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recorded in the antient catalogues. Hipparchus observed a new Star
about 120 years before Christ; but he has not mentioned in what
part of the Heavens it was seen, although it occasioned his making a
catalogue of the Stars; which is the most antient that we have.
New Stars. The first New Star that we have any good
account of, was discovered by Cornelius
Gemma on the 8th of November A. D. 1572, in the Chair of
Cassiopea. It surpassed Sirius in brightness and magnitude; and was
seen for 16 months successively. At first it appeared bigger than
Jupiter to some eyes, by which it was seen even at mid-day:
afterwards it decayed gradually both in magnitude and lustre, until
March 1573, when it became invisible.
On the 13th of August 1596, David Fabricius observed the Stella
Mira, or wonderful Star, in the Neck of the Whale; which has been
since found to appear and disappear periodically, seven times in six
years, continuing in its greatest lustre for 15 days together; and is
never quite extinguished.
In the year 1600, William Jansenius discovered a changeable Star
in the Neck of the Swan; which, in time became so small as to be
thought to disappear entirely, till the years 1657, 1658, and 1659,
when it recovered its former lustre and magnitude; but soon
decayed, and is now of the smallest size.
In the year 1604 Kepler and several of his friends saw a new Star
near the heel of the right foot of Serpentarius, so bright and
sparkling that it exceeded any thing they had ever seen before; and
took notice that it was every moment changing into some of the
colours of the rainbow, except when it was near the horizon, at
which time it was generally white. It surpassed Jupiter in magnitude,
which was near it all the month of October, but easily distinguished
from it by a steady light. It disappeared between October 1605 and
the February following, and has not been seen since that time.
In the year 1670, July 15, Hevelius discovered a new Star, which
in October was so decayed as to be scarce perceptible. In April
following it regained its lustre, but wholly disappeared in August. In
March 1672 it was seen again, but very small; and has not been
visible since.
In the year 1686 a new Star was discovered by Kirch, which
returns periodically in 404 days.
In the year 1672, Cassini saw a Star in the Neck of the Bull, which
he thought was not visible in Tycho’s time; nor when Bayer made his
Figures.
Cannot be Comets. 404. Many Stars, besides those above-
mentioned, have been observed to change
their magnitudes: and as none of them could ever be perceived to
have tails, ’tis plain they could not be Comets; especially as they had
no parallax, even when largest and brightest. It would seem that the
periodical Stars have vast clusters of dark spots, and very slow
rotations on their Axis; by which means, they must disappear when
the side covered with spots is turned towards us. And as for those
which break out all of a sudden with such lustre, ’tis by no means
improbable that they are Suns whose Fuel is almost spent, and again
supplied by some of their Comets falling upon them, and occasioning
an uncommon blaze and splendor for some time: which indeed
appears to be the greatest use of the cometary part of any
system[86].
Some Stars change Some of the Stars, particularly Arcturus,
their Places. have been observed to change their places
above a minute of a degree with respect to others. But whether this
be owing to any real motion in the Stars themselves, must require
the observations of many ages to determine. If our solar System
changeth its Place, with regard to absolute space, this must in
process of time occasion an apparent change in the distances of the
Stars from each other: and in such a case, the places of the nearest
Stars to us being more affected than of those which are very
remote, their relative positions must seem to alter, though the Stars
themselves were really immoveable. On the other hand, if our own
system be at rest, and any of the Stars in real motion, this must vary
their positions; and the more so, the nearer they are to us, or the
swifter their motions are; or the more proper the direction of their
motion is, for our perception.
The Ecliptic less 405. The obliquity of the Ecliptic to the
oblique now to the Equinoctial is found at present to be above
Equator than a third part of a degree less than Ptolemy
formerly.
found it. And most of the observers after
him found it to decrease gradually down to Tycho’s time. If it be
objected, that we cannot depend on the observations of the
antients, because of the incorrectness of their Instruments; we have
to answer, that both Tycho and Flamsteed are allowed to have been
very good observers: and yet we find that Flamsteed makes this
obliquely 21⁄2 minutes of a degree less than Tycho did, about 100
years before him: and as Ptolemy was 1324 years before Tycho, so
the gradual decrease answers nearly to the difference of time
between these three Astronomers. If we consider, that the Earth is
not a perfect sphere, but an oblate spheroid, having its Axis shorter
than its Equatoreal diameter; and that the Sun and Moon are
constantly acting obliquely upon the greater quantity of matter
about the Equator, pulling it, as it were, towards a nearer and nearer
co-incidence with the Ecliptic; it will not appear improbable that
these actions should gradually diminish the Angle between those
Planes. Nor is it less probable that the mutual attractions of all the
Planets should have a tendency to bring the planes of all their Orbits
to a co-incidence: but this change is too small to become sensible in
many ages.
 CHAP. XXI.

Of the Division of Time. A perpetual Table of New Moons. The Times of the Birth
and Death of Christ. A Table of remarkable Æras or Events.

406. The parts of time are Seconds, Minutes, Hours, Days, Years, Cycles, Ages, and Periods.
A Year. 407. The original standard, or integral measure of Time, is a year; which is
determined by the Revolution of some Celestial Body in its Orbit, viz. the Sun
or Moon.
Tropical Year. 408. The time measured by the Sun’s Revolution in the Ecliptic, from any
Equinox or Solstice to the same again, is called the Solar or Tropical Year,
which contains 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes 57 seconds; and is the only proper or natural year,
because it always keeps the same seasons to the same months.
Sidereal year. 409. The quantity of time, measured by the Sun’s Revolution, as from any
fixed Star to the same Star again, is called the Sidereal Year; which contains
365 days 6 hours 9 minutes 141⁄2 seconds; and is 20 minutes 171⁄2 seconds longer than the true Solar
Year.
Lunar Year. 410. The time measured by twelve Revolutions of the Moon, from the Sun to
the Sun again, is called the Lunar Year; it contains 354 days 8 hours 48
minutes 37 seconds; and is therefore 10 days 21 hours 0 minutes 20 seconds shorter than the Solar
Year. This is the foundation of the Epact.
Civil Year. 411. The Civil Year is that which is in common use among the different
nations of the world; of which, some reckon by the Lunar, but most by the
Solar. The Civil Solar Year contains 365 days, for three years running, which are called Common Years;
and then comes in what is called the Bissextile or Leap-Year, which contains 366 days. This is also called
the Julian Year on account of Julius Cæsar, who appointed the Intercalary-day every fourth year,
thinking thereby to make the Civil and Solar Year keep pace together. And this day, being added to the
23d of February, which in the Roman Calendar, was the sixth of the Calends of March, that sixth day
was twice reckoned, or the 23d and 24th were reckoned as one day; and was called Bis sextus dies,
and thence came the name Bissextile for that year. But in our common Almanacks this day is added at
the end of February.
Lunar Year. 412. The Civil Lunar Year is also common or intercalary. The common Year
consists of 12 Lunations, which contain 354 days; at the end of which, the year
begins again. The Intercalary, or Embolimic Year is that wherein a month was added, to adjust the
Lunar Year to the Solar. This method was used by the Jews, who kept their account by the Lunar
Motions. But by intercalating no more than a month of 30 days, which they called Ve-Adar, every third
year, they fell 33⁄4 days short of the Solar Year in that time.
Roman Year. 413. The Romans also used the Lunar Embolimic Year at first, as it was
settled by Romulus their first King, who made it to consist only of ten months
or Lunations; which fell 61 days short of the Solar Year, and so their year became quite vague and
unfixed; for which reason, they were forced to have a Table published by the High Priest, to inform
them when the spring and other seasons began. But Julius Cæsar, as already mentioned, § 411, taking
this troublesome affair into consideration, reformed the Calendar, by making the year to consist of 365
days 6 hours.
