A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament

APOCRYPHA CHAP. I.

REmarks in General: First, are

First, Malachi knew that after him no Prophet should arise, until the Days of John the Baptist (as is aforesaid) therefore he shuts up his Prophecy with a most solemn Exhortation to the Jews, that from henceforth after his Departure, and in the Departure of the Spirit of Prophecy with him also: They must read and remember the Law of Moses, and with it the Prophets, those Interpreters of the Law, and excellent Commentators thereupon, Mal. 4.4. Buxtorf observeth, that a great Zain is put in the Hebrew Word [Zakor] Remember, to intimate the necessity and excellency of this Duty of minding Moses Law, &c. during the Deficiency of Prophecy, while there was no more any Prophet among them, &c. Psalm 74.9. from which Expression there, some do conclude, that this Psalm was penned after the Captivity, for there was then [Cathimath Chazon] a Sealing up of Prophecy, as Dan. 8.26. and 12.4, 9. and though this sealing up and ceasing of that Spirit of Prophecy continued for some hundreds of Years, yet at their Expiration, Malachi tells them, God will send them one as great as Elijah, to prepare the way for the blessed Messiah, Mal. 4.5. He saith not the same in Person, as the Jews and Romanists fondly Fable in favor of such Mistakes as they have adopted; the one, that Jesus (who was crucified ) was not the Christ; and the other, that the Pope is not the Antichrist; because Elias the Thisbite is not yet come: But the Angel of God better Interprets Malachi 's meaning, Luke 1.15, 16, 17. and so doth the Angel of the Covenant the Lord of Angels, Matth. 11.10, 11, 12, 13. and 17.9, 10, 11, 12, 13. though John denied himself to be a Prophet in their Sence, John 1.21. yet doth not that contradict this, for Christ calls him one greater than a Prophet, Matth. 11.9. and the Evangelist Mark begins his Gospel with these very Words of Malachi.

Remark the Second, In General. The Books called Apocrypha (which were written after Malachi 's Death, and after the departure of the Spirit of Prophecy ) were never received among the Canonical Books, by the Antient Jewish Church, to whom the Oracles of God were betrusted, Rom. 3.2. the Authentic Catalogue, whereof was collected by Ezra ( whom some suppose to be Malachi as above) either alone, or with the Assistance of other Prophets who lived in his Time; and as neither Christ, nor any of his Holy Apostles condemn anywhere the unfaithfulness of the Jewish Church, in corrupting the Canon, so nor do they honor the Apocrypha with one Quotation out of it. N. B. The Synodicum set forth by Pappus tells us this Story, that the Council of Nice made a miraculous Mound betwixt the Apocryphal and the Canonical Scriptures, setting them altogether a little below the Holy Table, and earnestly prayed to the Lord, that those Books of Scripture, which were of Divine Inspiration might be found above, but those that were of a spurious Extract might be left below; and this (saith Gregory ) God granted them graciously, for a distinguishing sign between them. N. B. We are commanded by the two great Apostles to give no heed to Jewish Fables, 1 Tim. 1.4. and 4.7. and 2 Tim. 4.4. and Tit. 1.14. and again 2 Pet. 1.16. such as the History of Susanna, and of Bell and the Dragon both additionals to the Book of Daniel, and both which Jerome confidently condemns for a couple of Jewish Fables, and no better a Character can be given of the History of Judeth, whereof Josephus (the Jewish Historian, and an exact Searcher of the Hebrew History, and the Antiquities of that Church ) maketh not the least mention of. N. B. Luther boldly affirmeth, that those Books of Judeth, Tobit, &c. were at the first but Plays or Comedies acted as Stage plays, and then converted into Histories afterward: The best Title I find given them is, that they might be sacred Poems, &c. and though Ecclesiasticus be the best undoubtedly of all the other Apocryphal Books for a Moral Discourse, about the avoiding of Vice, and the pursuing of Virtue, &c. yet therein is found a minture of many Matters (saith Diodate ) contrary to Canonical Scripture, and too low for the Majesty of God's Spirit: Nor is it at all Historical, and therefore improper for our present purpose, in relating the History of the Jews.

Remark the Third, In General, though both the Books of the Maccabees be an Historical Narrative of the State of the Jews in this Interval, betwixt Malachi and John the Baptist, yet was it not written by infallible Inspiration, seeing then was a Cessation of Prophecy, &c. and though the subject of the first Book be very profitable and necessary for the understanding of Daniel 's Prophecy, &c. yet seeing it cannot be made manifest, that the Author of it was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , inspired of God, therefore could it never be accounted Canonical, having only the Greek-Translation, and not any Hebrew Original: Much less hath the second Book of Maccabees found Reception in the Church of Christ. Because First, In the beginning of that second Book we have a strange Story, how the Holy Fire (that first came down from Heaven ) was found hid in the Earth after the Captivity, and of the Altar, Ark, and Tabernacle, all hidden by Jeremiah. Secondly, The other Part of that second Book (which begins at Chap. 2. ver. 20.) besides the Description of the Death of Antiochus, Chap. 3. is very much differing from that in the first Book, Chap. 6. there is likewise the commending of Rhasis for murthering himself, Chap. 14.41, to 46 which Act of self-murder, the Doctrine of the sixth Commandment, and of all Canonical Scripture is quite contrary unto, and therefore all Learned Divines, look upon it as a Fact rather to be pitied than defended. And Thirdly, The false Judgment that Author gives concerning Judas Maccabeus, his Sacrifices and Prayers for those of his Army that had been slain in Battle, for the Expiation of their Sins, to turn away God's Wrath from the surviving Remnant of it, as if that had been done for the Benefit of those who were dead for their Sins also, Chap. 12.44, 45. whereas the Holy Scripture giveth no Ground nor Approbation for using any Sacrifices or Prayers for the Dead; and 'tis contrary to the Custom of the Jews at this Day to do so. Moreover Joseph ben Gorion (who wrote these Matters in Hebrew, and out of whose writings this Author took his Abridgement ) maketh no mention of this Prayer for the Dead, Lib. 3. Chap. 19. nor, supposing Judas did so, is this particular Example sufficient to establish a Doctrine, no more than Zipporah 's was to prove, that Woman might administer Sacraments, Exod. 4.25. or the single Example of Rhasis, that one may lawfully kill himself.

N. B. 1. It follows then, these Apocryphal Books were upon good grounds not received by the Church among those that were accounted Canonical, and plainly of Divine Inspiration, because most of them are justly suspected to be stuffed with vain Jewish Fables, and not penned in a style any way agreeable with the Majesty of God's Holy Spirit, but far off from bearing the Character of those Scriptures divinely inspired: Therefore the Author of this second Book of Maccabees not being inspired of God, acknowledges his own Infirmity and desires Pardon for what he had done amiss, Chap. 15.39.

N. B. 2. Though the Apocrypha cannot prove any Point of the Christian Religion, save so far as they consent with the Canonical to confirm the same, or rather, whereon they are grounded; yet may they be read as the Works of Godly Men, for the Instruction of Godly Manners, as also for advancing our Knowledge of the History of the Jews; in which Books is declared, that God at all Times had a special Care of his Church, never leaving her utterly destitute of means to confirm her in the Faith and Hope of the promised Messiah; as likewise they declare the fulfilling of foretold Threatenings by the Prophets for her Exercise, and for the Destruction of her Enemies.

Remark the Fourth in General. Beside these Apocryphal Additions to the Canonical Scriptures, Josephus the Jew is looked upon by the Learned as the best of Hebrew Historians, and the most curious Searcher of the Jewish Antiquities, yet not without his foul Faults, as hath been occasionally observed all along in this History of the Scriptures; and therefore the Romanists (especially Barclay by Name) are justly blame-worthy for saving that the loss of the Holy Bible would be the lesser loss; so Jofephus's Antiquities were but carefully preserved, because the whole History of the Old and New Testament may be supplied out of that Josephus the Jew. 'It is true, Jerome calls Josephus the Greek Livy for the excellency of his History, and reckons him in the Catalogue of the Ecclesiastical Authors, because not only he was so kind to the Christians, though' himself was a Jew; but also and more especially, because he speaks so Highly and Honourably of Christ himself in Lib. 18 of his Antiquities, therefore Jerome listed up his Name among the Writers of Ecclesiastical History, saith Sixtus Senensis, Bibl. lib. 4. He was certainly most Learned of all the Jews in his Time, both in Greek and Hebrew, saith Fuller Miscel. lib. 2. cap. 3. and so say Spanhemius Dub. Evang. par. 2. Dub. 2. and Vossius de Histor. Graec. lib. 2. cap. 8. and Bodinus Method. Hist. &c. but above all, Cuneus's Character of him is most observable, saying, He is an Author worthy of all Praise, and who (next to the Holy Scriptures) deserveth best (of all other Authors) to be believed: And though' he excels all others in Gravity, yet he is not found altogether free from the Dotages of his Jewish Nation-Cuneus de Repub. Hebr. lib. 3. cap. 2, &c. Josephus is taxed for this fault by Luther, Gen. 34. by Rivet on Exod. 2. and by Chamter, &c. that writing the Antiquities of his Nation (with a design to have them published) he describes them, as Stately as he could; and when he thought the Simplicity of the Scripture did not sufficiently set off the commendaetion of Matters done among the Hebrews, he then indented and added many Matters of himself: Therefore ought he to be Read with a great deal of Christian Care and Prudence. N. B. There was another Jew of later Times, who out of True Josephus wrote an Hebrew History under the False Name of Joseph Ben-Gorion (above-named) Translating Josephus out of Greek into Hebrew. By this latter Mock-Joseph many of the Jews were deceived, taking him for the True one, because both were Priests, Learned and Noble, &c. Geneb. Chronol. lib. 2. cap. 4.

Remark the Fifth in General. Tho' both the Apocrypha and Josephus (as we have seen) be but uncertain Guides to Conduct us through the Wilderness of this History of the Jews in this interspace of time when the Spirit of Prophecy was ceased from Recording the Memorials thereof, yet have we a more sure word of Prophecy, as 'tis said 2 Pet. 1.21. &c. even somewhat in the Old Testament which was of Divine Infallible Inspiration; to wit, the Book of Daniel; who writes an History (as well as a Prophecy ) of what assuredly came to pass.

