An exposition upon the thirteenth chapter of the Revelation by that reverend and eminent…

First,¹ it is a word of stay to the souls of Gods people: It serves to strengthen our faith, that the Lord is exact in his Prophetical expressions: Look what he speaks, though it be many a year or day before, he will not fail to bring it to accomplishment in his time. It is truly observed, if God tarry long, a thousand years with God is but as one day, till the appointed time come: But when his time is come, then one day with God is as a thousand years: God will as soon fail a thousand years, as one day: Indeed till his time be come, he thinks it not long, though it tarry 1260. years; but when it is come, then he will not fail one day. It is a memorable speech that in Exod. 12. 40, 41, 42. The sojourning of the children ⟨p. 95⟩of Egypt was four hundred and thirty years: And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the host of the Lord went out from the Land of Egypt: It is a night much to be observed, &c. He doth not say they dwelt there so long, but were sojourners there: And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the self same day, it came to pass that all the best of the Lord went out from the Land of Egypt; as if God would put some Emphasis upon it: The word in the Original is, in the bones of the day: It is an usual Hebraism, the strength of a thing they call the bones of it; that is, in the face of all the people, in the strength of the day, even when it was full day: God kept reckoning to a day; he will as well fail a thousand years as one day when his time is come; and till his time be come, we must think it long if he stay a thousand years: It must therefore strengthen our Faith, that God is the same God in the New Testament, as in the Old; that if we could know times as exactly as God knows them, we might write, in the bones of such a year and day, the bones of the Roman Catholic Church is broken, and lies bedrid; as it is foretold, Jezebel shall be cast into the bed of affliction, and all that commit adultery with her into great tribulation. Let it strengthen the faith of Gods people in every time; for if God be so exact in every circumstance, what time he sets, he will keep, then it may more strengthen us in substantial promises and threatenings: