The suruey of popery vvherein the reader may cleerely behold, not onely the originall and daily incrementes of papistrie, with an euident confutation of the same; but also a succinct and profitable enarration of the state of Gods Church from Adam vntill Christs ascension, contained in the first and second part thereof: and throughout the third part poperie is turned vp-side downe.

CHAP. IIII. Of the weekes mentioned in Daniel.

The first section.

The Monarchie of the Persians conteined the kingdomes of the Persians, of the Medes, of the Assyrians, of the Chalde∣ans, a great part of Asia and of other regions adiacent. It be∣gan in the age of the world, 3425. In the 20. yere of Darius Longhand, aliâs Darius Artaxerxes, beganne the seuentie weekes foreshewed by Daniel, cap. 9. See the fourth sec∣tion.

No place of holy scripture is more excellent, more worthie or more necessarie to be vnderstood of euerie christian man, then

the 70. weekes reuealed by the angel to Daniel: For no place in all the old testament, doth more cleerely set Christ with al his glory and manifold giftes before our eies: no place doth more firmely strengthen our faith; no place doth more effectually con∣uince the Iewes; no place doth more strongly confute all here∣sies; all phantasticall opinions, and all pestilent errors against our Sauiour Christ, then this place of Daniel. Worthily ther∣fore ought we to employ our whole care, studie and industrie, for the exact vnderstanding of the same.

The second section.

All writers agree in these two points. First, that weeks in the ninth chapter of Daniel, are not taken for common weekes, but for weekes of yeares, euen as we finde in Leuiticus, cap. 25. verse 8. where it is thus written: Thou shalt number seuen Sabbothes of yeeres vnto thee, euen seuen times seuen yeare: and the space of the seuen Sabbothes of yeares will be vnto thee nine and fortie yeares. Secondly, that the 70. weekes make seuentie times seuen, according to the phrase of Leuiticus, and so the iust number must be 49. yeares. In this point the very Rabbins of the Iewes doe agree with our Chri∣stian interpreters and historiographers. And necessitie with∣out more adoe enforceth vs to admit this glosse and exposition of the weekes: because otherwise the assertion of the angel of God notified to vs by the Prophet Daniel, shoulde be absurd and vtterly swaruing from the trueth.

The third section. Of the probation, for the exposition of the seuentie weekes, Dan. 9. verse 24.

That 70. weekes doe neither signifie weekes, as a weeke importeth seuen daies; neither yet 70. weekes only, as weekes [ 1] be taken for yeares; I prooue sundry waies: First, because an

angel needed not to haue been sent from heauen to instruct Da∣niel, if the 70. weekes had no mysticall nor secret meaning far aboue the common and literall signification of the wordes. Se∣condly, because the vision which Daniel had, and which the an∣gel [ 2] came to expound, conteined the duration of the second and third monarchies (as appeareth in the eight of Daniel.) Which farre exceedeth both the number of 70. weekes and 70 yeares. Thirdly, because Gods mercie doth seuen fold exceed his iudg∣ment; [ 3] which mercy he promiseth to his people, who were 70. yeares in captiuitie; and that it shalbe accomplished in the ad∣uent of the true Messias Christ Iesus: By whom and through whom, wickednesse shall be finished, sinnes sealed vp, iniquitie reconciled, and our righteousnesse purchased euerlastingly. Fourthly, because no other interpretation of the 70. weeks, can [ 4] possibly accord the wordes of Daniel. Fiftly, because albeit S. Hierome, Clemens Alexandrinus, Tertullianus, Africanus, [ 5] and others, doe muche dissent in determining the beginning of the 70. weekes; that is, in what yeare of what king we must beginne the supputation; yet doe they all iumpe in the significa∣tion of the 70. weeks, as who al do constantly write that they connotate, 490. yeares. Sixtly, because the supputation of e∣uerie writer, bringeth vs to Christ,* 1.1 which is the scope intended [ 6] and plainly expressed in Daniel, and consequently no other ex∣position can be true. Obserue well the second section.

