alfo the return of the Jews from the Babylonic captivity may be deemed a figure of their return from a much longer captivity in the latter period of the world, and both may be intimated together by the prophets. And fo of other inftances. On these grounds a text, that has been generally applied to the figure, we have fometimes transferred to the thing itself, to fhew its full and ultimate completion. That part of the Apocalypfe, which gives the prophetic hiftory of past ages, we have illuftrated with the real history of those times, that the accomplishment may clearly appear. If we have not always mentioned our vouchers, it is because we thought it unneceffary in the case of such short abftracts of hiftory, especially as they are taken from the well known ecclefiaftic hiftorians of the times. In regard to the text of the Apocalypse, we have made use of the commonly known English translation made from the Latin vulgate; at the same time taking notice of any difference, worth obferving, between the tranflation and the original Greek. In fine, we here make our acknowledgments to thofe friends whom we have confulted, and who have affifted us in difcovering and unfolding the myfterious fenfes of the Apocalypse.

As to the time when this prophecy was delivered to St. John, it is generally understood to have been in the year 95 or 96 of the Chriftian æra. This holy apoftle, after being immerfed in a caldron of boiling oil at Rome, from which he came out unhurt, was banish

ed by the emperor Domitian into the isle of Patmos in the Egean Sea or Archipelago, where, as we learn from himself, Apoc. i. 9. he was favoured with this moft admirable and most comprehensive of all prophecies. "St. John was a prophet," fays St. Jerom, "becaufe being in the ifle of Patmos, whither he had been exiled for the faith by the emperor Domitian, he received the Apocalypfe or a revelation containing an infinite number of myfteries appertaining to future times." Lib. 1. contra Jovinian. He always enjoyed a fuperior fhare in the affections of his divine Mafter, and among many proofs of it he was indulged with this fingular and extraordinary favour, not granted to any of the other apoftles. This moft inftructive book we cannot but earneftly recommend to every Chriftian, and we hope our recommendation will have the more weight, as it is grounded on the words of the divine book itfelf: "Bleffed is he, that readeth and heareth the words of this prophecy and keepeth thofe things which are written in it," Apoc. i. 3. The obfcurity which covers the Apocalypfe, has been the occafion of its having been fo little attended to. We have therefore attempted to remove that obftacle: But if we have not totally fucceeded, we plead, indulgence from the difficulty of explaining a prophecy fo fublime, and the most myfterious! that is extant. Befides the advantage refulting from a general furvey of the hiftory of the Church, another motive for attending to the Apocalypfe, is the

also the return of the Jews from the Babylonic captivity may be deemed a figure of their return from a much longer captivity in the latter period of the world, and both may be intimated together by the prophets. And fo of other inftances. On thefe grounds a text, that has been generally applied to the figure, we have fometimes transferred to the thing itself, to fhew its full and ultimate completion. That part of the Apocalypfe, which gives the prophetic hiftory of paft ages, we have illuftrated with the real hiftory of thofe times, that the accomplishment may clearly appear. If we have not always mentioned our vouchers, it is because we thought it unneceffary in the cafe of fuch fhort abstracts of hiftory, especially as they are taken from the well known ecclefiaftic hiftorians of the times. In regard to the text of the Apocalypfe, we have made use of the commonly known English translation made from the Latin vulgate; at the fame time taking notice of any difference, worth obferving, between the tranflation and the original Greek. In fine, we here make our acknowledgments to those friends whom we have confulted, and who have affifted us in difcovering and unfolding the myfterious fenfes of the Apocalypfe.

As to the time when this prophecy was delivered to St. John, it is generally understood to have been in the year 95 or 96 of the Chriftian æra. This holy apoftle, after being immerfed in a caldron of boiling oil at Rome, from which he came out unhurt, was banish

ed by the emperor Domitian into the isle of Patmos in the Egean Sea or Archipelago, where, as we learn from himself, Apoc. i. 9. he was favoured with this moft admirable and moft comprehenfive of all prophecies. "St. John was a prophet," fays St. Jerom, "becaufe being in the ifle of Patmos, whither he had been exiled for the faith by the emperor Domitian, he received the Apocalypfe or a revelation containing an infinite number of mysteries appertaining to future times." Lib. 1. contra Jovinian. He always enjoyed a superior share in the affections of his divine Mafter, and among many proofs of it he was indulged with this fingular and extraordinary favour, not granted to any of the other apoftles. This moft inftructive book we cannot but earneftly recommend to every Christian, and we hope our recommendation will have the more weight, as it is grounded on the words of the divine book itfelf: "Bleffed is he, that readeth and heareth the words of this prophecy and keepeth thofe things which are written in it," Apoc. i. 3. The obfcurity which covers the Apocalypfe, has been the occafion of its having been fo little attended to. We have therefore attempted to remove that obftacle: But if we have not totally fucceeded, we plead, indulgence from the difficulty of explaining a prophecy so fublime, and the most myfterious! that is extant. Befides the advantage refulting from a general furvey of the hiftory of the Church, another motive for attending to the Apocalypfe, is the

particular intereft every Chriftian must take in that part of the hiftory, which relates to the prefent time, and to thofe fcenes which are approaching. Much inftruction may be drawn from the prefent ftate of the Church, as defcribed by our prophetic writer, and caution ought to be the refult for what we find is to happen hereafter. If God reveals to us myfteries, it is for our inftruction: if he difclofes to us future events, doubtlefs he does it to give us warning to prepare for them. This kind of œconomy almighty God obferved towards mankind from the beginning, that in confequence of fuch previous admonitions, his faithful fervants fhould withdraw themfelves from approaching calamities, while the wicked might impute to their own obftinacy the punishments that fell upon them. This bountiful adminiftration of providence appeared. very confpicuous in favour of the Jews, who were generally forewarned by the prophets of the great events that concerned them. The fame course we find the Almighty has purfued in the Chriftian age of the world. He has not indeed fent a fucceffion of prophets as he did to the Jews. The only confiderable prophet Chriftianity can claim is St. John the apoftle: but then he as far excels any one of the ancient prophets, as his Apocalypfe contains more matter, and comprises a larger field of hiftory, He grafps the whole period of Christianity. He describes the birth of Christ's Spoufe, his Church, and gradually conducts her through her whole progrefs, till the arrives