Mark 1. As First; Daniel saw the Vision of the four Monarchies (called the four Mettal Kingdoms in Nebuchadnezzar's Dream, Dan. 2.) which troubled the World, but especially the Church in the World, from the first Rising of Nebuchadnezzar (that Golden Head ) until the Coming of the Everlasting Kingdom of Christ in the Gospel. N. B. Notewel, Dan. the 7th. which Prophecy is as a General Map of all the whole World; his following Prophecies are as particular Tables of several Countries therein: So in Ch. the 8th. he had his Vision of the Persian Ram with a Golden Fleece and full of Flesh, but Conquer'd by the Grecian Goat; this introduceth some particular Passages relating to the History of the Jews: Nehemiah had mentioned Jaduah or Jaddus, Neh. 12.22. who was the very High Priest of the Jews, that met this Capering Goat Alexander the Great, (who was coming with an intent to Plunder Jerusalem ) in his way to War with the Ram; but Jaddus meeting him in his Priestly Vestments (for Glory and Beauty, Exod. 28.2.) did so Dazle him, that his Fury melted into a strange Veneration, more especially when Jaddus shown him this Prophecy of Daniel, that he should certainly Conquer Darius the Ram. Alexander hereby was much encouraged in his Enterprize, and not only offered Sacrifice to the True God, according to the High Priest's Direction, but also granted much freedom and many favors to the Jews, yea whatever they demanded of him, Josephus's Antiquities, lib. 11. cap. 8. N. B. This 8th. Chapter of Daniel is a Notable Abridgment of all Great Alexander's Victories (wherein his Pacification toward the Jews while he Warred against all the World, are Included ) and looks more like an History than a Prophecy.

Mark 2. Daniel Prophetically declareth the History of the Jews distinctly after the Death of Great Alexander (who was the Great Horn, and broken by a Fever in the flower of his Youth, which his Surfeiting and Drunkenness cast him into, Dan. 8.8.) under a little Horn which sprang up out of one of the four Potent Successors of Alexander, ver. 9. This was Antiochus Sirnamed Epiphanes, Illustrious, but Polybius call him Epimanes the Mad-man, descended from Seleucus (who succeeded Alexander in Syria, one of his four Notable Captains ) and is called a Little Horn because 1. He was much less than Alexander, (called the Notable and Great Horn, ver. 5, 8.) 2. Little, because the youngest of his Brethren, having nothing of Grandeur at the first, save only born a Prince, but without a Kingdom till he came to be an Usurper. 3. Little, because being of a low Fortune, he was sent a Pledge and Hostage to Rome by his Father Antiochus Magnus, (whom the Romans had Cudgel'd into a Complyance about the best part of his Kingdom of Syria. ) And Little 4. because after his Father's Death he made his escape from Rome and seized upon the Crown of Syria, Deposing Demetrius his Nephew and the Right Heir; after this he grew from Little to Great, yea greater and greater, by pretending to be Protector to his young Nephew Ptolomeus Philometor, he got into his hands the Kingdom of Egypt, from which Crown when the Romans forced him, he returned with great Rage to pour forth his Revenge upon the poor Jews (who were less able than the Romans to Resist him) and in plain terms, He played the Devil amongst them, ver. 10, 11, 12, &c. N. B▪ Wherein this Epiphanes, Famous (as his flatterers still'd him, but rather Epimanes Infamous, a Vile Person, as the Angel named him, Dan. 11.21.) Acted the part of a Mad-man in three cases; First, In casting down some of the Stars of Heaven to the ground, ver. 10. that is, those Godly Priests and Princes of the Jews, called Stars, because they shone in their Sphere of God's Church Militant, Worshipping the God of Heaven, whose Names were writ in Heaven as so many Citizens thereof. Secondly, He did not only cast them down, but he also trampl'd upon them, and stamped them under his Feet, ver. 10. these he profaned, and cruelly Murder'd them. Such Shining Stars as these ( Rev. 1.10.) Persecutors spite in all Ages is specially against, Zech. 13.7. Thirdly, He magnify'd himself in an Hostile manner against the Messiah, (who was Lord of the Temple and the Captain of the Jews Sufferings and Salvation, Heb. 2.10.) in taking all his Worship out of his Temple, yea and Christ too (as it were) he cast out of his place, setting up in his room Jupiter Olympus, an Image of the Devil, v. 11, 12. and burnt the Books of the Law, 1 Macc. 1. 47, 59. N. B. How long this loss of the Daily Sacrifice and those sad Desolations should last, was likewise declared to Daniel by the Palmony Hamadabber, or Excellent Numberer, the Man or Messiah, ver. 13, 14, 15, 16, &c. The Term told him was for 2300 Days, that is, for six Years, three Months, and twenty Days. Reckoning 365 Days to a Year, and adding the two Days of the the two Leap-Years therein to it, this was not full seven Years from the beginning of Antiochus 's Prophaning the Priesthood and Temple unto his Death that the Jews did suffer under him, much less was it Seventy Years, as formerly they had suffered in Babylon; which must needs be a Comfort to the Church of the Jews, when Daniel declared it from Christ to them. How this Phophecy was fulfilled, see 1 Maccab. 1.12, 13, 14. and 4.52. and 2 Maccab. 4.12. This Vile Person Acted Vilely from first to last, and such an Hell-hound was hardly heard of.

Mark 3. Daniel in his 9th. Chapter receiveth a Prediction of what should befall the Jews from the Time of their Deliverance from Captivity until the Death of Christ, Chap. 9.24, 25, 26, 27. namely Seventy Weeks, or Seventy times seven Years, or four Hundred and Ninety Years from Cyrus's Proclamation to the Death of Christ. This Interspace the Angel divideth into three Unequal Parts; the first is Seven Sevens, or Forty nine Years, to the finishing of Jerusalem's Walls, &c. The second is, the Sixty two Sevens, or four Hundred Thirty four Years, from that time till the last Seven; the Events of which are mentioned ver. 26. The third is the last Seven in the latter part (saith Dr. Lightfoot ) Christ Preached; 26. The third is the last Seven in the latter part (saith Dr. Lightfoot ) Christ Preached; to wit, three Years and an half, and then was Crucified, &c. So that from the Decree of Cyrus to the Death of the Messias, 'twas just 490 Years. N.B. I have consulted various Authors about this Term of Time; as Alsted's Encuclop. pa. 2974. and Dr. Willet on Daniel, pag. 284. where he saith, Daniel having had a Revelation of Christ, who is called the Stone cut out of the Mountain without the hands of any Human Help, Dan. 2. Chap. and of the Son of Man's coming in the Clouds, Chap. 7. pag. 283. therefore was he the more Inquisitive about the Times of Christ, &c. as likewise Pemble, pag. in folio 353. and many other Antient and Modern Authors. N.B. Many great Wits have been exercised about this Noble Prophecy: Cornelius A Lapide speaks of one Learned Gentleman who run out of his Wits after many Years study upon it. I find the Doctors are much divided about the beginning and ending of these Seventy Weeks; 'tis most probable they began at the outgoing of Cyrus's Decree, Dan. 9.25. and ended at Christ's Death, though' some say at the Destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans under Titus Vespatian; but 'tis better to Compute it as Above, than to Dispute it without End. N. B. However, sure I am, it may well be observed, That the Jews after their Seventy Years Captivity, have Seven Seventies of Years granted them, wherein they enjoyed their own Countries; showing him how God's Mercies bear the same proportion to his punishing Judgments, which Seven (a complete Number) beareth to an Unit or One; for their Seventy Years Bondage in Babylon was Recompenc'd by the Lord with Seven Seventies of Inlargement in their own Land, beside that Mercy of Mercies here promised them, even the Grace of the Messiah, who in the last Seven Years of the Seventy confirmed the Convenant with many Elect Gentiles, ver. 27. N. B. But the Jews did so Degenerate and were so Infatuated into such a Sottish Superstition, that they put to Death the Prince of Life, Acts 3.15. and after that their Seditious Zealots (as they called themselves) committed such abominable Outrages, as to sill the Temple with Dead Bodies of their own People, as Josephus relateth; then came the Time of Christ, the King's sending forth his Roman Armies, Matth. 22.7 to Murder those that had Murder'd him, and to burn their City and Temple, and to put a period to all their Sacrifices and Services. This is called Christ's Coming, Mal. 3.1, 2. John 21.22. Jam. 5.7. and therefore 'tis said here, Dan. 9.27. that Christ himself makes it Desolate for its overspreading Abominations; now rendering this once Holy City not only the Slaughter-house of God's Saints, but also of the World's Savior; for which foul Fact, they are become the Scorn of the World, and the Contempt of all Countries thereof.

N. B. 1. This Scripture doth so evidently demonstrate both the time of the Coming and of their Killing of the Messiah, and the Wrath of God lying so severely upon them for that wicked Act, Acts a. 23. that it not only confutes their Unbelief and confirms our Faith in Christ, but also it hath convinced sundry of the Jew-Doctors, who by the clear Evidence of this Text, have been compel'd to confess, That the True Messiah is already come, and that he was that Jesus whom their Fore-fathers Crucified; as R. Samuel acknowledges in his Epistle to R. Isaac, related by Dionys-Carthur 's Comment on this Text, and Rab. Hosea in his Lamentation for this Inexpiable Guilt of the Jewish Nation, Recorded by Galatinus, lib. 4 cap. 18.

N. B. 2. Jerome well observeth, That all those sad Occurrences (contained in the Seventy Weeks, or Ten Jubilees, which make up 490 Years) were Determined even until the Consummation, so were all the effects of a Divine Decree, and therefore Irrevocable and Irresistible: And the precise periods of Time (wherein each particular would be performed) is expressly Revealed in this Prophetical Prediction, the like whereunto is not to be found in any other of the Prophets; namely, the Time of the Life and Death of the Lord Jesus, of burning the City (that Slaughter-house of the Saints ) and of the Sanctuary (that Den of Thieves ) and likewise how long their Desolation should last even until the end determined by God's Decree: And therefore though' the Jews have oft attempted, yet could never to this Day Recover their own Land, nor are ever like to do, until they be made willing to say [Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord] Matth. 23. 38, 39. This Scripture and Rom. 11.25, 26. give hopes (saith Graserus ) of an End of that Flood of God's Wrath, which flowed in upon the Jews, and so overfloweth (as Noah's Flood had done ) and so • ept them all away out of their own Country.

