Both Accounts make the Captivity to end in the ſeventieth Year according to the Scripture, But now the former Account makes it one hundred and nine Years between Cyrus his Decree, and Darius his Decree ; all which time the Temple by this Account lay deſolate, without a Prophet to ſtir them up to their Duty of building the Tem- ple. Now is this probable ? Can it be reaſonably ſuppos'd that the Temple ſhould ſo long lie waſte afrer they were ſent our of Babylon purpoſely to build it ? Or rhat they ſhould be ſo long in that Con- dition without a Prophet ? But now the latter Account reckons ſe- venteen Years between Cyrys and Darias his Decrce for bur{ding the Temple, a ſpace of Time cafily conceived likely to paſs while the Fews did not build 3 nay, were forbidden by Cambyſes (in Scripture called Artaxerxes) Vice-Roy to his Father Cyrus (engaged in Foreign Wars) all the time Cyrus lived after he gave out the Decree, which ſome make more, ſome leſs ; bur who make the likelieft Gueſs, for ought I know, make it five Years : whether Cyrus taken up with theſe Wars, did know of this Prohibition, or thought not good to take it off till he return'd Conqueror, I know not ; but he died and letr this Ear on the Work, which continued all Cammbyſes his Reign, and unto the ſecond Year of his Succeſſor Darius Hyſtsſpis. Now if this were ſeventeen, the moſt, ſome ſay but fifreen, others but twelve Years, it i5 very Probable, whereas one hundred and nine Years is utterly improbable. - Beſides this, ler us view what Age thoſe niany or few were of, by theſe different Accounts, who lived to ſee the Temple re-cedified. It in Darius Nothus's Time, they could be no !efs than 18s, allowing them to be fixteen at the burning of the Temple thus, fixtcen when the Temple was burnt, thence fixty to Cyrus's Decree, 2nd thence 105 to Darius Nothus his Decree. But
animate each other, that all the People of the Land may take heart with you. t Forthwith ſerabour the building of the Temple. « Both to-defend you from Enemies, to ſuppiy you with Neceflaries, to bleſs and accept you, vid. ch. I. 13.
5 According 10 the word x that I covenanted y with you when ye came out of Egypt 2, ſo my ſpirit 2 re- maineth bþ among you : fear ye not c.
x Eithcr the word of Promiſe to give them his Preſence, and to carry them through all Oppoſition 3 or, the word, the Son of God promiſed to them and us, ſo it refers to Chriſt, in whom all the Pro- miſes are Yea and Amen. y In ſolemneſt manner reduced to the Form and Model of a Covenant,that it might be ſure and firm to you, as to your Fathers in whoſe time made this Covenant, and with you in them. xz When I brought you ought of Egyp?, the Houſe of Bon- dage. a Ot Strength and Courage, of Wiſdom and Underſtanding, of Zeal and: Fervency to carry you through this Work. 6 Still doth dwell in you, ſhall be continued to you, and give DireQion and Suc- ceſs. c Let no diſcouraging Surmiſes ſettle in your Mind, or weaken your Hands. There were as many Improbabilities lay in bar to your getting out of Egyp?r, yet my Word, Covenant and Spirit overcame = 4 fear not therefore, I am the ſame, and with you, as with your
athers.
and the earth h, and the lea z, and the dry land #.
d After many Repetitions and Confirmations of the New Covenant, one more Repetition, and but one morereſtsto be made. e Compa- ratively 'twas little, though 517 Years from the ſecond of Dartus Hy- ſtaſpis to the Incarnation of Chriſt, a long time ro us who are ſhort liv'd,and ſhort ſighted, bur a little time compared with that between the firſt Promiſe ro Adam, and Chriſt's coming; or take any other ſhorter Period, as between Abraham or David,and Chrift, this laſt Pe- riod is ſhort, a little while. f Whether it be metaphorical or litera], it was verified at the time of Chriſt's Coming into the World. After the Return of the Captivity, what with the Commotioos among the
by the latter Account their Age ameunts but to nincty five Years,,| Grecians, Perſians and Romans, which began ſoon after this time the
which appears thus; ſixteen at the time the Temple was burnt, thence ttxty to Cyrus his Decree, thence ſeventcen to Darius Hyſta- {vis his Decree 5, in all aincry five, which though a great Ape,yert not improtable at that time, though the othcr (185) be improbable. Be- fucs,how iew through 15g Years can diftinaly remember what they
Prophec points at, this was metaphorically fulfilled, all States were ſhaken either with Invaſions from abroad, or- inteſtine Diſſenſ19n5 among themſelves : Literally it was fulfilled by Prodigies and Earth quakes, 7c. a5 ſome have obſerved and recounted at the Birth, Death
| and ReſuireQtion of Chrilt, g Either States and ————_ = orld,
Chap. 11
of the month, came the word of the LORD + by tHe.
* 7s 17 not in your eyes Þ in compariſon of it, as no. *
= ">
6 For thus faith the LORD of hoſts, * Yet once &, +1: it zs 4 little e while, and I will ſhake f the heavens g, fe"
ha
this ſec were ſomery' higher ficence Gc.sa to come was def was pre: 70 Yea Houſe, ] Interna] which d Peace 0 aives it the Lord Io ( 7nth | of the This ti or Sermi d:ficult and tivo 1 and Dece, 4. and ve;
« [0, IT 1 the pri 73, prie
e The 1
Of his ow! with, def bound the their Lips In the Caf, I2 [It g4rment. Or wine, iN! priet i Any C * Part of ti holy by the 1s ſuppoſed Lapof his « Cloth touc! thing by fuc theſe Prie | ſome amon PlOpofe the live ; for nd could make
Chap. 1].
Church-Afffairs, which in Scripture are called the Heayens, ings oh Heavens, and the Firmament. h Which either figu- o rively or literally taken, will agree well with the Text, and the Hi- 19 of Times. # Sea, one 'patt of, that is called Earth, this lower Globe. þ The other part of this inferiour World, and both may 2s former words be literally or figuratively taken, and which better, 7 do not undertake to determine.
- And I will ſhake all nations /, and the defire of all os {hall come m2, and I will fill- this houle z with
glory 0, {aith the LORD of hoſts p.