The original of the 414. The year thus settled, is what we still make use of in Britain: but as it is
Gregorian, or New somewhat more than 11 minutes longer than the Solar Tropical Year, the times
Style. of the Equinoxes go backward, and fall earlier by one day in about 130 years.
In the time of the Nicene Council (A. D. 325.) which was 1431 years ago, the vernal Equinox fell on the
21st of March: and, if we divide 1431 by 130, it will quote 11, which is the number of days the Equinox
has fallen back since the Council of Nice. This causing great disturbances, by unfixing the times of the
celebration of Easter, and consequently of all the other moveable Feasts, Pope Gregory the 13th, in the
year 1582 ordered ten days to be at once struck out of that year; and the next day after the fourth of
October was called the fifteenth. By this means the vernal Equinox was restored to the 21st of March;
and it was endeavoured, by the omission of three intercalary days in 400 years, to make the civil or
political year keep pace with the Solar for time to come. This new form of the year is called the
Gregorian Account or New Style; which is received in all Countries where the Pope’s Authority is
acknowledged, and ought to be in all places where truth is regarded.
Months. 415. The principal division of the year is into Months, which are of two sorts,
namely Astronomical and Civil. The Astronomical month is the time in which
the Moon runs through the Zodiac, and is either Periodical or Synodical. The Periodical Month is the time
spent by the Moon in making one compleat Revolution from any point of the Zodiac to the same again;
which is 27d 7h 43m. The Synodical Month, called a Lunation, is the time contained between the Moon’s
parting with the Sun at a Conjunction, and returning to him again; which is in 29d 12h 44m. The Civil
Months are those which are framed for the uses of Civil life; and are different as to their names, number
of days, and times of beginning, in several different Countries. The first month of the Jewish Year fell
according to the Moon in our August and September, Old Style; the second in September and October,
and so on. The first month of the Egyptian Year began on the 29th of our August. The first month of
the Arabic and Turkish Year began the 16th of July. The first month of the Grecian Year fell according to
the Moon in June and July, the second in July and August, and so on, as in the following Table.
No The Jewish year. Days No The Egyptian year. Days
1 Tisri Aug.-Sept. 30 1 Thoth August 29 30
Septemb.
2 Marchesvan Sept.-Oct. 29 2 Paophi 30
28
3 Casleu Oct.-Nov. 30 3 Athir October 28 30
4 Tebeth Nov.-Dec. 29 4 Chojac Novemb. 27 30
5 Shebat Dec.-Jan. 30 5 Tybi Decemb. 27 30
6 Adar Jan.-Feb. 29 6 Mechir January 26 30
7 Nisan or Abib Feb.-Mar. 30 7 Phamenoth Februar. 25 30
8 Jiar Mar.-Apr. 29 8 Parmuthi March 27 30
9 Sivan April-May 30 9 Pachon April 26 30
10 Tamuz May-June 29 10 Payni May 26 30
11 Ab June-July 30 11 Epiphi June 25 30
12 Elul July-Aug. 29 12 Mesori July 25 30
Epagomenæ or days
Days in the year 354> 5
added
In the _Embolimic year after Adar they added a month called Ve-Adar
Days in the year 365
of 30 days.

No The Arabic and Turkish year. Days No The ancient Grecian year. Days
1 Muharram July 16 30 1 Hecatombæon June-July 30
2 Saphar August 15 29 2 Metagitnion July-Aug. 29
3 Rabia I. Septemb. 13 30 3 Boedromion Aug.-Sept. 30
4 Rabia II. October 13 29 4 Pyanepsion Sept.-Oct. 29
5 Jomada I. Novemb. 11 30 5 Mæmacterion Oct.-Nov. 30
6 Jomada II. Decemb. 11 29 6 Posideon Nov.-Dec. 29
7 Rajab January 9 30 7 Gamelion Dec.-Jan. 30
8 Shasban February 8 29 8 Anthesterion Jan.-Feb. 29
9 Ramadan March 9 30 9 Elapheloblion Feb.-Mar. 30
10 Shawal April 8 29 10 Munichion Mar.-Apr. 29
11 Dulhaadah May 7 30 11 Thargelion April-May 30
12 Dulheggia June 5 29 12 Schirrophorion May-June 29
Days in the year 354 Days in the year 354
The Arabians add 11 days at the end of every year, which keep the same months to the same
seasons.
Weeks 416. A month is divided into four parts called Weeks, and a Week into seven
parts called Days; so that in a Julian Year there are 13 such Months, or 52 Weeks, and one Day over.
The Gentiles gave the names of the Sun, Moon, and Planets to the Days of the Week. To the first, the
Name of the Sun; to the second, of the Moon; to the third, of Mars; to the fourth, of Mercury; to the
fifth, of Jupiter; and to the sixth, of Saturn.
Days 417. A Day is either Natural or Artificial. The Natural Day contains 24 hours;
the Artificial the time from Sun-rise to Sun-set. The Natural Day is either
Astronomical or Civil. The Astronomical Day begins at Noon, because the increase and decrease of Days
terminated by the Horizon are very unequal among themselves; which inequality is likewise augmented
by the inconstancy of the horizontal Refractions § 183: and therefore the Astronomer takes the Meridian
for the limit of diurnal Revolutions; reckoning Noon, that is the instant when the Sun’s Center is on the
Meridian, for the beginning of the Day. The British, French, Dutch, Germans, Spaniards, Portuguese,
and Egyptians, begin the Civil Day at mid-night: the antient Greeks, Jews, Bohemians, Silesians, with
the modern Italians, and Chinese, begin it at Sun-setting: And the antient Babylonians, Persians,
Syrians, with the modern Greeks, at Sun-rising.
Hours 418. An Hour is a certain determinate part of the Day, and is either equal or
unequal. An equal Hour is the 24th part of a mean natural Day, as shewn by
well regulated Clocks and Watches; but those Hours are not quite equal as measured by the returns of
the Sun to the Meridian, because of the obliquity of the Ecliptic and Sun’s unequal motion in it § 224-
245. Unequal Hours are those by which the Artificial Day is divided into twelve Parts, and the Night into
as many.
Minutes, Seconds, 419. An Hour is divided into 60 equal parts called Minutes, a minute into 60
Thirds, and equal parts called Seconds, and these again into 60 equal parts called Thirds.
Scruples. The Jews, Chaldeans, and Arabians, divide the Hour into 1080 equal parts
called Scruples; which number contains 18 times 60, so that one minute contains 18 Scruples.
Cycles, of the Sun, 420. A Cycle is a perpetual round, or circulation of the same parts of time of
Moon, and any sort. The Cycle of the Sun is a revolution of 28 years, in which time, the
Indiction. days of the months return again to the same days of the week; the Sun’s Place
to the same Signs and Degrees of the Ecliptic on the same months and days, so as not to differ one
degree in 100 years; and the leap-years begin the same course over again with respect to the days of
the week on which the days of the months fall. The Cycle of the Moon, commonly called the Golden
Number, is a revolution of 19 years; in which time, the Conjunctions, Oppositions, and other Aspects of
the Moon are within an hour and half of being the same as they were on the same days of the months
19 years before. The Indiction is a revolution of 15 years, used only by the Romans for indicating the
times of certain payments made by the subjects to the republic: It was established by Constantine, A.D.
312.
To find the Years of 421. The year of our Saviour’s Birth, according to the vulgar Æra, was the
these Cycles. 9th year of the Solar Cycle; the first year of the Lunar Cycle; and the 312th
year after his birth was the first year of the Roman Indiction. Therefore, to find the year of the Solar
Cycle, add 9 to any given year of Christ, and divide the sum by 28, the Quotient is the number of Cycles
elapsed since his birth, and the remainder is the Cycle for the given year: if nothing remains, the Cycle
is 28. To find the Lunar Cycle, add 1 to the given year of Christ, and divide the sum by 19; the Quotient
is the number of Cycles elapsed in the interval, and the remainder is the Cycle for the given year: if
nothing remains, the Cycle is 19. Lastly, subtract 312 from the given year of Christ, and divide the
remainder by 15; and what remains after this division is the Indiction for the given year: if nothing
remains, the Indiction is 15.
