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Author: More, Henry, 1614-1687.
Title: Paralipomena prophetica containing several supplements and defences of Dr Henry More his expositions of the Prophet Daniel and the apocalypse, whereby the impregnable firmness and solidity of the said expositions is further evidenced to the world. Whereunto is also added phililicrines upon R.B. his notes on the revelation of S. John.
Print source: Paralipomena prophetica containing several supplements and defences of Dr Henry More his expositions of the Prophet Daniel and the apocalypse, whereby the impregnable firmness and solidity of the said expositions is further evidenced to the world. Whereunto is also added phililicrines upon R.B. his notes on the revelation of S. John.
More, Henry, 1614-1687., More, Henry, 1614-1687.
London: printed for Walter Kettilby at the Sign of the Bishops Head in S. Paul's Church-yard, 1685.
Alternate titles: Apocalypsis Apocalypseos. Supplement.
Notes:
A supplement to his: "Apocalypsis apocalypseos" and "A plain and continued exposition of the several prophecies or divine visions of the prophet Daniel".
Title page in red and black.
Subject terms:
Bible. -- N.T. -- Revelation -- Early works to 1800.
URL: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A51309.0001.001
How to cite: For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

Table of Contents
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title page
The ERRATA correct thus.
imprimatur
THE PREFACE.
Books written by the same Author, and printed for Walter Kettilby at the Sign of the Bishop's Head in S. Paul's Church-yard.
Paralipomena Prophetica.
THE INTRODUCTION. The occasion of the Author's writing his Paralipo∣mena Prophetica. His design in writing them, to show there is but one true way of inter∣preting Daniel and the Apocalypse. How himself was discouraged in his younger days by the variety of Interpretations; with a solution of that fallacy. His Apologie for his great care and diligence in managing this Province of rightly interpreting the above said Prophecies.
CHAP. I. Tho. Lydiat's Epocha of the twentieth of Artaxerxes Longimanus for the compute of Daniel's weeks more fully to be insisted on. Two undeniable Postulatums in order thereto. The passage of the Prophecy that respects the Epocha of the weeks. Four Decrees, but only two of them Competitors for the Epochate, viz. that of the seventh, and that of the twentieth of Artaxerxes, the one granted to Ezra, the other to Nehemiah. The Commissions granted to each, and some circumstances of the execution of them. The comparing of them with the Epocha described in the Prophecy. That Nehemiah's nuncupatory Commissi∣on does the more exactly agree with the said descri∣ption. That the Jews had never any Decree to build the walls of Jerusalem till that of Nehemiah. Fur∣ther Arguments to the same purpose. In what sense the City may be said to be built before the Commission of Nehemiah. An Answer to an Objection from those words, Ezra 9.9. to give us a wall. Further Rea∣sons to prove that Ezra had no Commission to build the walls of Jerusalem. The testimony of the Son of Sirach. No Commission but that of Nehemiah had the Title of building the walls. That it is so plain a case, that Nehemiah's Commission is the true Epocha of the weeks, that learned men have betaken them∣selves to Lunar years to compute by, rather than de∣sert it. The unsuccessfulness of that device.
The first Postulatum.
The second Postulatum.
CHAP. II. Though Julius Africanus his Conceit for computing Da∣niel's Weeks by Lunar years, be witty, yet it is not true. That there is a necessity of computing by Solar years, as well as of retaining the Epocha of the twen∣tieth of Artaxerxes: But withal of removing the Commencement of Artaxerxes his Reign higher in Chronologie than Chronologers usually place it. Peta∣vius his device of making Artaxerxes's Reign ten years with his Father, proposed. An Examination of this Hypothesis. The infirmness of the ground there∣of out of Herodotus, , not signi∣fying, as Petavius would have it. And if it did, thiswould be either in the fifth year of Xerxes, or three or four years after the twelfth, and therefore uncompliable with Petavius his design. How incredible it is, that Ezra's and Nehemiah's Decree should not be reckoned from the same Epocha of Artaxerxes his Reign. What a glo∣rious atchievement it is to discover a twentieth of Artaxerxes's reigning alone, from whence, computing by Solar years, the Passion of Christ will fall into the midst of the last week.
CHAP. III. A just Encomium of Thomas Lydiat. His fixing the beginning of the real Reign of Artaxerxes in the se∣cond year of the 77. Olympiad, with the consequences thereof. The proof of the above-mentioned Epocha from the time of Themistocles flight into Asia, which was in that year. That he got to the Persian Court in a very short time, proved out of Plutarch. Of the confounding of the Names of Xerxes and Artaxerxes. And that Themistocles came to the Persian Court about the time of the Exitus of the one, and Succes∣sion of the other.
CHAP. IV. That Themistocles in the second year of the 77. Olym∣piad, came to Artaxerxes newly beginning to reign, proved out of Thucydides. As also from the Testi∣mony of Charon Lampsacenus. And the Suffrage of Plutarch. As likewise of Cornelius Nepos. To which is added the Judgment of that modern Histo∣rian Johannes Sleidanus. Why Plutarch preferred the Testimonies of Charon and Thucydides before those of Ephorus, Dinon, Cleitarchus, Heraclides, and others. The Characters of them. A probable way of salving all their Credits, and that they do not clash with the Testimony of Charon and Thucydides, at least in any thing considerable.
