The calling of the Ievves A present to Iudah and the children of Israel that ioyned with him, and to Ioseph (the valiant tribe of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel that ioyned with him. The Lord giue them grace, that they may returne and seeke Iehovah their God, and Dauid their King, in these latter dayes. There is prefixed an epistle vnto them, written for their sake in the Hebrue tongue, and translated into English. Published by William Gouge, B. of D. and preacher of Gods word in Blackefryers. London.

Daniel 9. 24. &c. to the end of the Chapter.

24. Seauenty a 1.1 seauens are * 1.2 each of them cut out for thy people, and for thy holy City b 1.3 to restraine wickednesse, and to seale sinnes, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring righteousnesse euerlasting, and to seale vision and Prophet, and to annoint c 1.4 the most holy.

25. Know therefore and marke, from the going forth of the word to restore, and to build Ierusalem vnto a d 1.5 Messia Gouer∣nor, shall be seauen seauens. And threescore and two seauens a∣gaine shall be built street and ditch, and e 1.6 trouble some shall those times be.

26. And after those threescore & two seauens Messia shall be cut off, and shall haue f 1.7 nothing. And the City and sanctuarie shall the people of a g 1.8 forraine gouernor destroy, and the end thereof shall be with a floud, and vnto the end of the warre there shall be an h 1.9 extreame determined desolation.

27. And hee shall corroborate the Couenant vnto many one seauen, and in the halfe of that seauen he shall cause sacrifice and oblation to cease, and by i 1.10 the abhominable wing hee shall make desolation, euen till k 1.11 vtter destruction, and that precisely deter∣mined, be powred vpon the desolate.

THese words are a part of the message which the Angell Gabriel sent Ambassador from the God of heauen had in commission to deliuer to our Prophet. It is a noble Prophesie of the state of Gods people, how after the winter of 70. yeares captiuity, there should come a spring of 70. times seauen yeares continuance in their land and country. In vvhich

time the Temple and Citie shall be built anew, Christ the Lord of the Temple by his personall presence shall abo∣lish the legall worship, and at the last in fact take it quite a∣way, destroying both Temple and City by the Romaine Armies, which iustly shall light vpon their heads for refu∣sing the saluation which this great Prophet their Lord and redeemer came into the world to bring vnto them.

Three questions heere naturally arise vpon the vnfol∣ding whereof the vnderstanding of this Scripture doth much depend: one from what time these 70. seauens take their beginning: another when they determine and haue an end: the third, who should be the Messiah here spoken of. For the discussing of these, and to bring some light to so darke and difficult a peece of Scripture, somewhat must first be said of the 70. yeares captiuity, and of Darius the Mede, and Cyrus King of Persia, that brought an end vn∣to it.

There were 3. captiuities of Gods people all mentioned, 2. Chron. 36. and 2. Kings 24. and 25.

The first towards the end of the third yeare of Iehoia∣kim, and the beginning of his fourth, being the first yeare of Nabuchadnetsar, when Daniel and his fellowes were led away captiues, Ier. 25. 1. Dan. 1. 1.

The second vnder Iehoiacin or Iechonia about the eight yeare of Nabuchadnetzar; from whence Ezechiel is wont to reckon, Ezekiel. 1. 2. being himselfe one of that capti∣uitie.

The third in the eleuenth of Zedechia and ninteenth of Nabuchadnetsar when the City & temple were destroyed: from which of these the 70. yeares captiuity should begin, is a great question. I referre it to the first: for,

1. Ieremy giueth but 70. yeares to Babel, which are first spoken of when great Nebuchadnetzar began his raigne, Ierem. 25. And by those 70. yeares of Babel hee boundeth the captiuity, Ier. 29. 10. When 70. yeares be accomplished to Babel (so I read, not, at Babel) I will visit you, &c.

2. Those words being written to the Iewes of the second

captiuity, are an apparant proofe that, part of the 70. yeares captiuity was then expired. And thus it may well stand that Haggai saith, in the sixt yeare of Darius, that many there present had seene the former house, Hag. 2. 3. for it was destroyed not past 67. yeares before. Also Da∣niel was not to old to wield the Babilonian Empire in the time of Darius Medus, it being but the 70. seauenth yeare of his captiuity. And Ezrah (whose father Seraiah was slaine when the Temple was burnt, 2. Kings 25. 21.) might be actiue in the seauenth of Artaxerxes, Ezra 7. 8. which was 21. yeares after that sixt yeare of Darius, and so 88. yeares from the death of his father. All which things, but by this reckoning, could hardly be admitted.

He that pulled downe the Babylonian pride, was Da∣rius the Mede. Cyrus (as Zenophon also writeth) was but the Lieutenant of his Armie, and acknowledged him his So∣ueraigne: For,

First this Conquest is euery where attributed to the Medes, Esay 13. 17. Behold I will raise vp against him the Mede, Ier. 51. 11. The Lord raiseth vp against Babylon, the Spirit of the Kings of Media; and vers. 28. Prepare against her the Nations, the Kings of Media, her Princes and all her Nobles, and all the Land of his Dominion.

Secondly, Darius tooke (of his owne authority, not by any mans guift) the Kingdome, as soone as Bel∣shazzer was slaine, Dan. 5. 31. And hee it was whom the Angell did encourage and strengthen, Dan. 1. 11. That he might ouercome the Chaldeans, hee disposed of the Em∣pire, and set vp 120. Gouernours, Dan. 6. 1. And in all his time no mention is made of Cyrus.

Thirdly, Daniel reciteth his visions in order thus, In the first yeare of Belshazzer, Dan. 7. 1. In the third yeare of Belshazzer, Dan. 8. 1. In the first yeare of Darius. Dan. 9. 1. In the third yeare of Cyrus, Dan. 10. 1.

Fourthly, Darius raigne is reckoned as distinct from Cy∣rus and before Cyrus, Dan. 6. 29. He raigned not a yeare (be∣ing 62. yeares old when Belshazzar was slaine, Dan. 5. 31.)

and let Cyrus his Successor: for Daniel in the first of his raigne vnderstood the 70. yeares to be that yeare accom∣plished. Dan. 92. So the Prophesie of Ieremie was fulfilled, that the 70. yeares Captiuity, and the Babylonian Mo∣narchie should end together. ler. 25. 12. & 29. 10.

But it will be obiected that, 2 Chron. 36 20. the captiui∣ty lastest till the Kingdome of Persia came in. Therefore that Cyrus raigned together with Darius; else the Babylo∣nian Monarchie should not end with the captiuity: for the raigne of Darius Medus came betweene.

