Page 1
POSITIONS Containing a Full Account of a Scripture-Line of Time, in the whole, and from Joynt to Joynt; together with a Judgment according to Scripture Prophecy on the present Turkish Affairs.
I Here present, in as much plainness, and shortness as I could contrive it into, this Scripture Line of Time, upon these Great Considerations. 1. There is not a Greater or more sensible Argument for the Being of God, than his declaring the course of Times, and their Events before-hand, in so even and settled a Continuation, nor more Enforcive of practical Piety, then when we see Times are not hidden from the Almighty. 2. There is no stronger Conviction of the whole Antichristian Imposture, than that Table of Time Scripture hath given of his so long Domination, and Tyranny and Ruine at last, and especially when now so near. 3. There cannot be a more seasonable kind of Instruction for the present Time, in which we are so near so won∣derful'd chan•••• of the World, as within Ten years of the Proclamation of Christ's Kingdom, n•••• in a Seditious or Rebellious way; but the most Heavenly, Orderly and Regular, by Princes and Sovereigns themselves; That therefore we may, (as the children of Issachar, comming to make David King at Hebron, judiciously, and as knowing the Times, and what Israel ought to do,) so prepare our selves for the Kingdom of the Root of David, the Bright Morning-Star, and may not as the Pharisees be charg'd with Hypocrisy for not discerning the Signs of the Times; I present this short Table of Times, to become as familiar to every one, as the most known principles in these following Positions.
THere is a Line of Time drawn by Scripture from that Point, It calls, The Beginning, [Posit. 1] (Genes. 1.1.) to that Point, It calls The End, (Dan. 12. ult. and oft elsewhere.)
This Line of Time is not drawn in one, entire, continued Line of 5000 or 6000 [Posit. 2] years at length, and together, but in several Parcel Lines, and those of unequal length.
This Line is not drawn industriously, or in a Formal show of such a Line; But it is with Di∣vine [Posit. 3] Art occasionally Extended, and Applied to the things measur'd by its parcel Lines, and so in Longer or Shorter of those Parcel Lines according to those occasions.
The Joynts of those Parcel Lines are such, as lye most visibly close One to Another, and have [Posit. 4] least need of Conjecture, or Inference to Derive, or Assure the Connexion of each Parcel Line with the Precedent, or subsequent Parcel Lines.
The Beginning and End of this Line are Two Points, that bound the Intermedious Space. [Posit. 5]
The first Point is that First, and Perfect Sabbatism of the World, at the First Inviolate Crea∣ation; [Posit. 6] which was its Stasis, or the First State given it by God; And It is inclusive of the space to that Grand Oracle [The Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents Head] Within which Space the first Parents Fell, and in them their Posterity; But what Space that was, Scripture hath thought fit to conceal, as to any positive definition of it, viz. when our First Parents Fell.
The last Point is, That Sabatism of the Creation Restor'd, or made New, sacred Scripture styles the [Posit. 7] Apocatastasis, or the Restitution of All things in counter distinction to its Fore-nam'd State, and the Fall