The deficiency of 422. Although the above deficiency in the Lunar Cycle of an hour and half
the Lunar Cycle, every 19 years be but small, yet in time it becomes so sensible as to make a
and consequence whole Natural Day in 310 years. So that, although this Cycle be of use, when
thereof.
rightly placed against the days of the month in the Calendar, as in our Common
Prayer Books, for finding the days of the mean Conjunctions or Oppositions of the Sun and Moon, and
consequently the time of Easter; it will only serve for 310 years Old Style. For as the New and Full
Moons anticipate a day in that time, the Golden Numbers ought to be placed one day earlier in the
Calendar for the next 310 years to come. These Numbers were rightly placed against the days of New
Moon in the Calendar, by the Council of Nice, A. D. 325; but the anticipation which has been neglected
ever since, is now grown almost into 5 days: and therefore, all the Golden Numbers ought now to be
placed 5 days higher in the Calendar for the O.S. than they were at the time of the said Council; or six
days lower for the New Style, because at present it differs 11 days from the Old.
Days Jan. Feb. March April May June July August Sept. Octob. Nov. Dec.
1 9 9 17 17 6 11 19
2 17 6 14 14 3 11 19
3 17 6 17 6 3 11 19 8 8
4 6 6 14 14 3 19 8 16
5 14 3 11 11 19 8 16
6 14 3 14 3 19 16 5 5
7 3 3 11 11 19 8 16 13
8 11 19 8 8 16 5 5 13
9 11 19 11 19 13 2
10 19 8 8 16 16 5 13 2 10
11 19 8 5 13 2 2 10
12 8 16 8 16 16 5 10 18
13 5 13 13 2 10 18 7
14 16 5 16 5 2 10 18 18 7
15 5 5 13 13 2 7 15
16 13 2 10 10 18 7 15
17 13 2 13 2 18 7 15 4 4
18 2 2 10 10 18 15 12
19 10 18 7 7 15 4 4 12
20 10 18 10 18 15 12 1 1
21 18 7 7 15 4 12 9
22 18 7 15 4 4 12 1 1 9
23 7 15 7 15 12 9 17 17
24 15 4 4 12 1 9 6
25 15 4 12 1 9 17 17 6
26 4 4 12 1 6 14
27 12 1 1 9 9 17 6 14
28 12 1 12 9 17 6 14 14 3 3
29 1 1 9 17 3 11
30 17 6 6 14 3 11
31 9 9 14 3 11 19
How to find the day 423. In the annexed Table, the Golden Numbers under the months stand
of the New Moon by
against the days of New Moon in the left hand column, for the New Style;
 the Golden Number. adapted chiefly to the second year after leap-year as being the nearest mean
for all the four; and will serve till the year 1900. Therefore, to find the day of New Moon in any month
of a given year till that time, look for the Golden Number of that year under the desired month, and
against it, you have the day of New Moon in the left hand column. Thus, suppose it were required to
find the day of New Moon in September 1757; the Golden Number for that year is 10, which I look for
under September and right against it in the left hand column I find 13, which is the day of New Moon in
that month. N. B. If all the Golden Numbers, except 17 and 6, were set one day lower in the Table, it
would serve from the beginning of the year 1900 till the end of the year 2199. The first Table after this
chapter shews the Golden Number for 4000 years after the birth of Christ, by looking for the even
hundreds of any given year at the left hand, and for the rest to make up that year at the head of the
Table; and where the columns meet, you have the Golden Number (which is the same both in Old and
New Style) for the given year. Thus, suppose the Golden Number was wanted for the year 1757; I look
for 1700 at the left hand of the Table, and for 57 at the top of it; then guiding my eye downward from
57 to over against 1700, I find 10, which is the Golden Number for that year.
A perpetual Table of 424. But because the lunar Cycle of 19 years sometimes includes five leap-
the time of New years, and at other times only four, this Table will sometimes vary a day from
Moon to the nearest the truth in leap-years after February. And it is impossible to have one more
hour, for the Old
Style. correct, unless we extend it to four times 19 or 76 years; in which there are 19
leap years without a remainder. But even then to have it of perpetual use, it
must be adapted to the Old Style, because in every centurial year not divisible by 4, the regular course
of leap-years is interrupted in the New; as will be the case in the year 1800. Therefore, upon the
regular Old Style plan, I have computed the following Table of the mean times of all the New Moons to
the nearest hour for 76 years; beginning with the year of Christ 1724, and ending with the year 1800.
This Table may be made perpetual, by deducting 6 hours from the time of New Moon in any given
year and month from 1724 to 1800, in order to have the mean time of New Moon in any year and
month 76 years afterward; or deducting 12 hours for 152 years, 18 hours for 228 years; and 24 hours
for 304 years, because in that time the changes of the Moon anticipate almost a complete natural day.
And if the like number of hours be added for so many years past, we shall have the mean time of any
New Moon already elapsed. Suppose, for example, the mean time of Change was required for January
1802; deduct 76 years and there remains 1726, against which in the following Table under January I
find the time of New Moon was on the 21st day at 11 in the evening: from which take 6 hours and there
remains the 21st day at 5 in the evening for the mean time of Change in January 1802. Or, if the time
be required for May, A. D. 1701, add 76 years and it makes 1777, which I look for in the Table, and
against it under May I find the New Moon in that year falls on the 25th day at 9 in the evening; to
which add 6 hours, and it gives the 26th day at 3 in the Morning for the time of New Moon in May, A. D.
1701. By this addition for time past, or subtraction for time to come, the Table will not vary 24 hours
from the truth in less than 14592 years. And if, instead of 6 hours for every 76 years, we add or
subtract only 5 hours 52 minutes, it will not vary a day in 10 millions of years.

Although this Table is calculated for 76 years only, and according to the Old Style, yet by means of
two easy Equations it may be made to answer as exactly to the New Style, for any time to come. Thus,
because the year 1724 in this Table is the first year of the Cycle for which it is made; if from any year of
Christ after 1800 you subtract 1723, and divide the overplus by 76, the Quotient will shew how many
entire Cycles of 76 years are elapsed since the beginning of the Cycle here provided for; and the
remainder will shew the year of the current Cycle answering to the given year of Christ. Hence, if the
remainder be 0, you must instead thereof put 76, and lessen the Quotient by unity.
Then, look in the left hand column of the Table for the number in your remainder, and against it you
will find the times of all the mean New Moons in that year of the present Cycle. And whereas in 76
Julian Years the Moon anticipates 5 hours 52 minutes, if therefore these 5 hours 52 minutes be
multiplied by the above found Quotient, that is, by the number of entire Cycles past; the product
subtracted from the times in the Table will leave the corrected times of the New Moons to the Old Style;
which may be reduced to the New Style thus:
 Divide the number of entire hundreds in the given year of Christ by 4, multiply this Quotient by 3, to
the product add the remainder, and from their sum subtract 2: this last remainder denotes the number
of days to be added to the times above corrected, in order to reduce them to the New Style. The reason
of this is, that every 400 years of the New Style gains 3 days upon the Old Style: one of which it gains
in each of the centurial years succeeding that which is exactly divisible by 4 without remainder; but
then, when you have found the days so gained, 2 must be subtracted from their number on account of
the rectifications made in the Calendar by the Council of Nice, and since by Pope Gregory. It must also
be observed, that the additional days found as above directed do not take place in the centurial Years
which are not multiples of 4 till February 29th, O. S. for on that day begins the difference between the
Styles; till which day therefore, those that were added in the preceding years must be used. The
following Example will make this accommodation plain.
 Required the mean time of New Moon in June, A.D. 1909, N.S.
