related by St. John, as fome part of them had already been revealed in former prophecies. On that account we find it neceffary to premife a narrative of thofe facts, which are previous to what is laid down in the Apocalypfe. If the order, in which we have ranged the particulars of this prophetic hiftory, fhould not be approved by the reader, we defire him to reflect, we travel through the dark paths of futurity.

One event, that will chiefly diftinguish the fixth age, and will be a prelude to the final period of the human race in.this world, is the appearance of that extraordinary man, Antichrift. But the way is to be opened for his coming by two previous incidents, which we learn from St. Paul, and which will enable him to bring on those mischiefs upon mankind and that defolation upon the earth, which the prophets have foretold. St. Paul thus writes to the Theffalonians in his fecond epiftle, chap. 2.

v. I. "And we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift, and of our gathering together unto him:

v. 2. "That you be not eafily moved from your mind, nor be frighted, neither by fpirit, nor by word, nor by epiftle as fent from us, as if the day of the Lord were at hand.

v. 3. "Let no man deceive you by any means: for unless there come a revolt firft, and the man of fin be revealed, the fon of perdition,"

v. 4. "Who oppofeth, and is lifted up above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, fo that he fitteth in the temple of God, fhewing himself as if he were God.

v. 6. "Remember you not, that when I was yet with you, I told you thefe things?

v. 6. "And now you know what withholdeth, that he may be revealed in his time.

v. 7. "For the myftery of iniquity already worketh; only that he who now holdeth, do hold, until he be taken out of the way.

v. 8. And then that the wicked one shall be revealed, whom the Lord Jefus fhall kill with the breath of his mouth, and fhall deftroy with the brightness of his coming."

Here the apoftle admonishes the Theffalonians, not to give way to terrors, as if the laft day was near at hand; affuring them that the laft day would not come," till there came a revolt firft, and the man of fin were revealed, the fon of perdition, who oppofeth, and is lifted up above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, fo that he fitteth in the temple of God, fhewing himself as if he were God, V. 3, 4. "By the man of fin, the fon of perdition, &c. all Chriftian antiquity and the fubfequent ages have even understood that fuperlatively wicked man, Antichrift. The end of the world therefore will not happen till after this man's appearance; and alfo after what St. Paul calls a revolt, which, it feems, will be previous to Antichrift's coming. This revolt, or, rather according to the Greek text, the apoftafy, denotes a defection from faith, as the generality of the fcripture-interpreters have underftood it. Alas! we have already feen a great flood of apoftafy fpread itself through the western part of Christendom, within the two laft centuries and an half, by the rife of Lutheranifm, Calvinism, &c. And this had been preceded in the eaftern part of the Church by the Greek fchifm, Mahometanifm, Arianifm, &c. Even St. Paul affures us, he himfelf faw this apoftafy, or defection from faith, ufhering itself into the world: " for the mystery of iniquity already worketh," fays he, v. 7. The feeds of it were fown, and had sprung up in the apoftle’s time, in the heretics called Simonians, Nicolaites, Gnoftics, &c. But it will continue to gain ground and to ripen, till it comes to full maturity in the time of Antichrift, who by his extraordinary power, cruel perfecutions, and infidious machinations, will

together with. his falfe prophet, feduce a prodigious number of Chriftians. This we fhall fee in the following part of the Apocalypfe: and it is fufficiently intimated by our Saviour, as we obferved under the fixth feal, in thefe words: "There shall arife falfe Chrifts and falfe prophets, and shall shew great figns and great wonders, infomuch as to deceive, if poffible, even the elect," Matth. xxiv. 24.

Under the term apoftafy may be comprehended, not only a defection from faith, but also a general degeneracy of morals, which already fhews itself in the furprising growth of licentioufnefs and irreligion, in a tide of luxury, extravagance, and profligacy. This inundation of vice paves the way for worfe, and will spread more and more with the progrefs of time, till it rifes to a general flood of wickedness in the infamous diffolute reign of Antichrift. This seems to be alfo pointed at in the following words of Chrift: " And becaufe iniquity has abounded, the charity of man fhall grow cold," Matt. xxiv. 12. In fine, this general apoftafy, with refpect to both faith and morality, was likewife fully infinuated by our Saviour when he faid: "When the Son of man cometh, fhall he find, think you, faith on the earth?" Luke xviii. 8.

