Secondly, The prophesies of the New Testament, are like those of Daniel in the Old; shut and sealed up, till the Time of the fulfilling; according to that of Saint Augustine; Prophetias impleri citius quam intelligi; that prophesies are fulfilled before they are understood; agreeing with that (Rev. 1.3.) blessed is he that reads and understands, for the time is at hand; 'Tis the speech of Irenaeus (a)All prophesies before they are fulfilled, are riddles unto men; but as soon as the time is come, and the thing prophesied is come to pass, they have a clear and certain exposition, our apprehension conceives no ⟨p. 109⟩further then our experience reacheth unto. That old Adage, Veritas est temporis filia, truth is the daughter of time, hath its place here, and in this sense, the day shall declare it; and therefore Andraeas Caesariensis, in his Commentary upon the Revelation, speaking of Babylon, and who should be meant by it, though he had his suspicions, as living near the time of the revealing of it; yet suspended his direct application, only saying that the(b) accurate knowledge of the person, time, and experience will reveal it to the diligent observers. What our Saviour said of John the Baptist, for his knowledge of some mysteries foretold in the old Testament, and living after the Prophets, That he was greater then they, and the least of the Ministers ⟨p. 110⟩of the Gospel by surviving him, to be greater then he; so is it in this sense appliable, to the after ages of the Fathers, who lived to see the fulfilling, what is foretold of this subject by Saint Paul in the Thessalonians, and Saint John in the Revelations; Which is according to the judgement of Bishop Andrews in his Tortura Torti, page 186. where having fully applied that of Revel. 17. & 18. to the See of Rome, he adds this(c) But it is no wonder, those things which I have said, have not so clear or certain an interpretation in the writings of the Fathers; for it was then a mystery of iniquity; which wrought, the book of this prophecy ⟨p. 111⟩was as yet sealed up; And it is a most true speech, every prophecy is a riddle, while 'tis not fulfilled.
Secondly, The prophesies of the New Testament, are like those of Daniel in the Old; shut and sealed up, till the Time of the fulfilling; according to that of Saint Augustine; Prophetias impleri citius quam intelligi; that prophesies are fulfilled before they are understood; agreeing with that (Rev. 1.3.) blessed is he that reads and understands, for the time is at hand; 'Tis the speech of Irenaeus (a)All prophesies before they are fulfilled, are riddles unto men; but as soon as the time is come, and the thing prophesied is come to passe, they have a clear and certain exposition, our apprehension conceives no ⟨p. 109⟩further then our experience reacheth unto. That old Adage, Veritas est temporis filia, truth is the daughter of time, hath its place here, and in this sense, the day shall declare it; and therefore Andraeas Caesariensis, in his Commentary upon the Revelation, speaking of Babylon, and who should be meant by it, though he had his suspitions, as living near the time of the revealing of it; yet suspended his direct application, only saying that the(b) accurate knowledge of the person, time, and experience will reveale it to the diligent observers. What our Saviour said of John the Baptist, for his knowledge of some mysteries foretold in the old Testament, and living after the Prophets, That he was greater then they, and the least of the Ministers ⟨p. 110⟩of the Gospel by surviving him, to be greater then he; so is it in this sense appliable, to the afterages of the Fathers, who lived to see the fulfilling, what is foretold of this subject by Saint Paul in the Thessalonians, and Saint John in the Revelations; Which is according to the judgement of Bishop Andrews in his Tortura Torti, page 186. where having fully applyed that of Revel. 17. & 18. to the See of Rome, he addes this(c) But it is no wonder, those things which I have said, have not so clear or certain an interpretation in the writings of the Fathers; for it was then a mystery of iniquity; which wrought, the book of this prophesie ⟨p. 111⟩was as yet sealed up; And it is a most true speech, every prophesie is a riddle, while 'tis not fulfilled.
- (a)Omnes prophetiae priusquam habent efficaciam, aenigmata sunt hominibus, sed cum venerit tempus, & evene•it quod prophetat•m est, habent • quidam d•• c••rtam ex••si•• […] &c.Omnes prophetiae priusquam habent efficaciam, aenigmata sunt hominibus, sed cum venerit tempus, & evene•it quod prophetat•m est, habent • quidam d•• c••rtam ex••si•• 〈…〉 &c.
- (b)Accuratam calculi notitiam, tempus & experientia revelabit vigilantibus.
- (c)Minimè verò mirum, si ista quae dixi tam vel claram, vel certam in scriptis patrum interpraetationem non habeant: Operabatur enim modò mysterium tum iniquitatis. Signatus adhuc liber erat hujus prophetiae. Verissimum autem verbum est, aenigma esse prophetiam omnem, cùm nondum completa est, ut quamvis prisci illi omni genere Charismatum, vitae verò sanctimonia longo nos intervallo supererarint, mirari tam•n non debeat quis, si illis tùm non adeo explicata omnia suerint quam nobis per gratiam Dei jam sunt, quiconsummatam jam prophetiam illam quotidiè oculis usurpamus. pag. 186.
