God fo long before given affurance that then he will unfeal the Book, open the words, but onely to this end, that our faith, when this time comes on, might as in other things, fo in this, wait upon him for light and knowledge.

CHAP. II.

Shewing, That the Mystical Numbers of Daniel and the Revelations do hold forth a certain definite and determined time.

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Aving in the foregoing Chapter fhewed the juftifiableneffe of our Enquiry, and what comfortable hope the enquiring Soul may have of Gods prefence and affiftance to accompany him in this work. In the next place it is requifite, because we have no ground in Scripture to go upon for an answer to this Queftion, but onely the myftical Numbers of Daniel, and the Revelations, that I proceed to fhew that there is a certain definite and determined time held forth in those numbers; onely in order to the thing, to the end fome of the following Arguments may not want their weight, nor we be put in our proof to infift upon each particular number by it felf, I premife, That look, what is truly affirmed of any one, or more mystical Numbers,the fame may be as truly affirmed of all,except fuch, where fome fubftantial reason appears to the contrary. If therefore it may be truly affirmed of fome one or more, that a definite time is held

forth

forth in them, then by the fame rule of all, wh (I fay) appears not fome folid reafon to the co trary. This premised, my Reasons that a de nite time is held forth in the myftical Numbers Daniel,and the Revelations,are thefe.

1 Because They are all broken Numbers; t two thousand and three hundred dayes, Dan.8.1. is a broken Number; for although the three hu dred is a round Number inrefpect of Hundred yet it is a broken Number in refpect of Thou fands, which is the way of numbring here. Upo the fame account, but more evident, the on thousand two hundred and ninety, the one thou fand three hundred thirty five dayes, Chap. 12 Johns one thousand two hundred and fixty dayes, his two and forty months are all brokenNumbers Now it is a Maxime among Interpreters, that notwithstanding round numbers do fometimes fignifie an indefinite time, yet broken numbers ever a definite.

2 Becaule If they fignifie not a definite time, no account can be made up from them; for who can define what is indefinite, or make up an account from uncertain numbers? But now the intendment of the Holy Ghoft in laying them down, is, that from them an account might be made up, as is cleer.

1 Because the scope of the Queftions propofed, Dan.8. and Dan.12. to which the mystical Numbers there mentioned, are given in as anfwers, doth look at fuch a determined time as known; fome certain conclufion concerning the time, How long the things revealed fhould be in

accomplishing, might from thence be drawn up; therefore the Questions do not run thus, Shall these things be long, O Lord in doing? but thus, How long hall the Vifion be? Dan.8.13. How long (hall it be to the end of thefe Wonders? Chap.12.6. the thing enquired after in both, is a certain determined time.

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2 Because the Holy Ghoft doth lay down a particular head of account, Chap.12.11. Now this is never ufed but onely there where fome account is to be made up. But were the time indefinite, there could (as before I have faid) be no making up of any account.

3 Reaf. Because should we look upon them as holding forth onely an indefinite time, fignifying no more but a long time, there would be manifeft Tautologie in laying them down. For in Daniels Vifion, Chap.8. where is recorded his two thousand three hundred dayes, verf.14. it is faid over and above, verf.laft. The Vifion jhall be for many dayes If now the two thoufand three hundred dayes fignifie onely a long time, it is the fame with the other. So in Daniels Vision Chap. 10, ch. 11, and ch.12. where the one thousand two hundred and ninety, the one thoufand three hundred thirty five dayes are spoken of, it is faid moreover, Chap.10.1. The time appointed was long: The very fame with the other, if not a certain time but a long time onely be intended.

4 Becaufe For this very reafon Daniel 8. verf. laff, it is faid the Vifion of the evening and morning true. The Vifion of the morning and evening hath a particular and peculiar reference to the

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two thousand three hundred dayes, verf.14. (or as the Hebrew reads it, two thousand three hundred mornings and evenings.) Now Daniel in the foregoing verfes, from verf.20. having had the whole Vifion in an orderly manner interpreted to him, in the conclufion of all, left Daniel should doubt of the time affigned of two thousand three hundred mornings and evenings (which was the very last thing of the Vifion, and is here of the Interpretation) it is added, The Vision of the evening and morning is true, that is, the two thousand three hundred dayes, which thou heardest mention made of in the close of the Vision, are a certain and determined time, and therefore verf.19. the time is faid to be a fet time, or an appointed time; At the time appointed the end shall be.

5 Becaufe God in former times under the Old Teftament, hath ever measured out the Bondage and Captivity of his Church by fet and determined times. Four hundred and thirty years was the time in Egypt, and this time fet to a very day, Exod. 12. 41,51. Seventy yeers the fet time in Babylon. Now is New Teftament grace leffe than Old Teftament? Nay confider the Egyptian and Babylonian Captivity were both Types of the great Captivity of Gods Church in the latter dayes. Now is it likely that in both the Types the time fhould be determined, and yet undetermined in the Antitype? Is the Type more cleer, and the Antitype more dark? yet this will follow.

6 If any should fay fo, let them fay the fame alfo for Daniels Seventy weeks, Chap.9.24. for the rea fon is the fame. Nay the Seventy weeks are a round

round number; fo is none of the other; yet who doth,or will affirm an indefinite time to be there fignified? or if any fhould, let them when they have done, fhew any ground at all (unleffe bare humane authority) for above four hundred of the worlds yeers, and that too within fuch a period, in which (without cenfure) leffe credit is to be given to the Hiftorians, then almost in any one period from the Flood to this day.

7 Because such a Principle would be very prejudicial to the faith, comfort, and prayers of the Saints; for the more certain ground any of these are built upon, the more strongly do they act. Daniels affurance that Seventy yeers was the utmost terme of the Babylonian Captivity, raifeth mightily his faith and prayer. But now were the time held forth in these myftical Numbers an indefinite time onely, there fhould be no certain ground for any of thefe: And hence it would follow that the people of God in the last dayes fhould inftead of having a more clear word of Prophefie, have a more doubtful ground for their faith and prayer in this refpect, then had Gods people in times of old.

The Conclufion is, That the mystical Numbers of Daniel and the Revelations, do hold forth to us a certain definite and determined time.

CHAP.