every Kindred, Stock and Family, unto Christ after this universal Publication of the Gospel? And shall not also the Gift of Tongues and Miracles, with divers other noble and excellent Gifts of the Divine Spirit once communicated to the Apostles be again restored to the Church, which being restored, shall be again produced, when that time shall come? Quest. 80. Shall not Babylon (that great City) fall suddenly after the Promulgation of the Gospel in all Nations, in the order and manner described by the Prophet, john, ch. 14. where he first speaks of the 144000● standing with the Lamb upon Mount Zion; Secondly, of the general Publication of the Gospel to all Nation; and thirdly and lastly, of the Fall of Babylon? Quest. 81. Is not the first Resurrection of all the Saints, and that happy and glorious Sabbath, which they shall enjoy upon Earth after the first Resurrection, clearly pointed out Chapter 1●. Verse 1●. Blessed are the Dead that die in the Lord, from henceforth saith the Spirit, that they rest from their Labours, and their Works follow them. And why doth he say, from henceforth, but to intimate to us that excellent Sabbath of the Saints, for altho' the Saints are perpetually blessed, and do rest in Christ after Death; yet is not some peculiar degree of Felicity intended in these words, viz. That most noble and excellent Sabbath, which the Saints shall enjoy in the Millennium. Quest. 82. What signifies the reaping of the Earth, and the gathering together of the Grapes of the Vineyards of the Earth? Are not the fearful and terrible Judgements of God upon the unbelieving and disobedient to be understood by it, after God shall have bountifully rewarded his faithful Servants? Quest. 83. How are those Words to be understood, Chap. 14.20. And the Wine-press was trodden without the City● and Blood came ●ut of the Wine-press, even unto the Horses' Bridles● by the space of a th●usand and six hundred Furlongs? Doth not this belong to the time of the Ba●●le of Armageddon, under the seventh 〈◊〉 when Gog and Magog, or the Ungodly 〈◊〉 ●ll ●orts, shall join themselves in great A●mi●● against God's People, who follow the ●amb; but at this time, more especially against the jews and Israelites now inhabiting their own Land? Of which Bat●le, see Ez●kiel, ch. 38 v. ●1, 12. CHAP. XV. QU●st. 84. To what Interval or space of time belongs the Vision of the seven * The seven Angels, with their seven Phials belonging to the seventh Trumpe●. Angels, pouring out their seven Phials of Divine Wrath? Do they not seem manifestly to belong to the time of the seventh Trumpet, to wit, from the Year of Christ's Resurrection 1740, to the Year 2000? For those Phials are said to contain the seven last Plagues; and in them is the Divine Wrath fulfilled. And therefore will they not belong to the seventh Trumpet, which contains Horrible and Tremendous Plagues? And finally, before any of these Phials shall be poured fourth, the Temple of God will be opened in Heaven; and all such as have obtained Victory over the Beast and his Image, and over the Mark and Number of his Name, viz. after the expiration of 1666 years, since the Death of Christ, shall stand upon the Glassy Sea, which is mixed with Fire, Singing the Song of Moses and the Lamb, and Prophesying of almost a general Conversion of the Nations. And doth not this opening of the Temple belong to the beginning of the Interval of the Philadelphian Church? And certainly if we well consider how great power the Antichristian Kingdom has had in the World to this very day; it seems an Argument strong enough to conclude that no Phials have been as yet poured out. Quest. 85. Who are those whom john saw standing upon the Sea of Glass mingled with Fire, having obtained Victory over the Beast, and over his Image, Mark and Number, having the Harps of God, and singing the Song of Moses and the Lamb? Are not they the 144000, and with them all the rest of the Saints, who have attained to the first Resurrection before all others? And is not this Sea of Glass this visible World, full of perplexing Cares and Calamities, upon which, notwithstanding shall stand the Saints, as it were upon a Sea resembling Glass in Solidity, who have gotten Victory over the Beast, not only singing M●ses's Song for a Testimony of deliverance, ●●t the Song of the Lamb also? Quest● 8●. ●ow are ●●ose words to be understood Revel. 15. ●. And ●he Temple was ●i●le●●ith 〈…〉 the Glory of God, and no M●n was a 〈◊〉 ●nter into the Temple, ●il● the se●en Plagues of the seven Angels were fulfilled? Doth not this signifie● thatch Church of God ●●all li● open du●ing the whole Interval of the seven Phials, shining with exceeding splendour, and invested w●th Divine Glory, which ●hall so con●ou●d her Adversary's, that none of them shall be able ●o enter there into, or do her the lea●t injury during all that time? And peradventure about the end of the seventh Phial those enemies of the Church, will attempt something upon her; and hitherto the Battle of Armageddon seems to be referred, where at last they shall all perish by Fire and Hail sent from Heaven? Quest. 87. Do not the seven Thunders belonging to the sixth Trumpet, The seven Thunders belong to the sixth Trumpet. and the seven Phials belonging to the seventh Trumpet, The seven Phials belong to the seventh Trumpet. The Duration of the Trumpet. 260 Years 1/● contain something analogous? Quest. 88 Doth not the effusion or pouring out of the seven Phials denote the Fall of Babylon, as it were by so many degrees succeeding one another, every Phial's Interval including 37 Years and 1/●, which is 1/7 of the n●mber 260, the Interval of each Trumpet? Therefore are they not mightily deceived, who think that either Babylon is already fallen, or else that her Fall is exceeding near? Are not they also mistaken, who think the four Phials are already poured forth, when 'tis more probable, that not one of them is as yet poured out; for the first Phial will begin from the year of Chris●'s Resurrection 1740; ●or the opening of the Temple, and the Vision of the 144000 sealed, must precede the effusion, or pouring forth of all the Phials, as evidently appears from the very Series, or Order of Prophecies in this Book? Quest. 89. What is signified by the Earth, upon which the first Phial was to be poured out? Is it not the lowest order of Antichristian Hierarchy, of which sort are Priests and Clerks of inferior rank, with all their train? And what is signified by the ●●a? Is it not some superior degree of the same Hierarchy (as the Sea is superior to the Earth) of which sort are chief Priests, or Bishops, with their Seats, which they call Seas; and whereas these Seas are to be turned into B●ood, doth not this signify some mighty Slaughter and Destruction to fall upon these Men by War? And then what may be understood by Fountains and Rivers, whether not others again of an higher Order and Rank, such as are chie●, or Arch-Bishops, commonly call●d Cardinals, and Metropolitans of the Antichristian Hierarchy, who spilt the Blood of Saints and Prophet's; and therefore they shall then have their own Blood spilt, not indeed by any Saints, but by other instruments raised up against them by God's most just judgement? But how, a●d when those that are to be slain under the third Phial did spill the Blood of the Saints, is a question well worth Explanation, seeing none of the Saints were killed by any after the Interval of the sixth Trumpet? Moreover doth not the pouring out o● the other four Vial denote the Fall and utter Ruin of Babylon, or the false and Antichristian Church by various degrees, together with the final Period and Destruction of the Kingdoms, and corrupt Dominions of Men? And finally, doth not this great River Euphrates, subject to the sixth Phial, signify the Turk●, or other People, inhabiting some other Countries bordering upon Euphrates, to make a way for the Kings of the East? And who are those Kings of th● East? Are they not the Saints raised to Life again in the future Millennium? CHAP. XVII. QUest. 