Mark 4. But above all, Daniel hath a most distinct Revelation concerning the Condition of the Jews under their many powerful Adversaries, till the Madness of Antiochus Epiphanes was over, in his three last Chapters; all which look more like an History than a Prophecy, from the Third Year of Cyrus to the period of Antiochus's Persecution. First, Daniel the 10th. Chapter is but a Prologue to the main Prophecy, wherein some things are premised as Preparatory to it. Secondly, The 12th. Chapter is the Epilogue Annexed, wherein the Pious are comforted with Promises both of Protection and of Deliverance. Thirdly, But the main Body of the Prophecy, or rather History, is revealed in the 11th. Chapter, which reacheth to the Jews raising out of the Dust of their Dispersion, &c. wherein the State of the Church of the Jews (saith Brand Mullerus ) is Described under a double Respect: N. B. 1. It was very Miserable in respect of the bloody Wars between the Lagidae the King of Egypt and the Seleucidae the Kings of Syria; for Judea (having Egypt on the South and Syria on the North ) lay as Corn betwixt two Mill-stones, and was miserebly grinded to powder by their frequent Incursions of their Armies, commonly marching through the bowels of Judea and wasted it. The 2d. Respect was Antiochus 's Persecutions, especially at three times: 1. When he returned from Egypt in his second Expedition, Dan. 11.28. 2d. In his third Expedition thither, ver. 30. And 3dly. In his fourth, ver. 41, &c.

N. B. 1. Daniel Mourning for the sad Estate of the Jews in Judea, hath this Vision vouchsafed to him to Relieve him against his great fright and fainting, by being informed of the Affairs of both the Persian and Grecian Empires; the Disasters whereof (relating to the Church of the Jews) put good Daniel into his Dumps, Dan. 10.2.3. till comforted by Gabriel, ver. 12. yet not all at once, but by four Degrees was Daniel raised: 1. He is set upon his Knees and upon the palms of his Hands, ver. 10. after his three Weeks Mourning, &c. this posture was an Emblem of Prayer. 2. He is caused to stand upon his Feet, though' trembling and silent, ver. 11, 15. 3ly. His Mouth is opened to speak, but with much weakness, fears and sorrows, ver. 17. And 4thly. He is fully strengthened, ver. 18. N.B. God gives his Answers of Peace to the Prayers of his People not all at once but gradually; for he is a God of Judgment, and blessed are they that wait on him, Isa. 30.18. The Angel comforts Daniel with this. That the Persians shall be Diverted by the Grecians under Great Alexander; so that they shall have little leisure or mind to meddle with the Jews, for Michael or Christ stood up for his Church in the want of all Human Helps, ver. 19, 20, 21. so that the Devil cannot prevail, Matth. 16.18.

N. B. 2. Gabriel gives a more particular Exposition of the Visions, Chap. 7. and 8. This latter Explanation in Chap. 11. being more plain than the former before; for in Chap. 11. the Angel (with the greatest clearness) declares in particular the several Kings of Persia and of Grecia, more especially the sundry Passages of those Divided Kings one against another, especially relating to the Jews, the other two Kings of the East and of the West being of a lesser figure than the other two of the North and South, (all four Successors of Alexander ) and not meddling with the Church of the Jews; therefore the Angels meddleth not with them in this Historical Prophecy: But of the Northern Kings of Syria and of the Southern Kings of Egypt, Gabriel giveth an Account of seven several Wars between them in this 11th. Chapter: As 1. Between Ptolomeus Lagus of Egypt (who was a great Enemy to the Jews, saith Josephus ) and Seleucus Nicanor of Syria, stronger than Ptolemy. Chap. 11. ver. 5. the poor Jews (that lay betwixt these two Potent Princes) were beaten on both sides. 2. Between Ptolomeus Philadelphus (so called because he Marry'd his own Sister, yet was a Learned King, and being a great lover of Learning, he Founded that famous Library wherein were two hundred Thousand Books, and among them the Septuagint, which he caused to be composed by 72 Rabbins ) and Antiochus Theos, or God, as his Parasites styled him. These two Kings made a Marriage out of Sinful Politicks to compose all their Controversies by a Confederacy, ver. 6. Antiochus Marrys Ptolemy 's Daughter (for confirming the Concord ) Berenice, which signifies a Daughter of Innocency, but not right named (saith Junius ) because he Marry'd his own Sister: Nor could this Berenice cause these two Kingdoms cleave together as was foretold, Dan. 2.43. but they brake out again into open War, and this fond God Antiochus was poisoned by his Wife; a just Judgment from a jealous God, that he should die by jealous Laodice. 3ly. Between Ptolomeus Evergetes and Saleucus Callinicus was the third War, Dan. 11.7, 8, 9. Antiochus after a while put away Berenice, who long retained not the power of her Arm, ver. 6. that is, her Interest in her Husband; her Queendom and her Life were soon after lost, for he betook himself to his former Lawful Wife Laodice; yet she seeing War preparing against him for putting away Berenice, and fearing her Husband's Inconstancy for the future, makes means to Poison him, and sets up Callinicus her Son in his stead, and slays Berenice and her Son, with all their Followers and Favourers: Hereupon Ptolemy Euergetes (the own Brother of Berenice ) stands up as the fifth Horn to Revenge his Sister's Death against Seleucus Callinicus Son of Laodice by Antiochus Theos, and Ptolemy prevailed so as to over-run the most part of Callinicus 's Kingdom. 4ly. The fourth War was between this Ptolemy Euergetes and Antiochus Magnus, ver. 10. This Antiochus being of a great Spirit, and not enduring that Ptolemy should possess any part of Syria under his very Nose, his stout Stomach stir'd him up as the sixth Horn, to Recover what his Father had lost to Ptolemy, and over-ran all that lost part of Syria and Judea also with a most formidable Army and with frequent Incursions, as History tells us. 5ly. The fifth War was between Ptolemy Philopator (so called per Antiphrasin, because he Kill'd his Father, &c.) and Antiochus Magnus, ver. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Tho' this Philopator was otherwise very Vitious, yet was he permitted to be very Victorious against Antiochus the Great, over whom he prevailed so much (saith Polybius ) that had he effectually pursued his Victory, he might not only have Recovered all Syria, &c. but also have spoiled Antiochus of his Kingdom; but his Luxury (saith Strabo ) let him escape by flight, says Josephus: However, his casting down ten Thousands of the Jews, serves to make him the seventh Horn; but Antiochus Recruited while he led a luxurious Life and prevailed, as is here declared. 6ly. The sixth War was between Ptolemy Epiphanes (a young Child at his loose Father's Death, hasten'd by his Intemperancy) and Antiochus Magnus, ver. 17, 18, 19, 20. Antiochus longed sore to be Lord of Egypt, so lays hold of that opportunity while Ptolemy Epiphanes was young, and makes use of both Force and Fraud to obtain it, but could not master it by either of the two means: 1. Not by Force, for many Jews joined with Ptolemy (because he had given them leave to build a Temple in Egypt, which was built by Onias at Helioplis upon pretence of fulfilling that Prophecy, Isa. 19.19.) so that Antiochus prospered no •• in that Expedition: Nor 2ly. By Fraud, for that he might gain by secret Treachery what he could not win by open Hostility; he bestows his beautiful Daughter Cleopatra upon Ptolemy, suborning her to destroy her Husband; but she (as became a good Wife) clave to her Husband, Nature having taught her to prefer him before a Father, as Michal had done to save David from Saul, &c N.B. 'It is Matter of great Admiration, that Daniel should write so distinct an History of the Life and Death of this Antiochus the Great, and of his dwindling at last from his Magnitude into nothing, ver. 17, 18, 19. and of the Death of Seleucus Philopator also, ver. 20. all so exactly as they came to pass long after Daniel's Day, agreeable to all Relations both of Greek and Latin Historians after the Accomplishment of this Prophecy: For Livy, Strabo, and many other Writers tell us, How Ptolemy being besieged by this Antiochus, craved Relief of the Romans, who were then very faithful in protecting their Allies, and who courageously came upon Antiochus (the more, because Hannibal being beaten by Scipio, had fled to him for Refuge) and not only raised the Siege, but also beats him in Battels both by Sea and Land, proving too hard for him at his own Weapons of Power and Policy, and so Recovering all the Countries he had Conquer'd from Ptolemy and his own Daughter Queen Cleopatra, and from the Roman State also, when he had (like a Lion enraged by his missing his Expedition against Egypt ) fallen foul upon them, but the Conquering Romans cast him out of all his Conquests, and cast back his own Contumelys against them all upon himself, calling him in contempt, Antiochus once the Great, but now retired into a narrow and remotest corner of his Kingdom, where he secured himself for a little time; but seeking to enrich himself by Robbing the Temple of Jupiter Belus, the Rude Rabble of that Country hew'd him to pieces. This was the sad Catastrophe of Antiochus Magnus, whose Greatness found this foul and fatal Fall, as Daniel did foretell and all Human Histories do testify; and though' his Son Seleucus Philopator (so called because he was his Father's Darling ) succeeded him, yet he proving a covetous griper (calling Money his best Friend ) he gathered no less of Curses than of Coin from his Subjects; so soon becomes poisoned by Heliodorus, whom he had employed to Rifle the Temple's Treasury, ver. 20. and 2 Macc. 3.7. the seed of evil doers shall never be renowned, Isa. 14.20. But 7ly. The seventh War between Ptolemy Philometor and Antiochus Epiphanes, was the worst War to the woeful Jews; the History whereof Daniel declares dislinctly from the mouth of the Angel Gabriel, ver. 21. to the end of the Chapter.

Mark 1. This Antiochus was younger Brother to the aforesaid Seleucus, who was the Romans Tribute-gatherer, to whom he was to pay a Thousand Talents by the Year, (according to the sordid Conditions to which the Romans had reduced the Grandeur of his Father Antiochus the Great. ) This Polling of the People for that great Tax out of Syria, made the Son (who was the Father's Darling ) extremely hated of his Subjects, and so became poisoned by Heliodorus (a great Court-Favorite) in favor of this Antiochus Epiphanes.

Mark 2. This younger Brother and Successor in the Kingdom is called by the Angel a Vile Person, ver. 21. which was his true Title (as a Wicked Person was Haman 's, Esth. 7.6.) though' he affected to be called Epiphanes, or Famous and Illustrious; yea the sour Samaritans (to ingratiate with him in his Cuelty against the Jews ) styled him Antiochus the Mighty God, as Josephus relateth. Here was a Bramble brought to the Throne, yet as a Vile Person to be despised, Psal. 15.4.

