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 102

2. Lengths of the tropical year and the synodical period of the moon, according to Sir John Herschel—Application of the method of _continued fractions_ to the determination of their approximating ratios—Various lunisolar cycles—The Octaëteris of the Greeks—The cycle of nineteen discovered by Meton, but probably known to the Hebrews—The period of Calippus—Proof that the numbers of Daniel are lunisolar cycles—Remarks of Mr. Birks in his “Elements of Prophecy”—Observations of Mr. Cuninghame in his “Scientific Chronology”—Proof that the prophetic month and the jubilean period are lunisolar cycles 106