I am sorry to see the little success we have had in
our first search after the end of the World, from
Astronomical Calculations. But 'tis an useful piece
of knowledge to know the bounds of our knowledge;
that so we may not spend our time and thoughts
about things that lie out of our reach. I have little
or no hopes of resolving this point by the Light of
Nature, and therefore it only remains now to enquire,
Whether Providence hath made it known by any sort
of Prophecy or Revelation. Which shall be the Subject of the following Chapter.
CHAP. V
Concerning Prophecies that determine the end of
the World; Of what order soever, Prophane or
Sacred: Jewish or Christian. That no certain
judgment can be made from any of them, at
what distance we are now from the Conflagration.
THE bounds of humane knowledge are so narrow, and the desire of knowing so vast and illimited, that it often puts Mankind upon irregular
methods of inlargeing their knowledge. This hath
made them find out arts of commerce with evil Spirits, to be instructed by them in such Events as they
could not of themselves discover. We meddle not with
those mysteries of iniquity: but what hath appear'd
under the notion of Divine Prophecy, relating to the
Chronology of the World: giving either the whole
extent of it, or certain marks of its expiration: these
we purpose to examine in this place. How far any
thing may, or may not, be concluded from them, as
to the resolution of our Problem, How long the World
will last.