90. Do●h not the Mystery Babylon so fully described in this Chapter signify the whole and entire Body of the false and Antichristian Ch●●ch, and indeed chief the Church of Rome, who Apostatised for many Ages back, and drank of the Blood of the Saints and Martyrs of God? And is not th●● Beast, upon whom this great Who●e sat, the Roman Monarchy, which is the sixth Head? But this sixth Head falling, will not a seventh ●ead a●ise, and after that, an eighth, which nevertheless belongs to the seventh, and is ●s it were an Appendix of it? An● doth not Daniel expressly describe those two Kings; the one of the South, and the other of the North? And lastly, will not these Kings, or one of these Kings rise up against the Saints, together with the false Prophet, who is to be raised up with him, with a purpose to kill them under the Interval of the seventh Phial? But will not God miraculously guard and protect his Saints, and destroy their Adversaries with Fire and Hail from Heaven? And is not the Battle of Armageddon (which seems to belong to the last Phial) clearly enough described by Ezekiel, and also the aforesaid Kings, called by the names of Gog and Magog, Chap. 38, and 39? CHAP. XVIII. QUest. 91. Doth not that Fall and Destruction of Baby●on by Fire, or B●rning, so fully described, chap. 18. signify that the false and Antichristian Church shall be totally destroyed and abolished? And what are those Daughters of Babylon but Hypocrites in every Sect and Profession of Christianity, altho' they may gild it over with the specious name o● Reformation, whilst they continue Strangers to the Spirit and Life o● the Christian Religion? Quest. 92. How are we to understand that in Babylon was found not only the Blood of the Prophets and Saints, but of all that were slain upon the Earth? Do●h not the effusion of so much Blood, respect all that space of 4000 years passed from Noa●'s Flood; from which time Babylon began to be ●uilt externally, comprehending the entire Revolution of one great Day or Night, consisting of twelve hours? Therefore will not all those Murderers and Shedders of Humane Blood, even from Noahs' Flood to the Year of the World's Creation 5740, or of Christ's Resurrection from the Dead 1740, together make up one and the same City of Babylon, and receive their Punishment therein, in case they do not truly and sincerely Repent? A●d how this shall come to pass is also well worth an explanation? Moreovers will not that hour wherein Babylon shall be Lashed with those Terrible and Tremendous Judgements of God, consist of 333 1/● Years, or ● of 1000 Years, after ●he ●ate of 1000 years to one Watch of the Night, as it is P●al. 90. v. 4. each Watch consisting of thre● hours, and 12 hours making ●p one entire Night or Day? CHAP. XIX. QUest. 93. What is that multitude of People, whom john saw in ●eaven, crying hallelujah, Salvation, and Glory, a●d Honour, and Power to our Lo●d God? Do not these signify that ●ast Multitude which shall be Converted, as well of jews as of Gentiles, over the whole Globe of the Earth, under the Interval of the sixth Seal, and the seventh and last Trumpet, together with the Saints raised to Life again, under the seventh Trumpet? Therefore in the same hour of 2●●½ years, viz. f●om the year of Christ's Nativity 100L, to the year 2●33, or from the year of His Resurrection 1666, to the year 2000 Will not the City Babylon be destroyed, and t●e City, or Church of God Gloriously ●●ilt? Whether or no, that very hour is not that which is ●aid, (Rev. ●. 8.● to be the hour o● Trial or Temptation which sh●ll come over the whole ●arth, from w●●ch● viz. f●om the Dan●●r a●d Evil of this ●our God hath promised to preserve t●e Church of P●●●ad●●phia aforesaid? Quest. 94. What i● the Marriage of the Lamb, which I●●n 〈◊〉 to come at t●e ●●me af●●●●aid? And again, what is that ●●pper of the L●m●, to w●●ch whoso●●●r were called, were Blessed v. 7, 9? Do not both the Marriage, and Supper of the Lamb, denote the first Resurrection of the Saints unto Life; among whom all Matrimony, with the carnal use of it, shall cease among Men and Women, agreeable to Christ`ss saying, that in the Resurrection, they neither Mary nor are given in Marriage. But the Souls of the Saints are Married to the Lamb, remaining in the mean time pure and chaste Virgins? Quest. 95. Doth it not clearly appear from chap. 18. v. 14, 15. that the Army of the Lamb was to use no carnal Weapons? For their Captain whom they followed Arrayed in white Garments, and on white Horses will smite their Enemies with a Sword proceeding out of his Mouth? And what are those white Horses, which the Saints shall have? Are they not pure Bodies, Bodies of the first Resurrection above-cited? CHAP. XXI. QVest. 96. What is that Angel which john sa● coming down from Heaven, having the Key of the Bottomless Pit, and a great Chain in his Hand, who lay hold of the Dragon, that old Serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him for a thousand Years? Is not this Angel Christ? But whethe● he shall descend corporally in his Glorified Body, or only Spiritually, I leave to be farther determined. Quest. 97. Do not the 1000 Years six times mentioned in this Chapter signify 1000 Years properly so called? And did not that Sabbath of Days, and Year's, made under the Law, prefigure this Sabbath of the World, to be in the seven thousandth year of it, even as the six preceding thousand Years of the World were figured out, or typified under the six Work-days? And do not ●hese places of Scripture, Psal. 90. v. 4. 2 Pet. 3. v. 8 relate unto the mystery of 1000 Years put for a day? And have not the Prophets prophesied of many great and glorious things, touching this ●amous time, or glorious day of the Lord? Also doth not that of Psal. 92. w●ere 'tis treated of the Sabbath, relate also unto that renowned tim●? Moreover is not that day the same, whereof Es●ias prophesied, saying, The Light of o●e day shall be as the Light of seven Days, and the Lord alone shall be exalted and magnified in that da●? Besides also, not only the more Learned among the I●ws, but many also of the Fathers among the Christians in the Primitive Age's of the Church, have declared and asserted their Faith and Hope concerning this Glorious Sabbath and Millennium to come, wherein all t●e Saints being recalled from De●th unto Li●e, shall lead a most Ble●●ed, and also a most Holy L●fe upon Earth, in the firm Belief and Persuasion, wher●o● t●ey rejoiced and triumphed in the greatest Sufferings and Dangers of this mortal Li●e? Quest. ●8 Shall not all the Saints that ever lived ●rom the beginning of the World, whethe● they w●re killed for the Testimony of God, o● died ● natural Death, be raised up to live a Corporeal Life in the fu●ure Millennium? And is not this Resurrection som● part of the Saints Reward, both of sma●l and gre●●, according to Rev. 11. v. 13. and E●●d. 20. v. 2. Quest 9● Shall not the Saints when they shall be raised to Life, have Bodies of ●lesh, not indeed su●h as Men now have, but far more excellent, such as was Adam's Body whilst he lived in the Earthly Paradise before the Fall, and such also as was the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ before his Death, which Bodies of the Saints shall at length in the end of the seventh Millennium be changed into Spiritual Bodies, in which they shall ascend into Heaven to meet the Lord? And did not Paul touch upon that Mystery, 1 Cor. 15. saying, As we have born the Imag● of the Earthly Adam, (viz. as he was before the Fal●) we shall also bear the Image of the Heavenly now glorified in the Heavens? And did not the Prophets prophesy of such a Resurrection, and especially Hosea and Daniel, Dan. 12. v. 2. Host 6. v. 2. and finally, doth not Paul, 1 Cor. 15. plainly describe the s●ate of a twofold Body; the first indeed natural, and then after the Expiration of the Millennium, and the end of the World's Ages is come, a Spiritual Body; but that is not first which is Spiritual, b●t that which is Natural, and then that which is Spiritual; and is not that Reward one of the Promises of Christ, in that Age when he shall come in the Glory ●f his Father? Quest. 100 And as the jews Sabbath began in the end or evening of ●he sixth day, will not also this most blessed Sabbath o● the World begin in the end of the sixth Millennium, to wit, b●fore the sixth Milennium of the World is expired? And seeing the whole time of this World's duration seems to be a Week, consist●ng of 7000 Yea●s, th●re woul● be no Remainder of Years af●er the end of the Millennium, if this h●ppy Age of 1●●0 Years did not commence b●●ore the 6●00 Years were expired? And that th●re is some Remainder of Years after the Millennium, plainly appears ●rom the Revelations, which john calls a little Season, Rev. 20 v. 3. Now wh●ther or no that little Season may not contain 260 Years, making that most happy Age of the World to begin about t●e year of the World 5740, and of Christ's Resurrection 1●4●, I leave to be determined by ●ny on●, to w●om God shall vouchsafe to open these things by a purer Chronology? Quest. 101. How shall the Saints be raised up again to live a Corporeal Life on Earth, seeing Matrimony and carnal Conjunction of Male and Female shall cease; whether all the Saints shall be born of Virgins, or whether, as God form Adam out of the Clay of the Earth, or any other way suitable to the Majesty of the thing, is a matter highly worthy, to be explained, if there be any, to whom God shall reveal it? Quest. 102. Do not the two last Chapters of the Revelations contain a Description of that most splendid and glorious State of the Saints or Church of God during the whole Interval, or space of the Millennium, even unto the end of the World? Quest. 103. Shall th●re not new Heavens and a new Earth be made and prepared at the beginning of the Millennium? Chap. 21.1. Isaiah 65.17.66.2. and 2 Pet. 3.13. And how shall this first Heaven and first Earth pass away? Shall they be reduced to nothing, or rather shall not the first or old Heaven and Earth, altar their nature and quality, and so be changed into new? And whereas Peter said, that Justice shall dwell in this new Earth, doth not this sufficiently intimate that Righteous M●n shall inhabit the same; ●or both he and all the Saints expected this new Earth? Quest. 104. Shall not there remain some Seed of Sinners in the time of the ●uture Millennium, as appears from Isaiah, ch. 65. v. 20, 25. and out of that remaining Seed of Sinners will not the Armies of Gog a●d Magog be multiplied after the end of the Millennium? And shall not these Sinners during the whole Millennium, be totally subject to the Saints? Quest. 105. Shall the Conflagration of the World be made at once, or by parts, of which see 2 Pet. 8. v. 10. Isa. 66. v. 15, 16. Mal. 4. v. 1. And finally will it destroy all, or for the most part only Sinners, and will not certain Sinners escape the Flames (whilst Babylon shall be totally destroyed and exterminated) even as in Noah's Ark, Ham and his Wife were preserved from the Flood, as well as the Righteous, from whom afterwards sprang the worst sort of Sinners? Quest. 106. Will there not be found two sorts of Saints living upon Earth within the Interval of the sixth Seal, viz. from the year of Christ's Resurrection 1666, to the year 2000 One whereof hath attained to the first Resurrection, the other hath not as yet obtained it, but hath an infallible Hope and Assurance after Death to obtain the same also within the time aforesaid? And are not the words of Isaiah to be understood of the latter, Isa. 65. v. 20. He that dies at an hundred years of age, dies in Youth, or Childhood; but such shall die as Moses died, whose Eye was not darkened, nor his natural Strength diminished when he died, Deut. 3●. v. 7. For Moses did not die by reason of any Sickness or Decay of Strength, but only to fulfil Divine Pleasure, and will not also all the mortal Saints die after the same manner, who have not as yet attained the first Resurrection, that so by this way of dying they may obtain it? Quest. 107. And will not the Children of the first Resurrection be in all respects the Children of God; to wit, both externally and internally, as it were begotten of him their only Father? And is not this clearly enough hinted to us in those words of Isa. 66. v. 9 Shall I be barren who give Generation to others, saith the Lord, as it is in the vulgar Translation? Quest. 108. Do not those words of Revel. 21.4. And there shall be no more Death, nor Mourning, nor Tears; plainly intimate that the Saints who have obtained the first Resurrection, shall never die any more, neither internally, nor externally, but shall live during the whole Millennium a most Holy, and a most Blessed Life on Earth: but at the end of the Millennium, to wit, after all the Saints have lived completely a thousand Years on Earth, shall they not be changed, and ascend together, to meet Christ in the Heavens, even as Christ ascended into Heaven after his Resurrection? And is not the Saints Life for a thousand Years apparently signified in these words, Isa. 65. v. 22. which justin Martyr reads thus, As are the days of the tree of Life, so shall be the days of my People, thereby signifying Man's return to that state of Holiness and Felicity, wherein Adam stood before the Fall, whilst he was permitted to Feed on the Tree of Life, when as yet, he knew not Death, neither had yet tasted of the forbidden Fruit? Quest. 109. How are those words to be understood Revel. 21.1. And there was no more Sea? Is Sea pu● here Allegorically for worldly Afflictions and Tribulations? Or may it not also be understood of some outward Mediterranean Sea, dividing as well the Islands one from another, as other Continents of the Earth? So as that all the dry Land may remain together in one place, as it is probable it did before the Flood. Quest. 110. Why is that Holy City of God, said to come down from Heaven, Revel. 21. v. 2? Doth not this plainly intimate, that all the Saints whatsoever now in Heaven, shall descend from Heaven in the time of the Millennium, to live a most Divine and Heavenly Life on Earth, during the space of a thousand Years: As before was said, that at last they may be fitted and prepared for greater Glory, which they shall enjoy in Heaven after the 1000 Years are finished to all Eternity: For God shall be with them, and in them, whilst they Live here, so that they shall suffer no Injury or Damage in this their Descen●, but be greater Gainers by it? Quest. 111. Do not those Words (Revel. 21.6, 7.) I will give to Him that Thirsteth of th● Fountain of Living Water freely. He that overcomes● shall Inherit all Th●ngs, and I will be to Him a God, and He shall be to me a Son.) relate unto those, which have not yet obtained the first Resurrection, who yet S●rive and Wrestle with Enemy's, and Spiritual Temptations? And all su●h shall have an Opportunity to Attain this first Resurrection of the Saints, at the Year of Christ's Resurrection 2000 Quest. 112. Do not the twelve Doors or Gates of the Holy City, whereon are inscribed the Names of the twelve Tribes of Israel, clearly intimate, that all the Gentiles who are true Believers, shall be gathered together into one Body with the Faithful Israelites, and all the Gentiles who are to be Saved, will belong some to one, and some to another of the twelve Tribes of Israel? Quest. 113. And lastly, do not the Names of the twelve Apostles inscribed upon the twelve Foundations of this City signify, that this very City was gathered together, and Built by the Doctrine and Ministry of Saints and Apostles? And that the Apostles themselves, were the chief Members, and as it were, the Foundations of it Christ remaining above all, and in all the Principal Foundation and Chief Cornerstone? Quest. 114. Why is thi● City said to be Square in the Form of a Cube, and not of a G●obe? Doth not this signify the Stable Condition, and S●ate of this City, as the Roundness and Orbicular Form of the Earth d●notes its voluble and unconstant State and Condition; together with Mortals that dwell therein? Quest. 115. Will not certain other Holy Souls descend into Bodies in the Millennium, who Lived not before on Earth in the preceding Ages of the World? Quest. 116. Will not the Rate or Proportion of the Holy City compared to the whole Earth, be as 52 is to 12, assigning to each De●ree of the Terrestrial Globe above 60 Miles, and under 61, which is the Proportion that one Week bears to a whol● Year? Moreover, doth not the whol● Age of this World, from the Beginning to the End, seem like a Week? And doth it not seem worth a Sober and Modest Inquiry, what Mystery may be couched u●der the Similitude of these two Proportions? Quest. 117. Shall those who Inhabit this City, need the use of Meats and Drinks? Or what shall be their Food? Shall it not be such Food as Adam Eat in the Earthly Paradise before the Fall? Quest. 118. Are not those words of Revel. 21.23. (And the City shall not stand in need of the Light of the Sun, nor of the Moon) to be understood according to the Letter? For although the Sun, Moon, and Stars, shall then Shine and Impart their Virtues and Influences to other Animals or living Creatures, yet the Saints of the first Resurrection, shall not seem to stand in need of their Light or Virtue. FINIS. AN APPENDIX. CONTAINING Some Emendations and Explanations of divers Passages in the two foregoing Treatises, out of the Autho●'s Original Manuscripts and Papers. Friendly Reader, IT was thought fit to let thee know, that the following Emendations, Corrections, and Explanations, are according to the mind of the Author, as appeareth out of another Copy of his Manuscript, and his other Papers, that have been faithfully preserved; it is therefore probable, that the Author himself, upon his second Thoughts, which are commonly the more solid, hath himself corrected divers things in these Treatises, which ought not to be charged upon him as any blame, but rather in so doing, to deserve praise. But it is most certain, that divers considerable Mistakes have crept into the printed Copies, bo●h Latin and English, by the unskilfulness and in advertency of the Transcribers, through whose Hands the Original Copy hath come: The which Original Cop●, I can assu●e thee, Reader, I have seen in a Latin Manuscript many years ago; but who the Author is, is not easy to judge. For divers reasons, best known to himself, he thought it not convenient to make his Name known to the World, as many worthy Authors of B●oks have concealed their Names. The Reader is ●urther to be advertised, that some words in this printed English Copy, here corrected, are the Errors of the Press, incident to all Books. It must needs be confessed, that many things in these Treatises, especially in the former, will seem strange and surprising to many, because of their cressing the common Notions and Sentiments, generally received, both in Philosophy and Divinity, so called. But whatever Truth or Untruth may be in these things, that may seem to many most incredible, it is the Readers wisdom, not to be hasty to judge, so as to conclude ●or or against, without mature Judgement, and a good Understanding, as Plato (called by some the Divine Philosopher) well said, Non est sapientis de obscuris de●erminare, i. e. It is not a wise Man's part to determine of things obscure or unclear to his Understanding. The Author's Modesty and Discretion is to be commended, ●ho for the most part profes●eth but to handle these things Historically, or Hypothetically, not Dogmatically, nor Positively, his design being (as it manifestly appeareth) to give some hints of the Mystic Learning of the Iew●, and of other Christian Mystic Writers, to ordinary and vulgar Scholars, that had not heard of such things, so much perhaps as by Fame, and also to such sincere Christians, as have a real Divine Hunger and Thirst begot in them after a greater degree of the Living Knowledge of God, and of Christ, and the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God, so far as they are traceable in the Holy Scriptures, as God shall be pleased to work by his Holy Spirit, to give the Understanding of them: For tho' the jews in great part are blinded, especially, as concerning the true Messiah, yet in many things it is acknowledged by Pious Christian Writers, that their ancient Mystic Learning containeth many things, not only very agreeable to Christian Doctrine, but very conducing, to help us to understand many places of Scripture in the New Testament, as well as in the Old. And if sincere Christian Professors did but well understand the great Advantage and Help that the jewish M●stick Learning (with which this Author seemeth to have been in good measure acquainted) doth afford to convince the jews of the Truth of Christianity, so as to enable and furnish them, to right them with their own Weapon's, they would be more willing to read with an Impartial Mind, such Books as would help them in such ●ort of Learning, few of which sort as yet, if any, are extant in the English Language. The second Treatise, added unto the first, was done by the same Author. It is hoped that it will be favourably received and entertained by the Reader, the rather that it is proposed only by way of Queries yet so far explanatory, as in many things at least, it may, by the