not fail being true; and also, in what manner the prophecies yet to be fulfilled may be applied, in accordance with the belief that the words of God must be received as they are spoken. It is the safest way to believe them as they are written, and " we should so think, that, as are the words, such will they be in deed." (See 2 Cor. x. 11.) St. Paul tells that we should "warn the unruly, and comfort the feeble minded*" and it is in taking the words as they are written, by

us,

which we may know that " a people †, as the dust or as the sand for multitude," are accounted to be without iniquity and without

*Note 1 Peter iv. 12, 13: "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." Isaiah xxxv. 4; and Isa. xxxiii. 14, 15, &c.

+ Answering to the seed of the promises, signified by Jacob, composed out of all the nations, comprehending also the preserved of the family which came up out of Egypt, who answer, as it is expressed in the twenty-second chapter and 10th verse of Deuteronomy, to the fourth part of Israel.

perverseness; whereby we may know, as saith Micah, "the righteousness of God.”

may

Thus it will be shown, that it is more safe, and more satisfactory, to interpret scripture in accordance with the plain meaning of the words; but, above all, the chief usefulness intended by this work, is to set down what be gathered from prophecy concerning "the time of the end," which appears to be near at hand, that it may serve for a warning to us, and that we may "watch and pray always,” lest we should be taken by surprise in the coming about of that time, which is expressed by our Saviour, after his resurrection, to be “the Times and Seasons †," answering to" the times of refreshing," or "last days," and to " the times of the restitution of all things ‡," when there will be a final accomplishment of all "that God hath spoken

* Micah vi. 6.

+ Acts i. 7. 1 Thess. v. 1. Hosea xi. 9. Wisdom of Solomon viii. 8.

Acts iii. 21, and Note Esdras xii. 18, and Isa. xli. 4.

by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began*.” And the mystery of his will is, (see Eph. i. 9 and 10,) that, in what is called "the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him."

Thus, when the times of the fourth empire are accomplished †, and "when the times of the gentiles are fulfilled" according to the partial accomplishment of prophecy; then will come about what is expressed in Esdras to be the parting asunder of the times; and which

Acts iii. 19 to 21.

+ Note where Daniel speaks of the principal empires or beasts, in the seventh chapter, which contains what he calls "the sum of the matters."

Expressions from the book of Esdras are never used, except (instead of the author's own language) when they are in accordance with and serve to illustrate the scriptures which the Church of England esteem to be canonical. The author will give his reasons hereafter for quoting from this book; meantime, he is assured that the wise will not reject it because it is written (like some of the books of Daniel) in the Greek only, which was evidently done that the books which testify the Saviour openly might be shown, as regarding that period, “to the wise only of the people," which were for so

will come as a snare upon all them that dwell upon the earth." It is intimated to Esdras by a mighty rushing wind, and a great earthquake, whilst the place whereon he stood was unmoved, and it is said to him, be not afraid: to use words of our Saviour, "See that ye be not troubled*." Intimating that the just, and they that watch, which are alive at the time of the end, shall be preserved; as where, in the Lord's celebrated prophecy it is written "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, for your redemption draweth nigh." Again, " He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." In Esdras it is said, "Whosoever remaineth

* In the twelfth chapter of Hebrews, and 26th verse, St. Paul, speaking of Jesus, saith, "Whose voice then shook the earth;" (i. e., at Sinai:) "but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved." Note also 2 Pet. iii. 12, 13; Psalms cxii. 7, where David speaking of the upright saith, "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings." + See 1 Thess. iv. 16. Luke xviii. 7, 8; and Dan. xii.13.

from all these that I have told thee, shall escape and see my salvation, and the end of your world. And the men that are received shall see it, who have not tasted death from their birth t." In the twenty-first chapter of Luke, and the 8th verse, our Lord begins his famous prophecy in these words, "Many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified. Nation shall rise against nation." And in the 11th verse, he says, that "

great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines and pestilences; and fearful sights, and great signs shall there be from heaven." All these, he says, are the beginning of sorrows. And in the thirteenth chapter of Mark, and 14th verse, it is written, "But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet,