abstruse conceptions and settle metaphysical difficulties: only to exercise our reason on plain matters of fact, and compare events with prophecies. What subject more copious, more elevated, more magnificent, than such an historical view of the world, considered as God's own world, hastening in the course of its events to fulfil the Divine decrees, and educing the beauty and glory of the Godhead from the giddy, and apparently fortuitous, distractions of human affairs, both civil and ecclesiastical; till we behold in anticipation the mystery of God's providence consummated in the last day, in the destruction of all the of darkness and iniquity, and in the perfect everlasting establishment of the kingdom of truth and righteousness? Should it be said, after all, how can you secure us from being mistaken in the use and application of these things? Every man must do this for himself. Should any man ask, how do you prove the propositions of Euclid? Would not this be the answer? Consult him, and exercise your own faculties on his argumentation? The same, with all due allowances between mathematical and moral powers subjects, should be done in the case before us. The belief of real Christians is not so irrational as infidels are apt to suppose. Whilst these are towering with uncertain sight on the heights of metaphysical speculation, to confirm themselves in infidelity, those are humbly creeping on the terra firma of prophetic matter of fact, which lies even with the powers of the human mind, and was given by Jehovah himself as the fairest and most satisfactory proof of His revelation. Let infidels answer, if they can, these proofs: let them detect their fallacies and expose their weakness. Till this is done Christians have a right to act on what has once been demonstrated." The principal object of the present undertaking is, by the application of correct principles of interpretation, to refer the important scenes and momentous events amidst which we are living, to their proper place in the prophetic page; and to direct particular attention to that very important period, which is apparently so near at hand, denominated in the Scriptures of truth, THE TIME OF THE END. In treating of these subjects, which take their origin from the call of Abraham, the present work contains an epitome of Church History from that period to the present time; and exhibits, in striking and interesting points of view, those great movements of Divine Providence which have been designated prophetical eras, or periods pregnant with great events, that have affected the church, both under the Jewish and Christian dispensations. The whole is illustrated by two Charts: the larger of which contains the great outlines of Scripture history, the dates of the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments, and the various accomplished and unaccomplished prophetical periods. The lesser chart exhibits a similar view of those two great series of events, represented in the symbolical visions of the seals and trumpets of the Apocalypse. The two Charts, taken together, shew the general harmony subsisting between the chronological and symbolical prophecies. With two short quotations—the first from a volume of very valuable Sermons lately published by the Rev. A. S. Thelwall (a work perfectly sound in doctrine and pecu a liarly suited to the times in which we live), and the other from Bishop Horsley—the Author will close these prefatory observations. Mr. Thelwall remarks, that "the continual fulfilment of prophecy before our eyes, in the progressive development of the purposes of God according to his word, IS A STANDING MIRACLE, still testifying from age to age the Divine inspiration and authority, not only of those prophecies themselves, but of the whole Volume which contains them; with whose doctrines, narrations, precepts, and manifold instructions, they are inseparably interwoven." The passage from Bishop Horsley is the following :-" The obscurity of the Prophecies, great as it is in certain parts, is not such, upon the whole, as should discourage the Christian laic from the study of them, nor such as will excuse him under the neglect of it. Let him remember, that it is not mine, but the Apostle's admonition, who would not require an useless or impracticable task, to give heed to the prophetic word.' London, August 1834. |