Dissertations on the Prophecies, which Have Remarkably Been Fulfilled, and at this Time are Fulfilling in the World

assistances are requisite; p. 8. Hard fate of the
best interpreters of this book; p. 9. Great en-
couragement however in the divine benediction;

p. 9.
CHAP. I. ver. 1, 2, 3 : contain the title of the book,

the scope and design of it, and the blessing on
him that readeth, and on them that attend to it;

Ver. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8: the dedication to the
seven churches of Asia, and a solemn preface to
show the great authority of the divine revealer ;
p. 11, 12. Ver. 9-20 : the place, the time, and
manner of the first vision ; p. 12—19. The place,
Patmos, whither St. John was banished in the
reign of Nero more probably than in that of Do-
mitian ; p. 14. The arguments for this opinion ;
p. 15, 16, 17. The Revelation given on the
Lord's day; p. 18. The manner and circum-

stances of the first vision ; p. 18, 19.
CHAP. II. III. contain the seven epistles to the seven

churches of Asia; p. 19-41. Why these seven
addressed particularly; p. 27, 28. These epistles
not prophetical, but peculiar to the church of that
age; p. 28. The excellent form and structure
of these epistles; p. 29. In what sense they may
be said to be prophetical ; p. 29, 30. Present

;
state of the seven churches ; p. 31.--41. Of
Ephesus; p. 31, 32. Of Smyrna; p. 32, 33.
Of Pergamus; p. 33, 34. Of Thyatira; p. 35, 36.
Of Sardis; p. 36, 37. Of Philadelphia; p. 37, 38.
Of Laodicea; p. 39, 40,

Ule that we are to
make of these judgments; p. 41.
CHAP. IV. the preparatory vision to things which

must be hereafter ; p. 42---46. The scenery
drawn in allusion to the incampment of the
children of Israel in the wilderness, and to the

tabernacle or temple ; p. 44, 45, 46.
CHAP
Chap. V. a continuation of the preparatory vision

in order to show the great importance of the prophecies here delivered; p. 46---50. Future events

; supposed to be written in a book ; p. 48. This book sealed with seven seals, signifying so many periods of prophecy; p.:49. The Son of God alone qualified to open the seals; p. 49. Whereupon all creatures sing praises to God and to

Christ; p. 49, 50. CHAP. VI. ver. 1, 2: contain the first seal or period,

memorable for conquest; p. 50. This period commences with Vespasian, includes the conquest of Judēa, and continues during the reigns of the Flavian family and the short reign of Nerva ; p. 51. Ver. 3, 4: the second seal or period noted for war and Naughter; p. 51, 52. This period commences with Trajan ; p. 53. Comprehends

. the horrid wars and Naughters of the Jews and Romans in the reigns of Trajan and Adriarı ; P. 53, 54, 55. Continues during the reigns of Trajan and his successors by blood or adoption ; p. 56. Ver. 5, 6: the third seal or period, characterized by the strict execution of justice, and by the procuration of corn and oil and wine ; p. 56. This period commences with Septimius Severus ; p. 57. He and Alexander Severus just and severe emperors, and no less celebrated for procuring corn and oil, &c; p. 58, 59. This period continues during the reigns of the Septimian family; p. 59. Ver. 7, 8: the fourth seal or period, distinguished by a concurrence of evils, war, and famin, and pestilence, and wild beasts ; p. 59, 60. This period commences with Maximin; p. 61. The wars of this period; p.61,62. The famins; p. 62. The pestilences ; p. 62---65. The wild beasts; p. 65. This period from Maximin to Diocletian ; p. 66. Ver. 9, 10, 11 : the fifth seal or period, remarkA4

able

Τ Ε Ν Τ S. able for a dreadful persecution of the Christians; p. 66. This the tenth and last general persecution, begun by Diocletian; p. 67, 68. From hence a memorable æra, called the æra of Diocletian, or æra of martyrs; p. 68. Ver. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17: the sixth seal or period remarkable for great changes and revolutions, expressed by great commotions in the earth and in the heavens; p. 68, 69. No change greater than the subversion of the Heathen, and establishment of the Christian religion; p. 70. The like figures of speech used by other prophets; p. 71, 72. The fame thing expressed afterwards in

plainer language, p. 73. CHAP. VII. a continuation of the sixth seal or pe

riod; p. 74---81. A description of the peace i of the church in Constantine's time ; p. 77, 78.

