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CONCLUSION.

Thus have we feen the whole hiftory of the Church of Chrift, traced from her birth through her various difficulties and trials, through her perfecutions from idolaters and convulfions by herefies; under all which the fhone bright like the fun by the vigour of her faith and fortitude: nor was it in the power of hell and earth, though combined together, to crush her or hinder her growth. We have had a view of the admirable economy, according to which Chrift rules this his Church, we have feen the fpecial care with which he protects her, and with what severity he punishes those who dare injure her. By thefe means he makes her triumph over all her enemies, even in this world: and her victory will be finally crowned with that transcendant and ineffable glory to which she will be raised at that period when time fhall be no more.

Hence it appears that, if to the hiftory of the Apocalypfe we add the books of the Old Teftament, there rifes a general hiftory of the Church or people of God through the whole period of the exiftence of mankind. The book of Genefis gives us the creation of the firft man; and his hiftory with that of the patriarchs and the Ifraelites is related in that and the fubfequent books of the old fcripture, with fome fhort intervals of interruption, down to the birth of Christianity. Then begins the Apocalyptical account of the Chriftians, fucceffors to the Jews; which carries on their history to the end of time and even to their migration into the heavenly Jerufalem, where it places them in the unchangeable ftate of never-ending blifs.

Nothing further now remains but to requeft, that this prefent hiftory may be received by the readers in that view for which it is intended, namely, for their inftruction. They are now become fenfible, we

prefume, of the utility of studying the Apocalypfe. And what indeed can be more exprefs on that head than the declaration of Chrift himself, which we beg leave here to repeat: "Bleffed is he, that readeth and heareth the words of this prophecy and keepeth those things which are written in it," Apoc. i. 3. And again: "Bleffed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book," Apoc. xxii. 7. That this advice may be attended to is our fincere with, and here we close the present work with the bleffing delivered in the laft verfe of this admirable prophecy: "The grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift be with you all. Amen.'

In the preceding explanation the different parts of the Apocalypfe having been related in a tranfpofed order, we here fubjoin the whole text by itself. And at the end of each verfe the page is marked where that verfe is explained; except with regard to the fecond and third chapters, which not appertaining to the general history of the Church, have not been explained.

THE

APOCALYPSE OF ST. JOHN

THE

APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST,

CHAPTER I.

THE Revelation of Jefus Chrift, which God gave unto him, to make known to his fervants the things which muft fhortly come to pass: and fignified, fending by his angel, to his fervant John. See p. 1.

2. Who hath given teftimony to the word of God, and the teftimony of Jefus Chrift, what things foever he hath feen. p. 1.

3. Bleffed is he, that readeth and heareth the words of this prophecy: and keepeth those things which are written in it. For the time is at hand. P. 3.

4. John to the feven churches which are in Afia. Grace be unto you and peace from him that is, and that was, and that is to come, and from the feven fpirits which are before the throne. p. 4.

5. And from Jefus Chrift, who is the faithful witness, the firft begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth: who hath loved us, and washed us from our fins in his own blood. P. 5.

6. And hath made us a kingdom and priefts to God and his Father: to him be glory and empire for ever and ever. Amen. p. 5.

7. Behold, he cometh with the clouds, and every eye fhall fee him, and they also that pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth fhall bewail themfelves because of him. Even fo. Amen. p. 6.

8. I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end, faith the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. p. 7.

9. 1 John your brother and your partner in tribulation, and in the kingdom, and patience in Chrift Jefus, was in the island, which is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the teftimony of Jesus. P. 7.

10. I was in the spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet. P. 7.

11. Saying: What thou feeft, write in a book: and fend to the feven churches which are in Afia, to Ephefus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamus, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicia. p. 7.

12. And I turned to fee the voice that spoke with me: And being turned, I faw feven golden candlefticks: p. 9.

13. And in the midft of the feven golden candlefticks, one like to the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle: p. 9.

14. And his head and his hairs were white, like white wool, and as fnow, and his eyes were as a Aame of fire.· P. 9.

In the preceding explanation the different parts of the Apocalypfe having been related in a tranfpofed order, we here fubjoin the whole text by itself. And at the end of each verfe the page is marked where that verfe is explained; except with regard to the fecond and third chapters, which not appertaining to the general hiftory of the Church, have not been explained.

THE

APOCALYPSE OF ST. JOHN

THE

APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST.

CHAPTER I.

THE Revelation of Jefus Chrift, which God

gave unto him, to make known to his fervants the things which muft fhortly come to pafs: and fignified, fending by his angel, to his fervant John. See p. I.

2. Who hath given teftimony to the word of God, and the testimony of Jefus Chrift, what things foever he hath feen. p. 1.

3. Bleffed is he, that words of this prophecy: which are written in it. P. 3.

readeth and heareth the and keepeth thofe things

For the time is at hand.

4. John to the feven churches which are in Afia. Grace be unto you and peace from him that is, and , that was, and that is to come, and from the feven spirits which are before the throne. p. 4.

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