From 1909 take 1723 Years, and there rem. 186
Which divided by 76, gives the Quotient 2 and the remainder 34
Then, against 34 in the Table is June 5 8h 0m Afternoon.
d

h m
And 5 52 multiplied by 2 make to be subtr. 11 44
Remains the mean time according to the Old Style, June 5d 9h 16m Morning.
Entire hundred in 1909 are 19, which divided by 4, quotes 4
And leaves a remainder of 3
Which Quotient multiplied by 3 makes 12, and the remainder added makes 15
From which subtract 2, and there remains 13
Which number of days added to the above time Old Style, gives June 18d 9h 16m Morn.N.S.
So the mean time of New Moon in June 1909 New Style is the 18th day at 16 minutes past 9 in the
Morning.
If 11 days be added to the time of any New Moon in this Table, it will give the time thereof according
to the New Style till the year 1800. And if 14 days 18 hours 22 minutes be added to the mean time of
New Moon in either Style, it will give the mean time of the next Full Moon according to that Style.
A Table shewing the times of all the mean Changes of the Moon, to the nearest
Hour, through four Lunar Periods, or 76 years. M signifies morning, A afternoon.
Yrs
January February March April May June July August Septemb. October Novemb.
of
A.D.
the
D. H. D. H. D. H. D. H. D. H. D. H. D. H. D. H. D. H. D. H. D. H.
Cyc.
1 1724 14 5A 13 5M 13 6A 12 7M 11 8A 10 8M 9 9A 8 10M 6 10A 6 11M 4 12A
1 4M
2 1725 3 2M 1 2A 3 3M 1 4A 29 6M 28 7A 27 8M 25 8A 25 9M 23 10A
30 5A
3 1726 21 11A 20 11M 21 12A 20 1A 20 1M 18 2A 18 3M 16 4A 15 5M 14 5A 13 6M
4 1727 11 8M 9 9A 11 9M 9 10A 9 11M 7 12A 7 0A 6 1M 4 1A 4 2M 2 3A
5 1728 30 6M 28 7A 29 7M 27 8A 27 8M 25 9A 25 10M 23 11A 22 11M 21 12A 20 1A
6 1729 18 2A 17 3M 18 4A 17 4M 16 5A 15 6M 14 7A 12 7M 11 8A 11 9M 9 0A
2 5M
7 1730 7 11A 6 0A 8 1M 6 1A 6 2M 4 3A 4 3M 2 4A 30 7M 28 8A
30 6A
8 1731 26 9A 25 10M 26 10A 25 11M 24 11A 23 0A 23 1M 21 2A 20 2M 19 3A 18 4M
9 1732 16 5M 14 6A 15 7M 13 8A 13 8M 11 9A 11 10M 9 11A 8 11M 7 12A 6 1A
1 6M
10 1733 4 2A 3 3M 4 4A 3 4M 2 5A 30 8M 28 8A 27 9M 26 10A 25 11M
30 7A
11 1734 23 0A 22 1M 23 1A 22 2M 21 2A 20 3M 19 4A 18 5M 16 5A 16 6M 14 7A
12 1735 12 9A 11 9M 12 10A 11 11M 10 11A 9 0A 9 1M 7 2A 6 2M 5 3A 4 4M
2 5M 1 7M
13 1736 ---- 29 9M 28 9A 27 10M 26 11A 25 0A 23 12A 23 1A 22 2M
31 6A 30 8A
14 1737 20 3M 18 4A 20 4M 18 5A 18 5M 16 6A 16 7M 14 8A 13 8M 12 9A 11 10M
2 6M
15 1738 9 11M 7 12A 9 1A 8 1M 7 2A 6 3M 5 4A 4 5M 2 5A 30 8M
31 7A
16 1739 28 9M 26 10A 28 11M 26 12A 26 0A 25 1M 24 2A 23 3M 21 3A 21 4M 19 5A
17 1740 17 6A 16 7M 16 8A 15 9M 14 9A 13 10M 12 11A 11 0A 9 12A 9 1A 8 2M
2 7M
18 1741 6 3M 4 4A 6 4M 4 5A 4 5M 2 6A 30 8M 28 9A 28 10M 26 11A
31 7A
19 1742 24 12A 23 1A 25 2M 23 3A 23 3M 21 4A 21 5M 19 6A 18 6M 17 7A 16 8M
20 1743 14 9M 12 10A 14 11M 12 12A 12 0A 11 1M 10 2A 9 3M 7 3A 7 4M 5 5A
1 9M
21 1744 3 6A 2 7M 2 8A 30 10M 28 11A 28 0A 26 12A 25 1A 25 2M 23 3A
30 9A
22 1745 21 4A 20 5M 21 5A 20 6M 19 6A 18 7M 17 8A 16 8M 14 9A 14 10M 12 11A
23 1746 10 12A 9 1A 11 2M 9 3A 9 3M 7 4A 7 5M 5 6A 4 6M 3 7A 2 8M
24 1747 29 10A 28 11M 29 11A 28 0A 27 12A 26 1A 26 2M 24 3A 23 3M 22 4A 21 5M
25 1748 19 6M 17 7A 18 8M 16 9A 16 9M 14 10A 14 11M 12 12A 11 0A 11 1M 9 2A
2 9M
26 1749 7 3A 6 4M 7 5A 6 6M 5 6A 4 7M 3 8A 30 10M 29 11A 28 0A
31 9A
27 1750 26 1A 25 2M 26 3A 25 4M 24 4A 23 5M 22 6A 21 7M 19 7A 19 8M 17 9A
28 1751 15 10A 14 11M 15 11A 14 0A 13 12A 12 1A 12 2M 10 3A 9 3M 8 4A 7 5M
2 9M
29 1752 5 6M 3 7A 4 8M 2 9A 30 11M 29 12A 28 0A 27 1M 26 2A 25 3M
31 10A
30 1753 23 4M 21 5A 23 6M 21 7A 21 7M 19 8A 19 9M 17 10A 16 10M 15 11A 14 0A
31 1754 12 1A 11 2M 12 3A 11 4M 10 4A 9 5M 8 6A 7 7M 5 7A 5 8M 3 9A
1 10A 1 11A
32 1755 ---- 29 12A 29 1A 28 2M 27 3A 25 3M 24 4A 24 5M 22 6A
31 11M 31 0A
33 1756 20 7A 19 8M 19 9A 18 9M 17 10A 16 11M 15 12A 14 1A 13 1M 12 2A 11 3M
1 14A
34 1757 9 4M 7 5A 9 6M 7 7A 7 7M 5 8A 5 9M 3 10A 2 10M 30 1M
31 0A
35 1758 28 2M 26 3A 28 3M 26 4A 26 4M 24 5A 24 6M 22 7A 21 7M 20 8A 19 9M
36 1759 17 10M 15 11A 17 0A 16 1M 15 1A 14 2M 13 3A 12 2M 10 4A 10 5M 8 6A
1 12A
37 1760 6 7A 5 8M 5 9A 4 10M 3 10A 2 11M 30 1M 28 2A 28 3M 26 4A
31 1A
38 1761 24 5A 23 6M 24 7A 23 8M 22 9A 21 10M 20 10A 19 11M 17 11A 17 0A 16 1M
39 1762 14 2M 12 3A 14 3M 12 4A 12 4M 10 5A 10 6M 8 7A 7 7M 6 8A 5 9M
1 1A
40 1763 3 11M 1 12A 3 0A 2 1M 29 3A 29 4M 27 4M 26 5M 25 6A 24 7M
31 2M
41 1764 22 8M 20 9A 21 10M 19 11A 19 11M 17 12A 17 1A 16 2M 14 2A 14 3M 12 4A
42 1765 10 5A 9 6M 10 6A 9 7M 8 7A 7 8M 6 9A 5 10M 3 10A 3 11M 1 12A
43 1766 29 2A 28 3M 29 4A 28 5M 27 5A 26 6M 25 7A 24 8M 22 8A 22 9M 20 10A
44 1767 18 11A 17 0A 19 1M 17 2A 17 2M 15 3A 15 4M 13 5A 12 6M 11 6A 10 7M
2 2M
45 1768 8 8M 6 9A 7 10M 5 11A 5 11M 3 12A 3 1A 30 3M 29 4A 28 5M
31 2A
