18. “In the same time,” saith he, “the said prince is said, verse 27, ‘for the overspreading of abominations to make desolate ;’ a phrase attributed unto Antichrist, chap. viii. 12, 13, xi. 31, there said to set up the ‘abomination making desolate.’ ”
Ans. Although, great desolations and destructions being treated of in all these places, it would not be strange if the same author should express the alike events in the same terms, yet those which we are referred unto are not the same in the original, nor of any considerable correspondency. And the like may be said of another instance, which he adds in the ninth place, between an expression, chap. ix. 27, xi. 36, wherein is no agreement at all, and the places treat directly of things different, yea, contrary.
19. It is added in the last place, “ That as, in the seventy weeks, the division of the seven from the sixty-two, and of both from the one week, are inapplicable to the material restoration out of real Babylon, so they will exactly and precisely agree to the restoration out of anti- christian Babylon, as shall be showed.”
Ans. (1.) That the distribution of the seventy weeks mentioned in the text is applicable unto the continuance of the Judaical church and state, with the coming of the Messiah and the accomplishment of his work, hath been in part already showed, and shall be fully cleared in our ensuing exposition of the place. (2.) Unto the exact answering of it unto the restoration of the church from antichristianism, I shall only say, that if men may be allowed to fix epochs arbitrarily at their pleasure, and make application of what is spoken in any place of
316 DANIEL’S PROPHECY VINDICATED. [EXERO. XIV.
Scripture unto what things and persons they please, there is no doubt but that they may make their own imaginations to adhere and agree well enough together.
20. This brief view we have taken of the reasons of this reverend author, both those whereby he endeavours to prove that in this pro- phecy the coming of the Messiah is not intended, and those whereby he would induce a persuasion that the whole of it is not only appli- cable unto, but also doth directly intend, the state and condition of the church in these latter days; whereby whether he hath evinced his intention, and whether his arguments are sufficient to dispossess us of the catholic faith of the church in all ages concerning the sense and importance of this angelical message unto Daniel, is left unto the judgment of men sober and learned. For my part, I shall take it for granted that they are all of them so far removed out of our way as that we may proceed with our designed explication and vindica- tion of this prophecy from the exceptions of the Jews, without any disturbance from them.
21. There are three things that in this illustrious prophecy offer themselves unto our consideration:—First, The general testimony given unto the coming of the Messiah, and the limitation of time wherein he should so come.
Secondly, The especial sense of the words in the several passages of it, and the distinct prophecies contained in them.
Thirdly, The chronological computation of the time designed, in an exact account of the space of time limited from the beginning unto the end.
The first of these is that wherein principally we have to do with the Jews, namely, to prove from hence that there was a time limited and determined for the coming of the Messiah, which is long since expired. And all things herein we shall find clear and evident. Both the space of time limited and the several coincidences of ‘its expiration are sufficiently manifest. In the second also we have to deal with them, in order unto the confirmation of the former. In both these the later masters have studiously endeavoured to cast difficulties and perplexities on the words; which must be removed, by the consideration of their use and genuine importance, with the scope of the prophecy, and the help unto the understanding of it which is contributed from other places of Scripture. The third is attended with sundry entanglements, which, although they are not ab- solutely “inextricable,” yet are such, in respect of some minute parts of calculation, as will not suffer us to [assert] so demonstrative a certainty as that all men should be compelled to acquiesce therein. This is sufficiently manifested in the different calculations of the most learned of the ancient and later writers who have laboured on this subject. In reference, therefore, hereunto I shall do these
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two things ;—first, manifest that our argument from this place is not at all concerned in the exact chronological computation of the times whereunto the accomplishment of this prophecy relates; and, secondly, demonstrate that this difficulty is conquerable, by giving a clear and satisfactory account of the time specified and limited, such as is not liable unto any material objection.
22. First, It is evident in general that here is given out by the Holy Ghost himself a computation of the time wherein the Messiah was to come and to perform the work allotted unto him. And this gives warrant unto the kind and nature of argument which we now insist upon. No small part this was of the church’s treasure of old, and a blessed guide it would have been unto the faith and obedience of them concerned therein, had it been diligently attended unto; but having sinfully neglected it in its season, they have ever since wickedly opposed it. To Daniel it was granted, as a great favour, relief, and privilege, upon his deep humiliation and fervent suppli- cations, as himself records. ‘“Whiles,” saith he, “I was speaking, and praying” (“with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes,” chap. ix. 3), “and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LorpD my God for the holy mountain of my God; yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, Iam now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. Seventy weeks,” etc, verses 20-27. This was the answer that God gave him upon his great and fervent prayer for the church, and that for his relief, comfort, and support- ment; whence it is evidently manifest that the great blessing of the chureh was inwrapped init. And the computation of time mentioned was granted as a light to guide the Jews, that they might not ship- wreck their souls at the appointed season. But when the time of its accomplishment drew nigh, they, being generally grown dark and carnal, and filled with prejudices against the proper work of the Messiah, wholly disregarded it. And since the misery that is come upon them for not discerning this time and judgment, most of them do ery out against all computations of time about the coming of the Messiah, although they are plainly called and directed thereunto by God himself; neither can they conceal the vexation which from hence they receive, by finding the design of the prophecy so directly against them. Hence this place of Daniel as to the time of the coming of the Messiah, and the 53d chapter of Isaiah for his office and work, are justly esteemed the racks and tortures of the rabbins,