Mark 3. He came in peaceably under pretence of being Protector to his young Nephew Demetrius; and though' the Nobles did not give him the Kingdom, yet he took it partly by force (whether they would or no) and partly by flatteries, winning their hearts by Presents, pretended Courtesies, and private Practices, ver. 21. and no sooner is he settled upon the Throne but he makes an Attempt upon Egypt, insinuating himself as Protector to his Nephew Philometer his Sister Cleopatra 's Son during his Nonage and Minority, in which time he did overflow Egypt as with a flood of Forces, ver. 22, 23, 24. Conquering the Country as far as Pelusium, &c.

Mark 4. When Ptolemy Philometor was grown up, Antiochus made his second Expedition against Egypt, and farther over-ran his Kingdom, corrupting his very Courtiers to betray Philometor, and to make Agreement with him his Conquerous, feasting him and giving great Gifts to him, but with a Fox-like and feigned Amity on both hands, ver. 25, 26, 27. then returned he with vast Riches into his own Land, ver. 28. and Judea lying in his way to Syria, the Devil (that grand Make-bate ) takes him up as a fit Turbulent Tool to torment the Jews, who were in Covenant with God, and professed the True Religion. Satan with be sure to scratch the Church's Face; when at any time he can gain an opportunity, he leaves her, as he left her Lord, only for a season, Luke 4.13.

Mark 5. Antiochus made a third Expedition into Egypt, whereof the Angel giveth an Account both of Time, Action, and Event, ver. 29, 30 yet even then the Roman Legate Publius Popilius came and commanded him in the Name of the Senate of Rome, to depart out of Egypt, or at his Peril, &c. Hereupon not daring to provoke the Roman Lion, he forthwith departed with his Army, remembering how the Romans had Cudgel'd his great Father Antiochus; but this forced Retreat (God crossing him in the height of his Hopes, Job 20.6.) did so enrage him, that now Epiphanes Illustrious was indeed turned into Epimanes Furious or Stark-mad against the Jews in his way home again; and this is described from ver. 30, to ver. 40.

Mark 6. The Mischiefs done by this Mad-man to the Jews, are all described by their Parts to the number of Seven: As 1. His sending Soldiers against the City Jerusalem, that they might Revel in its Ruins, ver. 31. with his great Army he brought from Egypt. 2ly. His Prophaning the Temple and City after his Conquest of it, by entering into that Holy Place, by touching, and taking away the Holy Vessels Sacrilegiously. 3ly. Nor was this Pollution and Spoilation of the Sanctuary a sufficient Outrage, but he caused their public Worship in the daily Sacrifice to cease. 4ly. He placed a Garrison of profane Soldiers in the Holy Sanctuary to turn all Holy Worship of God out, and to keep in all profane Worship of the Devil, &c. 5ly. To promote his Devil-Worship the more, he sets up that Abominable Idol Jupiter Olympus in God's Temple, ver. 31, 38. which made the Holy Jews fly from it, so made the House of God Desolate, ver. 31, 39. Matth. 24.15. 6ly. His Debauching many of the Carnal Jews (always bent to Backsliding) with Bribes and promised Preferments, and his Destroying those Godly Jews who would not be Debauch'd with his Idolatry, ver. 32, 33, 34, 35. 7ly. His Domineering over the Apostate Jews, doing according to his own Will in Judea, ver. 36. though' he could not do so in Egypt, because the Romans put a stop to his Rage there; but that proud People of Rome looked ever with Disdain upon the poor dispicable Jews and upon their God, as not worthy to be compared to Bacchus, &c. as the Roman Cicero most basely and blasphemously speaketh Therefore did this furious Beast Antiochus so prosper in his Prosecutions against the Jews, according to his Will and Wish, ver. 36. seeing the Romans would not Interpose as Checkmate for them as they did for Egypt, &c.

Mark 7. Antiochus, being now Drunk with Success, and puffed up with Pride by his prosperous Purposes against Judea, Magnified himself above all God's; yea the God of God's, the True God of Israel he blasphemed, suppressing God's Worship and setting up his own Idolatry; and so far was he without Natural Affection, that his own Jewish Wife, though' of much esteem with him (saith Josephus ) yet could not dissuade him from his Villany, ver. 37, 38, 39. So that after his fourth Expedition against Egypt, he falls foul upon the Jews again, being recalled thither by Rumors, ver. 40, 44. that the Romans, &c. were again raising Forces against him, he returns with greatest fury to Destroy the Jews utterly by a Third Persecution; in order hereunto he pitched his Tent-Royal at Emmaus near to Jerusalem, ver. 45 between the Mare Mortuum and the Midland-Sea, which are the bounds of Judea, called the Glorious Land, ver. 41, 45. the Glorious Holy Mountain, being the glory of all Lands, Ezek. 20.6. Here he prospered again in this Third and worst Peresecution, till God had avenged by him the Quarrel of his Covenant upon his Apostatiz'd People, Levite. 26.25. and till himself had filled up his Epha with his Wickedness, Zech. 5.7, 8. then Antiochus came to his end, and that a loathsome and lamentable end, 1 Macch. 6.8, to 16. The Accomplishment of this Prophecy in the History of it, is set down in the Six first Chapters of the First Book of Maceabees, declaring to the full the manifold Extremities that the Jews suffered in this Third Persecution, and how miserably he died, notwithstanding his Jupiter Olympus, whom he had set up as his Tutelar God, who failed him in his defense against Death; Josephus saith, God struck him with a great Plague, with an Incurable Disease, of which no Man could help him, and his flesh crawled full of Worms, so that no Man could abide the stink of him; yea, he became loathsome to himself, as is further declared 2 Macc. 9.10, 12. and Appianus adds, that he died of the foul Disease from his Leachery; however, it was surely some strange stroke of God to cut off a wicked Persecutor.

Remark the Last, upon the 11th. and 12th. of Daniel. As the Prophet hath hitherto (from Gabriel's Mouth ) given us a distinct History of the sad State of the Jews under this Abominable Antiochus, so he foretells the sad State of Christians under Antichrist the Pope in this Type and Picture of him.

Mark 1. This whole History of this Syrian Antiochus (the tenth Horn, as some say, or the little Horn as others) may most aptly be accommodated to the Mystery of the Roman Antichrist by way of Analogy, which Graserus and other greatly Learned Men, make the only sense of Daniel's Prophecy here: But my Opinion is, that as the literal Sense of this History may not be denied as relating to Antiochus, so the Mystical Sense of the Mystery must be acknowledged as it relates to Antichrist also: N. B. For it may not be imagined (as Graserus, &c. do) that the Angel here should abruptly break off from the History of Antiochus and his Prophetical Discourse concerning him and the Jews (whereof Daniel was most desirous to be informed, as lying nearest to his care at present) and fall upon an Historical Prophecy of Antichrist only, and of the Church of Christ under the Gospel, which was not to fall out till towards the end of the World: Which Notion is Renounce it, (namely, the most Ingenious of them) though' it would otherwise exceedingly gratify them in their proving that the Pope is not Antichrist: Thus Bellarmine builds all his Arguments to prove this Point from this Topic the Context of Daniel. as it is only a Prophecy of Antichrist only, and not any History of Antiochus; the denial of which Notion renders all his many Arguments frivolous and ineffectual.

Mark 2. I cannot but better approve of Dr. Willet 's Opinion, who judiciously takes along the Prophetical History of this vile Antiochus, and yet makes the Mystery of it to be also a Prophetical History of that Man of Sin Antichrist, betwixt whom and Antiochus, he learnedly demonstrateth that they run all along in twenty five Parallel Lines together. As 1. Both rose by Craft and Flattery. 2. Both Prospered and Prevailed. 3. Both were Covetous and Rapacious, &c. 4. Both were notorious Dissemblers. 5. Both step'd up after a general Apostasy, and falling away from the Faith. 6. Both abused the secular Power, as Instruments of their Butcheries, &c. 7. Both abrogated the True Worship of God, and set up a false Idolatrous Worship in its stead. 8. As Antiochus used those Apostate Priests Jason and Menelaus to promote his false Worship; so Antichrist useth the Pens and Tongues of Jesuits, &c. 9. Both persecuted Princes and People that would not Conform to them. 10. Both exalted themselves above all that is called God. 11. Both exalt themselves against the True God. 12. Both utter horrid Blasphemies. 13. Both had success for a Time, while their Leases are run out. 14. Both forsake the God and Religion of their Fore-fathers. 15. Both seem not to care for Women. 16. Both are for Atheism and Profaneness, and in effect not caring for any God. 17. Both set up new Idols. 18. Both were for Theatrical Services of their new Idols. 19. Both were for distributing Dignities, &c. to their Flatterers, &c. but for Money. 20. Both were abominably Ambitious. 21. Both are barbarously Bloody to the Church of God. 22. Both be insatiable in Hunting after, and Hoarding up Treasures of Gold and Silver. 23. Both be enraged against the faithful upon any defeat they find from them, and their Forces if foiled but a little by them. 24. Both have their Palaces situated between two Seas, the former between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean, the latter between the Tyrrhene and the Adriatic: The one without and the other within the Temple of God, the Church. And Lastly, Both be branded for their coming at last to most miserable Ends, all which twenty five Marks (wherein both Antiochus and Antichrist meet together in Parallel Lines ) the Learned Doctor doth distinctly illustrate by as many undeniable Instances and uncontrollable Demonstrations, too large to be related here, and therefore I must refer the Reader (who is curious to compass them) unto Dr. Willet 's Hexapla upon Daniel, page 445, to 462. N.B. Who likewise excellently observeth, that as Antiochus 's Tyranny continued not much above six Years, so that of Antichrist in those bloody Marian Times of abhorred Memory was cut shorter here in England, by a gracious God (who praedetermines the End of all his Church's Persecutions, Dan. 11.27, and 36.) for that lasted not so long as this of Antiochus, for it continued not full out six Years, page 463. N.B. Oh how marvelous is the Proportion, that Divine Goodness observeth in Days of Persecution: If it be but little, God lets it be long, but if it be very sharp, then shall it be very short, as in those Instances.

Mark 3. Hitherto the Malady and Misery of the Church of God, hath been declared by Gabriel to Daniel, Chap. 11. now is the Church's Remedy and Relief revealed, in Chap. 12. as was needful for the Comfort of those that were found faithful.

In this Annexion to the foregoing Historical Prophecy, are handed in seven consolatory Arguments to Daniel, for the Comfort of the afflicted Church, four from Gabriel and three from Christ himself.

