A70035:147
The Scriptures harmony by E.F., Esq.
London: printed by Richard Cotes for William Hope, 1643
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The other reason is, because the Assertors of this opinion, when they come to particulars, do grossly rend in sunder all Histories, especially of the Persian Monarchy; and are forced to build on their own fancies. As, That Cyrus after he took Bahel, 1reigned but three years: Cambyses after his fathers death four: But Mr. More will have it that Cambyses reigned with his father six years, and one after his fathers death. Both alike true. For if Cyrus and Cambyses reigned so short a time, how could Cambyses, ⟨p. 28⟩the Prince of the Kingdom of Persia, withstand 2the building of the Temple 21. years, as the Scriptures affirm; and are so understood even by Mr. Broughton himself?3
The other reason is, because the Assertors of this opinion, when they come to particulars, doe grossely rend in sunder all Histories, especially of the Persian Monarchy; and are forced to build on their own phansies. As, That Cyrus after he took Bahel, 1reigned but three yeeres: Cambyses after his fathers death foure: But Mr. More will have it that Cambyses reigned with his father sixe yeeres, and one after his fathers death. Both alike true. For if Cyrus and Cambyses reigned so short a time, how could Cambyses, ⟨p. 28⟩the Prince of the Kingdome of Persia, withstand 2the building of the Temple 21. yeeres, as the Scriptures affirme; and are so understood even by Mr. Broughton himselfe?3
That Darius the son of Hystaspes (surnamed Ahasuerus) hindered the building of the Temple; who 1is generally acknowledged to be the finisher *thereof: and whose great favour and liberality unto the Jews is not only set forth in the Book of Esther, but also in profane histories. And though it be true, that in the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem: yet this accusation was so far from hindering the building of the Temple, that it procured from Darius, alias Ahasuerus, a Decree for the speedy finishing thereof.3
That Darius the sonne of Hystaspes (sirnamed Ahasuerus) hindered the building of the Temple; who 1is generally acknowledged to be the finisher *therof: and whose great favour and liberality unto the Jewes is not onely set forth in the Book ef Esther, but also in prophane histories. And though it be true, that in the beginning of the reigne of Ahasuerus they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Iudah and Ierusalem: yet this accusation was so farre from hindering the building of the Temple, that it procured from Darius, alias Ahasuerus, a Decree for the speedy finishing thereof.3
That Artaxerxes, mentioned in the seventh of Ezra, was the same Darius mentioned before in the 1sixth chapter, in whose reign the Temple was finished. But this cannot be. For Ezra ending his story of Darius in the sixth chapter begins his seventh thus: Now after these things in the reign of Artaxerxes King of Persia, &c. Which words show plainly that he spake of another King, and of things done long after Darius. Besides, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes, Ezra had Commission to set Magistrates 2and Judges over the people, which could not be the next year after the finishing of the Temple, unless we will suppose that Zerubbabel the Governor, and 3Jeshua the High-Priest, and the other Magistrates, did all die together on a sudden, as soon as the Temple was finished.
That Artaxerxes, mentioned in the seventh of Ezra, was the same Darius mentioned before in the 1sixth chapter, in whose reigne the Temple was finished. But this cannot be. For Ezra ending his story of Darius in the sixth chapter begins his seventh thus: Now after these things in the reigne of Artaxerxes King of Persia, &c. Which words shew plainly that he spake of another King, and of things done long after Darius. Besides, in the seventh yeere of Artaxerxes, Ezra had Commission to set Magistrates 2and Iudges over the people, which could not be the next yeere after the finishing of the Temple, unlesse we will suppose that Zerubbabel the Governour, and 3Ieshua the High-Priest, and the other Magistrates, did all die together on a sudden, as soon as the Temple was finished.
That Xerxes hindered the building of the Temple; 1That Artaxerxes Longimanus was brother to Xerxes; whom all Histories with one consent declare to be his son: That he reigned but 36. years: that Artaxerxes 2Mnemon reigned 11. years with his father, and 10. alone; and infinite such like absurdities.
That Xerxes hindered the building of the Temple; 1That Artaxerxes Longimanus was brother to Xerxes; whom all Histories with one consent declare to be his sonne: That he reigned but 36. yeeres: that Artaxerxes 2Mnemon reigned 11. yeeres with his father, and 10. alone; and infinite such like absurdities.
Neither can they excuse themselves, because of the diversity of Writers touching the time of these Kings. For the best and soundest Writers do not differ: and that which is, and hath from time to time been generally received, must be taken for truth. But 1these follow none at all, and cannot so much as find one purr-blind Author to countenance their inventions. And therefore they do cautiously omit the particular account of Daniels 70. weeks.
Neither can they excuse themselves, because of the diversity of Writers touching the time of these Kings. For the best and soundest Writers doe not differ: and that which is, and hath from time to time beene generally received, must be taken for truth. But 1these follow none at all, and cannot so much as find one pur-blind Author to countenance their inventions. And therefore they doe cautiously omit the particular accompt of Daniels 70. weeks.