I answer, Darius raigne was a part of the Persian Mo∣narchy; for he wrote himselfe King of the Medes and Persians: and seeing the Persian name preuailed aboue the Medes, and that instantly (Darius dying the same yeare) Ezra calleth the whole succession from the time of the ta∣king of Babilon, the Kingdome of Persia.

This Darius was the sonne of Assuerus, of the seede of the Medes, Dan. 9. 1. whom (leauing to euery man his iudgement free) I take to bee that Assuerus which was Queene Esters husband, and that shee was not wife, neither to Darius Hystaspis, or any other succeeding King: for,

First, there bee but two Assuerusses mentioned in the Scripture: this and another, Ezra 4, 6. Succestor. vnto Cy∣rus. But he raigned nothing neere 13. yeares, as our Assu∣erus did, Ester 3. 7. compared with Ester 9. 1. nor was a friend but a perpetuall enemie to the Iewes. And seeing the holy Ghost doth so precisely distinguish the Persian Kings by their seuerall and proper names, which bring great light vnto a Story: I would not confound these things to giue two names to one, and the same person; that in one place he should be called Darius, in another Assue∣rus, without apparant euidence and warrant out of the Scripture.

Secondly, the whole course of Esters Story sheweth that it was acted during the captiuity; for it is not credible that after the returne of 49000. vnder Cyrus. Ezra 2. there should bee left such a multitude of Iewes, and of that

strength, as at Susis, were able to kill 800. of their enemies, and in the rest of Assuerus Dominions, 75000. Ester, 9. 12. 15. 16. nor would Mordecai and Queene Hester after the Temple built againe haue instituted the Purim, Ester 9. 31. without sending to the house of God to enquire of the Lord by the mouth of his Priests and Prophets, what were to be done as the people did, Zach. 7. 2. 3. And in the Let∣ters that Mordecai wrote to all the Iewes which were in the Prouinces of King Assuerus farre and neere, appointing them to celebrate that day, Ester 9. 20. 21. they in Iudaea would by name haue beene spoken of, if at that time the people had beene come back?

Thirdly, Assuerus Hesters husband was King of Media and Persia; for hee made that great feast to the Princes of his Armies of Persia and Media. Ester 1. 3. and the acts of Mordecaies greatnesse are said to be registred in the Chro∣nicles of the Kings of Media and Persia, Ester 10. 2. But I finde not after Cyrus once came to the helme, that they are at any time in holy Scripture called Kings of Media and Persia, but of Persia only▪ for being at the first a beast of two hornes, the Kingdome of Media and Persia, Dan. 8. 20. this latter that rose vp after, grew higher than the other and tooke the honour from it, Dan. 8. 3.

Fourthly, Why doth the holy Ghost, Dan. 9. 1 speake of Assuerus father to Darius the Mede, more than of the father of Cyrus or any other, but for some speciall purpose? And that must be in regard of the Story of Ester.

Fiftly, Mordecaies age doth proue it; his opposing a∣gainst Haman, and the other things he did in the twelfth of Assuerus cannot be thought to come from so old a man as he must bee, if you make Assuerus to be Darius Hystaspis: for from the captiuity of Ieconias when Mordecai was led a∣way, Ester 2. 6. to the twelfth of Assuerus, are 83. yeares: and if hee were then but 7. yeares of age, which is not like∣ly, he must now be 90. neither is to be thought that hee would at those yeares begin to enter into the affaires of the State (especially of such a great & turbulēt State) as he did,

Ester 10. Barzillai long before being but 80. refused a bet∣ter offer to be in Dauids Court, because of the greatnesse of his age. 2. Chron. 19. 33, 34, 35, 36.

This Assuerus raigned from India to Ethiopia as it is commonly translated. But the Hebrew is from India to Cush. Cush may bee taken as well for Arabia as Aethiopia; and to some parts of Arabia his Kingdome might well reach, euen whilst the Babilonians bare their greatest sway: for the Kings which should subdue Babylon, that is the Medes and Persians, are called mighty Nations and great Kings, Ier. 27. 7.

And Herodotus in his first Booke doth wonderfully ex∣toll the great power of Cyaxeres the Mede (by that name Stories call this Assuerus and his father) who ruled (as hee saith) ouer all Asia, and subdued the Assyrians, the Baby∣lonians only excepted: it is like his territories extended to the Indians Eastward, and of the other side vnto Arabia and Nebuchadnetzars most about Babylon, and in Aegypt, Tyrus and the regions of Asia minor.

Howsoeuer it were, if hee enlarged not his bounds so farre, whilst Nebuchadnetzar was aliue, at the least he might doe it in the time of Euilmerodach, who lost much to the Medes and Persians, and was at the last slaine in battaile a∣gainst them.

That which maketh all the doubt is that Mordecai was carried prisoner frō Ierusalem by Nebuchadnetzar, King of Babel in the captiuity of Ieconiah, Ester 2. 6. Therefore he dwelt not vnder the dominion of Assuerus the Mede: for from Nebuchadnetzar till Babel was taken by Darius, none of the Medes had footing in that Kingdome. Nay, the Iewes by Gods ordinance were to serue the King of Babel, his sonne and sonnes sonne till the yeares of the captiuity should be expired, as may bee gathered by Ier. 27. 7. 2. Chron. 36. 20. And a Babylonian King (if it were during the captiuitie) this Assuerus could not bee; for the King∣dome of Babylon was promised to Nebuchadnetzar his sonne and sonnes sonne, Ier. 25. 6, 7. who are named

to bee Euilmerodach, 2. Kings 25. 27. and Belshazzar, Dan. 5.

This indeed is a great obiection, to the which of a certaine I can say nothing. But seeing Assuerus was a King of the Medes and Persians, and euen during the Babiloni∣an captiuity there was at Susis where Assuerus kept his court, Ester 1. 2. a Pallace for the Kings of Media and Per∣sia: Dan. 8. 2. Why may it not be that multitude of the Iewes dispersed themselues hither and thither into diuers Countries, as they could best make shift, especially in the confusion and shuffling of things, when Nebuchadnet∣zar was throwne out of his Kingdome; and Morde∣cai happily among the rest might transport himselfe to Susis.

In this City was Daniel the third yeare of King Bel∣shazzar, Dan. 8. 2. for so I hold hee was indeed and not in a vision: he might bee by the riuer Vlai in a vision: but when he saw that vision he was really in the Pallace at Susis. Belike in regard of his great wisedome hee was sent thither vpon some Embassage or other employment for the ser∣uice of the King his maister: So vers. 27. of that Chapter seemeth to import; for certainely at that time Susis was of the Medes dominion.

