pression of the saints or of the true church. Thus, she was to be given into the hand of the oppressor, according to Daniel vii. 25, "until a time, and times, and the dividing of a time :" according to the Revelation of Jesus Christ, xii. 6, the woman fled into the wilderness, that they. should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Now it is matter of history, that the Papacy possessed a fearful power, commencing with the year 533, (when it was granted to her), which she employed as the more fearful instrument of oppressing the saints; and that she continued to exercise this power, as occasion offered, until she was shorn of her strength, just 1260 years after, by the revolution in France, in the year 1793. Is it probable to conceive-is it consistent with the divine dealings to suppose-that in a revelation of future events, which God condescended to make to his church, in which that church was interested, He would pass over in silence the heavy afflictions with which He would permit her to be visited during above 1800 years, and especially that long night of persecution, which should occupy 1260 years of that period, and direct her sole attention to troubles which should befal her just before the consummation of all things, and which should be only of three and a half years' continuance? In support of these views, I bring forward the

following arguments from the Apostasy of the Latter Days.

"Let us therefore again to our Prophetical Calendar, and survey Daniel's description of the fourth, or Roman kingdom, as it is chapter vii. from ver. 29, where we shall find the latter times thereof to be that period of a time, times, and half a time, during which that prodigious horn with eyes like a man, and mouth speaking great things should make war with the saints, &c. For this horned sovereignty is the last scene of that long tragedy, and the conclusion of the fourth beast; and, therefore, the times thereof are these latter times, whereof the Spirit speaks expressly that in them there should be an apostasy from the christian faith." p. 71, Apost. J. Mede.

Again, he adds further on, "For the duration and length of them they must imply some definitive times; because the Scripture follows that use of speech, and useth no number indefinitely but those which the use of speech hath made, such as 1, 10, 1000; but mixed and compound numbers as these are, 3, 42, 1260, are neither in Hebrew, nor, I think, in any other language, used indefinitely."

"Our adversaries would have them literally understood for three single years and a half, as though it were an history, and not a prophecy; but, besides the use of the prophecy to reckon

days for years, I think it would trouble any man to conceive how so many things as should be performed in this time should be done in three single years and a half.

"1. Ten kingdoms founded at the same time with the beast.

"2. People and multitudes of nations and tongues to serve and obey him.

"3. To make war with the saints and overcome them.

"4. To cause all that dwell upon the earth to worship him.

"5. Babylon to ride the beast so long, that all nations shall drink of the wine of her fornication, the kings of the earth commit fornication with her; yea, the merchants and all those that had ships in the sea, to grow rich by trading with her. Methinks all this should ask much more than three years' works, or four either." p. 72. And I think so too.

Feeling the force of the foregoing argument, I cannot reconcile with the just anticipations of common sense, with the facts of history, or with that wisdom which infallibly marks all the dealings of God; the strange notion, that this book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ which was given to the church, nearly 1800 years ago, to shew to her things which must shortly come to pass, is as yet in whole, or in its principal parts, awaiting its fulfilment.

Having thus given my reasons for being unable to entertain the doctrine, of which I have been speaking, I will endeavour to select those passages which are connected with the next appearing of our blessed Lord in glory, which, therefore, remain to be fulfilled, and which also belong to our special subject.

In the first chapter and the seventh verse, the attention is first summoned to the last and most important event, even the coming of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; and that before any particulars of the forthcoming revelation are recorded. This, I think, is intended to shew that this truth is, beyond all others, of the greatest practical importance to the church, and is in very deed the alpha and omega of the Book of Revelation.

Bishop Newton observes upon the seven epistles to the seven Churches of Asia, that

66

many contend, and among them such learned men as More and Vitringa, that the seven epistles are prophetical of so many successive periods and states of the church, from the beginning to the conclusion of all." He also gives his reasons for not adopting this idea, which appear satisfactory. Bp. Newton on Prophecies, p. 507. But, though this be so, the end of the seven several letters to these churches, looking forward to the day of the Lord, and all of them

P

referring to the judgment of reward in that day, belong to our present enquiry.

To the same season the following parts of this book as plainly appertain.

The latter part of the seventh Seal, comprising the Seventh Trumpet, chap.

}x.

x. 7.

When the mystery of God shall be finished. xi. 15.

The Harvest, followed by

The Vintage of Wrath.

The judgment of Babylon.

} xiv. 14—20.

xviii. 5-24.

xix. 1-7.

The triumph of the Church.

The announcement of the marriage of

the Lamb.

} xix. 7—9.

The glorious advent of the Lord as }xix. 11-16.

King of kings and Lord of lords.

The battle of Armageddon.

xvi. 16: xix. 17-21.

The destruction of the Beast and False
Prophet.

The binding of Satan, and the putting

out of this earth all things that offend. The first Resurrection, and the reign of Righteousness and Peace.

The New Jerusalem state.

The events which shall mark the close of the 7th Millennium preparatory to the introduction of that state, when God shall be all in all. 1 Cor. xv. 28.

xx. 1-6.

xxi. xxii.

xx. 7-15.

Of the passages thus selected there can be no reasonable doubt, they are so closely associated with the glorious appearing of the great God, even our Saviour Jesus Christ, that, one and all, they are awaiting their accomplishment;