CHAP. V. What is to be answered to the Testimony of Diodorus Siculus, that makes Xerxes live five or six years af∣ter his Conference with Themistocles. How Dio∣dorus came to be wheedled into this mistake. Ctesias Cnidius his Authority to be preferred before Hero∣dotus touching the term of years that Darius Hysta∣spis reigned.forin Hecataeus Milesius writ through the oscitancy of the Scribe; Or five years added to the Reign of Darius Hystaspis wittingly by Herodotus to exercise his wit and invention thereon to please the Reader. A further weight added to the Authority of Ctesias Cnidius in this point from the second Postulatum.
CHAP. VI. A passage in the Proem of Thucydides compared with Ctesias to prove, that Darius dyed after the Pugna Marathonia. The Suffrage of Georgius Syncellus to the same purpose. The same thing proved out of the Chronicon Marmoreum Arundelianum. The Authentickness and genuineness of Themistocles his Epistle to Polygnotus. It is clear out of this Epistle, that Themistocles his flight was near the contermi∣nation of Xerxes his Death, and Artxerxes succeed∣ing him. Themistocles's speed to the Persian Court so soon as he got into Asia. A passage or two in the abovesaid Epistle that clearly demonstrate, that it was Artaxerxes that Themistocles conferred with, his Father Xerxes being dead. The ample consent of Testimonies to this Truth.
CHAP. VII. An Answer to a notable Objection fetched out of Pto∣lemy's Canon. Of the Authority and Antiquity of that Canon. That it is look't upon as considerable by all Chronologers: But so, as that both Scaliger and Pe∣tavius acknowledge an uncertainty and disputableness in some particular Kings Reigns, though the summ of years from Nabonassar to the Death of Alexan∣der, is of all hands held to be right. That careless Transcribers, or partial Correctors of the Canon, in favour of Herodotus, or of the Canon it self, may have added faults thereunto. Ptolemy not concer∣ned in those Miscorrections, they not happening in the years the Eclipses are set down in, which reach but to the 31 of Darius Primus. The other Eclipses noted are affixed to the Archons of Athens. The Royal Records of the Persian Kings, which Ctesias had the use of, preferable to Ptolemy's Canon in the present Controversie. That Ptolemy, notwithstan∣ding his skill in Astronomy, might after Herodotus be involved in that vulgar Errour touching the years of Darius Primus his Reign. The Application of the second Postulatum to the case. The intricateness of Records that concern the right Epocha of Daniel's Weeks, how consistent with Providence.
CHAP. VIII. The necessary Consequences from the discovery of the right year of the beginning of Artaxerxes his Reign, viz. the second year of the 77. Olympiad. (1) That the twentieth which is the first year of the 82. Olym∣piad, is the true Epocha of Daniel's Weeks. (2) That the Weeks end in the second year of Caligula's Reign. (3) That Christ suffered in the twenty se∣cond year of Tiberius. (4) That his Manifesta∣tion as the Messias was in the nineteenth of Tibe∣rius. (5) That he was born L. Aelius Lamia and M. Servilius Geminus being Consuls. These four last point, to be proved ordine retrogrado by History and Reason. That there is no more violence done byTho. Lydiat's placing the Nativity of Christ two years later than the Dionysian account, than by Sca∣liger's placing it two years sooner, nor so much as by Suslyga and Kepler's placing it four or five years sooner than Dionysius.
CHAP. IX. That Christ was born four years before the death of He∣rod, according to Epiphanius and Sulpitius Seve∣rus. That Herod dyed, Metellus and Nerva being Consuls, proved out of Josephus, which is just four years after the Consulship of Lamia and Geminus. That it is most certain that Herod was but betwixt fifteen and sixteen years of Age when he was made Prefect of Galilee, and ridiculous to think that [.] was writ for [.] by the negligence of the Scribe. A full Answer to the passage of Josephus. A diffi∣cult knot not otherwise to be untyed, than by suppo∣sing two Epocha's of Herod's Reign, the latter when Page  52he was restored to his forfeited Kingdom by Au∣gustus. The fitness and necessity of this solution, a further Argument that Herod dyed in the Consulship of Metellus and Nerva. Reasons to prove this lat∣ter Epocha. And that it was his chief Epocha, and most affected by Herod. That Eusebius makes use of this Epocha. And also Epiphanius, as likewise the ancient Graeci Fasti. That computing from this Epocha, Herod's 37 years Reign reaches to Nerva and Metellus, and that consequently Christ's Birth is in the Consulship of Lamia and Geminus.
CHAP. X. That Herod dyed in the Consulship of Nerva and Me∣tellus, proved from the time of Archelaus his Mar∣riage of Glaphyra. From Dion Cassius his placing Herod's Sons impleading one another before Augu∣stus in the Consulship of Lepidus and Aruntius. From Quirinius his confiscating Archelaus his Goods, Statilius Taurus and Scribonius Libo being Consuls. A gross Parepochism committed by Jose∣phus. From Philip the Tetrarchs dying, Proculus and Nigrinus being Consuls. From Eusebius and Sulpicius's allotting twenty four years to Herod the Tetrarch after the Relegation of Archelaus, and those twenty four years ending with the fourth of Caius Caligula. From that famous Eclipse of the Moon preceding Herod's death. A Narrative of Herod's Affairs corresponding with that Eclipse. That there was such an huge Eclipse about a month before He∣rod's Death, in the Consulship of Nerva and Me∣tellus, T. L. makes good by Astronomical Calcula∣tion. The same Eclipse calculated over again by the Ptolemaick, Alphonsine and Copernican Tables in N. Mulerius, and found rather bigger than what T. L. declares it. The gross absurdity of making the seventh of Artaxerxes the Epocha of Daniel's Weeks, it implying that Christ was baptized by John, before the Baptist enired on his Ministry. Lydiat's Eclipse compared with Petavius's; as also with the Eclipses of the 4711, 4712, and 4713 years of the I. P. And more particularly with that last, and the Page  64ineptness thereof discovered. And therefore Herod dying in the year of Lydiat's Eclipse, Christ must be born, Lamia and Geminus being Consuls.
CHAP. XI. Josephus his inconsisteney with himself in matters of Chronologie. The first Objection taken out of pas∣sages in him against Herod's dying Metellus and Nerva being Consuls, that plainly imply that he reigned but thirty seven years in all, and that from his first being made King by the favour of M. An∣tony. The second Objection from Antipater 's send∣ing his Children to the King of Arabia, when he be∣gan his War with Aristobulus: which was in the first year of the 178. Olympiad. Whence Herod is concluded twenty five years old when he was made Prefect of Galilee. In order to an Answer, two as∣sured parcels of Josephus his Materia Historica are premised. The first, that Herod was but fifteen years old when he was made Prefect of Galilee, several other passages in Josephus complying therewith. The second, that he was about seventy years of Age, and had reigned but thirty seven when he dyed. No occasion for Josephus to mistake in the former par∣cel, but a very obvious one in the latter. That none of the five Children mentioned in the second Obje∣ction, were those sent to the King of Arabia. That it is a contradiction to what Josephus elsewhere says of Phasaelus and Herod. If Josephus meant those five, that it is upon his having committed a Parepochism, to which his second Historical Parcel lay obnoxious. Whence his Testimony to his first parcel preponderates that to the second, and its re∣pugnancy with the time of Christ's Baptism and trueEpocha of Daniel's Weeks, demonstrates him to have missed the right Epocha of Herod's Reign: which with ease reconciles all these clashings.
CHAP. XII. The second way of proving Christ born in the Consulate of Lamia and Geminus, viz. from the Tax men∣tioned by S. Luke. Three general Taxes ordered by Augustus. The Text in S. Luke touching this Tax explained, and the Tax found the first of those two which were carried on by Cyrenius. That this Tax is that mentioned in Suetonius and the Monumen∣tum Ancyranum, viz. the middle Tax, and finish∣ed in the Consulate of Aelius Catus and Sextius Sa∣turninus according to T. L. the year after that of Lamia and Geminus. That Christ was born Lamia and Geminus being Consuls, proved from Augustus his Decennial Resumptions of his Power Censorian and Monarchical. And also from the Time-eaten Monument of Ancyra. From the testimony of Cle∣mens Alexandrinus placing the Birth of our Lord in the twenty eighth year when the Decree for the Tax Page  86first went out after Octavius had the Name of Au∣gustus conferred upon him. Five several Epocha's of Augustus his Reign, any whereof directing in compute to that time of Christ's Nativity that is pointed at by the true Epocha of Daniel's Weeks, is argumentative and confirms the same. That Epi∣phanius his twenty nine years from the perfect ac∣cord and subjection of the Jews to the Romans, reach into the Consulate of Vinicius and Alfinius. The great advantage the twentieth of Artaxerxes has above the seventh, there being no sense of this latter to be made from any Epocha's. Christ born in the forty first year of Augustus according to Irenaeus, Tertullian and other Fathers, which from a right Epocha reaches unto the Consulate of Lamia and Ge∣minus. A clear proof that Christ was then born, out of Eusebius his Chronicon. An Argument offered at by T. L. from a passage in Chrysostom's Homily De Natali Johannis Baptistae.