The generality therefore of the people might be vnder the King of Babel; for it was the Babylonicall captiuity, se∣ing the Land of Iudaea belonged to the Babylonian, and no returne could be without his leaue) though many of them shifted for themselues elsewhere.

Perhaps also the King of Medes, either taking aduan∣tage of those great changes in the state and Common∣wealth that could not but fall out vpon the expelling of Nebuchadnetzar, or in the loosenesse of Euilmerodachs raigne when his father was dead, subdued those places in Mesopotamia about the riuer Chebar, whether the Iewes of Ieconias captiuity were led away, Ezech. 1. 3. & 2. 25. ma∣ny other things there bee which might make an alteration, that are not particularly and by name expressed in the

Scripture, Wherefore Gods great goodnesse to his poore afflicted Church did herein maruellously shew it selfe, that at one and the sametime, vnder the captiuity, in the mid∣dest of their greatest heauinesse; Mordecai and Queene Ester among the Medes, and Daniel with the Babylonians were so highly exalted.

After Darius death came the proclamation of Cyrus which is recorded, 2 Chron. 36. & Ezr. 1. That Darius was then dead appeareth by the Memorandum found among the records, Ezra 6. 2. 3. made in the first yeare of K. Cyrus: Cyrus made a decree, &c. and by the proclamation it selfe. Thus saith Cyrus King of Persia: God hath giuen vnto mee all the Kingdomes of the Earth, &c. If Darius had been liuing, Cyrus would not haue written himselfe King of Persia; for all Darius time it was the Medes and Persians: At the least he would not haue said, that God had giuen him all the King∣domes of the earth, when Darius was his Soueraigne; nei∣ther would he haue beene named King of Babel at that time (as Ezra 5. 13. relating therevnto doth call him) which without question was Darius his during his life. Dan. 5. 31. & 6. 1. 2. &c.

Now then for the first question (of the three formerly propounded) from this Edict of Cyrus (the time when the seauenty yeares captiuity ended) begin the seauenty seauens: for,

1. Certainely, they include the whole time of the peo∣ples welfare; so the words of the Angell sound, Seauenty seauens are determined vpon thy people and vppon thy holy Citie: But that was promised to be assoon as the seauenty yeares captiuity should expire, Ier. 29. 10. After seauenty yeares bee accomplished to Babel, I will visite you, and performe my good promise, to cause you to returne to this place. The performance of which promise Daniel heere prayeth, that God would not deferre, verse 19. And the Angell telleth him, vers. 23. hee was heard in that hee prayed for, and that the Angell was come to declare the same vnto him.

2. The Angell speaketh of the going forth of the word,

as of a thing notorious: which must needs be the word or proclamation that was to come from Cyrus; for of him the Scripture speaketh by name, Esay 43. 23. and other pro∣mise there was not any.

3. To suspend the beginning so long, as till Darius No∣thus, or the second Artaxerxes (whom they call Artax∣erxes Muemon) were to make Daniel & the whole Church (for whose comfort this Prophesie was reuealed) ignorant of the beginning. And then there should haue needed a∣nother to haue interpreted the Angell, and to shew when that Edict was to be published.

It is true, the Edict was not gone forth when Daniel vsed this prayer; for his prayer was in the raigne of Darius the Mede, at what time Cyrus was not as yet the absolute Lord: But it appeareth, Dan. 9. 1, 2. Daniel knew the time was now come when the same must be accomplished, and Cyrus notoriously knowne to be the person that must doe it, Esay 43. 23. So that of this Edict presently to be promul∣ged, both himselfe and the whole Church tooke certaine knowledge: wheresome obiect that the Angell speaketh not of the bringing back of the people, or of the building of the Temple, but to build Ierusalem againe, and therefore that it cannot be meant of Cyrus Edict; but must bee refer∣red to the twentieth of Artaxerxes Mnemon, when Nehe∣mie receiued commission from him to build the Citie of the sepulchres of his fathers, that is to say Ierusalem: it is much mistaken: for,

1. Daniels prayer was for the Sanctuary as well as for the Citle, and the Angell no doubt entendeth the building of them both.

2. The promise maketh it cleere; for the Prophet Esay long before told what Cyrus Edict should be: Esay 44. 23. Let Ierusalem bee reedified, and the foundation of the Temple layd. According to which words you must construe the words of the Edict it selfe, though it expresse but the house at Ierusalem by name. The same being made to fulfill the word forespoken of by the Lord, 2. Chr. 36. 22. & Ezr. 1. 1.

Euen as on the other side, by vertue of the first Artaxer∣xes inhibition to build the City, the worke of the house of the Lord was restrained: Ezr. 4. 21. 24. So both were in true meaning ioyned together: And Ezr. 4. 12. the enemies of the Iewes wrought in the time of that first Artaxerxes, that the Iewes were a building of Ierusalem and repairing of the walles; therefore the Edict of Cyrus bare them out to doe it.

3. The Angelioyneth the destruction of the Citty and the Sanctuary, both to be after 62. seauens, vers. 26. there∣fore they begin together.

This is then the beginning of the seauens, their end is at the destruction of the Citie and Temple by Uespatian; so farre they reach, and are not determined by the death of Christ: for,

First, the Angels words (answering Daniels prayer) are so expressly, vers. 24. Seauenty seauens are determined for thy holy Citie. And againe, vers. 27. The Citie and the Sanctuary so all the people of a forraine Gouernour destroy.

Secondly, the desolation that the Romane Army should make, vers. 26. & 27. and was done some 40. yeares after the death of Christ, is in the 27. verse expressly made a worke of one part of the seauenth seauen.

The last and greatest question is touching the Messias here spoken of; for to applie it to any other than to the true Messiah, Christ our Sauiour, some haue branded with the marke of Iudaisme. But Messiah in the absolute (2. Sam. 1. 21.) Messiah adiectiuely taken (Leuit. 4. 3. &c.) the Messiah of Iehovah (proper vnto Christ, Psal. 2. 2. 1. Sam. 2. 10.) are attributed vnto other, euen vnto such as were no types of Christ. (Esay. 45. 1.)

Many things there are which induce me to thinke, that this place is not to be vnderstood of Christ the Lord.

1. The Hebrue distinction Athnach (vers. 24) maketh a full point after the seauen seauens, thus, from the going forth of the word to a Messiah gouernor shall be seauen seauens. Which being but 49. yeares reach not to Christs time. To

set the points at naught, as inuented by the Massorits, is to weaken all the ioints of holy writt. The singular vse of Athnach, you may notablie see, 2. Kings 2. 14. Where this onely accent bringeth light to the true exposition of that Scripture, and freeth it from a dangerous error, which o∣therwise the text might seeme to giue countenance vnto.