blessing of God, be made serviceable to the better understanding many things in the Book of the Revelations, further than what they have formerly known, by the help of other Commentaries. The Emendations, and Explicati●ns in the first Treatise follow. PAge 10. add fin. the Explication. The Author is not so to be understood, as if, because he hath an Allegorical Sense of Christ's Flesh and Blood, Allegorically and Figuratively so understood, as the Scripture aboundeth with such allegories and figurative Speeches, as Water, Wine, Milk, Honey, Oil, Marrow and Fatness; that therefore he did not sincerely believe that Christ's outward. Flesh was real Flesh, and his Blood real Blood, which he gave for the Life of the World, the which Body and Blood of Christ, tho' it is not to be received by the Mouth, as Papists say, yet spiritually by Faith it is fed upon by all sincere Christians. And in this sense, to eat Christ's Flesh, and to drink his Blood, is sincerely to believe, that Christ gave His Body of Flesh to be broken for u●, and His Blood to be shed for us, for the Remission of Sin; by which sincere Faith (whereof Christ is the Worker) we partake o● the Life and Spirit of ●hrist, that is the Soul's immediate Nourishment. Page 16. add med. Expl. Let none misconstrue the Author, because he only expressly nameth G●d and Ch●ist to be the Author and Original of the Creation, as if he did not understand the Holy Ghost, who is one and the same God with the Father and the Son, to be the Author and Creator ●f al● things. Page 17. add med. Expl. L●● none infer from th●se words, as if when God m●d●●an, Gen. 1. He did not at once endue him with 〈…〉 three degrees, making up one en●ir● Soul of Man, and a●●o what the high●st and most noble, to wit, the principle of the divine Life, out of the Azi●utick System. Page 19 add fin. Expl. Adam's Body, as originally made by God, was not gross and thick, as it became afterwards by Sin. It was originally, Or, Heb. i.e. Light. but after his Fall it became Y● r, i. e. a Skin; but within the thick gross Body, called Skin, Gen. 3.21. the true lucid Paradisiacal Body li●th hid, and will not appear until the Resurrection of the Dead. Page 24. Expl. The Author only delivers this Hypothetically; therefore l 6. deal certainly, and read, may signify. The Fi●tieth year hath a respect to another great M●st●ry, which is the opening the 50 Divine Gates of Binah, i. e. The Divine Intelligence, which shall be fully done at the Resurrection of the Dead, and beginning of the Thousand Years. Page 25. at the beginning, Explic. and Emend. Cain was but to be avenged 7 Fold, and Lamech 77 Fold, all which Punishments might have been performed on them both, according to the Hypothesis of the Revolutions within the Ages of this World, in order to the Melloration and Restitution of them, and all elect Souls belonging to them. Page 25. Line 16. Expl. and Emend. D●le on Earth. Where note, that these so many Worlds, viz. 5214●, do not respect humane Souls that have lived, or shall live on Earth, within the compas● of the Ages of this World, but other Souls, belonging to following Worlds. Page 29. l. 22. for by but, read but by. Page 30. add m●d. Explic. and Emend. The 42 Sojournings o● the People of Israel, seem to have a nearer respect unto the Spiritual Travel o● the Souls of Men, out of Satan's Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of the dear Son of God; as ●or that other, it seemeth more remote and ●●reign, but if it be true, what jewish Mystick Write●● 〈◊〉, that the ●aw was given in 70 Languages, and in 7● S●nces, it i● possible that may be one of them. Page 36. add med. Emend. Where the number of Years, from Adam, to Christ's Resurrection, is frequently in this Treatise computed to be 〈◊〉, proce●deth ●rom the taking the words in Da●● 9.27. the midst of the Week, in a strict literal Sense; but the Hebrew word in Dani●l signifieth the dividing the We●k, which may be understood of the last Year of the last Week, not complete, bu● current, therefore it is most probable, that the Years from Adam, to Christ's Resurrection, are 4000 current, and ●rom that, to the end of the World 3000 Years. Page 39 l. 2. Correct 333⅓ is 1/●●2 of 4000 Years, therefore 333⅓ multiplied by 12, pr●duceth 4000 Years. Page 42. l. 17. Correct as above in p. 36. Page 50. l. 12. at the Margin, for 356 read 556, and for 400 read 409. Page 52, 53. Correct the number 1777, it should rather be 1774½, because the middle of the last Week of Daniel, as is said, needs not be strictly taken, but for the last Year of the Week currant, according to which Chronogical Account, the first Period of An●ichrist's Reign, will expire about the Year from Christ's Birth 1700. Page 54. l. 18. For 652 read 1650, and for 1702 read 1700. Note, whether the first Fruits, mentioned Revel. ch. 14. have not a relation to 144000 Saints that shall be raised from the Dead, as a first Fruits, and appear with Christ before the general Resurrection of the Saints, is worthy of further enquiry. Page 55. l. 15. Emend. and Explic. That the Saints shall be raised up to Life in a Carnal and Terrestrial Body, must not be understood, such as we now have, as is well said, lin. 16. but such as Adam had in Paradise, which being compared with such Bodies, as we now have, may be said to be Spiritual, and yet may well he allowed to be capable of a far greater degree of Spirituality● after the 1000 Years are expired, when they shall ascend together with Christ into the Heavens. But it is not to be supposed, that the Saints raised up in their Body's, such as Adam had, shall either need or use the Meats and Drinks of this World, or the Light and Influence of the Sun, Moon and Stars● for it is most probable, that Adam needed none of these things in Paradise, for that supplied him all that he needed. Page 57 l. 5. Correct. That place of Scripture, 1 Cor. 15.51. seemeth not proper to be understood of Paul, or any of the deceased Saints, but of the Saints th●● shall be found living in Mortal Bodies at Christ's coming without us, in his glorified Body; the word we being put for they, by an ordinary figure, called Enallage Personae. The Saints, the Gog and Magog's Army shall attempt to slay, shall not be the raised Saints, but the other Saints that shall live in the 1000 Years, and have not as yet attained the Resurrection; and such Saints shall marry, and have Children. But it is improper to think that the raised Saints shall marry, to wit, as Men now do, and have Children by Women; but the manner how Adam would have propagated his Kind, is best to leave to a further opening; for many think it is apparent ●rom Scripture, that Adam before the Fall, was Male and Female in one Body, and so would have increased without Distinction of Sex. Page 58, 59, 60. Correct. That Marrying, Building, Planting, etc. shall belong to the Saints, not raised within the Thousand Years, aught to be granted, but is no wise proper to grant it to the raised Saints, whether their Resurrection be called first or second; for it seemeth to contradict the words of Christ, and the Divine Order of things. But all the time of the Thousand Years new Converts, and Saints will be added to the Church daily, by the preaching of the Gospel; who without dying or sleeping, will be changed, and the mortal and corruptible Body shall put on