CHAP. XIII. That Christ was born in the Consulate of Lamia and Geminus, proved from the abovesaid middle Tax of Augustus at carried on by Cyrenius in his first Pre∣sidency 〈◊〉 Syria. A Parepochism committed by Joseph〈◊〉 this matter. A Chronological disposure of certain years for the more assured finding out the true time of Cyrenius his being first President of Syria, and carrying on Augustus his middle Tax. A brief Descant thereon. The time of Caius his going into the East, the main point to guide us to the first Presidency of Cyrenius and the Nativity of Christ. Proved by many Arguments that Augustus sent not Caius into the East before his thirteenth Consulate. Cyrenius appointed Tutor to Caius upon Lollius his death, Vi∣nicius and Alfinius being Consuls, and upon Caius being unhappily wounded, becomes Governour of Sy∣ria that year, which therefore is his first Presidency over Syria, and the beginning of his first Tax when Augustus also renewed his Censorian Power in quar∣tum Decennium. This Tax continuing from Vi∣nicius and Alfinius to the Consulship of Catus Aelius and Sentius Saturninus. How naturally Christ's Birth is cast into the Consulate betwixt, it agreeing also so punctually with the true Epocha of Daniel's Weeks. That the Temple of Janus was the third time shut, and Augustus refused the Title of Dominus (Characters of Christ's Nativity in Orosius) Lamia and Geminus being Consuls.
CHAP. XIV. Two Objections out of Josephus that would prove that Caius took not his Expedition into the East till after Herod was dead. (1.) Because Josephus mentions no Civilities done by Herod to Caius as he passed Judaea. (2.) Josephus expresly says, that Caius was at that Council that was called at Rome touch∣ing the disposing of Herod's Kingdom upon his de∣cease. The Defectuousness, Remisness and Careles∣ness of Josephus in several things, noted by Tho. Lydiat and others. His gross mistake in the time of the Commission granted to Nehemiah noted by the Author. That he cannot be excused from the di∣stance of Time or remoteness of Country. An Answer to the first Objection. Whether it was ignorance or dissimulation in Josephus that he writes nothing of Caius his Expedition into the East. Herod's Po∣licy in forecasting his journey to Rome, while Caius went into the East. An Answer to the second Obje∣ction, that supposing there was any Son of Augustus at the above-mentioned Council, Josephus has com∣mitted a Misnomer, and set down Caius for Agrip∣pa Posthumus. Several Allegations out of Histori∣ans, that it could not be Agrippa that Augustus so honoured in that Council. Passages out of Tacitus and Dion that imply that it might be he. That if Josephus did really mean Caius, he must do it on a ground wherein he grosly contradicts himself, and wherein he was more obnoxious to Errour, than in the other part of the Contradiction. That this story Page  115of Caius his Precedence in the above-named Council is no rash fiction of Josephus, but handsomly furmised upon his committing that notable Parepochism touch∣ing Herod's Reign.
CHAP. XV. That Christ was baptized the nineteenth of Tiberius, proved from the Prophecy of Daniel from the year of Christ's Nativity and his Age when baptized. No∣thing in S. Luke repugnant to Christ's being baptized in the fourth year of the Baptist's Ministry, with the childishness of their phancy that pretend to the con∣trary. The genuine sense of that expression of S. Paul [As John had fulfilled his course.] Four Arguments couched together for the proving Christ was baptized the nineteenth of Tiberius. Historical passages which comport with the Baptist's four years Ministry: As that of the Jews saying to Christ, Forty six years was this Temple in building, &c. John not beheaded till Vitellius was Prefect of Syria (which was in the twenty first of Tiberius, about two years after he had baptized Christ. That the slaughter of the Ga∣lileans or Samaritans by Pilate was in the last year of his own Prefecture, and Tiberius his Reign, while Christ was alive.
CHAP. XVI. What Arguments prove Christ crucified the twenty se∣cond of Tiberius, prove him baptized the nineteenth; and the Ministry of John to have continued four years before. That Christ suffered the twenty second of Tiberius proved out of Epiphanius: As also from what is said Joh. 11.49. That Caiaphas was High-Priest that year. And likewise from Pilate's not acquainting Tiberius with the News of Christ's Re∣surrection till the twenty second of his Reign. The Baptism of Christ in the nineteenth of Tiberius pro∣ved from the troubles that fell upon the Jews in the third of Caius Caligula. From the Tradition of Apollonius, that Christ charged the Apostles not to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles till twelve years after the commencement thereof. From Paul's jour∣neying from Antioch to Jerusalem when Herod King of Chalcis dyed. The mistake of Eusebius and some others that confound the story of Herod in the Acts with that of Agrippa in Josephus. From there being fourteen years since Paul's Conversion in the eleventh of Claudius. From Paul's departing from Athens to Corinth, being not till after the twelfth of Claudius. From the time of Gallio's being De∣puty of Achaia, which could not be till after Clau∣dius his death. From the ten years of Felix his Presiding over Judaea. From Peter's suffering Mar∣tyrdom Page  134in the eleventh year of Nero, when he had been possessed of the Sacerdotal Chair twenty five years from the expiration of the twelve years restraint of the Apostles from preaching to the Gentiles. A further Confirmation thereof out of the Chronicle of Marcellinus Comes. The Unjustness of that Impu∣tation, that T. L. his account of the Epocha of Da∣niel's Weeks, is a Fiction destitute of History.
CHAP. XVII. A Tripartition of a Letter to a Friend touching the first Resurrection and the Calling of the Jews. The first part thereof. What Exposition the most easie and natural. That the primitive Fathers following this Rule expounded the first Resurrection in a Physical sense, not Political. That Grotius also ex∣pounds it so, but in what deficient. An Objection from two places of Scripture [Luke 14.14.] and [2 Tim. 4.8.] An Answer to the first. Who as well as Martrys capable of the first Resurrection? An Answer to the second. What meant by the Day of Christ's appearing. That it may be the time of his Millennial Kingdom. That the Martyrs receive their reward in the Morning of that day. Others at the Evening thereof.
CHAP. XVIII. The second part of the Letter, touching the Calling of the Jews. Whether they be not to be converted by some Miraculous way, suppose by a Voice or Vision from Heaven. Whether that of Zachary (Chap. 12. v. 10.) import so much. That the words of our Saviour (Matt. 23. v. 39.) seem to imply some such thing: As also that of S. Paul (1 Tim. 1.16.) The proba∣bility of the way of the Jews Conversion from these three places of Scripture.
CHAP. XIX. The last part of the Letter. The Reinforcement of his Objection against the literal or physical sense of the first Resurrection, from two parallel places of Daniel and John. An Answer to that Reinforcement from those very parallel places. The Genius of the Pro∣phetick Stile in Daniel and John, in intimating one Antitheton by another. What Antitheton to [those awakened into Eternal life] in Daniel is to be found in the Apocalypse. What is meant by the Devil's detrusion into the Abyss. That the first Resurrection is Physical, not Political, proved from the Text it self, Apoc. 20. v. 4. That the Judgment there did pass upon those that were either naturally or politi∣cally dead before the Millennium, when the wicked were not politically so, and therefore cannot be those revived (in a Political sense) after the Millennium. Further Arguments that the first Resurrection is Physical.
CHAP. XX. That the Description of the New Jerusalem is a De∣scription of a state of the Church on Earth. The high expressions therein, but such as are used in the Prophets touching the people of the Jews. The Plea of those that will have it merely a Description of the Church Triumphant in Heaven, consisting of seven Arguments out of Alcazar. An Answer to those se∣ven Arguments. A more moderate way betwixt them that hold the Description of the New Jerusalem, the one, to signifie merely such a state of the Church on Earth, the other the state of the Church in Heaven, viz. That though it be a Prophecy of an excellent state of the Church on Earth, yet the Description of that state is an intended Type also of the state of the Church Triumphant in Heaven.
CHAP. XXI. The occasion of his more fully making out that grand Truth, that the whole Apocalypse in a manner con∣sists of three main Prophecies, beginning with the Church, and reaching to the end of the World, viz. the Epistolar Prophecy, Sealed Book-Prophecy, and Opened Book-Prophecy, with the three Introdu∣ctory Visions prefixed thereto. That the Epistolar Prophecy is such a Prophecy. That the Sealed Book-Prophecy is such. And also the Opened Book-Pro∣phecy. The Reference of the three Introductory Vi∣sions to the Title of the Book of the Apocalypse. Introductory Visions to Prophecies in Isaiah, Eze∣kiel and Daniel, and that they are not properly Prophecies themselves. The Meaning of the Intro∣ductory Vision of the Epistolar Prophecy. The like Meaning of the Introductory Vision to the Prophecy of the Sealed Book. The drift of the third Intro∣ductory Vision, muchwhat the same with the two former, and that the Angel there appearing, is Christ. That this third Introductory Vision is a Page  181kind of Transitionary Introduction to the Opened Book-Prophecy. Proved briefly from the Oath of the Angel, that the Sealed Book-Prophecy reaches to the End of the World.
CHAP. XXII. A Mechanical frame of the Seven-sealed Book, so con∣trived, as is requisite for no more Writing than what belongs to the present Seal, to be seen at once. The different Opinions of Interpreters what this Book signifies. The mistake of the Ancients in conceiving it to be the Bible. What this Book really is the Sym∣bol of. That this Book its being said to be written within and without, denotes a twofold sense, that of the Symbolical Letter, and that of the inward Prophetical meaning of those Symbols. Arguments to prove this to be the right sense of being writ with∣in and without. Ezekiel's Roll writ within and without, compared with this Seven-sealed Book of the Apocalypse. Three useful Consectaries deduced therefrom.
CHAP. XXIII. His reason of inserting here his Demonstration, that the Reformation begun by Luther is the Rising of the Witnesses. The two first Visions of the Opened Book-Prophecy proved Synchronal. The agreement of the fore-parts of these two Visions, and the exqui∣site correspondency of the middle-parts one with ano∣ther. Whence the Fall of Babylon in the second Vi∣sion is proved to be the same with the Fall of the City and Rising of the Witnesses in the first. That conse∣quently the Fall of Babylon in the second Vision is after the sixth Trumpet. That the Fall of Babylon and Rising of the Witnesses is the Object of those Acclamations in Heaven, Chap. 11. and of the Do∣xology of the Elders. As also of the Song of Moses and the Lamb sung by the Victors over the Beast. That this Song therefore follows the sixth Trumpet. And that all the Viols follow that Song. From whence the above-mentioned Demonstration is con∣cluded.