2. This Messiah was not to be cut off whilest Ierusalem stood and flourished, for so the Angell sayth, ver. 26. Sixtie two seauens the cittie shall againe be built street and wall. And after those sixtie two Seauens, Messiah shall be cut off. There∣fore it is not meant of Christ; for, Ierusalem continued built street & wall some fortie yeares after his death. Some would needes fasten a strange kinde of speech vpon the Angell: for who euer sayd 7. and 62. when he may aswell say 69. Neither can it be excused by the Hebrue phrase. They indeed commonly set the lesser number first as nine and sixtie, for sixtie nine (Gen. 5 17.) though you may see by this very place that the same is not perpetuall. But for sixtie nine to say seauen and sixtie two, was neuer spo∣ken in the tongue of Canaan.

3. It is not nothing (though I will lay no great waight vpon it) which is said vers. 26. Messiah shall be cut off, and and there shall be nothing to him, no remaine of any power: nothing left of him. The phrase importeth an vtter ex∣tinguishment without hope of reuiuer: But of the death of Christ the Prophets are wont to speake in any other kinde of stile, Esay 53. 8. By distresse and iudgement is he taken away: but his generation who shall declare? meaning, that for all that he shall liue for euer.

But to let that passe, how will the time of his cutting off, (if you referre it to the death of Christ) agree? For, after those 7. seauens and 62. seauens wherein Messiah shall bee cut off, there is but one seauen left from thence to the de∣struction of Ierusalem.

To salue this, some reckon the first seauen seauens in Computation, after the 62. though in the Angels narrati∣on they haue the praecedence, making the 62. to reach to

Christs baptisme: the other seauen seauens from thence to the ruine of the state and policie of the Iewes. Touching the last seauentieth that (say they) the Angell leaueth out, because God for his Elect sake hath shortened those daies, as our Sauiour teacheth. Mat. 24.

But first this maketh the holy oracle confused and ob∣scure, if the Angell speaking first of seauen seauens, and then of 62. seauens, and beginning with the latter expres∣sly and by name, should neuer make mention of the for∣mer; but contrariwise, mention only one seauen [vers. 27.] and by that vnderstand the first of those seauen seauens, which all entendment would carie to that which alone is behind of all the number. Againe, it were confused to tell first of the destruction of the City & sanctuary, [vers. 26] and then to come backe, [vers. 27.] to the death of Christ, in the first of those seauen seauens, that is, to a thing done some forty yeares before: Whereas in the sence that wee doe follow, all things flow naturally, properly, aptly, and in a method worthy of an Angell: for, first he layeth down the totall of the 70. seauens, then sub-diuideth them into 7. 62. and one (that is to say, the seauentieth) and hand∣leth euery part in order: As by the exposition shall ap∣peare.

Secondly, to leaue out one while seauen of the num∣ber, can haue no excuse. Indeed 70. seauens may bee spo∣ken instead of sixty nine and a halfe, or some such parcell; and that is the rule of a round entire number put for a bro∣ken one: but to propound 70. and to handle but 69. no rule nor example warranteth. And it crosseth the words of the Angell in the beginning; Seauenty seauens are each of them cut out, &c. He ioyneth a verbe singular to a nowne plurall, to note, that euery part and period of these seauens is precisely to hold without any fraction. As for the words of our Sauiour Christ, that God for the Elects sake shorte∣ned those daies, they are manifestly wrested. he shorte∣ned nothing of that which the Angell did foretell, when he spake of 70. seauens to bee cut out; but in his euerlasting

counsell decreed those dayes of the affliction of the Iewes to be but short: for had they beene as long as they were sore and eager, the whole Nation must haue perished.

Wherefore I take it, that by a Messiah or annointed go∣uernour, hee meaneth a gouernour which the Iewes shall haue set vp from among themselues, opposed to a forraine gouernour, vers. 26. For, before the destruction of Ierusa∣lem by the Romanes, there were two Rulers of the Citie: one of their owne People, a Iew by profession or birth; the other a stranger, appointed Deputy by the Romane State. The first Messiah or annointed gouernour was Ne∣hemie, whom Artaxerxes constituted Prince in the Land of Iudea, in the twentieth yeare of his raigne, Nehem. 5. 14. being iust 49. yeares from the Edict of Cyrus: Hee built a Pallace for the Princes Court, Nehem. 2. 8. and Sanballat in a Letter to Nehemie vpon his building of the walles, scoffeth at him, as if he meant to be King of the Iewes, Ne∣hem. 6. 6. which Nehemie there worthily putteth off, as a fiction of his owne deuising: Nehem. 6. 8. Whether Nehe∣mie and the rest were annointed with oyle or no, I passe not, no more than I doe of Cyrus, or of those of whom the Psalmist speaketh, Ps. 105. 15. Touch not mine annointed ones, and doo my Prophets no harme. The Angell giueth him the name of annointed; because he was of that People, whom God had sanctified to himselfe.

These things praemised; let vs see how we may make vp this number of seauenty seauens, that is, of 490. yeares: which I would thus reckon.

The Persian Monarchie, wherevnto men giue some 106. yeares, some 125. some 130. some 190. some 220. and the Hebrewes generally but 50. did intruth endure 70. yeares, and no more, as I gather out of the 23. of Esay; the Scrip∣ture in those vncertainties, being the onely Oracle you can resort vnto: In that Chapter the Prophet, vers. 1. fore∣warneth Tyrus of a threefold calamity to come vpon her: one by her home seruants, the second by the Chaldeans, the third by Alexander the great out of the Land of Cittim:

The two latter he insisteth most vpon from the 14. verse: Seauenty yeares she shall be forgotten, meaning laid waste and desolate, vers. 15. euen the dayes of one King, that is, during all the time of the Babylonian Empire, who for the disho∣nour of lying there so long in siege, Ezech. 29. is (Iosephus, lib. 1. cap. 11. saith, 13. yeares) did beare mortall hate to her.

Afterwards she shall flourish againe, be iolly and frollicke as the Prophet expresseth by an Apostrophe, or turning of his speech vnto her, vers. 16. But how long must that in dure? it is easily gathered out of the beginning of the 17. verse; for when hee saith, After seauenty yeares the Lord shall reuisite Tyrus, meaning, shall giue her a second blow by Alexander the great, hee doth plainely shew that the continuance of her prosperity which was from Cyrus to A∣lexander, should be 70. yeares, and consequently that 70. yeares are the bounds of the Persian Monarchie.

And in all reason it could not bee much longer, seeing Nehemie, who was no babe, but a Prince and a chiefe Com∣mander among those that ascended out of the captiuity in the beginning of Cyrus raigne, Ezr. 2. 2. liued to see the last Darius, Nehem. 12. 22. So as, if you gaue him then but 20 or 25. yeares, & to the Persian Monarchy but 70. he was fast vpon 100. beyond which yeares it was not ordinary for men in those dayes to liue.

Concerning the particular yeares of the Kings of Persia, which make vp the full summe of 70.

The first King was Cyrus, who raigned three yeares, at the least; hee began the third. Dan. 10. 1.

The second, Artaxerxes, vnder whom the Iewes are said to returne; Ezr. 4. 12. whose returne was indeed vnder Cyrus. To him the enemies of the Iewes wrote their Let∣ters to hinder the building of the Temple, when it was yet scarce begun; Ezr. 4. 12. which was the second yeare after their returne: Ezr. 3. 8. wherefore hee could bee no other than Cambyses the sonne of Cyrus that raigned in his fa∣thers absence. We giue him with the Hebrewes, after his

fathers death 6. yeares: the most that the greatest part of Chronologers bestow vpon him, is but 7.

The third, Assverus, hee is mentioned, Ezr. 4. 7. and seeing Artaxerxes is proued the immediate successor vnto Cyrus, this Assuerus must needs be one that came in time after Artaxerxes, though in that place of Ezra hee be na∣med before him. Ezraes words haue this meaning; The people of the Land discouraged the people of Iudah, and troubled them in building all the dayes of Cyrus, vnto the dayes of Da∣rius: for in the raigne of Assuerus (Predecessor to Darius) in the beginning of his raigne they wrote an acousation against the Inhabitants of Iudah and Ierusalem. And (before that) in the dayes of Artaxerxes, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of their Colleagues wrote, &c. Wherefore Tremelius looking to the sence, doth well render it, As in the dayes of Artax∣erxes, Mithredath, Tabeel, &c. had written.

I take this Assuerus to bee Smerdis the Vsurper: for where it is said, Dan. 11. 2. that before Xerxes three Kings shall stand vp in Persia, they are not to be reckoned from Darius Medus, notwithstanding he were spoken of in the first verse, but from that time that the Angell spake the wordes, being in the raigne of Cyrus: so as in saying, three Kings shall yet stand vp, Cyrus cannot bee compre∣hended.

The 3. Kings therefore were Artaxerxes, (or Cambises) Assuerus, (or Smerdis) and Darius. Hee raigned not a yeare.

The fourth King is Darius, Ezr. 4. 5. which is Darius Hystaspis: He is called King of Ashur, Ezr. 6. 22. in the very same sence that Cyrus, Ezr. 5. 13. And Artaxerxes. Nehem. 13. 6. are called Kings of Babel: for Ashur in that place is taken for Babel, as it is also, Esay 52. 4. Babylon, by the con∣sent of all Historians, being anciently a part of Assyria, and now in Darius hand, all these Kingdomes ioyned to∣gether.

In the second yeare of his raigne, he gaue leaue to build the Temple, Ezr. 4. 24. and the sixt yeare of his raigne, hee

gaue leaue to build the Temple; Ezr. 4. 24. and the sixt yeare of his raigne it was finished. Ezr. 5. 6. 15.

Darius that gaue leaue to build the Temple, must needs be Darius Hystaspis, not Darius Nothns nor any other that come long after him: for,

1. It was one that raigned within very short time after the 70. yeares expired; seeing Zacharie in the second yeare of that Darius raigne, bringeth in the Angell speaking thus: Zach. 1. 12. How long wilt not thou haue mercy on Ierusa∣lem, and on the Citties of Iuda, with whom thou hast beene wroth these 70. yeares, and Zach. 7. 5. the Prophet saith, When you fast and mourne in the fift and sixt Moneth, and these sea∣uenty yeares, Which was spoken in the fourth yeare of that Darius.

The Phrase, (these 70 yeares) must needs import that they were not long before ended.

2. The age of Ezra, and of those to whom Haggai spea∣keth, Hag. 2. 3. Which of you saw the former house? will not suffer you to referre it to the times of Darius Nothus.

Histories giue this Darius 20. yeares, and so much the Computation of the 7. weekes doth warrant.

The fift King was Artaxerxes, Ezr. 7. whom I take to be sonne to Darius Hystaspis; This is that worthy Prince vnder whom Ezr. first found fauour for the house of God, Ezr. 7. and after him Nehemie had commission to build the Citie and to settle a gouernment there, Nehem. 1. Some 33. yeares of his raigne are set downe, Nehem. 13. 6. In the 32. yeare of Artaxerxes King of Babylon, I had returned to the King onely at the end of a yeare, I got leaue: of him is meant, Ezr. 6. 14. they built and brought it to perfection, by the aduise of the God of Israel, and by the aduise of Cyrus and Darius, and Artaxerxes King of Persia. Artaxerxes is there (by anticipation) ioyned to his father Darius Hystaspis, be∣cause the purpose of the holy Ghost was to set downe all the furtherers of the worke together: for albeit the struc∣ture and edifice of the house was made an end of in the sixt yeare of Darius; yet Artaxerxes by his decree furnished

the sacrifices and the vessels for the ministery of the house, and other necessaries: As it followeth in the next Chapter, Ezra 7. And so was a coadiutor for the perfitting of the Temple. Such anticipations are common in the Scripture. See Exod. 16. 33. 34. 35.

This decree of Artaxerxes was in the seauenth yeare of his raigne Ezr. 7. 7. which is not to bee taken the next yeare after the structure of the Temple, finished in the sixt of Darius Hystaspis, as if by that it might bee gathered that Darius and Artaxerxes were all one; but some yeares after: for the very first verse of the seauenth Chapter of Ezra gi∣ueth some kinde of inckling that there beginneth a new Story in the daies of another King. Now, after these things, in the raigne of Artaxerxes, King of Persia, Ezra the sonne of Seraiah &c. went vp from Babilon.

Further of the Kings of Persia you finde nothing, saue that, Nehem. 12. 22. the Catalogue of the high Priests, is reckoned vp till the Kingdome of Darius King of Persia, which was the last Darius whom Alexander the great did conquer; for Iaddua the high Priest there mentioned, is he that met Alexander. Therefore to the Kings that succeede Artaxerxes I giue among them the remainder of the 70. yeares, namely 26.

