not come_! The reason assigned by the Jewish Rabbis for this long delay, is that their sins have prevented his coming! This grievous falsification of their famous Doctor’s prediction, has made them so ashamed of their traditions, that they have pronounced a curse upon all who dare to calculate the times: ‏קצין מחשבי תפחרוחן של‎—“Animam exhalent illi qui supputant terminos.” On this and other curious matters relating to the Hebrew chronology, see Father Le Quien’s “Defense du Texte Hébreu et de la Vulgate,” reprinted in the “Cours Complet,” vol. iii. pp. 1525–1586.[33] CHAPTER IV. CYCLICAL CHARACTER OF THE MUNDANE TIMES. 1. The Revolutions of the Heavenly bodies appointed for Cycles—Origin of the cycles of the year and the month—The subject of Enoch’s prophecy—Mr. Cuninghame’s discovery of the cycle from the Creation to the Era of Redemption—Scriptural Cycles of frequent occurrence—The numbers of Jubilee and of Pentecost—of Pilgrimage and Persecution—of Omnipotence, glory, and wisdom; and of mystery, vengeance, and forgiveness—The prophetic numbers of Daniel—Discovery of their connection with the Higher Cycles of Astronomy, by M. de Chesaux and Mr. Cuninghame The true system of chronology receives its grandest confirmation from the cyclical character of the times appointed by (ὁ πατηρ τῶν ἀιῶνων) the Father of the ages. In Genesis i. 14, the word of God created two luminaries in the firmament of Heaven, for giving light upon the earth, and for separating day and night; and, _for signs, and times, and days and years_! Thus early were the phenomena of the sun and moon appointed to indicate the arrangements of Divine providence, as well as to regulate the ordinary periods of time. Before man, however, could understand the nature of these periods as they were gradually unfolded by the revolutions of the heavenly bodies, or by the still higher cycles of prophecy which were afterwards revealed to God’s chosen people, the _natural_ division of the day, and the _sacred_ division of the week were appointed for his observance. The origin of the year is considered by the learned as involved in obscurity; but we think there is a striking indication of its length in the life of Enoch. This favoured Patriarch lived a year of years on earth, that is, a year of 365 prophetic days; and he himself was a prophet, who, by the Spirit of God, was enabled to see far into the womb of futurity. It is also very remarkable that, according to Mr. Cuninghame’s singular discoveries, the birth of Him, who was the great subject of Enoch’s prophecy, took place at a period of _fifteen_ years of years, or _fifteen_ years of prophetic days from the creation! The origin of the month is referable to the same age; for we recognize the month of _thirty_ days in the account of the year of the Deluge; and, a period of four prophetic months, or 120