Immortality and Incorruption. Moreover, that the deceased Saints shall obtain the Resurrection of the Body by being born of Women, as Men are now born into the World, must not be granted; for not Earthly and Mortal Women, whether married or Virgins, but our Heavenly and Immortal Mother, jerusalem from above, shall bring us all forth, and the deceased Saints generally, as her Children, with respect to the Resurrection or Regeneration of our Bodies at the time appointed, as she hath now brought us forth, and all the Saints, with respect to the inward Resurrection and inward Regeneration of our Souls. And only Christ shall be our Heavenly Father, and jerusalem from above, our Heavenly Mother, with respect to the Resurrection of the Dead; and therefore the Children of the Resurrection in Scripture are called the Children of God, but shall not be the Children of Men, born o● Flesh and Blood. And tho' it may be granted that the Hypothesis of the Revolutions may some way illustrate the Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Dead, as Minutius Felix improved it to that purpose, to convince the Heathen Philosophers of the verity of the Resurrection; yet the Resurrection of the Dead, tho' it be called a Revolution, is not like those other Revolutions, wherein Men's Souls are supposed after Death to revolve into other Bodies by humane Generation. Page 71. add fin. Emend. That none had finished their Revolutions according to that Hypothesis before the Death of Christ, must be granted; but that all Souls had begun their Revolutions before Solomon's time, unless it be restrained to the Souls of the jews, is not so apparent, but rather according to the Mystic Writers of the jews, many Souls do still begin their Revolutions until 6●00 Years be expired, from the beginning of this World. Page 81. add med. Emend. That it is more probable those 144000 mentioned, Re●el. ch. 7. and c●. 14. are to be understood of the first Fruits of the raised Saints, sometime before the beginning of the 1000 Years, viz. about the time of t●e opening of the sixth Seal. Page 88 l. 22. Emend. and Explic. This is only to be understood of all such Souls, to whom the Period of 4000 Year● is given, because of the dark times preceding, but in the Ages of more Light under Christ, less time is given; the shortness of time, being supplied sufficiently wi●h the greater Light. Page 93. l. 20. Emend. and Explic. This present time is the last to any, that have had sufficient time formerly giv●n them, but not to others that have not had their ●ull day and time given them. Page 95. l. 5. Emend. and Explic. That Souls revolve but thrice in the space of 1000 Years, and consequently but once in the space of 333 Years● is to be understood of such Souls as have committed such heinous Crimes; as for which, they deserved to be ejected or cast out for so long a time, which Ejection is called by Mystic Writers Excision, that is either for such a long time, as 333 Years; or if they do not amend, may prove at last a final Excision. But such Soul's 〈◊〉 do amend, the Mystic Writers say, do quickly revolve, in order to their perfect Restitution; so that the Soul of the deceased Father may revolve in his Grandchild, (which is only but Historically related, but not Dogmatically asserted) yet not so, that the Father is the Grandchild, for that would be great Confusion; but that as they say, the Soul of the Deceased Grandfather doth revolve, to cohabit and live together wi●h the Soul of the Grandchild in the same Body, even as the Soul of the Grandchild did live together, and cohabit with the Soul of the Grandfather in the Grand-father's Body, out of whose Loins he did at last proceed; according to which Hypothesis, it may be understood, how the Souls ●f Er and Onan, who died in the Land of Canaan, yet went with their Brethren into Egypt, making in all, together with Er and Onan, but 70 Souls, as plainly appears from Gen. 46.12, 27. it being granted that they revolved in P●a●ez and Zerah, their younger Brethren, who had also their own proper distinct Souls; all whi●h were great distinct Roots of their respective Families. Page 105. lin. 1. Correct. The Years from Chris●'s Resurrection, to the beginning of the first Trumpet, are 180; to which, adding the Year's ●rom Christ's Bir●h, ●o his Death and Resurrection, viz. 34 Years current, make 214, and therefore correct the Intervals of the Trumpets thus; 214. 474.734.9●4.1254.1514.1774. ●034. The occasion o● the difference of four Years is above-noted, and corrected at Page ●6. Page 1●8, 109. Emendat. and Explic. If the seven Thunders and seven Vials have some Analogy, as is probable, th●se Intervals of Numbers, Page 108. may ●ather be referred to the seven Thunders, than to the ●even Vials● And it is rather more probable, that the 〈◊〉 of the seven Vials gins not to be poured out until 〈◊〉 year from Christ's ●●rth 100L; and if we allow ten Years to each Vial, the last shall be poured out 〈◊〉 the year 1770, after which, allowing three Years and to the personal Antichrist, that is then to come; whose time● according to the general Sense of Antiquity, is limited to that short space of three Years and ½ an● who, at the end of that short space, is to be destroyed by Christ's coming, it brings us to the beginning 〈◊〉 the 1000 Years, about the year 1774● which yet 〈◊〉 not Dogmatically a●●●r●ed, but by way of a probabl● Hypothesis, and modest conjecture. But that the Papal Hierarchy will not expire a●out the year 1700, 〈◊〉 apparent ●rom M●●●chi●●'s Prophec. An Irish A●●●● who lived abo●t 〈◊〉 Y●ars ago, and had a Vision of 〈◊〉 the Popes that should be, fr●m hi● time, to the 〈◊〉 See Fl●re's 〈◊〉 according to w●ich, Fifteen 〈◊〉 Sixteen Popes are yet to come, but they may all happen to come and p●●s before the year 1●5● be 〈◊〉 expired. But a●ou● the year 1●●●, which is th●●g●● by strict account to 〈…〉 or 16●●, some gre●● change may be probably expected, in 〈◊〉 to a 〈◊〉 Reformation in the World, tha● very 〈◊〉 being 〈◊〉 beginning of the sixth Seal, according to this Ch●●●●●logical Hypothesis. The seventh Seal may either 〈◊〉 supposed to comprehend in a ●●ner●● way● all the 〈◊〉 Seals and Intervals of ●he trumpets and V●●●s, ●r without any change of the Chronological Per●ods, 〈◊〉 numbers of Years, the seventh Seal may ●e supp●●● to be Synchronous, or Contemporal with the 〈◊〉 Seal, and consequently the half hour's silence may 〈◊〉 referred to that time to great Peace and Quiet, 〈◊〉 the Church of Christ shall enjoy, ●rom the year 1●●● to the year 17●0; within which space of ●0 Yea●● the seven Via●s, called the seven last Plagues● are to poured out upon the false Church, (the Whore ●●●bylon) and chief the R●m●● ●ierarch● a●d Pap●●● Page 110. a●●ed. 