The works of the pious and profoundly-learned Joseph Mede, B.D., sometime fellow of Christ's Colledge in Cambridge

CHAP. IV.

Mr. Mede's further clearing and vindication of some passages in the foregoing Paper; with some Observations concerning the 7. Thun∣ders contemporary with the 7. Trumpet, as also concerning that in Dan. 12. 7, 11, 12.—and that in Apocal. 11. 19. & chap. 15. 5, 8.

Retegat Deus oculos utriusque nostrûm, ut intue amur mirabilia ejus.

Mr. Wood,

I Received your last; doubt not but with like acceptance I did the former, which I not only keep, but use to read over 5 or 6 times at the least: and though I al∣ways assent not, yet I am always better'd by them, either to strengthen what I found weaker than I took it to be, or to learn to express my self with more caution and per∣spicuity than (as I perceived by their Objections) I had done; or oftentimes

they minister the occasion of some new Notion which before I thought not on.

But for answer to your last, I know not well how to deal; for that (unless I mis∣conceive you) all is grounded upon a mistake almost total of my meaning. It may be I have committed some fault in my expression, and I must therefore desire you to amend my defect therein with a second reading of that Letter, if it be worthy for you to take so much pains. In the mean time I suppose you mistake me in these particulars following.

• 1. First, You suppose that I oppose the Temple (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) to the Courts: whereas I oppose the Courts one to the other, viz. the Inner Court (wherein the Temple and the Altar stood, and where the Priests and Levites only worshipped) to the Outer Court, whither every body came.
• 2. You suppose that in my Interpretation I oppose the Invisible or latent Church to the Visible and apparent: whereas I oppose the Primitive Visible Church, which was pure, to the After-Visible Church, which was corrupt. For both the Courts, both Inner and Outer, were sub dio, open and uncovered, and therefore both signifie A Pa∣tent and Open Church, that is a Visible one.
• 3. You suppose (if I understand you) that when I say Measured Church, I mean Actively, as though the Angel continually were measuring the Church during the Six Seals: whereas I mean Passively, that the Church during that time was measured, that is pure, conformable and keeping measure, even in the Outward Visible Form, which afterward it did not.
• 4. You suppose I make the Temple with its Courts a Type of the whole body of the Church partly Visible, partly Invisible at the same time: whereas I mean of the Vi∣sible Church only, and that considered as Successive according to the diverse times thereof.

Concerning the rest of your Letter, I have no time to answer as I would; only in brief I say thus much.

• 1. That concerning the Thunders of the seventh Seal, seventh Trumpet and seventh Vial, I cannot yet conceive your meaning. For I acknowledge no other Seventh Seal but the Seven Trumpets; and cannot understand how any thing of the Seventh Vial should concern the present times, since you make all the Vials yet to come: nor how any thing of the opening of the Seventh Seal should concern the times which are now, seeing the greater part of the Seventh Seal (viz. six Trumpets thereof) is already past. Indeed the seven Thunders after the sixth Trumpet may be, if not present, yet very near, if we could understand them.
• 2. Concerning the Time, Times and half a Time, and the 1290 and 1335 days, in the twelfth of Daniel, I labour not to reconcile them; because I suppose they are diverse Times, and of diverse Subjects, and of a diverse beginning and ending. Namely the Time, Times and half a Time are of the Tyranny of the little Horn with eyes and a mouth speaking great things, &c. Dan. 7. 20, 25. at the expiring of whose blasphemous Tyranny, the scattering of the Holy people, and the great Mystery shall be finished (Dan. 12. 17.) But the 1290 and 1335 days are the times of sealing and closing up of the knowledge of these Wonders, to be at length disclosed and revealed at the expiration of* 1.1 these times.
• 3. I cannot yet conceive how the Opening of the Temple in the Seventh Trumpet (Apocal. 11. 19.) makes any thing for proof of the Contemporation of the Two Courts, or for the understanding what is meant by measuring or unmeasuring them. For our Question (N. B.) is about Courts, and not the Temple, howsoever the Angel describes the Inner Court by the Temple, Altar and Priests-worshippers therein, which are the Contents thereof. But this Opening of the Temple at the Seventh Trumpet, that the Ark of the Testimony might be seen, should I think rather be compared (as a Synchronistical Character) with the 5. verse of the 15. Chap. where in the end of the General de∣scription of the Vials, as a consequent of their pouring out, it is said that the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony was opened. And verse 8. in the entrance of the Parti∣cular description of the Vials (N. B.) begun in the former verse, it is answerably said, that the Temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power, and no man was able to enter into the Temple till the seven Plagues of the seven Angels were fulfilled: as if then this smoke or cloud should be removed, and the Temple thereby become open to be seen and entred into. Which should come to pass at the blast of the Se∣venth Trumpet.

In all which there seems to be an Allusion to Solomon's feast of Seven days dedication of the Temple (2 Chron. 7. 8.) during which the Cloud of the glory of the Lord filled the

Temple, (not the* 1.2 Courts) so that the Priests could not stand to minister by reason of the Cloud, 2 Chron. 5. 13. nor enter thereinto, chap. 7. 1, 2. So that the pour∣ing out of the seven Vials may seem as it were a Dedication of the Church of Christ, after it had been so long prophaned by Antichrist; till the finishing of which Dedication the Nation of Priests or Priestly nation of Israel cannot enter, nor the Ark of the Testimony be revealed unto them. Consider Exod. 40. vers. 36 & 37. Consider also what happened there at the Dedication of the Tabernacle, vers. 34, 35.

Thus with my prayers, and best remembrance to your self—I rest and am

Your assured friend, Ioseph Mede.

Christ's-Coll. Iuly 12. 1624.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of the begin∣ning and end∣ing of these days, see the Author's ela∣borate Dis∣course toward the end of this Third Book, De Numeris Danielis, &c.
• * 1.2

  For Solomon prayed before the Altar at that time, and bles∣sed the Congre∣gation which stood in the outward Court 2 Chron. c. 6. v. 12, & 3. and they sacrificed that day and all the time of the Feast, viz. in the Courts, though the Priests could not enter the Covered Tem∣ple for the glo∣ry of the Lord which filled it.