The First from the Angel is, that at that Time Michael (the Prince of Angels the Lord Christ ) shall stand up to secure and save his Servants, ver. 1. being the mighty God (as Michael signifies) and always a fast Friend and a Faithful, as well as a powerful Protector of his People, while the Government is upon his Shoulder, Isa. 9.6. and he Lord of all, Acts 10.36. while he is Lord both of the Church and of the World, he lets not the Church be wronged by the World.

The Second Comfort from the Angel is, that everyone whose Name is found written in the Book of Life (to wit, all the Elect both Jews and Gentiles ) shall assuredly be delivered by Michael their mighty Deliverer; and if not by a Temporal Deliverance (seeing many of the Saints be martyred by those two matchless Monsters of Mankind, both Antiochus and Antichrist ) yet however by deliverance Eternal, ver. 2, 3. though they be Dead and do sleep in their Graves, after they had born their Testimony, and made many Wise to Salvation by the Ministry of their Lives and Doctrine while they lived; yet the Angel assures him, even those shall awake as out of a sweet Sleep, filled with God's Image, Psalm 17.15. and shall shine as Stars, &c. whereas their Persecutors (who now Triumph over their Graves ) shall be hailed as worms out of their Holes, and condemned to Everlasting Contempt, &c.

The Third Comfort is, more especially to the Ministers among those Martyrs, who by their public Ministry (wisely managing it) do make many wise unto Salvation, and to partake of that Everlasting Righteousness, which the Messiah was to bring in, Dan. 9.24. These shall have a most blessed and perfect Reward, after a peculiar Manner for all their present sufferings, Dan. 11.33. with Rom. 8.18. Solomon allowed but low and little Wages to his principal Workmen, Cant. 18.12. but Christ (greater than Solomon) doth grant greater Rewards, for they that turn many to Righteousness shall shine as the Firmament, yea as the Stars, ver. 3. and yet higher, as the Sun in his Strength, Matth. 13.43. yea as Christ himself shineth, for such shall all appear with him in Glory, Col. 3.4. though they now be slurr'd and slighted, &c. Oh what a glorious and desirable Place will Heaven then be!

The Fourth Comfort or Cordial is, that the Church of God should be preserved by God even in those worst of Times: This was that precious Truth, a Jewel that Daniel is commanded to Seal up, ver. 4. until the Time appointed, ver. 9. and Chap. 8.26. Daniel must keep this Divine Secret to himself in sacred Silence, and reserve it in writing for the support of after-Ages, that God would never forsake his People utterly, though their Sins most justly provoked the pure Eyes of God to profound displeasure against them: These Arcana Ecclesiae & imperii [ Secrets concerning both Church and State] must be sealed. Because First, To let Daniel know God's great Favor to him, who was Ish Chamudoth, a Man greatly beloved, Dan. 9.23. and therefore of God's Council, Psalm 25.14. Gen. 18.17. one betrusted with Divine Secrets. Secondly, Lest, should they come into common Hands, the Profane might make either an evil use of them, or utterly despise them. Thirdly, That the truly Pious might prize them the more, as a most precious Treasure, when brought forth out of God's private Treasury. Fourthly, These Secrets were Sealed, because it would be long before they were all accomplished, whereas what were shortly to be fulfilled, were forbidden to be Sealed, 2 Chron. 21.12. Isa. 8.16 Rev. 22.10. Fifthly, Though a full understanding of those remote Predictions was reserved for after-Ages (seeing Event is the best Interpreter of dark Prophecies ) yet the Pious would spare no pains [running to and fro] for increase of Divine Knowledge concerning the Fates of the Church in Daniel 's Prophecies. Sixthly, Such pious Soul as can be at any care and cost (as the Queen of Sheba and the Ethiopian Eunuoh, &c.) for increasing Knowledge and wait upon God in his own way, shall see some signs of the Times, and admire the Praescience and Providence of God, &c. Psalm 77.5, 6, 7. Isa. 26.8. 1 Pet. 1.10, 11, 12. for whatever was written, is written for our Learning, Rom. 15▪ 4.

The Fifth Comfort was a Cordial from Michael or Christ himself, as the former four were from the Angel Gabriel by Christ's Deputation: This is proposed by way of a Dialogue or Conference betwixt our Lord and his two Angels, the one standing on one side of the River Tigris, and the other on the other side, and Christ standing between the Banks upon the Waters (as Matth. 14.25. signifying many Nations, Rev. 10.2, &c.) and one of the Angels asks the Man Michael [How long shall it be to the end of these forementioned Mysteries] ver. 5, 6. Christ Answers with holding up both his Hands toward Heaven, &c. whereas the common use of taking Oaths, is by holding up the right Hand only, but our Lord assures both the Angels upon both the Banks with both his Hands, concerning the Truth ofhis Answer; that all the Fury of the Church's Fiery Adversaries should be finished at the end of Time, Times and a half of Time, ver. 7.2 Time certainly determined by God, but unknown and uncertain to Man, which was Daniel 's trouble, ver. 8. as he ingenuously acknowledged (for the best know but in part, 1 Cor. 13.12.) and for whose satisfaction the Angels asked also as being ignorant too, Matth. 25.36. Eph. 3.10. 1 Pet. 1.12. If Angels, much more Men may not know Mysteries, 1 Cor. 8.2.

The Sixth Comfort is propounded (together with the seventh) in a Dialogue betwixt our Redeemer and Daniel, who occasioned it by freely confessing, he understood not Christ's Answer, about the Time of the Church's Deliverance, and the Restitution of all things in God's Worship: Daniel begs an Explanation of that Mystical Number, Christ Answers with good Words and comfortable (as Zech. 1.13.) ver. 9, 10. 1. Relating to Daniel himself [though thou be greatly beloved, yet must thou be Content to be of God's Court, but not altogether of God's Council: Thou must be satisfied to be ignorant of some things which are concealed of future Ages, that are chiefly concerned in them] ver. 9. N. B. There is a laudable and a learned Nescience, as of Unnecessaries, of Impossibles, or of Unprofitables, such as how long we shall live, when shall the World end, which of Mortals are Reprobates, and which are Elect, &c. 2. Relating to the Church in General, that my People shall meet with hard Measures, but they shall last no longer, than until they be made White by that scouring black Soap, ver. 10. and Chap. 11.35. and when I have scoured and scourged my Children by such a race of Rebels, the Rod of mine anger, so desperately set upon sinning, ver. 10. then will I throw my Rod into the Fire and burn it.

The Seventh Cordial is propounded from Christ himself, ver. 11, 12. where he tells Daniel of two comfortable Events more plainly, the former is, that after one thousand two hundred and ninety Days, reckoning from the Time of Antiochus his taking away the daily Sacrifice and setting up the Abomination, my People shall begin to prosper: The latter is, but after one thousand three hundred and thirty five, that is, forty five Days more they shall prosper much more in many Victories.

The Conelusion of Daniel 's Prophetick History.

REmark the First. Hereupon is the variety of Sentiments among the Learned, some confining this Historical Prophecy of Daniel unto this Mad Antiochus only; and others are of Opinion, that it ought to be confined unto the Roman Antichrist only, producing their Arguments on both sides to prove it. But in my Judgment, the best Opinion is, that both Antiochus and Antichrist are included in this Prophecy; the former as a Type, and the latter as the Antitype: Though the Scripture speak nothing in express Words of the Types of Antichrist, as it doth of our Lord Christ's Types and Figures; yet some, both Antient and Modern Writers do affirm, there be Types of Antichrist in the Old Testament: As 1. Cyprian Interprets the King of Babylon, Isa. 14.13. to be his Type; rendering this Reason, if Babylon Literal be a Type of Rome, which is Babylon Mystical in the Revelation, then the King of Babylon must be a Type of the Roman Antichrist. 2. Others make the Adulteress Harlot, Prov. 5.15, &c. to be the Image and Resemblance of the Whore of Rome. 3. Others represent Antichrist from Gog and Magog, Ezek. 38. and Rev. 20.8. But 4. and Lastly, Many Learned Men make this Antiochus the Type of Antichrist, because of the great Congruity between them in Daniel 's Description: As 1. Both were bitter Enemies to God's Church, the one to the Jewish, and the other to the Christian Church. 2. As the one came before the first coming of Christ, so the other before his second coming.

Remark the Second, Though Bellarmine misimprove this second Parallel, inferring from thence, that Antichrist must Reign but bare three Years and half immediately before the second coming of Christ, yet this is but a frivolous Consequence, and not unlike that, because Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon ( Cyprian 's Type of Antichrist ) reigned thirty seven Years, therefore Antichrist must Reign but thirty seven Years only, but the Scripture of Truth giveth a far longer Lease to the Beast Antichrist, &c. Maldonado himself confesseth, that the Spirit in Daniel seems to slide from the Life of Antiochus to that of Antichrist, as was the Manner of the Prophets, and of Christ our Savior too; thus David speaking of Solomon brings in Christ, Psalm 72.8, &c. so Psalm 16. and Isa. 49. and 54. and 60. Chapters, so Hos. 11.1. with Matth. 2.15. and thus our Savior speaking of the Temple, speaks together with it of the end of the World, Matth. 24. as the burning of the Temple was a figure of that last burning of the World: Even so this Prophecy of Daniel, after the Description of the two Parallel's Antiochus and Antichrist, altogether alike in Pride, Avarice, Craft and Cruelty against God's People, and in Idolatry and Blasphemy against God himself, ends it with the end of the World, but speaks not one Word, that Antichrist shall Reign no longer than three Years and half; therefore the Argument is frivolous and falls to the ground.

Remark the Third, Though we have four Terms expressly declared by Daniel, concerning the Persecution of Antiochus: As 1. By the two thousand three hundred Days, Dan. 8.14. which makes six Years three Months and twenty Days. 2. A Time, Times, and part of a Time, Dan. 7.25. and 12.7. that is, three Years and a part, the former Date ended before the Sanctuary was defiled, but during this second Term, the daily Sacrifice was discontinued. 3. Another Time set is one thousand two hundred and ninety Days, Dan. 12.11. which ended at such Time as God's Altar was rebuilt, and God's true Worship was restored by Judas Maccabeus. And 4. Forty five Days more are added to the number aforesaid, making them one thousand three hundred and thirty five Days, Dan. 12.12. which forty five Days overplus ended at the Death of Antiochus, most joyful Tidings to God's poor persecuted People; for notwithstanding Antiochus 's pretended Repentance, &c. we are told of, 2 Maccab. 9.13, 28. and Chap. 11. the Jews could have no Confidence in the Words of such an Hypocrite, but his Death did fully free them from all their fears of him: Yet may we not expect to find any such set Times of Antichrist's Persecution, to be set down upon Record by Daniel the Old Testament Prophet; no, that Work was reserved for John the Divine in the last Book of the New Testament: Wherein the number of the Beast or Antichrist's Name, carries a marvelous Harmony with these numbers in Daniel, for the number of that Man of Sin is said to be six hundred and sixty six, Rev. 13.18. now twice six hundred and sixty six, make one thousand three hundred and thirtȳt two, and three Years and an half make up Daniel 's number, which is one thousand three hundred and thirty five complete, &c.