The fourth section. Of the varietie in writers touching the time of the 70. weekes.

Some writers beginne the supputation of the 490. yeares, in the second yere of the 80. Olympias,* 1.2 which was in the 7. yeare of Darius Artaxerxes Longimanus. Some beginne, in the 32. yeare of Darius Histaspis. Others begin in the first yeare of Cyrus. Others sooner, others later. Some end their supputation in the birth of Christ, some in his baptisme, some in his preaching, some in his death. So that all agree in the

substance of the thing, though they dissent in the modification of the same.

Affricanus (whose opinion I preferre) beginneth the sup∣putation in the twentieth yeare of Artaxerxes Longhand,* 1.3 be∣cause then receiued Nehemias commandement to build vp the walles of the Citie of Hierusalem, and to consummate the whole worke of the temple, walles, and cittie. Nehe. 2.1.8. from which time if we reckon (saieth he) vntil Christ, we shall find the 70. weekes. But if we beginne out computation from anie other time, neither the times wil be consonant, and many absurdities wil insue thereupon. And we must (saith Affrica∣nus) reckon our yeares, after the supputation of the He∣brewes,* 1.4 who doe not reckon moneths after the course of the Sunne, but of the Moone: for from the 20. yere of the said Artaxerxes, that is, from the fourth yere of the 83. Olympias vnto the 202. Olympias and second yeere of the same O∣lympias, and 18. yeare of Tyberius Cesar, (in which yeare Christ was crucified) are gathered 475. yeares, which doe make 490. yeares after the supputation of the Hebrewes and course of the Moone.* 1.5 Whoso listeth may reade this matter handled at large in Saint Hierome in his excellent Commen∣taries vppon the ninth of Daniel, where hee citeth the varia∣able opinions of Hippolitus,* 1.6 Tertullianus, Clemens, Affrica∣nus, Eusebius, and others; and seeing the difficultie to bee great, referreth the iudgement to the reader; although hee seeme indeede to preferre the opinion of Aff••icanus before the rest.

That this opinion of Affricanus is grounded in the true meaning of the prophecie of Daniel, I will prooue by sun∣drie [ 1] important reasons. First, because it agreeth verie fitlie, with the supputation of the Persians and Romain monar∣chie. [ 2] Secondly, because from the twentieth yere of Artaxerxes Longimanus vntill the passion of Christ, be iust 490. yeares according to the course of the Moone, or after the supputati∣on [ 3] of the Hebrewes. Thirdly, because no other opinion doth either iumpe with the death of Christ, or with the computati∣on [ 4] of the monarchies. Fourthly, because the prophet spea∣keth expressely of the death and passion of Christ Iesus. These

are the words; And after threescore and two weekes,* 1.7 shall Messiah be slaine: so then the true account of the weekes must so beginne, as they may end iust with the death of Christ: but so it is, that no account saue onely this of Affricanus which I preferre, doth or can agree with the death of Christ, ergo it and none but it, is consonant to the Prophets meaning. Fiftly the abridgement of the 70. weekes, whereof the Prophet [ 5] speaketh, can agree with no account but this alone.

The first obiection.

The supputation of the monarchie of the Persians and of the Romains doth farre exceede the number of 490. yeares, whereof the Prophet speaketh.

The answere.

I answere that from the twentieth yeare of Artaxerxes in∣clusiuè vntill the time of Christs sacred passion, we finde 475. yeares, neither more nor lesse, a few odde moneths excepted. This is the demonstration.

Artaxerxis.

20.

Darius Nothus.

19.

Mnemon.

40.

Ochus.

26.

Arsames.

4.

Arbelas.

6.

Alexander.

6.

Ptol. Lagus.

40.

Philadelphus.

38.

Euergetes.

26.

29.

Philopator.

17.

Epiphanes.

24.

Philometor

35.

Euergetes.

26.

29.

Phiscon.

17.

Alexander.