An Object. But Mr. More tells us, that Daniels 70. weeks must needs begin at the very end of their 70. years captivity, 1or else the analogy of their 70. years captivity, and 7. times 70. years liberty, could not stand: and also the comfort were not so forcibly brought by the Angel, if there were any mean time between the end of their captivity, and the beginning of their liberty.
An Object. But Mr. More tels us, that Daniels 70. weeks must needs begin at the very end of their 70. yeeres captivity, 1or else the analogie of their 70. yeeres captivity, and 7. times 70. yeeres liberty, could not stand: and also the comfort were not so forcibly brought by the Angel, if there were any meane time betweene the end of their captivity, and the beginning of their liberty.
Resolved. To resolve this, we must know, that An analogy is a proportion, similitude, or resemblance, which one thing hath unto another. Now that any intervenient time can destroy an analogy, is a mere paradox. For in matter of proportion and similitude, neither time nor place are considerable. Between the Paschal 1Lamb in the first Passover, and the passion of Christ the Lamb of God, there was a true analogy: yet there interceded 1552. years. Between the ⟨p. 30⟩lifting up of the Serpent in the Wilderness, and the lifting up of the Son of man, there was a true 2analogy: yet there interceded 1512. years. Between Jonah his being three days and three nights 3in the Whales belly, and the Son of man his being three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, there was a true analogy: yet there interceded about 820. years. Between Christs suffering, and the signs now administered in the Lords supper, there is a true analogy: yet the time since He suffered is more then 1600. years. Therefore it is manifest, that the analogy between Judah's 70. years Captivity and Daniel's 70. weeks may well stand, though the weeks do not immediately begin in the end of the Captivity.
Resolved. To resolve this, we must know, that An analogy is a proportion, similitude, or resemblance, which one thing hath unto another. Now that any intervenient time can destroy an analogie, is a meere paradoxe. For in matter of proportion and similitude, neither time nor place are considerable. Betweene the Paschall 1Lamb in the first Passeover, and the passion of Christ the Lamb of God, there was a true analogy: yet there interceded 1552. yeeres. Betweene the ⟨p. 30⟩lifting up of the Serpent in the Wildernesse, and the lifting up of the Sonne of man, there was a true 2
Nor does any mean time between the Jews Captivity, and their liberty, diminish the comfort thereof more then the 46. years till the Israelites were peaceably possessed of the Land of Canaan, diminished their comfort of being freed from Egypt the house of bondage.
Nor does any meane time betweene the Jewes Captivity, and their liberty, diminish the comfort thereof more then the 46. yeeres till the Israelites were peaceably possessed of the Land of Canaan, diminished their comfort of being freed from Egypt the house of bondage.
FOR,
It is expressly declared unto Daniel, that from ⟨p. 31⟩1the going forth of the Commandment to restore, and to build Jerusalem, unto the Messiah, The Prince, shall be 7 weeks (so long it was before the Reformation could be fully perfected & Religion established) and 62 weeks (which make 69. weeks) and 2after 62. weeks, in the week following (which added to the said 69. maketh full 70. weeks) shall Messiah 3be cut off, and He shall confirm the Covenant, &c. Now accounting each day for a year (as the Scriptures do frequently) 70. weeks do amount unto 490 years.
It is expressely declared unto Daniel, that from ⟨p. 31⟩1the going forth of the Commandement to restore, and to build Jerusalem, unto the Messiah, The Prince, shall be 7 weeks (so long it was before the Reformation could be fully perfected & Religion established) and 62 weeks (which make 69. weeks) and 2after 62. weeks, in the week following (which added to the said 69. maketh full 70. weeks) shall Messiah 3be cut off, and He shall confirme the Covenant, &c. Now accompting each day for a yeere (as the Scriptures doe frequently) 70. weeks do amount unto 490 yeeres.
The full time from the Creation of Adam, unto the death and passion 1of our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST, is 4000 years and 10 days.
The full time from the Creation of Adam, unto the death and passion 1of our Lord and Saviour IESUS CHRIST, is 4000 yeeres and 10 dayes.
A particular proof of the times from the beginning of the Captivity of Babylon unto the death and passion of our blessed Saviour JESUS CHRIST, whereby the former computation, as also many places of the Scriptures, are cleared.
A particular proofe of the times from the beginning of the Captivity of Babylon unto the death and passion of our blessed Saviour IESUS CHRIST, whereby the former computation, as also many places of the Scriptures, are cleared.
Nebuchadnezzar reigned 45 years.1
Nebuchadnezzar reigned 45 yeeres.1
He began to reign in the end of the fourth year of Jehoiakim King of Judah.
He began to reigne in the end of the fourth yeere of Jehoiakim King of Judah.