Remark the Fourth, Dr. Willet hath most learnedly answered great Graserus his great Arguments, wherein he contends to prove, that this Prophecy of Daniel doth Literally and Historically concern the Roman Antichrist, and not this Mad Antiochus: The Discourse is extended into ten large Exercises, too long here to Epitomize, and therefore must I refer the Reader to Dr. Willet 's Appendix to his Hexapla upon Daniel, page 495, to 520. As likewise to Mr. Joseph Mede 's Works, who makes the History of the Type Antiochus, to lead us by the Hand, to understand the Mystery of the Antitype Antichrist, that grand Head of the Apostasy in the last Times foretold, 1 Tim. 4.1, &c. bringing in the Doctrine of Daemons, the forbidding of Meats and Marriages, &c. He shall magnify himself (as Antiochus did, Dan. 11.37.) Above all, 2 Thess. 2.3, 4, to ver. 10. Rev. 13. per totum, and Rev. 17.3, &c. as to Antiochus 's Magnuzzim, Heb. the God of Forces which he worshipped, Dan. 11.38. the same Mr. Mede most excellently Interprets the Daemons or Tatelar Saints and Angels, which Antichrist worships together with our Lord Christ in the Romish Church: Nor is this any Novel Opinion for many of the Fathers, make this Magnuzzim the Idol which Antichrist should Worship: So that none comes nearer the Truth, among many other Conjectures than Mr. Mede: Much more of this abstruse Point, the Reader may find in my Discovery of the Person and Period of Antichrist: A little Book which Dr. Thomas Goodwin approved, and promoted while he lived, &c.

Apocrypha CHAP. II. Luke III.

AS the first Means (better than the doubtful Books of the Apocrypha ) for demonstrating the State of the Jewish Church in that Interval, betwixt Nehemiah and the Messiah, was Daniel 's Prophetick History of Divine Infallible Inspiration: As before, all along in Chapter the first out of the Old Testament: So this second Chapter produceth the like infallible Evidences, concerning the same Subject out of the New Testament, equally of Divine Authority with the Old. Namely, out of the Genealogy of Christ Recorded in Luke Chap. 3. yet with this difference betwixt Daniel and Luke, the Prophet relateth the Things that befell the Jews without the naming of their Persons, but this Evangelist Names only the Persons that succeeded from Time to Time, without any Narrative of the things that befell them.

Remark the First, 'It is the concurrent Judgment of Learned Men, that Daniel doth not only Prophetically declare the things, which occurred the Jewish Church, until the first coming of Christ, though they did not fall out (as some say) until three hundred Years after Daniel 's Day, but also the things that would occur the Christian Church in the last Days, how she should be mostly afflicted by Antichrist (as the Jewish had been by Antiochus ) yet shall she be fully delivered by Christ's second coming. Thus Cyprian was wont to Comfort his Christian Friends in his Day, with these Words [Veniet Antichristus, fed superveniet Christus] Antichrist will come, but then Christ will come after him, and overcome him: Thus he Interprets, Dan. 12.1, 2, &c. [At that Time] that is, in the last Days, and toward the end of the World, shall Michael stand up, &c. N.B. Antichrist was not revealed in Cyprian 's Time, which Helvicus computeth the second Century, betwixt two hundred and forty and two hundred and fifty Years after Christ, which was long before that Revelation of the Man of Sin: Now when Michael or Christ had made this double discovery unto Daniel, both concerning the Malady and Remedy of the Jewish and of the Christian Church, then giveth He Daniel (to his great Comfort) a fair and favorable Dismission out of this Life, before the former of those two Confusions come upon God's Church, Dan. 12.13. telling him, Thou shalt Dye, not only without fearing or feeling those troubles, but also in a firm Faith, both of the Church's glorious Deliverance, and of his own blessed Resurrection out of the Dust of Death to an Everlasting Life [ after thy Soul hath rested in Abraham 's Bosom, and thy Body hath got its sweet sleep in the Grave as in a Bed of Down, then thou and all the Just shall have full joys, beginning here (some say) for 1000 Years, but completed in Heaven eternally. ]

Remark the Second; The Interspace betwixt the Second Temple and the Birth of Christ, (containing about 500 Years) is filled up with Three Dynasties, saith Dr. Prideaux; the First is, The Dukes or Chieftains, in number 14, all Recorded by the Evangelist Luke under the Infallible Conduct of the Holy Spirit's Inspiration, Luke 3.23, 24, 25, 26, 27. This he doth by Ascent from the Mother of our Lord the Virgin Mary up to Zerubbabel the Builder of the Second Temple. N. B. Matthew's Genealogy of Christ, Matth. 1.1, 2, &c. is made by Descent from Abraham, and so from David, &c. that Joseph (though' not Christ's Natural but only his Legal Father, as being Marry'd to the Virgin Mary ) might appear to be of David 's Line, of whom the Messiah was to come for the Jews Conviction, though' he was but his supposed Father: But Luke runs up Christ's Genealogy by his Mothers side, even as high as Adam and God, Luke 3.38. to show that he was the Woman's Seed which (as God promised to Adam) should break the Serpent's Head, Gen. 3.15. not only for saving the Jews that descended from Abraham, according to Matthew's Genealogy, but also for saving the Gentiles that descended from Adam, according to Luke's Genealogy, and therefore Luke relates, how Christ did break the Power of Satan by the word of Truth (who had corrupted Adam, and in him all Mankind by his words of falsehood ) immediately after he had shown Christ's Descent from Adam, Luke 3.38. he shows, Luke 4.1. how the Tempter is Master'd by Christ in three Temptations.

Remark the Third; This First Line after the Captivity of fourteen Generations, ) for which there is no Record elsewhere in the Canonical Scripture ) 'tis taken for granted (saith Dr. Lightfoot ) that both Matthew and Luke took from some Records then extant among the Nations, and were looked upon as Authentic, as appeareth by the Septuagint Bible, which was commonly currant in the time of the Evangelists, and which certainly Luke doth generally follow in his Quotations out of the Old Testament, and the Septuagint hath this Genealogy just as Luke here hath it. As the Jews were ever in their worst of Times very careful to keep their Books of all their Genealogies, Ezra 2.62, &c. so more especially they could not but be most careful of keeping the Records of the Royal Line of the Family of David, because they had raised Expectations 0536 of the Messiah from it; for the Jews generally received these two Remarkable Maxims; 1. That there was to be no King for Israel but of the House of David, whose Son their Messiah must be by Descent: And 2. That the Family of a Mother is not called a Family: Hereupon hath Matthew most pertinently brought Christ's Pedigree through the House of David and Solomon, and ended it in Joseph a Male, whom the Jews looked upon as the Father of Jesus, Mar. 6.3, &c. to show him the Son God promised to David, as Luke shows him the Seed of the Woman God promised to Adam.

Remark the Fourth: Tho' we meet with some strong Stories both in Josephus and in the Maccabees Books concerning some of those first fourteen Generations after Zerubbabel of David's Line, the Truth whereof is doubted by some Learned Men: Yet so far as such Successors are expressly named by the Holy Evangelists, it must be believed they were so, because the whole word of God is infallibly true, John 17.17. 2 Tim. 3.16. and not one jor or tittle thereof in matter of Substance hath passed away, or ever shall until all be fulfilled, Matth. 5.18. Luke 16.17. And though' those two Genealogies of Matthew and Luke seem hard to be Reconciled, yet the Apostle hath cautioned us against giving too much heed to endless Genealogies, which administer Questions rather than Godly edifying in the Faith, 1 Tim. 1.4. and Tit. 3.9. And seeing many Men in Scripture had two Names, (as Esau was called Edom, Gen. 25.30. and 36.1, 8. Jethro called Raguel; Gideon Jerubbaal; Uzziah Azariah, &c. so Simon called Peter, John 1.42. Joses Barsabas and Justus, Acts 1.23, &c. ) Some do suppose that those Men of this first Dynasty had two Names, one of those Evangelists reciteth one, and the other another of these Names, and so might well accord in their Record of the same Person.

Remark the Fifth: Tho' all those Pagan Kings of that time were inveterate Adversaries to the Jewish Church, and kept the Jews in grievous Subjection, more especially to suppress (as much as might be) the Posterity of David's Family, and at least to hold them in a low Condition, because it was a certain and received Truth among that People, that Messiah the Prince (Dan. 9.26) should shortly come out of that Family; therefore those Persons named by the Evangelists might mostly be private Persons (as Joseph and Mary were, when Christ came into the World: Wherefore Dr. Prideaux doth well make it one of his Inquiries, Whether those fourteen Chieftains (whom Dan. Pareus calls Dukes or Captains ) all of the Line of David, had any Authority of Magistrates among their Countrymen? This is the more doubtful because they all lived in those Calamitous Times of the Jewish Church after the Captivity.

Remark the Sixth: 'It is therefore not improbable but some of the •• might be only private Persons, and not be betrusted by their Oppressors with any public Authority, yet by the consent of their own People they might be Law-givers to them as Principal Men amongst them; and this is the more probable, because the Patriarch Jacob Prophesy'd that the Scepter shall not depart from Judah until Shilo come, Gen. 49.10. N.B. However, this Genealogy (Recorded by two Evangelists, and both by Divine Inspiration ) may well serve to show forth the shining Truth of God's Promise, completely Accomplish'd in the Incarnation of Christ; and is likewise no less a Demonstration of God's special Providence over his Church to preserve her in the worst of Times; therein declaring in what Line (to wit, the Line of David ) the Church was preserved; the Evangelists Recorded it, that we may believe it and ever live, John 20.31.

The Second Dynasty or Government over the Jews (according to Pareus, Prideaux, Alsted, &c.) was that of the Asmoneites or Maccabees, Men extraordinarily raised up by God to Defend the True Religion. These were called Asmonei from the first of that Rank, Mattathias Asmoneus, and Maccabees from the four first Hebrew Letters in that Sentence [ Lord, who is like unto thee? &c.] which Initial Letters put together make up the word Maccabee, &c. Exod. 15.11. And Judas Maccabeus (the Second of this sort of Governors ) carried these four Capital Letters, [M. C. B. J.] in his Standard, the whole words ru • ning thus, [Mi Chimka Beelohim Jehovah?] Who among the God's is like unto thee, Jehovah?