10.

Lathurus.

8.

Dionysius.

30.

Cleopatra.

22.

But two only thereof must be reckoned, because shee liued vntill the 15. yeare of Octauianus. Adde heereunto the reigne of the Romaines, thus.

Iulius Caesar.

5.

Octauianus.

56.

Tyberius.

17.

In the beginning of the 18. yeare of this Tiberius, was our sauiour Christ crucified.

The replie.

Your owne reckoning in this your answere, is farre different from the trueth: for 475. can neuer make 490. yeares, vnlesse ye will superadde 15. mo, as euery childe can tell.

The answere.

I aunswere that as you willingly acknowledge one trueth; so do ye vnwittingly erre about another trueth. For 475. yeres after the course of the Sunne, doe make 490. yeares abridged after the course of the Moone. Of which abridged yeares doth the prophet Daniel speake, as Aphricanus, Beda, and Mari∣nus Scotus, haue skilfully obserued. Yea, the Prophets expresse wordes will effectually make good this exposition. I prooue it out of the originall Hebrew text, which telleth vs that y^e weeks, whereof mention is made in Daniel, be not vsuall weekes, but weekes abridged:* 1.8 For 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Niphal signifieth cut off or a∣bridged, and the roote 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in kal whereof it descendeth, fig∣fieth aswel to cut off or abridge, as to determine: and therefore hath the olde Latine interpreter, well translated it in this ma∣ner; Septuaginta hebdomades abbreuiatae sunt super populum tuum. Seuentie weekes are abridged vppon thy people.

Loe, the weekes which the angell came to expound, are not to be vnderstoode of yeres after our vsuall supputation and course of the sunne, but of shorter yeres, after the course of the moone: for this respect significantly writeth Marianus in these words, Sed notandum est, quòd non simpliciter sed breuiter dixit compu∣tatas, id est, breuiores solitis annis: but wee must note that hee saide not, reckoned simply, but briefly, that is, shorter then the vsuall yeeres.

The second obiection.

Cleopatra raigned 22. yeeres, and so are there 20. yeeres in the monarchies, more then your account.

The answer.

I tolde you afore, that wee must reckon onely two yeeres in her raigne, the reason is euident, because she raigned vntill the 15. yeere of Octauianus; and so those 15. yeeres in Octauia∣nus Augustus, and 5. yeeres in Iulius Cesar, which concur∣red with the 20. yeeres of Cleopatra, must either be omitted in her or in them. For sith they doe concurre, they cannot be reckoned in both; and so they be omitted in either, it skilleth not in whether.

The third obiection.

The weekes take place from the going foorth of the com∣maundement to bring againe the people and to builde Ierusa∣lem; but this commandement was giuen euen in the first yeere of Darius.

The answer.

I answere, that the commaundement, by which the temple was wholly and totally accomplished, was giuen in the twen∣tieth yeere of Longimanus, as is already prooued: for then went Nehemias with his letters patents to Ierusalem, and built vp the gates and the walles thereof. And therefore it is precisely said in Daniel, that after 62. weekes, the street shall be built againe, and the wall; euen in a troublous time, as also that euen then shall the Messias be slaine.

The replie.

The Messiah was slaine in the last weeke of the seuentie, as you saide before, and not in your two and threescore weeke, as you now affirme.

The answer.

I say first, that it is not saide in the two and threescore week, but after threescore and two weekes: to which 62. wee must adioyne the 7. weekes spoken of afore, which added to 62. doe make 69. weekes, after which 69. weekes the Messias shalbe slaine, that is, in the end of the seuentieth weeke, and so euerie thing is cleare and plaine by this my exposition.

The supplement, for the exact vnderstanding of the se∣uentie weekes.

For the exact vnderstanding, howe 475. yeeres after the course of the sunne do make 490. yeeres after the course of the [ 1] moone; wee must obserue first, that the Hebrews did reckon the yere after the course of the moone, and so it was with them accomplished, in twelue lunarie moneths.