Great Zerxes I put not in this number, who spent his time in warres abroad, whilst Artaxerxes did all at home: And therefore the holy Ghost hath him not in his Cata∣logue, Dan. 11. 2. hee is named a fourth King; but that is in respect of the Grecians. And were he King, or no King, all his yeares are swallowed vp in Darius his fathers, and his successors.

The next difficultie is in the Greeke gouernment more vncertaine than the former: for here we lacke the light of the holy Scripture to go before vs. And all other accounts whether taken from Historians in the succession of the Sy∣rian Kings, the high Priests, the Macchabees, or the Pto∣lomies of Aegypt, &c, or from Astronomicall obseruations, and the Ecclipses reckoned vp in Ptolomie, or from the

Olympicke games which crosse this accompt of 490. yeares, from the first of Cyrus to the destroying of Ierusalem, that is the word of truth vttered by the Angell, are vaine, and not to bee beleeued.

This is certaine that the first 70. yeares & the last 73. be∣ing knowne as they are one as I haue shewed by Esay, and the bookes of Ezra and Nehemie: the other by the new Testament and Ecclesiasticall Storie, the interuenient time cannot bee vnknowne, though how to reckon each parti∣cular in so great variety of Greeke and Latin Historians, it be a thing impossible: wherefore let the Greeke gouern∣ment (accompting it to beginne with Alexander, and to expire at Cleopatraes death) haue 321. yeares. Betweene Cleopatraes death, and the time that our blessed Sauiour was borne, are commonly reckoned 26. yeares. Christ li∣ued 33. yeares and somewhat more: from his death to the destruction of Ierusalem by the Romanes are 40. yeares.

So then vpon the whole matter, the 70. seauens that is 490. yeares, are thus made vp.

The Persian Monarchie held 70. yeares.

The Greeke gouernment was, 321.

From Cleopatraes death to the birth of Christ are, 26.

Christ liued, 33. yeares.

From this death to the destruction of Ierusalem, 40. yeares.

Totall. 490.

A word now or two for a particular explication of the Text.

Wherein the Angell first layeth downe the summe of all, [verse. 24.] That instead of 70. yeares captiuity, where∣in the Land lay desolate and kept her Sabbaths, they shall dwell in the Land 7. times 70. yeares before the Citie and Sanctuary shall haue an end; so farre doth the mercy of God exceed his wrath: within the compasse of which time, (and euen vpon the point of the expiration of it, some forty yeares before) Christ, the King, Priest and Pro∣phet

of his Church, shall performe the worke of our re∣demption: for hee was to come the second Temple stan∣ding, Hag. 2. 9.

The power of his Kingdome euident in abolishing sin, and bringing in euerlasting righteousnes.

Sinne he doth abolish by mortifying and subduing the power of it by his death: by pardoning and forgiuing both the guilt and punishment, by the full and all-sufficient sa∣tisfaction that hee hath made vpon the Crosse, who is the propitiation for our sinnes, righteousnes (euerlasting righteousnesse, which shall make vs accepted of God for euer, and neuer can be lost as Adams was) hee doth bring in▪ first, by the reckoning and imputing of his owne righ∣teousnesse vnto vs, & making it ours through faith; where∣by wee are iustified or held iust and righteous euen in the strict and most exact Iustice of God himselfe: Secondly, by making vs new creatures by the vertue of his resur∣rection.

Againe, he is our Prophet, by whom onely God speak∣eth vnto vs in these latter dayes, and in whom all visions and reuelations haue an end. Heb. 1. 1.

Lastly, he is our Priest, a Minister of the Sanctuary, and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord pight and not man; who by his owne blood entred once into the holy place, heauen it selfe, purchasing euerlasting redemption, and abolishing thereby the vnction of the Law. Hebr. 8. 2. & 9. 8. 12.

The summe of all being thus laid downe, the Angell in that which followeth brancheth the whole seauenty sea∣uens into three heads or three distinct periods of time: From the going forth of the word, to restore and to build Ieru∣salem: To wit, from the Edict of Cyrus, Ezr. 1. vnto a Mes∣siah (that is an annointed) gouernour, meaning Nehemie set vp in the twentieth of Artaxerxes, as we shewed before, shall be seauen seauens which make 49. yeares [1. part of vers. 25]

In this period are comprehended all things that fell

out concerning the re-edifying and furnishing of the Temple.

And of this I vnderstand that which the Iewes say, Io. 2 20. fourty and sixe yeares was this Temple a building: which is true, accompting the beginning at the third of Cyrus; for from the Edict of Cyrus one yeare must be giuen them to consult about their busines being of so great waight and importance. In the second it is like they tooke their iour∣ney from Babylon to Iudea is some 4. monethes trauaile: Ezr. 7. 8. So grant a yeare and a halfe for their returne. The second yeare after their returne, the foundation of the Temple was laid and somwhat proceeded in Ezr. 3. 8. So as till that time, there might be 3. yeares from Cyrus E∣dict. Thence to the twentieth of Artaxerxes, are 46. yeares more: for though the Edifice and structure were made an end of in the sixt of Darius, there wanted yet houses for the Priests and other necessaries, which were not added till about the time of Nehemie.

The Iewes could not by that speech vnderstand any Temple built by Herod, but this second Temple: for this is it that was standing in the dayes of Christ, Hagg. 2. 9.

The second period is, three score and two seauens, (434. yeares) wherin a Gouernour being once set vp, street and ditch (that is the compasse of the wall) shall againe bee built. [2. part. vers. 25.] These 434. yeares begin in that twentieth of Artaxerxes, when Nehemie was made the Ruler, with commission to build the Citie; which times, saith the An∣gell, shall bee troublesome: for so they were, both during the time of the building of the walles; whereof, see the booke of Nehemiah, & during the whole time from thence vnto the end. In the third period are two things distingui∣shed. First, is the subuersion of their gouernment. The Gouernour which is so to bee set ouer them from among themselues, one of their brethren shall bee cut off: there shall be nothing to him, or he shall haue nothing, no more to doe there; all that forme of Gouernment shall vtterly be done away. [1. part. vers. 26.]

And this is precisely laid to bee the first worke that the seauentieth seauen should bring forth: for, After 62. sea∣uens necessarily implyeth, vpon the beginning of the sea∣uentieth.

The second is the destruction of the Citie and Sanctu∣ary by a forraigne enemie, the Romane Armie. By whom the Iudgements of God as an innundation or ouer flowing of mighty waters, shall suddenly and violently breake in vpon them, by most cruell and deadly warre (for there pe∣rished in the siege 1100. thousand Iewes, besides 90. thou∣sand taken Captiues) till they bee brought to vtter ruine, that extreame desolation, (so much the plurall doth im∣port) which God from all eternity hath precisely purposed and decreed. [2. part of verse 26.]