N. B. I shall in this Discourse still stick so close to the Scripture of Truth as the nature of the Subject will admit; leaving the large Stories of those Maccabees to the various Ecclesiastical Writers upon them; as the Apocrypha, Josephus, Pareus, Prideaux, Clark, &c.

Remark the First: Mattathias Asmoneus (the Father of those Maccabean Governors ) was but of the Order of the Priesthood, and so of the Posterity of Levi and not of J • dah, which seems to sound some prejudice to God's Promise and to Jacob's Prophecy, [ That the Scepter shall not depart from Judah, &c. ] Gen. 49.10. But it must be considered, that 1. The Tribe of Levi and of Benjamin were now (in the failure and falling away of the Ten Tribes ) Incorporated into this of Judah, from whence the whole Country was called Judea, and the whole People (of whatever Tribe they were) generally now were called Jews. 2ly. Notwithstanding the many Vicissitudes that attended the Jews after their Return from Babylon, wherein they had various Governors, some Constituted by the Kings of Persia (as well as of Babylon during the Seventy Years Captivity) and some chosen their Captain-Generals by the People as those Maccabees; yet the Chief Government was principally Seated in their Sanhedrim (commonly so called) or Synedrium, or Senate, (as Josephus and other Jewish Writers testify) in which though' some of the Tribe of Levi, &c. were mixed with the Tribe of Judah, yet that Council had their whole power to Sit and Act from Judah's Tribe, and so the Scepter did not depart from it, but still remained in it.

Remark the Second: Learned Diodate saith, That seeing this Name Asmoneus (which was Mattathias 's Name) signifies [ Baron or Great Lord ] in Hebrew; therefore 'tis probable, He and those Maccabees his Sons might look upon it as some sign of a modest Honor and Domination, though' through Corruption it grew up to the height of Sovereignty in Simon (one of the Sons) in his Time, and afterwards to Absolute Royalty, joined with the High Priesthood in Aristobulus and his Successors, but more of that in its proper Place. Pareus tells us, that this Mattathias was but a Priest and a private Person, yet when he saw all the Villanies acted by Antiochus in the Holy City, he was stirred up to take up just Arms against him, and was the first Man that gave a stop to his overflowing Fury in defense of his Country's Laws, and when dying in a good Old Age, he left and laid God's Charge upon his five Sons to prosecute with their utmost vigor the good Work he had begun; but Prideaux makes it an Inquiry, Whether Mattathias might himself execute an Apostate Jew by the Altar out of his zeal, seeing he was no Magistrate? N.B. No doubt but he did better in informing the Jews that they might lawfully defend themselves upon the Sabbath-day, after many of them had been Murder'd by the neglect of it when Assaulted by the Enemy.

Remark the Third; His Son Judas (called Maccabeus ) succeeded him, from whence sprang the Maccabean Principality (saith Pareus ) Annexed to the High-Priesthood, which lasted unto Herod's Time. This Priest's Son (that began the Principality of the Maccabees ) was compared to a Lion for Strength, to a Giant for Fight, and to a Devouring Flame for driving all down before him, and who always went to Praying before he began any one Battle, and by the power of Prayer annexed to his Spirit of Courage, He discomfited many vast Armies of his Adversaries: As 1. Apollonius; 2. Seron; 3. Ptolemy; 4. Nicanor; 5. Gorgias; and 6. Lysias, 2 Macc. 4.57. and 6.46, &c. Then having obtained all these wonderful Victories, without the loss of one Man on his side, or even to a Miracle (saith Pareus ) not so much as one of his Soldiers Wounded, he purgeth the Temple of that Idol Jupiter Olympius and all other Abominations that Antiochus had polluted it with; then having purified it according to the Law, in Memory thereof he appointed the Feast of Dedication, which our blessed Savior (saith Dr. Prideaux ) did afterward honor with his Presence, John 10.22. N.B. As Christ did so then, when the Temple was purged from the Pollutions of Antiochus, (that little Antichrist ) Oh how Glorious will Christ 's Presence be in his Temple when it shall be thoroughly purged from all the Abominations of the grand Antichrist, &c.

Remark the Fourth; Valiant and Victorious Judas (being basely Deserted by his own Men, when he with 800 gave Battle to Bacchides 's with his 20000 Foot and 2000 Horse, yet had almost (saith Cluverius ) won the Field, and had wholly Routed the Right Wing, &c. ) was himself (without his Run-away Men) soon enclosed, overpower'd, and slain by the Left Wing: Then his Brother Jonathan succeeds him, who with an handful of Men breaks through Bacchides 's great Army, endangers the General himself in his Eruption, and slays 1000 Enemies in his passage, swam over Jordan with his Company and so quitted himself, 2 Macc. 9.18, 37. Josephus lib. 13. cap. 1. Cluverius, Pareus, &c. but he and his Sons being slain by Treachery, his Brother Simon Priest ) was struck with a Dead Palsy by an Hand from Heaven as he was Demolishing the Sepulchers of God's Prophets in the Temple, and after Tryphon the Usurper had cheated him of 100 Talents, and after he had Ruled in Peace by making Peace with the Romans to over-awe the Syrians, he at last was basely betrayed at a Banquet in Jericho by Potolomy his Son-in-law, whom he had made Governor of that City: Then the third Brother Johannes Hircanus succeeded, and Reveng'd the Murder, in whose Principality and Priesthood Antiochus besieged him in Jerusalem in that Sabbatical or seventh Year, wherein the Land rested from Tillage, so that there was a sore Famine in the City; but Hircanus buys off the Siege with a sum of Money wherewith he was supplied out of David's Sepulcher, Josephus Antiq. 2 Macc. 13. and 14. and 15.16. after which he Demolished that Mock-Temple of the Samaritans upon Mount Gerezim (after it had stood 200 Years) and utterly razed Samaria for its fighting against the Jews, and in his Time (saith Pareus ) arose those three famous Sects of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes: N.B. The last of which (from Asa, Hebr. to consider) were a sort of Monks, pretending all for Contemplation, &c. and had all things in common amongst them. This was that Hircanus who besieged Treacherous Ptolemy in the Castle of Dagon, but left the Siege at the woeful sight of the Tortures of his Mother, who notwithstanding did animate him to pursue his purpose, Jos. Antiq. lib. 13. cap. 14, 15, 16.

Here follows the Third Dynasty in Judea; Hitherto the Maccabean Family the Asmonites had contented themselves with the Title of Chief Princes and of High Priests, but now they affected the Crown-Royal.

Remark the First: Aristobulus (the Eldest of Hircanus ) aspir'd at his Fathers Death to be Adorned with the Royal Diadem; in order hereunto, he first slew his Innocent Brethren, at the instigation of his Ambitious Wife Salome, and then starved to death his own Mother, pretending she aimed at the Kingdom; for which unnatural Acts, (saith Cluverius ) his own Conscience did so Torture and Torment him, that he soon died most miserably, after he had Usurped the Kingdom but one Year, verifying that Saying in Job, [The Triumph of the Wicked shall be short] Job 20.5. This Hypocrite was the first Priest or Levite that presumed (saith Dr. Willet ) to wear a Crown, though' never any of the Tribe of Judah Usurped the Mitre or presumed to the Priesthood, as saith the Apostle, Heb. 7.14. yet this Priest changed both the Priesthood and the Principality into a Royal Kingdom. N.B. He made himself the next King to Zedekiah after the Captivity; no wonder if he so soon vomited out his bloody Soul, yet this Succession of Kingship continued in his Line until Herod when Christ came.

Remark the Second; Pareus and Cluverius give this Account of the following Royal Successors: 1. Alexander Jannias succeeds his Brother Aristobulus in the Throne, when his Sister-in law Salome had released him out of Prison, for which he Marry'd the Widow and made himself the second King of the Jews; but the Pharisees (so called from their Separation, and then being a prevailing Faction with their Traditions) Reproached him as unworthy of the Royal Diadem, because he was born of a Captive Mother; for which high Affront he slew 50000 of them and their Partakers: Notwithstanding this Revenge, he (observing how that Sect led the Vulgar by the Nose) persuades his Wife Salome to strike in with them, and to be Ruled altogether by them, and to deliver his Body (now seized upon with an incurable quartan Ague of three Years continuance whereof he died) to them to be used at their pleasure; this being done by Salome, it so obliged the Pharisees whom he had so notoriously Disoblig'd, that they not only Interr'd him Honourably, but also made his Widow Queen, calling her Alexandra, under whom the Pharisees were so powerful, that they Ruled all, and put many good Men to Death for not favoring their Faction. This Queen made Hircanus (her Eldest Son ) High Priest, who drove his younger Brother Aristobulus out of all Command; but because Hircanus was looked upon as half-witted, a Dispute arose who should be King before Pompey the Great; He determines it for Hircanus to be their (third King) marches to Jerusalem to suppress the Opposers, Sacks the Temple, and lays open the Holy of Holies, then hasting to Rome carries Aristobulus along his Prisoner; but being Releas'd there by Julius Caesar, he being more Active and Accomplish'd, a Composition was made, that he should be their fourth King, and Hircanus content with his High-Priesthood. This Aristobulus the Second possessed two and twenty Castles with the Kingdom, though' Antipaeter ( Herod 's Father) attempted to restore Hircanus (the Elder Brother) to the Crown, yet siding with Julius Caesar in the Civil Wars against Pompey the Great, he was afterward poison'd by the Pompeian Party, leaving his Son Alexander to Reign in his stead, who made the fifth King of the Jews, and who making many Motions in Rebelling against the Roman Conquerors, and endeavoring to cast off the Roman Yoke, was at last Conquer'd, catched and beheaded by Pompey at Antioch.

N. B. 1. That Anna the Prophetess of whom we read Luke 2.36. became a Widow much about this Time, being 84 Years old, &c. ver. 37.

N. B. 2. This fifth King of the Jews Alexander had born to him by Alexandra ( Hircanus his Uncle's Daughter) the two Paragons of that Time for Beauty, Aristobulus and Mariamne, both Murder'd by Herod afterward.