[ 2] We must obserue secondly, that the Romanes also did rec∣kon the yeere after the course of the moone, vntill the dayes of Iulius Cesar that famous emperour; who by the aduise of the skilfull Astronomer Sosigenes, about 45. yeres before Christs sacred incarnation, ordained the yeere to be reckoned and kept, according to the course of the sunne.

[ 3] We must obserue thirdly, that as that circle is called the yere of the sunne, in which the sunne doth accomplish it course, and consisteth of three hundred, threescore and fiue dayes, with some odde houres and minutes. And againe, as that cir∣cle is called the yeere of the moone, in which the moone doeth accomplish her course, as she doth almost euery fourth weeke: so was that circle called the yeere of Saturnus, of Iupiter, of Mercurie, and of the rest of the planets, which they accompli∣shed by returning to the same point; some within two yeres of the sunne, as Mars; some within twelue yeeres, as Iupiter; some within 30. yeeres, as Saturnus; and so in the remnant.

We must obserue fourthly, that albeit the Romaines with [ 4] all Europe, do this day reckon the yeere after the course of the sunne, yet do the Hebrews make their account after the course of the moone. By reason of which supputation, their yeeres lunarie are shorter then ours this day in Europe, by the num∣ber of eleuen dayes, with certaine odde houres, and minutes. And to haue some proportion with the course of the sunne, they vse to make embolismes and intercalation of one moneth euery third yeere, which moneth containeth three and thirtie dayes.* 1.9 Now these embolismes and intercalations being complete, do amount to fifteene lunary yeres: and if they be adioyned to the 475. yeeres, they wil make the iust number of the 70. weeks mentioned in Daniel, that is to wit, of the 490. lunarie yeres. Hereof this is a perspicuous demonstration.

If ye multiplie 475. yeeres of the sunne by 11. daies which are the surplussage in euery yeere of the moone, yee shall finde the totall summe to be 5225. dayes in this maner.

The summe to be multiplied,

475

The multiplier,

11

 

475

475

 

475

475

The summe amounting,

5225

Againe, if ye diuide the 5225. dayes by 30. you shall finde 174. moneths, and fiue dayes thus;

The number to be diuided,

5225 5 daies 174 moneths

The diuisor,

30

To these you must adde 87. daies, because the moone hath not aboue 29. daies, and the halfe of one day.

Thirdly, if ye will diuide the 174. moneths by 12. ye shal finde 14. yeeres and 6. moneths, thus;

The number to be diuided,

174 6. moneths. 14 yeeres

The diuisor,

12

* 1.10Now, these 6. moneths remaining, togither with the 92. dayes, od houres and minutes, wil suffice to make vp the 15. yeere that is wanting in the last diuision. So then, this sup∣putation is consonant to the yeeres of the monarkes, and to the iust record of the Olympiades of the Greekes, (which by vni∣forme consent of all learned writers are most certaine,) as also answerable to euery thing in Daniel, which no other supputa∣tion is able by any possibilitie to affoord. For it is without all controuersie, that the weekes of Daniel were ended in the 4. yeere of Tiberius Cesar, at which time Christ was crucified: from which yeere vntill the fourth yere of the 83. Olympiade, which was the twentieth yeere of Artaxerxes Longimanus, where I holde the 70. weekes of Daniel to beginne, be iust 475. yeeres after the course of the sunne, which make (as is already prooued) 490. yeeres after the course of the moone.

Notes

• * 1.1

  From the capti¦uitie to Christ. 490. yeares.
• * 1.2

  Accidentall va∣rietie in funda∣mentall agree∣ment.
• * 1.3

  ••ffr. in. 5. ••olum. temp.
• * 1.4

  ••••ntentia Affri∣••••ni.
• * 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 death of ••••rist.
• * 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 S. Hierome.
• * 1.7

  Dan. 9.26.
• * 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.9

  Intercalation euery third yere.
• * 1.10

  Let this be well noted.