This where in the waight of all lyeth may iustly require a distinct consideration seuerally and by it selfe. Where∣fore it pleaseth the holy Ghost in the 27. verse to expresse both the fruit that should come of it, and the time when all this shall be done.

The fruit: Christ our Lord shall play the man, that one seauen mightily, valiantly and Gyant like (so the Hebrew * 1.12 word doth signifie) confirming the Couenant with many, to wit, those that are his. [1. part of vers. 27.] What Coue∣nant? The Couenant of grace, of forgiuenesse of sinnes, of reconciliation and euerlasting righteousnes: All which the holy Ghost said before. vers. 24.

And how did he so mightily confirme the same? He did confirme it mightily, both in respect of the Iewes, and of the conuerted Gentiles. In respect of the Iewes, by that Christ was to worke within the compasse of these weekes the rare, wounderfull, and extraordinary vengeance that he tooke vpon his enemies, the people that crucified and put him vnto death: whose Temple & Citie that stood so long and were so renowned, hee caused for this their fault to be razed and made euen with the ground, Luke 13. 34. 35. & 19. 43. 44. whereby he manifestly declared himselfe to be the Lord of glory.

To the beleeuing Gentiles he did mightily confirme the couenant, by remouing the maine rub that lay in their way, and hindred the giuing of their names to Christ: Whilst they saw not onely the City where our Lord was crucified to flourish; but the ceremoniall shadowes to be frequented which did obscure and drowne the truth of his comming in the flesh. And this end Iulian the Apostata had before his eyes, when in despite of the Christian name, hee com∣manded the re-edifying of the Temple.

The time, is in the middest of that weeke [2 part of vers. 27.] Peraduenture the worke of the cutting of the annoin∣ted Gouernour was doing the former halfe weeke; the first 3. years and a halfe. And indeed he that readeth Iose∣phus shal find it fell out so: for about the 9^th. yeare of Nero, (which was 7. yeares before the destruction of the City) Albinus the Romane Gouernour there, by his monstrous pilling, polling and other cruelty, did as Iosephus saith, sowe the seede of the Cities ouerthrow: And in the twelfth of Nero, within lesse than foure yeare after that, Agrippa the last Go∣uernour that the Iewes had, from among themselues was driuen out of the Citie; whereupon Iosephus saith, The Citie was without a Ruler to guide it.

And so, you haue the Messiah cut off, and the Gouern∣ment of the Citie quite extinct in the very instant of 3. yeare and a halfe, if it were necessary to flye to that.

But there is no such necessity: The Hebrew word sig∣nifieth part of a time as well as halfe. Wherefore the sence may well bee, in part, that is, during the residue, the remainder of that seauentieth weeke, after the an∣nointed Gouernour cut off, (how long or shorttime soeuer the same be in doing,) he will performe the things menti∣oned in the second part of the former verse: which for the greater certainty, are heere reitterated [in the last part of verse 27.] not altogether in the same words: but so as the one of these two verses bringeth light vnto the o∣ther: for,

1. Instead of destroying Citie and Sanctvary, vers. 26. hee

saith heere in the 27. verse, He shall make to cease sacrifice and oblation, as needs they must when the Citie and Temple are destroyed. In right they ceased vpon the death of Christ; but now they shall cease infact.

2. Instead of a forraigne enemie doing the same by warre, verse 26. hee putteth in this verse, the wing or Legions of the Romane Army, laying desolate; for wing was a pro∣per terme of the Romane warfare. Whose Armies are called abhominable, because they were Infidels, and worshipped Idols.

And this to bee the sence of the place; beside the An∣gels thus suting of these things, you may see by comparing the three Euangelists that speake of this History: for where Math. 24. 25. & Mark. 13. 14. Christ saith, When ye see the abhomimation of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, standing in the holy place where it should not: Luke interpreteth it thus, When ye shall see Ierusalem compassed about of Armies, then know the desolation thereof is at hand. Luke 21. 20. And so these words are but the same in sence and substance that was in the former verse, which said, all this should be done by warre.

3. Insteed of inundation or ouerflowing of calamities, vers. 26. heere you haue a powring forth of all Gods Iudge∣ments at once, as if the windowes of Heauen should be o∣pened as they were at the floud.

4. Where the 26. verse doth speake of desolation to the end of the warre, those words expound these of the twenty seauenth, vnto vtter destruction.

5. Precisenesse of desolation, in the 26. verse, is somewhat more clearely vttered in the 27. vnto vtter destruction pre∣cisely determined.

So one of these noteth the greatnesse; the other the certainty of the desolation.

The Rabbinicall Doctors seeke for a knot in a rush, when they enquire vpon this place how long this desolati∣on shall continue, and when the precise determinate time shall haue an end: for the period of all that Daniel heere

speaketh of, is the end of the seauentieth seauen. Howbeit in other Scriptures, Dan. 12. 11. 12. Math. 23. 38. 39. Luk. 21. 24. Rom. 11. 25. 26. that precise determinate time of the Iewes desolation is precisely prophesied and foretold: but euery place hath his proper interpretation.

To close vp this Treatise because it may bee of great vse for the cleering of this and many other hard and obscure passages; I will heere set downe the iust periods of time from the beginning of the World to the dissolution of all things, as they are to be gathered in holy Scripture.

First, from the Creation to the Floud, are yeares, 1656. manifest by the yeares of the fathers before the Floud. Gen. 5. & 11.

Secondly, from the Floud vnto the Promise made to Abraham, 426. for from the Floud to Terah, are 221. Terah begat Abraham at 130. At 70. he begat children: Gen. 11. 26. But that was Nahor his first borne, though Abraham for honour sake be named first. Abraham he begat at 130. as appeareth in that Terah dyed at 205. Gen. 11. 32. when Abraham was 75. Gen. 12. 4.

The promise made to Abraham was at 75. for then and not before he left his owne Country Charran (which was his Country as well as Vr, or the Valley of the Chaldeans, and both in Mesopotamia) for Canaan Gen. 12. 4. And Exod. 1••. 4. it is said, the pregrination of the children of Israel in Ae∣gipt, meaning both there and in the Land of Canaan, where they were alike strangers) was 430. yeares, So as the pro∣mise and the entrance into the Land begin together. Also if Terah had not beene dead before the promise, he (which none will say) should haue receiued the promise of Christ to come of his seede as well as Abraham: for doubtlesse, Abraham, as a Prophet of God would not haue concealed it from him.