46 1769 26 6M 24 7A 26 7M 24 8A 24 8M 22 9A 22 10M 20 11A 19 11M 18 12A 17 1A
47 1770 15 2A 14 3M 15 4A 14 5M 13 5A 12 4M 11 7A 10 8M 8 8A 8 9M 6 10A
1 4M
48 1771 4 11M 3 0A 5 1M 3 2A 3 2M 1 3A 29 5M 27 6A 27 7M 25 8A
30 5A
49 1772 23 9A 22 10M 22 10A 21 11M 20 11A 19 0A 19 1M 17 2A 16 2M 15 3A 14 4M
50 1773 12 5M 10 6A 12 7M 10 8A 10 8M 8 9A 8 9M 6 10A 5 11M 4 12A 3 1A
1 2A 1 4A
51 1774 ---- 29 5A 29 6M 27 7A 27 8M 25 8A 24 9M 23 10A 22 11M
31 3M 31 5M
52 1775 20 0A 19 1M 20 2A 19 3M 18 3A 17 4M 16 5A 15 6M 13 6A 13 7M 11 8A
1 3A
53 1776 9 9A 8 10M 8 10A 7 11M 6 12A 5 0A 5 1M 3 2A 2 2M 29 5A
31 4M
54 1777 27 6A 26 7M 27 8A 26 9M 25 9A 24 10M 23 11A 22 0A 20 12A 20 1A 19 2M
55 1778 17 3M 15 4A 17 5M 15 6A 15 6M 13 7A 13 8M 11 9A 10 9M 9 10A 8 11M
1 6M
56 1779 6 0A 5 1M 6 2A 5 3M 4 3A 3 4M 2 5A 29 7M 28 8A 27 9M
30 6A
57 1780 25 10M 23 11A 24 11M 22 12A 22 0A 21 1M 20 2A 19 3M 17 3A 17 4M 15 5A
58 1781 13 6A 12 7M 13 8A 12 9M 11 9A 10 10M 9 11A 8 0A 6 12A 6 1A 5 2M
1 6M
59 1782 3 3M 1 4A 3 5M 1 6A 29 8M 28 9A 27 9M 25 10A 25 11M 23 12A
30 7A
60 1783 22 1M 20 2A 22 2M 20 3A 20 3M 18 4A 18 5M 16 6A 15 6M 14 7A 13 8M
61 1784 11 9M 9 10A 10 11M 8 12A 8 0A 7 1M 6 2A 5 3M 3 3A 3 4M 1 5A
62 1785 29 7M 278A 29 9M 27 10A 27 10M 25 11A 25 0A 24 1M 22 1A 22 2M 20 3A
63 1786 18 4A 175M 18 5A 17 6M 16 6A 15 7M 14 8A 13 9M 11 9A 11 10M 9 11A
1 6M
64 1787 7 12A 6 1A 8 2M 6 3A 6 3M 4 4A 4 5M 2 6A 30 8M 28 9A
30 7A
65 1788 26 10A 25 11M 25 12A 24 1A 24 1M 22 2A 22 3M 20 4M 19 4M 18 5A 17 6M
 66 1789 15 7M 13 8A 15 9M 13 10A 13 10M 11 11A 11 0A 10 1M 8 1A 8 2M 6 3A
1 7M
67 1790 4 4A 3 5M 4 5A 3 6M 2 6A 30 9M 28 9A 27 10M 26 11A 25 0A
30 8A
68 1791 23 1A 22 2M 23 3A 22 4M 21 4A 20 5M 19 6A 18 7M 16 7A 16 8M 14 9A
69 1792 12 10A 11 11M 11 12A 10 1A 10 1M 8 2A 8 3M 6 4A 5 4A 4 5A 3 6M
1 7M 1 9M
70 1793 ---- 29 10M 28 11A 27 0A 27 1M 25 1A 24 2M 23 3A 22 4M
30 8A 30 10A
71 1794 20 5M 18 6A 20 6M 18 7A 18 7M 16 8A 16 9M 14 10A 13 10M 12 11A 11 0A
2 8M
72 1795 9 1A 8 2M 9 3A 8 4M 7 4A 6 5M 5 6A 4 7M 2 7A 30 10M
31 9A
73 1796 28 11M 26 12A 27 0A 26 1M 25 1A 24 2M 23 3A 22 4M 20 4A 20 5M 18 6A
74 1797 16 7A 15 8M 16 9A 15 10M 14 10A 13 11M 12 12A 11 1A 10 1M 9 2A 8 3M
2 9M
75 1798 6 4M 4 5A 6 6M 4 7A 4 7M 2 8A 30 10M 28 11A 28 0A 27 1M
31 10A
76 1799 25 2M 23 3A 25 4M 23 5A 23 5M 21 6A 21 6M 19 8A 18 8M 17 9A 16 10M
1 1800 14 11A 12 12A 13 0A 12 1M 11 1A 10 2M 9 3A 8 4M 6 4A 6 5M 4 6A
The year 1800 begins a new Cycle.
Easter Cycle, 425. The Cycle of Easter, also called the Dionysian Period, is a revolution of
deficient. 532 years, found by multiplying the Solar Cycle 28 by the Lunar Cycle 19. If
the New Moons did not anticipate upon this Cycle, Easter-Day would always be the Sunday next after
the first Full Moon which succeeds the 21st of March. But, on account of the above anticipation § 422,
to which no proper regard was had before the late alteration of the Style, the Ecclesiastic Easter has
several times been a week different from the true Easter within this last Century: which inconvenience is
now remedied by making the Table which used to find Easter for ever, in the Common Prayer Book, of
no longer use than the Lunar difference from the New Style will admit of.
Number of 426. The earliest Easter possible is the 22d of March, the latest the 25th of
Direction. April. Within these limits are 35 days, and the number belonging to each of
them is called the Number of Direction; because thereby the time of Easter is
To find the true
Easter. found for any given year. To find the Number of Direction, according to the
New Style, enter Table V following this Chapter, with the compleat hundreds of
any given year at the top, and the years thereof (if any) below an hundred at the left hand; and where
the columns meet is the Dominical Letter for the given year. Then, enter Table I, with the compleat
hundreds of the same year at the left hand, and the years below an hundred at the top; and where the
columns meet is the Golden Number for the same year. Lastly, enter Table II with the Dominical Letter
at the left hand and Golden Number at the top; and where the columns meet is the Number of Direction
for that year; which number, added to the 21st day of March shews on what day either of March or April
Easter Sunday falls in that year. Thus, the Dominical Letter New Style for the year 1757 is B (Table V)
and the Golden Number is 10, (Table I) by which in Table II, the Number of Direction is found to be 20;
which, reckoned from the 21st of March, ends on the 10th of April, and that is Easter Sunday in the
year 1757. N. B. There are always two Dominical Letters to the leap-year, the first of which takes place
to the 24th of February, the last for the following part of the year.