N. B. 3. The Principality and Kingdom of the Maccabees or Asmoneans of the Line of David, here ended in Alexander, after they had (out of their own Ambitious Humour) Advanced themselves from the Priesthood to the Throne, and quarrelling one with another, they opened a way for the Romans to Invade and Subdue them, and to set up Herod an Edomite a King over them.

Remark the Third: The sixth King of the Jews was Herod, called the Great, an Idumean, and of a base Stock (faith Josephus ) but grew up into a very great Grandeur by the benign Influence and warm Sunshine of the Roman Sovereignty upon this Mushroom, insomuch as he was called Herodes Magnus: Pareus and Cluverius, &c. give this Narrative of Herod's Life; 1. That his Father was Antipater an Idumean (whom they also call an Ascalonite, from whom this grand Rascal proceeded:) However, his Original was so far out of a foreign Extract, that Josephus and the Domestic Jews looked upon Jacob's Prophecy (of the Departing of the Scepter from Judah) to be fulfilled in Herod's Usurpation. 2ly. Antipater Herod's Father being a Crafty Fox, first sided with Pompey against Caesar while he seemed to be the strongest side, but afterwards he wheeled about to assist Caesar in his Alexandrian War, and being successful, Caesar made him Governor over all Judea, who Repaired the Walls of Jerusalem that Pompey had Demolish'd, setting his Eldest Son Phaselus over Jerusalem, and Herod his Younger Son over Galilee; but Antipater being poisoned by one Malichus, and Phaselus dashing out his own Brains (saith Josephus ) Herod, by the help of the Roman Senate, becomes King of Judah. 3ly. As Herod (while young) did Patrizare, being a Crafty Fox like his Father, and Marry'd Mariamne, matchless for Beauty, and one of the Blood-Royal, to fit him for wearing the Crown-Royal, &c. so he exceeded his Father in becoming also a Cruel Tiger; for perceiving the Jews uneasy to have a Stranger King over them, by Mark Anthony 's means (whom he had well bribed) he Murders all the Blood-Royal that might question his Title to the Throne; amongst which were 1. Hircanus at 80 Years old, returning from Banishment when Herod had Marry'd Alexander 's fair Daughter Mariamne: 2. Beautiful Aristobulus (his Wife's Brother, whom he invited to a Feast at Jericho, and there in Sport was Duck'd to death by his fellow-Swimmers whom Herod had Suborned for that end; and this was done without any cause, but only because Herod had made him the High Priest, and perceiving that he became a dear Darling to the Jewish People; this was enough to make him the Object of that Crafty and Cruel King Herod 's Hatred. Nor 3ly did he spare his dearest Wife Mariamne, that Paragon of Beauty, but Executed her, together with her Mother Alexandra; for pretended Treason. 4ly. This Herod caused Hezekiah an Highway-man, with many of his Associates, to be slain, though' not Condemned by due course of Law; this so incensed the Sanhedrim, that they sent out their Warrants to bring him to Justice for meddling with their Authority: But he was grown now too stiff-neck'd for such a Curb, for he came with a strong Guard to over-awe them▪ for which Old Simeon (called the Just ) told him to his Teeth, that he deserved Death for so doing, &c. This so enraged Haughty Herod against them, that he could never be at quiet until he had killed all that Grand Council, except Old Simeon, who escaped, being preserved by God's Providence to embrace Christ (that beautiful Babe of Bethlehem ) and to Prophesy of his Salvation, Luke 2. 25, to 31. N. B. Herod this bloody Raskalonite, stands Stigmatiz'd upon Record in all Histories, for his being 1. a Cruel King, in killing his own Subjects of all sizes, gentle and simple: 2. A Crueler Son-in-law, for Murdering Alexandra his Mother-in-law, and Hircanus his Queen's Grand-father: And 3ly. the Gruelest Husband, in Murdering Mariamne his own fair Wife and Queen. 4ly. That he might become Unparellel'd, he steps one Degree higher than the Superlative (the highest Degree) in murdering three of his own Sons by Mariamne, who was his principal Queen among his nine Wives, &c. Hereupon Augustus Caesar broke this Jest upon Herod, [Praestare Herodis Porcum esse quam filium] 'It is better to be Herod's Hog than his Son: So he was more than the cruelest Father to his own Natural Sons.

Remark the Fourth: While Herod was thus wallowing in the blood of his own Relations (saith Cluverius ) and in the blood of the Jews in general, principally projecting to keep the Jews in Subjection, and if possible, to Suppress the Posterity of David, or at least to keep them low, forasmuch as it was a certain and believed Truth among the Jews, that Messiah the Prince, Dan. 9.26. should shortly come out of that Royal Family: Even at that time the Great God, commiserating the miserable Jews, yea and all the whole Universe of mankind, sent that bright and Morning Star his Son Christ into the World; namely, in the very Time when Herod the King was strutting about in his most Ruffling Grandeur, Matth. 2.1. Dying Red his Royal Robes with the blood of his own People, and when the Scepter was departed from Judah, according to Jacob 's Prophecy, Gen. 49.10. and when the Church of the Jews was at the lowest ebb, scarce four or fewer were found waiting for the Consolation of Israel, Luke 2.25. yea, and when among the poor Gentiles a plentiful Harvest of the Elect was now ready Ripe, Matth. 9.37. Luke 10.2. John 4.35. even then came the Prince of Peace into the World, when all was at peace through the World.

Remark the Fifth; The fulfilling of Jacob's Prophecy, Gen. 49.10. at this Time doth confirm our Christian Faith that Christ is come 1600 Years ago; and it doth confute the Cavils of the Jews, pretending still to have Princes of David's Line; but these Pretences are mere Impostures, seeing their Genealogies are perished, their Tribes confounded, and themselves holding no Scepter-like Sway in any Land where they lay scattered as Slaves, in a manner Hated of all Mankind ever since their City and Temple was Destroy'd by Titus Vespasian, which was an infallible Evidence that Christ was come; and because they had Crucify'd him, therefore an utter Desolation came upon them. N. B. These are plain Truths; 1. That Jacob foretold, when once the Scepter came to Judah (prevailing over his Brethren, 1 Chron. 5.2) it should not depart from it till Shilo came, as it had done from Levi in Moses, from Benjamin in Saul, and before that from other Tribes in the Judges, &c. 2. That David (of Judah's Tribe ) began not to Reign till 656 Years after Jacob's Day, but when once begun, it should continue in David's Line till Christ came, David's Son and the Lion of that Tribe, Rev. 5.5. 3ly. Tho' in this Interval there was some Interruption of the Succession, as in the 70 Years Captivity (which was rather a Sleep than a Death of that Government) yet after this Interregnum it awaked and was Reviv'd in Zerubbabel of that Line, as it had (before him ) some Revivings in Jehoakin, 2 Kings 25.27. and in Daniel of David's Seed, Dan. 1.3. and 2.25. and 5.13. and in Nehemiah, whom Eusebius affirms to be of Judah's Tribe. 4ly. From Zerubbabel it continued in Judah 270 Years, until the Maccabees (of Levi ) took upon them the Government as High-Priests, and at last as Kings, who might be (saith Bouldac ) of Judah by their Mothers, &c. 5ly. These Reigned till the Roman Senate thrust in Herod the Askalonite, whom Menochius calls not a King but a Tyrant. 6ly. The Sanhedrim (consisting chiefly of Judah lasted long after Herod, retaining some Power till the Temple, &c. were Destroyed, as appeareth from Matth. 23.34. John 18.31. and 19.7. Acts 5.17. and 7.59. and 9.1, 2. and 23.5. See River, Mede, Helvicus, &c.

Remark the Sixth, Concerning this bloody Butcher (Herod the Great ) Pareus, Claverius, &c. give this Narrative of his Tragical Catastrophe; though' this Tiger-like Tyrant was Magnificent in Buildings, especially in Enlarging the Court of the Gentiles belonging to the Temple: The Outward Work was eight Years in building, 100 Cubits Long and 120 High, with large Porches and Marble Pillars; and the Inward Work was a Year and five Months more in Adorning it with Stately Ornaments within, finishing it in the 28th. Year of his Reign, and nine Years before Christ Assumed the Temple of his Body in the Virgins Womb, John 2.19, 21. This show of Piety the Hypocrite Herod made in the midst of his Matchless Impieties, designing his good Deeds might expiate and outweigh his bad ones; yet Divine Vengeance pursued him like a Blood-hound, and at last did seize upon him, Stigmatizing him with a black Brand of a most miserable Death, the end of his most monstrous and matchless Life in all manner of Villanies: For after he had been the Butcher of Hircanus his Father-in-law, of Alexandra his Mother-in-law, of Mariamne his own Wife, as above, and of his two Sons Aristobulus and Alexander, being falsely Accused by Salome his Sister, and Antipater their Brother, whom within five Days before his Death he Strangl'd for preparing Poison for his own Father: And while Herod was thus raging against his own Bowels, he hears of Christ's Birth, which did so disturb him, that in a Rage he mercilessly Butcher'd the Infants of Bethlehem, &c. this filled up his Ephah: Tho' before he had escaped many Conspiracies, yet now the heavy Hand of God smote him with a Ph • enzy and with an horrible and loathsome Disease, even of a complication of Maladies: As 1. An Intolerable burning within his Breast, that nothing could quench, so that he was in Hell-fire before hand. 2. A Dog-like Appetite, which no Food could suffice. 3. A most grievous Griping of the Guts. 4. His Privy Parts so putrefy'd, that abundance of Worms were engendered and came crawling-forth from the lower part of his rotten Belly. 5. Beside, a most grievous Tormenting Flux at his Fundament. 6. A most Violent Cramp over all the parts of his Body, intolerable to Human Nature. 7. A short and stinking Breath, loathsome to all about him: He sent for Physicians from all Parts, who prescribed Hot Baths of Calliroe for his Cure, but finding no Ease thereby, he sought to lay violent hands upon himself (as he had done at that time upon his Wicked Son Antipater ) feeling his Torments still increasing, but at last his Rotten Body after a long Torture, breathed out his bloody Soul in insufferable Extreamity, leaving his Kingdom to his Son Archelaus, Matth. 2.20, 22. who shortly after was Accused by the Jews to Augustus for his Tyranny and misplacing the Mitre of the Pontificate upon worthless Priests, for which he was Banish'd to Vienna. Sic exit Tyrannus & Tyranni filius, & six incipt Christus Dei Omnipotentis filius; Herod goes off the Stage in a Stink, and the sweet Savior of the World comes upon it, whose most Illustrious Life follows next to be Related in the New Testament Times. Here End the Times of the Old Testament.