〈◊〉 It is a great mista●● that needs Correction, 〈◊〉 ●hich the Author 〈…〉 had corrected in ●is Manus●●p●s, a● if the Prophet's 〈◊〉 Apostles, or ●ny other of 〈◊〉 d●●e●sed Saint● sha●l born again into the World of Women, Virgins, or any others. But all the deceased Saints shall ●e raised up● and ●eceive their Resurrection Bodies, by ●he immediate Power of God and Christ. And t●o ' it is called in Scripture Regeneration, yet it is properly and truly a real Resurrection, as well as Regeneration; whereby, according to the Body, th●● shall be the Children of God, as well as according to the Soul and ●●●rit. Moreover, as concerning the order of t●● R●su●●e●●ion, the Scripture is plain: Fi●st, 〈◊〉, the first Fruits, af●er they t●at are Chri●●, a● 〈◊〉 Co●i●g: But i● is worthy ●o be considered whether ●here ●●y no● be a first Fruits of t●e Resurrection, before the general Resurrection o● the 〈…〉 to the Revelations, Chap. 7. an● Chap. 14. Page 11● an● from 〈…〉 Explic. It ●●s well th' 〈…〉 tion●d of ●a●c, etc. is s●●d ●xpre●l●, (〈…〉) not to be 〈…〉 time, the A●t●●r (as ●●p●●r 〈◊〉 ou● o● his own Manuscripts ●●d Papery 〈…〉stion negatively, 〈◊〉 a positive an 〈…〉 That Isa●c was 〈…〉 the Woman, whi●h Christ 〈◊〉 w●en ●e c●use i● th● Fl●sh, and t●at ●or 〈…〉. To 〈◊〉 I●aa● ●●s the promised 〈…〉 Ch●ist 〈◊〉 into that mos● 〈…〉 Un●●● wi●h himself, is ●o ●ay, 〈◊〉 I●●ac ●●com● Chri●t, and so wa● 〈◊〉 own Saviour, b●t that is a●●u●●d fo● Is●ac; ●o ●ll ●●●●r Men need●d an●ther to ●ave them from thei●●i●●, and trajetour was Chris●. 2. It is the Testimony of 〈…〉, t●at all M●n d●s●●nded o● A●am (●●r●st 〈◊〉) have sin●ed; and therefore I●aac, as we●● as A●raham and Ia●●● ●●●ve sinned so●e ●ime ●r ●the●; but if Isaac ●●d ●●en Chr●st, to wit, the Man Christ, th●n Ch●ist h●d d●●d ●●r his own Sin●; but Christ died not for his 〈◊〉, that ●ver a● any time ●e h●d, for he ne●●●●a●●●ny Sin. D●n. ●. 2●. compared with Isaia● 53.5. 1 Cor. 15.2. 2 Cor. 15.21. 3. Isaac was to be saved, justified, and pardoned by Faith in the Man Christ, but Isaac was not to believe, or have Faith in himself. 4. That promised Seed of the Woman that descended out of the Loins of all the Fathers in a strait Line of Succession, from Adam to Christ, and from Eve to Mary, was no part of the defiled Nature of Man, tho' it was conveyed or transmitted through them that had been defiled with Sin; as David and Solomon were great Sinners, and yet their Seed was conveyed, and transmitted through them. And this is easy to understand, how an holy and undefiled Seed or Principle can pass through them that have been defiled, and be no more defiled therewith, than how the Sunbeams can shine on an unclean place, and not be defiled therewith. Now that the Seed of the Woman so conveyed and transmitted, from Adam to Christ, was never defiled with Sin, and so was no part of the fallen Nature of Man is clear, because to signify his Primitive Purity and Holiness, he was conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of a Virgin, and not after the ordinary manner of Humane Generation. And it is written of him, Thou hast loved Righteousness, and hated Iniquity, etc. Psal. 45.7. 5. That of our Nature, which Christ assumed, if it had been defiled at any time with Sin, how could it have been cleansed, o● how could it cleanse other parts of Man's Nature, that had been defiled by Sin: For it is the clean that cleanseth the unclean, and the cleansing must begin in that which is clean; that is the Root, and Original to cure● and cleanse that which is unclean; and by ●aith in the promised Seed of the Woman, all they who were saved from the beginning of the World, were cleansed and sanctified. But if it be enquired, was this Seed of the Woman conv●yed from Adam to the Man Christ, the Seed of Christ, or only a Bodily Seed, or Principle. To this it is answered● That the higher degree of the Soul of Christ was not that Seed that was conveyed through the Loins o● Abraham and David, to wit, that degree of his Soul called the Spirit and Mind in Hebrew, Ruach, and Neshamah; for that was in Heaven, and came down from Heaven, when the Child Jesus was conceived in the Womb of the Virgin, as Christ himself said, joh. 6.38. For I came down from Heaven, not to do my own Will, but the Will of him that sent me: This was not the Godhead of Christ, but that Superior or Higher degree of his Soul, called Ru●ch and Neshamah; but the inferior degree, or Animal part, called N●●h●sh in Heb. may be well allowed to have been in that Seed of the Woman, which Christ assumed, together with the Bodily Seed, and Principle of Christ's Body; and tho' it was conveyed and transmitted through all these Generations, from Adam to Christ, mentioned in Luke, ch. 3. yet that is not in the common sense of the word Revoluti●n, because R●●olution in the common sense of the word, used by M●●tick Writers, is used to signify the returning of the Souls of deceased Men, to live again in other Bodies of their Posterity or Kindred: But when a Man begets a Son, and the Soul of his Son comes out of ●is Loins, as it is said the Souls of Iacob's Children came ●ut of his Loins, that is not called Revolution in the common sense of the Mystic Writers. Beside, that Souls revolved are sa●d to suffer t●e Bodily Pains and Afflictions, that the Body suffers, into which it revolveth, and Death also; and therefore the S●●l of Christ did not after this manner revolve, for than he would have often died, whereas Christ died but once; and having once died, he dieth no more Death's hath no more Dominion over him, Rom. 6.9. Nor is there any cause to suppose that Isaac's Soul needed any Revolution, more than the Soul of any ●f the holiest Men; for these holy Men, being perfected in Faith, Love and Holiness, according to the Hypothesis of the Revolutions after Death, need no Revolution, but rest in perfect Peace and Joy, until the Resurrection of the Dead. But what is the mystery of these 76 or 77 Generations from Adam to Christ, described by Luke, Chap. 3. i● best to leave to God's further opening, and no● t● intrude in●o things not s●en. P●g●● 119, 120, 121, 122. Emend. That the two Witness shall be M●ses and Elias, that shall be slain, and ris● again from ●he De●d, I find to be the opinion of some of the Ancients, particularly of H. Cousin's; ●●t they who did not h●ld t●at Opinion, did not think they s●●uld be born again of Women, but that they sh●●●d c●m● and s●ffer in these very Bodies, wherein they formerly ●●v●d, and should rise again: But these two Witness sh●ll n●t 〈◊〉 M●s●● and Eli●s, as some s●y, or 〈◊〉 and E●●●s, as o●hers sa●; it is certain that they sh●ll be too excellent and eminent Serv●nt● of G●d, endued wi●h such a Prophetic and w●nd●r w●●●i●g spirit, as M●ses and Elias had. No● 〈…〉 appear that any of the deceased Saints ●h●ll by 〈◊〉 be b●rn ag●in of Women, ●ut they sh●●l ●e immediately raised up, by the power of God a●d Christ. Pag● 122. add ●i●em ●●●nd. a●● 〈◊〉. That the S●in●s shall be ra●sed up t● live and reign with Christ on ●r over the ●●rth● is no●●o be understood, as i● th●y should n●ed or 〈…〉 the Meats or Drinks o● the Ea●●h, or any 〈◊〉 Earthly Convenience●, b●t t●a● the●●hall appear ●o ●h● S●ints not yet 〈…〉 living 〈…〉 Animal 〈◊〉 to their great 〈◊〉 and h●v● that Rule and Government over ●●l t●e Earth, that the Angels now have, i● clear from Heb. ●. 5. 