CHAP. XXIV. Whether the Witnesses wear sackcloth for any time after their being risen. Whether the Vial-Angels received their Vials before or after the Song of Moses and the Lamb sung by the Victors over the Beast. What is the adequate Visum of the sixth Trumpet. What the full meaning of the Lamb's being found worthy to open the Seals of the Seven-sealed Book. Whether a year in the Apocalypse any where signifies a Year of years. Whether there be any mystical meaning in noting Prophetick Time sometimes by Days, some∣times by Months.
CHAP. XXV. Nine Queries with Notes thereon to a Friend, leading to undeniable assurance, that not a Prophetical Day nor Month but a Semi-time is the Unite for the compu∣ting the Time of the Event in the Medial Visions.
CHAP. XXVI. Whether the forty two months Reign of the Beast com∣mence with the Apostasie, or begin fifty or sixty years after, out of an Answer to a Letter from a worthy Friend. Three Arguments to prove it did not com∣mence with the Apostasie. Several things premised in order to an Answer to those Arguments. An An∣swer to the first and second Arguments. An Answer to the third. Hints of an Answer to other Particu∣lars in the abovesaid Letter. Of the Author's two∣fold Rising of the Witnesses, Speciminal and Gra∣dual. And who are properly to be accounted Wit∣nesses. In what sense the Author says they were ri∣sen above thirty years ago. Daniel's Semi-times how illustrated by the Apocalypse. What the forty two months Reign of the Beast. The Extension of Time in the Witnesses Rising not to be eluded by the com∣paring it to the felling of a Tree at the last stroke. In what sense the Author makes the Days of the Witnes∣ses expire Anno 1652. What is the fullest and largest sense of the Witnesses Political Death.
CHAP. XXVII. Hints of an Answer to a second Letter from the same Hand. A Semi-time the Unite in computing the Events of the Medial Visions proved by the Author. Not four hundred thirty two, but three hundred nine∣ty three, the Author's Epocha for the Medial Vi∣sions. The odd Semi-time in Daniel added to good purpose. The prevailing of the little Horn, Dan. 7. how to be understood. The meaning of [After three days and an half]. His Friend's mistake touching the second Query. His use of a Prophetick Henopoeia in Answer to the sixth Query, but no avoiding there∣by but that Luther's Reformation will be the final Issue of the forty two months War, and a Semi-time the Unite for computing the Medial Visions.
CHAP. XXVIII. Hints of an Answer to a third Letter. Further Victo∣ries against Antichrist after the Reformation not to be called any Rising of the Witnesses. Who Compe∣titors for being the seventh Head or eighth King. An Hierarchical Pagano-Christian Head, how easily conceived to precede in order of Nature before the Caesarean, and that it was as soon as the Apostasie came in. That the Author affirms not that the Cae∣sars continued purely Christian an hundred and twen∣ty years. That the Christian Caesars complied with the Apostasie of the Church from the beginning amply made out by Reason and History. In what sense the forty two months War of the Beast may be said to commence as early as the Apostasie. The Beast is in being before the ten Kings, the Empire ipso facto becoming a Beast by the Apostasie, which commenced before they were risen. That Apoc. 13.5. does not signifie to continue at large, not supposed by the Author, but proved by him.
CHAP. XXIX. Hints of an Answer to a fourth Letter. That the Rising of the Witnesses, Rev. 11. denotes a partial Regaining only of the Kingdom of Antichrist into the hands of Christ. A further Enforcement of the same Truth. The Event of the forty two months War of the Beast in what sense partial, in what final. The whole Event of the Rising of the Witnesses the Object of the Prediction. The Times and Half reach not beyond the sixth Trumpet. The Object and Subject of the three Wo-Trumpets not the same. The continu∣ed Conflict betwixt the Antichristian and Evangelical Party with the Effects thereof to what Visions refer∣rable. Passages in Daniel, Chap. 7. amply explain∣ed. That even from our Antagonists Epocha the Reckoning not by Years but Semi-times in the Me∣dial Visions is necessary. No hopes of foretelling from the Medial Numbers to a year or thereabout, when the Church's Affliction shall cease, proved by many Arguments. The danger of forcing out plea∣sing Interpretations of the Prophetical Visions when they will not afford them.
CHAP. XXX. Two Arguments out of a fifth Letter from the same hand to prove, That the Roman Beast under the seventh Head was not in being till the ten Kings signified by the ten Horns were risen up in the Empire. Certain things premised in order to an Answer to the said Ar∣guments. Amongst which is the true Notion of the Head of a Beast in the Prophetick Stile, in coun∣terdistinction to his Horns. An Enumeration of the Heads of the Beast, and what the fullest sense of the seventh Head. An Answer to the first Argu∣ment. An Answer to the second Argument. Two Arguments of the Author's to prove, that the Roman Beast under the seventh Head was in being before the ten Kings signified by the ten Horns were risen up in the Empire. That the placing the Epocha of the forty two months War of the Beast in the begin∣ning of the Apostasie is unexceptionably right, with the gross absurdities of the other Opinion.
CHAP. XXXI. The Ichnography of Ezekiel's Temple, according to Villalpandus, with two ways of computing the pro∣portion of the Outer Court to the Inner thereby.