Dominical Letter. 427. The first seven Letters of the Alphabet are commonly placed in the
annual Almanacks to shew on what days of the week the days of the months
fall throughout the year. And because one of those seven Letters must necessarily stand against Sunday
it is printed in a capital form, and called the Dominical Letter: the other six being inserted in small
characters to denote the other six days of the week. Now, since a common Julian Year contains 365
Days, if this number be divided by 7 (the number of days in a week) there will remain one day. If there
had been no remainder, ’tis plain the year would constantly begin on the same day of the week. But
since one remains, ’tis as plain that the year must begin and end on the same day of the week; and
therefore the next year will begin on the day following. Hence, when January begins on Sunday, A is
the Dominical or Sunday Letter for that year: then, because the next year begins on Monday, the
Sunday will fall on the seventh day, to which is annexed the seventh Letter G, which therefore will be
the Dominical Letter for all that year: and as the third year will begin on Tuesday, the Sunday will fall on
the sixth day; therefore F will be the Sunday Letter for that year. Whence ’tis evident that the Sunday
Letters will go annually in a retrograde order thus, G, F, E, D, C, B, A. And in the course of seven years,
if they were all common ones, the same days of the week and Dominical Letters would return to the
same days of the months. But because there are 366 days in a leap-year, if this number be divided by 7,
there will remain two days over and above the 52 weeks of which the year consists. And therefore, if
the leap-year begins on Sunday, it will end on Monday; and the next year will begin on Tuesday, the
first Sunday whereof must fall on the sixth of January, to which is annexed the Letter F, and not G as in
common years. By this means, the leap-year returning every fourth year, the order of the Dominical
Letters is interrupted; and the Series does not return to its first state till after four times seven, or 28
years: and then the same days of the month return in order to the same days of the week.
To find the 428. To find the Dominical Letter for any year either before or after the
Dominical Letter. Christian Æra[87]: In Table III or IV for Old Style, or V for New Style, look for
the hundreds of years at the head of the Table, and for the years below an hundred (to make up the
given year) at the left hand: and where the columns meet you have the Dominical Letter for the year
desired. Thus, suppose the Dominical Letter be required for the year of Christ 1758, New Style, I look
for 1700 at the head of Table V, and for 58 at the left hand of the same Table; and in the angle of
meeting, I find A, which is the Dominical Letter for that year. If it was wanted for the same year Old
Style, it would be found by Table IV to be D. But to find the Dominical Letter for any given year before
Christ, subtract one from that year and then proceed in all respects as just now taught, to find it by
Table III Thus, suppose the Dominical Letter be required for the 585th year before the first year of
Christ, look for 500 at the head of Table III, and for 84 at the left hand; in the meeting of these
columns is FE, which were the Dominical Letters for that year, and shews that it was a leap-year;
because, leap-year has always two Dominical Letters.
To find the Days of 429. To find the day of the month answering to any day of the week, or the
the Months. day of the week answering to any day of the month; for any year past or to
come: Having found the Dominical Letter for the given year, enter Table VI, with the Dominical Letter at
the head; and under it, all the days in that column to the right hand are Sundays, in the divisions of the
months; the next column to the right are Mondays; the next, Tuesdays; and so on to the last column
under G, from which go back to the column under A, and thence proceed towards the right hand as
before. Thus, in the year 1757, the Dominical Letter New Style is B, in Table V, then in Table VI all the
days under B are Sundays in that year, viz. the 2d, 9th, 16th, 23d, and 30th of January and October;
the 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th of February, March and November; the 3d, 10th, and 17th, of April and
July, together with the 31st of July: and so on to the foot of the column. Then, of course, all the days
under C on Mondays, namely the 3d, 10th, &c. of January and October; and so of all the rest in that
column. If the day of the week answering to any day of the month be required, it is easily had from the
same Table by the Letter that stands at the top of the column in which the given day of the month is
found. Thus, the Letter that stands over the 28th of May is A; and in the year 585 before Christ the
Dominical Letter was found to be FE § 428; which being a leap-year, and E taking place from the 24th
of February to the end of that year, shews by the Table that the 25th of May was on a Sunday; and
therefore the 28th must have been on a Wednesday: for when E stands for Sunday, F must stand for
Monday, G for Tuesday, A for Wednesday, B for Thursday, C for Friday, and D for Saturday. Hence, as it
appears that the famous Eclipse of the Sun foretold by Thales, by which a peace was brought about
between the Medes and Lydians, happened on the 28th of May, in the 585th year before Christ, it
certainly fell on a Wednesday.
Julian Period. 430. From the multiplication of the Solar Cycle of 28 years into the Lunar
Cycle of 19 years, arises the great Julian Period consisting of 7980 years;
which had its beginning 764 years before the supposed year of the creation (when all the three Cycles
began together) and is not yet compleated, and therefore it comprehends all other Cycles, Periods and
Æras. There is but one year in the whole Period which has the same numbers for the three Cycles of
which it is made up: and therefore, if historians had remarked in their writings the Cycles of each year,
there had been no dispute about the time of any action recorded by them.
To find the year of 431. The Dionysian or vulgar Æra of Christ’s birth was about the end of the
this Period. year of the Julian Period 4713; and consequently the first year of his age,
according to that account, was the 4714th year of the said Period. Therefore, if
And the Cycles of
that year. to the current year of Christ we add 4713, the Sum will be the year of the
Julian Period. So the year 1757 will be found to be the 6470th year of that
Period. Or, to find the year of the Julian Period answering to any given year before the first year of
Christ, subtract the number of that given year from 4714, and the remainder will be the year of the
Julian Period. Thus, the year 585 before the first year of Christ (which was the 584th before his birth)
was the 4129th year of the said Period. Lastly, to find the Cycles of the Sun, Moon, and Indiction for any
given year of this Period, divide the given year by 28, 19, and 15; the three remainders will be the
Cycles sought, and the Quotients the numbers of Cycles run since the beginning of the Period. So in the
above 4714th year of the Julian Period the Cycle of the Sun was 10, the Cycle of the Moon 2, and the
Cycle of Indiction 4; the Solar Cycle having run through 168 courses, the Lunar 248, and the Indiction
314.

The true Æra of 432. The vulgar Æra of Christ’s birth was never settled till the year 527;
Christ’s birth. when Dionysius Exiguus, a Roman Abbot, fixed it to the end of the 4713th year
of the Julian Period; which was certainly four years too late. For, our Saviour was undoubtedly born
before the Death of Herod the Great, who sought to kill him as soon as he heard of his birth. And,
according to the testimony of Josephus (B. xvii. c. 8.) there was an eclipse of the Moon in the time of
Herod’s last illness: which very eclipse our Astronomical Tables shew to have been in the year of the
Julian Period 4710, March 13th, 3 hours 21 minutes after mid-night, at Jerusalem. Now, as our Saviour
must have been born some months before Herod’s death, since in the interval he was carried into
Ægypt; the latest time in which we can possibly fix the true Æra of his birth is about the end of the
4709th year of the Julian Period. And this is four years before the vulgar Æra thereof.
The time of his In the former edition of this book, I endeavoured to ascertain the time of
crucifixion. Christ’s death; by shewing in what year, about the reputed time of the Passion,
there was a Passover Full Moon on a Friday: on which day of the week, and at the time of the Passover,
it is evident from Mark xv. 42. that our Saviour was crucified. And in computing the times of all the
Passover Full Moons from the 20th to the 40th year of Christ, after the Jewish manner, which was to
add 14 days to the time when the New Moon next before the Passover was first visible at Jerusalem, in
order to have their day of the Passover Full Moon, I found that the only Passover Full Moon which fell
on a Friday, in all that time, was in the year of the Julian Period 4746, on the third day of April: which
year was the 33d year of Christ’s age, reckoning from the vulgar Æra of his birth, but the 37th counting
from the true Æra thereof: and was also the last year of the 402d Olympiad[88], in which very year
Phlegon an Heathen writer tells us, there was the most extraordinary Eclipse of the Sun that ever was
known, and that it was night at the sixth hour of the day. Which agrees exactly with the time that the
darkness at the crucifixion began, according to the three Evangelists who mention it[89]: and therefore
must have been the very same darkness, but mistaken by Phlegon for a natural Eclipse of the Sun;
which was impossible on two accounts, 1. because it was at the time of Full Moon; and 2. because
whoever takes the pains to calculate, will find that there could be no regular and total Eclipse of the Sun
that year in any part of Judea, nor any where between Jerusalem and Egypt: so that this darkness must
have been quite out of the common course of nature.