And of the great accession of converts to it; p.

79. Not only of Jews, but of all nations; p. 79, 180, 81. *This period from the reign of Constan-Stine the great to the death of Theodosius the

great ; p. 81. CHAP. VIII. ver. 1, 2, 3, 4. 5, 6. The seventh

feal or period comprehends seven periods distinguished by the founding of seven trumpets ; p. 82, 83. The filence of half an hour previous to the founding of the trumpets ; p. 83. As the seals foretold the state of the Roman empire before and till it became Christian, to the trumpets foreshow the fate of it afterwards ; p. 84. The design of the trumpets to rouse the nations against the Roman empire; p. 84. Ver. 7: At the founding of the first trumpet Alaric and his Goths invade the Roman empire, twice besiege Rome, and set fire to it in several places; p. 85, 86, 87. Ver. 8, 9: At the founding of the second trumpet Attila and his

Huns

Huns waste the Roman provinces and compel the eastern emperor, Theodosius the second, and the western emperor, Valentinian the third, to submit to shameful terms; p. 87---90. Ver. 10, 11: At the founding of the third trumpet Genseric and his Vandals arrive from Africa, spoil and plunder Rome, and set sail again with immense wealth and innumerable captives; p. 90, 91, 92. Ver. 12: At the founding of the fourth trumpet Odoacer and the Heruli put an end to the very ' name of the western empire; p. 92, 93. Theodoric founds the kingdom of the Ostrogoths in Italy; p. 93, 94. Italy made a province of the eastern empire, and Rome governed by a duke under the exarch of Ravenna; p. 94, 95. Ver. 13 : The three following trumpets are distinguilhed by the name of the woe-trumpets, and the two following relate chiefly to the downfall of the eastern empire, as the foregoing did to locusts were intended; p. 102, &c. Likened

the downfall of the western empire; p. 95, 96. CHAP. IX. ver. I---12: à prophecy of the locusts

or the Arabians under their false prophet Mohammed; p. 96---112. At the founding of the fifth trumpet a star fallen from heaven opens the bottomless pit, and the sun and air are darkened; p. 98, 99. Mohammed fitly compared to a blazing ftar, and the Arabians to locusts; p. 98. A remarkable coincidence, that at this time the fun and air were really darkened; p. 99. The command not to hurt any green thing, or any tree, how fulfilled; p. 99, 100. Their commission to hurt only the corrupt and idolatrous Christians, how fulfilled; p. 100. To torment the Greek and Latin churches, but not to exstirpate either ; p. 101, 102. Repulsed as often as they besieged Constantinople; p. 102. These locusts described so as to show that not real but figurative

locufts

unto horses, and the Arabians famous in all

ages for their horses and horsemanship; p. 103.

Having on their heads as it were crowns like

gold; p. 103, 104.

Their faces as the faces of

men, and hair as the hair of women; p. 105.

Their teeth as the teeth of lions, their breast-

plates as it were breast-plates of iron,, and the

lound of their wings as the sound of chariots ;

p. 105, 106. Like unto scorpions, p. 106.

Their king called the destroyer; p. 107. Their
hurting men five months, how to be understood;
p. 107, &c. Fulfilled in every possible construc-
tion; p. 108---111. Conclusion of this woe;

p. Ill, 112. Ver. 13---21: a prophecy of the

Euphratéan horsemen or Turks and Othmans;

p. 112---126. At the sounding of the sixth

trumpet the four angels or four sultanies of the

Turks and Othmans are loosed from the river

Euphrates; p. 113---116. In what sense they

are said to be prepared for an hour, and a day,

and a month, and a year, to slay the third part

men; p. 116---120. Their numerous armies,

and especially their cavalry ; P. 120, 121. Their

delight in fcarlet, blue, and yellow; p. 121.

The use of great guns and gun-powder among