1 Cor. 6.2. Page 125. ad ●in●m. Emend. That the Church of 〈◊〉 shall ●ollow t●e latter part of the Thousand Yea●s, is n●●●●o●able, but rather that it shall be contemporary 〈◊〉 th● Church of Philadelphia, for some considerable t●me; the one being a pure holy Church, exactly answering to the Church in the Apostle's days, in Puri●y of Doctrine, Holiness of Life, and Plenty of Spiritual Gifts, to wit, that of Philadelphia; the other, to wit, t●at of La●●icea, having a form of Godliness, very ●●ar resembling the true Church, but l●cking the Power and Life of Christianity. See the second Treatise, Page 132. The Emendations and Explications in the second Treatise; with the Corrections of the Errors o● the Press. MOST of the Emendations and Explications belonging to this second Treatise, are already noted in the first, beside that it will be obvious ●o the Reader, that the second Treatise doth it s●lf correct divers things in the former, whereby it is manifestly apparent, that as the second Treatise w●s d●ne by the Author, sometime a●ter the first, the Auth●r himself had come to a more mature and rip● understanding in many things of gre●t weight, at his w●i●ing the second Treatise, than he had at first. Page 131. l. 21. read 333 1/●, and page 134. towards the end, r●ad on the Margin, Ann● 700 from the Birth of Christ. Pag. 137. lin. 12. read 666, and on the Margin read, from the year 700, to 1●34. Page 154. towards the end, Emend. and Explic. As the sixth and seventh Churches are esteemed contemporary, so may the sixth and seventh Seals. See the Emendation in the first Treatise, Page 125. Page 157. l. 2. Deal Io●●on, and read to Valens and V●lentinian. 〈◊〉 1●2 l. 4. read 1333. P●●e 167. That the Saints in t●e Resurrection shall be raised up in a successive order, as Men are born into the World in a successive order, is no wise probable, and has no Ground from 1 Cor. 15.23. For the order there described, as it ●ath relation to time, is thus. Christ, the first Fruits, afterward they that are Christ's at his coming, then cometh the end, when the unjust shall be raised at the end; but order may also relat● to the several degrees of Glory, that the Saints shall have, some above others, according to their higher attainments in Holiness: For as one Star differeth from another Star in Glory, so is also the Resurrection of the Dead. 1 Cor. 15.41, 42. Page 170. Emend. and Expli●. It is noted above at p●g. 109, that the half Hour's Silence may be referred to that time of great Peace and Quiet, that the Church shall enjoy from the year of Christ's Birth 1700, to the year 1770; though if it be referred to that time of Peace from Christ's Resurrection, to the year 180, following, it maketh no considerable Alteration in the Chronology, or order of things; but the great Peace and Flourishing of the Church, f●om about the year 1700, to 1770, (containing 70 Years, the number of the Years of the Desolation, and Devastation of the ●a●se Church, mystically designed by Cyrus, Isaiah 23.15. as elsewhere by Babyl●n) seemeth to suit best with the half Hours silence, and then that space of 180 Years from Ch●●st's Resurrection, before the first Trumpet sound, shall signify the time of the seven Angels, preparing themselves to sound, Rev. 8.6. Page 181. l. 7. for 1574 read 1774. Page 185. l. 6. Correct the error of the Press thus, according to the Latin Copy. Did not Christ sa●, after the death of john Baptist, Elias cometh, and shall restore all things? But this was not done in john Baptist's time, but remaineth yet to be done at Elias' coming. Page 194● l. 21. For Two, r●ad Se●en. Page 196. l. 8. read Successors. p. 199. l. 2. read were. p. 201. l. 15. read t●at all. Page 204. Emend. and Explic. Whereas the Author in this place r●ferreth the times of the seven Vials to the seventh Trumpet, viz. from the year of Christ's Resurrection 1740, to the year ●●00, ●hich some may judge a probable H●p●th●sis, the same Author, in some of his Manuscripts, hath set down ●nother probable Hypoth●●is, to which he seemeth most inclined, viz. That the tim●s of the seven Vials belong to the last 70 Years of the sixth Trumpet; the first Vial beginning at the y●ar of Christ's Birth 1700, allowing to each Vial ten Years, successively to the last; according to which reckoning, the Papal Hierarchy, (and perhaps Rome itself) signified by the Throne or Seat of the Beast, shall be destroyed, by the pouring of the fifth Vial, about the year of Christ's Birth 1750. but which of these two Hypotheses is nearest to the Truth, seeing the Author pretends not to a Spirit of Prophecy in the case, Time and Event will determine. Page 206. See the former Emendation. See also the Emendation, P. 109. Page. At Question 9●, 99 Emend. The Saints Bodies in the first Resurrection, and Adam's Body before the Fall, do most resemble the Body of Christ, as it appeared at the Transfiguration before his Death, which was indeed glorious, a●d so will the Saints Bodies appear in the first Resurrection● so that in respect of our gross Bodies, they may be said to be Spiritual yet capable of a far higher degree of Spirituality at the last. Page. At Question 101. See this Question answered in the Emendations, in the first Treatiser ad P. 110. Page. At Quest● 106, 107. Explic. It is clear from Scripture, that the mortal Bodies of the Saints, after the Thous●nd Years begin, shall not die as M●n now die, so as to need any Burial, but they shall be changed in a moment, when duly sitted for that Change, according to 1 Cor. 15.51, 52. Page. At Quest. 1●8. ●xplic. It is no● to be understood that the raised Saints living on Earth in the Thousand Years, shall need or use any of the Meats o● Drinks, or other Re●reshments a●d Conveniences, that this material or visible Earth affordeth; but they shall live rather above the Earth, than on it; for than shall the Paradisiacal Earth be revealed, and given to them, to live in, that was given to Adam to live in, which since the Fall h●th been hid, but shall then be opened, which is most properly that new Earth, that is called new, because it never waxeth old, as for the same reason, the new Heavens are s● called, whereas the visible Heavens and Earth grow old, and shall be changed. Page. At Quest. 186. Corr. read, as 52 to 1. Note, That whereas divers times in both these Trea●is●s, mention is made of the number 333 1/●● Years, as being a mystical Hour, containing the Interv●●s of the seven Churches, and the seven Seals, the Mystery of this number 333 1/●; (being one third part of 1000) seemeth further to be confirmed by this, that 333 1/●; solar Years, being reduced to Lunar Years, (each Lunar Year containing 355 Days, as each Solar Year containeth 365 Days) make 343 Lunar Years, which are seven Jubilee Years, accounting each Jubilee Year to contain 49 common Years, within which compass of time, viz. of 333 Years, efforts both Civil and Ecclesiastical, are observed to h●ve great Changes and Revolutions. Note also, that the Years mentioned in the Old Testaments ● in the Chronology of the World, from Adam, to Christ's Resurrection, seem to be Lunar Years, each Year con-containing 355 Days, as the Hebrew w●rd signifying Ye●r, doth co●tain the number 355, but the Years ●rom Christ's Resurrection are not Lunar Years, but Solar, and that shadowy and changeable Dispensation under the Law, and Types and Figures in use, both before and under the Law, suits with the Lu●ar Years, the Moon being a Symbol or Figure of that shadowy Dispensation; but nothing as to this is positively asserted, but left to a ●urther Search and In●uiry. Books Printed for, and Sold by Sarah Howkins, in George-yard. AN Apology for the true Christian Divinity. Quarto. By Robert Bar●lay. Dr. Weidenfield's Chemistry. Quarto, price 5 s. The Spirit of the Martyrs. Quarto, price 4 s. The Pen's most Easy and Exact Improvement. Quarto, price 1 s. The Experienced Instructor. Twelves, price 6 d. 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