From the co-incidence of these characters, I made no doubt of having ascertained the true year and
day of our Saviour’s death. But having very lately read what some eminent authors have wrote on the
same subject, of which I was really ignorant before; and heard the opinions of other candid and
ingenious enquirers after truth (which every honest man will follow wherever it leads him) and who
think they have strong reasons for believing that the time of Christ’s death was not in the year of the
Julian Period 4746, but in the year 4743; I find difficulties on both sides, not easily got over: and shall
therefore state the case both ways as fairly as I can; leaving the reader to take which side of the
Question he pleases.
 Both Dr. Prideaux and Sir Isaac Newton are of opinion that Daniel’s seventy weeks, consisting of 490
years (Dan. chap. ix. v. 23-26) began with the time when Ezra received his commission from Artaxerxes
to go to Jerusalem, which was in the seventh year of that King’s reign (Ezra ch. vii. v. 11-26) and ended
with the death of Christ. For, by joining the accomplishment of that prophecy with the expiation of Sin,
those weeks cannot well be supposed to end at any other time. And both these authors agree that this
was Artaxerxes Longimanus, not Artaxerxes Mnemon. The Doctor thinks that the last of those annual
weeks was equally divided between John’s ministry and Christ’s. And, as to the half week, mentioned by
Daniel chap. ix. v. 27. Sir Isaac thinks it made no part of the above seventy; but only meant the three
years and an half in which the Romans made war upon the Jews from spring in A.D. 67 to autumn in
A.D. 70, when a final Period was put to their sacrifices and oblations by destroying their city and
sanctuary, on which they were utterly dispersed. Now, both by the undoubted Canon of Ptolemy, and
the famous Æra of Nabonassar, which is so well verified by Eclipses that it cannot deceive us, the
beginning of these seventy weeks, or the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus, is pinned
down to the year of the Julian Period 4256: from which count 490 years to the death of Christ, and the
same will fall in the above year of the Julian Period 4746: which would seem to ascertain the true year
beyond dispute.
But as Josephus’s Eclipse of the Moon in a great measure fixes our Saviour’s birth to the end of the
4713th year of the Julian Period, and a Friday Passover Full Moon fixes the time of his death to the third
of April in the 4746th year of that Period, the same as above by Daniel’s weeks, this supposes our
Saviour to have been crucified in the 37th year of his age. And as St. Luke chap. iii. ver. 23. fixes the
time of Christ’s baptism to the beginning of his 30th year, it would hence seem that his publick ministry,
to which his baptism was the initiation, lasted seven years. But, as it would be very difficult to find
account in all the Evangelists of more than four Passovers which he kept at Jerusalem during the time
of his ministry, others think that he suffered in the vulgar 30th year of his age, which was really the
33d; namely in the year of the Julian Period 4743. And this opinion is farther strengthened by
considering that our Saviour eat his last Paschal Supper on a Thursday evening, the day immediately
before his crucifixion: and that as he subjected himself to the law, he would not break the law by
keeping the Passover on the day before the law prescribed; neither would the Priests have suffered the
Lamb to be killed for him before the fourteenth day of Nisan when it was killed for all the people, Exod.
xii. ver. 6. And hence they infer that he kept this Passover at the same time with the rest of the Jews, in
the vulgar 30th year of his age: at which time it is evident by calculation that there was a Passover Full
Moon on Thursday April the 6th. But this is pressed with two difficulties. 1. It drops the last half of
Daniel’s seventieth week, as of no moment in the prophecy; and 2. it sets aside the testimony of
Phlegon, as if he had mistaken almost a whole Olympiad.
Others again endeavour to reconcile the whole difference, by supposing, that as Christ expressed
himself only in round numbers concerning the time he was to lie in the grave, Matt. xii. 40. so might St.
Luke possibly have done with regard to the year of his baptism: which would really seem to be the case
when we consider, that the Jews told our Saviour, sometime before his death, Thou art not yet fifty
years old, John vii. 57. which indeed was more likely to be said to a person near forty than to one but
just turned of thirty. And as to his eating the above Passover on Thursday, which must have been on
the Jewish Full Moon day, they think it may be easily accommodated to the 37th year of his age; since,
as the Jews always began their day in the evening, their Friday of course began on the evening of our
Thursday. And it is evident, as above-mentioned, that the only Jewish Friday Full Moon, at the time of
their Passover, was in the vulgar 33d, but the real 37th year of Christ’s age; which was the 4746th year
of the Julian Period, and the last year of the 202d Olympiad.

Æras or Epochas. 433. As there are certain fixed points in the Heavens from which
Astronomers begin their computations, so there are certain points of time from
which historians begin to reckon; and these points or roots of time are called Æras or Epochas. The
most remarkable Æras are those of the Creation, the Greek Olympiads, the building of Rome, the Æra
of Nabonassar, the death of Alexander, the birth of Christ, the Arabian Hegira, and the Persian
Jesdegird: All which, together with several others of less note, have their beginnings in the following
Table fixed to the years of the Julian Period, to the age of the world at those times, and to the years
before and after the birth of Christ.
Julian Y. of the Before
Period. World. Christ.
1. The creation of the world, according to
764 1 3949
Strauchius
2. The Deluge, or Noah’s Flood 2420 1656 2293
3. The Assyrian Monarchy by Nimrod 2537 1773 2176
4. The Birth of Abraham 2712 1948 2001
5. The beginning of the Kingdom of the Argives 2856 2092 1857
6. The begin. of the Kingdom of Athens by Cecrops 3157 2393 1556
7. The departure of the Israelites from Egypt 3216 2452 1497
8. Their entrance into Canaan, or the Jubilee 3256 2492 1457
9. The destruction of Troy 3529 2865 1184
10. The beginning of King David’s reign 3653 2889 1060
11. The foundation of Solomon’s Temple 3696 2932 1017
12. The Argonautic expedition 3776 3012 937
13. Arbaces, the first King of the Medes 3838 3074 175
14. Mandaucus the second 3865 3101 848
15. Sosarmus the third 3915 3151 798
16. Artica the fourth 3945 3181 768
17. Cardica the fifth 3996 3232 718
18. Phraortes the sixth 4057 3293 656
19. Cyaxares the seventh 4080 3316 633
20. The beginning of the Olympiads 3938 3174 775
21. The Catonian Epocha of the building of Rome 3961 3197 752
22. The Æra of Nabonassar 3967 3202 746
23. The destruction of Samaria 3990 3226 723
24. The Babylonish captivity 4133 3349 600
25. The destruction of Solomon’s Temple 4124 3360 589
26. The Persian monarchy founded by Cyrus 4154 3390 559
27. The battle of Marathon 4224 3460 489
28. The begin. of the reign of Art. Longimanus 4249 3485 464
29. The beginning of Daniel’s 70 weeks 4256 3492 457
30. The beginning of the Peloponnesian war 4282 3518 431
31. The death of Alexander 4390 3626 323
32. The restoration of the Jews 4548 3784 129
33. The corr. of the Calendar by Julius Cæsar 4669 3905 44
34. The beginning of the reign of Herod 4673 3909 40
35. The Spanish Æra 4675 3911 38
36. The battle at Actium 4683 3919 30
37. The taking of Alexandria 4683 3919 30
38. The Epoch of the title of Augustus 4686 3922 27
39. The true Æra of Christ’s birth 4709 3945 4
40. The death of Herod 4710 3946 3
41. The Diony. or vulg. Æra of the birth of Christ 4713 3949 AD0
42. The true year of Christ’s death 4746 3982 33
43. The destruction of Jerusalem 4783 4019 70
44. The Dioclesian persecution 5015 4251 302
45. The Epoch of Constantine the Great 5019 4255 306
46. The Council of Nice 5038 4274 325
47. The Epocha of the Hegira 5335 4571 622
48. The Epoch of Yesdejerd 5344 4580 631
49. The Jellalæan Epocha 5791 5027 1078
50. The Epocha of the reformation 6230 5466 1517
Tab. I. Shewing the Golden Number (which is the same both in the Old and New
Style) from the Christian Æra to A.D. 4000.