Of necessity therefore two callings of Abraham are to be distinguished: one in Ur of the Chaldeans, which being passed ouer, Gen. 11. is layd downe, Gen. 15. 7. and Stephen speaketh of it, Act. 7. 2. 3. The second after his fathers death,

Gen. 12. 1. Which place is to be translated not Iehouah had said, but Iehouah did say, as a new commandement to goe on his iourney with an addition of the promise. And this Stephen mentioneth. Act 7. 4.

Thirdly, frō the promise to the giuing of the Law, 430. Gal. 3. 17. Which are the 430. yeares of peregrination, Exod. 12. 40. In 400. whereof Abrahams seed was afflicted, Gen. 15. 13. They shall intreat thy seede euill, 400. yeares. This affliction beginneth at Ismaels persecution of Isaac, Gen. 21. 9. Gal. 4. 29. and continueth to their deliuerance out of the house of bondage, the setuitude of Aegipt. The perse∣cution of Isaac was not at his birth, it must be when he was of some vnderstanding, and the computation of time draw∣eth it to about the sixt yeare of his age; which was iust 30. yeares from the promise. Thus are those three texts Gal. 3. 17. Exod. 12. 4. and Gen. 15. 13. cleered. Of these 430. yeares, 215. were spent in the Land of Canaan; for from the 75. yeare of Abraham to Isacks birth, are 25. Isaac was 60. when Iacob was borne, Gen. 25. Iacob went downe into Aegypt at 130. Gen. 47. 9. So onely 215. are left for Aegypt.

Fourthly, from the Law, or comming out of Aegypt, to the building of the Temple. 480.

1. Kings 6. 1. Their summe ariseth thus.

In the Desert, 40. Deut. 1. 3. Iosua 17.

The Conquest and partition of the Land, take vp 7. of it: As it is proued by Calebs age, Iosh. 14. 7. 10. for the Land was diuided the 45. yeare after Moses sent him from Kadesh Barnea to view the Land; out of which deduct 38. yeares that the Children of Israel remained in the wilder∣nesse after Gods sentence vpon Calebs returne, and their re∣maine 7. 480. yeares from the Passeouer to the Temple, & he ruled the other 10. in all 17. As appeareth in that of those, all but 17. are in the time of other Rulers, and that remaine can be cast vpon none but him. Iudg. 339. That is to say, Othniel. 40. Ehud and Shamgar 80. Debora. 40. Ge∣deon. 4. Abimelech. 3. Tolah. 23. Iair. 22. Ieptha. 6. Ibt∣san.

7. Elon. 16. Abdon. 8. Sampson. 20. Elie 40.

Acts 13. 19. it is said, God gaue them Iudges as it were 450. yeares, vnto Samuel the Prophet he saith, as it were, or in a manner, for in proper Chronicle and common suppu∣tation, it was 339. But Iudges that within the compasse of that time did tyrannize and oppresse them, tooke vp 111. yeares; namely, Cushan 8. Moab 18. Sisera 20. Midian 7. Ammon 8. Philistines 40. Saul 40. Act. 13. 21. where Paul saith, Afterwards they desired a King, and God gaue vnto them Saul the sonne of Cis, a man of the Tribe of Beniamin, 40 yeares. As if he should say, all this from the Iudges was 40. yeares: So comprehending the wholetime from the death of Elie, as wel the interim till Samuel medled with the gouernment, which was not in 20. yeares after 〈…〉〈…〉 1. Sam. 7. 3. as the whole time of his gouernment and of Sauls raigne, being 20 yeares more.

Dauid 40. Salomon 4. 1. Kings 6. 1.

Fiftly, the Temple stood before it was burnt by Nebu∣chadnetzar. 408.

To be gathered thus.

To Salomons death 36. for he raigned 40. in all.

The Kings of Iudah after him raigned 372. as the yeares are truely collected by Tremellius in the Argument of the first and second Booke of Kings. The 390. yeares that Eze∣chiel bare the iniquitie of the house of Israel, Ezech. 4. whereof 40. (part of those 390. vers. 9.) were for the house of Iudah, doth no way crosse this account of the Kings that succeeded Salomon; for neither doe those 390. yeares be∣gin when Ieroboam drew Israel away: but from about the 28. yeare of Salomons raigne, at what time waxing old, hee was led to the worship of false Gods: 1. King. 11. and all Israel ranne headlong into Idolatrie; neither doe they end with the destruction of the Temple and the Citie, but in the last and finall carrying away of the poore remain, by Nebuzaradan as appeareth, Ezech. 5. 4. which was some fiue yeare after. And the 40. yeare, of Iudah, are from the eighteenth yeare of Iosia, when the couenant was re∣newed;

2. King. 23. 23. from which the people immediate¦ly fell away.

Sixtly, from the burning of the Temple to the Edict of Cyrus to build it anew.

And so adding the first 18. yeares of Nebuchadnetzar, you haue the 70. yeares Captiuity.

Seauenthly, from that Edict to the destruction of the Temple by the Romanes. 490.

Which are Daniels seauens, Dan. 9. whereof the first 49. yeares are for the full finishing of the temple and all the fur∣niture thereof.

Eighthly, from a second and the finall desolation there∣of, being endeuoured to be re edifyed by Iulian the Apo∣stata in despight of the Christian name, about Anno. 360. after Christ, till such time as the Iewes acknowledging Christ the Lord, shall set vp a glorious Church at Ierusa∣lem againe, not of wood or stone, nor for any Legall wor∣ship; but for the spirituall seruice of God in Christ, are yeares. 1233. Dan. 12. 11. 12.

Ninthly, from thence to the full comming in of the Gen∣tiles, the certaine time is not foretold, vnles (which I dare not say) any thing may be gathered from, Reuel. 20. 4.

But the tenth and last period is, that after the fulnesse of the Gentiles once come in, the generation then liuing shall not passe away, till all things haue an end. Math. 24. 34.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Or weekes, meaning se∣uens of years. But the tearm (weekes) is not so cleere and significant.
• * 1.2

  So doth the verbe in the plural import.
• b 1.3

  Or in re∣straining, that is, within which cōpass of time shall be restrained.
• c 1.4

  Heb. Holines of holinesses.
• d 1.5

  Or an anoin¦ted gouernor.
• e 1.6

  Heb. in trou∣ble.
• f 1.7

  No more to doe there.
• g 1.8

  Hebr. A Come-gouernor, in Latin Ad∣uena.
• h 1.9

  Hebr. Pre∣cisenes of de∣solations, that is, extreame desolation precisely de∣termined.
• i 1.10

  Hebr. By the wing of ab∣hominations.
• k 1.11

  Hebr. Con∣summation.
• * 1.12

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