The fecond circumftance, which will announce the coming of Antichrift, is obfcurely expreffed thus by St. Paul in the above cited text: "And now you know what withholdeth, that he, (the man of fin, or Antichrift,) be revealed in his timeOnly that he who now holdeth, do hold, until he be taken out of the way, and then that wicked one, (Antichrift,) fhall be revealed," v. 6, 7, 8. The generality of the holy fathers have explained this text of the deftruction of the Roman empire, which was to take place before Antichrift fhould be revealed. The fame interpretation has alfo been tranfmitted through all the Chriftian ages by an uniform tradi

v. 8. And then that the wicked one fhall be revealed, whom the Lord Jefus fhall kill with the breath of his mouth, and fhall deftroy with the brightness of his coming."

not come,

Here the apostle admonishes the Theffalonians, not to give way to terrors, as if the laft day was near at hand; affuring them that the laft day would "till there came a revolt firft, and the man of fin were revealed, the fon of perdition, who oppofeth, and is lifted up above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, fo that he fitteth in the temple of God, fhewing himfelf as if he were God," V. 3, 4. "By the man of fin, the fon of perdition, &c. all Chriftian antiquity and the fubfequent ages have even understood that fuperlatively wicked man, Antichrift. The end of the world therefore will not happen till after this man's appearance; and alfo after what St. Paul calls a revolt, which, it seems, will be previous to Antichrift's coming. This revolt, or, rather according to the Greek text, the apoftafy, denotes a defection from faith, as the generality of the fcripture-interpreters have underftood it. Alas! we have already feen a great flood of apoftafy fpread itself through the weftern part of Christendom, within the two laft centuries and an half, by the rise of Lutheranism, Calvinifin, &c. And this had been preceded in the eaftern part of the Church by the Greek fchifm, Mahometanifm, Arianifm, &c. Even St. Paul affures us, he himfelf faw this apoftafy, or defection from faith, ufhering itself into the world: " for the mystery of iniquity already worketh," fays he, v. 7. The feeds of it were fown, and had fprung up in the apoftle's time, in the heretics called Simonians, Nicolaites, Gnoftics, &c. But it will continue to gain ground and to ripen, till it comes to full maturity in the time of Antichrift, who by his extraordinary power, cruel perfecutions, and infidious machinations, will

together with his falfe prophet, feduce a prodigious number of Chriftians. This we fhall fee in the following part of the Apocalypfe: and it is fufficiently intimated by our Saviour, as we obferved under the fixth feal, in these words: "There shall arife falfe Chrifts and falfe prophets, and fhall fhew great figns and great wonders, infomuch as to deceive, if poffible, even the elect," Matth. xxiv. 24.

Under the term apoftafy may be comprehended, not only a defection from faith, but also a general degeneracy of morals, which already fhews itself in the furprising growth of licentioufnefs and irreligion, in a tide of luxury, extravagance, and profligacy. This inundation of vice paves the way for worse, and will spread more and more with the progrefs of time, till it rises to a general flood of wickedness in the infamous diffolute reign of Antichrift. This seems to be alfo pointed at in the following words of Chrift: "And becaufe iniquity has abounded, the charity of man fhall grow cold," Matt. xxiv. 12. In fine, this general apoftafy, with refpect to both faith and morality, was likewife fully infinuated by our Saviour when he faid: "When the Son of man cometh, fhall he find, think you, faith on the earth?" Luke xviii. 8.

The fecond circumftance, which will announce the coming of Antichrift, is obfcurely expreffed thus by St. Paul in the above cited text: "And now you know what withholdeth, that he, (the man of fin, or Antichrift,) be revealed in his timeOnly that he who now holdeth, do hold, until he be taken out of the way, and then that wicked one, (Antichrift,) fhall be revealed," v. 6, 7, 8. The generality of the holy fathers have explained this text of the deftruction of the Roman empire, which was to take place before Antichrift fhould be revealed. The fame interpretation has also been tranfmitted through all the Chriftian ages by an uniform tradi