Years less than an Hundred.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37
38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56
Hundreds of Years. 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75
76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94
95 96 97 98 99

0 1900 3800 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
100 2000 3900 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1 2 3 4 5
200 2100 4000 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
300 2200 &c. 16 17 18 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
400 2300 -- 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1
500 2400 -- 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1 2 3 4 5 6
600 2500 -- 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
700 2600 -- 17 18 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
800 2700 -- 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1 2
900 2800 -- 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1000 2900 -- 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
1100 3000 -- 18 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
1200 3100 -- 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1 2 3
1300 3200 -- 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1400 3300 -- 14 15 16 17 18 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
1500 3400 -- 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
1600 3500 -- 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1 2 3 4
1700 3600 -- 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1800 3700 -- 15 16 17 18 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Tab. II. Shewing the Number of Direction, for finding Easter Sunday by the
Golden Number and Dominical Letter.
G. N. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
A 26 19 5 26 12 33 19 12 26 19 5 26 12 5 26 12 33 19 12
B 27 13 6 27 13 34 20 13 27 20 6 27 13 6 20 13 34 20 6
C 28 14 7 21 14 35 21 7 28 21 7 28 14 7 21 14 28 21 7
D 29 15 8 22 15 29 22 8 29 15 8 29 15 1 22 15 29 22 8
E 30 16 2 23 16 30 23 9 30 16 9 23 16 2 23 9 30 23 9
F 24 17 3 24 10 31 24 10 31 17 10 24 17 3 24 10 31 17 10
G 25 18 4 25 11 32 18 11 32 18 4 25 18 4 25 11 32 18 11
This Table is adapted to the New Style.
Tab. III. Shewing the Dominical Letters, Old Style, for
4200 Years before the Christian Æra.
Before Christ Hundreds of Years.
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300
Years less than an 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000
Hundred. 2100 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700
2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400
3500 3600 3700 3800 3900 4000 4100
0 28 56 84 DC CB BA AG GF FE ED
1 29 57 85 E D C B A G F
2 30 58 86 F E D C B A G
3 31 59 87 G F E D C B A
4 32 60 88 BA AG GF FE ED DC CB
5 33 61 89 C B A G F E D
6 34 62 90 D C B A G F E
7 35 63 91 E D C B A G F
8 36 64 92 GF FE ED DC CB BA AG
9 37 65 93 A G F E D C B
10 38 66 94 B A G F E D C
11 39 67 95 C B A G F E D
12 40 68 96 ED DC CB BA AG GF FE
13 41 69 97 F E D C B A G
14 42 70 98 G F E D C B A
15 43 71 99 A G F E D C B
16 44 72 CB BA AG GF FE ED DC
17 45 73 D C B A G F E
18 46 74 E D C B A G F
19 47 75 F E D C B A G
20 48 76 AG GF FE ED DC CB BA
21 49 77 B A G F E D C
22 50 78 C B A G F E D
23 51 79 D C B A G F E
24 52 80 FE ED DC CB BA AG GF
25 53 81 G F E D C B A
26 54 82 A G F E D C B
27 55 83 B A G F E D C
Tab. IV. Shewing the Dominical Letters, Old Style, for
4200 Years after the Christian Æra.
After Christ Hundreds of Years.
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300
Years less than an 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000
Hundred. 2100 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700
2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400
3500 3600 3700 3800 3900 4000 4100
0 28 56 84 DC ED FE GF AG BA CB
1 29 57 85 B C D E F G A
2 30 58 86 A B C D E F G
3 31 59 87 G A B C D E F
4 32 60 88 FE GF AG BA CB DC ED
5 33 61 89 D E F G A B C
6 34 62 90 C D E F G A B
7 35 63 91 B C D E F G A
8 36 64 92 AG BA CB DC ED FE GF
9 37 65 93 F G A B C D E
10 38 66 94 E F G A B C D
11 39 67 95 D E F G A B C
12 40 68 96 CB DC ED FE GF AG BA
13 41 69 97 A B C D E F G
14 42 70 98 G A B C D E F
15 43 71 99 F G A B C D E
16 44 72 ED FE GF AG BA CB DC
17 45 73 C D E F G A B
18 46 74 B C D E F G A
19 47 75 A B C D E F G
20 48 76 GF AG BA CB DC ED FE
21 49 77 E F G A B C D
22 50 78 D E F G A B C
23 51 79 C D E F G A B
24 52 80 BA CB DC ED FE GF AG
25 53 81 G A B C D E F
26 54 82 F G A B C D E
27 55 83 E F G A B C D
Tab. V. The Dominical Letter, New Style, for 4000
Years after the Christian Æra.
After Christ. Hundreds of Years.
100 200 300 400
500 600 700 800
900 1000 1100 1200
1300 1400 1500 1600
1700 1800 1900 2000
Years less than an Hundred. 2100 2200 2300 2400
2500 2600 2700 2800
2900 3000 3100 3200
3300 3400 3500 3600
3700 3800 3900 4000
C E G BA
1 29 57 85 B D F G
2 30 58 86 A C E F
3 31 59 87 G B D E
4 32 60 88 FE AG CB DC
5 33 61 89 D F A B
6 34 62 90 C E G A
7 35 63 91 B D F G
8 36 64 92 AG CB CD FE
9 37 65 93 F A C D
10 38 66 94 E G B C
11 39 67 95 D F A B
12 40 68 96 CB ED GF AG
13 41 69 97 A C E F
14 42 70 98 G B D E
15 43 71 99 F A C D
16 44 72 ED GF BA CB
17 45 73 C E G A
18 46 74 B D F G
19 47 75 A C E F
20 48 76 GF BA DC ED
21 49 77 E G B C
22 50 78 D F A B
23 51 79 C E G A
24 52 80 BA DC FE GF
25 53 81 G B D E
26 54 82 F A C D
27 55 83 E G B C
28 56 84 DC FE AG BA
Tab. VI. Shewing the Days of the Months for both
Styles by the Dominical Letters.
Week Day. A B C D E F G
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
January 31
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
October 31
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
1 2 3 4
Feb. 28-29 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
March 31 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Nov. 30 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
April 30 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
July 31 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
August 31 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Septemb. 30 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Decemb. 31 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
1 2 3 4 5 6
 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
May 31 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
June 30 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30
 CHAP. XXII.

A Description of the Astronomical Machinery serving

to explain and illustrate the foregoing part of this
Treatise.

Fronting the Title 434. The Orrery. This Machine shews the
Page. Motions of the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth,
and Moon; and occasionally, the superior
The Orrery.
Planets, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn may be
put on; Jupiter’s four Satellites are moved round him in their proper
times by a small Winch; and Saturn has his five Satellites, and his
Ring which keeps its parallelism round the Sun; and by a Lamp put
in the Sun’s place, the Ring shews all the Phases described in the
204th Article.
The Sun. In the Center, No 1. represents the Sun,
supported by it’s Axis inclining almost 8
The Ecliptic. Degrees from the Axis of the Ecliptic; and
1
turning round in 25 ⁄4 days on its Axis, of which the North Pole
inclines toward the 8th Degree of Pisces in the great Ecliptic (No.
11.) whereon the Months and Days are engraven over the Signs and
Degrees in which the Sun appears, as seen from the Earth, on the
different days of the year.
Mercury. The nearest Planet (No. 2) to the Sun is
Mercury, which goes round him in 87 days
23
23 hours, or 87 ⁄24 diurnal rotations of the Earth; but has no Motion