were to happen, which are the only compleat Interpreters of Prophecy, According to St. e Peter's Obfervation, That no Prophecy of th, 2 Pet. i. 20. ch. xii. 9, 10. If therefore that Time of the End is not already Dan.xii. 9. come, it is in vain to attempt any Explanation of the Periods mentioned in this Chapter of Daniel, for the Words are closed up, and fealed, till the Time of the End. "But when that Time comes "Many shall be Purifyed and made White, and Tryed, but the Wicked shall do Wickedly, "and none of the Wicked shall Understand, but "the Wife shall Understand:" So that as certainly as the Prophecy ought to be obfcure till that Time, it ought to be plain after it is come, to those who are meant by the Wife. And if it can be fhewn what thofe Events are which the Prophecy referrs to, and that they are already happened, in order as they are described by Daniel, and Explained by St. John: Then it must be confeffed, that the Time is come, and that those those who will not understand are Wicked, that is, engaged in intereft to Oppofe the Truth, and will deferve to have that applyed to them which our Saviour, on a like occafion, fays of the PhaMat. xvi. 3. rifees, O ye Hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the Sky, but can ye not difcern the Signs of the Times. 2 Tim. iii. V. 15. By which charge of Hypocrifie, our Saviour did not mean, that the Pharifees knew him, and yet denyed him against their Conscience; for he obferves, That they did not difcern the Times, that is, did not know him, and yet this was an Hypocrifie, tho' they were not sensible of it; for their Power and Advantage blinded them fo, that they deceived themselves, and oppofed his Doctrine out of Hypocrifie or guilty Prejudice. The Application of this to Daniel's Diftinction, will not be difficult, when it comes to be fhewn, that it relates to a Time when the World was to be divided into Two great Contending Parties, One of which would adhere to the Scriptures, and therefore are called Wife unto Salvation, and the other Party would adhere to that Cause which is fupported by human Policy, holding Mens Jude 16, Perfons in Admiration because of Advantage; and II. is therefore called in Zachariah by the diftinguish- Zach v. ing name of Wickedness, that had a House, built 8. it in the Land of Shinar; which Daniel informs Dan.I, 2. us was at Babylon, and which agrees with the Rev. XII Woman in the Wilderness, and the Babylon in St. xvii.. John. Now to make these things plainer by a particular Enquiry, I fhall compare several Paffages of Scripture with one another, and with the Remarkable Events in Hiftory, and submit it to the Reader, Whether the ftudy of Scripture Prophecy deferves the Neglect or Prejudice it generally meets with in the World; or, Whether it is not far more reasonable, as well as more becoming Chriftians in Profeflion, to follow St. John's Advice. "Blessed is he that Readeth, and they that "Hear the Words of this Prophecy, and keep "these Things which are Written therein. And again, "Blessed is he that keepeth the Sayings "of the Prophecy of this Book." B And 6. 14. Rev. I 3. ch. xxii. 7. 18. 19. And he enforces it with thefe Solemn Threatnings. "For I testify unto every Man that heareth "the Words of the Prophecy of this Book, If c any Man shall add unto these Things, God' “shall add unto him the Plagues that are written "in this Book. "And if any Man fhall take away from the "Words of the Book of this Prophecy, God "fhall take away his Part out of the Book of "Life, and out of the Holy City, and from the "things which are written in this Book. A N ESSAY On the Three Periods in the 12th Chapter of the Prophet Daniel, contained in thefe Words, "A ND I heard the Man Cloathed in Linnen which was upon the Waters of the "River, when he held up his Right Hand and “his Left Hand unto Heaven, and Sware by Him "that liveth forever, That it fhall be for a Time, "Times and a half; and when He fhall have "accomplished to fcatter the Power of the Holy People, all these things fhall be finished. "And I heard, but I Understood not, then faid "I, O My Lord, what fhall be the End of thefe "Things? "And he faid, Go thy way Daniel, for the Words are Clofed up, and Sealed till the Time "of the End, many shall be Purifyed and made White, B 3 Dan XH 7.8.9. 10. 11. 12. 1-3. 9. |