CHAP. XXXII. Three equal square Area's of the Temple measured by the Angel full East, full North, and full South. Ano∣ther square Area equal to the former belonging to the Inner Court, and placed in the midst of the former, with Inferences therefrom. A full West square Area equal to the former, measured by the Angel, with Vil∣lalpandus his descant thereon. How from these five equal square Area's in form of a Cross, and from the discovery of a North-West square Area, Villalpandus collects the whole Edifice of the Temple to be both square, and also to have nine equal square Area's ap∣pertaining thereto. Another way of proving the Squareness of the whole House of God or Temple. A Description of the North-West Court out of Ezekiel, with Villalpandus his descant thereon. A Confirma∣tion of Villalpandus his dimensions of the Courts of the Temple from the Heathen Oracle recorded in S. Austin. The Pagan Daemons not unskilled in Ma∣thematicks, proved from Apollo's bidding the Greeks double his Altar in Delos.
CHAP. XXXIII. Four Questions touching some Particulars in the Vision contained in the fourth and fifth Chapters of the Apocalypse, with Answers thereto. As, what meant by Opening the Seals. Who the Sitter on the Throne. Who the Assistents about the Throne. And who the slain Lamb.
CHAP. XXXIV. A summary Account of the fore-mentioned Vision, and the sense of several Particulars acknowledged by the Expositor. Ten Objections to entangle the abovesaid Account and the sense of the Particulars. Distinct Answers to the said ten Objections.
CHAP. XXXV. Three Objections from a considerate hand. The first against our making the three Times and an Half, the forty two months and twelve hundred and sixty days to be the same time. The second, against oun affirm∣ing the Euphratean Horsemen to have subdued the Eastern Roman Empire with Fire-Guns. The last, against our making the Aegyptian year to consist on∣ly of three hundred and sixty days in Arithmetica Apocalyptica, but in Apocalypsis Apocalypseos, of three hundred and sixty five: with Answers to all three.
CHAP. XXXVI. A fourth Objection from the same hand, against that Conjecture from Dan. 11.45. of the peril of Rome's being some time taken by the Turk, as being incon∣sistent with the expiration of the three hundred nine∣ty six years of the Turks Commission to kill the third part of men, which is to expire this year 1685. the year after this Objection was sent. The Answer thereto.
CHAP. XXXVII. Why the Author of the Apocalypsis Apocalypseos did only take up as an Hypothesis, but not formally prove [that when there is any promise or threatning before the Epiphonema in the Epistles to the seven Churches, it indicates things Political touching the State on Earth; but if placed after the Epiphone∣ma, an invisible State or Concerns of the other World] and yet adventured to argue therefrom.
CHAP. XXXVIII. Four Objections taken out of a Letter of a learned and ingenious Friend touching the Kingdom of Christ on Earth, as if all his suffering Adherents should be re∣warded in that Kingdom in the New Jerusalem; with Answers thereto.
CHAP. XXXIX. Two Objections more out of the same Letter: The first touching the Palm-bearing Company, whether they synchronize with the New Jerusalem. The other touching the Intricateness and Obscurity of the Vision of the two Witnesses; With Answers to both Ob∣jections.
CHAP. XL. Whether Apoc. Chap. 11. may sig∣nifie the sacred Revenue of the City of Babylon. How far the Woman was helped from beingby the Spue of the Dragon, through the Nicene Council. Of the dead dying in the Lord, Apoc. Ch. 14. and of the Harvest and Vintage. And whether the Prophecy of the destruction of Babylon, Chap. 17, and 18. imply the ruine of the Material City of Rome; in Answer to three more Objections from the same hand, in the abovesaid Letter.
CHAP. XLI. A brief Account of the thirteonth Chapter of the Apoca∣lypse. An Answer to six Arguments from a witty hand, whereby he would prove against Mr. Mede, that that Image of the Beast mentioned Apoc. 13.14. is not the Ten-horned Beast, but rather an Image of that Ten-horned Beast restored.
CHAP. XLII. Nine Arguments out of Socinians and other Sectaries, whereby they would prove the first Imperial Council, Anno Dom. 326. to be the Epocha of the time of the Witnesses till their Rising. With Answers to each Argument.
CHAP. XLIII. Certain odd Glosses on v. 8, v. 10, and v. 11. of the seventeenth Chapter of the Apocalypse. Ʋpon v. 8. That was, is not, and yet is, with an Answer there∣to. How Dr. More, according to his Sentiments, disposes of the Arrian Emperours and of Julian the Apostate. Ʋpon v. 10. And there are seven Kings. An Answer to the Gloss. Ʋpon v. 11. He is the eighth. The Gloss and the Answer thereunto.
CHAP. XLIV. An Objection against the placing of the Epocha of the Apostasie in the year 393. as from other Topicks, so from Rome's not being till some hundreds of years la∣ter than so, guilty of bloodshed. Certain premisses set down in order to an Answer to the Objection. An Answer to the first Part thereof. An Answer to the second. An Answer to the third about Idolatry. To the fourth about Bloodshed, showing that Visions touching the Apostasie are not confined to Rome, but respect the whole Sacerdotal Hierarchy of the Empire, and that Apostatick Cruelty consists not only in Bloodshed, but in other Injuries and Violences. Many Examples produced of both, even from the be∣ginning of the Apostasie to the year 797.
CHAP. XLV. Some brief strictures upon the Calendar of Prophetick Time touching the Vision of the 2300 Evening-Mornings. The six Collateral Lines adjusted to the Principal Line of the 2300 Evening-Mornings, from whence it would follow, that the Papacy and Turkish Tyranny will be broken so, that the Witnesses univer∣sally will put off their Sack-cloth about twelve years hence, and about eighty eight years hence the glory of the New Jerusalem will appear descended from Hea∣ven. An Examination of this Hypothesis, That it Page  389fails in the placing the Epocha of the 2300 Evening-Mornings. The first Collateral Line of seventy five years examined. The Examination of the second Collateral Line or seventy Weeks of Daniel. Of the third Collateral Line four hundred and four years, and the marvellous Invention thereof. Of the fourth Line the forty two months Reign of the Beast, or 1260 days of the Mourning of the Witnesses. The fifth Line or the thirty days, which added, make Daniel's 1290 days. Of his sixth Collateral Line forty five days, which added to his former Number, make Daniel's 1335 days. The chief ground on which his Hypothesis depends examined and confu∣ted, which concerns the Epocha of the 2300 Evening-Mornings, drawn from the Text. The right Epocha of the 2300 Evening-Mornings and of Daniel's 1290 and 1335 days is to be fixt in Antiochus his Pollution of the Sanctuary. No hopes from the Com∣pute of Daniel's 2300 Evening-Mornings, of the Papacy and Turkish Tyranny being broken within twelve years, &c.
CHAP. XLVI. Some few strictures more upon several passages of the Calendar of Prophetick Time. As touching the four Beasts and twenty four Elders. The meaning of the Doxologie of the twenty four Elders alone, Apoc. 11.18. and of the Inversion of the Doxolo∣gical Service, and that they both argue the twenty four crowned Elders to be Kings or Monarchs. Whe∣ther the Interval of Smyrna is to be restrained to the ten years of Diocletian's Persecution. His mistake in making part of the sixth Seal a whole seventh Seal. Whether the Paganish Barbarians are the floud cast out of the mouth of the Red Dragon. His da∣ting the taking away the Daily Sacrifice from the first moment of the Apostasie. That the roaring of the Lyon, Apoc. Chap. 10. ceased not of a sudden. The ground of his making Thyatira, Sardis and Philadel∣phia run their course together to the New Jerusalem, confuted. The incongruity of the Position it self. The difficulties the Calendarist incumbers himself with in his way of treating on the Vision of the Chur∣ches. The true way of solving those difficulties.
CHAP. XLVII. Strictures on the Calendarist's Postscript, which con∣sists of Objections against his Calendar, with his An∣swers thereto. The Reply to his Answer to the fourth Objection. His Answer to the fifth Objecti∣on, and to the first Argument from Villalpandus his Measures of the Inner and Outer Court of the Temple, with the Reply thereto. His Answer to the second Argument with the Reply. His Answer to the se∣venth and main Objection, with the Reply thereto. Three Objections raised against his own Answer to the main Objection, with his Answers which are re∣plied unto. The scope of the Author's diligence in exhibiting a true and faithful Interpretation of the Vision of the Rising of the Witnesses, and his Con∣fidence that the ingenious Calendarist will easily be convinced by what has been writ, that his Calendar stands but upon infirm grounds.
CHAP. XLVIII. Of the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans in the Pergamenian Interval. How [the third Part] comes to be a Symbol of the Roman Empire. The hair of Women in the Locusts the Character of the Arabians or Saracens. The full sense of the Voice of the Bridegroom and the Bride being heard no more in Babylon. There shall be no more Curse, Rev. 22.3. how to be ex∣pounded. Several Scriptures produced to prove, that in the New Jerusalem-state there will be a Change in the World Natural, as well as in the World Mo∣ral. An Explication of Isaiah, Chap. 56.20. As also of Rom. 8.21. What is meant by, Acts 3.21. which our English Transla∣tion renders Times of Restitution. Arguments pro∣duced to prove [That the Wolf and the Lamb shall feed together] is to be understood literally, with An∣swers thereto. Six Particulars in order to or com∣pliance with the making the War of the Heros on the white Horse, Apoc. 19. Literal only or Carnal; With an Answer to the said Particulars.
CHAP. XLIX. An Answer to several Arguments from an ingenious Hand, that the Intervals of the Vision of the seven Churches do not reach to the end of the World, but to the beginning of the Vision in Chap. 4. which ac∣cording to him respects the Times of Queen Eliza∣beth. Two difficulties from the same hand touching the placing the twenty four Elders and four Beasts about the Throne, briefly answered.
CHAP. L. A brief Method of demonstrating how there may be three and no more than three real Hypostases or Persons in the One Divine Substance or Essence.
CHAP. LI. Fourteen Queries raised out of a Letter written in fa∣vour of some Passages of S. E. his Remarks, with Answers subjoined to each Query.